SOC 932 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Critical Race Theory, Cornel West, Institutional Racism

• School: Ryerson University
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 932
• Professor: Graeme Metcalf

Document Summary

Critical race theory has used classical sociological approach when examining the ei but has used semiotics as well. Signs are made up of a) signifiers the word or image form which the sign takes and b) signified the concept and ideas they represent. Together: a) and b) create a complete sign. Semiotics examine how meaning is constructed, interpreted and understood through signs we create, including cinematic and televisual words and images. How is meaning constructed in the 4 scripts were watching today* Through common sense racism, any race other than white is considered to be simply not white: meaning representations of the other are juxtaposed with representation of the dominance in which the, a. West: meaning the initial reality of racial prejudice witnessed is legitimized by the subsequent inclusion of, a. renders racism visible we see it through ludacris & sandra bullock, b. Access to opportunities is largely a function of ones status: ones position in the social structure.