• Choose a specific consumer good e.g. cars, computers, cell phones, cosmetics, clothing, etc. and apply Marx’s theory of fetishism of commodities to it. Is the item you have chosen a consumer fetish or do people buy it mainly for its use and/or aesthetic value?
• In view of increasing global and local protests, e.g. anti-poverty, anti-war, Indigenous rights, etc. is capitalism the final stage of history that must be succeeded by socialism as Marx and Engels had predicted? Why or why not?
• In one of Simmel’s most cited essays, “The Metropolis and Mental Life”, he argues that modern city, based on the money economy has a profound effect on human relationships. Do you agree or disagree with him that money is the root cause of social problems, whereby genuine human relationships characterized by greater feeling and emotionality decline, being replaced by increasing attitudes of blasé indifference, shallow rational calculations, and a lack of social responsibility in the face of profit-driven or selfish motives? Provide specific examples that support and/or challenge Simmel’s argument.
• Are contemporary social media platforms e.g. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other types of digital and media technologies a form of ideology that dominates the masses through consensus? Or are they legitimate communication tools that are meaningful and liberating to individual consumers? Provide specific examples to support your argument.
• Drawing upon feminist theory, discuss ONE of the following issues: 1) gender images in the media; 2) gender gaps in public policies e.g. economic development, health care, education; or 3) gender variations in Canada.
• Has modern society, particularly youth culture become prisoner of brands, logos and gadgets? Why or why not?
• Have key aspects of our modern society such as employment, education, health care, etc. become “McDonaldized?” Why or why not?
