The World's Most Dangerous Gang Analysis
Video Response Worksheet SOCI 101 CCBC / Spring 2016 / Girting, Hannah
The World's Most Dangerous Gang
a. Symbolic Culture/ pg. 41: a group's way of thinking (including its beliefs, values, and other assumptions about the world) and doing (its common patterns of behvior, including language and other forms of interaction); also called nonmaterial culture
Graffiti plays a huge role in gang violence. Graffiti can mark one’s territory in order to tell the other gang's that they do not belong there. On the other hand, it can also be used as a very deadly weapon. Other gangs can barge into their enemy's streets and cover up the graffiti that was painted by the opposing gang. This could and will start a huge brawl between the different gangs. It
is very interesting that just a small amount of paint can cause so much distress and violence among people of the same race, but potentially of different gangs. Not only that, but the graffiti drawings can also be used in a slightly better way among these gangs. These ways include illustrating giant murals honoring a member that has passed or, most often, been shot to death. As seen in the video, a very loyal and long time member of MS13 was shot numerous times and killed. A giant mural was painted to honor him and the impact that he has had on the gang. Recently, these illustrations have been taken down by city officials more and more frequently. However, the gangs will never give up on their art, as this art seems to be one of the most important ways of expression for the gangs. Symbolic culture, or nonmaterial culture can be related to this because the group in which we are talking about (the gangs) have a very unique way of thinking. This way of thinking includes the graffiti that they draw. It is “believed” by the groups that once their graffiti is up and seen, they will gain more respect, people will be aware that it is their territory, etc. This continues to be a common pattern of behavior for the members of these gangs because this is the culture they know and what they were brought up to believe. / /351/ /
The World's Most Dangerous Gang
a. Symbolic Culture/ pg. 41: a group's way of thinking (including its beliefs, values, and other assumptions about the world) and doing (its common patterns of behvior, including language and other forms of interaction); also called nonmaterial culture
Graffiti plays a huge role in gang violence. Graffiti can mark one’s territory in order to tell the other gang's that they do not belong there. On the other hand, it can also be used as a very deadly weapon. Other gangs can barge into their enemy's streets and cover up the graffiti that was painted by the opposing gang. This could and will start a huge brawl between the different gangs. It
is very interesting that just a small amount of paint can cause so much distress and violence among people of the same race, but potentially of different gangs. Not only that, but the graffiti drawings can also be used in a slightly better way among these gangs. These ways include illustrating giant murals honoring a member that has passed or, most often, been shot to death. As seen in the video, a very loyal and long time member of MS13 was shot numerous times and killed. A giant mural was painted to honor him and the impact that he has had on the gang. Recently, these illustrations have been taken down by city officials more and more frequently. However, the gangs will never give up on their art, as this art seems to be one of the most important ways of expression for the gangs. Symbolic culture, or nonmaterial culture can be related to this because the group in which we are talking about (the gangs) have a very unique way of thinking. This way of thinking includes the graffiti that they draw. It is “believed” by the groups that once their graffiti is up and seen, they will gain more respect, people will be aware that it is their territory, etc. This continues to be a common pattern of behavior for the members of these gangs because this is the culture they know and what they were brought up to believe. / /351/ /