Sociological Concepts From the Media - Case Study Example

A sociological analysis of concepts and perspectives in four Internet based articles Four Internet based articles were analysed from a sociological perspective with respect to the central issue discussed and the concepts involved. The topics of the four articles are as follows: 1. The media and popular culture 2. Youth culture and youth transitions 3. The gender order 4. Ethnicity and belonging Article 1: The Media and Popular Culture Title: PlagiPedia shows the web is passionate about correcting its own follies: The collaborative nature of most online activity now provides the instant means to search out copy-and-paste cheats. Author and date: Jimmy Wales, 1 March 2011 Source: Guardian online newspaper at http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/mar/01/plagiarism-education-web-wiki-follies The central issue in this article is the problem of people using the web to find and copy material from and passing it off as their own in their academic works, in other words, the problem of plagiarism using web-based sources. It is shown that new online tools are now being used to detect such incidents. The Internet is blamed for fostering “a cut-and-paste culture of uncritical plagiarism”. The problem is particularly evident among school and university students who copy material directly from sites such as Wikipedia. Two such cases of plagiarism are mentioned involving prominent people. In the first, the German defence minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg was found to have plagiarised parts of his PhD from the University of Bayreuth, and consequently resigned. In the second, Saif Gaddafi is mentioned as possibly also having plagiarised his PhD thesis at the London School of Economics. These cases were exposed using specially created wikis on a site named PlagiPedia to handle the large-scale collaborative effort. They used Google Docs earlier but it was found to be only suitable for small group collaboration. The first case took two weeks of effort led by the university “to identify the specific sections from this thesis that were lifted straight from other sources”. Over 40,000 comments and twelve hundred pages of details of the accusations were compiled. The media and computing professor at the university remarked how fast the revocation decision had been reached. Similar tools are also now available for exposing plagiarism in the media following the unveiling of a ‘churn engine’ called churnalism.com by Britain’s Media Standards Trust. Press releases can now be checked to find out “the extent to which they have been recycled, verbatim, in online news articles”. The possibilities brought about by the new online tools are likened to the revolutions currently taking place in the Middle East in which sites such as Twitter and Facebook are playing significant roles. Whereas previously there were typically small committees of experts checking for plagiarism, it is now possible to allow larger collaborative efforts, which are far more effective. However, as pointed out, while such sites can help to initiate activism, ultimately it is the network of people who really know each other face-to-face that bring about the change. This articles highlights two points. Firstly, the ease with which people can plagiarism using web-based sources and secondly, the newer collaboration tools that now make it possible to detect issues of plagiarism. The first shows a modern form of deviance whereby people can get easy access to information and also think they can easily get away with it. The second demonstrates the powerful potential of online collaboration, which is a form of social interaction. In both cases, the Internet plays the central role as the medium of global information and communication. The issue also highlights the need to rethink educational practices and mass media reporting processes. Either plagiarism should be detected more readily to stamp out the practice or the seriousness of the issue should be seen as lending support for completely replacing coursework with exams. Article 2: Youth Culture and Youth Transitions Title: Tut-tutting about young people is nothing new Author and date: Nina Funnell, 25 February 2011 Source: The Sydney Morning Herald at http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/tuttutting-about-young-people-is-nothing-new-20110224-1b6sy.html The central issue in this article is encapsulated in the question posed at the beginning, “What is happening to our young people?” It is observed that young people disrespect their elders, disobey their parents, ignore the law, riot in streets, and have decaying morals. Moreover, the youth are individualistic with no reverence for parents, impatient and immodest. However, these comments are of Plato and Peter the Hermit they made several centuries ago, yet they give the impression they were describing today’s youth. In other words, the perception of present day youth being “self-centered, out of control, hedonistic and disrespectful” is by no means unprecedented. This article highlights the issue of youth deviance, or alternatively, their vulnerability and susceptibility to corruptive influences. Either way, these ideas serve to justify intervention and regulation of the young by adults. A question is then raised as to where to draw the line between being concerned on one hand, and controlling them on the other. This issue became topical after an AFL scandal involving a 17-year-old girl. In response to this scandal, it was suggested the young generation is being fed “on a TV diet of reality shows”. Others have been more vociferous in claiming this is “the most fame hungry, narcissistic, sexually depraved generation ever”. However, it is not only older people who have criticised the girl but also other youth from her own generation. Thus, the stereotypical perception that most young people are corrupted, is wrong. The author concludes rightly that it is inappropriate to label all youth the same. It is a folly to make generalisations about any age group because “no generation is a homogenised group with an agreed upon set of values and ideals about behaviour”. The young are also diverse in their behaviour. Nonetheless, the issue highlights another important point about digital media - the ‘digital footprint’. Whereas previously people were more willing to forgive and forget past events in people’s personal lives, any questionable event now leaves an indelible mark, which can be detrimental to a person’s future career because the evidence can be used against them. In a positive light, this could eventually make everyone more cautious in leaving digital footprints behind that they would rather not want anyone to know about. This could therefore have a ‘maturing effect’ and lead to more ‘mature conversations’ that are ethically grounded. From a sociological perspective, this article gave a good example of stereotyping social behaviour with respect to the young generation. It pointed out, firstly these perceptions are not a modern phenomenon because they have always been made, and secondly it is wrong to regard all youth the same just as it is wrong to ignore that variations exist in other generations too. In addition, the article noted one thing that is new - the technology that enables events to be preserved that could be worrying for a person later in life, made possible by advances in digital media. It was then suggested this could have a conditioning effect on our social behaviour as people learn to appreciate the importance of being more cautious and mature. Article 3: The Gender order Title: Gender in Business: Speak up about double standards Author and date: Debra E. Meyerson Source: Womens media at http://www.womensmedia.com/work/169-gender-in-business-speak-up-about-double-standards.html This article discusses issues surrounding gender in the workplace. The author mentions that many people occasionally “feel at odds with the organization we work for”, and that people have the choice to either remain silent or speak up and challenge the status quo. An example focuses on the experience of Martha, a company employee. The problem with remaining silent is that it reinforces existing patterns of behaviour concerning power and exclusion. However, people often feel that they have no choice because if they do challenge they may be unable to remain in the organisation for long. Thus, many people become defensive when they feel threatened because they think they do not have any options. It is an instinctive response. On the other hand, these occasions provide opportunities for breaking free of the “negative cycles of inaction” and bring about improvements to the workplace. In the case of Martha, she experienced “a recurring bias” during a compensation meeting, which on one occasion was “so blatant and consequential” that she was compelled to do something about it. She observed how a man and a woman being considered for promotion were viewed very differently. The man was “charming with clients” but aggressive, and his aggressiveness and self-promotion were tolerated whereas the woman, although equally admired by her clients, was much less aggressive. She had to resort to talking more about her accomplishments when she noticed she was not being offered the same level of opportunities. Unfairly, her efforts were seen as self-promoting and she was castigated for it. Martha spoke up about the unfairness, and pointed to “the underlying double standards in her colleagues’ assessments”. Normally, she had never been so direct but this time she chose to raise the issue. Her point was equally blatant. However, as “biases are so deeply embedded in normal practice that they are not evident “, so it was difficult to raise the issue without being seen as creating one. The culprits perceive the person as troublesome, even in the case of harassment. Martha spoke up against a blatant bias due to a gender difference. The issue did not involve her directly but she identified with the other employee because she was also a woman. She therefore openly expressed her concern from a neutral position in sympathy for a co-worker. She chose to end her silence and take some positive action to bring about awareness of the problem and a positive change. The central issue is one of inequality at work due to gender differences and the problems of bias and prejudice, which work against the favour of women. It was shown that such bias still exists in workplaces today and there is a need for greater awareness of the problems women face at work. In addition, the article highlights the issue of what should be done to bring about the desired social change. People become accustomed to their habits and do not realise the practices are unfair, in this case the men, so they need to have the matter pointed out to them and accept the problem before change can be initiated. Article 4: Ethnicity and Belonging Title: Morrison, Muslims and multiculturalism Author and date: The Age, 19 February 2011 Source: The Age at http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/editorial/morrison-muslims-and-multiculturalism-20110218-1azl1.html This article deals with the sensitive issue of multiculturalism in Australia by indirectly bringing its future into question. It specifically expresses the coalition government’s concerns over Muslims. Traditionally, the party is identified as being liberal but this outburst is seen by many as outright racism. However, the concern is not about Muslims per se, but the hype over so-called ‘Muslim extremism’. Moreover, this reaction is not exceptional. Earlier in the week, the same government displayed insensitivity in objecting to pay for bereaved Christian families to attend the funerals of their relatives who were shipwrecked and drowned. Even then, the party spokesperson, Scott Morrison, made the government “look both mean and inhumane”. The new debate on Muslims though, “has muddled and undermined” the issue. The agenda seems to be an attempt at hardening the immigration policy. The ground reality is that multiculturalism has worked generally well in Australia, due in large part to the country’s “easygoing outlook” as well as its efforts in attracting diverse groups. Furthermore, on the practical side, multiculturalism implies an “almost value-free relativism” and immigrants fulfil economic needs, especially in the mining sector. In this context, the spokesperson’s remarks are “surprisingly gauche”, i.e. socially awkward and lacking in ease. Also, many Australian Muslims are peaceable having come there from “deeply troubled countries” yet find it difficult to integrate into a society based on “sexual equality and liberation”. However, it is suggested that this approach created over enthusiasm for multiculturalism whereas it is healthy to discuss certain issues. The existing consensus, albeit well intentioned, has to deal with the underlying pressures that could otherwise burst out. As in other groups too, a minority of Muslims do express “a narrow and fascistic interpretation of its ideals by violence – casting suspicion on all”. The suspicion strikes a deep historical chord of racism in Australia. Consequently, populist right-wing movements such as One Nation are attempting to exploit the situation. From a sociological perspective, the central phenomenon revolves around the concept of multiculturalism, which is a reality in many modern cities around the world. However, this creates various issues due to which different groups come into conflict with one another. For example, the article highlights the tension between religion on one hand and secularisation on the other. Moreover, the social changes brought about following the end of the Cold War between the previous two superpowers, and particularly after the staged event of 9/11 in New York having global repercussions, have created a renewed targeting of Muslims. Australia is not indifferent to these global developments. In fact, the social problem of racism has historical roots in Australia. The current thinking is unfortunate because if it is not dispelled, it could undermine the existing social cohesion and be detrimental to the economy as well. If the immigration policies are tightened, the situation could limit social mobility, which would have long-term repercussions. It would reverse all the progress Australia has made from supporting multiculturalism in the past. Read More