THIS IS NOT A CLASS ASSIGNMENT I SIMPLY NEEDED DOWNLOAD SPACE FROM THE STUFF I HAVE BEEN CARRYING ALL SEMESTER if you are not Doc. Bogad or myself please read no further
January
classes start
Dee and I get yelled at/threatened with gay stuff outside Mels house
gay crisis- end up in serious therapy at LEAST once a week
February
Best friend moves away- across country
gf threatens suicide
two deaths in the family
find out mom needs surgery
dad gets in car accident
dad breaks fusion
find out dad needs surgery
Get called gay slurs outside down city diner
March
I lose a dr. for back stuff
situations with hormone dr.
pain in chest since october finally gets explained
Hate crime grafiti found all over campus right before pride month- neo-nazi concern
depression med battle ensues gets solved by upping dose late march
Nana has surgery
Nana gets a dangerous illness
April
Mom goes in for knee surgery
I find out I need surgery
Insurance denies my first claim
identity crisis
Cousin in Italy during major earth quake- 2 days without hearing from her
Pride Month stress
Friend threatens suicide, is put on watch
I end up in hospital twice- end up with flu than strep then other stuff as a result of those
finals start?
severe ptsd episode from gay bashings puts me in bed 1-2 days
May
finals?
clean up and move out of RI?
family shit
CAN SOMEONE PLEASE GIVE ME A BREAK? Who has to say suicide, surgery, hatecrime and death/illness mutltiple times in such a short time.... Im so done- and yet I can't be, the show must go on until finals are finished and yet Im not even physically able to finish them right now. Honestly-
I must pat myself on the back because I put on a pretty good show... hoping someday my monthly calendars wont look like this- because others have looked worse and im hoping the future will look better.
I just want to be free
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
In class blog assignment...
So- after the work we did in class today I started thinking about question 5, which was hard because I think Listen Up! is addicting and Im glad to have found a new site. I am sure you can find other site similar to this one where teens are able to "talk back" and I think the videos related to this specifically are awesome. If you search media literacy youll find a handful of videos talking about how the media is getting it all wrong when it comes to teens, and I was glad to see im not the only one who feels like this.
I dont know of any other sites strictly dedicated to teens and what they have to say in a format like this one. When I think of this site I thought of youtube too. I realize that youtube is a place for people of all age groups, however, youtube has "channels" that are teen based, teen relevant, or talk about serious issues with a higher level of discourse like the teens from Listen Up are looking for. So that is definately one possibility.
Overall, I know of teens who are doing similar work as this site, producing their own grassroots media, vlogs, etc. and are doing it well (think avant garde) and I would like to see more vehicles for them to make their work available to others. After completing this post I am going to go searching for similar sites, and if I find anything good I will defiantely come back and add another post. At this point I am just struggling to focus- and locate more of these- though with how much I am enjoying this site/organization and the stuff it is doing I am sure I will be searching for more sites like it.
I dont know of any other sites strictly dedicated to teens and what they have to say in a format like this one. When I think of this site I thought of youtube too. I realize that youtube is a place for people of all age groups, however, youtube has "channels" that are teen based, teen relevant, or talk about serious issues with a higher level of discourse like the teens from Listen Up are looking for. So that is definately one possibility.
Overall, I know of teens who are doing similar work as this site, producing their own grassroots media, vlogs, etc. and are doing it well (think avant garde) and I would like to see more vehicles for them to make their work available to others. After completing this post I am going to go searching for similar sites, and if I find anything good I will defiantely come back and add another post. At this point I am just struggling to focus- and locate more of these- though with how much I am enjoying this site/organization and the stuff it is doing I am sure I will be searching for more sites like it.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Listen Up!
OH THANK GOD! This website was so refreshing, and yes in short I think of this site as "talking back." It was so cool to be able to see the different issues of teenage life- from all different areas of the world discussed in such a candid and realistic manner. One video I saw was a group of boys from an area in southeast asia discussing how they were dealing with being bullied. There was one about teenage girls and hip-hop/rapping, which reminded me of Marco's presentation. I found it interesting that these two videos were side by side in the video que and I thought it was appropriate. Such serious things as bullying, peer pressure, and teen drug use were juxtaposed with videos on hip-hop, partying, shopping etc. It seemlessly showed the complexity of the lives of teenagers, and the tumultuous nature of the many things they juggle. I was very impressed with the technical skill of these teenage "film-makers" for the refined skill, but not so surprised of the capability, afterall Prensky and my own experience have shown how much more quickly teenagers are grasping all the new stuff that is coming out and putting it into use to "talk back" I like to think of it as "biting back" because much like we discuss in class teenagers are trying to prove that they are not the other, and are not alien, or trouble. I wish I had more access to media like this, and that it had a more respected and prominant place in classrooms both in k-12 and college environments. This site makes me want to learn about video postings and productions like this.
Henry Jenkins/Testing Horace Mann
I apologize for abandoning format but since I am doing it following class discussion it is easier without it.
The Henry Jenkins and Testing Horace Mann pieces bring up a variety of issues. All of these were further supported by the experience of each of us in class, and our own relationship to social networking sites. I understand the points raised in regard to responsibility. The connection of social networking sites and the schools censorship of such raises concerns I would have never had to hear during my earlier education. In light of Prensky, I think it is more important to work with these sites than to control and abandon them as school administrations. I just see more difficulty in doing this than supporting the use of the differnet technologies by students, including losing classroom influence by using outdated methods. Overall, I think Prensky and the authors here could have some interesting debate, and it shows how complicated the ethics of these technologies and websites can be. For every helpful aspect of these things there is an issue of speech, responsiblity, and social conciousness/etiquette involved.
The Henry Jenkins and Testing Horace Mann pieces bring up a variety of issues. All of these were further supported by the experience of each of us in class, and our own relationship to social networking sites. I understand the points raised in regard to responsibility. The connection of social networking sites and the schools censorship of such raises concerns I would have never had to hear during my earlier education. In light of Prensky, I think it is more important to work with these sites than to control and abandon them as school administrations. I just see more difficulty in doing this than supporting the use of the differnet technologies by students, including losing classroom influence by using outdated methods. Overall, I think Prensky and the authors here could have some interesting debate, and it shows how complicated the ethics of these technologies and websites can be. For every helpful aspect of these things there is an issue of speech, responsiblity, and social conciousness/etiquette involved.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
slimquick-what?!
I dont even know where to start with this one- absolutely revolting, and its not just this one either... slimquick has done a string of these ads. It reinforces the gender roles, and the need to make women a failure when they are not a size 0.... why does he get to be fat and happy... but she cannot?
hmmmm
C
Disney porn?
so this one hits on a bunch of stuff weve covered in class, the power of media and its hidden messages, the impact of media and advertising on women, the amount of "isms" in Disney-
It includes a handful more disney films than we saw in class.... just wanted to give some more examples-and the video is short but definately loaded
It includes a handful more disney films than we saw in class.... just wanted to give some more examples-and the video is short but definately loaded
Interview with tricia Rose
Hey guys found an interview with Tricia Rose.... the sound is a little weak but thought it might be nice to put a face and personality to one of our authors
Heres another Lauren greenfield Piece...
feel free to comment- just thought Id check out more of her work, and that maybe others in the class would like to see it as well.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Prensky
Marc Prensky "Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants"
Some Things I understand
I understood Prensky- and related to his argument about the gap between digital natives, and digital immigrants. It was an article that allowed me to make sense of my relationship to technology, but also the relationships of my parents sister peers etc. I totally grasped the idea of education not keeping up with the students in their classroom. Furthermore, was the distinction between the different types of processing in the different generations whether lineal or latteral. I recognized the distinctions of what was deemed one process and what made the other, and how institutions are furthering that gap.
Some Things I dont understand
Initially- I had confusion over the use of immigrant, and native, as to which group was which. However, by the completion of our class discussion on this piece it was clarified for me.
Connections to course themes
*see Greenfield piece
-This gap reinforces the cultural context of "teenagers" as a mechanism for division amongst generations and identities that Hine discusses
Comments
This put a lot into perspective for myself and my relationship to technology and that of others- and highlighted the responsability of teachers/professors to work with this technology or lose some level of effectiveness
Some Things I understand
I understood Prensky- and related to his argument about the gap between digital natives, and digital immigrants. It was an article that allowed me to make sense of my relationship to technology, but also the relationships of my parents sister peers etc. I totally grasped the idea of education not keeping up with the students in their classroom. Furthermore, was the distinction between the different types of processing in the different generations whether lineal or latteral. I recognized the distinctions of what was deemed one process and what made the other, and how institutions are furthering that gap.
Some Things I dont understand
Initially- I had confusion over the use of immigrant, and native, as to which group was which. However, by the completion of our class discussion on this piece it was clarified for me.
Connections to course themes
*see Greenfield piece
-This gap reinforces the cultural context of "teenagers" as a mechanism for division amongst generations and identities that Hine discusses
Comments
This put a lot into perspective for myself and my relationship to technology and that of others- and highlighted the responsability of teachers/professors to work with this technology or lose some level of effectiveness
Hine Talking Points
Thomas Hine "Rise and Fall of the American Teenager"
Some Things I understand
Thomas Hine has a variety of interesting points. I understand his history of the teenager vocabulary and cultural development. I recognize that it did not always exist as its own individual culture, group, and identity both socially and biologically.
Some Things I dont understand
I got any questions clarified in class.
Connections to Other course themes
-As an opening piece I connect Hine to the three main assumptions/objectives of the class, because Hine addresses them all at different places, but speaks mainly to the idea of Teenagers as an alien life form.
Comments
I enjoyed reading Hine's piece and understood his article but I had a hard time wrapping my head around the idea that it did not always exist as I understand "teenager."
Some Things I understand
Thomas Hine has a variety of interesting points. I understand his history of the teenager vocabulary and cultural development. I recognize that it did not always exist as its own individual culture, group, and identity both socially and biologically.
Some Things I dont understand
I got any questions clarified in class.
Connections to Other course themes
-As an opening piece I connect Hine to the three main assumptions/objectives of the class, because Hine addresses them all at different places, but speaks mainly to the idea of Teenagers as an alien life form.
Comments
I enjoyed reading Hine's piece and understood his article but I had a hard time wrapping my head around the idea that it did not always exist as I understand "teenager."
Greenfield Talking Points
Greenfield "Fast Forward"
Some things I understand
Through the use of photos and artist narratives, Greenfield clearly makes her point. She argues that teenagers are growing up at a faster rate than previous generations, and that it is due to the fact that teenagers have a higher and faster access to a world market of technology and materialism. Her mutltitude of images of teenage girls in makeup and clothing made for women twice their age, statistics about early puberty, and teenage boys in different rites of passage all speak volumes to this position. Some of the most striking were the photos of the girls with plastic surgery, and in the nightclubs and casino night fundraiser.
Some things I dont understand
I have nothing to report here at this time(possibly after discussion)
Connections to course themes
-This touched on similar points to the materialism of teenage culture and the importance of "bling" and "hip-hop" culture so its easy for me to connect it to Tricia Rose's piece
-Prensky would support the claim that this accelerated puberty would be due to the fact that this community was raised as digital natives- and that it was being prayed upon by media and materialism
Comments
Coming from a circle of artists/activists and photographers this was a really interesting piece for me. I appreciate the view of the lens of each individual photographer and I think Greenfield speaks volumes. The most difficult piece for me were the shots of teenage plastic surgery... in the context of my personal conflicts- I feel like a statistic.
Some things I understand
Through the use of photos and artist narratives, Greenfield clearly makes her point. She argues that teenagers are growing up at a faster rate than previous generations, and that it is due to the fact that teenagers have a higher and faster access to a world market of technology and materialism. Her mutltitude of images of teenage girls in makeup and clothing made for women twice their age, statistics about early puberty, and teenage boys in different rites of passage all speak volumes to this position. Some of the most striking were the photos of the girls with plastic surgery, and in the nightclubs and casino night fundraiser.
Some things I dont understand
I have nothing to report here at this time(possibly after discussion)
Connections to course themes
-This touched on similar points to the materialism of teenage culture and the importance of "bling" and "hip-hop" culture so its easy for me to connect it to Tricia Rose's piece
-Prensky would support the claim that this accelerated puberty would be due to the fact that this community was raised as digital natives- and that it was being prayed upon by media and materialism
Comments
Coming from a circle of artists/activists and photographers this was a really interesting piece for me. I appreciate the view of the lens of each individual photographer and I think Greenfield speaks volumes. The most difficult piece for me were the shots of teenage plastic surgery... in the context of my personal conflicts- I feel like a statistic.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Tricia Rose
Tricia Rose Time Interview
Some Things I Understand
The interview was not hard to understand. I definately grasped most of the material. Rose makes several key points regarding the culture of hip-hop, how it has changed, and why. Her main arguement is that "fans and detractors alike have advanced illogical, dishonest and offensive arguments about why the genre is bad and why it's great."
Furthermore, I can understand how Rose analyzes the complexity of the genre, and how mainstream media has developed its own ideas of what it means. She highlights all of the difficulty in producing music that supports the "richness" of the original hip-hop cultures. Instead(there are) idea(s) "that a certain kind of sexual deviance or violent behavior defines black culture has had a huge market in commercial mainstream culture for at least 200 years. Also, sexist images, which hip-hop has a lot of, seem to do very well across the cultural spectrum. So sexuality and sexual domination sell. Racial stereotypes sell." It is in this piece of Rose's interview that the complications of the genre are highlighted.
Some Things I Don't Understand
"There seems to be the tendency, when people complain about what they hear on the radio, for artists to say, "Well, if you don't like it, just turn it off." There's that shift in responsibility from artist to fan. Is that a disingenuous defense?"
This quote was not something I did not understand but it was something that I had to read twice just to make sure that I understood not only the vocabulary in the context, but how the question fit into the rest of the interview's main arguement.
Connections to other course themes
- This is much like our original assumptions about class. It sets hip-hop up as a foreign entity, or an "alien life form"
-Like Hine it has its own labels and vocabulary that had to develop much like the word of teenager
Comments-
This article was a light read, and definately easy for me to understand. I have seen Tricia Rose speak here at school, and after hearing her, her voice came through her interview with clarity and strength.
Some Things I Understand
The interview was not hard to understand. I definately grasped most of the material. Rose makes several key points regarding the culture of hip-hop, how it has changed, and why. Her main arguement is that "fans and detractors alike have advanced illogical, dishonest and offensive arguments about why the genre is bad and why it's great."
Furthermore, I can understand how Rose analyzes the complexity of the genre, and how mainstream media has developed its own ideas of what it means. She highlights all of the difficulty in producing music that supports the "richness" of the original hip-hop cultures. Instead(there are) idea(s) "that a certain kind of sexual deviance or violent behavior defines black culture has had a huge market in commercial mainstream culture for at least 200 years. Also, sexist images, which hip-hop has a lot of, seem to do very well across the cultural spectrum. So sexuality and sexual domination sell. Racial stereotypes sell." It is in this piece of Rose's interview that the complications of the genre are highlighted.
Some Things I Don't Understand
"There seems to be the tendency, when people complain about what they hear on the radio, for artists to say, "Well, if you don't like it, just turn it off." There's that shift in responsibility from artist to fan. Is that a disingenuous defense?"
This quote was not something I did not understand but it was something that I had to read twice just to make sure that I understood not only the vocabulary in the context, but how the question fit into the rest of the interview's main arguement.
Connections to other course themes
- This is much like our original assumptions about class. It sets hip-hop up as a foreign entity, or an "alien life form"
-Like Hine it has its own labels and vocabulary that had to develop much like the word of teenager
Comments-
This article was a light read, and definately easy for me to understand. I have seen Tricia Rose speak here at school, and after hearing her, her voice came through her interview with clarity and strength.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Um- so here are some links regarding media literacy- Im trying to catch up on my back posts I swear for those of you following my page the whole semester wont go down like this Im just having a really hard time personally right now- but stay tuned because my page will be some awesomeness by the time Im done-
so here are some links
FYI I just googled Media literacy with no quotations
Resources and workshops for K-12 educators promoting critical thinking to help students read media messages.
www.frankwbaker.com/
Featuring the Media Literacy Speakers Bureau™ and hundreds of resources for media literacy education in school, home and community.
www1.medialiteracy.com/
Your knowledge of media literacy has a good foundation, but could benefit from further study. Learn more about the media through our list of related sites ...
www.pbs.org/teachers/media_lit/quiz.html
*** This one has a cool interactive quiz
For many years now, The National Telemedia Council has been asked if any clear, succinct yet comprehensive overview of media literacy was available. ...
www.ci.appstate.edu/programs/edmedia/medialit/article.html
Media literacy is fundamental in helping young people to become informed citizens who can actively and successfully communicate with society and the world. ...
www.mediachannel.org/classroom/
**This last one is a little different it speaks to why media lit matters a little more than what it is
So heres to catching up- comments welcome
so here are some links
FYI I just googled Media literacy with no quotations
Resources and workshops for K-12 educators promoting critical thinking to help students read media messages.
www.frankwbaker.com/
Featuring the Media Literacy Speakers Bureau™ and hundreds of resources for media literacy education in school, home and community.
www1.medialiteracy.com/
Your knowledge of media literacy has a good foundation, but could benefit from further study. Learn more about the media through our list of related sites ...
www.pbs.org/teachers/media_lit/quiz.html
*** This one has a cool interactive quiz
For many years now, The National Telemedia Council has been asked if any clear, succinct yet comprehensive overview of media literacy was available. ...
www.ci.appstate.edu/programs/edmedia/medialit/article.html
Media literacy is fundamental in helping young people to become informed citizens who can actively and successfully communicate with society and the world. ...
www.mediachannel.org/classroom/
**This last one is a little different it speaks to why media lit matters a little more than what it is
So heres to catching up- comments welcome
Thursday, February 5, 2009
When I was 13
so IM behind as usual but here it goes....
13 sometimes it feels like it was yesterday and other times I feel like it was a few lifetimes ago. I was in the eighth grade. Funny that its the age were suppossed to write about because it was one of the hardest of my life. I was at an all girls school where the 8th grade had 32 kids. I was the victim of an internet crime, my father was going in for his 2nd and 3rd of 6 spinal surgeries in November and January. My uncle died unexpectedly at the same time. I was a sick kid- physically and mentally... and I was at the beginning of what continues to be one of the hardest and longest coming out processes. (Yes I date girls)
So all that shit aside- I can tell you that I excelled academically- I won the science fair by building a hovercraft(think flying saucer)- Painted an award-winning rainforest mural for my school,took 3 languages, and was a raging theater dork, I did Marat Sade and Steel Magnolias that year. I also played lacrosse for my school. I listened to 70's rock, wore parachute pants and band t shirts, had a different hair color every week, and had just started to learn my 3rd or so instrument. I went to work with my Dad to our business on Saturdays as much as I could- I liked(and still do) making money. For every success there was a learning experience(aka failure) and for every up there was a down. I couldnt have been me without it, thats not to say I wish to run back to it. At the time I probably felt like dying- like I was the only kid who was dealing shit, what I know now is that everyone was- it just depended on how much, how often, and what kind. So- I think my battle scars are sexy haha. Sometimes it feels like yesterday-sometimes it feels like a few life times ago.
C
13 sometimes it feels like it was yesterday and other times I feel like it was a few lifetimes ago. I was in the eighth grade. Funny that its the age were suppossed to write about because it was one of the hardest of my life. I was at an all girls school where the 8th grade had 32 kids. I was the victim of an internet crime, my father was going in for his 2nd and 3rd of 6 spinal surgeries in November and January. My uncle died unexpectedly at the same time. I was a sick kid- physically and mentally... and I was at the beginning of what continues to be one of the hardest and longest coming out processes. (Yes I date girls)
So all that shit aside- I can tell you that I excelled academically- I won the science fair by building a hovercraft(think flying saucer)- Painted an award-winning rainforest mural for my school,took 3 languages, and was a raging theater dork, I did Marat Sade and Steel Magnolias that year. I also played lacrosse for my school. I listened to 70's rock, wore parachute pants and band t shirts, had a different hair color every week, and had just started to learn my 3rd or so instrument. I went to work with my Dad to our business on Saturdays as much as I could- I liked(and still do) making money. For every success there was a learning experience(aka failure) and for every up there was a down. I couldnt have been me without it, thats not to say I wish to run back to it. At the time I probably felt like dying- like I was the only kid who was dealing shit, what I know now is that everyone was- it just depended on how much, how often, and what kind. So- I think my battle scars are sexy haha. Sometimes it feels like yesterday-sometimes it feels like a few life times ago.
C
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Linda Christensen-Talking Points 1.
Linda Christensen, "Unlearning the Myths that Bind Us"
Christensen makes numerous claims in her piece regarding popular culture and media in relation to youth. She argues that (p. 126) "Our society's culture industry colonizestheir minds and teaches them how to act, live, and dream." Throughout the article she continues to support this point with numerous examples from past student work. Given the background context and various examples I understand the weight of Christensen's arguement entirely.
One other point of interest that I understood on the basis of personal experience with its implications was that of the "Cindy Ellie" story and the difficulty of finally seeing an example of women of color in a story yet, the message for women was still the same- new clothing, new hairstyle, and you'll get the man.(133) I understand this type of outcome when all the other variables on which blame could be placed(race, class etc) are removed the message about women's co-dependancy and need to follow fashion trends to achieve the female ideal of marriage remain. Christensen clearly demonstrates this dilemma in her "Cindy Ellie" example.
I can't say at this time that there were points that I did not understand given I have read this article a handful of times previous.
Due to the fact that we have not yet had other course readings or themes that have emerged I cannot connect this piece adequately to other material.
Point to share:
Christensen makes a good point about the need for release of negativity that can be associated with learning the control the media has over identity politics and classroom/ relationship interactions. I like how she makes it clear that she needed to find the students an outlet for the frustration that would help allow them to feel like they were making change, and I think its an important step, even if students have to find a way to do it on their own.
Christensen makes numerous claims in her piece regarding popular culture and media in relation to youth. She argues that (p. 126) "Our society's culture industry colonizestheir minds and teaches them how to act, live, and dream." Throughout the article she continues to support this point with numerous examples from past student work. Given the background context and various examples I understand the weight of Christensen's arguement entirely.
One other point of interest that I understood on the basis of personal experience with its implications was that of the "Cindy Ellie" story and the difficulty of finally seeing an example of women of color in a story yet, the message for women was still the same- new clothing, new hairstyle, and you'll get the man.(133) I understand this type of outcome when all the other variables on which blame could be placed(race, class etc) are removed the message about women's co-dependancy and need to follow fashion trends to achieve the female ideal of marriage remain. Christensen clearly demonstrates this dilemma in her "Cindy Ellie" example.
I can't say at this time that there were points that I did not understand given I have read this article a handful of times previous.
Due to the fact that we have not yet had other course readings or themes that have emerged I cannot connect this piece adequately to other material.
Point to share:
Christensen makes a good point about the need for release of negativity that can be associated with learning the control the media has over identity politics and classroom/ relationship interactions. I like how she makes it clear that she needed to find the students an outlet for the frustration that would help allow them to feel like they were making change, and I think its an important step, even if students have to find a way to do it on their own.
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