Popular Culture

Music is a part of pop culture. Ed Sheeran, one of the most popular artists with the most creative song lyrics, had a concert in L.A. last year. There were so many people from different races and both sexes that showed up, each of whom were big Ed Sheeran fans. His music, which tugs at one's heartstrings, has connected so many people!

One Direction, an incredibly famous British-Irish boy band, is widely known around the world. They became famous after losing the UK X-Factor, but they soon rose to world wide domination in the music industry, thus gaining fans from all around the world - Europe, America, Australia, Asia, and more! Their catchy tunes have won the hearts of many fans!

This is an example of a contemporary collective ritual. When One Direction released their movie, This Is Us, a group of girls lined up to be the first ones to see it. Our shared love for the boys and their music made us all at ease with one another because we were able to comfortably 'fangirl' and squeal without any judgments. Most of us became friends after!

According to cultural hegemony and consumerism, brands do matter. Although McDonald's coffee might taste better, having a Starbucks cup in your hand gives off a different impression to others.

This is an example of a sacred symbol. The UCLA Bruin is a key symbol and identification amongst students in UCLA. This picture was taken when UCLA and University of Florida had to play against each other during the Final Four. Putting a plastic alligator in the mouth of their mighty bruin symbolized their strength, their strong support system at the school, and their determination!

Life at Home

This is a family. To be specific, it's my family! We are a family because we are bound by biological ties. 

This is an example of a kin because it's my parents, my brother, my grandparents, my aunts, and a cousin.

A nuclear family consists of a mother, father, and their biological children.

Endogamy is when someone marries someone within their social group. My brother married an 

Armenian, Christian girl, which is the expected type of marriage in the Armenian community.

My cousin, an Armenian Christian, married someone who is an Arab Muslim. This is not an accepted or typical type of marriage in an Armenian community! It is an example of exogamy.

Sex and Gender

Sex refers to the biological category in which an individual belongs to. There are two types: male or female

According to Talcott Parsons, men have the more instrumental role because they financially support the family and are seen as the more authoritative figure.

 Mothers are more suitable for the expressive role because they're the ones responsible for emotional support and nurture. Mothers are more likely to take and bring their kids back from school. Plus, they're more likely to take selfies with you!

Families are the primary source of socialization. Because every member of my family, I have a concept of what is expected of me and what my duties/responsibilities are as a daughter/sister.

The media plays a large role in the way women are supposed to be portrayed. There is a highly stereotypical idea as to how she should be. It is clear that women are at a very obvious disadvantage in comparison to men and their expectations.

Race and Ethnicity

April 24, 1915 is the date of the Armenian Genocide. This was one of the most horrific, devastating, and cruelest crime against my race. The admittance of the genocide by Turkey and the acceptance by America is an ongoing conflict. Next year, it will be 100 years of denial. 

 

In Hollywood, there is a city called Little Armenia. The tenants in this area is obviously Armenian dominated. This is an example of pluralism because a group of people from the same race have their own little city, full of Armenian supermarkets and stores, which encourages them to keep their culture alive. 

Another example of pluralism is Koreotown in Hollywood. This place is full of Korean restaurants, stores, and businesses! 

 

Every year, on April 24, Armenians gather in front of the Turkish Embassy to protest the silence of the Turks and to prove to them that despite their attempts, we still exist. This is an example of symbolic ethnicity because it only happens once a year. We do not protest in front of the Turkish Embassy every day, therefore it does not impact our lives daily.

The pomegranate is a fruit that is commonly attached to my ethnicity. It's a unique part of our culture because we own a lot of material things that have pomegranate symbolism on it.

Social Class Inequality

According to Max Weber, class status is made up of prestige, power, and wealth. A family's living room can give someone an idea as to what their class status is. With the television, the modernly styled couches, and a table with snacks, one can assume that this is the living room of a middle class family.

This living room is very modern, it has abundant sources of light, and most things seem to be made of metal. There are different pictures and a vase of flowers. One can assume that this is the living room of an upper class family. 

Erving Goffman states that there are many factors, one of them being clothes, that can inform others on what social class they are in. The person who owns and wears these shoes are obviously a part of the upper class because these are Givenchy shoes. They're so expensive!

By examining the scenery and the activities the kids are doing, one can decipher what their  socioeconomic status is. They are skateboarding in a pool while lounging around on foldable chairs. They are obviously a part of the middle class. 

By examining the clothing on this man, a Gucci belt, Burbery shirt, and (I believe) Gucci shoes, we can tell that he is a part of the upper class because those are such expensive brands! He is also on the Staples Center court, which means he can afford courtside tickets.

Deviance and Conformity

Eating soup with a fork is an example of breaking a norm because usually, we eat soup with a spoon!

 This is an example of property crime because this individual is trying to break into someone's house without being violent.

 The boy ditching class and falling asleep by the lockers is an example of deviant behavior because he is violating a norm and once the teacher or principal spots him, he will be in a lot of trouble! Wake up, buddy!

 

My two friends wore hair extensions at school because they thought they were being funny. This is an example of breaking a norm because two boys are wearing extensions, which is something female's wear!

This picture from high school depicts me being a conformist. I'm wearing the proper uniform of our school, attending class, and writing down notes of that class. I'm following the socially accepted standards set for a high school senior.

Life in Groups

In high school, my basketball team was one of my secondary groups. It's a team organized around a specific activity. Each of us aimed for the completion of one task - a championship.

 Someone's best friends can be an example of a primary group because they often spend a lot of time with one another. If it wasn't for these two, my high school years would've been disastrous!

 Facebook is a popular example of a social network that connects people from all around the world. Most of the time, we add people we hardly know on social networking websites because we might've seen them once or twice at a party or another social event.

  A neighborhood is an aggregate because it is a specific physical location shared by a group of people, but this specific group of people might not have a special relation or connection with one another.

 Drive-thru services are an example of McDonaldization. The widespread amount of drive thru fast food chains shows the bureaucratic rationalization along with deteriorating humanization.

Socialization: The Self and Social Interaction

One significant agent of socialization would be friends. Our peers offer us a different view on the world. Most of the time, their opinions and their influence can become much more powerful/significant than one's family. That's why it's always important to have a good group of friends!

School is another important form of socialization. This is a picture of the high school I graduated from. It taught me discipline, punctuality, and my Armenian values. If I did not attend an Armenian private school, I don't think I would be the same person I am today.

Family is definitely the most important agent of socialization because one's family is responsible for instilling values and morals in an individual from a young age. The way someone presents themselves is an example of how their family raised them.

Before this picture was taken, my best friend had jokingly nudged my stomach, which is why I'm standing at an odd angle. She does not follow the feeling rules - which would be to comfort me - and instead, she laughs and stands there casually. What a friend!

Unfortunately, mass media plays an influential role in society. The following magazines - Vanity Fair, US Weekly, Cosmo - have a strong impact on girls and their self-image.

Culture

Food is a prime example of culture. In the Armenian culture, Sarma is a popular dish. It has become quite popular in America as well, but the Americans know it as "wrapped/stuffed grape leaves"

 Without a doubt, technology is a vital aspect of material culture, especially in America. Nowadays, most people are connected and dependent on their iPhones. Thanks a lot, Steve Jobs!

 Speed limit signs are an example of formal norms. If a driver does not follow this speed limit, they are breaking the law and risking the chance of getting pulled over and receiving a ticket.

 Symbolic culture are the ideas associated with a cultural group. The Armenian flag has three colors - red, blue, and orange. Red symbolizes the blood of our freedom fighters, blue symbolizes country's piece, and orange symbolizes the abundant amount of wheat grown in Armenia.

 Gestures are signs we make with our bodies. This particular gesture normally means 'peace,' or as Tyga once said, 'chuckin' up the deuces,' which obviously means goodbye.

Sociological Research Methods

Surveys are an example of quantitative research because the information received can be easily converted into numbers/statistics.

 A prime example of qualitative research is this interview, which is done face-to-face. Communicating with someone to gather information, thoughts, and opinions is much more effective because you receive a deeper insight on whatever happened.

 A newspaper is an example of an existing source because they have information that's been collected by other researchers.

 

This is an example of an experiment conducted to figure out which battery life lasts the longest. It includes control groups, independent and dependent variables, and a hypothesis. 

The overview of research methods show that the amount of time an individual dedicates to her/his studies will be obvious on their next exam. If one doesn't procrastinate and starts studying a week before, they'll do fine!