Part I
1. What does this cartoon mean?
2. If each fish represented a group of people, how would you label each of the three fish?
3. If each fish represented a country, how would you label each of the three fish?
4. Create a title for the cartoon.
See pages 73-74 in Rethinking Globalization: Teaching for Justice in an Unjust World for more teaching suggestions using this cartoon.
Part II
In class, we will do the "Ten Chairs of Inequality" activity. For extra credit, comment on your feelings about the activity and the class discussion following the activity. In your comment you may want to address reasons why you think many people seem to lack a sense of "class consciousness." Do you think "class" is a "taboo" subject in the media? Among politicians? Why or why not?
("Ten Chairs of Inequality" from Rethinking Globalization: Teaching for Justice in an Unjust World, page 115.)
Psychology connection: What is "just world phenomenon"? How does it relate to the "10 Chairs of Inequality" activity and subsequent discussion?
Part III
Assignment: Read, "Myths of Underdevelopment" pages 64-67 from Rethinking Globalization. Class discussion to follow.
Related Links:
http://hansengeorge.blogspot.com/2007/10/economic-justice.html
Comments
Other than race or class, how else are we stratified in the U.S.?
Elaborate on that a little bit.
Also, freedom from persecution. What I mean is, minorities are more likely to experience discrimination. Worst case scenario - victimization through violence. In this class we've talked about lynchings, race riots, Japanese internment camps, terrorism by groups such as the KKK, hate crimes, (Jena 6), etc.
Obviously, the absolute worst case scenario is genocide....
-Some would argue Columbus is responsible for a genocide against the Arawak/Taino people.
-Jewish Holocaust
-Cambodian Genocide
-Darfur
(just to name a few we've discussed this summer)
I usually share this cartoon in my Civics and Social Psychology classes when we discuss issues of inequality.
The cartoon definitely provokes some interesting discussion about power, influence, perspective, etc.
In the U.S., especially as members of the "majority" it is sometimes hard to look at the world from the perspective of others, especially those with less (whether it be less resources, power, etc.)
We are indeed a very hierarchical society...we are stratified with a few at the top, more in the middle and many at the bottom. We are stratified according to race, gender, class, religion, sexual orientation and on and on.
I'm reminded of a similar cartoon showing many small fish devouring a much larger fish. I think the caption was "Organize!" So, we can look at it this way...alone, we are relatively powerless but working together, no matter how "small" we can accomplish a lot!
I'll try and keep my comment brief...like I said, I'm glad you decided to share your insights. This satisfies another project requirement.