When things all fit together....

I'm teaching Introduction to Sociology this semester for the first time in 6 or 7 years. After a few lectures of introduction, the first unit is on "culture."  We read two articles illustrating different aspects of culture.  The first, by Mieke Loe, describes the cultural environment of a restaurant she calls, "Bazooms."  The second, by Haunani Kay-Trask, describes the cultural commodification of Hawaiin culture.  Both readings highlight issues of gender, of work, of culture and cultural hegemony.  The class had a good discussion of the readings on Tuesday.

On Thursday, I planned to show a video, "Mardi Gras: Made in China," which contrasts the lives of young women in China manufacturing mardi gras beads to those of Mardi Gras revelers in New Orleans. The video highlights the working conditions of the women, the culture of China, and the treatment of women at Mardi Gras who are willing to bear their breasts for beads. One part of the video shows the women returning home to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

So, on Thursday, driving in to work NPR happened to have a segment on the changing cultural celebration of Chinese New Year in rural areas of China.  The segment mentioned the enhancement and co-opting of traditional practices for the benefit of tourists; the shifting meaning of the holiday within the country; and the differences between rural and urban China.  It was perfect!  All of my themes tied together!  I played the segment for the class. I don't think they were as excited as I was...but once you start looking for sociology, you see it everywhere.