Social Imagination Analysis

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Fall 2015SOC 10035W 9/3 Week One Discussion Samantha Henry Social Imagination by definition is “the ability to connect the most basic, intimate aspects of an individual’s life to seemingly impersonal and remote historical forces.” This term coined by C. Wright Mills describes the mindset that a sociologist must immerse themselves in to be able to look at the social world in a critical manner. Mills goes on to explain social imagination as, “enabling us to grasp history and biography and the relations between the two within society. That is its task and its promise. To recognize this task and this promise is the mark of the classic social analyst.” A key idea throughout the description of social imagination is that sociologists make connections. …show more content…

In the text I saw the roots of how I would develop a social imagination through the example illustrated through a scene of Pulp Fiction. Rather than sharing the reaction of Jules, who acted appalled that in Holland they dip fries in mayonnaise rather than conventional ketchup, I thought about why do we use ketchup. In a different perspective, perhaps the thought of dipping fries in ketchup can be viewed as unusual. I mean isn’t ketchup simply creamed tomatoes and salt, perhaps if I wasn’t surrounded by a culture who uses ketchup as condiment for nearly every food group, I would be disgusted by the thought of ketchup itself. This is just the start of the development of social imagination, questioning things that are considered normal. Dialect, I believe can be a prime example to illustrate social imagination, since it varies from country to country, state to state, even county to county. It is something I have just …show more content…

How I pronounce tournament, which sounds more like ‘ tornament’ compared to how they say it as ‘turnament’, and how when I order pizza I say a large cheese pie rather than a large cheese pizza represent just a few examples of the different dialects of Long Island and upstate New York. They look at me as if I’m the crazy one, but from my point of view the way they speak is incorrect. Now for the social imagination part, why do I speak in a different dialect? I have to make the way I speak, seem strange to myself, and question my own reason for speaking in such a manner. Now to make the connection, from my personal experience to a broader concept. Through the context of social imagination I link the way in which I speak to the more inclusive idea that I speak like a Long Islander. Its due to my surroundings and social encounters while living on Long Island, that contribute to what others perceive as odd dialect. Its the culture that I was immersed in that has affected the way in which I communicate, and only now I have begun to realize such because my normal terminology here is viewed as

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