In today's class we:
- Briefly re-capped the experiment day and how it went
- Confirmed the presentation order and the plan for Thursday's class
- Discussed culture in class (defined simple as "the way of life of people")
- Discussed the differing cultures in North/South Korea
- Looked at American military presence all around the world and the sociological effects it has on both the soldiers, their families and the different cultures involved
- Discussed whether spreading culture around the world resulted in improving the culture, reducing it or changing it. Some very interesting points were made here
- Looked at the problems sociologists face when investigating culture:
-How to define different elements of what culture actually is
-How to classify which groups people belong to in which cultures
-How to identify the distinguishing characteristics of cultures
- Analysed elements of culture; looking at values, beliefs, norms (mores are essential norms), symbols and language
- We watched a documentary "The Human Zoo" about how living in cities affects individuals. You were asked to analyse these effects and also make note of anything that has changed within the last 15 years since the documentary was made