Baraka Film Analysis

Durkheim’s theory of anomie and Marx’s theory of alienation have had a very strong influence on the sociological understandings of modern life. Critically compare these two concepts.

Durkheim’s primary purpose in Elementary Forms of Religious Life was to explain how the most “primitive and simple religion known” showcased “the elementary notions of the basis of religion.” Durkheim focused on the moral effects of religion in social life and behavior amongst aboriginals in Australia. Weber focused on the effects of religion on the economics of life and the development of capitalism through the lens of religious development. Durkheim argued that ritualized rites condition individuals, making individuals feel part of the collective group and behave more favorable for the society. As a result of this feeling, religion functioned as the moral basis of the society and unified society on a fundamental level. Religion therefore gives the group a feeling of purpose and a cyclic cycle of belief begins. Religion may have power over society but society also has power over religion. Durkheim believed that all religious imagery is a force created by society, to provide moral regulation and cohesion. Religion became the unifying power and solved the problem of isolation. When social structures such as religion break down, the stabilizing influence of society on individual inclination is no longer effective and individuals are left to their own devices. No longer are individual desires managed by the principals of right and wrong. As a result, individuals are left without moral guidance paired with their fundamental need to want to accomplish goals. In this, we see that in Durkheim’s theory the individual understands their importance in the grand scheme of society and is in agreement to be second to society. Each individual has a purpose to further push the achievements of society and not solely themselves. The continuous changing of the individual does not imply a moral weakness but a

2. Durkheim: What term does Durkheim associate with social solidarity? How do societies achieve it organically and mechanically? What did he think threatened social solidarity?

Emile Durkheim perspective on social change according to Mike O’Donnell (1992) was how social change only occurs, when it is functionally ready for it; an example of

Durkheim stressed how interconnectivity within a society is necessary for success and ultimate balance and stability. He linked the human body and its organs to society; the organs being the necessary parts that work collectively to maintain stability and keep the person alive. Cultural norms and values are placed within a society because of the socially deviant members who break said established norms, which calls for punishment and consequences. Such deviant actions could be in the form of social movements, protests, crime etc. Crime has been a part of human civilization since the beginning of time, and many argue that crime breaks the organic and mechanical solidarity that is, therefore crime is bad and should be extinguished from society.

Additionally, religion provides security for believers and emotional support. For example, a lots of people feel protective from their gods and emotional support because they have a transcendental relationship that help them deal with dependence, scarcity, and powerlessness. Another function of religion that is very useful to society is that religion contribute to individuals identities. Many believers identifies themselves with one religion "I am Catholic, I am Muslim or I am Jewish" because they inherritag like their ethnicity. At last, religion is very useful to society because it direct individuals and teach us ethics for the appropriate behavior of established society.

In the Baraka there are powerful Images, these images have an impact on the audience as they are watching the film. In the film Baraka there are symbolic messages that many people might not see or catch within the film. There are quite a few topics in the film, but the top three that I could see are religion, overpopulation and the environment. The religion part of the film is about people around the world that pray and worship gods, they have faith in a higher power which gives them purpose and belief that there is a reason for what happens as they live on earth. Overpopulation is a huge part of the environment but, it’s a whole separate topic on it’s own because it has become a huge hazard in the world today. The environment is a big part of everyone’s future and well being with an impact that can affect generations to come..

There are several key elements that are found in every society. These elements are called cultural universals. One of these cultural universals is religion. From the earliest known societies to our every day modern lives religion has performed many vital functions.

Karl Marx’s theory of alienation states the consequences of living within a capitalist society that is made up of stratified social classes. The working class is alienated because they are deprived of the right to think or direct their own actions without the oppression of the economic entity controlled by the Bourgeoisie. Emile Durkheim’s theory of anomie was developed during a great capitalist growth, the industrialization revolution. The mass population could not keep up with the constant change leading to the breakdown of social bonds between individuals and communities. This break of social bonds creates anomie for the individual or society which leads to fatalistic suicide, especially when a person is rule governed. These concepts provided by Marx and Durkheim have mutual relationships, both are an effect from the capitalist system, they share qualities in religion, and labor.

Durkheim suggests that the popular assumptions of the time concerning the imminent collapse of social life in response to the ever increasing division of labour and general urbanization of life were not just exaggerated but actually wrong. Durkheim retorted that rather than being dismantled, solidarity was simply being reconstructed in a different form. Durkheim argued that modern industrial society actively freed people from isolation by mutual dependence through the increasing division of labour.

Durkheim never lost sight of the individual, and the relation of the individual to society is a guiding question throughout his work. Rather than showing that individuals are wholly subservient to society for all aspects of their existence, Durkheim demonstrates that in order to understand the individual, it is necessary to situate them within the network of social relations that informs and influences their life. This is exactly what Durkheim’s sociology does, and its strength lies precisely in its illumination and deconstruction of those elements of society that have the greatest bearing on and realize themselves through the individual.

(Giddens, 2010) states religion is necessary and functional for human societies, not because it offers realistic or ‘true’ answers to the mysteries of the universe, but because it brings together communities of worshippers and constantly recreates social bonds and thus strengthens solidarity.

Law is a major factor that Durkheim basis a lot off. A sort of symbolism and order to social life two types of law can be observed. Repressive law (punishing the guilty) and Restitutive law (restoring correctives to the offender). Durkheim applied that more mechanical solidarity. Anomie is introduced as the deregulation that was occurring society. He sheds the light on how people were supposed to act with each other were breaking down and at a time didn’t know what to except from each other. Anomy literally translates” the state or condition of individuals or society characterized by a breakdown or absence of social norms and values (dictionary.com.)”.

From the functionalist perspective, as Durkheim developed, religion is what society should celebrate. He also viewed religions as having three functions: social cohesion, social control, and meaning and purpose. Social cohesion would help keep the bond between individuals through the beliefs and rituals they share, social control would help to emphasize a sense of harmony, and meanings/ purposes can play vital roles in people’s lives. The beliefs and values, whether shared or not, can bring societies together in a positive way. By following a certain religion, one may be able to find peace with themselves or by worshipping a deity and also belong to a common group in a society which evokes a sense of belonging. In Canada, religion has made an integrative impact with the variety of churches, mosques, and temples that have been created for the diverse communities. Through Durkheim’s view, religion has a very positive role in societies and in shaping individuals.

Religion adds meaning and purpose to the lives of followers, granting them an appreciation of the past, an understanding of the present, and hope for the future