Dr Jessamy Perriam on C Wright Mills'"Sociological Imagination"

Summary

In this video, Jess Terraeum discusses the sociological imagination, a concept developed by C. Wright Mills 60 years ago. Mills emphasized the need for sociologists to connect personal troubles with broader public issues, such as how austerity policies in the UK have led to increased food bank usage. The video explores whether this concept needs to be updated for the digital age, where individuals have more ways to discuss personal issues and more data is available to describe societal problems.

Takeaways

• 📚 C. Wright Mills developed the concept of 'sociological imagination' in his book published in 1959.
• 🌟 Mills worked primarily in the post-World War II era, focusing on social inequality, middle-class issues, and elite power structures.
• 🤔 Mills believed sociologists were too detached from the communities they studied and should be more involved with everyday life.
• 👥 He advocated for sociologists to be both activists and researchers to better understand societal issues.
• 🔍 Mills emphasized the importance of considering both personal troubles and public issues in sociological studies.
• 👀 He showed how individual problems are often part of broader societal narratives, such as the increase in food bank usage due to austerity policies.
• 📊 The concept of sociological imagination suggests that societal structures significantly impact individual lives.
• 📈 The digital age has provided more ways for individuals to discuss personal troubles and more data to describe public issues.
• 🤳 The abundance of personal and public issues in the digital age may compete for our attention.
• 🏫 A second-level module on understanding digital societies is offered from 2020 onwards to explore these concepts in a modern context.

Q & A

Who is C. Wright Mills?

C. Wright Mills was a sociologist who did the bulk of his work in the period after World War II. He focused on social inequality, problems facing the middle class, and power held by the elite.

What is the sociological imagination?

The sociological imagination is an idea developed by C. Wright Mills, which calls for sociologists to be more concerned and involved with problems in everyday life, connecting personal troubles to broader social issues.

When did C. Wright Mills write 'The Sociological Imagination'?

C. Wright Mills wrote 'The Sociological Imagination' in 1959.

What did Mills believe about the role of sociologists?

Mills believed that sociologists should be activists as well as researchers, and should be more involved with problems in everyday life.

How does Mills suggest sociologists should approach their studies?

Mills suggests that sociologists must pay attention to both personal troubles and public issues to understand the impact of society on individual lives.

What is an example of a personal trouble that can be understood as a public issue?

An example is the increase of food bank usage due to a decade of austerity policies in the UK, where individual experiences of reduced government support contribute to a broader public issue of poverty.

How does Mills' concept of sociological imagination apply in a digital age?

In a digital age, individuals have more ways to discuss their personal troubles, and there is more data available to describe public issues, suggesting that the sociological imagination may need to be amended to account for these changes.

What is the relevance of Mills' ideas in contemporary society?

Mills' ideas remain relevant as they encourage sociologists to connect individual experiences with broader social issues, which is particularly pertinent in a society with increased digital connectivity and data availability.

What is the 'Understanding Digital Societies' module mentioned in the script?

The 'Understanding Digital Societies' module is a second-level course that explores the implications of digital technology on society, starting from the year 2020 onwards.

How does the digital age affect the way personal troubles are communicated?

The digital age provides more platforms for individuals to discuss their personal troubles, potentially making them more visible and easier to aggregate into public issues.

What challenges does the digital age pose to the sociological imagination?

The digital age presents challenges such as information overload and the need to sift through vast amounts of personal troubles and public issues for sociologists to effectively apply the sociological imagination.