In a news article by boundless.com titled “The McDonaldization of Society”, sociologist George Ritzer’s theory of McDonaldization is explained with connections to society and modernized Western culture. McDonaldization is the rationalization in bureaucracies, extended to fast-food chains under globalization. Traditional values such as sitting down for dinner as a family are replaced with options that are quicker and more rational. The four main components of McDonaldization – efficiency, calculability, predictability, and control – are exhibited in things such as junk-journalism. Junk-journalism is news served in palatable portions to make it non-offensive. The article discusses another example, McUniversities. A degree from a McUniversity comes from adjusted curricula and a fast-paced education to satisfy students tastes while also saving them time. However, the quality of the education will diminish if these McUniversities keep adjusting and shortening the academic process. Like in Food Inc., modifying a traditional process can have adverse effects on those that are working for the project or receiving goods. Just like the customers receiving meat from majorly controlling companies such as Tyson, students with degrees from a McUniversity are sacrificing a quality education because it is easier. As explained and demonstrated in Something From the Oven, our society is trying to market the idea that faster is better, and this isn’t a new idea. This idea started with the industrial food revolution, and has only progressed since. This idea does not take into account the compromise in quality of the product, this product being an education. Western culture has developed enough to rely on fast transfer of information and knowledge, and continues to demand a faster pace. Will it be possible to de-McDonaldize our education system? Or is it too late?
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Meet the Author: Rachel KonchalRachel is a sophomore Pre-Med Biochemistry & Molecular Biology major in the Honors College at Michigan State University. Rachel also is working towards a minor in Environmental Studies & Sustainability. This web page was created for use during her time in the class ISS 310 001H, Eating Industrial. Archives
November 2016
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