Lesson 12: Popular Culture

This picture of a fashion show represents society's demand for specific taste demands to be met, such as fashion and entertainment. Fashion plays a major part in popular culture, and new clothing styles are always in demand.

New York City is the capitol of American consumerism, and the heart of its pop culture. The constantly changing billboards in Time Square allow pop culture to thrive in the massive city, and it is always up with the times and the current news, demands and trends.

Disney is a major part of American pop culture, and not even just for kids. Disney is so big that there are two giant theme parks built in its honor, and the company continues to go strong, years after Walt Disney's actual death. 

The movie Say Anything was very popular when it came out in the 1980s, and today it has become a symbol of '80s pop culture. During the 1980's, many movies were made about coming of age, and because there seemed to be a demand in the viewer population, they were successful and became an integral part of the pop culture of the time.

The emotional energy a person gets when taking part in social gatherings or activities is known as "collective effervescence", and is one of the major benefits of group membership. This can happen at places like concerts, sports games, etc.

Clubbing is a part of America's pop culture, particularly among young adults. It is more present in urban areas than rural areas, but young adults always seem to have a need to party and let loose. This is an example where society saw a need or demand and provided the means for its fulfillment.

Lesson 11: Family and Life at Home

In some cultures, it is normal for grandparents to live with their children's families. It is even the duty of the parents to take care of their elders, just as they took care of them as children. 

An extended family is a large group of relatives, usually including at least three generations living either in one household or in close proximity. Here we see an extended family of three generations, all of whom live in the same small town of 400 people.

Single mothers make up 83% of single-parent households, and are twice as likely to be below the poverty level than single fathers. Because nearly 50% of first marriages end in divorce these days, and because judges often side with biological mothers in the case of custody, single mothers are becoming more and more common.

Only 63% of people believe that same-sex couples with children should be seen as families, even with the legalization of same-sex marriage increasing in states across the country. This statistic is compared to the 80% that believe unmarried heterosexual couples with children are considered families and the 99% that believe married heterosexual couples with children are considered families.

Endogamy refers to someone within one's social group that often includes race, ethnicity, class, education, religion, region, or nationality. Endogamy is more common than Exogamy (the marriage outside of one's social group) because people are more likely to interact with those inside their social group. 

A Nuclear family is a family consisting of a father, a mother, and their biological children. People often consider nuclear families to be the most traditional form of family. This used to be the most common form of family, but in modern society, more and more non-traditional families are forming, including same-sex marriages, divorced parents, and single-parent families.