MAC 302 Past Questions and Answers 2024

1. Analyze and critically examine the three primary sociological perspectives that shape your worldviews. (30 marks).

In sociology, there are three main perspectives that help us understand society and human behavior. These are Functionalism, Conflict Theory, and Symbolic Interactionism. Each one explains the society in a different way and they also shape the way I look at life.

Functionalism Perspective:

Functionalism sees society as a system made up of different parts that work together to keep society stable. Just like the human body has organs that perform different roles, society has institutions like family, school, government, religion, and economy that perform special roles. For example, the family raises children, schools teach knowledge, religion gives morals, and government enforces laws.

This perspective makes me appreciate order and unity. It makes me believe that everyone has a role to play in society, no matter how small. However, its weakness is that it sometimes ignores inequality and poverty. It can claim that everything has a function, even suffering, which is not always fair.

Conflict Perspective:

Conflict theory, from Karl Marx, sees society as a place of struggle. People and groups fight for power, money, and resources. For example, in Nigeria, politicians enjoy wealth while ordinary people suffer poverty. This shows inequality. The media, schools, and even religion can sometimes support the powerful.

This perspective shapes my worldview by making me question fairness in society. It shows me that social change comes when people fight injustice. For example, the #EndSARS protest showed young people fighting against police brutality. The weakness of this theory is that it sometimes makes it look like everything is conflict, ignoring peaceful cooperation.

Symbolic Interactionism Perspective:

Symbolic interactionism looks at daily life and small interactions between people. It explains how we give meaning to words, symbols, and gestures. For example, a handshake can mean respect, agreement, or friendship. Clothes, language, and emojis on WhatsApp also carry meaning.

This shapes my worldview by making me value communication. It helps me see how people can misunderstand each other when they interpret symbols differently. The weakness is that it focuses too much on small interactions and sometimes ignores bigger issues like politics and economy.

Conclusion:

When I put all three perspectives together, I understand society better. Functionalism teaches me about order, conflict theory teaches me about injustice and change, while symbolic interactionism teaches me about communication and meaning. They shape how I view the world and guide how I interact with people every day.

2. a) Provide a concise explanation of the concept of the press as the “Fourth Estate of the Realm” in approximately half a page. (5 marks).

The press is called the “Fourth Estate of the Realm” because it plays a powerful role in society, just like the three main arms of government — the executive, legislature, and judiciary. The press acts as a watchdog over those in power. It informs the public, exposes corruption, and holds leaders accountable.

For example, newspapers, television, and online media report government actions, criticize wrong policies, and give citizens a voice. The press shapes opinions and can bring about social change. That is why it is called the Fourth Estate — it balances power and protects democracy.

2. b) Using specific examples, compare and contrast the Fourth and Fifth Estates of the Realm, focusing on their roles in facilitating social change. (10 marks).

The Fourth Estate refers to the traditional press such as newspapers, radio, and television, while the Fifth Estate refers to digital media, especially social media platforms like Twitter (X), Facebook, blogs, and YouTube.

Both estates promote social change, but they do so in different ways. The Fourth Estate uses professional journalism. For example, The Guardian Newspaper or Channels TV can expose corruption or poor governance. The Fifth Estate uses ordinary citizens who share news, campaigns, and opinions online. For example, during the #EndSARS protest, Twitter and Facebook played a big role in mobilizing youths and spreading information.

The Fourth Estate is more structured, regulated, and trusted for accuracy, while the Fifth Estate is more flexible, fast, and interactive. However, the Fifth Estate can also spread misinformation quickly. Together, both estates influence society and contribute to social change.

2. c) Select any popular reality show and demonstrate how it has influenced your perception of social reality. (10 marks).

A popular reality show I can use is Big Brother Naija (BBNaija). This show brings different people from various backgrounds to live together in one house, competing for money and fame.

The show has influenced my perception of social reality in many ways. It shows me how people from different tribes and lifestyles can live together. It also reflects real issues like love, friendship, betrayal, and competition, which happen in everyday life.

However, it has also influenced me to see how society celebrates fame and money. Some people believe BBNaija promotes immorality, while others see it as entertainment and an opportunity for success. For me, it shows both the positive and negative sides of modern Nigerian society.

3. Evaluate the effectiveness of media regulation in addressing concerns about media power and influence. Compare approaches in Nigeria and another country of your choice. (15 marks).

Media regulation means the laws, policies, and guidelines that control how the media operates. It ensures that the media does not abuse its power and influence.

In Nigeria, media regulation is done by bodies like the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and Nigerian Press Council. These agencies monitor content on TV, radio, and newspapers. For example, NBC sometimes fines TV stations for showing offensive content or hate speech. However, in practice, media regulation in Nigeria is sometimes weak and influenced by politics. Some government leaders use regulation to silence critics instead of protecting the public.

In contrast, in a country like the United States, media regulation is done by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC regulates radio, TV, and internet services. Unlike Nigeria, where politics interferes a lot, the US system gives more freedom to the press, although there are still rules about obscenity, copyright, and fake news.

When I compare both, I see that Nigeria struggles with press freedom because regulation is often misused, while countries like the US focus more on protecting both the public and freedom of expression. This shows that regulation is effective only when it is fair and not used for oppression.

4. a) Analyze the impact of globalization on mass media content and ownership. How has this affected cultural diversity in media representations? (8 marks).

Globalization has made the world more connected through technology, internet, and international trade. In mass media, globalization has changed both content and ownership.

Big international companies like CNN, BBC, and Netflix now dominate the media space, meaning that Western culture spreads widely. Nigerian youths now consume American music, movies, and fashion more than local culture.

This has reduced cultural diversity because many local traditions and languages are not represented enough. For example, Nollywood films sometimes copy Hollywood styles instead of promoting Nigerian culture. At the same time, globalization also gives Nigeria a chance to show its culture to the world, like how Afrobeats music became popular globally.

So globalization has both positive and negative impacts — it promotes exchange of ideas but also risks erasing smaller cultures.

4. b) In a minimum of two pages, define and analyze the relationship between media and cultural imperialism. Include major scholarly critiques of this concept in your discussion. (7 marks).

Cultural imperialism means the domination of one culture over another, often through media. It happens when powerful countries like the US use their movies, music, fashion, and news to influence weaker countries.

The media plays a big role in this because TV, films, and the internet spread Western culture everywhere. For example, Nigerian children grow up watching Disney and Hollywood movies instead of local folktales. American celebrities influence fashion and lifestyle more than African leaders or stars.

Scholars like Herbert Schiller argue that cultural imperialism makes developing countries lose their identity. It creates dependency because people consume foreign content more than their own.

However, critics say cultural imperialism is not total. People in weaker countries also adapt and reshape foreign culture to fit their local needs. For example, Nigerians took hip-hop and turned it into Afro-hip-hop with local flavor. Nollywood films also mix Western styles with African traditions.

In conclusion, media and cultural imperialism are connected because media spreads culture widely. But cultural imperialism is not absolute, as local cultures also fight back and survive.

5. Evaluate the dual role of media as both a catalyst for social change and a primary agent of socialization. Provide a detailed discussion of this phenomenon. (15 marks).

The media plays two important roles in society. It can bring social change and also act as an agent of socialization.

As a catalyst for social change, media exposes problems, mobilizes people, and spreads new ideas. For example, during the #EndSARS protest, social media helped Nigerians unite and fight against police brutality. Internationally, the Arab Spring protests were driven by social media. This shows how media can push governments and societies to change.

As a primary agent of socialization, media teaches values, norms, and behaviors. Children learn how to dress, talk, and behave from TV, cartoons, music, and the internet. Media introduces people to global culture, fashion, technology, and even moral lessons through films and adverts.

The dual role shows that media is very powerful. It can shape how people see themselves and also change the entire society. While it can be positive, it can also spread harmful values like violence, drug use, or immorality. Therefore, society must use media wisely.

Conclusion: Media is both a teacher and a change agent. It helps us socialize into culture and also gives us the power to demand a better future.