Essay on The literature devoted to the study of important social issues
This literature review is dedicated to the research of important social issues, such as race and multiculturalism, cultural differences and hatred. It may be added that the literary sources that are to be analyzed in the present paper point out the significant role of these issues in American society. The sources reviewed include the works of the following competent authors: David Roediger, Douglas Kellner, Homa Hoodfar, Herb Swanson, Teun Van Dijk, Rita K Whillock, and Peggy Macintosh. These well known scholarly sources are focused on the research of the interrelated issues of history of racial relationships, and modern situation with racial inequality, hatred between the US citizens, and others.
- Rita Kirk Whillock and David Slayden’s Hate Speech
The research of the modern face and social health of the US population may be started from the very important subject and inevitable element of life – hatred. Hatred may be considered as consequence and attribute of other social themes reviewed in this paper. Hatred among the people is obviously very important aspect of the social life of our society. Whillock and Slayden have dedicated their critical and careful research called ‘Hate Speech’ to it. They explore hatred in various aspects and relations and insist of the necessity of the recognition of the role it plays in American life. Clearly, Hate Speech is one of the important texts among the other studies because it describes the role that hatred plays in our society and also the related social conditions. The major argument of the ‘Hate speech’ may be defined as the necessity for a society to recognize the fact that hatred is continuing its existence among American citizen and to present the meaningful response to it. According to this argument, the real recognition of hatred is able influence both political and social development and provide substantial amendments into the social and political relationships. Authors support their argument by discussing the expression of hate in American culture, how disgusting and dangerous it is, the way it is communicated through media, popular culture, and of course political rhetoric. Without a doubt, it influences public and personal aspects of American population. Multiple perspectives are used by Whillock and Slayden to emphasize the importance of such research.
The most provocative and disputable subjects are explored by authors of Hate Speech such as gay rights, abortion. In addition, these researchers provide the analysis of hatred and different approaches and positions towards it, they give a description of the way this social topic is rationalized, invoked, expressed, and institutionalized. They note that the hate may be an instrument of manipulations and is often used as a stratagem, as a useful tool in the political games.
- David Roediger’s How Race Survived US History: From the American Revolution to the Present
Roediger (2008) presents a very relevant and also provocative chronicle of the role of race in US history. Author insists that this role was significant since 1600’s and to the present day. The major argument of this researcher is that whether it is recognized by the society or not, a conclusion could be made that the race has managed to intersect every aspect of American life, including the issues such as democracy and economic development. Ironically, the issue of race for the nation that is expected to become a majority “nonwhite” nation in the next decade is still able to influence the situation in the US in a dramatic way.
Roediger (2008) also analyses how race was used by white elites for achievement of their goals and sum ups that it still holds the central position in the modern life of American society. The main argument is supported by the various facts of the US history, that include era of slavery, class tensions, obvious whites dominance and a birth of white supremacy on the US soil. It should be noted that the thesis’s presented by Roediger (2008) are perfectly enriched by the already mentioned Whillock and Slayden’s Hate Speech. Race and hatred discussion have very much common and interrelated aspects.
- Teun Van Dijk’s Discourse and Society
Teun Van Dijk is known for creation of the project on Racism and Discourse which is dedicated to the study of the role of media in racism’s reproduction. The major argument of this author is the necessity for the relations between racism to become the object of the public recognition and study, because these relations influence the perception about races and influence the social relations. Teun Van Dijk confirms the major argument by providing the relevant research of racism and discourse in different regions including Spain and Latin America.
- Douglas Kellner’s Media Culture: Cultural Studies, Identity and Politics Between the Modern and the Postmodern
According to Kellner (1995, 41) ‘cultural studies allows to examine and critically scrutinize the whole range of culture without prior prejudices toward one or another sort of cultural text, institution, or practice.’ Cultural studies are closely connected to the issues that were discussed above, such as race, hate, and media influences. Basically, cultural studies are an inevitable element of the research related to these important social topics. It is focused on development of the methods and providing the analysis of cultural pieces such as films, television programmes, music, etc. Kellner (1995) states that media culture is a key element of culture that has a dominant influence over all social process and plays a significant role in the processes of socialization and identification; therefore it’s crucially important to research it. In order to support this argument, Kellner (1995) presents the series of studies that illuminate culture and suggest methods of analysis.
- Homa Hoodfar’s The Veil in Their Minds and on Our Heads: Veiling Practices and Muslim Women
Homa Hoodfar continues discussion that was started by previous researchers. The Veil in Their Minds and on Our Heads: Veiling Practices and Muslim Women is dedicated to the discussion of the oppression of Muslim women and particularly to the issue of the veil. Author indicates that the perceptions about the veil are often related to the misconceptions and misinterpretations and serves as a clear example of ignorance and racism towards Muslim culture.
It should be noted that issue of veiling practices has received a large amount of attention from the public and the politics recently, especially in European countries, for instance, in France.
The major argument in the case of Homa Hoodfar’s work is that many assumptions of the Western culture regarding Muslim women are false and based on racism and biases of the colonial powers. (Homa Hoodfar 1992, 5) The main argument is supported by relevant examples of the common perceptions about Muslim women in the western societies.
- Herb Swanson’s Said’s Orientalism and the Study of Christian Missions
Swanson (2004) enriched the research of previously reviewed authors by his work Said’s Orientalism and the Study of Christian Missions. The major contribution of this work is the presentation of various options for the further discussions regarding Orientalism. Orientalism is a very controversial approach that one created false representation of the Orient nations. Author insists that the focus in these studies should be made on cross-cultural reflection which is a tool of potential value to the field of missiology. (Swanson 2004)
- Peggy Macintosh’s Unpacking the invisible knapsack.
The final literary source that is going to be reviewed in the present paper is a classic example of the research of the racial relations written by Peggy Macintosh. The major argument of the work ‘Unpacking the invisible knapsack‘ is simple and at the same time brilliant. It is a non-stopping process of white people getting benefits from their unearned privileges that has started centuries ago and continues. Author argues that “whites are carefully taught not to recognize white privilege, as males are taught not to recognize male privilege” (Macintosh, n.a.). Supporting the claim, author explains that the roots of racism are in the human nature, and may be raced throughout American history. Racism may be invisible at first glance, but in reality it is still active. Therefore author recommends acknowledging the dimensions of the racism first and then starting with redesign of the social systems. The taboo, the silences and denials that are the features of the secret racism should be recognized and put away.
