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Project One: Video Analysis

In the chosen video, the scene starts with Lacie exiting a taxi to meet with a real estate

agent. She is attempting to move out of her apartment into a house at Pelican Cove. As she is

shown the house by the real estate agent, there are elements that she enjoys such as the large

kitchen and fitness center. However, she realizes that it may be too expensive, but the real estate

agent introduces a twenty percent discount for people rated 4.5 and above, which Lacie does not

meet. Although the audience is introduced to the idea of ratings of people on a one to five star

scale earlier in the episode, which is not included in the clip, the audience experiences one of the

major events in the episode that is directly impacted by the rating system and the opportunities

that are available to the citizens of this make-believe society.

This video is sociologically relevant because it showcases all three sociological

perspectives, each to a varying degree, and relates to the gentrification of neighborhoods in the

twentieth-first century. Because this is a common occurrence, it can show subtle ways that

people have been affected by society, so by analyzing this clip sociologists can identify new

concepts or reinforce older theories such as the three sociological paradigms: functionalism,

interactionism, and conflict theory. Gentrification is indicative of conflict theory because it has

displaced communities in order to cater to urban communities. This can be interpreted as a

competition for resources, which is housing. According to Shaun A. Golding, “researchers noted

that urban migration to rural destinations creates upward pressure on housing prices, which in

turn creates several problems for low-income residents” (Golding, 129). Gentrification is a

relevant issue in modern society and is important when it comes to analyzing the deepening of

social divisions.
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Conflict theory is present in this clip because the rating system creates inequality in the

social system. There is a divide between social classes because each social class is competing for

limited resources, which are positive ratings. This rating system can be thought of as another

way to express the class system. Because Lacie has a rating of 4.35, she is assumed to be

upper-middle class. However, this system can be flawed when higher ranker groups give lower

ranked groups low rankings in order to maintain and perpetuate their power. This is consistent

with Karl Marx’s ideas of class struggle, which led to conflict theory. Another form of inequality

exercised by those in power is by selecting those who are able to enter their inner circles, they

retain people similar to themselves. This excludes people of lower ratings, or people of a lower

class. Marx would argue that the class conflict and inequality in this clip will lead to social

change because the proletariat (lower classes) will overthrow the bourgeoisie (upper class).

Although this is not specifically shown in this clip, Marx may predict that the proletariat (lower

classes) will remove the rating system in order to share resources equally, regardless of class,

gender, or race.

In addition to conflict theory, symbolic interactionism theory can be found in the clip.

The rating system is effective at proving the conflict theory referenced earlier because the society

in the clip has agreed that the numbers hold meaning. Thus, it means that certain numbers are

more important than others. Symbolic interactionism states that society is made up of the

individual interactions that occur day-to-day using mutually recognized symbols and language.

Even the language that they are speaking, which is English, supports this because the real estate

agent and Lacie both know a word based on specific sounds which are translated into meanings.

It has been taught to them by their primary group as a child so that they understand what it
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means. This can also be applied to other languages such as Chinese or Spanish. Although a

monolingual English speaker will not understand Chinese or Spanish, he or she still recognizes

that Chinese characters and Spanish words mean something because another culture has given it

meaning. This point can be illustrated in Connie de Vos’s journal article on the sampling of

shared signed languages where de Vos examines the emergence of the Kata Kolok sign language

to both children born with deafness and to children who lose their hearing over time. The native

Balinese language and the Kata Kolok sign language are unrelated. According to deVos (2016),

“Kata Kolok is manifested in all of the major facets of village life…, or casually get together in

the village compounds shared by deaf and hearing families” (de Vos, 207). This is similar to how

English speakers acknowledge the existence of other languages, which gives it meaning in their

own mind. The Balinese speaking families (with hearing) also coexist with and acknowledge the

deaf community who communicate with the Kata Kolok sign language. Similarly, the Kata

Kolok sign language is different from American sign language and British sign language.

However, even though it is different, it does not deny its existence, but it exists because it means

something to a group of people. George Herbert Mead and his student, Herbert Blumer, would

also explain that the interactions between Lacie and the real estate agent as Lacie’s desire to

move into a better community and house because the house symbolizes success and wealth.

Lacie may have learned from a young age from interactions with friends that a bigger house

means that the owner has achieved success and prosperity in his or her life.

Finally, functionalism can also be analyzed within the clip to a minimal extent. The

exchange between the real estate agent and Lacie shows the dynamics that exist between them. It

symbolizes the relationship between the housing industry and people. It isn’t explicitly shown in
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the video clip, but the housing industry buys furniture and hires contractors in order to furnish

and build a house which supports the economy. This creates a web that leads to the support of

supermarkets, which goes to the cashiers, which could coincidentally go back to the real estate

agent to complete a cycle. The clip indirectly shows how one part of society supports another

part of society in order to create stability. This idea coincides with Herbert Spencer’s idea that

“just as the various organs of the body work together to keep the body functioning, the various

parts of society work together to keep society functioning” (Griffiths & Keirns, 1.3, para. 5).

Spencer would also agree that although only one aspect is shown, it has been implied that it

contributes to society by offering houses to people and supports other industries like the ones

mentioned above. Emile Durkheim would also agree with Spencer because he also believes the

society is made of parts that work together to maintain order.

I believe that conflict theory best represents the clip because there are many more

examples supporting this over the other sociological theories. The functionalist and interactionist

theories are much more nuanced in the analyses whereas the conflict theory is much more direct.

The real estate agent is direct in making it clear that the twenty percent discount is a reward or a

competition for resources for a specific rating. This supports conflict theory the most. Although

conflict theory is the best sociological theory to assign the clip, it is also important to

acknowledge that symbolic interactionism is the driving force behind it. Without the rating

system, which is a part of the symbolic interactionism theory, there would be nothing to compete

for. This would lead to the lack of inequality in Lacie’s society and the lack of need for

competition and conflict theory to explain it.

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References

De Vos, C. (2016). Sampling Shared Sign Languages. ​Sign Language Studies,​ ​16(​ 2), 204-226.

Retrieved July 7, 2020, from ​www.jstor.org/stable/26191027

Golding, S.A. (2016). Gentrification and Segregated Wealth in Rural America: Home Value

Sorting in Destination Countries. ​Population Research and Policy Review,​ ​35​(1),

127-146. Retrieved July 7, 2020, from ​www.jstor.org/stable/26158803

Griffiths, H., & Keirns, N. (2015). Introduction to Sociology 2e. ​OpenStax.

https://openstax.org/books/introduction-sociology-2e/pages/1-3-theoretical-perspectives

Mr. Robot. (2017). ​Black Mirror - Nosedive Scene​ [Video]. YouTube.

https://youtu.be/LC5Ds3UftEE