READING TENDER MERCIES

Two readings, one realistic, the other subversive, of Tender Mercies , a contemporary "alcoholism" film, are offered. This case study of a cultural text speaks to the problem of how a society represents itself to its members through its depictions of everyday life. It is argued that sociologists have been slow to utilize cultural representations of society. It is contended that a patriarchal bias structures the film in question. A subversive reading of its text shows how this bias works. It is concluded that films like Tender Mercies reproduce key cultural ideologies concerning men, women, family, and alcoholism. The experience of viewing a film cannot be reduced to causes and effects, but must rather be studied in terms of the fields of experience a film makes available to the viewer. A methodology for conducting studies of cultural texts is outlined.     

What do we really teach in introductory sociology textbooks? three underlying messages and their instructional implications

In considering mainstream introductory-sociology textbooks published between 1975–1989, three underlying messages and their instructional implications/remedies are identified and treated. First, society was portrayed as overstructured, organized, and impersonal. The need, therefore, is to stress instructionally its more individual/interactional, unorganized, and personal/emotional aspects. Second, society was overinterpreted primarily in ideologically liberal ways and also in a more radical fashion. The resulting instructional need introduces more conservative analyses. Third, sociological knowledge was overpresented as the most authoritative “highest knowledge” about society. Thus, the teaching imperative is to show the inadequacies and weaknesses of sociological knowledge thereby encouraging more student discussion and expression of contrary views.     

Literatur / Books

Buchbesprechungen / Book reviews

Literatur / Books     

A model for consulting to help effect change in organizations

Rapid change in an organization's environment creates barriers to needed change in strategy and culture. Managers, and the consultants who are invariably called on to assist such efforts, face difficult challenges in working together to effect change. They often fail to achieve the desired results. The author offers a new model of consulting to help guide general managers and consultants in the creation of the necessary conditions for successful management of change. This model is based on lessons learned from case studies in the health care industry.     

Are abused women mentally ill?

A secondary data analysis study was conducted on Derogatis Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) data derived from a larger intervention study of community-based abused women (N = 50). The purpose was to improve understanding of the effect domestic violence has on mental health, given the symptomatology observed in this population. A psychological distress symptom profile was developed and compared with BSI normative data. Findings were unexpected and suggest the necessity to re-examine the assumptions harbored about interpersonal violence in research and practice.