Would you describe this society as a power-over or power-with society? Give reasons. I would describe this society as a power-over society because majority of the population was oppressed. Although the upper class was the minority they had power over the poor. If a superior were to insult an inferior was accepted and expected, but an insult from an inferior to a superior was not tolerated.
* * Karl Marx divided people into two distinctive groups, which are bourgeoisie and proletariat and he believed that social classes are distinguished according to the means of production (Joyse, 1995). That is bourgeoisies are those who buy working forces, while proletarians are those who sell in order to survive. Each class acts in the way to benefit themselves and their own interests, thereby resulting in conflict, which in turn, lead to limited social mobility. Therefore, Marx argues that social mobility is exceedingly limited and depends on luck or chance (Crompton, 1993). In other words, dominant social groups oppress or control lower ones, and it is extremely problematic to change social class and status.
Stratification is a division of a society’s resources that benefits some people and harms others. Social position reflects the way society divides resources. Unequal rewards only serve to divide society, creating “haves” and “have-nots.” There is widespread opposition to social inequality. Using a structural-functional approach to look at the demise of the middle class would point out that the middle class is sliding backwards due to a lack of personal talent and ability. Since
Society as a whole is more and more splitting up into two great hostile camps, into two great classes directly facing each other: Bourgeoisie and Proletariat” (Marx and Engels 1848). Social class, therefore, is based upon economic criteria and conflict occurs between those who own the means of production (bourgeoisie) and the wage-labourers (proletariat). As well as having economic control over the proletariat, the bourgeoisie also have the power to determine the superstructure; the ruling class can distort perceptions of the world and hide the true nature of social relationships and the exploitation of the proletariat and, above all, promote bourgeoisie interests. Marx defines production as workers selling their labour for wages in order to exchange money for commodities that will meet their most basic needs. As Marx
Durkheim sees anomie as responsible for the world’s disorder of economics- the lack of morality and regulation resulted in overpowering the weak; thus, he feels that only norms can prevent the abuse of power and calls for regulation and equal opportunity from birth- the greater the equal opportunity the less need for restraint. Marx looked at how capitalism separated humanity by making work a simple means of individual existence. In addition he describes society in terms of class and economic conflicts. Marx saw proletariat or people of a working class as being underneath the bourgeoisie or the capitalist of a modern society. Marx looked at how alienation of production of commodities by workers also leads to alienation of social life.
He moved with the time and focused on creativity rather than expensive couture. He had the groundbreaking vision to develop the never before seen ideas that had big impact on early twentieth century. "I did not wait for my success to grow by itself. I worked like a demon to increase it, and everything that could stimulate it seemed good to me.” He constantly challenged himself not only in terms of design but every aspect of the fashion- be it dramatic Color palette or ornaments or silhouette of the garment. He represented the “New women” Met.
This assignment I will outline the concept of an unequal society, in addition I will include prejudice, stereotype, labelling and discrimination. In today’s society a population of individuals are treated unequally or is an individual contributing to unfair treatment, in which they are treating them differently due to their race, gender, social class, sexuality or beliefs. In addition In the UK there is a major gap between the rich and the poor, society is divided and the rich share together and leave the poor with little stash left over. Also social inequality is also identified as when opportunities, different social position or rewards are unequal. Prejudice is when an individual is judged by aspects which do not relate to them at all.
Groups in society are constantly competing against each other and there is a constants struggle for power between groups. There are two main classes in conflict according to Marx. The owners (who own the means of production) and the workers (who do not own the means of production). The workers are the ones who are being alienated. They are being alienated because this system(capitalism) is not fair.
Focusing on at least 2 photographers, give an account on the relation between photography and fashion or photography and advertising. Since the invention/discovery of photography, fashion has always been a prominent area for photographers to shoot. With the popularity of fashion magazines and journals throughout the 20th century photographers could now capitalise on this market whilst also showing the public their artistic vision on a huge scale. Fashion is a form of conveying identity, what we wear indicates who we are as people, our personalities, where we stand in life, our social level. Although many may consider this extremely shallow, this is exactly what the fashion magazines are selling to us...identity.
Programme: | Sociology of work | Question: | Explain the terms “alienation, bureaucracy and de-skilling” in sociology of work? To what extent are these concepts relevant in explaining how work is structured in contemporary societies? | Marx’s alienation is regarded as a feeling of separation from the work that people do, that is, the act of production, from other workers, from what they are producing and even from their own essential humanity. In Weber’s definition bureaucracy is an organisation with a hierarchy of paid, full-time officials who form a chain of command (Haralambos and Holborn, 2008). Braverman presents an argument against what he regards as the degradation of work and the de-skilling of the labour force which is a result of the inhuman aspects of capitalism (Kanungo, 1982).