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Animal Abuse in Sociological Perspective
Obermajerová, Kristýna ; Balon, Jan (advisor) ; Šamánek, Jan (referee)
This bachelor thesis focuses on animal abuse and its possible connections with other phenomena in the society. Additionally it provides an insight into the current situation of animal abuse in the Czech Republic. This situation is then compared with the situation abroad. The first part of the thesis is focused on presenting animal abuse as an issue that is relevant to sociology, and on its inclusion in the interests of contemporary sociology. Another section of the thesis is devoted to the presentation of earlier research conducted with the aim to detect any connection between animal abuse and other violent behavior, both in terms of escalation from cruelty to animals to violence toward humans and of committing animal abuse as a consequence of experiencing domestic violence. The following part of the thesis is based on an analysis of data retrieved from articles discussing animal abuse cases that are available at news server iDnes.cz and furthermore on an analysis of data obtained from American database Pet-Abuse.com which monitors animal abuse cases. The goal of this analysis is to present the current situation of animal cruelty in the Czech Republic and to compare it with the situation abroad. Several aspects that may be associated with abuse of animals were researched: abuser's sex and age, the...
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The Concept of Individualization in Social Theory
Märzová, Hana ; Balon, Jan (advisor) ; Šanderová, Jadwiga (referee)
In this thesis theoretical meaning of the concept of individualization is examined. Compilation and comparison of the concepts of individualization as they are understood by Ulrich Beck, Zygmunt Bauman and Anthony Giddens are put forward. Critiques of the concept of individualization are analyzed with focus on controversial issues of the concept of individualization. The analysis shows four types of objections: 1. Concepts of theorists of individualization are not based on empirical research, therefore they do not match the reality correctly. 2. In the conceptions of theorists of individualization, the individuals seem to be independent on the culture and on other people. 3. Social classes and gender status to some extent still affect the life of the individuals. 4. Individualization does not have the same effect on everybody. The analysis also shows that the controversial issues are the result of different meaning which give to the individualization creators of the concept and its critics. Theorists of individualization understand the individualization as macro-social phenomenon, whereas critics of individualization understand the individualization as the change of life and behaviour of the individuals due to the effect of various ambivalent processes. The question, how to connect those meanings...
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Boredom as a sociological problem
Hochmuthová, Terézia ; Maršálek, Jan (advisor) ; Balon, Jan (referee)
Contemporary society perceives boredom largely as a normal part of everyday life. Nevertheless, academic discourse has not come to an agreement on its interpretation. The researchers differ on two main points: first, whether boredom is universal or historically developed phenomenon, and second, whether it is an individual or the external conditions, who is more responsible for the emergence of boredom. This paper reflects on these conceptual difficulties and attempts to elude them by suggesting an alternative, sociologically relevant approach. A new sociological concept of the phenomenon is introduced, based on Martin Heidegger's conceptualization of boredom. Boredom is thereby understood as a specific way, in which individual relates to his/her social environment and its objects. In order to avoid epistemological dilemmas resulting from an imbalanced account, which puts too much emphasis either on subject or its environment, the concept situates boredom's origin and actuation onto the level where subject and its environment meet. The theoretical part of the text is followed by an empirical one, which uses the concept to interpret a specific segment of tourism: organized holidays. This particular model, constructed and offered by travel agencies as a complex product, is understood here as an...
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Helena Třeštíková's time-collecting documentary films in the context of sociology
Dobešová, Petra ; Balon, Jan (advisor) ; Hájek, Martin (referee)
Beyond reviewing Helena Třeštíková's most known movies and an outline of history of documentary film on a global scale and in Czech context1 , thesis deals with a style of time- collecting method in documentary films by Helena Třeštíková, with specifics of her method and requirements of her films. The aim is to comprehensively cover this topic, with the large space provided, due to the sociological potential, to theme in the social sciences still current - the questions of "truth", objective approach and reflections from various authors, theorists and filmmakers. Through the compilation of books and articles by film theorists, reviews and countless articles and interviews in the film and non-film press provides a discussion of the time-collecting document, its roots, traits and contexts, which continues in describing the specifics of Třeštíková's methods and finally, as the already mentioned, most famous works. Based on primary, secondary and tertiary sources, analysis and interpretation of visual and printed material, the thesis is a combination of review (provides a guide to understanding for those who meet the time-collecting topic for the first time) and critical approach (contributes to the existing theoretical discourse). 1 Both of these sections are inserted in the annex in order to not...
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Characteristics of Contemporary Architecture in Sociological View
Filová, Tereza ; Balon, Jan (advisor) ; Kandert, Josef (referee)
The thesis is about relation of society and its material environment - architecture. It focuses on current architecture and its characteristics with relation to society. The emphasis is placed on influence of constructions, interaction with users and transmission of meanings. The thesis is characterizing contemporary architecture using theories of Marshall McLuhan. Today's architecture is distinguished by projective character which enables higher participation of users than former architectural traditions. New interconnection of society and architecture appears. It is characterized by higher degree of interaction. At the same time, higher relativization, individualization and virtualization of meanings emerge. Currently, architecture is cool medium through the lens of Marshall McLuhan theories. It is characterized by low definition. On the other hand, former architectural traditions were hot mediums with high definition. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
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Viewpoints of German classical idealism used, not used and misused in social theory
Kříž, Petr ; Balon, Jan (advisor) ; Císař, Ondřej (referee)
In this thesis viewpoints of Hegel's philosophy of history were confronted with selected fields of 20th century social theory. The Enlightenment was chosen as a keyword. In Hegel's Phenomenology of Mind the Enlightenment is a mode of experience of consciousness, or a phenomenon of Spirit in its history, a phenomenon which is becoming outdated in his time. To illustrate such overcome this conception of Enlightenment is demonstrated on Kant's article The answer to a Question: What is Enlightenment?. Thesis then examines the way in which had Hegel's interpretation inspired Critical theory - specifically Adorno's and Horkheimer's Dialectic of Enlightenment and Marcuse's Reason and Revolution. The last part of thesis is focused on the broader field of social theory to find manifestations of thought stream begun by Hegel. It finds it out especially in thought of Gadamer in considerably radical form calling to a question the epistemology of humanities till his present. Viewpoints emerged from Hegel's philosophical reaction to the Enlightenment represent still current counterpart of neopositivist approaches and a relevant reference point in epistemological uncertainty and in finding out an adequate socio-historical role of humanities.
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Youth and the Fear of Death
Halamásek, Šimon ; Balon, Jan (advisor) ; Kotík, Michal (referee)
This thesis focuses on death, fearing of death and the way youth is perceived by western society as a preferred era in the life of an individual. It defines youth as a sociodemographic category and examines the problematic role of youth in modern society. It offers an insight into historical perspectives on death, fear of it and how these perspectives have changed. It examines Plato's theory of reincarnation, medieval Christianity's stance towards death, Hume's critical view of whether a soul actually exists and Heidegger's perception of death as an authentic way to end one's life. The thesis emphasizes the fear of death in modern society and the absence of relevant thanatological literature that would approach death in modern society as a complex phenomenon. It notices the ambivalent attitude towards youth in the history of modern society and pinpoints the peculiar position of youth the 20th century. It includes both the rise of the so- called death awareness movement in the second half of 20th century, as well as the hospice movement, that slowly brings brings back the original and private meaning of death into society. This thesis also examines whether the current modern society is in fact death- denying. At its very end, the thesis ponders about the possible future of death as a phenomenon in the modern...
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How to understand society? Hermeneutical perspective on sociology and its knowledge
Horák, Vít ; Balon, Jan (advisor) ; Ďurďovič, Martin (referee) ; Hroch, Jaroslav (referee)
The thesis strives to introduce and outline a new understanding of sociology based on the philosophical hermeneutics of Hans-Georg Gadamer. The aim of the thesis is to differentiate the hermeneutical approach from the scientific and from the interpretative paradigm in particular. Hermeneutics does see sociology neither as a science nor as a science of specific (interpretative, hermeneutical, understanding or critical) type, which must be cleared out in the context of the sociological metatheory. I explain the key differences between scientific and hermeneutic point of view according to the works of Martin Heidegger and H.-G. Gadamer. Heidegger is instructive for me in the way he reveals the metaphysical roots of modern science. He discloses science as a specific and historical dependent understanding of the world and the man within it. Gadamer's hermeneutics then proclaims understanding as a universal and more fundamental aspect of human being-in-the-world and expounds it with the notion of language, dialogue, the hermeneutical circle, the logic of question and answer, tradition or sensus communis. After differentiating hermeneutics from existing sociological streams of thought I try to use Gadamer's concepts to conceive of society and sociology. I propose to understand society as a historical...
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Czech Film Taste in Sociological Perspective
Smoljaková, Natálie ; Holeček, Tomáš (advisor) ; Balon, Jan (referee)
The aim of this work is to find specific preferences of Czech film consumers. By these specific preferences it is meant the type of stories, heroes or genres which does Czech film audience prefer. The analysis is made on the most popular films (i.e. with the biggest attendance) in last twenty years using the theory of Erving Goffman, especially his concept of frame analysis. By using the terms of frame analysis the content of the selected films is compared with the same amount of the most popular films in USA. This comparison is then used to find the differences or similarities among these two different areas, but in particular it is done to underline the specifics of Czech film audience. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
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Projective Architekture in Sociological View
Filová, Tereza ; Balon, Jan (advisor) ; Kandert, Josef (referee)
The thesis is about relation of society to its material environment including its cultural product which is architecture. This is the reason why it is using viewpoints of sociology of culture and art. The thesis focuses on the contemporary projective architecture and brings its characteristics having a relation to society. The main starting-point is uncritical nature of projective architecture. This nature is set into the historical development of the architectural styles of the twentieth century. The picture of development of those critical and uncritical phases is assembled with emphasis to their specific relation to society. In the conclusions the detected relation of projective architecture to the society is assembled to this development. It is compared with former stages. The conclusions say that the relation between society and architecture is strengthened, but on the other hand it is individualised and relativized too.
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