SOCI 1002 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Max Horkheimer, Norm (Social), Culture Industry
13 Oct 2018
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Document Summary
Functionalists argue that media allow society to function smoothly through accomplishing commercial function, entertainment function, social norm functions, and life-changing functions. Commercial function is the advertising component where companies profit from using media (on tv and outdoors). Entertainment function is that media is used to distract and entertain, social norm function is the media reinforcing norms and values and teaching them to the next generation. The life-changing function is when the media causes change in society- sometimes for better other for worse. It states the media can help us communicate better but can also cause us to become dependent on it and always expect fast replies and access to people. Symbolic interactionists argue that technology acts as a symbol of wealth and social class. There are two approaches to this the neo-luddite view which argues that technology shows the coldness and alienation of modern society. Technophiles believe otherwise and argue the media is a symbol of a brighter future.
