Sociology

Culture is what unites people and forms nations. It is also based on four pillars: norms, values, ideas, and symbols. Of course, sport is one of the most significant parts of US culture, as lots of people are involved in this sphere. Sport is now one of the most significant industries which earn billions of dollars. Moreover, people do not see their life without sport as people go in for different kinds of sports and love watching sports events.

It is possible to trace the way pillars of culture work through analyzing a basketball game. Finals are very spectacular and attract a lot of attention. Thus, the playoff final between Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs will be analyzed. The game was very spectacular and full of brilliant moments. Players were stunning and created a great atmosphere. Spectators were satisfied with the game as it was very dynamic.

As for norms, it is possible to assume that American society sees attending a sports game as a norm since there are no empty seats. It is also a norm to be competitive for US society. This competitiveness is revealed in the game as the players compete vigorously. Moreover, spectators are also ‘infected’ by the desire to win, and they support their teams cheering and going crazy. Hence, it is also seen as a norm to express emotions loudly.

Furthermore, it is the norm to participate with the whole family. Children can be seen throughout the game. They share their parents’ emotions and copy adults’ behavior.

As far as values are concerned, it is possible to start with the importance of family for Americans. As has been mentioned above, adults come to games with their children, and the camera often focuses on children. Besides, there are commercials which focus on family values as well. For instance, at the game, there was a commercial of mayonnaise, which is promoted as a thing necessary for a traditional American meal.

It is also important to consider the importance of competitiveness for Americans. It is not only a norm to be competitive. This trait of character is valued. It is possible to see the way it is valued since spectators support their team when they are competitive and do their best to win.

When a team fails to show determination, spectators, as well as commentators, can be dissatisfied. Thus, angry spectators may shout and demand better performance from players. Finally, success can be regarded as another value. Americans think that success is important in sport and life.

When it comes to ideas, it is necessary to start with the belief that sport is a very important part of Americans’ lives. People take every event quite seriously. Commentators try to be professional and precise in their comments on the game. Players never stop developing new skills and tricks. At the same time, there is a belief that sport is also a way to relax from hard work.

People try to forget about their problems and become a part of something else. Thus, every final is a big show which helps people relax. Of course, there is a belief that people have to be competitive to succeed in everything, and it is important to succeed in life. After analysis of the game, it becomes obvious Americans tend to think that victory is the point, not mere participation.

Finally, it is important to pay attention to symbols which are present in every sphere of people’s lives, and they are, of course, apparent in the basketball game under consideration. One of the symbols is body art which can be seen on spectator’s faces and even bodies (there was a man with an emblem of one of the teams on his belly). Spectators also wear specific clothes. This is done to show their preferences. This is a symbol of their support.

Therefore, all these norms, values, ideas, and symbols draw a picture of the American culture. It is possible to assume that Americans strive for success in their lives and expect to see it everywhere. Americans also know how to relax and have fun. They love spectacular events and appreciate the professionalism. They also remember that family is one of the most important things in their life and they spend a lot of exciting moments with their close ones.

This assignment was eye-opening for me as I learned about the American culture and the way it is reflected in sport. I never thought a sports event could be analyzed and seen from a cultural perspective. Now I know that through analysis of a sports event, it is possible to better understand any culture.

I have started paying more attention to numerous details and looking for a variety of symbols and values in different sources. I believe a sports event is not the only object of analysis as every event can provide insights into a culture. I find it exciting as it helps me learn more about US culture and myself.

Poverty refers to a situation of server deprivation of basic human wants. With the help of eleven functions of global poverty, readers can understand why poverty exists in today’s society. Poverty has influenced the price of commodities, making products affordable for wealthy nations.

Developing countries provide ground for the manufacture of goods at cheaper prices because of the poor state. Foreign investors take advantage of cheap labor from periphery countries by paying workers insufficient wages. The wages provided are inefficient because they do not allow poor people to meet basic needs.

Global poverty plays a role in helping companies sustain increased profit margins. Business developers often strategize diverse measures of minimizing costs to acquire more revenue. This ideology can be achieved easily with the help of cheap labor. This explains why companies in developed countries need global poverty to earn more profits.

Availability of resources in developing countries needed by Western nations for industrialization perpetuates global poverty. Developed countries take advantage of deficiency in skills within poor countries to gain access to resources. For example, developed countries provide study scholarships to bright underprivileged children. Skills obtained by these pupils are drained by employing graduates to areas that demand scarce expertise within Western countries. This means that skills obtained by students become futile to developing states.

Poor states help Western countries advance in their medical practices. People from developing countries are used as guinea pigs for lab experiments. Unfortunately, the results benefit Western cultures while poor states depend on medical supplies from developed countries. This makes global poverty useful for core countries development.

Lack of job opportunities provides a foundation for further development of Western economies. This is achieved through brain drain; skills of the underprivileged are transferred to companies located in Western cultures. Creating job opportunities within developing states reduces chances for wealthy states to obtain cheap labor.

Poverty within developing countries creates room for dumping. Companies found in Western countries dump used products in poor states. This can be in the form of used cars or second-hand clothes. These products are usually dangerous for human consumption. For example, dumped cars are unsafe for Western roads. This also makes them dangerous for users within developing countries.

Poverty within developing countries provides job opportunities for some professionals from Western states. Advisors and researchers undertake studies on the poverty level of poor countries and provide underprivileged people with results through selling books. This acts like a business that benefits Western countries rather than local people.

Underdevelopment lays the foundation for cheap housing to people from Western cultures. Some foreigners go as charity workers intending to help the underprivileged. Through this strategy, poor states provide such people with the land. Charity workers make money from these lands and repatriate profit to their homelands.

Massive flow of resources to Western countries is easily perpetuated by poverty. People get opportunities in regional areas to work for a better payment not knowing that profit gained is used to develop the core states. This encourages Western countries to continue providing more job opportunities that can lure people to work in developed countries.

Underprivileged countries act as scapegoats for environmental risks that may affect developed countries. Foreign investors construct manufacturing industries in developing countries, but export finished products to wealthy states. All environmental risks such as pollution remain within poor states. This explains the reason why most foreign investors prefer constructing industries within developing countries.

Poverty has perpetuated discrimination through the pacification of workers. This helps in providing affordable goods to benefit the rich and poor. This strategy helps Western cultures maintain their authoritative state.