McMillan and Morrison's article and research is fascinating. I enjoyed reading the article although it was a bit dense and I had to read through it a few times.
I found the discussion of internet dependence particularly interesting. Online communities have changed immensely since the start of the internet. McMillan states "the internet was often used for sustaining real communities" and I loved the way she explains the transition or the original idea of an online community. A few friends of mine use a site called Second Life. The site is used by real people using Avatars in a 3D online community. Thousands of people live pseudo lives in this community making friends, going out dancing, and even getting married. More recently, many people have become concerned with the sexual content offered on Second Life. Check out this video where a news station investigates porn and Second Life:
I personally have no interest in signing up for an account on a site like this. But, it is entirely understood why anyone would. Life is extremely stressful, filled with awkward situations, sadness, and anger. Second Life allows each individual to live life exactly how one wants to too. Life isn't stressful in this new world unless one wants it to be. For every socially awkward person who wants to go on a date but could never ask an actual human being out, this site is perfect.
The relationship between young people and the internet is something that I think about quite often.
I am heavily involved in internet usage because of my work in school and with my band.
For school, I am constantly looking up articles and books for class.
For my band, I promote heavily for our shows online and send mass emails to fans, friends, and family about up-and-coming information.
Sometimes I find myself in another world when using the internet. When I have been working on a paper for hours (or perhaps days) I get confused when going into the real world. It may sound crazy but my eyes may hurt, my fingers may tingle, and it takes me a few minutes to reconnect with reality.
Questions
Yet, have we gone to far as a society that maintaining intimate relationships rely on the internet for communication?
Monday, February 22, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
A Tangle of Discourses: Girls Negotiating Adolescence by REBECCA C. RABY
Raby's article is a classic example of dense feminist theory. Her work is fascinating but often hard to fully understand and decipher.
Raby's research surrounded a very interesting topic that I have wanted to dive deeper into recently: the generation gap. Her study is based around interviews with 30 Toronto based teens (13-19) and their relationships with their grandmothers. Teens of the millennium are obviously quite different from people that were teenagers 50 years ago, or are they? The grandmother's religions, backgrounds, and occupations are fascinating. She chose a varied group which makes her findings all the more pertinent to the discussion of discourse.
I understand that Raby breaks down the analysis of adolescence into five parts; the storm, becoming, at-risk, social problem, and pleasurable consumption.
The Storm: The turbulent, "risk-taking" and "experimental" angst of teens.
Becoming: "Self-discovery" and finding ones identity.
At-risk: The inevitable factors that teens are susepable to in teen years do to experimentation "drugs and alcohol, depression, eating disorders, sexual diseases".
Social Problem: Teens and teen issues are often seen as a problem for guardians and society as a whole.
Pleasurable Consumption: Teens are clearly high consumers and much of commericials and product development is targeted to teens who eat it up.
I would like to further research the idea that teens are innately self-centered. This seems to be an idea that popped up alot in this text.
This video by BBC entitled "The Grumpy Guide to Teenagers" is ridiculous. There is quote after quote from adults speaking about teenagers as if they are not human. One man, Stewart Maconie states, "the teenage boy is barely human". I think this video is amusing but also very disconcerting. Its a bit frightening that there is such a disconnect between adults and teens. The teens years form much of what a person becomes and the people in this documentary seem to disassociate from childhood entirely. Kids need to be better understood not just pushed aside as having, for example and 'attitude problem. Maybe as a society we should ask questions like, "Why is that 16 boy so angry at the world?" or "Why does that 15 girls throw up after every meal?" rather than pawn those sorts of issues off as typical teen problems.
Raby's research surrounded a very interesting topic that I have wanted to dive deeper into recently: the generation gap. Her study is based around interviews with 30 Toronto based teens (13-19) and their relationships with their grandmothers. Teens of the millennium are obviously quite different from people that were teenagers 50 years ago, or are they? The grandmother's religions, backgrounds, and occupations are fascinating. She chose a varied group which makes her findings all the more pertinent to the discussion of discourse.
I understand that Raby breaks down the analysis of adolescence into five parts; the storm, becoming, at-risk, social problem, and pleasurable consumption.
The Storm: The turbulent, "risk-taking" and "experimental" angst of teens.
Becoming: "Self-discovery" and finding ones identity.
At-risk: The inevitable factors that teens are susepable to in teen years do to experimentation "drugs and alcohol, depression, eating disorders, sexual diseases".
Social Problem: Teens and teen issues are often seen as a problem for guardians and society as a whole.
Pleasurable Consumption: Teens are clearly high consumers and much of commericials and product development is targeted to teens who eat it up.
I would like to further research the idea that teens are innately self-centered. This seems to be an idea that popped up alot in this text.
This video by BBC entitled "The Grumpy Guide to Teenagers" is ridiculous. There is quote after quote from adults speaking about teenagers as if they are not human. One man, Stewart Maconie states, "the teenage boy is barely human". I think this video is amusing but also very disconcerting. Its a bit frightening that there is such a disconnect between adults and teens. The teens years form much of what a person becomes and the people in this documentary seem to disassociate from childhood entirely. Kids need to be better understood not just pushed aside as having, for example and 'attitude problem. Maybe as a society we should ask questions like, "Why is that 16 boy so angry at the world?" or "Why does that 15 girls throw up after every meal?" rather than pawn those sorts of issues off as typical teen problems.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Media Literacy
For some reason the internet will never cease to amaze me. As we spoke about in class with our discussion of "Media Matters", the media is something we can't escape. It's in magazines, phones, computers, and all around us in the things people tell us. The internet is essentially a gigantic advertisement and media artifact which bring about all sorts of negative aspects within the vastness of its contents. Yet, it is an extremely useful resource which aided me in exploring and understanding media literacy as a whole.
I found a great website out of Canada. Check it out: Media Literacy
Here are there goals of the site:
"MNet focuses its efforts on equipping adults with information and tools to help young people understand how the media work, how the media may affect their lifestyle choices and the extent to which they, as consumers and citizens, are being well informed".
The website is directed toward informing parents and teachers of the media and its' effects on the younger generations. It is also keeping parents up to date on newer technology and issues such as online bullying which is an occurrence that has become more and more prevalent among pre-teens and teens.
I think sites like this one are so important to the guardian/child relationship in the teen years. Technology is developing at such a strong pace it has become almost impossible for parents and guardians to keep up with the texting and chatting of youth. This site is helpful in that it bridges the generational gap, and fills in parents about the dangers of modern media.
I thought this cartoon was hysterical but also very telling.
Doesn't it sometimes seem that the most fierce advertising is directed at young people? More so young girls?
I think there is something very disturbing about this.
I found a great website out of Canada. Check it out: Media Literacy
Here are there goals of the site:
"MNet focuses its efforts on equipping adults with information and tools to help young people understand how the media work, how the media may affect their lifestyle choices and the extent to which they, as consumers and citizens, are being well informed".
The website is directed toward informing parents and teachers of the media and its' effects on the younger generations. It is also keeping parents up to date on newer technology and issues such as online bullying which is an occurrence that has become more and more prevalent among pre-teens and teens.
I think sites like this one are so important to the guardian/child relationship in the teen years. Technology is developing at such a strong pace it has become almost impossible for parents and guardians to keep up with the texting and chatting of youth. This site is helpful in that it bridges the generational gap, and fills in parents about the dangers of modern media.
I thought this cartoon was hysterical but also very telling.
Doesn't it sometimes seem that the most fierce advertising is directed at young people? More so young girls?
I think there is something very disturbing about this.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Unlearning the Myths That Bind Us by Linda Christensen
Linda Christensen's article was an absolute joy to read. I found the subject matter eye-opening and extremely disturbing.
I have felt for years that me and few friends of mine were they only people in the US that thought Disney was and continues to be racism, ageist, and sexists among a slew of other horrible things. It has officially taken until 2009 for a black Disney Princess to finally debut on the silver screen in "The Princess in the Frog" which is entirely racist. I can almost picture my self at age 10 watching snow white thinking that even in cartoon, she was the epitome of beauty and femininity. The stepmother on the other hand was meant to be seen as old and mean. What did I learn?
Snow White= Princess= young and beautiful
Stepmother= Queen= old and evil
This is the message that young girls and boys receive daily from cartoons that seem harmless, funny, and entertaining. There is a big difference between jokes and discrimination and prejudice and for some reason the line is consistently crossed. Are we the only people who see it?
I found a clip online from Dumbo which was released in 1941. The movie has very racist aspects, which was normal in the time period it was made. It's strange to me that we continue to watch it today and don't point out these stereotypes to children. Check it out here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIDl8Wb1va0&feature=related
I have found myself in the past few years feeling the same way Christensen's students felt; "now that they've started analyzing cartoons, they can't stop analyzing the rest of the world". Once you understand the social construct and the rules and regulations of societal norms, it is nearly impossible to go back. The misogyny is exposed in almost every blockbuster movie. The ageism is seen in every sitcom. And the racism is obvious in government propaganda.
We all have taken off the goggles of ridiculous man-made ideologies and can finally see the world for what it truly is. I think this article was a great start to this class in showing us what it will be all about. I'm looking forward to the readings to come.
I have felt for years that me and few friends of mine were they only people in the US that thought Disney was and continues to be racism, ageist, and sexists among a slew of other horrible things. It has officially taken until 2009 for a black Disney Princess to finally debut on the silver screen in "The Princess in the Frog" which is entirely racist. I can almost picture my self at age 10 watching snow white thinking that even in cartoon, she was the epitome of beauty and femininity. The stepmother on the other hand was meant to be seen as old and mean. What did I learn?
Snow White= Princess= young and beautiful
Stepmother= Queen= old and evil
This is the message that young girls and boys receive daily from cartoons that seem harmless, funny, and entertaining. There is a big difference between jokes and discrimination and prejudice and for some reason the line is consistently crossed. Are we the only people who see it?
I found a clip online from Dumbo which was released in 1941. The movie has very racist aspects, which was normal in the time period it was made. It's strange to me that we continue to watch it today and don't point out these stereotypes to children. Check it out here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIDl8Wb1va0&feature=related
I have found myself in the past few years feeling the same way Christensen's students felt; "now that they've started analyzing cartoons, they can't stop analyzing the rest of the world". Once you understand the social construct and the rules and regulations of societal norms, it is nearly impossible to go back. The misogyny is exposed in almost every blockbuster movie. The ageism is seen in every sitcom. And the racism is obvious in government propaganda.
We all have taken off the goggles of ridiculous man-made ideologies and can finally see the world for what it truly is. I think this article was a great start to this class in showing us what it will be all about. I'm looking forward to the readings to come.
When I Was 13...
Thirteen was one of the toughest years of my life thus far.
I spent 6th grade at RIC's very own Henry Barnard School and was thrust into an urban public school for 7th (having never attended public school in my life). I came from a safe haven and was exposed to the real world that I was was entirely ignorant to.
My first memories are of riding the bus and how traumatic of an experience it was. I had one friend at the school already who I had known since childhood (and she definitely wasn't one of the coolest girls around compared to the 'popular' crowd). I was awkward and didn't fit in with the socially accepted fashion forward girls that ruled the school.
The first day of classes was frightening. Some kids were friendly, but many made fun of my race with comments like "what you lookin' at white girl". I had never experienced that kind of hatred and it only took me few days to realize I needed to be tough in order to make it through a day. This experience built my character in more ways than I know.
Soon after arriving at my new school, I got my period which made things so much worse.
I was officially in puberty, very awkward, and got braces half way through the school year. Yet, slowly but surely I made good friends that I'm still friends with today.
Besides making life long friends, middle school was also a very positive time. I began playing jazz piano after having only practiced classical pieces for years. I explored all sorts of music which led me to writing songs and performing at clubs and venues in high school. I was able to build up my confidence at a young age which continues to benefit me.
I spent 6th grade at RIC's very own Henry Barnard School and was thrust into an urban public school for 7th (having never attended public school in my life). I came from a safe haven and was exposed to the real world that I was was entirely ignorant to.
My first memories are of riding the bus and how traumatic of an experience it was. I had one friend at the school already who I had known since childhood (and she definitely wasn't one of the coolest girls around compared to the 'popular' crowd). I was awkward and didn't fit in with the socially accepted fashion forward girls that ruled the school.
The first day of classes was frightening. Some kids were friendly, but many made fun of my race with comments like "what you lookin' at white girl". I had never experienced that kind of hatred and it only took me few days to realize I needed to be tough in order to make it through a day. This experience built my character in more ways than I know.
Soon after arriving at my new school, I got my period which made things so much worse.
I was officially in puberty, very awkward, and got braces half way through the school year. Yet, slowly but surely I made good friends that I'm still friends with today.
Besides making life long friends, middle school was also a very positive time. I began playing jazz piano after having only practiced classical pieces for years. I explored all sorts of music which led me to writing songs and performing at clubs and venues in high school. I was able to build up my confidence at a young age which continues to benefit me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)