Societal values have always been a source of conflict due to the views or opinions of one society or culture that often contradict the views of another. Proposals of societal change often create tension between those that oppose the transformation and those that approve of it. Individualism and uniformity are two forces that are constantly dueling for dominance across the globe, and the severity of competition differs depending on the variation of the melting pot of cultures within a society. Robert B. Ray’s “The Thematic Paradigm” and Jeffery Cohen’s “Monster Culture (Seven Theses)” both study an ongoing issue within a social group that affects the way a community functions, while suggesting change, which in turn diverges the two essays. Differences
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This lack of decision making allows American culture to lose its individuality not just within cinema, but community as well, erasing the multitude of cultures that have come together to create what is now America. By establishing choice as a requirement, then the differences between these cultures survive. Similarly, Jeffery Cohen’s “Monster Culture” embodies the ideology of the world’s desire to get rid of all outsiders that do not fit within the identity of a certain culture, but instead stand out because “the monster exists at the gate of difference” (Cohen 7). This persecution, per Cohen, establishes boundaries between the normal and abnormal, much like how European males have justified the subjugation of women and non-whites because it established and protected their cultural society (Cohen 15). If society rids itself of all the so-called monsters, then it will in turn create a monotone society, lacking in individuality and variety. The establishment of a single culture with only the desired traits is impossible because it will erase the crucial differences between societies that make up the global culture of the earth. Because of the authors’ analyses of their chosen topics, they both provide …show more content…
Ray implements an informative and educational tone throughout the essay so as to present his facts on the contradictions that exist within American movies such as the film, The Boxer, from 1950, where a shy violinist decides to become a fighter. The tone of “The Thematic Paradigm” creates an ambiance of learning, causing those exposed to the literature to absorb the information and process it with an educational value. His suggestions are viewed as learning tools, a source to improve one’s knowledge. Unlike Ray, Cohen’s work takes a different approach, implementing a militant and almost abrasive tone. The author uses this tactic to awaken society to its wrongdoings. His tone generates a confrontational environment through surface level generalizations, leaving many who were exposed to his work feeling attacked or frustrated. For example, he paraphrases a verse from the Bible (Numbers 13), that presents a justification of the Israelites taking back the promised land by creating monsters of the inhabitants of Canaan (Cohen 7). By generalizing a sacred text for many, his work brusquely provides insight as to how the cultural “monsters” have been subjugated by society for thousands of years. The tones of the two essays differ, allowing them to reach different conclusions through different strategies. Despite the variances
This lack of decision making allows American culture to lose its individuality not just within cinema, but community as well, erasing the multitude of cultures that have come together to create what is now America. By establishing choice as a requirement, then the differences between these cultures survive. Similarly, Jeffery Cohen’s “Monster Culture” embodies the ideology of the world’s desire to get rid of all outsiders that do not fit within the identity of a certain culture, but instead stand out because “the monster exists at the gate of difference” (Cohen 7). This persecution, per Cohen, establishes boundaries between the normal and abnormal, much like how European males have justified the subjugation of women and non-whites because it established and protected their cultural society (Cohen 15). If society rids itself of all the so-called monsters, then it will in turn create a monotone society, lacking in individuality and variety. The establishment of a single culture with only the desired traits is impossible because it will erase the crucial differences between societies that make up the global culture of the earth. Because of the authors’ analyses of their chosen topics, they both provide …show more content…
Ray implements an informative and educational tone throughout the essay so as to present his facts on the contradictions that exist within American movies such as the film, The Boxer, from 1950, where a shy violinist decides to become a fighter. The tone of “The Thematic Paradigm” creates an ambiance of learning, causing those exposed to the literature to absorb the information and process it with an educational value. His suggestions are viewed as learning tools, a source to improve one’s knowledge. Unlike Ray, Cohen’s work takes a different approach, implementing a militant and almost abrasive tone. The author uses this tactic to awaken society to its wrongdoings. His tone generates a confrontational environment through surface level generalizations, leaving many who were exposed to his work feeling attacked or frustrated. For example, he paraphrases a verse from the Bible (Numbers 13), that presents a justification of the Israelites taking back the promised land by creating monsters of the inhabitants of Canaan (Cohen 7). By generalizing a sacred text for many, his work brusquely provides insight as to how the cultural “monsters” have been subjugated by society for thousands of years. The tones of the two essays differ, allowing them to reach different conclusions through different strategies. Despite the variances