Write about a fad, fashion trend, riot, or panic about which you are familiar. (You do not have to have experienced it yourself; it is okay to just “know” about this example.) Use either contagion theories, emergent norm theories, or value-added theory in order to explain why people participate(d) in this collective/crowd behavior.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Analyzing the Emergent Norm Theory through the Example of the Pokémon GO Craze
The emergence of Pokémon GO in 2016 took the world by storm, captivating millions of players who embarked on real-world adventures to catch virtual creatures. This mobile game became a global sensation, leading to mass gatherings in public spaces and creating a sense of shared excitement among players. The phenomenon of Pokémon GO can be analyzed through the lens of emergent norm theory to explain why people participated in this collective behavior.
Emergent Norm Theory
Emergent norm theory posits that in certain situations where norms are unclear or absent, individuals in a crowd or group will collectively establish new norms based on the actions and reactions of others. These emergent norms guide behavior and shape the dynamics of the group, leading to a sense of cohesion and shared purpose.
Pokémon GO Craze
During the peak of the Pokémon GO craze, players were often seen congregating in parks, landmarks, and other public spaces to hunt for virtual creatures using their smartphones. This collective behavior can be understood through emergent norm theory, as players quickly established new norms and behaviors based on the actions of others in the virtual community.
Spontaneous Social Interactions
The game provided a platform for spontaneous social interactions among players who shared a common goal of capturing Pokémon. As individuals gathered in popular locations known as PokéStops and Gyms, they observed how others were playing the game, exchanging tips and strategies, and forming ad-hoc teams to tackle challenges together.
Norms of Cooperation and Collaboration
Through their interactions, players began to develop emergent norms of cooperation and collaboration. Strategies such as sharing rare Pokémon sightings, organizing group raids to defeat powerful creatures, and assisting newer players in understanding game mechanics became prevalent within the Pokémon GO community. These emergent norms fostered a sense of camaraderie and mutual support among players.
Sense of Belonging and Identity
Participating in the Pokémon GO craze allowed individuals to feel a sense of belonging to a larger community of players who shared their enthusiasm for the game. As emergent norms solidified, players identified themselves as part of a collective group with common interests and goals, reinforcing their commitment to the shared experience of exploring the real world through augmented reality.
In conclusion, the Pokémon GO craze exemplifies how emergent norm theory can elucidate collective behavior in response to novel social phenomena. By establishing new norms and behaviors based on interactions with fellow players, individuals were able to form a cohesive community centered around the shared experience of playing the game. The emergence of cooperation, collaboration, and a sense of belonging highlights the powerful role of social dynamics in shaping collective behaviors during fads and trends like Pokémon GO.
