Fall 2008

Volume 7, Issue 4

With another election year upon us, this issue features several articles on politics. Francesca Polletta writes about political storytelling, Andrew Perrin describes the two faces of voting, and a collection of esteemed sociologists discuss the significance of Barack Obama’s candidacy.

This issue also features Jen’nan Read investigating perception versus reality with regard to Muslim Americans, as well as up-close looks at exonerees, the “family values” of Hollywood and the role of gender in politics.

Features

Why you voted

Voting is never the educated, emotion-free weighing of the issues. It's a ritual in which lone Americans express personal beliefs that reflect the core of who they are and what they want for their country.

Storytelling in Politics

The challenges facing political storytelling help us understand why some political narratives persude and others don't.

Coping with Innocence After Death Row

Significant barriers await those exonerated of capital crimes—barriers that make it hard to cope with the injustic of confinement and to rebuild a life on the outside.

Muslims in America

Full Text Online

Recent research into the diverse opinions held by Muslim Americans suggests just how inaccurate the prevailing stereotypes really are.

Hollywood Doesn't Threaten Family Values

Families and relationships in the United States have undergone significant changes over the past few decades. But neither Hollywood nor its celebrities are responsible for them.

Departments

From the Editors

Sociology and Politics

Discoveries

Katrina, Jesus, and Mass Media

Full Text Online

Trends

Gender Politics

Keyword

Terrorism

One Thing I Know

Diversifying the College Campus

Full Text Online

Culture Reviews

Smoking Clean

Investigating the Aspen Elite

A (Sheltered) Island of Acceptance

Bring Out Your Dead

Book Reviews

Obama's Theologian

Politicking in the Blogosphere

Slouching Out Of Whittier