SOSC 1140 Self, Culture and Society
Self, Culture and Society
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Self, Culture and Society
AP SOSC 1140
Objective
This research paper is an opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of issues and
theories examined in this course. It is also an opportunity to demonstrate and practise
scholarly research, critical thinking and good writing. Your paper will present an
identifiable argument, a clear thesis and scholarly research.
Deadline
By 11:59pm on August 12, 2024
Evaluation (35% of final grade)
Evaluation will be based on evidence that you have used 10 scholarly sources (not
including course readings) to support and interpret your thesis. Use sources from your
annotated bibliography. Include any number of additional popular sources (e.g.,
government documents, news item, film, web material) in addition to your 10 scholarly
sources. The latter (in brackets above) are not scholarly sources.
Format
• Margins: 2.5cm (one inch)
• Length: 6-8 pages (not including title page or bibliography), double-spaced text
• Font: 12-point, Times New Roman
Choose a topic (one only!)
1. Convergence and Concentration are major issues for citizens and governments alike,
particularly in democratic societies such as Canada. With reference to a specific
example, argue for or against ownership restrictions in Canadian media. Your chosen
example may focus on a particular sector, such as newspapers or radio broadcasting,
or you may choose to focus on a specific case study. Consider questions such as
these: Why should we care who controls the media? Are larger Canadian media
companies better positioned to compete internationally than smaller ones? What are
potential problems of corporate bias and influence when a few big companies control
much of media in a democratic society such as Canada?
2. The Propaganda Model in 2024: In 1988, Edward Herman and Noam Chomsky
published Manufacturing Consent – the book that articulated their ‘propaganda model’
for understanding the mass media. Introduce your reader to the model, and critically
reflect on its applicability today. Consider its power, but also its limits, especially
considering technological and commercial innovations since the time of its
publication.
3. Canadian media companies in the digital age face significant challenges from media
platforms such as Google and Facebook that allow users to share their content for free.
Consider this issue in relation to recent attempts to support Canadian media, such as
the Online News Act (Bill C-18), for example. Introduce your reader to the issue in the
context of the history of Canadian media policy. Consider, its impact on Canadian
culture, democracy, and freedom of expression.
4. Semiotics: Introduce your reader to the field of semiotics. Explain the history of
semiotics and illustrate its application with examples. Supplementing the assigned
texts by De Saussure, Voloshinov, and Barthes, examine how this field has developed
and bring the reader up to the present in semiotics research.
5. Social Industry and Culture Industry: Richard Seymour’s The Twittering Machine
examines the impact of social media on our sense of self and our relationship to
others. Introduce your reader to his concept of the social industry in relation to
Horkheimer and Adorno’s concept of the culture industry.
6. Platforms and Free Speech: Jillian York's "Silicon Values" explores the impact of
surveillance capitalism on free speech. How do social media platforms act as new
gatekeepers and shape our public discourse, and what are the implications for
democracy? Illustrate with a case study.
7. Participatory Culture and Democracy: Christian Fuchs' "Social Media: A Critical
Introduction" discusses the potential of social media for participatory culture. Analyze
the ways in which social media can enhance or hinder democratic participation.
Provide examples from recent social movements or campaigns.
8. Hegemony and Subculture: Dick Hebdige's "Subculture: The Meaning of Style"
explores the relationship between mainstream culture and subcultures. Discuss how
contemporary subcultures resist or reinforce hegemonic cultural narratives. Use
examples from music, fashion, or other cultural practices.
9. Semiotics in Advertising: How do advertisements convey messages and influence
consumer behaviour? Analyze a specific advertisement or campaign, applying theories
from De Saussure, Barthes, and Voloshinov.
10. Digital Surveillance and Privacy: Shoshana Zuboff's "The Age of Surveillance
Capitalism" outlines the pervasive nature of digital surveillance. Discuss how
surveillance practices by tech companies impact personal privacy and autonomy. Use
a recent data privacy scandal as a case studies.
11. Race and Representation in Media: How does the media representation of race
influence public perceptions and social dynamics? Discuss using Theodore Allen's
"The Invention of the White Race" and provide examples from news media, film, or
television.
12. Gender Inequality in the Workplace: Christine Williams' work on gender inequality
examines the persistent challenges women face in professional environments. Analyze
how gender dynamics have evolved in the workplace and the impact of movements like
#MeToo on addressing these issues.
13. Alienation in the Gig Economy: Marx's theory of alienation provides a framework for
understanding workers' experiences in capitalist societies. Apply this theory to the gig
economy, discussing how gig workers experience alienation and its effects on their
well-being.
14. Smart Cities and Privacy Concerns: The rise of smart cities involves extensive use of
data and surveillance technologies. Discuss the balance between the benefits of smart
city innovations and the potential privacy concerns they raise. Use examples from
cities implementing smart technologies.
15. Art and Authenticity in the Digital Age: Consider Walter Benjamin’s ideas on the
mechanical reproduction of art. How do these ideas apply to digital art and online
content creation today?
16. Racial Identity and Social Media: How do social media platforms affect the
construction and perception of racial identities? Use Theodore Allen’s "The Invention of
the White Race" as an entry point into your discussion
17. Gender Dynamics in Online Spaces: Reflect on your experiences of gender dynamics
in online communities and social media. Analyze these experiences using Kimberlé
Crenshaw’s intersectionality framework and Christine Williams’ discussion on gender
inequality.
Tips
• Start thinking about, and making notes, for your paper sooner rather than later.
• Do not use long quotes from any one source. This can lead to plagiarism.
• Do not use quotes as filler. It will be obvious to the reader.
• Give your paper a unique title that summarizes your topic or thesis.
• Run a grammar and spell check before submitting your paper.
• Print your paper and read it aloud. It will be easier to catch errors and gaps.