Sociological Change
Sociological Change
The film is all about building the community back from the bad action s done in the past. The society was composed of criminal actions that destroyed social institutions like families. The society has individuals who conformed negatively forming bad characters that led to deaths of the people. According to the movie/film many teenagers engaged in antisocial behaviors that landed them to crime. Nevertheless, the society comes up with strategies that could help bridge the gap between the truth that the youngsters got and the reality of cohesion and coercion. Dominant themes of conflict, functionality, and interaction arose from the film. The church among other social institutions where used to solve the dysfunction community.
Structural functionalism theory is a set of the theory that best explains the consensus of the society (Atkin 7). It is a theory that builds upon the interactions among people create a condusive environment for security and order as well as plays the part of balancing the running of this other smooth running functionalities. The theory focuses on the norms, culture, social institutions and focuses on the social understanding based on the agreements between organizations, groups, tribes, and individuals. The theory also views change as taking place in a slow and orderly manner. According to sociologies, structural functions can be used to correct and adjust social dysfunctions, but it takes place in a slow manner making institutions and people to conform without noticing the disorders caused. With reference to the film and the literature available concerning structural functionalism, there are several assumptions. These assumptions focus on different levels of the society such as family, organizations, society, and individuals. For the theory to be significant it should have systems that are interdependent of the other parts. The system should be self maintained, should be used in the process of change, the system should maintain boundaries with the environment, and should focus on integration of people. For example in the film, the teenager whose mother testifies in a panel tries to bring smooth running of functions by explaining the behaviour of the kid from his birth (Kandel 3).
Conflict theory creates emphasis on the role of power and coercion among the people. This theory is basics of Karl Marx who talks of the society as fragmented into groups that the struggle for economic, political and social resources. The social order is maintained with those that are able to posses the highest power as well as those with greatest availability of the above resources. When unity exist then there is union and sharing of common interest among the people in the society. According to the theory as depicted from the film, inequality exists since there is less or no control of share of resources that can defend by giving them advantages. Many people are not bound by the shared norms and values but by the hands of those with great power and social control. Individuals and groups are able to increase their interest by taking control of the resources of the society. In the theory, most of the attention is paid to gender, race, and social class. While other sociological theory focuses on the positive issues of the society conflict theory explains and demonstrates more on conflicted and changing society. For example, the society according to the film tries to change the dysfunctional society (Bachman 13).
Symbolic interaction- This is a theory that explains how people use symbolic meaning to build up social interaction. It analyzes the society by addressing the issue of behaviour, events, and objects that help the society to conform to good sociological behaviors. According to the movie and the theory the society is built to adopt all human interpretation.
Elements of Structural Functionalism
Structural functionalism is viewing the society as a complex whole made up of a number of organs that work together to keep the society functioning. Failure of an element (organ) of the society could fail the whole society. It happens the same way as the failure of an important organ in the body of a man, for example, the heart would lead to the death of that individual. Elements of structural functionalism include societal norms, customs, institutions and traditions (Kandel 43). Norms in the society refer to the expected behaviour of members of that society. Norms may not be taught in some society. As an individual grows and develops, he/she sees how other people n the society are conducting themselves and so is he/she expected to conduct himself/herself. It is expected that people in a particular age bracket behave differently from those of a different age bracket.
Customs are set of laws in the society set to ensure that people behave normally in the society. In an African setting, for example, it is customary that a child does not shake the hand of an adult with one hand. Failure to hold on to the customs always attracts punishment. If a person steals, customs state that he/she is punished by sentenced to prison, for example.
Traditions refer to the practices passed on in the society from one generation to the other. Tradition could also be believes passed on from generation to generation in the society. Religions also fall in this category. Christianity is a tradition that passed from cohort to another since the times of Jesus.
Institutions are structures of social order used to maintain the various organs of the society. A family is an institution in the society that governs the relationship between a husband and a wife. Every institution has its own rules and regulations. In the example of the family, there are boundaries concerning what the husband or wife should do and to what extent (Atkin 12).
Social conflict in the society refers to a situation in the society where people do not agree. This could be as a result of inequality in the society and disagreements due to the difference in societal classes. Change on the society also brings about conflict since some people are for change and others are against it. Symbolic interaction in the society refers to a situation where people attach meaning to symbols such as sounds and signs so as to convey meaning
Implication of Films
Popular films are records of popular past events. It, therefore, enables students to experience the past. It also enables them to appreciate the subject. Films also help to enhance students’ understanding of the relevance of sociology in the society. It helps them understand how sociology has shaped the world (Kessler 23). Films also provide students with hands free experience of what is being taught. When one is teaching about a problem, for example, war or famine, the students are able to hear and see what is happening and hence make more effort in understanding the subject. This is because films provide evidence that what is being taught is true. Films also aid in remembrance of topics taught. It is obvious that whatever is seen and heard is retained better by the brain that that which has been read about.
Works Cited
Atkin, C. “Teenage drinking: Does this affect Social life.” Journal of Communication (2008): 56-78.
Bachman, J. “Smoking, drinking, and drug use among American high school students: Correlates and trends.” American Journal of Public Health (2010): 2-7.
Kandel, D. “Processes of adolescent socialization by parents and peers.” International Journal of the Addictions (2009): 2-19.
Kessler, R. “Antecedents of adolescent initiation into stages of drug use.” Journal of Youth and Adolescence (2011): 5-7.
