Even though this class was not something I stressed over like some other people did, I still had some troubles, especially with the descriptive papers. But I think I’m better at giving the details now than I was when we first started writing those papers. I think a bit of a challenge is better than to lose sleep over this English class like some of my friends are. I’m so glad I was not put in those other classes.. So I know my writing is not perfect and there are many others who write much better than I do and that's why I'm glad that effort counts. I did put in a lot of thinking into my papers and I made sure to finish on time. I think I deserve an A for the effort or maybe an A- because I have looked at other people's writing and found that there's a lot of talent. I think my imagination runs faster than I can write and that's why I don't write as well as I think I should. Sometimes it’s hard to put all my thoughts down on paper when I have so many of them running through my head. Comparing my pieces in the early semester with the later ones prove to me that I have improved. At the end of every English semester in high school, I would go through all my papers and creative pieces in the order they were written and see how my writing has changed, even if by slightly. So all that matters to me is to have some kind of personal proof that that my writing has improved.
My blog design is not that exciting but I like simplicity. I'm not a creative person so this is the most you guys will be getting out of me.
=)
Monday, December 6, 2010
Analysis Essay
When I hit the teenage years, the rebellion act soon began to emerge. It started when I was around 12 or 13 years old and lasted for 2 to 3 years. Every young teenager who goes through this time knows how bad of a roller coaster our feelings seemed to be. When emotions hit, they hit deeply and it was easy to lose control of what we said and did. It was a horrible time, and I’m glad it’s over.
During these years, I became so involved in writing and that was all I did; besides, of course, listening to music constantly. Every time I got angry or upset, I would write. Even if it was just a line, it would be an emotional one. These types of entries weren’t journal entries. I was never able to put down everything in a direct manner on paper. I guess you can call them poetry or even songs. Everyone who was connected to me, in a good or bad way, appeared in my notebook. Names were not written out but if I read them now, I’d know who I was talking about. All this writing was done in a black and white composition notebook, the type that everyone uses for classes once in a while. Even though this went on for more than two years, there was only one book. All my “drafting” went into a long yellow Legal pad, the one with the blue lines and the double red margin lines on the right-hand side. Its cardboard back was one of the reasons that I loved writing in it for; I can just rest it on my lap and write. That notepad was in such a poor condition after I went through it. Its edges were curved in and the cardboard back was covered in scribbles from my doodling so you could not see the brownish, yellow material anymore. The black and white Composition notebook was only for the finished pieces - the ones I felt were worthy enough to be read over again. If you can see my class notes, you’ll see a lot of scribbles and crossing out. But not in the Composition notebook. That was the place where I copied the “good stuff” over again, and made sure it was kept clean and without any blemish.
I no longer have that notebook or the Legal pad. I ripped up the pages and threw them out three years ago. The teenage years are a time of experimentation and mistakes, some of them you will want to remember and some of them you will not wait to forget. My writing during that time is something I want to forget so I threw out the evidence in case I would come across it years later. I stopped writing and I forgot my talent. I made a point of not writing that now I have difficulties with English assignments, especially the creative free-writing type of ones. For me, a good piece of writing is personal and you’ll have to slam your emotions on paper. It is like taking a part of yourself and pasting on a blank canvas. That was how I used to write. But I don’t like writing personally anymore and my use of details has gone awry.
As human beings, we like to erase certain things and events from our memories. Maybe we did something stupid as kids or a sad event happened and we don’t want to remember them anymore. So many of us will try and rid ourselves of certain things that will trigger these memories. Of course, we all make mistakes and none of us are perfect – we’ve heard this tons of times before. The experiences that affect us the most are sometimes the ones we want to forget. We may be accused of being cowards and we’ll probably deny that accusation. It’s not that we like to run away from our past, but we think why dwell on something that you no longer can control? I think it’s safe to say that each one of us has at least one memory that we don’t like to bring up. But we learn to live with it and to accept it because we would not be the same person we are today if it weren’t for that specific experience.
During these years, I became so involved in writing and that was all I did; besides, of course, listening to music constantly. Every time I got angry or upset, I would write. Even if it was just a line, it would be an emotional one. These types of entries weren’t journal entries. I was never able to put down everything in a direct manner on paper. I guess you can call them poetry or even songs. Everyone who was connected to me, in a good or bad way, appeared in my notebook. Names were not written out but if I read them now, I’d know who I was talking about. All this writing was done in a black and white composition notebook, the type that everyone uses for classes once in a while. Even though this went on for more than two years, there was only one book. All my “drafting” went into a long yellow Legal pad, the one with the blue lines and the double red margin lines on the right-hand side. Its cardboard back was one of the reasons that I loved writing in it for; I can just rest it on my lap and write. That notepad was in such a poor condition after I went through it. Its edges were curved in and the cardboard back was covered in scribbles from my doodling so you could not see the brownish, yellow material anymore. The black and white Composition notebook was only for the finished pieces - the ones I felt were worthy enough to be read over again. If you can see my class notes, you’ll see a lot of scribbles and crossing out. But not in the Composition notebook. That was the place where I copied the “good stuff” over again, and made sure it was kept clean and without any blemish.
I no longer have that notebook or the Legal pad. I ripped up the pages and threw them out three years ago. The teenage years are a time of experimentation and mistakes, some of them you will want to remember and some of them you will not wait to forget. My writing during that time is something I want to forget so I threw out the evidence in case I would come across it years later. I stopped writing and I forgot my talent. I made a point of not writing that now I have difficulties with English assignments, especially the creative free-writing type of ones. For me, a good piece of writing is personal and you’ll have to slam your emotions on paper. It is like taking a part of yourself and pasting on a blank canvas. That was how I used to write. But I don’t like writing personally anymore and my use of details has gone awry.
As human beings, we like to erase certain things and events from our memories. Maybe we did something stupid as kids or a sad event happened and we don’t want to remember them anymore. So many of us will try and rid ourselves of certain things that will trigger these memories. Of course, we all make mistakes and none of us are perfect – we’ve heard this tons of times before. The experiences that affect us the most are sometimes the ones we want to forget. We may be accused of being cowards and we’ll probably deny that accusation. It’s not that we like to run away from our past, but we think why dwell on something that you no longer can control? I think it’s safe to say that each one of us has at least one memory that we don’t like to bring up. But we learn to live with it and to accept it because we would not be the same person we are today if it weren’t for that specific experience.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010: Media Free Reaction
I am actually feeling a bit jittery – I wasn’t able to sit still in Stats this morning since I usually text in that class. Or sleep. My fingers got so used to texting and typing so it feels weird to go 3 days without my phone. I am anxious, every day I keep wondering who posted on my wall or tagged me, or sent me requests. You never know what those idiots are posting and commenting on so you have to keep track of what’s happening on your page. I freakin’ hate this experiment, and I’m never doing it again. I don’t even know why the heck I was thinking of doing the 7 days. I’m getting annoyed and frustrated. Now I actually have to look to find something to do and that’s not always easy sometimes. We already know we’re addicted – I’m sure we all found that out from the first day – so why do we have to continue?!
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Girl Starved to Death in South Korea (article)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/mar/05/korean-girl-starved-online-game
I cannot begin to imagine the insanity of this couple. If you are not capable or taking care of your own kid, then don’t have any from the start. The fact that these people are grown adults makes the situation even worse. How do you forget to feed your own child? The obsession with raising the virtual daughter, Anima, is just too ridiculous. I can’t wrap my head around it. This couple obviously has no sense of responsibility or any sense for that matter. This is why people need to have jobs and have something to do to keep them busy and away from the internet. If you have no work and are free all day, then it is possible to spend that many hours on the internet playing such a game. I actually think that these virtual life games need to be banned. I know I may sound a bit extreme but if people had only one life, they’ll take care of it. People play these games because they are not satisfied with their own lives. This is why so many of us look for another source of escape, and with today’s sense of imagination, it’s pretty easy to get hooked.
I cannot begin to imagine the insanity of this couple. If you are not capable or taking care of your own kid, then don’t have any from the start. The fact that these people are grown adults makes the situation even worse. How do you forget to feed your own child? The obsession with raising the virtual daughter, Anima, is just too ridiculous. I can’t wrap my head around it. This couple obviously has no sense of responsibility or any sense for that matter. This is why people need to have jobs and have something to do to keep them busy and away from the internet. If you have no work and are free all day, then it is possible to spend that many hours on the internet playing such a game. I actually think that these virtual life games need to be banned. I know I may sound a bit extreme but if people had only one life, they’ll take care of it. People play these games because they are not satisfied with their own lives. This is why so many of us look for another source of escape, and with today’s sense of imagination, it’s pretty easy to get hooked.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Media Free Article - University of Maryland
I honestly don’t think it’s that bad to go one day with media. I’m pretty sure it will be difficult, especially for some of us, but it’s only one day. I understand our friends will think we died if we don’t reply back to their text messages within the hour, but if it’s only for 24 hours, I think we’ll survive. We’ll just have to endure verbal assaults from our friends when we get back on to the social network.
I was pretty surprised at how serious the effects were on the 200 students of the University of Maryland. They really made it seem like an alcohol or drug addiction with their symptoms of withdrawal, anxiety, as well as feeling miserable and antsy. One student wrote that she finds it sickening to find out how clearly addicted she was. Even though I text and Facebook every day, I don’t think I’m addicted to that extent. I probably can last one day but it will be difficult and a bit irritating. I think I may become a tad bit jittery since I always feel such an urgent need to check my text messages or my Facebook page. It is sad to realize how much we depend on technology to go through our days. Even as I am writing this, I am looking around and seeing everyone on either a laptop or a Blackberry, and listening to their iPod. In the whole lounge, there is not one person reading a book. I am also pretty sure that not every single one of those people is doing homework.
Since we live in such a fast-paced world, we need some form of communication that is just as fast. So I understand why so many of us rely on texting and Facebook and other forms of technology to stay connected to family and friends. Not every person has the time every day or week to visit their relatives and friends. I still like to actually see my friends and interact with the rest of civilization every once in a while.
After reading this article, I started thinking about our own “Media Free” assignment for the rest of the week. I think I can last a day, maybe two but not more than that. Sometimes I wish we still lived in a world where technology was nonexistent, just for the simplicity of things. But yet again, with so many things occurring around the world, I think it’s necessary to keep track of these events in order to stay updated. Technology does make our lives a bit easier but at the same time, I fear what the world would be like twenty years from now. If we are so dependent on our technical gadgets now, I wonder how we would be like in the future.
I am pretty curious about how the “Media Free” assignment will go. I wonder how long I’ll last and hopefully, I will not be as addicted as the Maryland students turned out to be.
I was pretty surprised at how serious the effects were on the 200 students of the University of Maryland. They really made it seem like an alcohol or drug addiction with their symptoms of withdrawal, anxiety, as well as feeling miserable and antsy. One student wrote that she finds it sickening to find out how clearly addicted she was. Even though I text and Facebook every day, I don’t think I’m addicted to that extent. I probably can last one day but it will be difficult and a bit irritating. I think I may become a tad bit jittery since I always feel such an urgent need to check my text messages or my Facebook page. It is sad to realize how much we depend on technology to go through our days. Even as I am writing this, I am looking around and seeing everyone on either a laptop or a Blackberry, and listening to their iPod. In the whole lounge, there is not one person reading a book. I am also pretty sure that not every single one of those people is doing homework.
Since we live in such a fast-paced world, we need some form of communication that is just as fast. So I understand why so many of us rely on texting and Facebook and other forms of technology to stay connected to family and friends. Not every person has the time every day or week to visit their relatives and friends. I still like to actually see my friends and interact with the rest of civilization every once in a while.
After reading this article, I started thinking about our own “Media Free” assignment for the rest of the week. I think I can last a day, maybe two but not more than that. Sometimes I wish we still lived in a world where technology was nonexistent, just for the simplicity of things. But yet again, with so many things occurring around the world, I think it’s necessary to keep track of these events in order to stay updated. Technology does make our lives a bit easier but at the same time, I fear what the world would be like twenty years from now. If we are so dependent on our technical gadgets now, I wonder how we would be like in the future.
I am pretty curious about how the “Media Free” assignment will go. I wonder how long I’ll last and hopefully, I will not be as addicted as the Maryland students turned out to be.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Media-Free Week
A week without texting or going on facebook is pretty bad. I mean, I can handle not going on facebook but I need some type of communication to let people know I’m still alive. If I go a week without answering my texts, people will either think I’m ignoring them and hate me for a while, or just think something is terribly wrong and I’m in need of necessary help. Not watching TV is not that bad, I think I can handle it. I wonder how long I will last..
Thursday, November 11, 2010
The "Perfect" Article
The “perfect” article for me paper would be titled, “God in the Media”. This article would be about how the idea of religion has changed into something that the media uses to influence people and take advantage of them. Since the beginning of time, religion was a sacred thing to each person who believed in higher Being. Over the years, it has been thrown into ads and other schemes of media to try to persuade and push people in a certain direction. Nowadays, God only seems to want money, and this is what the media portrays. It is no longer about the core of your beliefs and that is no longer respected.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
TOUGH GUISE
“Tough Guise” really explained why and how guys are the way there are today. In our society, there is a lot of violence and that violence is portrayed vividly in the media. As the movie starts, a scene from the Wizard of Oz begins playing. It’s the scene when Toto pulls back the curtain and the crew finds this nervous and weak man pretending to be a strong wizard. From there, the talk starts about how guys put up a front and wear a mask to gain respect through violence. They like to hide their vulnerability because if they don’t, they are not men. A couple of teenage guys were asked what a real man is. Some of the answers were physical, hard, muscular, tough, athletic, powerful, respected, and many others along that form. These are the qualities that make up a real man according to these guys.
Jackson Katz, who is the man who spoke throughout the documentary and is the one who examines this relationship, said this is the box that defines manhood for many young men. They are restricted to this box and if they are not what a “real man” should be, they are outcasts and called queers, sissy, etc. Where do boys learn about this? Their family and community sure do have a role in this, but media also has an immense effect. Throughout the years, media has depicted violent masculinity as a culture norm. Years ago, the bodies of Superman, Batman, and other male figures in movies were not as rippled and muscular as they are in almost all films today. Even the action figures have gotten bigger. When they compared the toys such as those of G.I. Joe to the action figures of today, I was shocked at the masterminds behind the manufacturing of these things.
A part that seemed really interesting to me in the documentary was how the “dominant” group goes unexamined in society. When we watch the news and hear about a rape or a sexual assault that has occurred, it is said ‘how many girls were raped or assaulted’ or ‘where they were raped’. I did not realize that most of the time we say ‘she was physically assaulted’, not ‘he assaulted’ or ‘he raped‘. This is what Katz means when he says that the dominant group in our community is not examined. But when a female commits a crime, it is talked about as a gender issue. When the movie, “Thelma and Louise” came out decades ago, there was a bit of controversy. Thelma and Louise were two females who were violent characters in this film and soon after, the trend was questioned by many people. Men don’t want to feel threatened and they don’t their manhood questioned. How can a weak, fragile female be a violent woman who carries around a gun? That’s what a “real man” is supposed to, is it not?
This documentary really examined the social roles and gender expectations of men and young boys in society today. Some statistics were a bit surprising but it was very interesting to see the comparisons of men today and men decades ago. I wish young boys were not expected to grow to be so violent and to learn these attributes. If we can somehow control the content of certain video games, that will be a start. But I don’t think it’s that easy. Thanks to the media, masculine violence has unfortunately become a culture norm.
Jackson Katz, who is the man who spoke throughout the documentary and is the one who examines this relationship, said this is the box that defines manhood for many young men. They are restricted to this box and if they are not what a “real man” should be, they are outcasts and called queers, sissy, etc. Where do boys learn about this? Their family and community sure do have a role in this, but media also has an immense effect. Throughout the years, media has depicted violent masculinity as a culture norm. Years ago, the bodies of Superman, Batman, and other male figures in movies were not as rippled and muscular as they are in almost all films today. Even the action figures have gotten bigger. When they compared the toys such as those of G.I. Joe to the action figures of today, I was shocked at the masterminds behind the manufacturing of these things.
A part that seemed really interesting to me in the documentary was how the “dominant” group goes unexamined in society. When we watch the news and hear about a rape or a sexual assault that has occurred, it is said ‘how many girls were raped or assaulted’ or ‘where they were raped’. I did not realize that most of the time we say ‘she was physically assaulted’, not ‘he assaulted’ or ‘he raped‘. This is what Katz means when he says that the dominant group in our community is not examined. But when a female commits a crime, it is talked about as a gender issue. When the movie, “Thelma and Louise” came out decades ago, there was a bit of controversy. Thelma and Louise were two females who were violent characters in this film and soon after, the trend was questioned by many people. Men don’t want to feel threatened and they don’t their manhood questioned. How can a weak, fragile female be a violent woman who carries around a gun? That’s what a “real man” is supposed to, is it not?
This documentary really examined the social roles and gender expectations of men and young boys in society today. Some statistics were a bit surprising but it was very interesting to see the comparisons of men today and men decades ago. I wish young boys were not expected to grow to be so violent and to learn these attributes. If we can somehow control the content of certain video games, that will be a start. But I don’t think it’s that easy. Thanks to the media, masculine violence has unfortunately become a culture norm.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
3 Ads
1. http://www.groove-quantize.com/grooveblog/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/ethiceze.jpg
This ad promotes the product “ETHIC-EZE”, a medication that puts your conscience to sleep. If you are a man, this will help you feel better if you’re having any guilt or “nagging doubts”. It is also recommended by 4 out of 5 psychiatrists.
2. http://www.emergencemarketing.com/images/prozac.jpg
Prozac is a medication given to treat depression. In this poster, it is advertized as a household cleaner and with a quote that says, “Wash Your Blues Away!” It has a woman in a bright yellow dress opening her arms to it with a glad look on her face.
3. http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kt9gvpNtyi1qaqi8oo1_500.jpg
In this ad, they make fun of the weird and confusing names given to the Starbucks sizes and how ridiculous their prices are. It says, “Starbucks coffee: overcharging since 1946”.
This ad promotes the product “ETHIC-EZE”, a medication that puts your conscience to sleep. If you are a man, this will help you feel better if you’re having any guilt or “nagging doubts”. It is also recommended by 4 out of 5 psychiatrists.
2. http://www.emergencemarketing.com/images/prozac.jpg
Prozac is a medication given to treat depression. In this poster, it is advertized as a household cleaner and with a quote that says, “Wash Your Blues Away!” It has a woman in a bright yellow dress opening her arms to it with a glad look on her face.
3. http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kt9gvpNtyi1qaqi8oo1_500.jpg
In this ad, they make fun of the weird and confusing names given to the Starbucks sizes and how ridiculous their prices are. It says, “Starbucks coffee: overcharging since 1946”.
Monday, October 18, 2010
SPOOF ADS
BIG MAC ATTACK :this type of ad called the McDonald MacAttack, shows what the end will be for those people living on Big Macs from McDonald’s. They actually have the “M” sign that we are all used to seeing as we drive down streets or on TV’s on the heart monitor. It’s actually a pretty neat way to drive the point across.
cK ChicKen : when I first looked at this ad, I didn’t realize what the point was. Then I realized the Calvin Klein sign and underneath the word “chicken”, it says, “Great Legs Nice Breasts”. This shows what type of shallow industry the fashion world is, but I think it’s a bit degrading to women to use chicken as the way to advertise the meaning. But I can understand why they did. In this type of industry, they don’t care about people and use them for their benefits and profits. Women with great legs and nice breasts are needed, which is the only way to grab the attention of the public.
Joe Chemo Bed : at first I didn’t understand this but I found out that this is based on the brand Camel cigarettes. Joe Chemo is the “camel” and is in the hospital, looking like he is about to die from cancer. He is obviously taking chemo therapy, hence the name Joe chemo but it’s doesn’t seem like its working. I think this is a clever way to send a message to all the addictive smokers that they’ll probably end up in the same position as Joe Chemo is they don’t quit their dangerous habit. I wish these were the type of ads that you can see out on the streets or on buses because all of the “truth” commercials are getting a bit lame.
Obsession for Women : this is not the usual ad you see in the Calvin Klein “Obsession” collection. They usually have beautiful men and women who send a pretty seductive message across. I’m guessing this is why they named their perfumes and colognes “Obsession”. But in this ad, it’s a different type of obsession. It’s the obsession for women who aim to look and be like those models who advertise basically every product out there. It’s a deadly obsession that causes them to develop psychological problems and hurt their own bodies. I think this ad was an excellent way of showing what all the advertisements of today are really selling.
cK ChicKen : when I first looked at this ad, I didn’t realize what the point was. Then I realized the Calvin Klein sign and underneath the word “chicken”, it says, “Great Legs Nice Breasts”. This shows what type of shallow industry the fashion world is, but I think it’s a bit degrading to women to use chicken as the way to advertise the meaning. But I can understand why they did. In this type of industry, they don’t care about people and use them for their benefits and profits. Women with great legs and nice breasts are needed, which is the only way to grab the attention of the public.
Joe Chemo Bed : at first I didn’t understand this but I found out that this is based on the brand Camel cigarettes. Joe Chemo is the “camel” and is in the hospital, looking like he is about to die from cancer. He is obviously taking chemo therapy, hence the name Joe chemo but it’s doesn’t seem like its working. I think this is a clever way to send a message to all the addictive smokers that they’ll probably end up in the same position as Joe Chemo is they don’t quit their dangerous habit. I wish these were the type of ads that you can see out on the streets or on buses because all of the “truth” commercials are getting a bit lame.
Obsession for Women : this is not the usual ad you see in the Calvin Klein “Obsession” collection. They usually have beautiful men and women who send a pretty seductive message across. I’m guessing this is why they named their perfumes and colognes “Obsession”. But in this ad, it’s a different type of obsession. It’s the obsession for women who aim to look and be like those models who advertise basically every product out there. It’s a deadly obsession that causes them to develop psychological problems and hurt their own bodies. I think this ad was an excellent way of showing what all the advertisements of today are really selling.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
How Does Media and Propaganda Manipulate Culture?
I did not know how much media and propaganda manipulate culture. In the beginning of the video, the speakers talk about the origin of the word “propaganda”. In 1622, the word “propaganda” originated from religion, when the Pope set up a counsel to spread the teachings of the Church to the rest of the world. They also showed pictures of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, while playing a piece of classical music. After the pictures stopped playing, the speakers talk about how music and art can make “a violent death seem mesmerizing”. This is completely true and I had not realized that until it was mentioned. As I was watching those slides, I really was mesmerized. If they had shown the pictures by themselves and without any music, the effect would not have been the same. This was the beginning of the video where they started talking about propaganda by introducing religion. One of the speakers said that “Art, propaganda, and ideology come in a mix.” Propaganda and media are used as means of persuasion when it comes to ideas, culture, and religion. They act as little shoves that are meant make you think in a certain way and have specific views on various issues. Through propaganda, the idea of “execution became salvation”. Leading from this, the topic of functional myths was brought up. We all look for something to believe in and media helps us find it. Historical traumas, such as that of 9/11, have a great influence on our emotion and actions. On September 11th, 2001, terrorists flew planes through the towers and thousands of people died. We decide to go to war with Afghanistan. This is a time of grieving so we are not able to think in a rational way. When we are in a vulnerable state of mind, it’s easy to believe things people tell us. I remember every single house putting up American flags on their porches following the attack on the Twin Towers. Not only that, but there were posters and commercials, as well as documentaries that promoted a sense of needed unity. If it were not for the media and propaganda, the actions taken after September 11th would not have been the same.
In the video, they showed slides of Russia and Korea during wars and political issues they faced. If you were a part of either country and saw those pictures, you would feel a strong connection to your people in a time of need. There were slides of armies at war and posters that influenced people to take action and be a part of the country. This is what media and propaganda do. They manipulate culture by influencing people to think and act in a certain way. It may seem that it completely controls us, which is not true, but it does have an immense affect on us. If media did not play a huge role in our culture, it wouldn’t be a culture. Through media and propaganda, people come together to protest, celebrate, as well as for support. The way media and propaganda manipulate culture is not necessarily a bad thing, it has been happening since the early ages.
In the video, they showed slides of Russia and Korea during wars and political issues they faced. If you were a part of either country and saw those pictures, you would feel a strong connection to your people in a time of need. There were slides of armies at war and posters that influenced people to take action and be a part of the country. This is what media and propaganda do. They manipulate culture by influencing people to think and act in a certain way. It may seem that it completely controls us, which is not true, but it does have an immense affect on us. If media did not play a huge role in our culture, it wouldn’t be a culture. Through media and propaganda, people come together to protest, celebrate, as well as for support. The way media and propaganda manipulate culture is not necessarily a bad thing, it has been happening since the early ages.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Functional myths and how media shapes reality
If we think about it, we all need and look for something to believe in. It’s a part of human nature, I suppose. We don’t only have one functional myth, but many. For many of us, there are cultural gender expectations and if we do not follow society’s norms, there is something that is wrong with us. Even though we are different people and personalities, what is expected of us is not that different. And media feeds on the things that oppose the norms of society. If everyone did whatever they were expected to, media would not have such a huge impact. There would be no drama and no entertainment.
Functional myths also include those that deal with appearances. If we notice, all the ads and commercials always have good-looking men and women. These men and women have to appear perfect, as if all people should look like that. All these ads are successful because they drive their point across very well. Many women now go on endless diets and they are constantly after the next beauty product or fashion trend. Sometimes, we don’t realize that we’re good enough. Media promotes that idea, always showing that we need to look like certain people and dress in a certain way, otherwise we are not good enough.
In the video of “What Orwell Didn’t Know”, there were a few comment said that stuck out to me. Mazoor says, “Man’s desires must overshadow their needs”. This was such a genius quote and I think this is the basis of all corporations that use media to sell their products in order to keep consumerism on the right track. We all have basic needs but they’re not enough to keep consumerism running. So all the things that we want and desire are shoved in our faces in order to tempt us in the form of advertisements, billboards, and commercials. These desires also have to seem more important than our needs. The people behind all the media, are great masterminds. They know how to use the weakness of the masses to their own advantages and profits. A quote stated in the “What Orwell Didn’t Know” video says, “If we understand the group and how it groups, we can manipulate them without them knowing”. This is exactly how major businesses and companies work. They know what really reaches out to people and their flaws, and by understanding this, they are able to influence and control what we think we need. A commercial of 30 seconds is full of well-thought thinking. Even if we think the commercial is stupid, it always grabs our attention.
Everything we believe in has a link to media and this is how it shapes our reality. We are brought up with certain values and virtues and media promotes them, not always in a bad way, but in a way that has the ability to manipulate our feelings.
Functional myths also include those that deal with appearances. If we notice, all the ads and commercials always have good-looking men and women. These men and women have to appear perfect, as if all people should look like that. All these ads are successful because they drive their point across very well. Many women now go on endless diets and they are constantly after the next beauty product or fashion trend. Sometimes, we don’t realize that we’re good enough. Media promotes that idea, always showing that we need to look like certain people and dress in a certain way, otherwise we are not good enough.
In the video of “What Orwell Didn’t Know”, there were a few comment said that stuck out to me. Mazoor says, “Man’s desires must overshadow their needs”. This was such a genius quote and I think this is the basis of all corporations that use media to sell their products in order to keep consumerism on the right track. We all have basic needs but they’re not enough to keep consumerism running. So all the things that we want and desire are shoved in our faces in order to tempt us in the form of advertisements, billboards, and commercials. These desires also have to seem more important than our needs. The people behind all the media, are great masterminds. They know how to use the weakness of the masses to their own advantages and profits. A quote stated in the “What Orwell Didn’t Know” video says, “If we understand the group and how it groups, we can manipulate them without them knowing”. This is exactly how major businesses and companies work. They know what really reaches out to people and their flaws, and by understanding this, they are able to influence and control what we think we need. A commercial of 30 seconds is full of well-thought thinking. Even if we think the commercial is stupid, it always grabs our attention.
Everything we believe in has a link to media and this is how it shapes our reality. We are brought up with certain values and virtues and media promotes them, not always in a bad way, but in a way that has the ability to manipulate our feelings.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Relationship to Media/Consumerism
Everyday, the media tightens its hold on us and its effect in our lives gets stronger. Media tells us what to do and how to do it. From what we eat, to what shampoo we should use. It is what sets seasonal fashion trends and dictates the economy to a certain extent. Media grabs people of all ages, from toddlers to senior citizens. I have never actually thought to count how many ads I see in a day. It would be way too much for me to realize. There are numerous ads on TV, as well as the various ones on the internet. You always see them when you’re waiting at the bus stop, as well as when you get on the train. You also see them when you drive. They are everywhere in malls and supermarkets. You cannot go 30 minutes without seeing an advertisement. And I did not realize this until I had to write the last few sentences. There’s an ad about everything, whether it’s orange juice or underwear. They also send the same message, regardless of the product. ‘You will be a better person if you buy this, or do that, or look that way.’ That’s the message. We sometimes underestimate what 30 seconds can do.
In schools, we are encouraged to think on our own and have our perspectives and opinions on the happenings in society. But it’s a lie. If everyone was able to speak for themselves and be our own person, the economy would be down and the country will not be running the same way it is today. If advertisements were not successful, there would not be any consumers. If there are no consumers, there’s no strong economy which is a major factor of a strong country. The media has a great influence on the way we think and the way we feel. For example, a few years ago, when skinny jeans were first beginning to show, I was really into them and wanted to buy a pair. After a few weeks, I went to the mall with my friend, Jess and decided to look for the jeans. Jess totally hated them and said they looked disgusting. Months later, almost every girl has a pair. Same thing happens on the radio. There’s always this one song that you hate yet, they play it over and over again. After a while, you’ll get so used to the song that you’ll probably go home and pay the 99 cents for it, or if you’re like so many others, you’ll download it for free, illegal or not. Even the foods we eat are influenced my media. I love to cook and try out new “experiments” in the kitchen. So as I flip through the TV channels and get Food Network, I’ll watch a few shows and hopefully get an idea. Once the show is over, I’ll head to the supermarket to get the ingredients to make the recipe.
Media has a very strong control hold on us, and we have become so used to it. It affects our lives every day since it indirectly tells us what we should buy , eat, wear, and use.
In schools, we are encouraged to think on our own and have our perspectives and opinions on the happenings in society. But it’s a lie. If everyone was able to speak for themselves and be our own person, the economy would be down and the country will not be running the same way it is today. If advertisements were not successful, there would not be any consumers. If there are no consumers, there’s no strong economy which is a major factor of a strong country. The media has a great influence on the way we think and the way we feel. For example, a few years ago, when skinny jeans were first beginning to show, I was really into them and wanted to buy a pair. After a few weeks, I went to the mall with my friend, Jess and decided to look for the jeans. Jess totally hated them and said they looked disgusting. Months later, almost every girl has a pair. Same thing happens on the radio. There’s always this one song that you hate yet, they play it over and over again. After a while, you’ll get so used to the song that you’ll probably go home and pay the 99 cents for it, or if you’re like so many others, you’ll download it for free, illegal or not. Even the foods we eat are influenced my media. I love to cook and try out new “experiments” in the kitchen. So as I flip through the TV channels and get Food Network, I’ll watch a few shows and hopefully get an idea. Once the show is over, I’ll head to the supermarket to get the ingredients to make the recipe.
Media has a very strong control hold on us, and we have become so used to it. It affects our lives every day since it indirectly tells us what we should buy , eat, wear, and use.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Write from the perspective of an inanimate object
I need to take a break. I am buzzing, vibrating, and ringing all the time. I wish I had a different owner, one that will not be pressing my buttons constantly. And I wish my owner had friends who respected the late time of night and not use me to communicate their anxieties or wishes. I am dropped and scratched, and I fell into a toilet once. I wish she took better care of me. My inbox is full and I’m tired, I wish she can relieve me of my multimedia burdens. Every day, I get bombarded with incoming satellite connections and I have to give her the call. I think my time is done, and she’ll need to find another one.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
First Draft - Narrative
I never knew how cold it can get in Upstate, New York. It is the middle of December and my friends and I are on our high school senior trip. We are on our way to a hotel, but we will soon find out what kind of hotel it really was. As we left the busy streets of the New York boroughs, our surroundings began to look greener. Three hours later, we were finally almost there. The area was completely deserted so it was a wonder that the bus driver was able to navigate his way through the pitch black roads. The roads were wet and slippery, and mountains of snow bordered the side of the freeways. Once in a while, you’d see a dark green sign on the side of the road and by the time you read it, you would have already missed the exit. Every few minutes, you’d wonder if the huge Coach bus will fit on these small, narrow local roads. But as the driver proved he can, we’d look at each other and sigh in relief. Along the lonely roads, a house would pop out of nowhere. I would turn to my right, and ask my friend, Connie, “How do people know where their driveway is?” I can never imagine living in a no-man’s land like that.
We finally arrived around 9 PM that Friday night. We were staying at some type of cowboy’s hotel that I actually felt we were somewhere in the west. It was a huge cabin-type resort all made out of wood. As you walk in, you see dried deer heads hanging on the walls. There were wooden statues of farmers and everyone was way nicer than necessary. We had no phone service and technology was not popular up there. I stayed with five of my closest friends in a room, sharing one bathroom. It wasn’t as bad as we thought it would be. There were two Queen beds on either side of the room with a twin bed in between and another twin bed across from them. It was so dreary and dull. There was only one mirror in the room for six girls to share. That was a dumb idea.
The trip was 3 days and it was so lame since there really was nothing to do. We tried to play laser tag the next day but the equipment was so old, it could not function right. It was a very sad attempt. It was insanely cold, the type of cold where you feel your fingers are about to fall off. The second day my friends and I decided to take a walk outside and hang around. I have been with this group of friends since the sixth grade so we are all incredibly close to each other. It was a bittersweet trip because it was the first time that we would all spend the weekend together, but it was the last time we’d all be going to the same school. None of us wanted to think about that so we all tried to focus on having as much fun as possible in this lame place our school brought us to.
We all woke up in the morning on the third and final day and ate a breakfast that we didn’t have to question the contents of. That was something we were thankful for. Then we wore our many layers since we planned on spending the rest of the day outside in the bitter cold. As you step through the doors, all you see is white everywhere. The sky is that pale blue, the type of blue that tells you it’s freakin’ cold out, and completely cloudless. The sun is there but it’s not doing much work. It's very bright, causing the snow to sparkle like millions of tiny diamonds scattered all over the ground, covering it fully. It’s completely quiet and every once in a while, that silence is broken by a laugh from one of us. Even though we were all in boots, I remember holding on to my friend Connie’s arm because it was so hard to walk on the layers of ice. We finally got to the top of the hill where the snow tubing was going on. We all took our turns sitting down in the tube and being pushed down a white hill of snow while screaming at the top of our lungs. When I slid down the hill, I didn’t know how to push myself out of the tube. I must’ve voiced my question out loud since some wise guy yelled out, “It’s called using your feet!” Well, who would’ve thought of that…The four of us repeated this over and over again. A few hours later, as we were walking down the hill back to the hotel, some guy came up to us and asked if we would like to take a picture. So we did. We stood next each other, arms around the person on each side of us. We put on goofy smiles that were so big, we thought our faces will freeze in that position due to the ridiculously cold weather. We are on the slippery white hill, terrified of slipping, with bare trees behind us and nothing else. I remember that day perfectly, and every time I look at the picture, all the sounds of our laughter come rushing back to me. . It’s a plain picture, with no scenery and no colors. But there was really no stand in front a beautiful mountain or an iconic statue. The four of us were enough to get the point across.
Even though the trip was so lame and the food was not restaurant quality, it was a time that will forever be embedded in my memory. We are separated in different colleges now, but each one of us has that same picture.
We finally arrived around 9 PM that Friday night. We were staying at some type of cowboy’s hotel that I actually felt we were somewhere in the west. It was a huge cabin-type resort all made out of wood. As you walk in, you see dried deer heads hanging on the walls. There were wooden statues of farmers and everyone was way nicer than necessary. We had no phone service and technology was not popular up there. I stayed with five of my closest friends in a room, sharing one bathroom. It wasn’t as bad as we thought it would be. There were two Queen beds on either side of the room with a twin bed in between and another twin bed across from them. It was so dreary and dull. There was only one mirror in the room for six girls to share. That was a dumb idea.
The trip was 3 days and it was so lame since there really was nothing to do. We tried to play laser tag the next day but the equipment was so old, it could not function right. It was a very sad attempt. It was insanely cold, the type of cold where you feel your fingers are about to fall off. The second day my friends and I decided to take a walk outside and hang around. I have been with this group of friends since the sixth grade so we are all incredibly close to each other. It was a bittersweet trip because it was the first time that we would all spend the weekend together, but it was the last time we’d all be going to the same school. None of us wanted to think about that so we all tried to focus on having as much fun as possible in this lame place our school brought us to.
We all woke up in the morning on the third and final day and ate a breakfast that we didn’t have to question the contents of. That was something we were thankful for. Then we wore our many layers since we planned on spending the rest of the day outside in the bitter cold. As you step through the doors, all you see is white everywhere. The sky is that pale blue, the type of blue that tells you it’s freakin’ cold out, and completely cloudless. The sun is there but it’s not doing much work. It's very bright, causing the snow to sparkle like millions of tiny diamonds scattered all over the ground, covering it fully. It’s completely quiet and every once in a while, that silence is broken by a laugh from one of us. Even though we were all in boots, I remember holding on to my friend Connie’s arm because it was so hard to walk on the layers of ice. We finally got to the top of the hill where the snow tubing was going on. We all took our turns sitting down in the tube and being pushed down a white hill of snow while screaming at the top of our lungs. When I slid down the hill, I didn’t know how to push myself out of the tube. I must’ve voiced my question out loud since some wise guy yelled out, “It’s called using your feet!” Well, who would’ve thought of that…The four of us repeated this over and over again. A few hours later, as we were walking down the hill back to the hotel, some guy came up to us and asked if we would like to take a picture. So we did. We stood next each other, arms around the person on each side of us. We put on goofy smiles that were so big, we thought our faces will freeze in that position due to the ridiculously cold weather. We are on the slippery white hill, terrified of slipping, with bare trees behind us and nothing else. I remember that day perfectly, and every time I look at the picture, all the sounds of our laughter come rushing back to me. . It’s a plain picture, with no scenery and no colors. But there was really no stand in front a beautiful mountain or an iconic statue. The four of us were enough to get the point across.
Even though the trip was so lame and the food was not restaurant quality, it was a time that will forever be embedded in my memory. We are separated in different colleges now, but each one of us has that same picture.
Monday, October 4, 2010
RUTGERS SUICIDE
Even though I don’t know Tyler Clementi, I was in shock that this has happened to him. Those two students had no right to tape him and should not have posted it on the internet. This is a complete invasion of privacy, which led to his death. I don’t know how they’ll manage to sleep at night knowing that somebody has killed himself because of them. I know they didn’t mean for it to go this far, but what did they expect? They knew that by taping and streaming the video online will cause a lot of embarrassment for Tyler and he will face a lot of cruelty around campus. From what I’ve read, he is a very nice and shy guy, who probably didn’t go around looking for trouble. It is not a joke, or a way to pass the time by, when you think you can secretly tape someone having an intimate moment. What happened to morals and ethics? This is not the first time that someone has killed themselves due to public humiliation on the internet and I think that something should be done because it probably won’t be the last. Everyone’s lives are online now and everything is shared. But there are certain limits and boundaries that should not be passed, and it is important to know them. Otherwise, get off the internet.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Respond to "Little Things"--by Ramond Carver
On the one hand, the narrative is about a couple’s breakup and their fight over the baby. You get the feeling that this couple has been fighting for a long time and that there's no hope for them. The man cannot stay in the house any more. Even though the woman is fed up with it, you can tell from her tears she is very upset that he is finally leaving. Of course, right before he leaves, the man fights with the woman over who gets take the child. They end up hurting their child from all the pulling. The baby is actually torn in half in the end.
But on the other hand, the author is really talking about how we can become so self-absorbed, only thinking about what we want, not thinking about how our choices will affect others. Sometimes we don’t realize how much the “little things” in life mean to us. The couple’s baby was their one “little thing”, but also their main reason for the final dispute.
But on the other hand, the author is really talking about how we can become so self-absorbed, only thinking about what we want, not thinking about how our choices will affect others. Sometimes we don’t realize how much the “little things” in life mean to us. The couple’s baby was their one “little thing”, but also their main reason for the final dispute.
Respond to Susan Wittig Albert
As we reveal ourselves in story, we become aware of the continuing core of our lives under the fragmented surface of our experience. We become aware of the multifaceted, multichaptered "I" who is the storyteller. We can trace out the paradoxical and even contradictory versions of ourselves that we create for different occasions, different audiences...Most important, as we become aware of ourselves as storytellers, we realize that what we understand and imagine about ourselves is a story. --Susan Wittig Albert
When I first read this quote, the part that stuck out to me was that we craft different versions of ourselves that are saved for special people and occasions. It’s something that everybody does but we never realize it. We also don’t write about it, since it seems that we may not be truthful at all times. But that’s not true. We’re just not the same with everyone we’ve encountered in our lives. Each person has their own place in our lives.
But now that I read this quote a second time, I realized that as I started writing more, there are a lot of memories and experiences that resurfaced. I guess this is what she means when she says, “…we become aware of the continuing core of our lives under the fragmented surface of our experience. We become aware of the multifaceted, multichaptered "I" who is the storyteller.” We all have so many layers that make us as a whole. These layers are our life experiences and recollections. I usually blank out on a writing assignment, but as I force myself to type, all my memoirs start to come back to me. I am now aware of how much I could write about, and that there’s no ending. As one experience is typed, another comes right after it. But I still struggle with putting all these memories and episodes on paper and detailing them, transforming them into stories that people can “see”.
Each of us is one main idea, with separate mini chapters stretching out, that sometimes stray from the story. But the difference between our life stories and the regular paperbacks is that there is no editing.
When I first read this quote, the part that stuck out to me was that we craft different versions of ourselves that are saved for special people and occasions. It’s something that everybody does but we never realize it. We also don’t write about it, since it seems that we may not be truthful at all times. But that’s not true. We’re just not the same with everyone we’ve encountered in our lives. Each person has their own place in our lives.
But now that I read this quote a second time, I realized that as I started writing more, there are a lot of memories and experiences that resurfaced. I guess this is what she means when she says, “…we become aware of the continuing core of our lives under the fragmented surface of our experience. We become aware of the multifaceted, multichaptered "I" who is the storyteller.” We all have so many layers that make us as a whole. These layers are our life experiences and recollections. I usually blank out on a writing assignment, but as I force myself to type, all my memoirs start to come back to me. I am now aware of how much I could write about, and that there’s no ending. As one experience is typed, another comes right after it. But I still struggle with putting all these memories and episodes on paper and detailing them, transforming them into stories that people can “see”.
Each of us is one main idea, with separate mini chapters stretching out, that sometimes stray from the story. But the difference between our life stories and the regular paperbacks is that there is no editing.
Reaching the 5 Milestones
The 5 milestones discussed in NY Times article are: leaving your parents’ house, finishing education, becoming financially stable, getting married, and having children. This is what people finish doing by the end of their twenties. Or at least, this is what the article says that people used to do. Where do I fit in? I’m not sure yet, but I definitely want to finish school by my early 20s. I also want to be in a good financial position so I can finally move out and get my own apartment in SoHo. Maybe I’ll get married by the mid to late 20s but that’s not a top priority. The main milestones that I want to meet in about 5 years are to finish school and get a job. I have my student loans to worry about once I graduate and I think that this is one milestone they forgot to mention in the article.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Childhood Memory – The Dreaded Hair Scrunchies
My best memories are the ones from my childhood. The ones from before I moved to this country. Not that I don’t have any wonderful memories from living in New York, but the things that stuck are from years ago, when my family and I were still living in Egypt. We lived in a first-floor apartment that overlooked a railroad. Our apartment was very spacious and I remember it perfectly, even though I moved away when I was only 7 years old. But what I remember the most was the mini arguments I would get into with my mom every morning.
When I was a toddler, my mom kept my hair short. Even though it was very short, my mom was still able to put it in a ponytail. My hair was never straight, always curly and unruly. So my mom would decide to put it in two ponytails, one on each side of my head. Since it was short and curly, those side ponytails always looked like mini puffs, sticking out from the sides of my head. On most young girls, this looks cute. On me, it was just horrible. I hated it. I hated having any type of bands or scrunchies in my hair. I like it being huge, with its coiled curls sticking out everywhere. I looked crazy, but that’s how I liked to look when I was 6 years old.
Wherever we would be going, my mom would get me ready the same way every time I would leave the house. She’d go to my closet and pick out an outfit for the day. She’d then sit on her bed and have me stand in front of her. The bed was in the center of the room, with the door to the left of it. Right behind the head board of the bed, was a top window that overlooked the side street. On the right side of the bed was a pair of glass doors that opened into our balcony. So I would stand in front of her and she would help me put on my clothes. She’d then part my hair down the back and comb it into the mini side puffs she thought were normal ponytails. What makes this a memory though, is what I used to do with those hair scrunchies after my mom finished fastening my hair with them.
My neighbor next door had a dog that I loved playing with. So after my mom would get me dressed, she’d go to get herself ready. During that time, my dad would take me downstairs to hang out with our neighbor, the one with the dog, while my mom and siblings got ready. I loved that dog. At that age, I had no idea what kind of dog it is but he was huge. He had scruffy black fur that stood up on all ends. Kinda like my hair. We were also the same height. He had pointed ears and small black eyes. He was also very skinny, his owner hardly fed him. He had no name, he was just called ‘the dog’. Even though I was terrified of that dog, we had a great connection and I was always excited to go see him. He also was the one who covered up my lies. Whenever I get upset or mad at upset at something, I’d rip the scrunchies out of my hair while running my hands through it to fluff it up. I’d then feed the dog my scrunchies. I’d just put them in the palm of my hand and hold it out towards his mouth. He ate them. He was the first dog I’d encountered at 6 six years old so I thought that was normal. Once my mom saw me, she would ask me,
“Where did your hair bands go?!”
“I gave them to the dog next door because he was hungry.”
Of course, she would tell me not to do that anymore, otherwise she’ll stop getting me my colorful hair scrunchies. ‘Perfect’, I would think. But alas, my hair would get too wild for me to go out in public so my mom would put me in my mini puffs. If someone upset me, I’d give them to the dog.
I was so saddened months later when the dog was accidently shot. I remember waking up from his painful crying that night. I realized I had no one to give my hair scrunchies to anymore.
Twelve years later, I’m finally over my hatred of hair bands. My mom and I still remember that dog and all the scrunchies I gave him.
When I was a toddler, my mom kept my hair short. Even though it was very short, my mom was still able to put it in a ponytail. My hair was never straight, always curly and unruly. So my mom would decide to put it in two ponytails, one on each side of my head. Since it was short and curly, those side ponytails always looked like mini puffs, sticking out from the sides of my head. On most young girls, this looks cute. On me, it was just horrible. I hated it. I hated having any type of bands or scrunchies in my hair. I like it being huge, with its coiled curls sticking out everywhere. I looked crazy, but that’s how I liked to look when I was 6 years old.
Wherever we would be going, my mom would get me ready the same way every time I would leave the house. She’d go to my closet and pick out an outfit for the day. She’d then sit on her bed and have me stand in front of her. The bed was in the center of the room, with the door to the left of it. Right behind the head board of the bed, was a top window that overlooked the side street. On the right side of the bed was a pair of glass doors that opened into our balcony. So I would stand in front of her and she would help me put on my clothes. She’d then part my hair down the back and comb it into the mini side puffs she thought were normal ponytails. What makes this a memory though, is what I used to do with those hair scrunchies after my mom finished fastening my hair with them.
My neighbor next door had a dog that I loved playing with. So after my mom would get me dressed, she’d go to get herself ready. During that time, my dad would take me downstairs to hang out with our neighbor, the one with the dog, while my mom and siblings got ready. I loved that dog. At that age, I had no idea what kind of dog it is but he was huge. He had scruffy black fur that stood up on all ends. Kinda like my hair. We were also the same height. He had pointed ears and small black eyes. He was also very skinny, his owner hardly fed him. He had no name, he was just called ‘the dog’. Even though I was terrified of that dog, we had a great connection and I was always excited to go see him. He also was the one who covered up my lies. Whenever I get upset or mad at upset at something, I’d rip the scrunchies out of my hair while running my hands through it to fluff it up. I’d then feed the dog my scrunchies. I’d just put them in the palm of my hand and hold it out towards his mouth. He ate them. He was the first dog I’d encountered at 6 six years old so I thought that was normal. Once my mom saw me, she would ask me,
“Where did your hair bands go?!”
“I gave them to the dog next door because he was hungry.”
Of course, she would tell me not to do that anymore, otherwise she’ll stop getting me my colorful hair scrunchies. ‘Perfect’, I would think. But alas, my hair would get too wild for me to go out in public so my mom would put me in my mini puffs. If someone upset me, I’d give them to the dog.
I was so saddened months later when the dog was accidently shot. I remember waking up from his painful crying that night. I realized I had no one to give my hair scrunchies to anymore.
Twelve years later, I’m finally over my hatred of hair bands. My mom and I still remember that dog and all the scrunchies I gave him.
DESCRIBE SOMEONE WHO IS WAITING FOR SOMETHING ANXIOSULY
I’m tapping my right foot, chewing at my nails. My eyes dart back and forth to the clock, with an angry expression, why can’t it tick any faster? The moment is no longer 60 seconds, but much more. I get up and start pacing back and forth, pulling at the long sleeves of my shirt. I start running my hands through my hair, while stealing a peek at the clock at the top right hand corner of the blank white wall. Only 2 minutes have passed. I decided to go sit down again, in those uncomfortable rectangular chairs found in every hospital. How can people spend the night in them? The sounds and beeps of the machines are anything but soothing, constantly reminding you of where you are. It’s cold, and silent, the type of silence that will drive you mad. 1 minute has gone by. You think the clock stopped working since you no longer hear its ticking. But as I jerk my head up and take a look, I realize I’m wrong. It’s working perfectly. Almost as if it’s testing my patience, knowing that I have none. It’s the middle of the night and everyone in the rooms next door is sleeping. I’m the only one awake, pacing back and forth. I can’t imagine that I’ve only been here for an hour, yet it feels as if I woke up here.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
PROFILE 9/22
Some profiles might be about interesting people, people who have done great things in their lives or helped find solutions to global problems. But the profile I will write is not about any famous person who has made amazing discoveries. It’s about a very normal person, my best friend, Jess. We’ve been the closest of best friends as best friends can get since the 5th grade. When they say opposites attract, they don’t only mean in a man-and-woman relationship. It’s also true for friendships. If Jess was the same as me, we would not have lasted as friends for long. She is a cheery, people-loving, outgoing person. The complete opposite of me. Jess sees the good in people and has no reason to not trust people. In my case, I have to test you to see if I can trust you. Not that I automatically assume the worst in people but I know that we’re not all genuinely good. She is a very social person who is always at every large gathering or hang-out. I always preferred spending time with a smaller group rather than going to parties every weekend. Jess is the one that keeps me sane, as cliché as that sounds. I’m the person that freaks out the fastest when something goes wrong. So Jess is there to tell me that it’ll all work out in the end and all my problems will be solved. It may seem like it’s no big deal but for me, it is. To have someone bring me down back to Earth and tell me that it’s not the end of the world, means a lot to me. Even if I have to be lied to. If I did something stupid and I know I’m in trouble, Jess will tell me to relax and not to worry about it. She’ll say, “What’s the worst that could happen?” She probably knows that it won’t be as easy as she makes it to be, but she will say it anyway just so I don’t have a panic attack. For someone who doesn’t know me and is just reading or listening to this, you may not understand how much that can mean to a person. But if you’re someone who is grateful for the sense of security, you’ll realize how important it is to have a person you’re close to tell you everything will be fine in the end. Some people these days take their carefree days and peace of mind for granted. They won’t understand how essential those elements are until they lose them.
I like to plan things and have a schedule to go by every day. I can’t do things last minute and I just don’t “go with the flow”. Jess, on the other hand, will take the day as it comes. She is way more carefree than I am and I wish I was a bit like her. She hardly complains and is an extremely fair person. She is very loyal, which is one of the most important reasons we are incredibly close. We have completely different tastes in everything. Whether it’s guys, clothes, shoes, food, music, or school subjects, we’ll have opposite opinions. It’s really a wonder that we get along.
Jess is a simple person, one who is not crazy about designer clothes or expensive jewelry. She is not a materialistic person whatsoever. I don’t have to act a certain way when we’re out so it’s definitely relaxing when I spend time with her. I remember times where we would just bum around on 86th Street in Bay Ridge and enjoy delicious burgers from Five Guys. That place really does have the best burgers. We’d then go to the movie theater and watch either some sappy romantic comedy or a really scary movie that won’t make us fall asleep at night. After that, we’ll go and stuff our faces with the most incredible ice cream in the world, located at Cold Stone Creamery. Even though there were other friends of mine that will be out at a party Friday nights, I always had the most fun going out with Jess and a few other people and just chilling out in boring places. We were able to make our own fun.
I am definitely grateful that I met my best friend at such a young age. I probably would’ve made stupider choices if I listened to myself constantly. It’s always a good idea to listen to someone’s advice besides your own, especially if that person has a different perspective from yours. Having someone who you can talk to about anything and everything is something to cherish. Good friends that will last don’t come along everyday so it’s important to know when to catch them. :)
I like to plan things and have a schedule to go by every day. I can’t do things last minute and I just don’t “go with the flow”. Jess, on the other hand, will take the day as it comes. She is way more carefree than I am and I wish I was a bit like her. She hardly complains and is an extremely fair person. She is very loyal, which is one of the most important reasons we are incredibly close. We have completely different tastes in everything. Whether it’s guys, clothes, shoes, food, music, or school subjects, we’ll have opposite opinions. It’s really a wonder that we get along.
Jess is a simple person, one who is not crazy about designer clothes or expensive jewelry. She is not a materialistic person whatsoever. I don’t have to act a certain way when we’re out so it’s definitely relaxing when I spend time with her. I remember times where we would just bum around on 86th Street in Bay Ridge and enjoy delicious burgers from Five Guys. That place really does have the best burgers. We’d then go to the movie theater and watch either some sappy romantic comedy or a really scary movie that won’t make us fall asleep at night. After that, we’ll go and stuff our faces with the most incredible ice cream in the world, located at Cold Stone Creamery. Even though there were other friends of mine that will be out at a party Friday nights, I always had the most fun going out with Jess and a few other people and just chilling out in boring places. We were able to make our own fun.
I am definitely grateful that I met my best friend at such a young age. I probably would’ve made stupider choices if I listened to myself constantly. It’s always a good idea to listen to someone’s advice besides your own, especially if that person has a different perspective from yours. Having someone who you can talk to about anything and everything is something to cherish. Good friends that will last don’t come along everyday so it’s important to know when to catch them. :)
9/20/10 FREE-WRITE EXTREME EMOTIONS
It’s the worst feeling in the world, when the seconds are ticking by and you don’t know what to do or where to go. Your heart is beating so fast, it literally hurts. You think it will explode sooner or later, like a pressure cooker when the button is not pressed to release the steam. It almost makes you want to put your palm to your chest to make sure your heart stays there. The blood starts pounding in your ears so loud. You actually begin to think your heart beat somehow jumped to your eardrum. Your face is pale but you feel as if it’s on fire, as if all the blood in your body traveled into your face. A hollow feeling stars to take place in your stomach. There’s this ache in your throat and your voice is a pitch higher. The adrenaline starts to pump through your veins and you’re ready to take off. You feel as if you can run forever.
Chronicles of an American Execution - Dan Barry
I really think that the author did a brilliant job of describing Mr. Holton's execution. He wrote in such a neutral manner, that can almost be perceived as a bit cold by some readers. But it was an excellent way of not trying to persuade the readers to think in a specific way. He didn't give his opinion on what he thinks of the death penalty or what he thinks of Mr. Holton's execution. He gave the cold, hard facts. He was so descriptive, that I actually was able to see what was happening, detail by detail. I could see Mr. Holton hyperventilating, as well as feel how somber it must've been in that room. I can see the wardens wiping his scalp with the wet sponge and the water trickling down his face, running underneath his shirt. I can imagine the 1,750 volts hitting Mr. Holton's body, jerking it and bringing it down like "a sack of earth". Dan Barry's writing was outstanding, his neutral way of describing this grave event gave the reader such a clear view of what happened, almost as if we were there.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
SHOW - DON'T TELL
I never knew how cold it can get in Upstate New York. It is the middle of December and my friends and I are on our high school senior trip. We were staying at some type of cowboy’s hotel that I actually felt we were somewhere in the west. The area was completely deserted so it was a wonder that the bus driver was able to navigate his way through the pitch black roads. Once in a while, you’d see a dark green sign on the side of the road and by the time you read it, you would have already missed the exit. I can never imagine living in a no-man’s land like that.
I stayed with five of my closest friends in a room, sharing one bathroom. It wasn’t as bad as we thought it would be. The trip was 3 days and it was so lame since there really was nothing to do. We tried to play laser tag one day but the equipment was so old, it could not function right. It was insanely cold, the type of cold where you feel your fingers are about to fall off. The second day my friends and I decided to take a walk outside and hang around. I have been with this group of friends since the sixth grade so we are all incredibly close to each other. It was a bittersweet trip because it was the first time we all spent the weekend together, but it was the last time we’d all be going to the same school. None of us wanted to think about that so we all tried to focus on having as much fun as possible in this lame place our school put us in.
We all woke up in the morning and ate a breakfast that we didn’t have to question the contents of. That was something we were thankful for. Then we wore our many layers since we planned on spending the rest of the day outside in the cold. As you step through the doors, all you see is white everywhere. The sky is that pale blue, the type of blue that tells you it’s freakin’ cold out, and completely cloudless. The sun is there but it’s not doing much work. It's very bright causing the snow to sparkle like millions of tiny diamonds scattered all over the ground, covering it fully. It’s completely quiet and every once in a while, that silence is broken by a laugh from one of us. Even though we were all in boots, I remember holding on to my friend Connie’s arm because it was so hard to walk on the layers of ice. We finally got to the top of the hill where the snow tubing was going on. We all took our turns sitting down in the tube and being pushed down a white hill of snow while screaming at the top of our lungs. When I slid down the hill, I didn’t know how to push myself out of the tube. I must’ve voiced my question out loud since some wise guy yelled out, “It’s called using your feet!” Well, who would’ve thought of that… What would happen to this world without these geniuses? The four of us repeated this over and over again. A few hours later, as we were walking down the hill back to the hotel, some guy came up to us and asked if we would like to take a picture. So we did. We stood next each other, arms around the person on each side of us. We put on goofy smiles that were so big, we thought our faces will freeze in that position due to the ridiculously cold weather. We are on the slippery white hill, with bare trees behind us and nothing else. I remember that day perfectly, and every time I look at the picture, all the sounds of our laughter come rushing back to me. It’s a plain picture, with no scenery and no colors. But there was really no need to stand in front a beautiful mountain or an iconic statue. The four of us were enough to get the point across.
Even though the trip was so lame and the food was not restaurant quality, it was a time that will forever be embedded in my memory. We are separated in different colleges now, but each one of us has that same picture.
I stayed with five of my closest friends in a room, sharing one bathroom. It wasn’t as bad as we thought it would be. The trip was 3 days and it was so lame since there really was nothing to do. We tried to play laser tag one day but the equipment was so old, it could not function right. It was insanely cold, the type of cold where you feel your fingers are about to fall off. The second day my friends and I decided to take a walk outside and hang around. I have been with this group of friends since the sixth grade so we are all incredibly close to each other. It was a bittersweet trip because it was the first time we all spent the weekend together, but it was the last time we’d all be going to the same school. None of us wanted to think about that so we all tried to focus on having as much fun as possible in this lame place our school put us in.
We all woke up in the morning and ate a breakfast that we didn’t have to question the contents of. That was something we were thankful for. Then we wore our many layers since we planned on spending the rest of the day outside in the cold. As you step through the doors, all you see is white everywhere. The sky is that pale blue, the type of blue that tells you it’s freakin’ cold out, and completely cloudless. The sun is there but it’s not doing much work. It's very bright causing the snow to sparkle like millions of tiny diamonds scattered all over the ground, covering it fully. It’s completely quiet and every once in a while, that silence is broken by a laugh from one of us. Even though we were all in boots, I remember holding on to my friend Connie’s arm because it was so hard to walk on the layers of ice. We finally got to the top of the hill where the snow tubing was going on. We all took our turns sitting down in the tube and being pushed down a white hill of snow while screaming at the top of our lungs. When I slid down the hill, I didn’t know how to push myself out of the tube. I must’ve voiced my question out loud since some wise guy yelled out, “It’s called using your feet!” Well, who would’ve thought of that… What would happen to this world without these geniuses? The four of us repeated this over and over again. A few hours later, as we were walking down the hill back to the hotel, some guy came up to us and asked if we would like to take a picture. So we did. We stood next each other, arms around the person on each side of us. We put on goofy smiles that were so big, we thought our faces will freeze in that position due to the ridiculously cold weather. We are on the slippery white hill, with bare trees behind us and nothing else. I remember that day perfectly, and every time I look at the picture, all the sounds of our laughter come rushing back to me. It’s a plain picture, with no scenery and no colors. But there was really no need to stand in front a beautiful mountain or an iconic statue. The four of us were enough to get the point across.
Even though the trip was so lame and the food was not restaurant quality, it was a time that will forever be embedded in my memory. We are separated in different colleges now, but each one of us has that same picture.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Free Write 9/16
MUSTARD TIGER – describe as if it was an insult
-yellow
-slick
- fast
-sour
-striped
-fierce
Imagine calling somebody a “mustard tiger”. What would that mean? Well, for the mustard it would be yellow and sour and slick, never sweet. For the tiger, it would be mischievous, striped, fierce. Someone you cannot trust.
CHEESEBURGER LOCKER
-gooey
-stale
-metal
-meat
-brown
-old
-rusty
-greasy
A cheeseburger locker must be an old and stale person. They are greasy, with oily hair, very sweaty.
FRIDA KAHLO "ROOTS"
She is in desolation, lying on her side on the dry and cracked, tan soil. She has given up, losing the ability to control herself. It is empty all around her, no soil, no plants, no life. She is the only hope for this land. The sky is blue and unfilled. As she rests her elbow on a white fluffy pillow, her bright orange dress is a sign of optimism, giving birth to expectations and wishes. She is a hallow vessel, with green leafy vines sprouting out of her. She is the Woman of this land, as well as the beginning. She will become the basis of prosperity and wealth. She knows she has to sacrifice herself and is willing to do so. As she puts her head in her palm, she is waiting for what will come of her. She is full of wisdom, a gift for a soulless land. She will become the roots of a land so vast, full of promising riches.
The man and woman are sitting on top of the world, with heaven and hell at their hands. The man is curious about the woman, sitting across from her, with only a chess table separating them. He is hunched on his feet, fully clothed, peering at her intently. The woman is sitting with perfect posture, naked, holding a delicious apple in the palm of her hands. Her eyes are closed, but it is very easy to see that she is full of confidence and knows what kind of feminine power she has on this man. She is the essence of indulgence. She might be beautiful, with the wings of an angel. But it’s not hard to see the horns on the green and blue helmet on top of her head. She is holding his fate in her hands. The darkness is behind her, not much promises.
-yellow
-slick
- fast
-sour
-striped
-fierce
Imagine calling somebody a “mustard tiger”. What would that mean? Well, for the mustard it would be yellow and sour and slick, never sweet. For the tiger, it would be mischievous, striped, fierce. Someone you cannot trust.
CHEESEBURGER LOCKER
-gooey
-stale
-metal
-meat
-brown
-old
-rusty
-greasy
A cheeseburger locker must be an old and stale person. They are greasy, with oily hair, very sweaty.
FRIDA KAHLO "ROOTS"
She is in desolation, lying on her side on the dry and cracked, tan soil. She has given up, losing the ability to control herself. It is empty all around her, no soil, no plants, no life. She is the only hope for this land. The sky is blue and unfilled. As she rests her elbow on a white fluffy pillow, her bright orange dress is a sign of optimism, giving birth to expectations and wishes. She is a hallow vessel, with green leafy vines sprouting out of her. She is the Woman of this land, as well as the beginning. She will become the basis of prosperity and wealth. She knows she has to sacrifice herself and is willing to do so. As she puts her head in her palm, she is waiting for what will come of her. She is full of wisdom, a gift for a soulless land. She will become the roots of a land so vast, full of promising riches.
The man and woman are sitting on top of the world, with heaven and hell at their hands. The man is curious about the woman, sitting across from her, with only a chess table separating them. He is hunched on his feet, fully clothed, peering at her intently. The woman is sitting with perfect posture, naked, holding a delicious apple in the palm of her hands. Her eyes are closed, but it is very easy to see that she is full of confidence and knows what kind of feminine power she has on this man. She is the essence of indulgence. She might be beautiful, with the wings of an angel. But it’s not hard to see the horns on the green and blue helmet on top of her head. She is holding his fate in her hands. The darkness is behind her, not much promises.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Gender Expectations 9/13
We are told at a young age that we can grow up to be whatever we want to be. But at the same time, it is an unspoken rule that each gender has its own set of expectations and roles. Guys are supposed to get a decent degree as well as a job so they can financially support their future families. Girls are also told that they should go after their dreams and become doctors or lawyers or any of those wonderful professions. But they are also expected to become loyal wives and amazing mothers. In my culture, there is no such thing as choosing not to get married or have children. Both males and females are encouraged to go to college and continue on to graduate school. Guys are supposed to obtain a stable career because in the future, they will be supporters of a household. As a girl, I’m driven to have a successful career. But I also know that in the future, I will eventually have other responsibilities that come with the female package.
Since the beginning of my senior year in high school, I had to seriously start thinking about career choices. In my family, there is no such thing as graduating high school and not knowing what your major in college will be. The three best careers are a doctor, lawyers, or engineer. No surprise there. So I was always thinking of just me in the future. I don’t mean to sound selfish, but in my dreams and ambitions of the future, I automatically think of how my choices will affect only me. I was thinking about medical school but never really had the passion for it. My parents, of course, supported me all the way. As senior year went on, I started talking to everyone I know about my decision of going to a school that will prepare me for applying to medical school. Many people from school, my family, and my church told me to go for it. But so many others told me that I should start thinking about what I want from life and what I’m able to sacrifice. I remember having long phone conversations with mentors from church and older friends about how to balance becoming a doctor as well as being a wife and eventually a mother. That’s when it hit. Even though in this society both men and women have the same opportunities in the work field, our “natural” roles have not changed. I always knew that one day, I’ll probably have a family of my own. But I never really thought how that will be affected by my career choice. My cousins are all married and have kids of their own. I realized that even if I’m not thinking of that right now, I’ll want that have that someday. It does not mean that I’ll give up on my academic hopes. I was never too thrilled about spending so many years studying medicine anyway. I want to be able to have a job that I like but still have a life.
Our roles as both males and females will never change. We now all have the opportunity to go after the same careers and the same positions. But since the beginning of time, men are the head of the household and women are the nurturing mothers. It’s a natural instinct that most of us have had ever since we were toddlers.
Since the beginning of my senior year in high school, I had to seriously start thinking about career choices. In my family, there is no such thing as graduating high school and not knowing what your major in college will be. The three best careers are a doctor, lawyers, or engineer. No surprise there. So I was always thinking of just me in the future. I don’t mean to sound selfish, but in my dreams and ambitions of the future, I automatically think of how my choices will affect only me. I was thinking about medical school but never really had the passion for it. My parents, of course, supported me all the way. As senior year went on, I started talking to everyone I know about my decision of going to a school that will prepare me for applying to medical school. Many people from school, my family, and my church told me to go for it. But so many others told me that I should start thinking about what I want from life and what I’m able to sacrifice. I remember having long phone conversations with mentors from church and older friends about how to balance becoming a doctor as well as being a wife and eventually a mother. That’s when it hit. Even though in this society both men and women have the same opportunities in the work field, our “natural” roles have not changed. I always knew that one day, I’ll probably have a family of my own. But I never really thought how that will be affected by my career choice. My cousins are all married and have kids of their own. I realized that even if I’m not thinking of that right now, I’ll want that have that someday. It does not mean that I’ll give up on my academic hopes. I was never too thrilled about spending so many years studying medicine anyway. I want to be able to have a job that I like but still have a life.
Our roles as both males and females will never change. We now all have the opportunity to go after the same careers and the same positions. But since the beginning of time, men are the head of the household and women are the nurturing mothers. It’s a natural instinct that most of us have had ever since we were toddlers.
Relationship to Gender - 9/13
I think whether we're guys or girls, there are some days when we think it would've been easier to be the opposite gender. I sometimes think that guys are so much more easier to deal with and they don't have to deal with conflicting emotions like we girls do. But then there are times when I look at my brothers and be thankful that i'm not in their shoes. We both don't have it easy, and in this age, women have to be just as good as men in the workplace as well as other areas of life. Women have to do the same things as men as well as deal with other problems and responsibilities they face as being females. Even though it's not stated, girls are expected to grow up to be wives as well as mothers. Guys are the ones who have to be the head of a household and the supporters. We all have these "roles" installed in us from such a young age from our parents or our culture or from our religion.
Monday, September 6, 2010
“What Is It About 20-Somethings?” - NY Times Article
This article made me realize that I’m not the only one who doesn’t know what to do with my life. Of course, I want to graduate from college on time and have a successful career like everyone else, but I feel that choosing a career at such a young age is a scary thing. I think that the 20s is a time to experiment and to finally settle on what you want to do for the rest of your life. Also, I feel that young people these days are pressured to gain higher degrees in order to be financially stable later on in their adulthood.
So I completely agree that people are taking longer to grow up than they used to years ago. Why settle down and start a family when you believe there are so many opportunities out there? Professor Arnett states that the 20s is a time where we feel a “sense of possibilities” and I think that is true. As we begin our adulthood, nobody wants to think that our lives won’t turn out as what we fantasized them to be. We don’t know what will happen 10 or 20 years from now but it won’t be picture-perfect.
Another important factor in this article is the influence of parents on their children. Many parents are what the article describes as “helicopter parents” – they’re always hovering over their children’s lives. We’ve all heard of or seen parents who simply refuse to let their kids go. So when young adults are finally “set fee”, the last thing on their mind is to go and settle down somewhere with a spouse and kids. As we reach the early 20s, we want to enjoy that time as much as we can before taking on the responsibilities that soon will arise.
Even though I agree that some people want to put off facing adulthood as much as they can, another part of me thinks that there are many young people who are forced to grow up faster than others their age. In this article, scientists have studied that brains continue to mature until the age of 25. That doesn’t mean that all young adults can’t make informative decisions in their lives until that age. So in conclusion, just as there are people who can’t seem to grow up, there are many others who matured at a young age. It all depends on the experiences a person endures and their upbringing.
So I completely agree that people are taking longer to grow up than they used to years ago. Why settle down and start a family when you believe there are so many opportunities out there? Professor Arnett states that the 20s is a time where we feel a “sense of possibilities” and I think that is true. As we begin our adulthood, nobody wants to think that our lives won’t turn out as what we fantasized them to be. We don’t know what will happen 10 or 20 years from now but it won’t be picture-perfect.
Another important factor in this article is the influence of parents on their children. Many parents are what the article describes as “helicopter parents” – they’re always hovering over their children’s lives. We’ve all heard of or seen parents who simply refuse to let their kids go. So when young adults are finally “set fee”, the last thing on their mind is to go and settle down somewhere with a spouse and kids. As we reach the early 20s, we want to enjoy that time as much as we can before taking on the responsibilities that soon will arise.
Even though I agree that some people want to put off facing adulthood as much as they can, another part of me thinks that there are many young people who are forced to grow up faster than others their age. In this article, scientists have studied that brains continue to mature until the age of 25. That doesn’t mean that all young adults can’t make informative decisions in their lives until that age. So in conclusion, just as there are people who can’t seem to grow up, there are many others who matured at a young age. It all depends on the experiences a person endures and their upbringing.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)