At the time of this film, they were contemporary, but the film was true to the times, so they are now historically correct also. The social mores and customs are well depicted in the forms of dances and music and in the morality of the time. Maria's dress for the dance must have a certain propriety about it, with a proper hem and neckline. She dresses in white to symbolize purity. Anita, a married woman, can dress in red, as she has more freedom and need not be chaperoned. Maria's age, innocence and single status require a chaperone.
Family is very important in this film, as family connections are used as reasons for action. However, the family structure of the Puerto Rican culture is the main focus, and its very Catholic cultural attitudes. The gender roles are extremely well defined for both groups, though Maria crosses them when she steps in to settle arguments and to supply the resolution at the end.
Social roles in this movie follow accepted norms of the time and are patterned after the original Shakespearean roles. Maria has immigrates to become betrothed by a previous arrangement between the parents. Anita, a married aunt, is charged with protecting her honor. The dance substitutes for a coming out party, and Maria is to be formally presented to her betrothed. The role of male protector comes in the form of the leader of the Sharks, Bernardo. Tony is the symbol of upward mobility from the poor white lower class. He goes to night school, works and stays out of trouble. He is making it. However, his friends in the Sharks feel abandoned, even though he still comes around and helps them out. Both groups are at...
Sociology: Changing Societies in a Diverse World (Fourth Edition) George J. Bryjak & Michael P. Soroka Chapter One Summary of Key Concepts Sociology is the field of study which seeks to "describe, explain, and predict human social patterns" from a scientific perspective. And though Sociology is part of the social sciences (such as psychology and anthropology), it is quite set apart from the other disciplines in social science; that is because it emphasizes
dealt with the issue of youth gangs and their prevalence in USA. Sociologists have been analyzing youth gangs in urban backgrounds for around 70 years. It has been debated that youth gangs were created in accordance with social events, and that gang members were of loose morals or inadequately socialized entities who tied up together to do delinquent activities in groups rather than as separate entities. This paper shall
Origins of WarIntroductionThe origins of war�are they inherent within the human condition? Are they part of the human personality, the human spirit, the inner turmoil and conflict in the psyche or soul? Why do people fight? Why does conflict exist in society? These questions and those like them get to the heart of the human condition and have been asked by philosophers, psychologists, sociologists, politicians, theologians, and anyone who ever
Goad (1997) notes the use of stereotypes helps reduce uncertainties one may have with their own status or relationships in society. He goes on to suggest people use the term "redneck" to reduce their anxiety and insecurities they may have about their own ability or socio-economic status, or their concerns about the welfare of their own ethnicity in an environment where they may feel outnumbered (Goad, 1997). To resolve
Disability and Society in Scotland, UK Analysis of theoretical Perspectives on Disability in Scotland Corbett (1991) is of the opinion that the idea of 'normality' that is present in the British culture has a contradiction. He says that it generally creates a fear of being different, while at the same time laying great stress on retaining ones individuality. To achieve this individuality people try to stand out in different areas of life
A favorite target for conspiracists today as well as in the past, a group of European intellectuals created the Order of the Illuminati in May 1776, in Bavaria, Germany, under the leadership of Adam Weishaupt (Atkins, 2002). In this regard, Stewart (2002) reports that, "The 'great' conspiracy organized in the last half of the eighteenth century through the efforts of a number of secret societies that were striving for
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