You will choose to analyze either social media or traditional media and write  A 2000-word critical analysis identifying where groups, individuals or social acts are categorized as deviant. As part of your analysis, identify at least one norm and/or value, and examine how and why the norm and/or value has been broken. You should also focus on one label you identified in the media and discuss the prevalence of the label and the impact it has on society. For a breakdown on how to complete this assignment, see the following steps. (ALCOHOL)

 

Step 1: Choosing your media type 

Review this list of Assignment 2 concepts and then choose from one of the two following types of media:

• Traditional media: Look at online or print media news sources (e.g. The Age, Herald Sun) or magazines for media items that show evidence of or discuss the breaking of values or norms.
• Social media: Look at Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Google+ or other forms of social media for people discussing or judging acts that breach norms or values. You may find people discussing or complaining about other users breaking social norms or values.

Step 2: Selecting your article and identifying your norm/value and label

Based on your chosen media type, select one article where you can identify a group, individual or social act that has been represented as deviant, one norm and/or value that is being broken and one label that is being applied as a consequence.

The following are several examples of articles that highlight these concepts. Please note that you cannot use these example articles in your assignment. You must research and choose your own article.

• Example 1 (norms, values and labels): Budget 2017: Substance abuse crackdown and random tests for dole bludgers  Links to an external site.(Bita 2018).
• Example 2 (norms, values and labels): Two women arrested after being filmed riding motorbike in IranLinks to an external site. (Dearden 2017).
• Example 3 (values and labels): The hypocrisy of Barnaby Joyce is stunning Links to an external site.(Birmingham 2017).

Step 3: Writing your analysis

To provide an in-depth critical analysis, ensure that you are presenting different theoretical perspectives on your chosen norm and/or value and how the label is then applied.

• Provide an overview of the issue/social group in question, its background, the media it appears in, and the nature of the group/individual/journalist/politician, etc. presenting the issue, which will give you the opportunity to assess whether deviance is re-emerging as a useful or harmful social category. Aim between 1800 - 2,200 words and intext citation.
• Identify and explain the norm and/or value and how and why it is considered normative and the purpose of its status. Explain why the media item is suggesting that it has been broken. This, obviously, will be relative (based on the extremity of the view presented and the media that's hosting it) and should be assessed in terms of its reception and the countervailing views.
• Discuss what label had been applied, and the implications of this labelling.
• Is the breaking of norms or values being highlighted to attract a labelling process? That is, does it allow someone in a powerful position the ability to identify an action that they want to highlight by drawing society's attention to it? Do they do this by placing it in a category that draws attention to the action?
• The norm that you choose may not be part of the social consensus but may in fact be a part of a minority view or subculture, so don't feel that you have to present 'socially sanctioned' norms. Feel free to present normative examples from your social world that highlight possibilities for broadening our understanding of normativity.
• Please note that individual crimes of an extreme nature (murder, rape, terrorism) will always be deviant so it's probably best to set them aside.
• Ensure you use at least one sociological theory from your eText to focus your analysis (e.g. normative, control, functionalist, labelling perspectives).
• Provide reference lists and intext citations.

Answer rating: 100% (QA)

SOLUTION Title Critical Analysis of Deviance in Relation to Alcohol Consumption in Traditional Media Introduction In this critical analysis we will examine traditional media and analyze the representa... View the full answer