The Application of Bourdieu's Theory to Neoliberal Principles and Practices

This explains why things have different meanings according to the situations. Finally, as meaning emerges trough interactions, it is also maintained trough them. As we acquire ways to feel, behave and think through our interactions culture is socially constructed. This explains why for symbolic interactionists, there is no Society, no greater body that controls and determines social norms, we are the ones who trough our interactions, create them. Since our responses to symbols, signs, events and situation are public, we are free to redefine to a certain extent meanings and as new things and objects emerge, we come up with new meanings. It is when we do not use a meaning associated with a symbol, for abstract ideas such as beliefs of values, that they disappear or are modified. This is how symbolic interactionists explain the change in ‘’societies’’ mentalities over time. All of these choices and these interactions implicate a Self, a reflexive process that enables us to formulate, monitor, control and react to our own behaviour, which formation we’ll explain through Meade, Cooley and Goffman.

Symbolic interactions are not all the same theoretically. Although all the scholars concur that the people depend on shared secret codes to build their actuality and on the practical prerequisite of understanding behavior by entering the actuality of the actor,

The symbolic interaction view focuses primarily on the individual and how they perceive themselves in the work place or job market. Social stratification and technology also play a part in this issue. What a person does for a living reflects on how that person see’s their life. If a person works at a dull mundane or repetitious job, their views on their personal life may be similar. Those working in an exciting and progressive field may see their life reflecting this. This is not to say one is better than the other, both types of job are needed within society. Often education plays an enormous role in one’s career choice. Many skilled trades often have traits at both ends of the spectrum, offering job satisfaction with moments of frustration with work. This is often related to education and technology. Primarily the more education one has the better income one may earn. This does not mean that money can buy

Symbolism is a way we can express our beliefs or ideas through physical objects; however, they also divide people into groups. A paragon of this situation is the

“Symbolic interactionists study how people use symbols to develop their views of the world and to communicate with one another. Symbols define for us what relationships are… without symbols, our social life would lack sophistication” (Henslin, 2006:15). The significance these happenings had on social change would mean nothing in our history if everyone and everything did not have a particular symbol. Unable to specify title, materials, or goals Albert Einstein would not have been labeled with the status he had achieved as world most famous physicist, Nazi Germany would not have been feared, Szilard would not have had the ideas he did, the President would

a. Symbolic Interaction/pg. 23: a theoretical perspective in which society is viewed as composed of symbols that people use to establish meaning, develop their views of the world, and communicate with one another.

Symbolism is when concrete things are used to represent abstract ideas. Symbols can be any person, place, or thing that the reader believes represents more than what it literally is. Authors can use symbols to help the reader get fully immersed into the plot. Symbols can also help identify motifs or themes that run throughout the story. In Naomi Novik’s Throne of Jade, the Allegiance, a ship, is used as a symbol of tension between countries, specifically China and Great Britain.

Symbolism is another concept in the theory of identification. In a nutshell, symbolism, as its name suggests, uses symbols in order to represent ideas or values. In theory of identification, symbols are used in order to compel the audience to identify with the values or ideas that the symbols stand for (Taboada and Mann 571). In a sense, the meaning of symbols may vary from one person to another. Nevertheless, given the proper context, the meaning of certain symbols may be established with more clarity. This implies that symbols are also able to project certain identities. For example, a monument may elicit upon the viewer the memories of a bitter event in a particular community and the lessons that the event continue to bring to the same community. When applied to a larger group, symbols may induce cooperation among their intended audience (Taboada and Mann 575). In other words, the audience members are not only able to identify with the symbol but also with one another. Indeed,

The functionalist perspective considers societies working in order to maintain a united society. From the perspective of a functionalist, in order to sustain a united society, norms and values must be applied. Therefore, if differences such as race cause tension, the possibility of having a united culture will cease to be. Secondly, the conflict theory places emphasis on opposition, coercion, and inequality within society. From the viewpoint of the conflict theory, in the case of racial profiling, inequality comes as a result of the exploitation of the minority by the majority. Therefore, exploitation leads the group with greatest influence to use its power in order to protect its interests against the opposing party. The causes of this theory would be inequality demonstrated to the minority group; meanwhile a solution would be to exploit the opposing group with the intent of protecting one’s interest. Thirdly, the symbolic interactionist relates to seeing society as the result of symbols that people give meaning to through their daily interactions. From the perspective of a symbolic interactionist, in order to form society in a certain image, it is imperative to understand the symbolism in society. Through comprehending the shared meaning connected to symbols in society, a person can understand how

Social conflict also focuses on macro-sociology. Symbolic interaction paradigm says society functions well through interactions. Communication is spreaded through symbols created by society. Social interaction is important, because it causes social change. Many variables such as behavior events are explained through social contact with others. The people are the ones who determine what is reality, and what is not reality. Life works in a dramatization point of view. Symbolic interaction paradigm focuses on the small issues that affect communities in society, therefore making it a micro-level orientation. Functionalist paradigm sees society as a well integrated, self-regulating system that meets people’s needs. While Social conflict views society having many groups that are self reliant, with their own goals and needs. Symbolic interaction explains society is shaped, and constructed through interaction, and communication with others.

Power. Everyone seeks it, but what happens after power is gained? Power turns to greed, pride, and overuse of one’s superiority over another. The Scarlet Pimpernel, a novel in the reign of terror in which the French Government abused but lost it, Ozymandias a ruler in the past lost power, and Viva la Vida about an abusive ruler who again lost power. Yet, they all have something in common. In the Scarlet Pimpernel, Viva la Vida, and Ozymandias each author uses personification to convey the idea that when power is overused, people are powerless in many ways, however the ruler or tyrant will eventually be powerless when time comes.

Symbolism is the use of symbols to represent ideas, qualities, figures, or colours used to represent abstract ideas. For example, “he always believed in the importance of the conch”. It can also describe the symbolic meaning attributed to natural objects or facts, “the old-fashioned symbolism of flowers”. William Golding showed that symbols in his book Lord of the Flies can have a great and powerful meaning at first, but that same symbol that was well respected and had great meaning can become completely useless as the story progresses. Firstly, the conch represented civilization and order, but as the book progressed it was completely useless and was ignored.

Symbols are used to signify values and ideas, carrying meaning beyond that which appears to be described. Political symbols, in particular, represent the ideals that define a society, and as such, are compelling forces. Some such symbols can be used to instill fear in people and subdue them to allow corrupt regimes to continue to asserting their dominance in a society and maintain control. In the face of such injustice and oppression, other political symbols can, arguably, carry an even greater value, as they can give strength to the marginalized, giving them an emblem under which they can express their ideals. Simple objects can hold such power since the ideas they symbolize are timeless, transcending a single

promoted a half way approach to liberal ideas while they incorporated parts of a social

(B. Kamiński 225). However, the package was met with a flurry of criticism from prominent economists and journalists. Echoing the key principles of neoliberalism, the economist Tomasz Jeziorański argued that the principal weakness of the package consisted in granting the full responsibility for economic performance to the central administration. The free enterprise characterized by responsibility and autonomy, he insisted, was incompatible with economic coercion by the state (B. Kamiński 226). As a consequence of protests of similar nature, the government eventually withdrew the package in question from further consideration.