Topic > Freedom for Humanity, by Kalen Ockerman - 1143

The class system has been in place in humanity since the birth of economic commerce. It is a fact of life that others seek self-improvement and gain the power to provide for those they love and their own self-interest. Over the years the implementation of a social class system has helped differentiate the types of economic situations as a nation and serve as a system for working towards the betterment of society as a whole. However, as the world has become more productive and the gap between the upper and lower classes has increased the efficiency of the social class system and the decisions made by individuals within it have been questioned. Kalen Ockerman opened the channel to question whether the class system is a useful institution that benefits all of its citizens or whether the lower classes are not receiving the support and attention they believe they need. Stereotypes within the construction of social class were not addressed under the guise of racism and other social constructs. In Mr. Ockerman's mural there are six wealthy white bankers playing Monopoly on the shoulders of six dark-skinned males hunched under the board and serving as a table (Ockerman). The article presented by on the “Freedom for Humanity” mural paints it as anti-Semitic and does not really address it as a commentary on the construction of social class (JTA and Times of Israel Staff). Completely ignored was how the use of the figures was intended to evoke pity for those suffering due to the greed of upper class men who built on their strength through pathos and chose to ignore the deeper meaning contained in the mural at that time. Although it was unfortunate that the Jewish community was upset because of the… middle-of-the-paper king… and lower class children are more likely to join group cooperation due to the increased security within that context social (Long). Works Cited JTA and Times of Israel Staff. "London Council Set to Remove 'Anti-Semitic' Mural Showcasing Jewish Bankers." The times of Israel. The Times of Israel, October 6, 2012. Web. March 11, 2014. Long, Russ. “Social class (stratification).” Introductory sociology. Del Mar College, November 16, 2013. Web. March 11, 2014. Mear One - NWO: The Enemy of Humanity HD (Official Video). prod. Roger L. Griffith. Perf. Kalen Ockermann. Youtube. YouTube, LLC, September 23, 2012. Web. March 11, 2014. Ockerman, Kalen. Freedom for humanity. September 2012. Hansbury Street in London's East End. Wallpaper."Social Darwinism." Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica online. Encyclopedia Britannica Inc., 2014. Web. 11 March. 2014.