Visualizing Theory

C. Wright Mills, in The Power Elite , has to contend with what he describes as “willful co-ordination” (Mills [1956] 2000:20). In considering the role of the elites and of power, a study thereof will run into historical moments which seem to give weight to an un-academic, conspiratorial perspective of history—the Business Plot, for some, is one such moment. In 1933, a number of “financiers” (Archer 1973:31) had worked to convince retired Marine Corps General Smedley Butler to lead a veteran army on Washington, unseating then-President Roosevelt and installing Butler as the nation’s new “Secretary of General Affairs” (Katz 2022). Butler did not intend to aid the plot, but told its representatives of his collaboration while pumping them for information. He would go in to testify in front of Congress as to the nature of the conspiracy. On first blush, to both contemporaneous and modern observers, the Business Plot might appear to be the exact kind of conspiracy that gives weight to visio...

This image, generated by ChatGPT, shows C. Wright Mills in the present day sitting in a classical thinking position with a laptop open with the screen glowing with the ChatGPT entry box. His hand is on the touch screen, but his other hand is on his mouth with his face turned away from the screen. He airs on the side of caution, not letting himself fully engage in using AI. He doesn't look scared or intimidated, rather, he seems to be weighing the costs and benefits of this new tool. He is sat in what looks like a tech-server room that opens up to a glass wall revealing three silhouette figures. We can tell by their clothing that these figures are some sort of military officer, "businessperson", and "government-like" authority (as ChatGPT describes representing the three central power elite circles)  Despite disregarding sociology as a discipline, C. Wright Mills, born in Waco Texas in 1916, is seen as one of the founders of American Sociology, especially in term...

    The image above depicts a lesbian couple posed on a picnic blanket in front of a big rock. They sit on a beach, with the ocean blurred in the background. A wicker basket of flowers is to (the viewers) right of them, a symbol for their engagement photoshoot. One girl has long brown hair and wears a patterned shirt and skinny black jeans; her leg and tattooed arm wraps around the other girl sitting down. The girl closer to the camera has long blonde hair and wears a short pink dress; her head is turned halfway to facing her partner. They are laughing together, glowing with their love for each other and excitement for the future. On the top left hand corner reads a common question lesbian couples are asked: “Who wears the pants in your relationship?”  Marianne Weber discusses traditional marriage norms in her "Authority and Autonomy in Marriage: Translation with Introduction and Commentary." She follows the history of our patriarchal society and Christianity’s influence ...

     The image above is a thumbnail from a youtube video entitled " The Bushes: When Your Family Uses Millions To Become Presidents."  A flowing,  vibrant portion of the American flag is visible b ehind the four busts that dominate the composition. Atop the flag flutters the greenery of one-hundred dollar bills—Franklin's head visible between the overlapping shoulders of the Bush family. Front and center is a smiling George H.W. Bush and his beaming son, George W. Bush. The pair don the attire of their professional lives: a white shirt, a black coat and a blue coat, each with a red tie. Laura Bush and Barbara Bush, the wives of W. and H.W. respectively, pose at their flanks, also smiling, also dressed for public professional life. The four look happy, amused, and relaxed, perhaps excited for their history to be honored, perhaps unprepared for the  forthcoming  indictment. Indeed, a title covers the bottom horizontal third, reading in smaller font "SECR...

  In this image, Larry Ellison stands on stage mid-sentence, holding a microphone with one hand while the other waves through the air, a gesture that comes off as something both effortless and calculated. He is dressed in a muted suit that conveys power without being flashy or demanding attention. The massive red oracle logo looms behind him, framing him as the company's starting point. Ellison is spotlighted by dramatic, almost cinematic lighting as the rest of the scene fades into darkness, providing a literal illustration of what it means to stand at the center of power. There is only him and the infrastructure that he controls in the image, not advisors, an audience, not even a desk. He does not require any self-promotion. The atmosphere, the stage, and the logo are enough.  Mills presents the notion of a structural condition that allows a small group of elites to hold immense power, even if they are not elected officials or born into political dynasties. A key factor ...

  This is a screenshot from one of the frames from the trailer/ introduction of the new TV show ' The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives ’ directed by Jerry Jenkins. These women in the frame are all central figures to this show, discussing their lives, jobs, and religion. They can be seen standing in front of a white temple in the middle of Utah. This temple is not only central to the image but also supposedly central to all of their lives. This image perfectly reflects the ‘heartland’ of the Latter-day Saint religion/culture in Utah. The women also wear the same modest outfit and appear very well put together and composed. This can be assumed to symbolize and highlight ideals of community and purity. The women seem to be very happy and loving, accepting of one another, symbolizing other aspects of loyalty and devotion to fellow Latter-day saints that are highly valued. This is a stark contrast to the reality of these women's lives. The Mormon religion here is used to cover up the ha...