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Howard S. Becker

Howard S. Becker Quotes

Sociologist

Howard S. Becker, born on April 18, 1928, is a renowned American sociologist. His research focuses on cultural sociology and music sociology, particularly known for his studies on blues music. Becker is recognized for his unique 'labeling theory', which explores the relationship between culture and social structure in depth.

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All Photograph Way Details Layman Photographer Academic Writing Another Way Approach Attention Attention To Detail

Famous Howard S. Becker Quotes

“Un músico que sepa por lo menos una frase de la melodía puede adivinar que las frases siguientes la repetiran, quizas en un grado diferente de la escala, y que las armonías discurrirán por ciertos patrones regulares.”

Book:"Do You Know...?": The Jazz Repertoire in Action

Source: "Do You Know...?": The Jazz Repertoire in Action

“If you don't like my queer ways you can kiss my fucking ass”

Outsiders Normalcy Deviance

Book:Outsiders: Studies In The Sociology Of Deviance

Source: Outsiders: Studies In The Sociology Of Deviance

“None of these classy locutions mean anything different from the simpler ones they replace. They work ceremonially, not semantically. Writing in a classy way to sound smart means writing to sound like, maybe even be, a certain kind of person. Sociologists, and other scholars, do that because they think (or hope) that being the right kind of person will persuade others to accept what they say as a persuasive social science argument.”

Academic Writing

Book:Writing for Social Scientists: How to Start and Finish Your Thesis, Book, or Article

Source: Writing for Social Scientists: How to Start and Finish Your Thesis, Book, or Article

“Photographers learn to interpret photographs in that technical way because they want to understand and use that 'language' themselves just as musicians learn a more technical musical language than the layman needs. Social scientists who want to work with visual materials will have to learn to approach them in this more studious and time-consuming way.”

Way Want Needs Use Language Social Materials Approach Musician Scientist Cameras Photographer Musical Photograph Visuals Consuming Time Consuming Layman Studious

Author:Howard S. Becker

“Laymen learn to read photographs the way they do headlines, skipping over them quickly to get the gist of what is being said. Photographers, on the other hand, study them with the care and attention to detail one might give to a difficult scientific paper or a complicated poem.”

Way Giving Said Hands Might Care Difficult Attention Study Paper Photographer Photograph Details Complicated Headlines Layman Attention To Detail Gist

Author:Howard S. Becker

“Every part of the photographic image carries some information that contributes to its total statement; the viewer's responsibility is to see, in the most literal way, everything that is there and respond to it.”

Way Shows Reading Responsibility Moral Information Built Connections Photograph Details Mood Statements Carrie Viewers Another Way Casual Literal Evaluation

Author:Howard S. Becker

About the Author

Born: April 18, 1928
Known for: Sociologist
Quotes: 6

Related Topics

Photograph Way Details Layman Photographer Academic Writing Another Way Approach Attention Attention To Detail

Popular Topics

People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

Books & Sources

"Do You Know...?": The Jazz Repertoire in ActionRelated source material

Outsiders: Studies In The Sociology Of DevianceRelated source material

Writing for Social Scientists: How to Start and Finish Your Thesis, Book, or ArticleRelated source material

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