Social Construction and the Reiteration of Culture Essay Example

impact on culture and assists humans in establishing moral values through self-discipline and disciplining others. Foucault proposes that language allows individuals and society to express their social status and reinforce hierarchical structures through consumption.

Consumption is frequently utilized to reaffirm identity, just as cartography has historically been employed by countries to validate their global status. Previously, nations have developed maps depicting their territory as larger than reality, aiming to bolster their perceived (or desired) position in terms of global power. These cartographic inaccuracies intentionally perpetuated geographical misconceptions, serving the purpose of fostering a heightened sense of nationalism and global dominance.

The connection between a country's geography and its sense of nationalism is closely tied to the language used to describe it. This link involves the brain's adaptability and communication, as language directly influences discussions about nationalism and persuasive speech. Without historical maps consistently promoting ideas of dominance and nationalism, people might have a different understanding of reality. Language helps us understand concepts like culture and nationalism, while numbers provide a universally accepted way to measure systems.

The lecture on 12 February 2013 focused on the measurement of time and its connection to distinguishing between an employer's time and an employee's personal time. In American culture, attaining an eight-hour workday has been regarded as a notable accomplishment that often demands sacrifices. This shorter workday has highlighted the distinction between an employer's time and an employee's individual time. The lecture emphasized that nowadays, time is viewed as a currency that is expended instead of merely elapsing. (Lecture 12 February 2013)

The organization of time into set blocks, like the eight-hour work-day, has enabled

society to classify various behaviors. Whether it's social or work-related, people are consistently reminded that their employer owns their time during working hours. Any personal tasks must be postponed until they're off duty. This shows how repetitive language and implied meanings in English contribute to self-discipline and workplace norms.

The idea of cultural relativism suggests that the expression "on the clock" may elicit different responses in diverse cultures, despite clocks being present in various cultures. This illustrates how language, culture, history, and the utilization of external indicators such as clocks have shaped Western notions of discipline and what is deemed appropriate. A significant element of this course was the ability to integrate scholarly concepts into my daily interactions.

By studying neuroplasticity, I gained insight into how social influences affect my behavior. Despite attending a private school, this course allowed me to reflect on my own education and have meaningful discussions with classmates who came from public schools.

Although my time at CSU Sacramento differed from that of my peers who attended public school, we shared similar socialization experiences and interpretations of accessibility across various educational backgrounds. This leads me to believe that adopting a social constructionist approach is an effective means to critique society and promote a more collective comprehension of reality.