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. More about this issue.
muslims in america read online
by jen'nan ghazal read
Recent research into the diverse opinions held by Muslim Americans suggests just how inaccurate the prevailing stereotypes really are.
why you voted
by andrew j. perrin
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
by francesca polletta
The challenges facing political storytelling help us understand why some political narratives persude and others don't.
the social significance of barack obama
moderated by doug hartmann and the contexts graduate student editorial board
With a candidacy that has provoked much deliberation over the current state of race relations, social movements and the nature of political campaigns, we asked prominent sociologists to discuss the social significance of Barack Obama. Read the discussion and then join in yourself by leaving a comment!
coping with innocence after death row
by saundra d. westervelt and kimberly j. cook
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.
hollywood doesn't threaten family values
by karen sternheimer
Families and relationshipos in the United States have undergone significant changes over the past few decades. But neither Hollywood nor its celebrities are responsible for them.
one thing i know: read online
diversifying the college campus
by marta tienda
exchange:
contexts bloggers on politics
photo essay:
living under the trees
by david bacon
keyword:
terrorism
by ziad munson
trends:
gender politics
by deborah carr
culture reviews:
smoking clean
joel best and jun ayukawa on japanese anti-smoking ads
investigating the aspen elite
sean elias on colorado's rich, richer, and richest
a (sheltered) island of acceptance
nancy foner on shelter island's immigration attitude
bring out your dead
james m. jasper on george carlin
book reviews:
obama's theologian
monte bute on the irony of american history
politicking in the blogosphere
john ratliff on crashing the gate and netroots rising
slouching out of whittier
gary alan fine on nixonland
discoveries: read online
new and noteworthy social research
the contexts graduate student editorial board