1. How is Becker’s article “Art Worlds” relevant to the material we have covered so far?
2. How is “Framing Fat” (the book summarized in the assigned blog post) relevant to the material we have covered so far?
3. Must all cultural objects be meaningful? Why or why not? Think of and list examples of US cultural objects that seem saturated with meaning and others that seem meaningless. Why are some so exalted and others so ignored? How can both be part of the same culture? Is this distinction of meaningful and meaningless akin to Durkheim’s distinction betweent the sacred and the profane? Why or why not?
4. Select a subculture within US culture, perhaps one that you are a part of such as a religious group, ethnic group, social club, etc. Discuss how this subculture erects and maintains its symbolic boundaries. [HINT: Reading the artilcle on symbolic boundaries posted above will help you better answer this question.]