Exam 3: Culture

According to the text,which of the following would be considered a Big Historical Project?

Some people may argue that Canada qualifies as the first thoroughly postmodern society.

A grandfather spends hours talking to his granddaughter about his life experiences,while also speaking about family traditions.From a sociological perspective,what is the grandfather transmitting to his granddaughter?

Jason was recently demoted at work because of his lack of productivity and reliability.From a sociological perspective,which term best reflects this cultural practice of demotion in the workplace?

Eric was recently in Romania and found it difficult to get around because people were always pushing each other in crowded spaces.When he returned home he told his friends and family that Romanians were the rudest people he had ever met.Which social phenomenon is this statement an example of?

Hip-hop is an example of how mass consumption is an expression of rebellion.

Brym suggests that postmodern culture can constrain cultural dissent and rebellion.Discuss the weakening role of countercultures within the context of consumerism.

Which of the following is an example of ethnocentrism?

Steve is a fifth-generation Canadian who believes that citizens of another country are barbarians because of their attendance at weekly bullfights.Which term best describes Steve's reaction?

When people engage in conflict,they must still cooperate and respect norms.

Tracy is preparing a roast beef dinner for her husband for the first time.She cuts off the end of the roast,as she had always seen her mother do when preparing a roast.However,Tracy realizes that she does not know why she would waste a perfectly good piece of meat.She later finds out that her mother always did this because her roast pan was not big enough for her roasts.Which term helps us to understand Tracy's practice of cutting off the end of her roast?

What are the three elements of the Sapir-Whorf thesis? Provide an example.

What illustrates humans' ability to think abstractly?

Alana has just received her PhD in Sociology and has started working at a local university.What term do sociologists apply to Alana's new group membership at the university?

The postmodern condition makes consensus building in the democratic process increasingly difficult.

According to the text,what impact does consumerism have on culture?

According to the text,why are most people in North America likely to be good consumers?

The executives at a factory learn that to be most efficient,its employees must work in 12-hour shifts.However,the work is so physically exhausting that most employees quit after a few months.The executives decide that it is more efficient to hire new employees than to reduce the duration of the shifts.What societal constraint is this an example of?

A young woman has little faith in the nation's leaders and refuses to vote;however,she is deeply involved as an activist in a worldwide anti-poverty campaign.What kind of sociological label might best describe this person?

Esther Bejarano is an 85-year-old survivor of Auschwitz who raps in Hebrew,Yiddish,and Italian to tell today's youth about the concentration camp she lived in.What cultural phenomenon is this an example of?