U.S Airways: Picture to Text connections
The Negative Effects of Societal Positions in Today's
Society:
Author's
note: Before reading this article, it is important to know there
are distinct differences between social class and social status. Social class
is a word usually used toward finances. For example based on how much money one
has. Whereas social status is more appropriately used towards one's social
value in society. What both positions in society have in common is the
people who have places and are involved in each social aspect, are treated
differently based on where they rank. I have chosen this picture of the U.S
airway crash because I feel this picture represents this well.
The
Book “Cinder” written by Marissa Mayer and the picture of the U.S airway crash
relate to classicism through showing examples of societal positions in society. These positions consist of social class, and social status.
The picture of the
U.S airway crash demonstrates an example of social positions in society through
social class. According to this picture there is social class injustice between
the passengers in the front of the plane and the back of the plan. The picture
shows the people in the front of the plane are in a boat with life jackets. Meanwhile
the people in the back of the plane are standing in the water without life
jackets. Keeping in mind that the passengers located in the back of the plane paid
for an economic class plane ticket. Also keeping in mind the passengers in the
front of the plane paid more to feel comfortable as a first class passenger. In
other words as a result of paying more money, the first class passengers get
special treatment. In this case the special treatment is in the form of a boat
and life jackets rather than standing in the water like the other passengers. All
of these reasons are proof that this picture shows examples of social class. Therefore
the picture shows social class because the first class passengers get special
treatment compared to the other passengers.
The book “Cinder”
written by Marissa Mayer displays social status by Cinder (the main character) being
discriminated by her society. In “Cinder” the setting is placed in a futuristic
version of Beijing. As reason of the setting which is the future, the social hierarchy
has been adjusted. In the future there are now cyborgs and robots resulting in
more discrimination between human both and other races. In the disruption of
the status quo, humans are considered better and are at a higher social status than
cyborgs because humans feel cyborgs are not real humans. In the social hierarchy
Cinder is already at the lowest ranking because she is cyborg (half robot half
human). Now after learning about being both lunar (people of the moon) and
cyborg she realizes that she is at the very bottom of the social hierarchy. In
her book Marissa Mayer confirms this by writing, “To be cyborg and a lunar.” “One was enough to make
her a mutant, an outcast, but to be both?”
In other words, Cinder is exhibiting her understanding of her place in society.
Basically, Cinder knows now she is below not only humans but below all other
aspects that are considered on the social status hierarchy. Considering her
first reaction was to call herself an “outsider” and “mutant”, she clearly
knows her discovery has made a negative effect to her life. In calling herself an
“outcast” Cinder clearly knows she is someone that will be of low rank and
looked down upon and on top of that treated with the utmost disrespect. This is
a relevant discovery to the argument because Cinder is being discriminated
against because of her race(s). In other words Cinder is at a lower social status
by virtue of Cinder being cyborg (and a new addition) being lunar. Therefore
“Cinder” written by Marissa Mayer displays social status on the grounds that Cinder
is discriminated by her society.
The Book “Cinder”
written by Marissa Mayer and the picture of the U.S airway crash relate to
classicism through social class, and social status. As a result of the special treatment
and discrimination between both ‘Cinder” and the U.S airway crash, one can see
how the lower ranking passengers and citizens of both fictional and non-fictional
worlds have suffered. The reason being because they have been negatively affected
by these social positions. These examples are on a small scale compared to what’s
really happening in society today. If one doesn’t take the time to address
small issues such as preferential treatment. That can compromise other people’s
life during a plane crash. No one will. If one takes the time to try and improve
imperfections such as this in the world, society can only get worst.
