Chapter 2

1. Chapter 2 Friday Night Lights A Functionalist Approach to Popular Culture

2. Intro This chapter describes the first of three sociological approaches used in this book: the functionalist approach. Functionalist approach to popular culture – our obsession with professional and intercollegiate athletics, celebrity magazines, and other forms of mass entertainment can be explained primarily in terms of their social uses in generating solidarity among individuals within communities.

3. Foundations of the Functionalist Approach • Emile Durkheim – French sociologist. Sought to understand the social role that religion plays in the functioning of human societies. • Durkheim observed early religions (American Indians and Aboriginal Australians) • These are societies for whom religion was notably the central organizing institution of their existence. • It structured their governance, work routines, and knowledge of the natural world. • They relied heavily on the role of signs, images, and symbols – many of which were drawn from natural world. • For example, totemic religions rely on animals as symbols.

4. Foundations of the Functionalist Approach What was the purpose of these symbols? Religious symbols or images represented not merely gods or beliefs, but the religious group members themselves and their collective conscience Durkheim also recognizedhow images are evoked in religious rituals and practices as a means of creating symbolic boundaries separating the sacred from the profane. For instance, many religions restrict the eating of certain foods considered filthy, dangerous, or taboo: observant Jews abstain from non-kosher foods such as pork. Likewise, the three major Western religions organize time itself into sacred traditions (Lent and Easter Sunday, the holy month of Ramadan, Yom Kippur and the Sabbath) These systems of classification and boundary maintenance reinforce distinctions between themselves and other groups, on the basis of insider and outsider status.

5. Foundations of the Functionalist Approach Durkheim also recognizes that religious rituals involving large groups of people present opportunities for generating collective effervescence – a shared feeling of identity in which the individual members of the group experience waves of emotion, a sense of unity and togetherness. For instance, during the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, or the hajj, 3 million adherents converge on the Saudi Arabian city to engage in collective worship and celebration. It is all these basic elements of religious life that provide the social glue that binds societies together through thick and thin.

6. Rituals of Solidarity and Social Cohesion in Popular Culture By EsraGuner

7. A functionalist approach to popular culture emphasizes how the symbols, rituals, and practices surrounding its production and consumption can bring people together by generating a shared sense of social solidarity. -In the world of professional and intercollegiate athletics, cities and regions are represented by team franchises that employ a range of symbols engineered to foster collective attachment. -Like Native American tribes, sports teams are typically signified by animalistic characters. Ex: Chicago Bears. Atlanta Falcons, Miami Dolphins, St. Louis Rams, Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens, etc.

8. Fans identify with sports A student at UT identifies with the Longhorn emblem, as a Christian identifies with the sacred cross. • Just as religions create symbolic orders that distinguish among the sacred and the profane, team regalia help participants maintain the illusion of difference between opposing franchises. • Like religious ceremonies, these rituals take place within special worlds: March Madness, Monday Night Football, Super Bowl Sunday. • Rituals can also be seen at pep rallies, tailgate parties, celebratory parades, and sporting events themselves.

9. Dehumanizing Native Americans American Sociological Association: • Social science scholarships has demonstrated that the continued use of Native American nicknames, logos, and mascots in sports harm Native American people in psychological, educational, and social ways • The stereotypes embedded in Native American nicknames, logos, and mascots in sports undermine education about the lives of Native American people • Example: Washington Redskins or the Cleveland Indians appear to dehumanize American Indians as if they were animals

10. SOCIAL SOLIDARITY rituals evoke the celebration of shared patriotism and national identity as a kind of civic religion and can generate an even greater sense of social solidarity and collective effervescence than the more playful, team-oriented cheering expected during game time. Example: This social solidarity illustrated itself during the 1990’S WHEN COMPLETE STRANGERS EMBRACED AND HIGH-FIVED ONE ANOTHER ON THE STREETS OF CHICAGO AFTER THE BULLS HAD WON EACH OF THEIR SIX NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONSHIPS, OR IN 2008 WHEN PHILADELPHIANS SPONTANEOUSLY CONVERGED ON CITY HALL AFTER THE PHILLIES WON THE WORLD SERIES.

11. Popular Culture as a Resource for Public Reflection • Like the famous tales of Romeo and Juliet, Ebenezer Scrooge, Jay Gatsby etc. which gives us a sense of what if feels to be human, artists take advantage of the mass media technology to run their stories in order for us to feel identified with them. • Movies, TV shows, celebrity gossip, sports, etc. are all stories we tell ourselves about ourselves. • People use these kind of media in order to start a conversation and bring up a topic.

12. Popular Culture as a Resource for Public Reflection • Each of these celebrity stories provide an excuse to discuss grave matters or pass moral judgment with ease. • People identify with these stories and that’s why they read them and follow them. For example: In 2008 People paid $14 million dollars for the exclusive right to publish photographs of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s newborn twins. Later on in December 2008 a single issue of US Weekly featured celebrity stories about their babies like “Nursing Confessions”, “daughter’s first words”. • Women followed these stories; Why?, Because they fraught with fears, and anxieties and these stories provide discussion for these anxieties and answers to their questions. They also permit cultural consumers to make judgments on the parenting style of others without appearing judgmental.

13. Rituals of Rebellion The ritual of rebellion is a temporarily intervention of the social hierarchy. The subordinate group is allowed to poke fun at the higher social order or pretends to be in a different social class. The acts grant subordinate groups momentary power with out changing social order. This practice has gone on in European monarchies, African tribes and in the United States. Monarchies have used court jesters to make fun of royalty. African tribes have also had public humiliations displays of the King. In the United States we celebrate rituals in rebellions in political satire, Halloween, and the annual mummer day parade in Philadelphia, PA. Aqua String band Halloween and The mummers day parade both place ordinary people in to costumes to disguise their daily identities.

14. Rituals of Rebellion Political satire has been used to entertain society. It is also beneficial to the politicians. Presidential candidates masks are made and sold on Halloween before every election. The best selling mask has never lost an election. Political satire is influential in CultureSNL George Bush

15. The Darker Functions Of Popular Culture

16. Rituals of Rebellion The power of pop culture Increasing celebrity status Pros and cons of the influence

17. Inequalities Political Sports High school, college, professional sports Volleyball Gymnastics

18. Objectification of women Abuse Salary inequality Example in sports Men v. women

19. Rituals of destruction Mobs Examples in Sports June 14,1992 Chicago 1994 Stanley Cup Celebration or Destruction?

20. Multiple Choice Who was the French sociologist that sought to understand the social role that religion plays in the functioning of human societies? a. Emile Durkheim b. Jean Girard c. Jean Luc Pircard d. Napoleon Bonaparte

21. True or False 2. Celebrity stories provide an excuse to discuss grave matters or pass moral judgment with ease. True

22. Fill in the blank 3. has been beneficial to politicians and presidential candidates. Answer: Political satire