As I travel around the country this summer, I am teaching an online, asynchronous “Introduction to Sociology” course at Wake Forest University. For the first module, we are considering Peter Berger’s famous idea in Invitation to Sociology, “It can be said that the first wisdom of sociology is this–things are not what they seem.”
One assignment I give the students is to look around and find something that is familiar, and then to look at it in a new way using the sociological perspective. I allow the students to express themselves in any way that suits their own skills and temperament. This summer, three students responded by writing poems. One of them, reprinted below with permission, was terrific.
New Glaze – By Zali Lawrence
In this vast expanse of human thought,
Where the familiar meets the unknown,
I embark on a journey, as I ought,
To see the world with sociological eyes, newly sown.
I gaze upon a bustling city street,
Where faces rush, absorbed in their own race,
But beneath the facade, secrets discreet,
Lies a social fabric, woven with grace.
Behold the businessman, confident and tall,
With tailored suits and polished shoes,
Yet within, a struggle, a constant brawl,
As societal expectations take their toll and bruise.
The mother pushing a stroller, filled with care,
A symbol of nurturing and unconditional love,
But hidden within, burdens she may bear,
As norms dictate her role from high above.
The homeless soul, weathered and alone,
A mere passerby, overlooked with haste,
Yet within their story, a world unknown,
Society’s neglect a bitter aftertaste.
The teacher, shaping minds with every word,
A beacon of knowledge, guiding the way,
But obscured is the weight of the unheard,
Structures of inequality in shadows they lay.
Each person, an actor on life’s grand stage,
Playing roles, conforming to the script,
Yet within lies a complexity, an unspoken wage,
Societal expectations, deeply encrypted.
So, I perceive this familiar world anew,
Through the lens of sociology, I gain insight,
Unraveling the layers, discovering what’s true,
Seeing beyond the surface, beyond the obvious plight.
For things are not what they seem to be,
A myriad of meanings, hidden beneath the glare,
With a sociological gaze, my eyes are free,
To understand and challenge, to truly care.
In this pursuit, I break the boundaries of convention,
Embracing diversity, seeking truth in the fray,
For the familiar world, with its intricate tension,
Unveils its complexity in the sociological display.