What is Sociology?
It can be an abstract question. Because sociology deals with everything around us. But we can easily think this concept with few perspective.Sociology is the study of....
1. Society ( Society is 'group of people involved in persistent interpersonal relationship'. ㅡ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Societyㅡ Making network mutually is important misson of society members.)
2. Social Relation
3. Human Behavior (How Human respond to a social stimulus.)
4. Social Life (Manners of individual's everyday Life.)
*additonal reference : 'The traditional focuses of sociology include social stratification, social class, social mobility, religion, secularisation, law, sexuality and deviance' ㅡ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociology)
In Sociological study, we need to operationalize these many definition, we need to take a process of operationalization, or use Google Books and Wikipedia.
*Operationalization? : process of defining concept measurably.
(' Symbol for communication' , 'convert abstract concept to universal language'ㅡ http://blog.naver.com/juyounjjang/220159699771)
ex) Personal Space : an area within 1.5 meters of an individual
Also, we need to have 'sociological imagination' in this study.
Sociological imagination? I think it's 'ability of asking why, and thinking how society works'.
For instance, We can ask about this question.
Topic 1 : WHY does fashion change?
-Fashion is the presentation of social status. After middle classes flourished, they could afford what high classes enjoy before. (wine, fashion, food, etc) Then, these privileges trickled down to low class. Demands increased gradually, and price skyrocketed. However, customer couldn't cut back on spending because of vanity and class consciousness. Manufacturer catched this trend, so they switched the mainstream of fashion.
Topic 2 : WHY does Korea top plastic surgery popularity charts?
- In Korea, beauty is important asset. It can't be only for self-contentment. It implies social dispute.
'Deviance from the norm is key secret of natural beauty. Face is charming when it's asymmetry. But charming point vanished in the process of surgery. Bulging mouse, lantern jaw are (or socially) regarded as target of surgery, because it is generally considered deviant. But general rule of beauty makes face's individual feature vanished, because original balance beteween order and disorder is destroyed.'
(진중권, Joong Kwon Jin - The Map of Thinking, P.250)
Your hyperlink to many sites made me easier to understand about sociology!
ReplyDeleteAnd your point of view about causes of fashion change is nice! Manufacturer catched trend! Good!:) And quotation of Joong-Kwon Jin was brilliant.
Oh, you payed attention to middle class and low class. I just thought upper class... And your hyperlink, quotation helped me to understand.
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