fandomhigh | Sociology 310 and 500 Class Meetings

Sociology 310: Special Topics - Death and Dying

Your assignment was to read the Death of Olivier Becaille by Emile Zola. In it, a man is buried alive by his family who assumes his comatose state is death, only to awaken, escape his tomb, and choose not to return to his old life.

The closing lines are "I am an ordinary man who has toiled and eaten like
anybody else. Death no longer frightens me, but it does not seem to
care for me now that I have no motive in living, and I sometimes
fear that I have been forgotten upon earth."

Your essay question is: Does the introduction of death into the realm of life devalue life itself? Does life inherently have less meaning in the face of death, or more?

Please feel free to use your own personal experience in your response. You do not have an assignment for Monday, enjoy the weekend.

Sociology 500: The Sociology of Deviance

First, please pass in your assignment from last class, which was to write a short essay on the definition of deviance, if you have not done so.

Today we will be discussing one of the theories sociologists use to study this field. It is called Labeling Theory.
"Social groups create deviance by making the rules whose infraction constitutes deviance." - Howard S. Becker, 1963.

Lecture Notes

Labeling Theory considers that someone becomes deviant by being labeled negatively, and that person may continue these behaviors because they internalize the label. Please feel free to share any reactions you have to that idea.

Your assignment for next week: Choose a deviant subculture that you would like to study in more depth.

[OOC: You can always say "Blahblah hands in her stunningly well-crafted assignment with a grin." I am just giving you topics to explore IC and w/ your classmates if you wish. I am going to start axing people who haven't commented at all by the beginning of next week, however.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Rosseau said 'Nature never deceives us; it is always we who deceive ourselves.'

I believe we delude ourselves into thinking that others won't hurt us because they care about us, or they're supposed to... I still haven't made up my mind on who is responsible when they do."

[ooc: or RoUsseau. eek.]

"That is so true," Angelus said. "I've often found it interesting to see what happens to families, especially in times of crisis. It does make you wonder, though. If my dad had treated me different, would I be the guy I am today?"

"It's the classic battle betwen nature vs. nuture. I've seen too much evidence that either can be the determining factor. The rest is a crapshoot. Sometimes I think I might have been a different person if my father hadn't left us... but maybe I wouldn't be. I can never know. We can only work with what we know to be true."

"One day at a time, right doc?" Angelus gave him a friendly grin.

"That's what they say. And being under 40 and all, I have many days left."

Grissom gives Angelus a sardonic grin.

"How are your other studies going? Have you rectified the situation with Ms. Sidle?"

"Everything else is going okay. So far, anyway," Angelus held up his hands to show his fingers crossed in hopes for his continued good luck. "Mostly been keeping my head down in Bio. Figured it'd be easier on everyone. Oh - and I got a job in town."

"That sounds like a good plan. What kind of job did you find?"

This being the first time he's mentioned it to anyone, Angelus is actually curious to see the reaction.

"Grief counselor at the coroner's office."

"I worked at the coroner's office when I was not much older than you. Of course, I wasn't a grief couselor. Good for you, Angelus. I'm sure you'll do well."

"I honestly did not know that," Angelus admitted. "But I figured hey, if I can help those in need then I want to be there. Especially considering my unique talents in that area."

"Sounds like a wise decision. If you have any questions about the subject matter, let me know. It has been a few years, but the nature of ME offices hasn't changed much over the years - the technology maybe, but not the ambiance."

"Might take you up on that," Angelus said. "I want to do a good job. Not just because it's a job, but maybe it'll help quash some of those - you know - rumors going around about me."

Sociology 310 and 500 Class Meetings

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