California State University (CSU): Open Journal Systems
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Technology and Culture: How Predictive Policing Harmfully Profiles Marginalized People Groups
Get PDFAmerican law enforcement departments use predictive policing technology to predetermine crime zones within assigned jurisdictions. Predictive police technology is susceptible to human error, due to both the directives from algorithm programmers and the lack of vetting for bias in data collection processes. A study by Selbst (2017) on potential applications of predictive policing found police data excessively links crime to neighborhoods with high percentages of demographics and up of primarily non-white residents living below poverty income thresholds. Data mining systems work by gathering information from records of human decisions without considering the intent behind the actions; this creates the possibility of generating or worsening discriminatory outcomes. For programs based off of flawed data (2017), erroneous predictions reinforce existing prejudices held by law enforcement. Since past crime data is integrated into predictive policing systems, it is inevitable results will include historic biases within recorded enforcements. This correlation maintains discriminatory policing instead of creating a future of equality to all humankind. If predictive policing technology disproportionately profiles marginalized people groups, then the algorithms are inherently discriminatory while reinforcing implicit bias held by operators or enforcers of results generated by the program. Therefore, predictive police technology algorithms need to be correctly updated to avoid perpetuating harm through biased association of crime with minority cultures
As the Days, Months, Years, and “Leap Years” of Our Lives’ Turn
Get PDFThis analysis provides a nuanced understanding of how the calendar serves not only as a temporal reference but also as a tool that structures and influences societal and sociological dynamics. Beginning with the Roman Catholic Church’s role, I explore the integration and profound early influence of religion into the temporal structure, elucidating how its conceptualization has shaped societal norms and influenced some of humanity’s more important decision-making processes today. The interplay between religious traditions and temporal organization highlights the calendar’s dual function as a practical timekeeping tool and a cultural artifact. The Four Tetrads by Marshall McLuhan integrally offers a lens to analyze how changes in media and communication have influenced our perception and utilization of time as well as the effects of the calendar on contemporary societal issues. I then explore the interconnectedness of media evolution and the transformation of the calendar, emphasizing their reciprocal relationship in shaping societal values and priorities. Examining how the calendar dictates the rhythm of our lives, the theme investigates its role in determining the timing of critical events and decision-making processes. To offer a holistic perspective, I also trace the chronological changes in the calendar over the course of time, addressing key historical junctures that contributed to its evolution. From the Julian calendars to the Gregorian calendar’s introduction, the narrative encompasses the various adaptations and reforms that have shaped the calendar into its present form
Racial Hierarchies Globalized: From Colonialism to Informal Empire
Get PDFModern society projects a belief that humanity is in a post-racial age (Goldberg 2016). However, many events of the 21st century across the world, such as Black Lives Matter and the genocide in Gaza, contradict this. What causes such a disjunction between the supposed post-racial belief, compared to the reality shown through the lived experience of continued domination? We posit this stems from issues of empires engineering control strategies and tactics since the emergence of modern civilization. The societal construction of stratification between oppressor and oppressed persists by perpetuating worldwide systemic subjugation via power-based hierarchies. Our macro theoretical framework seeks to explain that the process through which the system of racial inequality became globalized is still fueled by the evolution of formal empire into a more informal, and therefore less perceptible, version of dominance. Ideology based on a ‘rule of colonial difference’ (Chatterjee 1993) has created an insistent racial hierarchy stemming from modes of oppression through stratification by categories, with other pivotal variations of hierarchies around the globe continuing through the ages in various forms of class-type systems. The current actions of informal empire to maintain a ‘global apartheid’ (Besteman 2019) has been deeply successful under tactics of ‘liberal white supremacy’ (Beeman 2022), ‘racial liberalism’ (Abrego and Villalpando 2021) and psychological warfare (Osgood 2008). This framework focuses on the U.S. as an imperial force through its legacy as a settler-colonial state and hegemonic world power
Humanity and Technology Explored Through Poetry
Get PDFA collection of five poetry pieces all featuring the social theory of interactionism through the ever-increasing hyperreality of digital technology influencing humanity; social identity is a main theme throughout all
Film Review: Unveiling the Shadows Shadow of the Vampire by E. Elias Merhige
Get PDFE. Elias Merhige’s film Shadow of the Vampire (2001) is a mesmerizing cinematic journey that transcends the realms of horror, art, and social commentary. At its core, the film offers a chilling glimpse into the complexities of power and control, masterfully presented through a sociological lens that forces viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about the entertainment industry and human nature. Set against the backdrop of the silent film era, “Shadow of the Vampire” centers on the making of F.W. Murnau’s iconic Nosferatu (1922). However, this film within a film takes a sinister twist as it suggests that the actor portraying Count Orlok, Max Schreck (played brilliantly by Willem Dafoe), may indeed be a real vampire. This narrative device forms the perfect allegory for the sociological exploration of power and control through these examples of directors’ tyranny, exploitation and sacrifice, collateral damage, and art vs. reality
Reflective Essay: A Reasonable Purpose
Get PDFMainly looking at hegemonic masculinity practices and the patriarchal structure which can impede a man\u27s encounter within the criminal justice system. Taking those themes and combining them with finding a sense of purpose. How is it that we do what we do and why? I believe masculinity, patriarchy, criminal justice system and purpose are somehow interwoven together which makes for a fascinating case and analysis at large.  
Bittersweet
Get PDFGabriela De La Torre is a first-generation college student at Cal State University, Los Angeles. Her work is a tribute to her mother who was a first-generation high-school graduate and single, working mom. De La Torre reflects on what it means to be a first-generation student and seeks to better clarify the term through her own perspective. She shares how her new understanding of common challenges faced by first-generation students has helped her to recognize and voice underlying themes in her own life that detrimentally impacted her mental well being. Through her mother’s narrative, she lays a foundation of love and gratitude that gave her the strength to rise above guilt, terror, and anxiety and become the first in her family to attend university
Out of Home: Everything Opposite to Comfort and Peace
Get PDFThe concept of “home” is important to so many of us. But what happens when you leave home to study abroad as a first-generation scholar? In this piece, Esha shares a dialogue with other first-gen scholars who are in the same boat, but maybe not in the same waters. By examining each scholars’ attachment and unique connections to home, Esha hopes to provide support to fellow first-gen scholars who have left home to pursue their higher education goals
