Visual ProjectVisual ProjectSociologySociology

By: Katelyn GronemanBy: Katelyn Groneman

HomelessnessHomelessness

• There’s always been people There’s always been people in need throughout the U.S. in need throughout the U.S. How has our current views How has our current views regarding the homeless regarding the homeless changed over the past two changed over the past two generations?generations?

• Does the fact that there are Does the fact that there are more homeless people in more homeless people in urban areas than in rural urban areas than in rural areas reflect opposing areas reflect opposing ideas of community ideas of community awareness and involvement awareness and involvement of those in need ?of those in need ?

Cell PhonesCell Phones

• How will text-messaging How will text-messaging affect socialization skills of affect socialization skills of a generation that uses it as a generation that uses it as a preferred form of a preferred form of communication?communication?

• Have cell phones become Have cell phones become the new form of community the new form of community life because it provides life because it provides interaction with a larger interaction with a larger group that may not have group that may not have been possible with past been possible with past communication methods?communication methods?

Teens on computersTeens on computers• There are those who have There are those who have

and those who have not. Do and those who have not. Do teens who live in the teens who live in the projects have equal access projects have equal access to the technology that is to the technology that is necessary for success as necessary for success as those who live in middle those who live in middle class neighborhoods?class neighborhoods?

• With the accessibility of With the accessibility of computers the youth of our computers the youth of our country are constantly country are constantly exposed to good exposed to good information, but also information, but also harmful. With the problems harmful. With the problems that exist regarding that exist regarding predators and porn on-line, predators and porn on-line, how are their morals and how are their morals and values affected? values affected?

Children at war timeChildren at war time

• What is the value of What is the value of children in a war torn children in a war torn country in comparison to country in comparison to our own?our own?

• After experiencing first-After experiencing first-hand the effects of war, is hand the effects of war, is it more likely children will it more likely children will be expected to take up be expected to take up arms to fight and how will arms to fight and how will it affect their ability to it affect their ability to function?function?

A WatchA Watch• It has been said that with all It has been said that with all

of our technological advances of our technological advances we have made our lives easier we have made our lives easier with more time for ourselves with more time for ourselves but instead we are busier but instead we are busier than ever. Has the obsession than ever. Has the obsession of time and having busier of time and having busier schedules contributed to the schedules contributed to the lack of a community driven lack of a community driven society compared to the past?society compared to the past?

• How does the need to possess How does the need to possess the latest material items aid the latest material items aid in the separation between in the separation between those who can afford them those who can afford them and those who cannot? and those who cannot?

Sad DogSad Dog• Our nation seems to thrive on Our nation seems to thrive on

trends and the latest fads. trends and the latest fads. Whatever pet is trendy for the Whatever pet is trendy for the moment is produced in mass moment is produced in mass volume. We also love the volume. We also love the “disposable” lifestyle and do so “disposable” lifestyle and do so when we tire of the latest fad or pet when we tire of the latest fad or pet (via animal pound). Can a culture (via animal pound). Can a culture thrive and have value of life when thrive and have value of life when the youth adapts to what is loved the youth adapts to what is loved one day is tossed out the next? one day is tossed out the next?

• Many people consider their pets as Many people consider their pets as their “kids” and often those people their “kids” and often those people forego having children. There are forego having children. There are increasing efforts to protect animals increasing efforts to protect animals at the same time there is increasing at the same time there is increasing child abuse or neglect. How does child abuse or neglect. How does the shift from pet status to family-the shift from pet status to family-member status reflect our view of member status reflect our view of the family and the position the the family and the position the children play as the center of focus?children play as the center of focus?

SmokingSmoking • Are people that smoke Are people that smoke

treated differently by those treated differently by those who don’t and if so is it who don’t and if so is it related to public ads related to public ads influencing their opinions influencing their opinions or predominantly a or predominantly a concern for health concern for health reasons?reasons?

• In the U.S., does In the U.S., does stigmatizing smokers as a stigmatizing smokers as a group encourage class group encourage class distinction?distinction?

Teens datingTeens dating• A generation ago those who A generation ago those who

engaged in sexual activity engaged in sexual activity while dating were referred to while dating were referred to as “having a bad reputation”. as “having a bad reputation”. Has modern media provided Has modern media provided the vehicle to allow these the vehicle to allow these beliefs to be labeled as “old-beliefs to be labeled as “old-fashioned”?fashioned”?

• Is it considered a double-Is it considered a double-standard for a majority of standard for a majority of females to believe in equal females to believe in equal pay, equal rights, equal pay, equal rights, equal treatment, but still expect the treatment, but still expect the male to pay for the date? Do male to pay for the date? Do we selectively choose what we selectively choose what traditions to keep or which to traditions to keep or which to throw out?throw out?

McDonaldsMcDonalds • Does the family unit suffer Does the family unit suffer

from less time spent from less time spent during traditional during traditional mealtimes because it is mealtimes because it is much easier to eat on the much easier to eat on the go?go?

• Can McDonald’s, as a Can McDonald’s, as a common American symbol, common American symbol, be viewed as a unifying be viewed as a unifying agent that reaches across agent that reaches across a multi-cultured society a multi-cultured society that most everyone has in that most everyone has in common?common?