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Transnational Corporations

“Corporations that dominate the contemporary capitalist global economy and whose actions are largely unconstrained by borders of nation-states” (Ritzer & Stepnisky, 2013).

This photo is of a Pepsico advertisement at a gas pump. Pepsico is a giant transnational corporation that manufactures much of our food in America and also owns many brands such as Gatorade and Quaker Oats. Transnational Corporations permeate most peoples lives regardless of borders. They often extract resources from developing countries.

#Transnational Corporations

Nothing

“Largely empty forms; forms devoid of the most distinct content” (Ritzer & Stepnisky, 2013).

This is a photo of a shopping mall in a suburb of Austin. There is nothing unique about this shopping mall, it looks similar to almost every other shopping mall in the U.S. There is no distinct content in this mall. I can find a Nordstrom Rack in plenty of other cities. There is no uniqueness to this shopping center.

#Nothing

McDonaldization

“The process by which the principles of fast-food restaurant are coming to dominate more and more sectors of American society, as well as the rest of the world; in the latter sense, a form of cultural imperialism” (Ritzer & Stepnisky, 2013).

This is a photo of a house being built in the suburbs. Home builders have incorporated principles of McDonald’s into their methods of construction. For one, they have specialized labor and assembly lines working on the house which makes the building process efficient. They incorporate calculability as time is pressed on workers to finish certain parts on time. These houses are highly predictable in the way they look as you can travel to another suburb in the U.S. and see a similarly looking house. Control is also a factor in building these houses. Workers are forced to abide by plans and construction, they cannot customize anything to their desire, nor can the buyer. The floor plans are what you get.

#mcdonaldization

New Means of Consumption

“The set of consumption sites that came into existence largely after 1950 in the U.S. and that served to revolutionize consumption” (Ritzer & Stepnisky, 2013).

People can easily go into the gas station and pour themselves a cup of coffee for 99 cents. That method is not fashionable. The new mean of consuming coffee is going to Starbucks and paying $5 for a cup of coffee. People often advertise for Starbucks by posting pictures of their coffee on social media.

#New means of consumption

Hyperreal

“Entirely simulated and, as a result, more real than real, more beautiful than beautiful than beautiful, truer than true, and so on” (Ritzer & Stepnisky, 2013).

The above picture is of a suburban community in the Austin area. The name of this neighborhood is called Santa Rita Ranch. They try to sell lots based on the fact that the land was once part of a ranch. They clear cut all of the natural scenery and built houses. Their slogans are “live the ranch life” and “learn from the land.” What can you possibly learn from a quarter acre lot of land? Where are the cattle on this ranch? If a person from the city that has never been out of the city might think that this is real ranch living making it a hyperreal place.

#hyperreal

Normalizing Judgments

Those in power can decide what is normal and what is abnormal, can then be punished by officials or their agents (Ritzer & Stepnisky, 2013).

This is a photo of a sign in a shopping center parking lot that prohibits skateboarding, bicycle riding, roller blading, and scooter riding. If one breaks one of these rules they will most likely be met with normalizing judgments. This suburban parking lot makes for any transportation other than a car not a norm. It further perpetuates the need for a car if these other modes of transportation is not allowed. Normalizing judgements shape the way we live our lives and the way we get around from place to place.

#Normalizing Judgments

Doing Gender

Doing gender is essentially performing acts that are associated with either masculinity or femininity (which are socially constructed).

Here is a photo of a sign which blatantly suggests that women drink wine. I know plenty of women that do not like wine and would prefer a shot of tequila or a beer instead. I know plenty of men that love wine and hate beer. This sign reinforces gender roles that women should drink wine, which is usually considered more of a feminine drink than beer.

#doing gender

Texts

“written documents issued out of the relations of ruling, having the power to organize relations of production in the everyday life world and having the quality of generality and anonymity so that they may be seen as applicable in everyday circumstances; texts include licenses, diplomas, contracts, purchasing orders, laws, college catalogues, etc.” (Ritzer & Stepnisky, 2013).

This is a photo of a Texas Driver License which is considered a text. Every time I operate a motor vehicle I am required to have on me a Texas Driver License issued to my name. Certain texts are required in order to get certain jobs in our society.

#texts

Local actualities of lived experience

“The places where actual people act and live their lives” (Ritzer & Stepnisky, 2013).

This photograph is of a “Welcome to Texas” sign. This is a large state home to nearly 30 million people. 30 million people that live out their live here. They have families, jobs, homes. They interact with each other and form a local actualities of lived experience.

#local actualities of lived experience

Rationalization

“The development of routines that not only give actors a sense of security, but enable them to deal efficiently with their social lives” (Ritzer & Stepnisky, 2013).

This is a photo of my aunt’s checklist for every time she goes on a cruise. She has a routine checklist she goes through in order to make sure she does not forget any item. Most people have a routine for every day actions that give them a feel of security in what they are doing.

#rationalization

Exchange Network

“Web of social relationships involving a number of either individual or collective actors; the various actors have a variety of valued resources as well as exchange opportunities and exchange relations with one another” (Ritzer & Stepnisky, 2013).

This is a picture of Facebook, which I think perfectly exemplifies the meaning of exchange network. Facebook is quite literally a web of social relationships. People are usually acting on Facebook and you do not generally see the backstage performances by them. For example, people usually only post the good things going on in their lives and neglect the bad. Usually you have on your friends list people that you value that have exchange opportunities with you.

#exchange network

Dependence

“The potential cost that an actor will be willing to tolerate within a relationship” (Ritzer & Stepnisky, 2013).

This is a conversation I had with my brother. When I needed money he was willing to send me money because he is dependent on me as well. I have done many things for him and if he weren’t willing to help me out then I might not help him out in the future.

#dependence

Norms

“Serve to produce order in society” (Ritzer & Stepnisky, 2013).

Smoking in the U.S. has obviously been in decline for a while now. Now smoking cigarettes isn’t all that common, but it was once a norm in our society. I recall walking through campus my freshman year when UT Tyler was not a smoke-free campus, Almost everywhere I walked outside, I could smell cigarette smoke. Now there is a no-smoking policy on campus and hardly anyone smokes on campus (that I see). When people do decide to smoke on-campus they get dirty looks or get told to extinguish it. It is no longer a norm, and the fiduciary system perpetuates this.

#norms

Looking-Glass Self

“the idea that we form our sense of ourselves by using others, and their reactions to us, as mirrors to assess who we are and how we are doing” (Ritzer & Stepnisky, 2013).

I used a picture of my dog taking a mirror picture because it is quite literally her looking at herself in a mirror. Most bathrooms come equipped with mirrors in order for us to assess ourselves each day before we leave the house. Similarly, often view our whole lives through a mirror and assess how others view us to decide how we are doing.

#looking-glass self

Impression Management

“Techniques actors use to maintain certain impressions in the face of problems they are likely to encounter and the methods they use to cope with these problems“ (Ritzer & Stepnisky, 2013).

When I attended a Christmas Party downtown Austin with business professionals in attendance, I obviously had a different persona than I would around my friends or my family. I used impression management to maintain a certain impression when meeting professionals. I dressed formal and did not crack any cheesy jokes. I acted very formal with everyone whom I met there.

#impression management

Mass Culture

“The culture (radio quiz shows) that had been made available to, and popular among, the masses” (Ritzer & Stepnisky, 2013).

Even if you stay completely away from the T.V., your life is still penetrated with mass culture. This company A&E has created a puzzle out of the characters from the hit T.V. show Duck Dynasty. It is odd that there is such a puzzle out there like it but it is part of the mass culture

#mass culture

Culture Industry

“Industries such as movies and radio that were serving to make culture a more important factor in society than the economy” (Ritzer & Stepnisky, 2013).

This is a photo of my T.V. which came loaded with T.V. shows, movies, and streaming application. These T.V. shows and apps are part of the culture industry. I can start watching a show and easily lose track of time. This culture industry has a way of permeating every aspect of our lives. It is a pleasant kind of control (Ritzer & Stepnisky, 2013).

#culture industry

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