As part of the introduction category for week one:
‘Everyday Life’ and ‘Conclusion’ sections (pp. 163 to 165) of Berger, A. A. (1995). Sociological Theory and Cultural Criticism. In Cultural Criticism: A Primer of Key Concepts. Sage Publications.
My Review.
Berger discusses his study on how popular culture and Mass media affect everyday life. His focus is on everyday life "on the experiences of ordinary people and on their routines, attitudes, beliefs, and ways of functioning, with a particular interest in how they find meaning in their experiences". (1995, p 163)
Berger suggests in his writings that there are three important main points, “about how sociologist of everyday life work” (1995, p 163), first, natural environment observation, second, face to face observation and third, what people find meaningful in their lives, their internal experiences. He discusses that there is a difference between how sociologist on different continents, in this case “continental social scientists”(1995, p163) and in particular Henri Lefebvre, vary from American scholars in respect to ideological aspects of everyday life. He discusses how some American scholars study and blend the two ideologies to which “it is possible to draw a line between mass-mediated culture and everyday life” (1995, p 164).
I’m led to understand by Berger, that everyday life if studied can provide us with an understanding of social and sociological perspectives and could help us enhance further our utilisation and connection between popular culture, mass media and everyday life.
My thoughts:
It was an interesting read. Did I understand it? Yes to a degree. What did I learn? That mass media really does need to be studied by sociologists and not philosophers (it’s not really a philosophical concept; it is everyday life so why get philosophical about it?). No wonder television, newspapers, magazines and in particular the internet have progressed in leaps and bounds, people have the desire for knowledge no matter how insignificant it is, and people will want to study those who have desires. The internet has certainly taken me to places I never thought I would go, given me access to things I’m curious about, why not study it?
References:
‘Everyday Life’ and ‘Conclusion’ sections (pp. 163 to 165) of Berger, A. A. (1995). Sociological Theory and Cultural Criticism. In Cultural Criticism: A Primer of Key Concepts (pp. 135-165). Sage Publications.
If you like my review, thank you. Please do not copy.
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