Jigsaw Relfection

When you observe closely to the things that our world consists of, it is clear we are made up from different cultures and societies.  Recently in class we got a look at how differently people take on tasks, and how they interact among one another, just simply by putting together a jigsaw puzzle.

As I started to put together the puzzle, I often caught myself trying to figure out the whole point of this particular task. I was in a large group and soon realized that those people were part of my society, and the way we worked with one another to finish the puzzle was the main goal. We started to put together pieces of the puzzle and it became very confusing as to who was supposed to be putting together certain pieces. I felt that this process relates to how in societies, there has to be some kind of balance. Everyone must do their share and help one another out and get the job done. We all seemed to get along, and I wonder that if our group had not have cooperated so smoothly, if our puzzle would have made much progress. Just as societies need to work together to make progress, our group needed to do the same.

Each group had some time to put some thought into the techniques they would use and our group seemed to come up with our own. It was interesting to hear the different responses within the groups and how we differed from them. Each group took on tasks very differently to reach their goal. Those experiences and differences we observed made a vital connection to the phenomenon that is social theory. My knowledge of social theory tells me that it’s based upon societies and how they work and combine to make a framework. This is how I understood what the purpose of this jigsaw experiment could be.

Our group acted as a small community, trying to work together to accomplish something greater. Frustration settled within us at times, but there were also better moments when we finally found a piece that fit with another. Social Theory connects with all these emotions we encountered. Within societies, everything has to start somewhere, and though in the beginning the bigger picture may seem far, it is never out of reach if your fellow friends are there to support you. That’s what a society strives on. It’s a place where everyone must lean on each other, and work together to figure out every problem that may arise; as a community.

Our group split up the roles to complete the puzzle and we all took on different tasks and worked on them separately. This may seem to differ from how a society may work, but there was still a relation. While separately completing different tasks, we would still help each other when it as needed. If someone was looking for a particular piece or needed all the outside edges, we would help. I believe this relates closely to how many societies work in today’s world. Though societies today are not

as close and communicative as they used to be in the past, you still see those gestures of people going out of their way to help one another. An example that I witness on a day to day basis is those who travel on the bus will go out of their way to ask elder persons if they would like their seat. That shows a lot about how as a society, we care about others. Societies are built from examples such as those, and when others take note and follow, the stronger relation we build together.

It’s interesting how you can do something as simple as building a puzzle and be able to critically analyse different aspects and roots behind the workings of a society. Just by watching how each group worked together to accomplish their puzzle shows us the many different ways a society can work. But like puzzles, there are empty spaces within a society that need to be filled in. Only with the involvement and co-operation of each person, can those pieces can be put together and create something better.