Short Essay Activity: For this assignment, Id like you to take a trip to the nearest mall and observe how popular culture is consumed by the people who roam here. First, plan a time when you can visit the mall, preferably alone and with no intent on shopping for yourself. You are a sociologist this day, so dont fall prey to the lures of fashion and trendiness like you normally would you are an observer not a shopper! Pick a strategic spot for observing people, a vantage point overlooking those below would be a good choice. Spend about hour people-watching but do so with the following questions in mind (*Note: be sure to bring a pen and notepad along with these specific questions and take field notes). What material culture is being consumed (the actual products)? What non-material culture is being consumed; that is, what ideas are being consumed, symbolized in the products purchased? Do you notice any demographic differences in consumption patterns (e.g. men vs. women? age groups? Racial/ethnic groups?). What capitalistic values are inherent in your observations? What does the mall experience say about American (popular) culture? Short Essay Question: Discuss two subtle ways in which popular culture is consumed at the mall, based on your observations. What is being consumed, other than the tangible items (e.g. ideas, status, happiness, etc.)? What demographic differences did you notice? Employ specific ideas from the readings, videos and other class materials found in the “learning materials” folder, and make sure to cite those sources as you discuss them. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyqXyn2O0S4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwFSglnycko reference the video in the links
Hide
