The sociological imagination is great, but really, it ruins all your favorite things. This podcast, hosted by Matt Sedlar, takes a topic each month and explores...
This month, I want to tell you a story about Concord Park, a suburb of Philadelphia. Concord Park was intentionally designed to combat the systemic forces that fostered segregation and inequality in postwar American cities. So when more and more people were being separated, Concord Park brought people together. But geography, or putting people in homes next to each other, isn’t enough. Communities are built on interaction, shared interests, and experiences. In the case of Concord Park, it was through the Wonderland Puppet Theater. That’s right. This month, we’re talking about puppets. But also housing, inequality, and community. This is a sociology podcast, after all. Paulette Richards joins the podcast as we talk about how art can bring community together.
Show Notes
Richards, P. (2024). Object performance in the Black Atlantic: The United States. Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/Object-Performance-in-the-Black-Atlantic-The-United-States/Richards/p/book/9781032054865
Patterson, Orlando. Slavery and Social Death: A Comparative Study. Cambridge: Harvard UP, 1982. https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674986909
Piggot, W. Benjamin and W. Benjamin Pigott. “The ‘Problem’ of the Black Middle Class: Morris Milgram's Concord Park and Residential Integration in Philadelphia's Postwar Suburbs” The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Apr., 2008, Vol. 132, No. 2 (Apr., 2008), pp. 173-190 https://www.jstor.org/stable/20093996
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29:17
Unaccompanied Migrant Youth
Sociologist Stephanie Canizales joins the podcast to discuss the complex realities unaccompanied migrant youth face, the factors that lead them to embark on such journeys, the risks they encounter, and the challenges they face in adapting to new surroundings. The episode also discusses how communities and organizations can provide support and opportunities for these vulnerable youth.
Show notes
Canizales, Stephanie. 2024. Sin Padres, Ni Papeles: Unaccompanied Migrant Youth Coming of Age in the United States
https://www.ucpress.edu/books/sin-padres-ni-papeles/paper
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42:41
Furniture Poverty
Places are unique to us. We become attached to them. And when you ask people to name a place that means a lot to them, there’s a good chance they’ll talk about home. Our homes are full of stuff, from practical items like vacuum cleaners and chairs to sentimental treasures such as photo albums and heirlooms inherited through generations. All these objects help make a space a place. But what happens when we lose them? And how does the loss of even mundane objects, seemingly insignificant items, impact our emotional well-being? Surprisingly, there isn’t a whole lot of research in this area.
This episode examines furniture poverty. What is it, how does it affect people and their ability to connect with others, and what can we do about it?
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35:31
New Season of Sociology Ruins Everything!
Ever wondered how sociology impacts everything you know? Get ready to have your mind blown as I, Matt Sedlar, explore the hidden sociological forces that shape our world.
From furniture poverty to legend tripping, this season, I'll explore the fascinating (and sometimes uncomfortable) truths about society.
Join me for six new, monthly episodes as sociology ruins... well, everything!
Subscribe now and never miss an episode!
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0:26
Sociology Goes on Strike
Collective action is the most effective way to bring about social change because it allows people to pool their resources and efforts to achieve a common goal. Strikes are one of the most useful forms of collective action because they can disrupt business operations and pressure employers to make concessions. With the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and the Writers Guild of America in the middle of a historic strike, this episode asks how did things get to this point and how does sociology fit into the conversation? In the episode, I'm joined by Kurt Scott, a WGA member, and Courtney Bell, a former SAG-AFTRA member and sociologist at George Mason University.
Show notes:
Entertainment Community Fund, https://entertainmentcommunity.org/
The sociological imagination is great, but really, it ruins all your favorite things. This podcast, hosted by Matt Sedlar, takes a topic each month and explores it from a sociological perspective.
South Africa