Rough sketch of annotation, not finished.
Three basic reactions to roommate troubles: managerial, complaint-making, and punitive.
Response in general: interactionally constituted when a troubled party takes some action to manage or change the troubling situation.
Limited use of exit because departure date is already set.
Roommate relationships are usually non-hierarchical. Sense of obligation to "get along"
1. Managerial: unilateral, carried out by troubled party, seek either to change conditions giving rise to trouble or develop way of living with or around trouble.
2. Complaint-making: bilateral, troubled party proposed that the other undertake some action to rememdy problem, contingent on the troubling party's response.
3. PUNITIVE--after concern for "getting along" is abandoned, troubled party seeks to distance or punish troubling party, either directly expressed alienation and hostility and usually returned similar attitude/response.
These three response are "ideal types"
Three different kinds of managerial responses: self-directed changes, efforts to manage the consequences of the discontent-producing situation, and unilateral rememdial efforts to prevent the trouble from recurring. "Preventitive measures" Short term withdrawal, changing habits.
Why don't they work? They may be invisible or low visibility to troubling party. When are they used? Usually in the beginning. Also when confrontation or direct complaints failed to produce change in troubling part's behavior. Later in the game, these managerial responses are more visible as signs of discontent.
Complaint making. Can take form of sarcastic comments, a request, proposal, or demand. Seeking to prevent troubling behavior in the future, either by setting a precedent or making demands clear. Success or failure depends on the response of troubling party. Successful outcomes are NOT guaranteed. Complex response cycles. Modulated accusations: "presenting discontents cautiously and politely and framing requests for change mildly in ways that minimized direct accusation of blame and wrongdoing." Anticipation that out-and-out accusation would lead to confrontation. Troublemaker must be eased, convinced, persuaded. Must be properly framed--not as an expression of misery, etc. but as a "heart-to-heart appeal to save their relationship." (502) Therapeutic--"neutral, therapy-like terms."
Punitive. Systematic exclusion, avoidance. "situational withdrawal and other managerial responses were generally isolated to one specific trouble area, leaving the overall relationship with the other more or less intact, systematic avoidance involved persistent tension and CONTROLLED RESENTMENT pervading all aspects of the relationship. Abandon efforts to remedy the trouble. Not simply to harm but also to deter. (Needles in mattress)
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
The Myth of the Ticking Time Bomb: Home Security
Last week, vlogger Sarah Haskins examined a ticking time bomb myth pertaining specifically to women: the myth of never being safe from an attacker. She looks at this in the way it is made into a marketable product which women feel compelled to buy protection from, lest they therefore allow themselves and their "young, innocent-looking daughter" to be assaulted by the ever-lurking intruder:
Hulu - infoMania: Broadview Security
Source: www.hulu.com
Video description: Dear Women: You are never safe. Seriously. We mean it. Hugs n' kisses, Broadview Security
Unfortunately, I can't post the video clip here--you'll just have to click it yourself. Anyway, let's talk about the norms the clip illuminates and the claimsmaking the commercial relies on. First norm--strangers are dangerous, and if you are a woman alone, they're up to only one thing--planning to assault you. Women are in constant danger of becoming victims of violence--or who knows what else! This leads us to norm number two--women need to be protected, and not just at any cost--at their own personal expense of $99 a month. The commercial presents spending the $99 for the alarm system as totally necessary, part of being a normal, responsible woman and/or mother. To not "ensure" the protection of yourself and/or your family would be reprehensible, deviant. Norm number three (which I almost referred to as my least favorite, but decided I am pretty disgusted with all of them) is that of heterosexuality as the returner of order. Haskins makes the Broadview phone call hilarious by pointing out its absurdity, but the message is clear in the commercial--the alarm frightens the burglar/intruder/potential rapist/etc. off, but peace and quiet is only restored when the "Broadview hunk" comes into the picture.
Claimsmaking--this scenario is only possible because of the "Stranger Danger" made present in our cultural imagination
Hulu - infoMania: Broadview Security
Source: www.hulu.com
Video description: Dear Women: You are never safe. Seriously. We mean it. Hugs n' kisses, Broadview Security
Unfortunately, I can't post the video clip here--you'll just have to click it yourself. Anyway, let's talk about the norms the clip illuminates and the claimsmaking the commercial relies on. First norm--strangers are dangerous, and if you are a woman alone, they're up to only one thing--planning to assault you. Women are in constant danger of becoming victims of violence--or who knows what else! This leads us to norm number two--women need to be protected, and not just at any cost--at their own personal expense of $99 a month. The commercial presents spending the $99 for the alarm system as totally necessary, part of being a normal, responsible woman and/or mother. To not "ensure" the protection of yourself and/or your family would be reprehensible, deviant. Norm number three (which I almost referred to as my least favorite, but decided I am pretty disgusted with all of them) is that of heterosexuality as the returner of order. Haskins makes the Broadview phone call hilarious by pointing out its absurdity, but the message is clear in the commercial--the alarm frightens the burglar/intruder/potential rapist/etc. off, but peace and quiet is only restored when the "Broadview hunk" comes into the picture.
Claimsmaking--this scenario is only possible because of the "Stranger Danger" made present in our cultural imagination
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)