Sociology paper - Grade: 92 PDF

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This is an essay that required an analysis to be made between a movie and sociology terms in which i chose functionalist theory, conflict theory, and ideological control. I had to show examples of how these terms were displayed throughout the film and explain what they are. ...

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Conner Turpin Sociology 110 Sociology on Screen Assignment Analysis: A Bug’s Life The animated film “A Bug’s Life” is the story about an ant colony that is in a cycle of obtaining food for the overruling grasshoppers every year. After the ants have continuously been doing this for so long, they begin to grow tires of this cycle and realize something is needed to be done and to set themselves free from the hand of the grasshoppers. Throughout this movie an analysis on the functionalist theory, the conflict theory and ideological control will be done and how those aspects create the unequal society they live in that is inevitable for change. For the first concept I have chosen, functionalist theory, the definition of this is different aspects of society is interdependent and contributes to societies functioning which determines the form of the society itself. This is seen by how the roles of the ants not only impacts the ant's well-being and their lives for food and survival. Yet, also the grasshoppers lives by how they are dependent on the ants to gather them food so they do not have to go scavenge it for themselves. And in return from the grasshoppers they provide protection for the ants from other insects or outside invaders. This emphasizes social stability and reliance on one another's roles. The two parts play important factors in working together to form a functioning and efficient society for their survival. However, if one part of a system changes the other parts have to readjust to make up for the change elsewhere. This aspect of functionalism displays why the grasshoppers are being so intimidating by trying to prevent an uprising from the colony.

The second concept I will be bring to attention is another theory as well, which happens to be the conflict theory. This theories meaning is that there is competition for scarce resources and social order is maintained by dominant power. Many who may live within a society like this believe it's not coercive however, they believe it's just a way of life for them. This can be seen from what the queen says which is, “It’s the same every year. They come, they eat, they leave. That’s our lot in life, it's not a lot but it's our life.” If the queen herself is saying this to her colony it will take a courageous few to finally step up and make a stand for more equal redistribution of the food for the colony. This is also related to another concept called Class consciousness. Karl Marx stated this when he said that conflicts of interest will be increased by the inequality. The grasshoppers notice the resistance from a few ants and assert themselves to make sure they do not rebel. The third sociological concept that will be discussed is ideological control. This is the attempt to manipulate the consciousness of the citizens (the ants) so that they accept the ruling ideology (set forth by the grasshoppers) and refuse to be moved by competing ideologies. This concept may not have been particularly been discussed long in class however, this is an important aspect in sociology and fits well with the analysis of this movie. The grasshoppers keep the ants from realizing their rights to the food that they have produced and gathered which should rightfully be all of theirs for the colony. They also keep the ants from realizing that they can actually overpower the grasshoppers quite easily. The head grasshopper even makes the statement “Those puny little ants outnumber us 100-1, and if they figure that out there goes our way of life. Another concept that fits quite well with ideological control is the term subculture. Which means that groups of people (ants) accept much by the dominant culture (grasshoppers). Whatever the grasshoppers tell them to do they do it because of their control over them.

As for the film, by the end of the movie the ants finally rise up after one ant takes a beating from the head grasshopper because of the things the ant was saying such as they need the ants for food and that they (the ants) overpower them. They were successful in their attempt to transform the system they lived in for equal redistribution of resources. In conclusion this film is a perfect example to use to demonstrate sociological concepts such as the functionalist and conflict theory, and also ideological control. Many other concept s also easily fit into subcategories along with those three main concepts I have analyzed such as class consciousness and subculture. This film perfectly displays ideas from the people like Karl Marx and August Comte. And in the real world today many instances just like the one in the film have occurred for different issues such as slavery, equal treatment for people of color, gender, sexuality, the list goes on and on. Yet these revolts and people standing up is what it takes for there to be equality for all and is what should be the goal for every country....