Theories of Mass Media
Global village- the world has become like a small community as a result of the spread of electronic communication.
Public Sphere- Means by which people communicate in a open society place for public debate and discussion
Mass media manipulates and controls the public sphere, turning it into a sham.
Hyper reality- as a result of the spread of electronic communication there is no longer a separate “reality” to which to programs and other cultural products refer instead what we take to be.
Reality- is structured by such communication itself
Media and Modern society- Thompson argues that mass media have created new form of social interactive mass media allows much more to continue the public domain.
Globalization and media imperialism- Developing countries are subject to the cultural images of larger cultures.
Theories of Religion
Marx: Religion and Inequality
Religion represents human self animation
“opium of the people”
Religious beliefs can provide justifications for those in power
Durkheim: Religion and functionalism
Defined religion in terms of sacred versus the profane.
Religion serves cohesive functions, especially ensuring that people meet regularly to affirm common beliefs and values.
Religious Trends
Religiosity- is the regular practice of religious beliefs, measured by church attendance
Two groups have dramatically increased in size in recent decades
Fundamentalists: those who literally interpret texts and want to return to a time of a greater religious party.
Unchurched: those who consider themselves spiritual but not religious and who often adopt aspects of various religious traditions
Religion (sociological)- Includes any institutionalized system of shared:
Beliefs( Propostitons and ideas held on the basis of Faity) and Rituals (practices based on those beliefs) that identify a relationship between sacred and the profane.
Theories of Politics & Government
Government- The formal, organized agency that exercises power and control in modern society, especially through the creation and enforcement of laws.
Politics- The methods and tactics of managing a political entity such as a nation or state, as well as to the administration and control of it’s internal and external affairs.
Power- is the ability to impose one’s will on others
Authority- is the legitimate, non-coercive(non force) exercise of power.

Types of Political Systems
Authoritarism- is a system of government by and for a small number of elites that does not include representation of ordinary citizens
Dictatorship- usually a dictator does not gain power by being elected or through succession buy seizes power and becomes an absolutist ruler.
Totalitarianism- is the most extreme and modern form of authoritarianism in which the government seeks to control every aspects of citizen’s lives.
Monarchy- is the government by a king or queen, with succession of rulers kept within the family.
Absolute Monarchies- typically have complete authority over their subjects.
Constitutional Monarchs- are royal figures whose powers are defined by a political charter and limited by a parliament or other governing body
Democracy- Is a political system in which all citizens have the right to participate

Power elite & Pluralism
Pluralism- is a system of political power in which a wide variety of individuals and groups have equal access to resources and the mechanisms of power.
Power elite- is a termed coined by C. Wright Mills for a relatively small number of people who control the economic, political, and military institutions of a society
Political Involvement
Political Party- an organization oriented toward achieving legitimate control of government through an electoral process
Interest Group- any organization that attempts to persuade eleceted officials to consider its aim when deciding legislation.

Work & Economic Life
What is work?
Work- Is the carrying out of tasks that involve physical and mental effort.
Objective is the production of goods