Tuesday, April 21, 2009

In Class: Listen Up!

I found all of these videos to be inspiring in some way, even the poorly filmed ones. They each had a voice. A personal story was portrayed, or some deeper message that maybe only someone of the 'teenage' generation may understand. There were many refrences to drugs, alcohol, depression, sex and violence. These are all sensitive topics individuals are exposed to during their teenage years. I have often found that these topics are disregarded or rarely talked about.

One of my favorite videos, was about a gay couple. A man's boyfriend contracted a disease and the hospital was not allowing him to spend the last few hours with his love.

Everyone should hear this story, listen here

The social networking site, Last.fm, allows teens to express how they feel about music. Each artist and song has a profile page and individuals are free to discuss what they feel about the song/artist. Also, I feel that Youtube is a website that allows teenagers to talk back. Just the fact that they can comment about videos. Aside from that, everyone is free to upload any kind of video, you can search whatever floats your boat.

I also came across another video I found inspiring...
Here is the story of a boy and how he came out to the world

Monday, April 6, 2009

Southpark

I am a huge fan of Southpark. I just caught the latest episode, although may sound a bit ridiculous, but I found had a lot of good points. If any of you would like to watch, here is a direct link. It's about the new feminist movement :)

Watch here!

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Henry Jenkins Interview/ Testing Horace Mann

I understand the motive behind social networking sites. This motive does not include creating stalkers nor does it include minor exposing themselves. I understand that it is not the websites responcibility. What one individual choses to expose on their site, and which material they chose to make public is up to them. Myspace and Facebook are just trying to make it easier for people to keep in touch. I find Facebook incredibly handy, although I do have a Myspace as well. I feel that Myspace is 11-16 oriented where as most of my professors have a Facebook. I also feel Facebook is more respected because it does not allow for the exposure of as much as Myspace does.

A few years ago, I'm not sure if Myspace still has this feature, but it allowed the reporting of underage users. At the time my sister was an 'under age user' posting inappropriate pictures, so I took the liberaty of reporting her. Her account was deleted no more than 3 days after. The thing with this feature is that, it is so easy for anyone to create an account and go under false identity. No more than a day later she would create another, and the process would repeat. I eventually gave in. I believe it is the users responcibility.

"By giving youth access to a public of their peers, MySpace provides a fertile ground for identity development and cultural integration. As youth transition from childhood, they seek out public environments to make sense of culture, social status and how they fit into the world. Interacting with strangers helps them understand who they are and communities of interest allow them to explore ideas and values."

I do still check my Myspace account regularly, but Facebook gets my vote.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

If Women Ran Hip-Hop

A reading for one of my other women's studies class, may appeal to some of you :)

http://webct.ric.edu:8900/1092-RICOL-WMST-350-SEC02-21091/If%20W.ran%20hip%20hop%2D%20DeLeon.pdf

What are your views on this article?

Prep: Curtis Sittenfeld

This novel is about a teenage girl who is attending a boarding school. Her experiences are very typical and very relate-able. I can remember a few too many instances of awkwardness. I feel that the author portrays these instances, in such a way, that I find myself looking back and laughing at awkward moments.

Reading students blogs, many wrote about her affection for Gates. I wish she had turned out to be gay, but that's just me. I believe everyone has instances of same-sex attraction at some point in their life, just some tend to pursue it more than others :)

I related this reading to Hines in many ways. Hines believes that most is learned through experience and that problems should not be categorized by age groups. This is one view of Hines that relates most for me.

I understood everything about this reading. It was an easy read and quite thought provoking. I felt a sense of comfort knowing that someone may be just as awkward as I have been.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Rhode Island Stereotypes


East Greenwich Barbie
This Barbie is sold only sold at stores along Main Street in East Greenwich.. She comes with an Assortment of Kate Spade Handbags, a Lexus SUV, a long-haired foreign dog named Honey and a cookie-cutter house. Available with or without tummy tuck and face Lift. Workaholic Ken sold only in conjunction with the augmented version.



Western Cranston Barbie
The modern day homemaker Barbie is available with Ford Wind star Minivan And matching gym outfit. She gets lost easily and has no full-time occupation. Traffic jamming cell phone sold separately.


Central Falls Barbie
This recently paroled Barbie comes with a 9mm handgun, a Ray Lewis knife, a Chevy with dark tinted windows, and a Meth Lab Kit. This model is only available after dark and must be paid for in cash (preferably small, untraceable bills) . . . Unless you are a cop, then we don't know what you are talking about.



Newport Barbie
This yuppie Barbie comes with your choice of BMW convertible or Hummer H2. Included are her own Starbucks cup, credit card and country club membership. Also available for this set are Shallow Ken and Private School Skipper. You won't be able to afford any of them.



Foster / Glocester Barbie
This tanned model comes dressed in her own Levi's jeans two sizes too small, a John Deere t-shirt, and Tweety Bird tattoo on her shoulder. She has a six-pack of Rolling Rock and a Garth Brooks CD set. She can spit over 5 feet, split wood, drive a tractor and kick mullet-haired Ken's butt when she is drunk. Purchase her pickup truck separately and get a Confederate flag bumper sticker absolutely free.



Downtown Providence Barbie
This collagen injected, rhino plastic Barbie wears a leopard print outfit and drinks cosmopolitans while entertaining friends. Percocet prescription available as well as warehouse conversion condo.



West Warwick Barbie
This tobacco-chewing, brassy-haired Barbie has a pair of her own
high-heeled sandals with one broken heel from the time she chased beer-gutted Ken out her house. Her ensemble includes low-rise acid-washed jeans, fake fingernails, and a see-through halter-top. Also available with a mobile home.



College Hill Barbie
This doll is made of actual tofu. She has long straight brown hair, arch-less feet, hairy armpits, no makeup and Birkenstocks with white socks. She prefers that you call her Willow . She does not want or need a Ken doll, but if you purchase two Barbies and the optional Subaru wagon, you get a rainbow flag bumper sticker for free.



South Providence Barbie
This Barbie now comes with a stroller and infant doll. Optional accessories include A GED and bus pass. Gangsta Ken and his 1979 Caddy were available, but are now very difficult to find since the addition of the infant.



Newport Mansions Barbie
She's perfect in every way. We don't know where Ken is because he's always out a-'huntin'.



Providence Nightlife Barbie/Ken
This versatile doll can be easily converted from Barbie to Ken by simply adding or subtracting the multiple snap-on parts.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Fast Forward: Laura Greenfield

When I was younger I always felt that growing up quick was the only way I would be both respected and tolerated. I have always felt incredibly influenced to be older than I am, and still subconsciously feel that way. I really enjoyed reading Laura Greenfield's artist statement. I connected with how she felt about the idea behind her photos to be a growing process. I especially like how she noted the differences between areas. I spent the last 3 weeks in Utah, and my idea of 'the obnoxious teenager' was entirely different from what that area may portray it as. Looking for something to photograph involved a different kind of approach.

I love Greenfields' photos. All of them. You could seriously write a book about each photograph. Her photographs prove not only that we are all influenced from such a young age, but also how it follows us. Influence is constantly lingering. Greenfield photographed all kinds of people at many different ages, with many different ethnicities and social upbringings.
In recent years, I photographed “Fast Forward” youth in Milan and Shanghai. The young and privileged in Shanghai don’t care about politics or communism but are obsessed with MTV, Fashion TV, Gucci, and L.V. (Louis Vuitton). Milanese youth don cutting edge hip-hop fashion originated by the inner city and perfected by haute couture designers. Fourteen-year old Italian girls wear thongs deliberately hiked up over their low-riding pants and rip revealing holes in their jeans. They go out to discos on school nights and dance to American hip-hop and electronica until dawn.

Tonight I went out to take more pictures for my photo project. I don't think I realized how intense geographical differences can be, when it comes to influence. I guess that can be what I don't understand. I would like to learn more about that. I really would love to travel more and come to more realizations. I find it comforting!

Media Literacy

Not a single person can fully comprehend how much, exactly, we are influenced by the media. Influence is deeply hidden in the all of the adds we see, the clothes we buy, how common tasks are viewed and how we raise our families. I believe it is important to at least become comfortable with the idea that... we can not entirely convince ourselves.

When wikipedia'ing media literacy:
Media literacy is the process of accessing, analyzing, evaluating and creating messages in a wide variety of media modes, genres and forms.

It's important to at least realize that there is some level of influence with everything we may watch or hear. It is a matter of controlling how much of that personally influences you. 'Rising above', I guess would be the best advice.

An example of the influential media would be a video, such as this:


I think that if I loved Chris Brown enough, I would have had to purchase some double-mint gum ASAP. I chose this video not only for its influence, but for it's feedback. Check out the responses below! Perfect examples of how one may be influenced by such a simple add.

Hip-Hop Wars: Tricia Rose

I am really torn between sides. I believe that in order for you to really try to understand either side, it is important to realize how hip-hop has developed throughout the past 15 years. Both its motive and intentions have entirely changed. It's important to realize where we are right now in our society, in terms of financial and political drama. It's important to compare issues then, to issues now.

When I say that I am torn between sides, I mean that part of me is disgusted by the fact that 90% of the songs involve violence of some sort, and the idea that we have become quite a violent society. I think it's wrong to point a finger at the hip-hop industry and blame our youth issues on their content.
"I think it is disingenuous because they know that this isn't just about turning off one song. You would have to turn off all commercial black radio. You'd have to shut down all of your children's and your own investment in MTV, BET, VH1. You would basically have to unplug from society as a whole. So they know this is not going to happen. They know you're not going to do it because that means rejecting the entire system, not just a given artist."

Tricia Rose entirely recognizes this issue and I believe she perfectly states the 'problem'. For me, 'the entire system' extends beyond music. It's in the depths of our media, classrooms and households.

I honestly never listen to the radio. I feel that I've developed some kind of 6th sense when it comes to people trying to influence me; so I avoid influence at all costs. I barely even watch TV. The hip-hop I do listen to, well yeah it involves some violence. I do not personally relate to most of it, but I have learned to respect the artists voice. People typically tend to like a song based on how it sounds, which is something that should be taken into consideration, not just what it's about. But then - that's getting back into the hip-hop wars. I do not want to exclude those who listen to a violent song for the violent lyrics.

I feel that I clearly understood everything that was portrayed in this interview. I would like to hear more from Tricia Rose about her views on the hip-hop wars. For me, hearing her speak and reading her interview clarified how I feel about hip-hop.

Monday, February 16, 2009

Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants: Marc Prensky

I really enjoyed the writers perspective on how the public education system has actually not been changing. I find it interesting to think that our students are out growing education so rapidly. The writer believes that the school just can not keep up to pace, and therefore, it appears that the education system is failing us. I always felt like the education I got was crappy, but it really wasn't. It just couldn't keep up with the intelligence of my class. It's reassuring knowing that our society is actually growing, and quite rapidly, in an area we thought was falling apart.

"In geography – which is all but ignored these days – there is no reason that a generation that can memorize over 100 Pokémon characters with all their characteristics, history and evolution can‟t learn the names, populations, capitals and relationships of all the 101 nations in the world. It just depends on how it is presented. "

We also have to familiarize ourselves with how our youth is learning. We have to pay attention to what they learn the greatest from, and currently it happens to be electronics. TV, video games and computers have never had such an effect on our youth. We need to tend to their needs and remain familiar with their interests.

I strongly agree with all of this writers points. I feel that the writer spoke too much in his own voice. I believe personality should come through with shorter articles, compared to 5+ pgs. I found the same attitude a bit annoying after 2 pages.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Monday, February 9, 2009

The Rise and Fall of the American Teenager: Thomas Hine

Understand: In this article, Hine addresses many common misconceptions of teenagers. He basically gives them a lot of creidt in this article. Hine believes that they deserve more respect and that people need to realize that they are going to make mistakes. I think that Hine cares about their downgrading because of the future. He realizes that all of the teenagers now, sane or insane, are our future. I believe Hine is trying to give this statement the respect it deserves.

"Our beliefs, about teenagers are deeply contradictory: They should be free to become themselves. They need many years of training and study. They know more about the future than adults do. They know hardly anything at all. They ought to know the value of a dollar. They should be protected from the world of work. They are frail, vulnerable creatures. They are children. They are sex fiends. They are the death of culture. They are the hope of us all."

(Don't) Understand: Honestly I fully understood all of Hine's statements. I am infull agreement with his thoughts. I also enjoyed that he used factual information, like the story about the girl at prom.

Relations: When I was a teenager, I constantly felt disregarded and treated poorly. This is just how it goes. During teenage years, you make mistakes. They are the prime years for mistakes, and that is also exactly why they are treated so terribly. I still am technically a teenager, but I feel much more respected than I did a few years ago. It all has to do with how you carry yourself. Maturity levels make a huge difference. Once you jump the 'I'm mature now' fence, things start looking up.

Questions/Comments:
I enjoyed reading this article because of the tone of the passage. It wasn't some generic article posted by an adult complaining about teenagers. It was logical, fairly easy to read, and interesting.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

test

this is a test to see if I can really post from my phone. I think I'd enjoy that.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

How to Kill a Transperson: Ceridwen Troy

An editorial my girlfriend read February 2008 in Q Salt Lake...

On Saturday, Feb. 9, Sanesha Stewart , a transwoman of color living in the Bronx, was murdered in her own apartment. She was 25 years old. Her killer, Steve McMillan, had known her for month. Yet when he was arrested, he claimed to have been enraged to find out that she “Wasn’t really a woman.” He stabbed her over and over again in the chest and throat. She tried to fight him off; there were defensive wounds found on her hands.

On Tuesday, Feb, 12. eighth-grader Lawrence King was in a classroom in Oxnard, Calif. He was openly gay, and often came to school in gender-bending clothing, makeup, jewelry and shoes.

According to another student, it “was freaking the guys out.” One of them shot Lawrence in the head. He was declared brain-dead on Wednesday, and subsequently died on Thursday.

On Friday, Feb. 22, Simmie Williams, Jr. was shot dead on a public street, executed by two young men for wearing women’s clothing.

Williams was 17 and lived with his mother in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. “I gave him $2 for the bus and he never came back,” his mother said. “He was a quiet person, kept to himself. He had a lot of friends. He wasn’t a troubled child. He was a happy person.” His killers remain at large.

It’s easy to look as cases like this and think, how tragic. How random. How senseless.

But then you forget how easy it is to kill a transgender person.

You forget that all across this nation faith leaders of all stripes, men and women, who claim to speak for God Himself, call us sinners, call us abominations, call us evil.

You forget that at best, the media depicts us as something to be pitied, something that our families must be strong and overcome. At worst, they depict us as abnormal, exploiting our bodies for ratings, exploiting the public’s fear of us for shock value.

You forget that on a good day, law enforcement agents are neglectful of us, and that far more frequently they join in on our harassment. You forget the transwomen of color who are rounded up on suspicion of prostitution. You forget the beatings that go uninvestigated. You forget the molestation and rape we face when we are arrested.

You forget the medical establishment that drains our wallets for the therapy and hormones and surgeries they tell us we need. You forget the way we are then refused treatment when we are dying, dying of treatable diseases, dying of easily patched wounds.

You forget that, by the law of the land, it is legal in the majority of states to deny us employment, to deny us service, to deny us housing.

You forget the shelters and the rape crisis centers that will not allow us through their doors.

You forget that many of us don’t even have family to turn to when we are at our most desperate.

You forget that the leaders of our own community have told us that it is not time for us to have rights, that it is not pragmatic for us to be considered worthy of the same respect as other human beings.

You forget that in our own circles, it is considered a negative thing to be too flamboyant. You forget the way our pride parades have been derided by our own community. You forget the scorn heaped upon drag queens by other gay men. You forget the fear to be seen in public with a friend who is considered to open, too queer.

You forget the way it seeps into the minds of transgender people, too.

You forget the way a transsexual will shout that she is not a cross-dresser, as if there were something wrong with that. You forget the catty names we call each other if the don’t “pass.”

You forget how many of us take our own lives every year.

You forget because the noise is always there, a constant drone in the background. Every newspaper article that calls a transwoman “he” instead of “she.”

Every talk show host who spends an hour talking about our genitals. Every childish taunt about “looking like a tranny.” Ever transperson who talks about themselves as “true” transsexuals, differentiating themselves from the cross dressers and the genderqueer.

Every activist and politician who tells us “now is not the time.”

You forget too, how easy it is to kill a person of color, with myths about “gangstas” and lies about immigrants. You forget how easy it is to kill a person living in poverty, cutting off her welfare because she’s “being paid to breed.” You forget how easy it is to kill a sex worker, with sex-shaming language, slinging about slurs like “hooker” and “whore.”

You forget the message hidden inside every single one of those statements.

“You are less than I am. You are not worthy of the rights and respect that I am worthy of.”

“You are not human.”

It’s very easy to kill something that you don’t see as human.

It’s very easy to kill a transperson.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Learning the Myths That Bind Us: Linda Christensen

  • Understand:  I am in complete agreement with the fact that many indirect aspects of our childhood has developed us into the adults we are now.  I honestly am disgusted that we all watched the same Disney movies as children, and found pleasure in them of course, only to grow up and regret it?  I'm hoping now that time has passed, directors and such have managed to be a bit more considerate.  I'm well aware there is some hidden value behind every advertisement, movie, video game.... even a simple design on a child's shirt.  I would like to be part of the generation that puts meaning back into... well, something.  Children deserve to enjoy a healthy show.
My personal favorite Disney movie was Pocahontas.  I was always inspired by other cultures and nationalities as a child, and found natural beauty more empowering.  After reading this article, the 'savages' song from the movie has been repeating in my head.
  • (Don't) Understand:  I didn't find the vocabulary challenging in this article, just possibly the quality of the article itself.  I feel I may be in disagreement about some stuff.  We need to consider the era at which these cartoons had been produced.  We have come a long way with racism, sexism, feminism... etc.. I understand there is much to critique, but that is a very important topic we need to keep in mind.
"I start by showing student old cartoons because the stereotypes are so blatant.  We look at the roles women, men, people of color, and poor people play in the cartoons.  I ask students to watch for who plays the lead.   Who plays the buffoon?  Who plays the servant?
  • Relations:  This article directly relates to our first class discussion; stereotypes.  We talked about the 'simple' stereotypes, defining youth and adolescence, and key identities. The old cartoon characters are all incredibly stereotypical.  Women have hour-glass figures, are large breasted, bubbly personalities... long hair and skirts.  When asked to draw a women, the features heavily identified are the physical features- same deal.
  • Questions/Comments:  I feel that it's really important to recognize the time that these movies were made.  I also feel that it's really important to realize that WE are the ones that watched these movies.  How did these movies influence our lives directly?  I'd be interested to know if anyone really feels they've been impacted by a Disney movie, which one and in what way?


13.

When I was thirteen...

I was unsure of myself.  Entirely unaware of what the next few years would mean to me.  I had a difficult time judging the values of certain relationships, and setting goals for myself.  The transition into high school, for me, was simple.  I always hung around the older crowd, and knowing one of my best friends was a senior seemed quite reassuring.

It wasn't until senior year of high school I became totally comfortable with myself.  I progressed as a student, academically, and felt the strongest, mentally, that I had ever.  I was able to define the goals set for myself.  I went from having a .19 GPA freshman year, to ending my senior year with a 3.9.  The last month of high school, I became so comfortable with myself that I came out to my entire class...  yes, about having a girlfriend.

Since I was thirteen, I have grown into a very strong individual.  I am proud of the experiences I have been through, both good and bad.  I've learned to extract 'lessons-learned' from negative moments.  I've learned not only from my mistakes, but the mistakes of others, and I really feel that functioning this way is what got me through my years of youth.