Emotion Work in Popular Culture

According to Hochschild’s Emotion-Management perspective, emotion is more biological than psychological. The theorist exclaims that emotions are particularly tied to behavior with a cognitive aspect presented as a signal function; thereby working as measures to compensate for the rather inward, human expectation against the reality of his or her outward experience. The human activity of evoking or suppressing certain feelings accordingly defines emotion work. In the following video clip of the popular 2004 Blockbuster Mean Girls, character Gretchen Wieners must do emotion work to suppress her feelings of resentment when her peer, character Regina George, scolds her for her personal diction.

Hochschild’s idea of emotion work includes three branches of ideology: cognitive, bodily, and expressive. In the cognitive aspect of emotion work, this concept refers to changing one’s thoughts for example, to change the actual feelings experienced. Through the Mean Girls character Gretchen, the cognitive example serves true as Gretchen desperately feels her peer Regina is a rude, mean spirited person but adjusts these thoughts for the sake of their friendship. The bodily aspect of emotion work entails of changing the physical effects of an emotion. Gretchen further demonstrates emotion work when she describes an instance where because of her “friend’s” request to never where hooped earrings, that she has lied to by pretending she did not like the gift of hooped earrings from her parents. In a motive clandestine speech to the class, Gretchen further describes the expressive aspect of emotion work by attempting to hide her frustration with her friendship troubles via her paper on Ceasar the tyrant.

From the Mean Girls movie, it is evident that emotion work is a modern and absolute theorem to apply to popular culture. Gretchen Wieners, the protagonist proves as an erratic, yet precise example of the multi-faceted branches of emotion work including the cognitive, bodily, and expressive aspects through her experiences with her frenemy, antagonist, Regina George. The human populace faces similar circumstances in their relationships with others, thereby creating a comedic yet relatable example for specific communication. Hochschild’s theorem conclusively may be applied for posterity moving through popular culture and everyday occurrence as individuals adjust their feelings for the situational challenges they may face daily.

 

 

“The Help” redefines Black women.

The Help” brings light upon the color line between upperclass Whites and the underclass Blacks. The underclass being defined as female-based households that have a high school or less education thus welfare depended. According to The Urban Institute, the Black Underclass tripled in just fifteen years between 1980 and 1995. The underclass Maids had to be under White domination to support their families so they conformed into the White women’s veil of only seeing White America. According to the Souls of Black Folk, the color line is a hierarchy of attitudes creating a social structure around skin color and race. So the white upper class women built a wall between the two groups of women and threw darts over the wall into the lives of Black hardworking help. The maids felt like they had no option but to endure the destruction of the unfair treatment because of the matrix of domination. The Matrix of domination had the Maids chained to their job because of their race, their underclass and their gender corset, they fit into the role of being a Maid, care-taker of the children and excessively submissive. Yet, when unveiled Skeeter steps onto the scene and begins to examine the reality of the injustice. She begins to provide confidence to Aibileen and the other maids that they have more self-value than the White malicious women express to them. Skeeter encourages the maids to declare their own self-definition of who they are and not conform to what the white landowners tell them they have to be.“The Help” demonstrates the veil, color line and matrix of domination that separate Blacks and Whites which creates self-definition, self-valuation because of the matrix of domination.

Independent George’s Identity Work

 

This artifact comes from an episode of Seinfeld called The Pool Guy. In this episode George struggles with the merging of his life with his’s girlfriend Susan’s life. As they start to spend more and more time together George worries that he will lose the independent George. He is afraid to spend more time with her and have her see who he really is and how he acts at home versus in public. At one point George says that if Susan is allowed to infiltrate his personal world, the George that Jerry knows will die and cease to exist.

This is a picture perfect of Goffman’s Impression Management. We see the back stage being exposed to Susan as they grow close together. When George talks about Susan infiltrating his personal world, he is worried about the back stage becoming the front stage. George is afraid that all of the face-work he has done in front of Susan will be for nothing if his backstage is exposed and she leaves him.

George Costanza really is an interesting character from Seinfeld, his whole life really does seem like a Dramaturgy. He spends all his time focused on impression management. At work is worried what his boss will think, at the coffee shop what the customers are saying about him, or at Jerry’s what Elaine is thinking about him. His whole life he is putting on an act for other people. He truly is the embodiment of Goffman’s theory.

HOLLABACK! IF YOU BLACK OR JUST NOT WHITE & WHY IT SUCKS TO BE NOT WHITE & A WOMAN WHO IS WHITE PRESUMABLY (OR REPRESENTS THE MAJORITY)… SAYS SOCIAL MEDIA A.K.A. THE NEW NEWS

I think the title nearly says it all, but if you were not one of the 40+million viewers who has happened not to click on the social blog bait, please do and observe (again). To sum up this video, a woman walks up and down “all areas of Manhattan” for 10 hours! and receives 100+ verbal forms of sexual harassment. First thing first, this was regarded as a social experiment by the original authors of Hollaback! (http://www.ihollaback.org/) a non-profit activist group formed to end street harrassment. Second, street harassment is real, and I am sure all of us (yes men and women) have been on the unfortunate receiving end of it. According to social theorists such as Judith Butler, this is just one method of maintaining symbolic power of the majority (men) gender roles while subverting the other (women in this instance).

However, I think lost in this misguided attempt of the Hollaback! activists, but obvious to hopeful future social scientists is the reinforcement of racial stigmatization by the media (social media). This of course was not a true experiment, regardless of the “all areas of Manhattan” claim by the video producers. In fact, were one not to ever visit or be rich enough to live in Manhattan, you would perceive it as mostly inhabited by non-working blacks and latinos and graffitied on every corner. Hmmmm… I will not digress into the data collection errors of the video producers, here is a better site that explains that (https://medium.com/message/that-catcalling-video-and-why-research-methods-is-such-an-exciting-topic-really-32223ac9c9e8).

No, I would rather use the lens of sociological critical theory to examine how culture is responsible for oppressing people according to Theodor Adorno’s definition of the Culture Industry. The oppression taking place in the Hollaback! catcalling video is that of blacks and latinos marginalized to ideas purported by old-fashioned (white) racists’ fears of blacks raping our white women! Yes, I went there, and so did the video producers conveniently editing out any occurrences of non-blacks/non-latinos hollering or sexually harassing the female candidate. We must question why this is so. You see, when the media has an influence this powerful it poses a danger to perceived social norms, encouraging racial stereotypes while misrepresenting the truth. This is one method of maintaining power and status while keeping others in their place. Worse, these frequency effects (media’s constant portrayal of colored minorities as criminals or dangerous threats) also lead to prejudice and discrimination further boldly marking the color lines between races, or hierarchical statuses as describe by W.E.B. DuBois.

We must question the narrative that media plays in our lives. It is a culture of influence embedded in our daily lives, not just as entertainment, but as information which we soak as data nourishment which can alter and prescribe our behaviors. Social media may pose a larger threat, because it is instant and sometimes recommended by people who share our social connections. For a video or Buzzfeed story to go viral, it suggests that its popularity is the prerequisite to truth by our relatives, friends, and colleagues, reposting without comment and question, is the approving endorsement.

The Power Elite

This clip presents the theory of The Power Elite, how it controls the masses to keep the masses in their place.  The Power Elite uses media to distract the masses.  The ideals of mainsteam society seem to be in agreement with the “truths” [sic] provided by the Power Elite.  I think those belief systems or ideals and the messages of the media are incorporated to become what distracts the masses from being and having empowerment.  An empowerment that is able to deconstruct meta-narratives and would dimenish extreme power of the few at the top.  Even though the message from this video clip originates outside the United States of America, it is also as relevant as the Power Elite Theory in its application to society in The USA .

The authors of this video clip promotes a South African political party knowned as the Ubuntu Party.  In my understanding of the clip they ask a Post Modernist question about deconstruction of the Power Elite.  What if people stop buying into the meta-narratives.  What would it be like if people in societies began placing value on each other instead of ideals handed down to them?  What would it be like if people in societies began to place value on other people without looking through the lens of race, gender, stratification and wealth?

After viewing the clip the very first time I instinctly thought about all the things  I wish people wouldn’t judge me by; my age or the uniform I have to wear that states my class standing, the neighborhood I live in, the vehicle I drive, the color of my sons skin, or even the color of my skin. I also thought deeply about my own assumptions and judgements.  When we set assumptions, judgements, and self expediancy aside we can arrive at the place where we begin using our Social Imagination to solve other problems in society as well.

ubuntu–za.org is the site.  Ubuntu Party is a party that was founded by Michael Tellinger. The party stands for all South African people

Hegemonic Masculinity “She’s the man”

 

I chose this Artifact because I think it’s a perfect example of Hegemonic Masculinity& gender inequality. This is a digital artifact from the movie She’s the man. In this scene the girls soccer team gets canceled, the girls are extremely upset because they love the sport. In order for them to get a chance to play in the season, they ask the boy’s soccer couch if they could try out for the boys team. The boy’s soccer couch denies them. He goes to the extent to tell the girls that it is a scientific fact that boys are faster,stronger and more athletic than girls. By that statement he is demonstrating and defining society’s Hegemonic masculinity pattern of  practices men’s dominance over women to continue.

This term was coined by Raewyn Connell,Australia’s most highly well knowed sociologists. who got her Phd from the University of Sydney. She was mostly concerned for large scale social structures with recognition of personal experience and collective agency. Connell was awarded the American sociological Association award for distinguished contribution  to the study of sex and gender.

In Sports it gets very competitive,especially between men and women. Men in today’s society are portrayed to be strong, athletic,protectors, not showing any emotion.Sports are suppose to help boys to set the example of being strong. If a guy shows a slight of emotion, it demonstrates them to be weak. Hegemonic masculinity is part of all  social life, micro(within the picture of the perfect family) to macro(public view,the media/ how the overall world sees them). The way Hegemonic masculinity is pretrayed in society is not always positive a thing. Not all men receive the same benefits of patriarchy equally.Especially if they fall out of society’s definition of hegemonic masculinity such as show any emotion. If a man shows emotion there their not man enough etc.

The World is a Stage

*please stop at .25 and then continue at 1:06*

*******Also, I apologize for the language. ********

The digital artifact that I am using is a clip from the movie Waiting. The basis of the movie is about waiters, what goes on behind the scenes of restaurant life and the frustrations of moving up the corporate ladder or just continuing in your present position. The waitress in the clip is Naomi and in the movie she is described as being great at her job but has just “been doing this/been here, too long” and as you can see in the clip, she is very upset with her position in life and is even overlooked for a management position (If you watch the full movie).

Erving Goffman’s approach to the self, often referred to as the dramaturgical model and is a part of symbolic interactionism, is one of the most true and relevant theories, in my opinion. Symbolic interactionism is described as our life being simply a series of performances with actors, scripts,props, ect. As the clip shows, the waitress is simply “acting” while interacting with the table of women she is serving and is incorporating Goffman’s “front stage” performance when dealing with her customers. The Front stage of Goffman’s Impression Management consists of the “setting” or “personal front,” that is given to the audience or particular persons that are being interacted with. The Back Stage is the performance or actions that the audience does not see and the actor can act naturally or “be themselves” unbeknownst to the audience or persons. The waitress Naomi seems very happy and eager to please with her guest and  agrees with the woman in her dessert choice with mmmmm!! ‘s (Front stage). But then goes to the back kitchen and speaks badly of her and is frustrated when making the sundae (Back Stage).

Having worked as a waitress in many restaurants as well as working in retail positions and did so with less cursing ha, I definitely recognize that in order for social relationships and society, and even customer service to run smoothly, symbolic interactionism is definitely necessary and is a part of the natural flow of society. When eating a restaurant, we can all agree that we expect our waiter/waitress to be cheerful, helpful because not only is it “their job”, but because better service = better tips. This goes for the same when those roles are reversed, the waiter knows that he/she has to be courteous to the customers because they are basing his tips on the job he does and how he does it. Definitely a play in action.

Hegemonic Masculinity: Beauty and the Beast’s Gaston

Now we all love Disney movies, fairytales and all, but somewhere between Cinderella and The Little Mermaid we figured out the writers at Disney love to use the standard gender roles our society has come to know and conform too. Being a Disney lover myself, i’ve just grown used to the way it works in these fairytales of my childhood. None of these movies show hegemonic masculinity in a better way than Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Hegemonic Masculinity is a concept that was created by R.W. Connell, and generally states the practice of promoting the dominance of the heirarchial roles of men and the subordinate roles of women. Hegemony in general means dominance or leadership of one social group over another and when added to masculinity it is clear which gender comes out on top.

In this clip, (one of the most famous clips of the movie) the antagonist, Gaston, is upset that the protagonist and main character Belle, refuses to accept his invitation of marriage. He believes with all of his heart that he’s the strongest, most handsome, and manliest men of all the land. Gaston seems to feel entitled to have Belle as his wife and is utterly distraught when to his surprise, she refuses him. Of course Disney turns the scene into a sing-along song, but the meaning is very real. Belle, according to Gaston, should be put into a subordinate role of the uneducated wife, (he makes a comment about her filling her head with nonsense, as she’s walking down the street reading a book) and succumb to his every desire and wish. The dominance of the hierarchal male definitely fits Gaston as he is strong, tall, handsome, and robust.

Watching this now as one of my favorite movies of my childhood, I find myself completely annoyed by the Gaston character, and happy when he fails to defeat the beast. Gaston’s giant ego played out on screen nails Connell’s hegemonic masculinity concept on the head. It is still a Disney classic, but I hope the new live-action remake, makes Gaston a little less..well “jerkish.”

– Cortney Lopez

Acting Your Role Not Your Gender: Preformativity

The digital artifact I found was the reversal of a “normal” gender role. The women acting as men would in a regular heterosexual relationship.The relational roles relatively made for each gender is funny, how these roles are naturally or culturally accepted in most cultures.

The theory I chose to portray with this clip is Queer theory by Judith Butler and other theorist,  and how its preformativity aspect is present in everyday life. Maybe not as normative as it used to be but the gender role of the man being the bread winner and the woman was the stay at home wife/mother taking care of the children and the house. Social roles are another situation where certain aspects are accepted. A man can take a woman out on a date and majority of the time the man is expected to be the gentleman and pay. Maybe in another aspect the man is expected to be the protector of the family in sight of danger. In regards to women, women are expected to be the warm nurturing person in the family. Women are also expected to be the more emotional and communicative of the two genders.

As the cultural acceptance of what a gender role is the stigma that comes with a gender creates a boundary to what is accepted or can be accepted. More often the men are becoming stay at home dads while the mother/wife is the sole or bread winner in the family. The social norms set that break the normalcy of what a heterosexist gender role is. The goal of queer theory in its core is to break the stigma of gender roles but to put more importance on what the person is versus their sis assigned gender. When these gender roles and boundaries are broken or even pushed the inequality between all sexual orientations will be easier to understand and accept across all social settings.

Master Chief: More Than A Machine

(Scene starts at 1:45)

Undoubtedly, you have probably heard of the Halo franchise and its main protagonist, Master Chief Petty Officer Jon-117, in one way or another. It has spawned many games, novels, comics, and animated shorts since its inception. To those who are familiar with the games, our hero is often labeled as stoic, robotic, machine-like, or referred to as a cyborg. In reality, he struggles with this identity as he realizes he is not a machine programmed to complete the next mission. Looking through the broader context of queer theory and its assumptions that identities are not fixed nor do they determine who we are, it is interesting to see contemporary theories of sociology prevalent even in the storylines of our great action video games. In the clip above, the Chief looks out into space stoically as he ponders deeply. The Captain of the ship enters and tries to console him about losing his closest companion. He replies that a soldier’s duty is to protect humanity, whatever the cost. Lasky remarks that they are not two different things, that soldiers are humanity. The Chief seems to realize when he says this that he is not a machine and he is hurting. “She told me that once….about being a machine.” This line is one of the most revealing in the franchise because it gives us an insight into the mind of a “robot.” It seems clear with the loses of his companion Cortana he is struggling to adhere to the identity of a faceless, robotic soldier because underneath the armor he is a man that is in pain. From here on he goes against the notion that he is programmed by the military to complete tasks. He is not what they want him to be, he has an identity of his own, and he wants to find it. Queer theory exemplifies the struggle of not relating to or being fixed into a particular identity determined by others.

-Jonathan Norris