Barbara Jean Fields defines ideology as the descriptive vocabulary of day-to day existence, through which people make rough sense of the social reality that they live and create from day to dayIt is the interpretation in thought of the social relations through which they constantly create and recreate their collective being(pg. 110) Write an essay in which you use this definition of ideology to analyze either Jack Turners American Individualism and Structural Injustice or David Michael Smiths The American Melting. For example, if you choose Turner, show how individualism functions as ideology. Or, if you choose Smith, show how national myths function as ideology.
Your essay must have a thesis statement and you will be making an argument to defend your thesis. Include (a) 2-3 examples from the Fields article and either the Turner or Smith articles to support your argument and (b) use keywords discussed in class (examples: race, gender, property, labor, etc.) Do not utilize any outside sources. Papers must be between 750 – 1,000 words using Times New Roman, 12 pt, double-spaced formatting. Include a Bibliography page using MLA format.
