American Social Environment - Assignment Example

number ETHICS Question Semiotics is a science of art that studies any material that signifies something, the possible minute meaning of something and significations. In semiotics, investigations are done on how meaning is generated as well as how the meaning is passed on between people. According to Maasik and Solomon, semiotics is the general study of different cultural styles and symbols so as to be able to gather meaning out of them. Semiotics has been a useful method for exploring and understanding the study of American cultural practices. Semiotics has been able to analyze the some popular cultural phenomena such as aging, society and women and, politics and the law. It has been able to show the significance of childhood in American culture in how the majority would not like to face the adult stage. It is useful in the study of American culture by showing how the implications that Americans have on society and women (Ray 380). It has been able to demonstrate how the significance and meanings of why the society is oppressed when a woman, considered being bad, is around. It has been able to reveal that the American culture views that a morally upright woman makes up a good marriage. In addition, it has been able to show the significance good woman in the society, as they are the one who take the major responsibility in shaping it. By use of semiotics as an approach, the author has been able to identify some cultural phenomenon, study them and analyze them. Question 2 An American myth refers to a made-up story full of explanation on how America came into existence and how other supernatural occurrence found themselves there. They can also be said to be traditional and legendary story concerning America without necessarily having a determinable basis of natural explanation (p. 387). American archetype refers to the original model of the America look and ways of conduct from which all the things of the same kind were based on. They are models and patterns that were collectively inherited and universally accommodated in the Americans psyche. They are also those characters that appear in a number of American stories, talking about the heroes. In the American culture, we have a number of myths, among them, including the hero myth and the healing myth. The hero myth talks of a hero in a particular society, concentrating more on his or her strengths and achievement. They introduce the hero, talk of his or her surroundings, the journey, and his or her life, in general. One of the Americas archetypes in a hero myth is Obi-Wan Kenobi, whom we are told of his life experience and achievements (p. 389). In the American culture, they also have a healing myth, where they talk about how an archetype undergoes transformation and healing. Here they talk about how the archetype suffers from internal injuries or worries and consequently get another big problem. The two problems or the injuries, worsen upon, and the individuals life is thought to be in its ending times. Later on, some miracles happen in the archetypes life, and he or she heals, making him or her more generous to others, for example, John Book, in one of the Americas healing myths. Both myths revolve around a character, showing their life experiences and challenges they face. They all bring at in the end illustrating how the individual succeed in his or her mission. The contrast is significant in showing us that these particular archetypes tend to live some common pattern and life styles and succeed in the end. Also tries to implant the spirit of kindness and determination to practitioners. Question 3 According to James Twitchell, when high levels of production are undertaken, then high marketing levels are being undertaken as well. These latest results in the creation of individuals who are stereotyped in the economy (p. 183). In a single economy, people usually find themselves in some economic groupings and classes and later moves up as they mature economies. With time, advertisements tend to have less or no effect on people as people tend to stop from changing brands. By use of the SRI description, customers motivation comes in due to such things as principles, status and moves taken. The top of the pyramid is full by actualizes, and these are the most economical stable in the society. These are those individuals who are stable and already having what they could need in the near future. They drive big and expensive cars and consume expensive goods as well, having expensive jewelry and ornaments. Next are the fulfilled, mainly those who have retired and will always support the status quo. They live a luxurious life and have comfortable souls. After fulfilled are the believers, who follow the church, family and community teachings. Their consumption is easily predictable as they consume American products and give recognition to brands. Down the pyramid, we have the achievers, who are successful and will always show their success in the public. Below them are strippers, where some possibly mature into achievement. They tend to have less money, and they like foreign cars such as BMW (p. 184). Towards the right, we have those who have less interest in the outside world, but would like to be involved in the wider world. They tend to be more active in sports and social events and mostly spend high percent of their disposable income in certain consumptions. Others include makers and stragglers who would like to operate their things for their selves so to experience the world. In the class related assumptions, one can question the methodology that was used in coming up with such a paradigm. This will be for the purpose of seeking its reliability in different parts of the world. Question4 Aaron Devor believes that the constructed gender roles are perhaps made in some ways to favor those of the male sex. He further claims that the people use either femininity or masculinity in claiming their membership in their assigned sex. Some people recognize sex or gender purely on the basis of the femininity and masculinity other than sex. According to him, sex should be put under consideration when coming up with the issues of gender (p. 673). According to him, masculinity is usually characterized by dominance and aggression, unlike femininity that is usually characterized by passivity and submission. He says that masculinity is more concerned with egoistic commands while femininity always finds itself in the process of striving for cooperation. He believes that this mode of characterization is centrally concerned with the power relationship, means, and goals. Unlike masculinity, femininity has activities and modes that of expression that are recognized in the society. He refers to the males as dominant persons who tend to influence to influence tactics and verbal styles. In the American culture, most of the aspects of masculinity and femininity find their places due to the status of inequalities in the American society. Both men and women can undertake the same roles, but most of the activities are divided into suitable and unsuitable categories for each gender class. If individuals take the roles of the other gender, they are expected to perform poorly. As a result of patriarchal gender scheme, American societies values the maleness attributes and support the evaluation of those activities that get associated with maleness. In the American culture, role reversals and role-subversions have not been encouraged since the roles played by each gender are already set and defined. Most of the roles tend to favor the men, and being the heads in the society, they never allow role- reversals since the other ones are somehow oppressive to them. Role-inversions are undertaken to those roles considered to be superior and should be played by women. They believe that superior roles should be undertaken by men. Question5 The popular culture in the American society has been the baseline for the creation, reproduction and sustenance of racial ideologies. Those ideologues have provided a framework of symbols through which we understand the aspects of racial existence. These have been able to come out and expressed themselves in different scenarios in America. A black man lost his life in Howard Beach, and the Ku Klux Klan attacking civil rights marchers on Georgia were reported to be isolated racial incidences. Through this, it has been evident that the lives of blacks were less cared for as compared to those of the white. The death of a white could lead to a higher response by the American Government since they were driven by racial minds, considering the lives of the whites to be more important than those of the whites. The American culture had the ideology that blocks some of the necessities to hold such ranks as managerial positions (p. 626). The culture believes that blacks arent good in swimming since they lack buoyancy hence sink in water. They are instead leagued ball players due to their fleet of foot. Duet with all this has shown how racism has been manifested in popular culture. They are institutional forms of discrimination that have kept out the racial minorities out in producing as well as organizing the popular culture. In the American society, the first things people encounter when they meet others is the race and utilize it to know who the person are and how they should relate to them. The differences in skin color have been a baseline in providing visible explanations to substantive evidence lurking underneath. The idea of racism has, for this reason, become a way through which people understand, give explanations and behave in the world (p. 627). Racism has found itself forming central themes in the American culture in different ways. For example, films and televisions were led in disseminating images of those who are minorities in the race. The media have the power to shape the dominant racial ideology and to shape it. They had been able to take much of their time in airing white issues than those of the blacks. Works cited Ray, R.B. The Thematic Paradigm: A Certain Tendency of the Hollywood Cinema. Princeton University Press. 1985. Print. Read More