Finding the right six people
Save as a document and upload to Canvas by the deadline here
Be careful! These questions are harder than they seem ;) You need to work through the materials on this page before attempting this assignment. Make sure each one of your answers specifically references the source materials asked about and are at least 25 words in length. It really matters on this assignment :) You will need around three hours to complete this assignment
01. .05 points, At least 25 words > Explain how John Guare's play Six Degrees of Separation (1990), archived here, is a play about the ways people share gossip with one another and back up your answer with an example of some of the gossip that circulates in the story. In order to get the point here you must reference the play and not the film in formulating your response.
02. .05 points, At least 25 words > Do you think Paul Poitier was correct to think that he needed to claim that he was the son of a famous African-American movie star in order to get very wealthy New Yorkers to like him? Back up your answer with at least one specific scene or or character or piece of dialogue from either the film or play version of Six Degrees of Separation (1990), archived here, and be sure to explain and defend your response.
03. .05 points, At least 25 words > The beating and death of Matthew Shepard happened about five years after the movie version of Six Degrees of Separation came out in theaters. How might his beating and death help inform our understanding of why Trent Conway felt he had to hide his sexuality from his family, peers and community? Explain and defend your response. I presented the story of the beating and death of Matthew Shepard here. Trent is a character in both the film and play version of Six Degrees of Separation, archived here.
04. .05 points, At least 25 words > Watch Born Rich (2003), first introduced here, and come up with your own definition for the culture of wealth. You must reference at least three specific things about this documentary, (i.e., a scene, a person featured, some dialogue), in coming up with your definition in order to get your point here.
05. .05 points, At least 25 words > According to the documentary above, Born Rich (2003), archived here, are African-American people a part of the culture of wealth that existed in New York City in the late 20th, early 21st century? If so, where do they come up and if not, why do you think they are not a part of this late 20th, early 21st century American subculture? Explain and defend your response.
06. .05 points, At least 25 words > Make the argument that the young people featured in the documentary above, Born Rich (2003), archived here, were from the exact same culture of wealth that David Hampton aspired to be a part of. Be sure to explain and defend your response. Can't remember who David Hampton was? Click back here. Be sure to specifically reference a scene or character or piece of dialogue from both Born Rich (2003) and either the film or play version of Six Degrees of Separation, both located here.
07. .05 points, At least 25 words > Would Daniel Patrick Moynihan consider the culture of wealth to be an example of anomie? Why or why not? Be sure to explain and defend your response. I first introduced Daniel Patrick Moynihan's research to you here and you need to specifically reference this research in order to get your point here. I.e., Don't just Google the name. Show that you understand how Moynihan's research came up specifically in this course. Need a definition of anomie? Anomie is the lack of the usual social or ethical standards in an individual or group. I first introduced it to you here.
08. .05 points, At least 25 words > Do you think it would be harder for a person to perform a social class they were not a part of or a gender they weren't identified as? Formulate your answer by referencing the stories of David Hampton and Brandon Teena and be sure to explain and defend your response. David you can find here and Brandon here.
09. .05 points, At least 25 words > Do you think in some alternative universe it would be possible for John Guare to turn Robert Dixon into a compelling fictional character and the American criminal justice system to have incarcerated David Hampton as a psychopath? Explain and defend your response. Can't remember who Robert Dixon was? He came up in the materials I assigned to you about Robert Hare's research here. John Guare is the guy who wrote Six Degrees of Separation (1990), which I introduced to you here.
10. .05 points, At least 25 words > Click here and scroll to the 4'16 mark to learn about the story of Chauncey Julius. You are looking for TAL-321, Sink Or Swim, Act 1, "Mr. Central High" (2005). Click here for a transcript. What do you think: Is Chauncey a trickster or con artist like David Hampton was? Explain and defend your response. David you can find here.
11. .05 points, At least 25 words > Which do you think would make better evidence, (better measurable facts) for a sociologist - A Facebook page created in cyberspace or an address book written out in ink on paper? In order to get your full point here you must choose one of these options over the other and to fully explain and defend your response. We discussed Facebook during the first week of class here.
12. .05 points, At least 25 words > How is the small world problem specifically described and explained in Six Degrees of Separation (1990, 1993) and how does it compare with Milgram's definition? You can use either the play or the film version to formulate your answer and be sure to explain and defend your response. Here is a quick link back to Six Degrees of Separation (1990, 1993). Here is one to Milgram.