McDonaldization :: essays research papers

sociologist George Ritzer argues that the relationship surrounded by McDonalds and our society runs even deeper. Beyond its commercial propaganda and symbolism, Ritzer says, McDonalds is a potent manifestation of the rational processes that define modern society.Ritzer warns that the spread of such "rationalized systems" has had irrational consequences, not least of which is the " disillusion of the world," a situation in which rationality takes over, leaving no room for the mysterious, unp rubyictable qualities that make us human.Ritzers scholarly work has been heavily influenced by German sociologist max Weber, who feared that bureaucracy would spread until society became a seamless web of rationalized institutions from which thither would be no escape. At the time when Weber wrote, in the advance(prenominal) twentieth century, totalitarianism was the biggest threat to individual freedom. In the 1980s, Ritzer thought to consent Webers theories about rational s ystems to a very contrastive threat the proliferation of fast-food chains. When Ritzer began writing and talking about the dangers of "McDonaldization," he struck a nerve some agreed with him, but many others rushed to celebrate the pop-culture institution. He went on to write a social critique on the subject, applying sociological theories to the culture in a way that lay readers would understand. The McDonaldization of order (Pine Forge/Sage Publications) was successful enough that he wrote several follow-ups, including The McDonaldization thesis and Enchanting a Disenchanted World (both Sage Publications). Ritzers intimately recent book is Explorations in the Sociology of Consumption Fast Food, Credit Cards, and Casinos (Sage Ltd.). In addition to writing about sociology for a general audience, he teaches at the University of Maryland, where he is a distinguished professor with numerous academic awards and volumes to his credit. We met for this wonder on a beautiful fall day at Ritzers home in Maryland. A breeze blew outside, picking up red and yellow leaves and twirling them across the grass while we sat inside discussing the disenchantment of the world.Jensen What is "McDonaldization"?Ritzer Its the process by which the principles of the fast-food industry -- efficiency, predictability, calculability, and control through engineering science -- are being applied to more and more sectors of society in more and more parts of the world.Predictability An Egg McMuffin in New York depart be the same as an Egg McMuffin in Chicago. Customers can take no surprises, neither pleasant nor unpleasant. Workers, too, behave in predictable ways. Those who interact with customers have actual scripts to follow.