What Are Social Constructs?

DEFINITION: 

Social constructs are the by-products of countless human choices, rather than laws resulting from human judgment. Social constructionism is not the result of anti-determinism, though. Social constructionism is typically positioned in opposition to essentialism, which sees phenomena in terms of inherent, transhistorical essences independent of human judgment.

A major focus of social constructionism is to uncover the ways in which individuals and groups participate in the construction of their perceived social reality. It involves looking at the ways social phenomena are created, institutionalized, known, and made into tradition by humans. The social construction of reality is an ongoing, dynamic process that is (and must be) reproduced by people acting on their interpretations and their knowledge of it. Because social constructs as facets of reality and objects of knowledge are not "given" by nature, they must be constantly maintained and re-affirmed in order to persist. This process also introduces the possibility of change: what "justice" is and what it means shifts from one generation to the next.

1/17 Screening :: "Without You, I'm Nothing", Sandra Bernhard/John Boskovich, 1990

After watching this movie I was very unsure of how to truly respond to it. Honestly, going into this movie, I'd maybe only heard of Sandra by name but I don't know any of her performances or what she does as a performer and comedian. That was probably my first mistake before watching this. Not knowing her meant I was prepared to take this character seriously. Was this her life? Or was this just an act? I probably went the whole first half thinking I needed to take Sandra as serious as I would my school work. But was I wrong. I should have gone in believing that I could relax and enjoy the sarcasm, the puns, the humor in everything Sandra did and said. 

Little of Sandra's humor I actually enjoyed. I have to be honest with myself. Yes, there were moments that I laughed, but most of it was just "okay" funny. I think Sandra's performance though made up for the loss of vocal material. 

Throughout the movie, Sandra begins her performance and immediately learn that she is the pre-show for a stripper in a club. Most of the movie the audience isn't even interested in anything Sandra is saying or singing. I found it funny that when the culture of her performance changed the audience sort of went along with it. Like when they put cowboy hats on during her country performance.

I can't say I like this movie. I mean no disrespect to anyone that loves or worships the title. It just wasn't my sort of thing. Hopefully one day I can take another watch of it and have an entirely new experience.