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In his 1951 essay , “The Sociology of Stratification,” sociologist C . W right Mills based his
In his 1951 essay, “The Sociology of Stratification,” sociologist C. Wright Mills based his
definitions of social classes in America on the “chances to gain the things and experiences
that are generally valued, whatever they may be: things like cars, money, toys, houses, Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
etc.; experiences like being given respect, being educated to certain levels, being treated
kindly, etc.”

Discuss the ways in which this collage by artist Sally Edelstein, entitled Mutually Assured
Consumption , reflects the aspirations Mills names. Compare them to the aspirations of the
characters in “Friday Black.” What explicit differences and similarities do you find? What
are the implicit similarities and differences?

Sally Edelstein

“Duo just quit.” 60 I grunt something because I don’t have
“Oh.” the words to tell him that it is sad but it’s all
“He said he needed to go on break, and I said I have.
wait a few minutes, and then he just left. He’s gone.” “It’s a nice coat,” he says. “But that’s it.”
“I’m coming,” I say. “What?”
I get up, walk toward the escalator. I step to “The coat isn’t proof. She knows. You don’t 70
the conveyor and float down. Coming up on the need to, bro,” he says, turning around and rising
opposite escalator is Duo. up the escalator.
“Hungry?” I say. 65 “Don’t do that,” I say. “Not to me.”
“I couldn’t do it, man. That shit is sad,” Duo “Sorry.”
says. “Yeah,” I say, and then Duo flies away.
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