Tim Delaney

The author applies sociological concepts to the television comedy "Seinfeld," discussing what the show can teach about such topics as cultural norms and etiquette, groups and organizations, sex and gender issues, marriage and family, and social deviance.

The Sociology of Seinfeld

Seinology

Tim Madigan

This book approaches environmentalism via two academic disciplines, sociology and philosophy. Both have concerns about the environment's ability not only to sustain itself but to thrive. The authors argue that rather than simple sustainability, we must promote thrivability for the sake of protecting the environment and all living things. In this greatly expanded second edition, the authors have updated data and examples, introduced new topics and concepts, and emphasized the need to lessen our dependence on fossil fuels. Numerous topics are explored, from the differences between sustainability and thrivability, and the overuse of plastic, to mass extinction, the role of natural disasters and more. The Covid-19 pandemic offers an added perspective on the relationship between disease and the environment.

A Thriving Environment, 2d ed.

Beyond Sustainability

Informative and entertaining introduction to the study of popular culture. As the “culture of the people,” popular culture provides a sense of identity that binds individuals to the greater society and unites the masses on ideals of acceptable forms of behavior. Lessons Learned from Popular Culture offers an informative and entertaining look at the social relevance of popular culture. Focusing on a wide range of topics, including film, television, social media, music, radio, cartoons and comics, books, fashion, celebrities, sports, and virtual reality, Tim Delaney and Tim Madigan demonstrate how popular culture, in contrast to folk or high culture, gives individuals an opportunity to impact, modify, or even change prevailing sentiments and norms of behavior. For each topic, they include six engaging and accessible stories that conclude with short life lessons. Whether you’re a fan of The Big Bang Theory or Seinfeld, the Beatles or Beyoncé, Charlie Brown or Superman, there’s something for everyone. Tim Delaney is Professor of Sociology at the State University of New York at Oswego. Tim Madigan is Associate Professor of Philosophy at St. John Fisher College. Together they have coauthored Sports: Why People Love Them! and The Sociology of Sports: An Introduction.

Lessons Learned from Popular Culture

The premise of Darkened Enlightenment is to highlight the fact that there currently exist a number of socio-political forces that have the design, or ultimate consequence, of trying to extinguish the light of reason and rationality. The book presents a critique of modernity and provides a socio-political and cultural analysis of world society in the early twenty-first century. Specifically, this analysis examines the deterioration of democracy, human rights, and rational thought. Key features include a combination of academic analysis that draws on numerous and specific examples of the growing darkness that surrounds us along with a balanced practical, everyday-life approach to the study of the socio-political world we live in through the use of popular culture references and featured boxes. The general audience will also be intrigued by these same topics that concern academics including: a discussion on the meaning of "fake news"; attacks on the media and a declaration of the news media as the "enemy of the people"; the rise of populism and nationalism around the world; the deterioration of freedom and human rights globally; the growing economic disparity between the rich and the poor; attempts to devalue education; a growing disbelief in science; attacks on the environment; pseudoscience as a by-product of unreasoned and irrational thinking; the political swamp; the power elites and the deep state; and the variations of Big Business that impact our daily lives. This book will make a great contribution to such fields as sociology, philosophy, political science, environmental science, public administration, economics, psychology, and cultural studies.

The Deterioration of Democracy, Human Rights, and Rational Thought in the Twenty-First Century

Darkened Enlightenment

The topic of social deviance is inherently intriguing. People in general, and college students in particular, find the topic of deviant behavior fascinating. This can be explained, at least in part, by a combination of the subject matter itself, our own past deviant behaviors, and our willingness and desire to evaluate and comment on the behaviors of others. While the topic of deviant behavior seems straightforward at the surface, the study of social deviance reveals how complicated it really is. Although Social Deviance utilizes a textbook-style approach in its coverage of deviant behavior, this comprehensive, straightforward, and student-friendly book maintains student interest because of the author's use of real life phenomena and current examples. Each chapter includes chapter objectives, an introductory story, a glossary of key terms, discussion questions, and boxed material. The boxed materials include "A Closer Look" box that zooms in on topics that warrant deeper explanation; and a "Connecting Social Deviance and Popular Culture" box that shows how contemporary forms of popular culture illustrate deviant behavior.

Social Deviance

This book approaches environmentalism via two academic disciplines, sociology and philosophy. Both have concerns about the environment's ability not only to sustain itself but to thrive. The authors argue that rather than simple sustainability, we must promote thrivability for the sake of protecting the environment and all living things. In this greatly expanded second edition, the authors have updated data and examples, introduced new topics and concepts, and emphasized the need to lessen our dependence on fossil fuels. Numerous topics are explored, from the differences between sustainability and thrivability, and the overuse of plastic, to mass extinction, the role of natural disasters and more. The COVID-19 pandemic offers an added perspective on the relationship between disease and the environment.

Classical and Contemporary Social Theory: Investigation and Application, 1/e, is the most comprehensive, informative social theory book on the market. The title covers multiple schools of thought and applies their ideas to society today. Readers will learn the origins of social theory and understand the role of myriad social revolutions that shaped the course of societies around the world.

Investigation and Application

Classical and Contemporary Social Theory

"What do Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, Richard Gere, untalented American Idol singers, former FBI agent Robert Hanssen, former baseball player Jose Conseco, "dead-beat" fathers, and drunken college students all have in common? They have all engaged in some type of shameful behavior." "Seemingly, an increasing number of people are acting rudely, displaying poor etiquette, and acting shamelessly in an increasing number of social situations. In fact, it appears as though there is a rising culture of shamelessness in the United States. Shameful Behaviors presents a unique look at American culture based on the premise that not only is there a rising culture of shamelessness, there is also a corresponding rise in formal and informal resistance against this trend." "Author Tim Delaney provides the reader with an informative and entertaining analysis of contemporary American culture."--BOOK JACKET.

Shameful Behaviors

This third edition takes a fresh approach to the study of sport, presenting key concepts such as socialization, race, ethnicity, gender, economics, religion, politics, deviance, violence, school sports and sportsmanship. While providing a critical examination of athletics, this text also highlights many of sports' positive features. This new edition includes significantly updated statistics, data and information along with updated popular culture references and real-world examples. Newly explored is the impact of several major world events that have left lasting effects on the sports realm, including a global pandemic (SARS-CoV-2, or COVID-19) and social movements like Black Lives Matter and Me Too. Another new topic is the "pay for play" movement, wherein college athletes demanded greater compensation and, at the very least, the right to profit from their own names, images and likenesses.

An Introduction, 3d ed.

The Sociology of Sports

In this amusing and informative appreciation of The Simpsons, sociologist Tim Delaney looks at the many ways America's longest-running sitcom and animated TV program reflects American culture. For more than fifteen years, the Simpsons have touched upon nearly every aspect of the American social scene—from family dynamics and social mores to local customs and national institutions. With over four hundred episodes aired so far, Delaney finds a goldmine of insights couched in parody on any number of perennial topics: • On television's influence on American culture, Krusty the Clown says, "Would it really be worth living in a world without television? I think the survivors would envy the dead." • On New Age religion, Homer says, "To think, I turned to a cult for mindless happiness when I had beer all along." • On the thorny issue of gun ownership and home security, Homer purchases a pistol at "Bloodbath and Beyond" and then tells Marge, "I don't have to be careful, I got a gun." • On the theme of community spirit, Bart thoughtlessly signs up with a local Boy Scout troop while on a sugar rush from eating a "Super-Squishee." The next day he realizes what he has done: "Oh, no. I joined the Junior Campers!" To which his sister, Lisa, responds: "The few, the proud, the geeky." Delaney finds many more episodes relevant to major sociological issues such as environmentalism, feminism, romance and marriage, politics, education, health, aging, and more. Students of popular culture and laypersons alike will learn basic sociological concepts and theories in a refreshing, jargon-free work that offers plenty of entertainment.

There's a Little Bit of Springfield in All of Us

Simpsonology

In its second edition, this book takes a fresh approach to the study of sports, presenting key concepts such as socialization, economics, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, politics, the media and the role of sports in society. The authors offer a critical examination but highlight also the many positive aspects of sports. Each chapter concludes with a popular culture section, showing how films, television, video games, music and short stories have contributed to our understanding of sports' significance to our lives. Other features include up-to-date information--such as statistics on player and owner salaries--and a look at recent controversies in sports, such as performance-enhancing drugs, domestic violence, online gambling and the growing concern over concussions and post-career health problems. The value of sports for people with physical disabilities and special needs is discussed, as well as the development of sports studies programs and the continuing importance of "sportsmanship." The final chapter explores how social media, as well as new forms of virtual reality and the prevalence of video gaming, are reshaping the concept of what constitutes a sport. Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

An Introduction, 2d ed.

Many introductory texts claim to make sociology relevant to student interests. Perhaps no other text has done this so completely - and engagingly - as Connecting Sociology to Our Lives. Tim Delaney not only uses popular and contemporary culture examples, he explains sociology thoroughly within the frame of the contemporary culture of students - a culture shaped by political, economic, and environmental trends just as much as by today's pop stars. This book will help academics to engage their students in sociology through the prism of their own culture. It involves students in critical thinking and classroom discussion through the book's many 'What Do You Think?' inserts, and will inspire them to careers with the book's unique chapter, 'Sociology's Place in Society: Completing the Connection'.

An Introduction to Sociology

Connecting Sociology to Our Lives

The notion of common sense and abiding by its implications is something that, seemingly, everyone agrees is a good way of making behavioral decisions and conducting one's daily activities. This holds true whether one is a liberal, moderate, or conservative; young or old; and regardless of one's race and ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation. If utilizing common sense is such a good idea, why then, do so many people seem to violate it? This is just one of many significant questions surrounding the idea of common sense explored and discussed in this book. This volume presents common sense as a ‘paradigm of thought’ and as such, compares it to other major categories of thought — tradition, faith, enlightened and rational. Combining a balance of practical, everyday approaches (through the use of popular culture references and featured boxes) and academic analysis of core and conceptual methodological issues, Delaney demonstrates: The limitations of common sense and its place in everyday social interactions How we learn about common sense Why common sense is so important Common Sense as a Paradigm of Thought introduces readers to a rich variety of sociological authors and will appeal to students and researchers interested in fields such as: sociology, philosophy, social psychology, cultural studies, communications and health studies.

An Analysis of Social Interaction

Common Sense as a Paradigm of Thought

Sportsmanship is a broad concept: ethics, fairness, honor and self-control. Some people find it difficult to define what makes a “good sport,” but state “I know one when I see one.” This collection of new essays brings together the work of more than two dozen contributors from around the world who teach sportsmanship in a range of academic disciplines including sociology, psychology, economics, education, kinesiology and applied athletics. Topics include the moral ambiguities of cheating; recreation in prison; ethics and character formation; coaching perspectives; gender; race; and the portrayal of sportsmanship in film. Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

Multidisciplinary Perspectives

Sportsmanship

This philosophical and sociological look at friendship and happiness begins with a review of Aristotle's three categories of friendship--friends of utility, friends of pleasure and friends of the good. Modern variations--casual friends, close friends, best friends--are described, along with the growing phenomena of virtual friendships and cyber socialization in the Internet age. Inspired in part by Bertrand Russell's The Conquest of Happiness, the authors propose that conquering unhappiness is key to achieving the self-satisfaction Russell called zest and Aristotle called eudaimonia or thriving by our own efforts.

And the Connection Between the Two

Friendship and Happiness

This philosophical and sociological look at friendship and happiness begins with a review of Aristotle’s three categories of friendship—friends of utility, friends of pleasure and friends of the good. Modern variations—casual friends, close friends, best friends—are described, along with the growing phenomena of virtual friendships and cyber socialization in the Internet age. Inspired in part by Bertrand Russell’s The Conquest of Happiness, the authors propose that conquering unhappiness is key to achieving the self-satisfaction Russell called zest and Aristotle called eudaimonia or thriving by our own efforts.

Tim Delaney

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