Sociological imagination connects an individual’s imagination to events and other people in the society. There are three key principles in sociological imagination; history, social structure and biography. Mills’ hypothesis states that people are able to understand themselves and the reality around them by linking their personal experience with structural and historical forces (Mitra&Sarabia, 2005). In this paper, I will correlate my personal experience from events that have happened around and how they have influenced my decisions. This concept needs to be applied carefully since it attempts to create a connection between public issues and my personal experience (Schudson, 2008).
/>
The characteristic trait of history correlates to the different ways a society was created and how it has evolved over time. The term bibliography relates to the person’s nature in relation to a particular society. A society is defined by its social structures, the individuals who dominate it and how they relate to each other. Sociological imagination points out visionaries who have the ability to see beyond themselves when it comes to history and the society (Mills, 1959, pg.7).
The theory of sociological imagination was summarized by Mills in his belief that the life of an individual and that of the society cannot be understood unless both of them are understood (Mitra&Sarabia, 2005). This is because all human actions are put into the context of history and sociology. The main question, however, is how we can proceed from an individual’s standpoint to a society’s stand point. In the end, sociological studies must involve more than studying how the society works and include the curiosity that is caused by certain events in an individual’s life. Sociological imagination should also help individuals change their way of doing things (Schwalbepg 43) and be considered as a means of using one of the main sociological perspectives.
The year 2004 was a turning point in my life. It was not due to an event that happened in that year, but rather,an event thatoccurred in 1994. As I was watching a documentary on the Rwandan genocide, I could not help but notice the involvement of the media in the conflict. The genocide provided two case scenarios of the role the media played in the whole conflict.
Prior to the genocide, the country’s media houses played a significant part in fuelling the chaos by inciting the Hutu community against the minority Tutsi tribe. During the conflict, the Hutu used radio stations to mobilize armed bandits and direct them to innocent civilians.
As the conflict ensued, Rwanda was isolated by the international community and the media did not commit to its duties of covering the chaos and the human suffering. While people went on with their daily lives oblivious of the events in Rwanda, Innocent Tutsi were massacred in their millions. The media conveyed a false image of two savage African tribes fighting over territory. This misrepresentation was one of the main reasons the UN and other western nations turned a blind eye to Rwanda.
The media plays an important role in constructing the society and creating public awareness by collecting correct information and attitudes towards certain issues. The most powerful tool in the society to increase awareness is the media; this means that, it has to be responsible when carrying out its role. During the events in Rwanda, the media failed in its mandate by not relaying correct information. Many believe that if the media played its role to the best of its ability, the Rwanda genocide would have not reached the peaks it did. I therefore decided to take on the responsibility of collecting facts and truths and presenting them to the many platforms available in this day and age. If everyone took the responsibility of looking for facts before coming to any conclusions, the failings of the media may not have the huge impacts that were seen in Rwanda. My drive is fuelled by the notion that important information, at the right time and to the right person may change the course of the human race.
WORKS CITED
Mitra, A. &SarabiaD. (2005). Embracing the sociological imagination: study of university
Schudson, M. (2008). The sociological imagination as cliché: The perils of sociology and the
practices of journalism. International Journal of Political and Cultural Sociology, 20, 41- 49. Retrieved from the Sociological Abstracts database.
