Example HSC Trial questions answered (1 Viewer)

lex123

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2004
Hey S&C 2004 students!!!... here are two of my extended response answers from my HSC trial 2004...hope it helps..!! i got full marks 4 both

popular culture- rock n roll,
belief system- Ku Klux Klan


Catholic Trial HSC Paper 2004 Question 5- Popular Culture mark 20/20
(b) Evaluate the importance of socialisation, mythology and globalisation to ONE popular culture you have studied.


Socialisation, mythology and globalisation are of extreme importance in terms of popular culture. In reference to rock’n’roll these three aspects have had an impact on the way in which rock’n’roll has been accessed, the type of people who accessed it and the representation of people involved within rock’n’roll. All of these aspects have been fundamental to the development of this popular culture.

Socialisation of an individual determines where, when and how an individual has lived and been brought up. The 1950’s saw the emergence of this culture, with the media making a strong emphasis to a newly developed teen market. This new culture held a definitive purpose for these adolescents as it was a freedom of expression in a time that was just beginning to break free of it’s conservative values. As sexuality became an increasingly valid form of expression, this aspect of socialisation aided the shift toward sexually explicit lyrics that exist today.

As people began to gain a firm sense of identity, the nature of popular culture broke down into sub groups, showing how the music of Elvis Presley extended forth into the Rolling Stones which later became the work of such artists as Silverchair. The lyrics produced and the type of music or the genre that was popular was significantly reliant on the socialisation of the generation of the time. Rock’n’roll has adapted through time in order to suit the needs of the market that it was targeted to. Because each generation is different, so too are the tastes, attitudes and values hence indicating how socialisation is an important aspect within the culture of rock’n’roll.

Part of the huge success of the work of Elvis Presley for example was the media’s portrayal of him. He was seen to have somewhat evolutionised music, with the media doting him as “The King”. Such labels have perpetuated rock’n’roll to a new level allowing this mythology to lift rock’n’roll from just a fad into an actual mainstream culture. The media has been known to portray personality cults such as this whereby they have targeted the youth generation of the time. The swearing antics of the Sex Pistols and the obscene controversy that surrounds Eminem are examples of artists that the media target in order to project a certain image; a “bad boy” reputation if you will. This image is a rebellion of teens and as such have a high popularity because of the controversy affiliated with it. The media plays on the emotions of adolescents who want to be rebellious and as such have created these “myths” or “personality cults” of individuals in order to attract attention and prospective sales. Thus it is evident how the success of rock’n’roll can be attributed to mythology and the media’s portrayal of it.

The media in its own right is also an example of how globalisation acts as a catalyst to promote rock'n’roll. Globalisation is an extremely important aspect of rock’n’roll as it governs the manner in which people can access rock’n’roll, the type of rock’n’roll that exists in addition to the future prospects of this popular culture.

Rock’n’roll began at a local level in the 1950’s with an example being Elvis Presley in Memphis (sun records). It consisted of local gigs and the projection of music through the use of radio. Globalisation has been important in spreading rock’n’roll as its spread of technology allowed the popular culture to reach a national audience by means such as the television. The television is an example as it advocated music programs such as the Ed Sullivan show and American Bandstand hosted by Dick Clarke.

The spread to the global scene was evident through the introduction of concerts and tours (the Beatles touring to Australia) and also by the means of technology available. Globalisation spreads technology, which in turn spreads rock’n roll. What started out to be listening to bands via the radio was replaced with 45rpm and portable record players where teens listened to what they wanted to. This idea stems back to socialisation, whereby the teen was in control of what they wanted to do and used rock’n’roll as a means to search for individuality. By technology such as the portable record player it has allowed them to control what they want to listen to, rather then listening to what their parents wanted them to.

From tape recorders to CD’s; from DVD’s to MP3 players- even the Internet, globalisation has had a great importance on the access of rock’n’roll. However it is also to be seen that the future could look bleak for independent record companies with currently the world music industry being governed by 3 main record labels. This globalisation, this shift to one market could see in the future a shift in rock’n’roll. With the Internet becoming increasingly popular, CD burning could look to be robbery of rock’n’roll artists. Evidently it can be seen that globalisation is so important within rock’n'roll as its influence and rapid speed that it is spreading is affecting the control of this popular culture.

Therefore it is evidently clear that socialisation, mythology and globalisation are three factors which have significantly impacted on the development of rock’n’roll into the popular culture it has become today, thus proving that they are all of great importance.



Catholic Trial HSC Paper 2004 Question 6 Mark: 20/20
(b) Evaluate the importance of language, norms and globalisation to ONE belief system you have studied.



Language, norms and globalisation have the ability to hold a significant importance in the development of traditional values held by specific belief systems. In reference to a belief system studied the Ku Klux Klan is an example of this: a paradigm of how social norms and language can be greatly influenced by such forces as globalisation.

The Ku Klux Klan is a political belief system, which evolved over 100 years ago in the United States of America. During the 1960’s the Ku Klux Klan were prevalent within the mainstream culture of American society indicating that the social norms of the time allowed the political group to gain control. Thus it is evident that the importance of language and social norms was significant as it allowed them to receive the popularity that it did.

The time that existed in the 60’s in American society defined the social norms. It was an era where the racial boundaries had not been blurred, as there was a clear distinction between the blacks and the whites. The blacks, being the African American Negroes, faced racial segregation from the white community being “victims” of racism and inequality. The fundamental belief of the Ku Klux Klan was to maintain white supremacy, where the white race was to dominate over all others. This belief is justified by the KKK as “preserving the Constitution of the United States of America.” It was the culture of the time that allowed them to “breed” the support that they were able to. 10000 members had joined the KKK throughout the USA, all proclaiming neo-nazi support and having a clear indignation against blacks, Jews, Roman Catholics, communists etc… They were also renown to make public street displays; conducting protest marches on days such as Martin Luther King Day and the Remembrance March for the Holocaust.

It is evident that their public display of they belief system was allowed due to the fact that the society at the time allowed them to do so. The norm of society in the sixties clearly indicated an existence where there were clear divisions in terms of race, culture and beliefs. It was this existence which saw an increase in members; these norms which perpetuated a belief system to “hate” others. It was a society and a time frame that allowed such hatred to exist. The KKK were affiliated with many notable crimes such as the lynching of over 2000 Negroes and the burning of crucifixes on black individual’s lawns. To them, language is seen metaphorically in this sense, with the blacks being seen to not speak the “language” that the white race spoke. It is this clear division and a society in fear of difference that has had a significant importance on the development of this belief system.

However it must be noted that the actions of the Ku Klux Klan are not being justified in this report, rather they are being explained. Norms that exist within society are subject to change. Norms are like morals- they are not universal. As time moves forth so too do society’s norms and the Ku Klux Klan have felt a significant change within their belief system due to social norms changing. A catalyst for social change is evident within globalisation.

Globalisation is a driving force breaking down the barrier of world companies, beliefs and cultures. As this barrier breaks so too does the inclination to support such a belief system as the KKK.

The KKK are a clear example of continuity and change as their fundamental beliefs have remained constant, however, due to such forces as globalisation and a shift in societal norms, the means of access and affiliation with the group have been drastically altered.

Through time law enforcement and civil rights groups have made the KKK an underground terrorist group as it has not been able to be openly as public about their beliefs, due to society changing. Globalisation has seen a blurring of racial boundaries, whereby racial prejudice is seen as a negative aspect of society and an aspect that is not tolerated. It is evident that the older generation who were subject to the Klan’s activities in the sixties, have through being witness to the change in societal norms become unaccepting of the behavior of the Klan. This has now allowed the Klan to tap into a new market within today’s society: the youth.

Globalisation has been a catalyst for the invention of technology and the spreading of this technology at a rapid rate across the globe. This has provided a new medium for the Klan to spread its message across via the Internet. Through internet sites, which are also affiliated with children sites, the Ku Klux Klan have been able to tap into a youth market, whereby they have been said to be breeding a “new generation of Klan”. This is indicative of generation gaps that exist today, where the norms of society suggest that the older generation are more inclined to be disapproving of such behavior whereas the youth are able to be “sucked in” by the media and its lucrative advertising.

However although this new market exists, the popularity has significantly decreased. An example is that in 1998 the South Carolina KKK were arrested for the lynching of 3 black men and the burning of the black church. It is evident that society has changed and has become more rigid in terms of dealing with such incidences. Globalisation has seen a shift in society’s norms, whereby racial differences are at present not tolerated.

It is clearly patent that the importance that language, norms and globalisation has played on the belief system of the Ku Klux Klan. The society they lived in allowed them to develop into a strong political belief system however the change in society’s norms and a shift toward a more global society has seen the Klan alter their means of access and has had a huge impact on the support it has received. Thus in final evaluation, it is seen that these three aspects are of a significant aspect to the survival and future development of the Ku Klux Klan.
 

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