norm

SOC 111: Foundations in Sociology

Instructor: Dr. Scott Thompson

CULTURE

  • Definition of Culture:

    • Culture is described as the sum of all forms of art, love, and thought that have allowed humanity to gain freedom from enslavement over the centuries.

    • Relatedness of culture to media and images, e.g., "Calpers is its seated mat of belief; central to culture."

    • Linked to the philosophical question: "What is water?"

Content: What Truths Make Up Our Culture?

  • Concept of the "water" metaphorically and literally in sociocultural contexts, querying processes behind truth formation.

  • Sources mentioned include:

    • Underground Water

    • Rivers

    • Ground Run-off

    • Wind

    • Rain

    • Evaporation

    • Sea

    • Water Cycle: Notably the South Saskatchewan and Mississippi Rivers, as well as local references to rivers in regions of Saskatchewan and Regina.

  • Sociological Imagination: Understanding the interplay between individual lives and larger societal structures.

Argument About Normal/Culture

  1. Existence of a Singular Normal:

    • There exists a single unchanging concept of normality in society.

  2. Normal as Divine Nature:

    • Normal is perceived as being mediated by divine forces that stabilize relationships between deities and humanity and among human beings.

    • Stability: Normal is seen as enforceable and aims towards societal good.

  3. Normality and Punishment:

    • Those who do not fit the standard of normalcy are seen as punishable and referred to as the