McDonaldization

Paper Summary:

This paper looks at this extraordinary book and attempts to understand the message the author is trying to send to modern society. It explains the new coined concept of "McDonaldization" and sees why this concept epitomizes the state of contemporary society.

From the Paper:

"In Mankind's attempt to unify the world under binding peace and lasting prosperity, we may homogenize ourselves to the point that we lose creativity, individuality, and certain inalienable freedoms. That's the subtle message and warning from George Ritzer, a Professor of Sociology at the University of Maryland and author of the stunning, eye-opening book The McDonaldization of Society - An Investigation Into the Changing Character of Contemporary Social Life. The book is not designed to attack the fast-food restaurant giant or its ilk: it is designed to address a system that has been incorporated into American society and commerce that increases aspects productivity while binding certain freedoms. This system has not only spread throughout this country but is slowly infecting the world: people see this American system or model - first created by Henry Ford but honed and enhanced by Ray Kroc of McDonalds in the 1950's - as pro-active/can't lose money generating proposition. But this McDonald's Model, as Ritzer points out in his book, comes with a price tag: it simply affects various aspects of our society, its people and the laws, that - while producing some benefits (building commerce, creating jobs, improving productivity) - are harmful overall to the whole community and of who we are as Americans, or as a people."

More papers on McDonaldization:

• Essay # 86505 : "The McDonaldization Thesis"
• Book Review # 122009 : "Modern McDonaldization"
• Analytical Essay # 127097 : "Frame Analysis of "The McDonaldization of Society"
• Research Paper # 122701 : "Globalization, Fordism, and McDonaldization"

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