Sociology 357 – Modern Sociological Theory
Final Exam
***No quotations necessary! I want to know how you’re relating the themes of the thinkers to the
material discussed in the final lecture!***
Major Themes of Modernity:
Meaning / Lack of Meaning
Alternative Forms of Capital
Race & Gender / Globalism
• Post-Modernism
Major Thinkers:
Bourdieu
Fanon
Du Beauvoir / Butler
Ryle / Wittgenstein
Lyotard / Baudrillard
The Task:
• For the following prompts, write as much as you need to get your ideas
across as clearly and completely as possible.
o Everyone must answer every prompt!
The Prompts:
What is Modernity?
1. Define Modern Society and Modern Sociology to the best of your ability.
o Don’t search for definitions! Use your own words.
o Which author would agree most closely with your definitions? Which
author would disagree with your definitions? Why?
Section A: Compare and Contrast at least (3) thinkers from the second half.
2. Inyouropinion,whoisthemostcorrectaboutwhatsocietyisandhowitworks?
Who is the most incorrect? (Hint: This shouldn’t contradict your previous
definition of modern society in the last prompt question!)
• Alternatively, you may pick and choose across the major themes to talk
about places where the authors are correct and other places where they are
incorrect to provide a more balanced opinion.
3. Inyouropinion,who’stheoryisthemostcorrectaboutthatwhichtheyaretrying
to explain? Who is the most incorrect?
• Alternatively, you may pick and choose across the major themes to talk
about places where the authors are correct and other places where they are
incorrect to provide a more balanced opinion. If you pick the alternative,
you must compare at least three (3) themes.
Section B: DAMN.
4. Choose at least (2) songs from Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN. that, in your opinion,
discuss at least (1) of the major themes.
• For example:
o In “Song A,” Kendrick talks about “this theme” when he says,
“Lyric…” (Kendrick, “Song A”). This is similar to how Thinker 1
discusses the same theme. [Then give your own explanation, in your
own words, about how you understand what Thinker 1 says about the
theme].
§ Remember: No quotations are necessary here. I want to know how YOU are
understanding the material we have covered over the last 16 weeks. You are
welcome to reference text—or even quote if you like!
Below I attached screenshots of an example of how the essay should be set up and how the information should be set up. you can use the screenshot information to help you write this essay. PLEASE DO ! BIG PARAGRAPH FOR EACH SECTION. EX( #1 Intro parapgrah, Section a #2 one big paragraph, section a #3 one big paragraph , Section B one big paragraph, and a conclusion.) 5 paragraphs total.
