316) · Foucault - that social order is produced through the power of knowledge and discourse (that which is talked about), which are the products of historical processes (Silva, E, pg. 319) Buchanan’s and Monderman’s views on ordering public space will be used to further illustrate Goffman’s focus on the way people negotiate interactions with each other, his interactional order and Foucault’s emphasis on authoritative knowledge and application of order by authorities or experts. The two propositions are similar in that both are concerned with the wider questions of understanding how society is produced and reproduced and specifically how social order is made and remade. Goffman and Foucault both sought to make the often invisible social order visible albeit through differing mechanisms, Goffman through metaphor and Foucault through historical analysis. Similar claims were made around the ways of understanding singular issues in interaction, although Foucault focuses on the power of historical precedent and powerful discourse on shaping the individuals and society while Goffman focuses on individuals shaping society through their interactions, rituals and habits.
Whereas, action theorists expressly believe we have free-will and are capable of choosing our own path; that society should be and is defined by the opinions and actions of those individuals who form it. Also, whilst structural theorists are concerned with how society functions on a macro level (i.e. the big picture), primarily using quantitative research methods, believing each institution of society plays a vital role in maintaining overall order and efficiency. In direct contrast, social action theories are focussed at a micro level, carrying out qualitative research with smaller social groups, interpreting meaning and considering individual perspective; believing society to be the sum of all its parts, a collection of individuals. 2.
This use can remedy a distributive power dilemma by recognizing that a power struggles exists when they allow it to define the relationship. Instead, the ability to develop relationally is based on mutual empowerment, empathy, and responsibility to oneself and the other. Thirdly, designated power instills power to a certain relationship, not an individual, but to a collective group that she is part of. When people designate power to a greater entity, they are giving up power over, or distributive power, for the larger good of the interdependent relationship (102). Examples include policemen, politicians, teachers, and administrators as
In addition there are many disciplines that make use of the term culture such as history, sociology, anthropology and archaeology. This makes it challenging for one common definition of the term culture to be known, however common themes within these disciplines can be seen. The notion of a high and low culture then comes under the idea of judgment based on the hierarchy of society, these ideas of high culture and low culture then lead to the discussion of the value of culture (Barker, C 2007, p. 48). The term culture started to be used in critical theory during the time of Karl Marx, him and many theorists influenced by him such as Edward said and Antonio Gramsci, first used their theories to justify the concept of the word culture. These theorists used the term to describe the social formation in their studies of anthropology (Patterson, T, C 2009, p 91).
Lisa Howells (C367439X) Examine and assess the view that the legitimacy of states is always contested. To examine this view we first need to define the terminology 'state'. The state can be defined as an organised community living under a unified political system, the government. The 'state' refers to the politicians that comprise the leadership and the machinery of government that allows laws and policies to be enforced. These include agencies with coercive powers such as the police and military, the judicial system and revenue agencies which bring in the revenue to fund these agencies.
In this chapter, then, we focus primarily on media messages. Part Four of this book will turn to the relationship between media messages and their audiences. M What Is Ideology? Ideology is a decidedly complicated term with different implications depending on the context in which it is used. In everyday language, it can be an insult to charge someone with being “ideological,” since this label suggests rigidity in the face of overwhelming evidence contradicting one’s beliefs.
Authority is a power exercised by a person in virtue of his office or trust; dominion; jurisdiction; authorization. In general, for any society to function it must be run by an authority. However, I think that questioning authority make a society stronger. In first, Dissent makes society stronger by representing the needs of the many. Modern examples include Martin Luther King and even Ralph Nader.
Habermas’ new definition of the public is now more inclusive with the infusion of nongovernmental and voluntary associations. Habermas now defines the public as a space where ‘’its institutional core comprises of those nongovernmental and non-economic…..voluntary associations that anchor the communications structures of the public sphere’’ (Habermas, 1992). In this new conceptualisation of the public sphere, Habermas confer more control on the civil society groups which he proposed should serve as communication intermediaries to convey the concerns of the depraved members of the society to those holding the mainstream political offices. In addition, this new position of Habermas on the public sphere theory must have been conceived through his observation of the growing trends among feminist rights movements and the growing trend of the civil organisations in
Also the definition of the concept of empowerment is debatable. Zimmerman (1984) has stated that asserting a single definition of empowerment might make it much formal, and thus contradicting the very concept of empowerment. According to Bailey (1992), how we precisely define empowerment within our projects and programs will depend upon the specific people and context involved. Definitions of Empowerment The term empowerment is related to the word power. To empower is to give (someone) the authority or power to do something.
Each protagonist is compelled to conform to the values of their society by those that abuse power, even though their insight into life is extremely different. When each protagonist rebels even slightly against the abuser of power, they are treated horrifically. Each protagonist is proof that abuse of power is a very horrendous and unacceptable. The two other texts that I studied are ‘How many Miles to Babylon’ (Babylon) by Jennifer Johnston and ‘Sive’ by John B. Keane. The insight that I gained from studying the above texts is that dehumanising individuals can tarnish people’s lives, both mentally and physically.