Emile Durkheim defined society as being the collection of social activities or social institutions. The differentiation among this collection develops collectiveness. Society develops a collective consciousness, embodying the beliefs and thoughts of members of the society. This type of consciousness represents the individual’s connection to the society as a whole; and dominance the society has over an individual. With the existence of the division of labor, individuals develop the structure of society. Each entity found in society maintains a specified duty or obligation. Durkheim defines the structure of the social whole as being in two forms of solidarity, mechanical and organic. Durkheim defines mechanical solidarity as being one unifying whole with no independent parts. Hence, mechanical solidarity emphasizes homogeneity amongst individuals. The individual feels connected when interacting with one another through similar work and other aspects of society. Organic solidarity is the heterogeneity of individuals, where social cohesion/integration is represented through interdependence. The interactions amongst individuals are derived from the social structure imposing specified positions/roles on social actors. Organic solidarity develops as the “primitive” society moves towards an advanced industrial society. With South Africa transitioning to an industrialized nation, apartheid developed which eventually led to the Soweto Uprising of 1976. The Soweto Uprising and the political atmosphere of South Africa were depicted in the adaptation of the Broadway play, Sarafina. As South Africa transitioned to an industrialized society, organic solidarity amongst the individuals became crucial for the existence of the society as a whole.
"In 1976 the South African Government declared a State of Emergency. For the next thirteen years, school children adopted a campaign of resistance. Over 700 were killed, over 10,000 arrested, many more tortured and assaulted”. This film is dedicated to them”
The film, Sarafina, began with this profound statement. The political atmosphere of South Africa during this time was focused on apartheid. The governmental policy of Apartheid was used to maintain the longstanding societal value of racial segregation. This system of segregation isolated whites from nonwhites within the structures of education, medical care, public places, and locations of residency. Through organic solidarity, South Africa, now a more advanced society, places emphasis on society (as a whole) opposed to the community. Apartheid is used to maintain structure and order within the society as “whites” and black Africans rely on each other’s roles to uphold the structure of apartheid.
Having a high level of interdependence, “whites” develop a social responsibility which supports their strong connection of their personal prosperity to that of the whole South African nation. In reality, Apartheid was an oppressive regime for black Africans, socially, economically, and politically. Meanwhile the communities of black Africans tend to have care and concern about one another and their wellbeing. Consequently, Apartheid was faced with a significant amount of internal resistance, most often times leading to violence and protest.
Specifically, in Soweto, a city in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1976 an uprising occurred. The collective consciousness of black South Africans exhibited low levels of volume, intensity, and determinateness. This was demonstrated by the people disagreeing with the value system which existed in South Africa. This collective consciousness led to the oppressive regimes having less control over them. The struggles of the apartheid regime were depicted through this film, Sarafina, capturing the Soweto Uprising of 1976. Maintaining the collectiveness of the black South Africans, high school students led protests in response to the oppressive plan introduced by the implementation of Afrikaans Medium Decree. This decree forced schools to teach using Afrikaan and English languages. Afrikaan was defined as being the language of their oppressors, which further strengthened the apartheid regime present in South Africa. The main character, Sarafina, learned about the oppressive motives of Afrikaans Medium Decree through underground lectures. Through these lectures, students began to see themselves as having control of their world and the things they experience. It placed a strong emphasis on the individual’s deciding on their own what the collective consciousness provided for them. Throughout this film, Sarafina is encouraged to fight against the oppression by the government. She also struggles with the decision to use violence as a means of battling the government.
http://youtu.be/KRaFRCAPWJk
"In 1976 the South African Government declared a State of Emergency. For the next thirteen years, school children adopted a campaign of resistance. Over 700 were killed, over 10,000 arrested, many more tortured and assaulted”. This film is dedicated to them”
The film, Sarafina, began with this profound statement. The political atmosphere of South Africa during this time was focused on apartheid. The governmental policy of Apartheid was used to maintain the longstanding societal value of racial segregation. This system of segregation isolated whites from nonwhites within the structures of education, medical care, public places, and locations of residency. Through organic solidarity, South Africa, now a more advanced society, places emphasis on society (as a whole) opposed to the community. Apartheid is used to maintain structure and order within the society as “whites” and black Africans rely on each other’s roles to uphold the structure of apartheid.
Having a high level of interdependence, “whites” develop a social responsibility which supports their strong connection of their personal prosperity to that of the whole South African nation. In reality, Apartheid was an oppressive regime for black Africans, socially, economically, and politically. Meanwhile the communities of black Africans tend to have care and concern about one another and their wellbeing. Consequently, Apartheid was faced with a significant amount of internal resistance, most often times leading to violence and protest.
Specifically, in Soweto, a city in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1976 an uprising occurred. The collective consciousness of black South Africans exhibited low levels of volume, intensity, and determinateness. This was demonstrated by the people disagreeing with the value system which existed in South Africa. This collective consciousness led to the oppressive regimes having less control over them. The struggles of the apartheid regime were depicted through this film, Sarafina, capturing the Soweto Uprising of 1976. Maintaining the collectiveness of the black South Africans, high school students led protests in response to the oppressive plan introduced by the implementation of Afrikaans Medium Decree. This decree forced schools to teach using Afrikaan and English languages. Afrikaan was defined as being the language of their oppressors, which further strengthened the apartheid regime present in South Africa. The main character, Sarafina, learned about the oppressive motives of Afrikaans Medium Decree through underground lectures. Through these lectures, students began to see themselves as having control of their world and the things they experience. It placed a strong emphasis on the individual’s deciding on their own what the collective consciousness provided for them. Throughout this film, Sarafina is encouraged to fight against the oppression by the government. She also struggles with the decision to use violence as a means of battling the government.
http://youtu.be/KRaFRCAPWJk