Questions

1. Describe the consumer items you see in this picture. What does the presentation of items suggest about the time period depicted?

   Question

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   Questions: - Describe the consumer items you see in this picture. What does the presentation of items suggest about the time period depicted?
2. How would you describe the people depicted? Are they representative of the American population at the time? How does Sally Edelstein present them? What is her attitude toward them? Explain.

   Question

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   Questions: - How would you describe the people depicted? Are they representative of the American population at the time? How does Sally Edelstein present them? What is her attitude toward them? Explain.
3. Describe what you see in the background. What is the effect of the juxtaposition of images in the foreground with those in the background? Why do you think Edelstein arranged this piece in this way?

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   Questions: - Describe what you see in the background. What is the effect of the juxtaposition of images in the foreground with those in the background? Why do you think Edelstein arranged this piece in this way?
4. This image could be viewed as either an advertisement for the splendid promise of the American Dream or a critique of American consumerism. Which do you see? Explain. What is the “social fiction” that Edelstein examines?

   Question

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   Questions: - This image could be viewed as either an advertisement for the splendid promise of the American Dream or a critique of American consumerism. Which do you see? Explain. What is the “social fiction” that Edelstein examines?
5. In his 1951 essay, “The Sociology of Stratification,” sociologist C. Wright Mills based his definitions of social classes in America on the “chances to gain the things and experiences that are generally valued, whatever they may be: things like cars, money, toys, houses, etc.; experiences, like being given respect, being educated to certain levels, being treated kindly, etc.” What does Mills suggest about American values? How might Edelstein regard Mills’s statement? What might Mills say, looking at Edelstein’s collage?

   Question

   ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=

   Questions: - In his 1951 essay, “The Sociology of Stratification,” sociologist C. Wright Mills based his definitions of social classes in America on the “chances to gain the things and experiences that are generally valued, whatever they may be: things like cars, money, toys, houses, etc.; experiences, like being given respect, being educated to certain levels, being treated kindly, etc.” What does Mills suggest about American values? How might Edelstein regard Mills’s statement? What might Mills say, looking at Edelstein’s collage?