TORONTO, February 27, 2001 – Renowned author of The McDonaldization of Society, George Ritzer, will deliver his first public address as Fulbright Visiting Professor at York University in a lecture entitled, Sociological Imagination, Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 2:30 p.m.

A sociologist and Distinguished University Professor at the University of Maryland, Ritzer has written extensively on the sociology of consumption and culture and will discuss the need to publish imaginative sociology that is interesting to the general public. Ritzer will also deliver public lectures on Globalization Theory and the New Means of Consumption on March 28, and Cathedrals and Landscapes of Consumption on April 4.

In The McDonaldization of Society, Ritzer described how the principles of rationalization and bureaucracy adopted by fast-food restaurants were dominating American and global society with a dehumanizing process of centralized control on human creativity. A system of "iron cages" were being produced where there was no choice but to choose which cage to enter. He said the goal was to create a desire in people to have everything in quick, digestible bites.

Ritzer’s lectures at York will be based on his two volumes of collected works soon to be released by Sage Publishing. His other publications include: Enchanting a Disenchanted World; the Blackwell Companion to Major Social Theorists; Frontiers of Social Theory; and Expressing America: A Critique of the Global Credit Card Society.

The lecture will take place from 2:30-4:30 p.m. in room 2169 Vari Hall, York University, Keele Campus, 4700 Keele St.

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For more information, please contact:

Prof. Fuyuki Kurasawa
Dept. of Sociology
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 77984
kurasawa@yorku.ca

Cim Nunn
Director, Media Relations
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22087
cimnunn@yorku.ca
YU/018/01