Discovering that Pop Culture can affect your life is something that I didn’t think would ever happen. Okay I am officially really truly obsessed with Twilight. It has been an interesting process for me. Going from the complete stressed out state of working and going to school to having something relaxing that I wanted to do desperately. I read all four books in about 10 days. I have seen the movie (okay a few times.) I have checked out fan web sites. Now, Jody got me reading the web site (www.stepheniemeyer.com)
Finding the community while doing something I just simply enjoy has turned into an interesting experience for me. People everywhere are reading these books. Not just out there in other parts of the world, but people in my own community. From long time best friend, sisters, brother, mother and coworkers. I heard people discussing these books when I went shopping to one store on Black Friday. I went to the library to see if I could get the books there. Well, have over thirty copies of the books and they were all checked out. Every single one of them. In the community I live in everyone is reading these books.
I feel that this pop culture trend has stunk up to me. I would want people to think that I am unique and never follow main stream society. I am my own person. I am strong and secure in just being me. So what happened? How did I end up in the middle of a Pop Culture trend? I think it is because the subject matter in this case. It isn’t like it is about fashion or who is dating who. This is about Romance, Vampires, Humans and Werewolves. What could be better? This book dispels Vampire myth to the point that it you can really believe that they could exist in our world. Explains the changing process from human to vampire and redefines what mean family and how having a soul mates affects your life.
The affects on who I am are defiantly profound. Not that it changed me but it remembers me how to love from the heart and let the worldly things fall away. Seeing myself in that love and giving that love to others in my actions. Discovering who I am, who I strive to be and seeing that I am able to love charters in a story as much as I love the special people in my own life.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Welcome!
Hello my name is Heather. I am taking English 101 at Everett Community College. My goal to get and ATA in Business Administration is only two quarters away from reality. As part of our class we have had to write many assignments. In our assignments we have explored identity, community and traditions. I don’t this class has affected me they way the instructors have wanted. I previously have taken many diversity classes. The previous diversity classes have touched my heart and my home in many ways. This class reaffirmed my past learning experiences. What I did realize is that there is an expectation that as an individual, I am not divers. Therefore, my point of view does not consider that others are not diverse. I personal have an expectation that people are diverse. I greatly enjoyed our time reflecting on communities. I personally have struggled with depression and anxiety. Remembering I am part of a greater community in many different ways was really comforting to realize. So, if life’s challenges take one community from me again, I know that I will still be a part of other communities in my life. We live in a society with many cultures and racial connections. Leaning about others religions and cultures is something I enjoy doing whenever the opportunity presents itself.
In this English class I have enjoyed the reading and movie selections. W e have explored many levels of Identity, community and traditions. Identity was very complex. We discussed how our personal identity differs yet is interdependent on our cultural identity. We explored what community means to each of us, and how we find community within our lives. We conversed about traditions and how pop culture can cause changes in the traditions of our society.
You will find four writing assignments from my class here. First, will be a piece that will show you critical thinking. Second, is a piece that shows I am able to revisit my work and then rewrite it with more reflection. Third, is a writing that shows my ability to be aware of the audience and voice. Finally, is writer’s choice, the favorite piece I wrote while taking this class. I hope you enjoy what you read.
As a bonus
To start you out here is a part of a piece I wrote about my name.
Heather is a flower, a pretty flower but just a flower. It has never really been the name I would have chosen for me. I like the color Heather, like Heather Gray. I usually find that appealing. Heather, well that is a popular name, and while we are all individuals, I find that I get lump together with other ladies named Heather, I feel have felt that my individuality can get lost into a group of nice ladies named Heather. I feel I wouldn’t have chosen this name for myself because there are so many other Heathers. I think I am blossoming during this reflection and my name is growing on me.
In this English class I have enjoyed the reading and movie selections. W e have explored many levels of Identity, community and traditions. Identity was very complex. We discussed how our personal identity differs yet is interdependent on our cultural identity. We explored what community means to each of us, and how we find community within our lives. We conversed about traditions and how pop culture can cause changes in the traditions of our society.
You will find four writing assignments from my class here. First, will be a piece that will show you critical thinking. Second, is a piece that shows I am able to revisit my work and then rewrite it with more reflection. Third, is a writing that shows my ability to be aware of the audience and voice. Finally, is writer’s choice, the favorite piece I wrote while taking this class. I hope you enjoy what you read.
As a bonus
To start you out here is a part of a piece I wrote about my name.
Heather is a flower, a pretty flower but just a flower. It has never really been the name I would have chosen for me. I like the color Heather, like Heather Gray. I usually find that appealing. Heather, well that is a popular name, and while we are all individuals, I find that I get lump together with other ladies named Heather, I feel have felt that my individuality can get lost into a group of nice ladies named Heather. I feel I wouldn’t have chosen this name for myself because there are so many other Heathers. I think I am blossoming during this reflection and my name is growing on me.
Critically Fight Club
To watch a movie like Fight Club and get all that is going on in that movie you must use critical thinking skills if you know it or not. I feel that I have demonstrated critical thinking when analyzing why Tyler Durden would feel it is okay to put a gun to someone’s head. Trying to figure out what this character is thinking and trying to get across to the audience is a challenge because you have to explore your own feelings about what he is doing before you can understand what he is trying to accomplish.
Fight Club
Watching the movie Fight Club allows the watcher to experience non-conformity and "over the line" behavior while having a sense that these behaviors are acceptable by the community. To relax and get ready to sleep, attending terminal illness groups is not conforming to normal social behavior when you don't have a terminal illness. A line is crossed when it is acceptable to point a gun to someone's head. This film allows the watcher to explore what level of non conformity is acceptable for them.
The Narrator goes to the doctor because he can't sleep. Extreme dislike for his job and the many plain flights leaves him an insomniac. The Narrator discovers that if he attends terminal illness support groups that he is able to cry and the release from crying sends home to a good night’s sleep. This is not conforming to what normal society rules as acceptable behavior. The Narrator never shares that he isn't dying, or hasn't had cancer. He lies to these people by allowing them to think they are just like him. This behavior isn't socially acceptable; it is non-conforming to the rules of support groups.
Tyler Durden goes beyond not conforming to society; he blatantly crosses the line when he takes out a gun. Goes into a convenient store, and forces the clerk, Raymond K Hessel out the back of the store. While pointing the gun at his head and tells him he is going to die. Durden uses the contents of Hessel’s wallet to drill him about his previous attempts to go to Community College. Durden forcibly reminds Hessel his dream of being a Veterinarian. Durden lets him go but not before telling Hessel that he will be checked on in six weeks and he had better be on the way to his dream. It is never okay to put a gun to someone’s head and tell them they are going to die. Even when you gun isn’t loaded. It is called assault. It is over the line of acceptable behavior. Even though the reason for pointing the gun at them, maybe to free them from fear of death and motive them towards a life they really want, it is "over the line." Durden justifies his actions by explaining that Hessel will have the best tasting meal of his entire life, the following morning. Releasing fear, or by creating extreme fear is a foundation that leads to complete social dysfunction. Durden wants to help others not be defined by fear.
Fight Club is a film that challenges the watchers personal a perception of what is non-conformity and how that leads to someone stepping over the line. This film is about exposing the watcher to mental illness in a way that the watcher can relate to different characteristics of unacceptable behavior. The title of the movie shows us the foundation of this behavior. Fight club is a fighting club where you can go to fight. The basic rules are not to talk about it. Every sport out there has rules and protective equipment and is talked about on television. Do not talk about Fight Club, is the opposite of what is done after watching Fight Club. Enjoying conversations about why lines were crossed and when was too much is just what this movie leads the watcher to do. The discussions lead you to seeing that you forget that some of the behaviors aren't normal because other behaviors are so extreme they make you except the less extreme behaviors. This almost makes the less extreme behaviors seem socially acceptable.
Fight Club is a movie to watch and explore the differences between non-conforming behavior and what is crossing the line behavior. This movie can challenge what the watcher values to be acceptable in society and to think about what personal possessions say about you and do they define you. This movie also makes you think about how your possessions can own you and define you as a person. Watching this film is a great way to explore mental health and why finding yourself is considered to be such an important thing to do in life.
The Narrator goes to the doctor because he can't sleep. Extreme dislike for his job and the many plain flights leaves him an insomniac. The Narrator discovers that if he attends terminal illness support groups that he is able to cry and the release from crying sends home to a good night’s sleep. This is not conforming to what normal society rules as acceptable behavior. The Narrator never shares that he isn't dying, or hasn't had cancer. He lies to these people by allowing them to think they are just like him. This behavior isn't socially acceptable; it is non-conforming to the rules of support groups.
Tyler Durden goes beyond not conforming to society; he blatantly crosses the line when he takes out a gun. Goes into a convenient store, and forces the clerk, Raymond K Hessel out the back of the store. While pointing the gun at his head and tells him he is going to die. Durden uses the contents of Hessel’s wallet to drill him about his previous attempts to go to Community College. Durden forcibly reminds Hessel his dream of being a Veterinarian. Durden lets him go but not before telling Hessel that he will be checked on in six weeks and he had better be on the way to his dream. It is never okay to put a gun to someone’s head and tell them they are going to die. Even when you gun isn’t loaded. It is called assault. It is over the line of acceptable behavior. Even though the reason for pointing the gun at them, maybe to free them from fear of death and motive them towards a life they really want, it is "over the line." Durden justifies his actions by explaining that Hessel will have the best tasting meal of his entire life, the following morning. Releasing fear, or by creating extreme fear is a foundation that leads to complete social dysfunction. Durden wants to help others not be defined by fear.
Fight Club is a film that challenges the watchers personal a perception of what is non-conformity and how that leads to someone stepping over the line. This film is about exposing the watcher to mental illness in a way that the watcher can relate to different characteristics of unacceptable behavior. The title of the movie shows us the foundation of this behavior. Fight club is a fighting club where you can go to fight. The basic rules are not to talk about it. Every sport out there has rules and protective equipment and is talked about on television. Do not talk about Fight Club, is the opposite of what is done after watching Fight Club. Enjoying conversations about why lines were crossed and when was too much is just what this movie leads the watcher to do. The discussions lead you to seeing that you forget that some of the behaviors aren't normal because other behaviors are so extreme they make you except the less extreme behaviors. This almost makes the less extreme behaviors seem socially acceptable.
Fight Club is a movie to watch and explore the differences between non-conforming behavior and what is crossing the line behavior. This movie can challenge what the watcher values to be acceptable in society and to think about what personal possessions say about you and do they define you. This movie also makes you think about how your possessions can own you and define you as a person. Watching this film is a great way to explore mental health and why finding yourself is considered to be such an important thing to do in life.
The Thoughts of Why It Needs Help
This was a piece I wrote for out discussion boards on Blackboard for my class. I approached it with my single view which was my own passion for the Internet. I hope to make this piece more rounded and understandable to everyone. I felt I just threw my thoughts out there instead of making them a part of the piece. I think I have a strong opinion in this piece but I lacked showing that I can see both sides of this issue. The assignment is to evaluate if we feel the writer of the essay we read was right when saying the internet is a place for glorifying of yourself and makes you more of a shut in. This essay was written after reading “The Museum of Me”
Works Cited
Ullman, Ellen. "The Museum of Me." Remix: reading + composing culture (2006): 639-646.
Works Cited
Ullman, Ellen. "The Museum of Me." Remix: reading + composing culture (2006): 639-646.
Much confusion
Needs a re-write
Ullman’s major concern is glorification and increased individualism. With individualism you lose the connection to society and all hope of having balance to life. This is all do to the internet which will be the cause of job loss because who will want to go and talk to a person when you can just find the information out on the internet. Ullman wants everyone to experience the crowded streets and the niceness of a store clerk.
I had a hard time reading this essay because my views are almost completely opposite. I see the other side. I see the side where after you have crazy day of helping others and being in the world you get to have a place where you can share the things you want to share, and where you can express your thoughts without being interrupted or told you are stupid. I understand that the internet was a fast developing technology that took some by surprise. I think that it has created a lot of jobs over the years. I know lots have lost their jobs because things developed quickly and were not stainable, but I don’t think it was a job loss for travel agents. We were having a lunch room conversation just yesterday about cruise ships, and we were discussing how you get a better deal going to a travel agent then buying your tickets online. I think as a society we have embraced these issues and adjusted so that we take care of our job market.
Ullman also discussed the lack of communication about the online experience. I think that has changed with knowledge of what we are looking at and the development of online language. (Example: googling)
Ullman’s major concern is glorification and increased individualism. With individualism you lose the connection to society and all hope of having balance to life. This is all do to the internet which will be the cause of job loss because who will want to go and talk to a person when you can just find the information out on the internet. Ullman wants everyone to experience the crowded streets and the niceness of a store clerk.
I had a hard time reading this essay because my views are almost completely opposite. I see the other side. I see the side where after you have crazy day of helping others and being in the world you get to have a place where you can share the things you want to share, and where you can express your thoughts without being interrupted or told you are stupid. I understand that the internet was a fast developing technology that took some by surprise. I think that it has created a lot of jobs over the years. I know lots have lost their jobs because things developed quickly and were not stainable, but I don’t think it was a job loss for travel agents. We were having a lunch room conversation just yesterday about cruise ships, and we were discussing how you get a better deal going to a travel agent then buying your tickets online. I think as a society we have embraced these issues and adjusted so that we take care of our job market.
Ullman also discussed the lack of communication about the online experience. I think that has changed with knowledge of what we are looking at and the development of online language. (Example: googling)
Internet Friend Or Foe
Let us define our terms, learn to speak the language of each other while working with the internet. I had a hard time reading this essay because my views are almost completely opposite. Ullman’s major concern is self glorification and increased individualism. With individualism you lose the connection to society and all hope of having balance to life. This is all do to the internet which will be the cause of job loss because who will want to go and talk to a person when you can just find the information out on the internet. Ullman wants everyone to experience the crowded streets and the niceness of a store clerk. I see the other side. I see the side where after you have crazy day of helping others and being in the world you get to have a place where you can share the things you want to share, and where you can express your thoughts without being interrupted or told you are stupid.
The internet was a fast developing technology that took some by surprise. I think that it has created a lot of jobs over the years. I know lots have lost their jobs because things developed quickly and were not stainable, but I don’t think it was a job loss for travel agents. We were having a lunch room conversation just yesterday about cruise ships, and we were discussing how you get a better deal going to a travel agent then buying your tickets online. I think as a society we have embraced these issues and adjusted so that we take care of our job market.
Ullman also discussed the lack of communication about the online experience. I think that has changed with knowledge of what we are looking at and the development of online language. Google has made a new verb: googling. Wikipedia has become a quick tool for students, from high school to college, to research what their instructors are asking them and find new sources of information on the internet. At the same time, Ullman’s concerns come to light when we discuss topics like internet bulling, were students use online social sites to spread horrible rumors about someone. Or when a girl struggling with anorexia can hide in her room and find others like herself encouraging her eating disorder instead of helping her to overcome it. Then you have someone like me, who had a medical disability keep me at home. The internet became a way for me to do things I wasn’t able to do because of my disability. I made friends who were able to help encourage me when I was depresses. I also was able to stay contacted with my other friends whose lives moved on while I battled for my health. Like all new things in this world we have to find a balance for ourselves. The balance will come when we find a way to live our lives to the fullest and still have the internet as a useful tool and fun way to relax.
The internet was a fast developing technology that took some by surprise. I think that it has created a lot of jobs over the years. I know lots have lost their jobs because things developed quickly and were not stainable, but I don’t think it was a job loss for travel agents. We were having a lunch room conversation just yesterday about cruise ships, and we were discussing how you get a better deal going to a travel agent then buying your tickets online. I think as a society we have embraced these issues and adjusted so that we take care of our job market.
Ullman also discussed the lack of communication about the online experience. I think that has changed with knowledge of what we are looking at and the development of online language. Google has made a new verb: googling. Wikipedia has become a quick tool for students, from high school to college, to research what their instructors are asking them and find new sources of information on the internet. At the same time, Ullman’s concerns come to light when we discuss topics like internet bulling, were students use online social sites to spread horrible rumors about someone. Or when a girl struggling with anorexia can hide in her room and find others like herself encouraging her eating disorder instead of helping her to overcome it. Then you have someone like me, who had a medical disability keep me at home. The internet became a way for me to do things I wasn’t able to do because of my disability. I made friends who were able to help encourage me when I was depresses. I also was able to stay contacted with my other friends whose lives moved on while I battled for my health. Like all new things in this world we have to find a balance for ourselves. The balance will come when we find a way to live our lives to the fullest and still have the internet as a useful tool and fun way to relax.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Audience and Voice - Can you hear me
I chose this piece because I know that my audience has read it because they have voice it back to me. I know that it connects to each of us because we have just celebrated Thanksgiving. My piece doesn’t talk about why we celebrate Thanksgiving but more about the echo the family gathering has imprinted on me. I have heard a lot of people talk about how they had a small family Thanksgiving and their feast was not as large as they would have had if there been more people. This Thanksgiving reminded me that just spending time with family is the important part. Giving Thanks for what we have and remembering that celebrating a tradition that is rooted in who we are as Americans. I think I may have challenged my readers to create better fruit salads and to create strong memories. I have been enjoying blogging. I think I am learning that I have a lot to say and I don’t have to hide it in my own journals but I can share it will my few readers.
Traditional Thanksgiving
Growing up, Thanksgiving was a huge event at my grandparents' house. All estranged family members we never see would converge on my grandparents' house in a remote corner of the world. We would have turkey, stuffing (with the giblets), mashed potatoes, Grammy's homemade yeast rolls, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, both types of cranberries (the ones with sticks and the ones without), fruit salad and of course, different pies (pumpkin, lemon meringue, homemade venison mincemeat). I almost forgot the holy black finger food, olives! I was trying to remember the veggies we had. I think we would have salad, I don't remember eating much of it, but I am sure we had some. I had an aunt that was famous for creating the oddest, yet yummy salads.
We had so many family members we would have two different tables full of people. The kids would congregate in the "music" room around a table, the adults in the dining room overflowing into the rearranged living room. Us kids would play board games and try to stay out of the way. When the Atari was invented, we would hide in the back bedroom and play games like bowling and pong for hours until our enormous meal was ready.
As I grew older, I got the privilege of being the one to make the fruit salad. I would start early in the day with the cutting of grapes in half. Then slicing the canned pineapple and the maraschino cherries. I would squeeze them into the fridge so they could hang out together. The maraschino cherry juice dyes the pineapple pink. Then later in the day I would slice apples, bananas and open a can of mandarin oranges. I would add as many mini marshmallows as I could get in the bowl and mix it all together with whipped cream. I was and still am very proud of my fruit salad! It is yummy and a must for a Thanksgiving feast.
We had so many family members we would have two different tables full of people. The kids would congregate in the "music" room around a table, the adults in the dining room overflowing into the rearranged living room. Us kids would play board games and try to stay out of the way. When the Atari was invented, we would hide in the back bedroom and play games like bowling and pong for hours until our enormous meal was ready.
As I grew older, I got the privilege of being the one to make the fruit salad. I would start early in the day with the cutting of grapes in half. Then slicing the canned pineapple and the maraschino cherries. I would squeeze them into the fridge so they could hang out together. The maraschino cherry juice dyes the pineapple pink. Then later in the day I would slice apples, bananas and open a can of mandarin oranges. I would add as many mini marshmallows as I could get in the bowl and mix it all together with whipped cream. I was and still am very proud of my fruit salad! It is yummy and a must for a Thanksgiving feast.
Freedom Writers - Intoducing my Essay
I have never been told that I am deft before and still gotten a grade I didn’t like. I worked hard on this timed write. It was my first ever timed write. My family endured my stress around preparing for and completing this timed write. In my thesis I was supposed to also include a part about how this movie challenged my perceptions. After much thinking, I think the only part of this movie that really would have challenged my perceptions was when the students visited the Holocaust Museum. Expect when I was in High School Schindler’s list came out and that really impacted me then, and I still feel that deep sadness that needs to be remembered so those events are not repeated. This movie was about a lot more than just the Holocaust, but it is an integral part of what binds the students together. It gives them a chance to connect to each other. I really like the movie and enjoyed the chance to really watch this movie in depth.
Are you an Outsider
The film Freedom Writers is about the conflicts outsiders face. Eva Benitez is a Latino girl forced to attend high school outside of her neighborhood because of desegregation rules for her school district. Away from the comfort of her scary gang life she faces many of her rival gang's members in class on a daily basis. Eva finds herself in Erin Gruwell's class. Erin is also an outsider. Erin is not supported by the faculty because she has new ideas and passion to back them up.
Eva gets ready for a night out with her gang, only to witness one of her gang's members kill a rival gang member, a friend of one of her fellow class mates. Eva lies to the police. She says she is "protecting her own." The day in court Eva struggles, right up to the last second. She decides to tell the truth. Eva tells them "Paco did it." The repercussion, of making the right decisions, was being "jumped" out of her gang in the way she was "jumped" into her gang. She felt very alone. She was an outsider in her world. Eva even had to physically relocate to her Aunt’s house.
Erin is an outsider to the facility at the school she is working at. She desperately wants to connect with her students. Erin seeks the assistance from Harrington to get books. When she is turned down she asks the other English instructor for support. She quickly learns that there is a strong dislike for her students and their ethnicities. Erin is finds herself working two jobs to support her classroom with books and field trips to excite her students about learning. Erin is also an outsider at home because she is unable to connect with her husband. She even finds that she is alone the night her husband leaves. She tries to call a friend and only has her father to lean on.
Eva and Erin find peace in themselves when they enter the classroom. Erin even tells her husband that her life makes since when she is helping her students make since of their crazy lives. Eva finds a friend in rival gang members after standing up and telling the truth. The movie does a great job of showing us that we all come from a different place but at the same time we are all the same. When we get ready for a night on the town, we all pick our clothes, put on our makeup and maybe even enjoy listening to music. When you don't have a sense of community you are left to feel like an outsider. There is a need to have people around you that have goals and dreams that support your goals and dreams. When there is a feeling that you are the only one it is hard to remember you’re not alone.
Eva gets ready for a night out with her gang, only to witness one of her gang's members kill a rival gang member, a friend of one of her fellow class mates. Eva lies to the police. She says she is "protecting her own." The day in court Eva struggles, right up to the last second. She decides to tell the truth. Eva tells them "Paco did it." The repercussion, of making the right decisions, was being "jumped" out of her gang in the way she was "jumped" into her gang. She felt very alone. She was an outsider in her world. Eva even had to physically relocate to her Aunt’s house.
Erin is an outsider to the facility at the school she is working at. She desperately wants to connect with her students. Erin seeks the assistance from Harrington to get books. When she is turned down she asks the other English instructor for support. She quickly learns that there is a strong dislike for her students and their ethnicities. Erin is finds herself working two jobs to support her classroom with books and field trips to excite her students about learning. Erin is also an outsider at home because she is unable to connect with her husband. She even finds that she is alone the night her husband leaves. She tries to call a friend and only has her father to lean on.
Eva and Erin find peace in themselves when they enter the classroom. Erin even tells her husband that her life makes since when she is helping her students make since of their crazy lives. Eva finds a friend in rival gang members after standing up and telling the truth. The movie does a great job of showing us that we all come from a different place but at the same time we are all the same. When we get ready for a night on the town, we all pick our clothes, put on our makeup and maybe even enjoy listening to music. When you don't have a sense of community you are left to feel like an outsider. There is a need to have people around you that have goals and dreams that support your goals and dreams. When there is a feeling that you are the only one it is hard to remember you’re not alone.
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