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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
This 5 page paper explores Max Weber's analogy as well as how some other sociologists might see things. The concept of bureaucracy is explored in depth. How society has changed over time in respect to the concepts is also addressed. Bibliography lists 1 source.
Page Count:
5 pages (~225 words per page)
File: RT13_SA344Fe.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
image of that impossible iron cage. People are locked into a cage with bars. They can see out but no matter what they do, they cannot break through. Max Webers
iron cage analogy really refers not to the spirit that is trying to get out, but rather the spirit that is quelled by modernity and bureaucracy. In other words, Weber
sees little hope of nurturing the flame. The educational system is an excellent example of this. Children go to school purportedly to learn, but any ounce of creativity that exists
is stifled. Not too long ago there was a news report of an Atlanta girl who wrote a creative essay in a personal notebook but was expelled due to the
storys content. Indeed, it was deemed too violent and she had to pay the price of nonconformity. The girl, as it turns out, was not creating a wish fulfillment story
of sorts. Rather, she comes from a family of writers and she was merely expressing her creativity. Yet, the system wants to put all the children into a box. The
system strives for homogeneity. The iron cage so to speak is something that seemingly cannot be changed. Many parents and students are frustrated at the rules and regulations that are
only altered at the whim of elected school board members, but in effect rarely change at all. That is, unless it is to create more bureaucracy. It is Webers ideas
about bureaucracy that are most important here. Webers prototype of an ideal bureaucracy is that there would exist a precise hierarchy of authority, there would be written rules, officials
would be salaried full time employees and that the tasks performed would be separated from their personal lives (McLeish 96). Finally, the officials would not own the material resources used
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