The Industrial Revolution

 

The Industrial Revolution

1. Did the Industrial Revolution improve the quality of life for 

the working class more than it harmed it?

2. Does industrialization inevitably lead to the exploitation 

of labor?

3. Was the rise of industrial capitalism the main cause of 

modern class inequality?

4. Was child labor during the Industrial Revolution a necessary 

stage in economic development?

5. Did the shift from home-based production to factory work 

erode traditional community life?

6. Did urbanization during the Industrial Revolution improve 

social mobility?

7. Were industrial cities more socially progressive than rural 

communities?

8. Did the rise of the industrial city lead to the decline of moral 

and community values?

Critical Theory. Discussion.

 

Critical Theory. Analytical Elements. Debate. 

1. Can you identify examples of reification in contemporary society 

(e.g., education, media, workplace, technology)?

2. When we talk about “the market” or “the economy” as if they

were independent actors (“the market demands…”), are 

we engaging in reification? Why or why not?

3. How does social media contribute to reification — of people, 

relationships, or even emotions?

4. Why might reification be seen as problematic for critical 

theory and emancipatory politics?

5. How does reification limit people’s ability to see that 

society could be organized differently?

6. Do you think reification is inevitable in modern society, 

or can it be overcome?

7. Can you identify examples of cultural hegemony in 

everyday life (e.g., advertising, education, popular 

culture)?

8. Think about language: how can words or phrases 

reinforce hegemonic ideas (e.g., calling someone 

“self-made”)?

9. How does the entertainment industry (movies, 

music, TV, social media) contribute to reinforcing 

dominant ideologies?

10. What role do schools play in sustaining or 

challenging cultural hegemony?

Marx. A Very Brief Introduction

 

What is Marxism? | Marxism Explained.

1. What is Marxism?

2. Explain the main topics of the Communist Manifesto.

3. What would be the origin of Revolutionary Communism?

4. Explain the dynamics of class conflict in the context of capitalism.

5. Explain the notions of bourgeoisie and proletariat.

6. What is Alienation, according to Marx?

7. What is the role of the institutions (education, religion, law, etc.) 

in the Marxist scheme?

8. “Capitalism contains the seed of its own destruction”, says Marx. 

Do you agree with this idea? Justify your answer.

The Human Stain

 

The Murder of Trayvon Martin

 

The Trayvor Martin Case. 

1. How did race and racial stereotypes influence the events 

surrounding Trayvon Martin's death?

2. What does this case reveal about systemic racial inequality 

in policing and criminal justice?

3. Compare public reactions to Trayvon Martin's case to similar 

incidents involving individuals of other races.

4. Discuss how societal norms and values may have framed 

Trayvon Martin as "deviant" in Zimmerman's eyes.

…………………………………………………………..

5. How does Trayvon Martin's case illustrate the concept of 

labeling?

6. What role did cultural symbols (hoodies, race, language) 

play in the interactions leading up to Trayvon Martin's death?

…………………………………………………..

7. How do societal fears about crime influence the actions of 

individuals like George Zimmerman?

8. What role do neighborhood watch programs play in maintaining 

community safety? Are they always beneficial?

Hate Crimes - Debate

Hate Crimes: 

1. How do bias, prejudice, and discrimination contribute to 

hate crimes?

2. What are the psychological and emotional effects of hate 

crimes on victims and their communities?

3. What role can communities play in preventing and responding 

to hate crimes?

4. How has globalization impacted the spread of hate ideologies 

and hate crimes?

5. How does online hate speech contribute to offline hate crimes?

6. How does political polarization contribute to the rise of hate 

crimes?

Deviance: Different Approaches

 

Debate. 

1. According to structural-functionalism, how does deviance 

serve a purpose or function in society?

2. How can deviance act as a driving force for social change 

from a structural-functionalist perspective?

3. In what ways does deviance reinforce social norms and 

promote social order, according to structural-functionalists?

4. How does Robert Merton’s Strain Theory explain deviance 

through a structural-functional lens?

5. How does labeling theory, a key component of symbolic 

interactionism, explain deviance? What are the social 

consequences of being labeled as "deviant"?

6. What is the difference between primary and secondary 

deviance in the context of symbolic interactionism?

7. Can acts of deviance lead to social change from the 

symbolic interactionist perspective? If so, how?

8. How does power influence the definition and enforcement 

of deviant behavior?

9. How do dominant groups use the concept of deviance to 

maintain social control?

10. Why is corporate crime often treated differently than 

street crime?