Thesis and Research Data Repository Leeds Beckett University
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New Wallmartia, Pangaea: Star-Cycle
No full textSet in the future, this piece takes inspiration from a critical one who lived over a thousand star‐cycles ago and was unearthed by several archaeologists examining the society of a people who called themselves “Britons”. The original document was taken by the corporation and destroyed; however, this report maintains the key parts of the original text.</p
No Pain No Gain
No full textThis critical reflection examines how a fitness centre can be a place of self surveillance and can be observed in relation to theories such as the risk society (Beck, 1992), information/knowledge society (Bell, 1999), technology (Lupton, 2012) and surveillance (Foucault, 1980). The theories will be examined through diary entries of my life as a gym member. The overall aim of this critical reflection will be to see whether aspects of these theories could be applied to the fitness centre as an institution in which power and knowledge relations encourage the maintenance of body ideals.</p
The World in a Trolley
No full textThis critical reflection will examine a normal aspect of most people’s lives – a trip to the supermarket. It will explore this regular excursion with an emphasis on globalisation, consumerism and Fordism.</p
Preface
No full textSociology has long had the potential to have a transformative impact on the way we learn about the world around us. As a Lecturer in Sociology, I have had the pleasure in seeing many social science students 'grow' intellectually as they become more actively engaged with studying, understanding and motivated to change the society in which they live. Undergraduate students here at Leeds Metropolitan University have the potential to be more than simply the 'consumers' of a higher educational product. Indeed, what the academic staff in the Social Science group are committed to, is providing genuine, exciting opportunities for students to be the 'producers' of new knowledge. We want the students we work with to be active, motivated individuals who are able to employ their own 'sociological' imagination in examining the social problems and challenges that surround them.</p
Sex Tourism and the Gaze
No full textSex tourist destinations are gendered social constructions which are created, promoted and consumed by and for the dominant tourist, that is, the white, Western male. Western men travel to 'third world' countries in order to visually and physically consume difference in the form of the exotic female Other. This highlights how both the male and tourist gaze overlap and form a ‘male tourist gaze’ which is privileged within tourist discourses and which perpetuates racial and gendered stereotypes.</p
"We Cant See the Wood for the Trees": Reflecting on the Financial Crisis
No full textIn this critical reflection the author will use the framework of Risk Society (Beck, 2011) to examine the financial crisis of 2008. Through this process the author examines aspects of the Risk Society thesis, and seeks to examine whether or not our contemporary society can be characterised by risk – do we really live in a Risk Society?</p
Dating in Late Modernity
No full textThis exercise will analyse the 'everyday' activity of a couple going on a first date in order to explore the post-modern rationalisation of relationship formation and the cultural practices of consumption and identity formation via the common 'first-date territory' of the cinema and going for something to eat.</p
Monday 22nd October 2012
No full textIn this paper, the author explores how different theories covered in this module could relate to their own everyday life. The author analysed the events of one day to see how key stages would relate to the different theories covered in this module. Also, how concerns and insecurities would play relevance.</p
Calling on Behalf of Charities
No full textCountless theorists have attempted and are still attempting to make sense of modern society through various explanations. Occupations are one of the defining features of contemporary society (Bell, 1973), therefore this critical reflection will examine various theories in the context of a workplace; a call centre.</p
'Skinny Lattes' and 'Venti Frappuchinis'
No full textWallerstein's World System Theory is applied to the coffee market to illustrate the impact of the industry on social, political and environmental aspects of the coffee producing countries whilst perpetuating the western oligopoly which has forced down export prices making it difficult to provide those involved in coffee production with a decent wage.</p