Raquel Evita Saraswati, a Muslim American activist who appear in Honor Diaries, reminded me of Emerson as she is a practicing Muslim who works to change the problematic issues within her own Religion and continues to fight for her culture. Islam is the place where she draws her strength and she makes the point that genital mutilation is not actually part of Islamic code and that it is a practice that has been picked up with the cultural obsession surrounding honor and how the fulfillment of that concept has been placed entirely on the shoulders of women. She may be a powerful figure that is needed to bring about change in her culture. Though is also one player in a force of many. Many strive to bring about the cultural change needed to bring humanity and respect to women within the beliefs of Islamic culture. Though this is something that we could all take a part in. While it was important to be informed of the terrible plight facing these women, one of the main points I took away from this film is that one cannot be afraid of causing offense and anger when the humanity of so many is at stake. It is always easy to believe that it is better not to cause a drama and arguments. It's so much more regretful to let inequities slide because you were afraid of being called a racist or some other insult. That is something I shall have to work on.
Saturday, May 9, 2015
Response to: Honor Diaries
Honor Diaries is a documentary that discusses the issues women face in Middle Eastern Islamic cultures from the point of view of Middle Eastern Muslim women. It highlighted several issues that have become civil rights issues for Muslim women involving: enforced dress codes, forced marriage, genital mutilation, and honor killings. The documentary also pointed out how these issues have been occurring in the U.S. and Western Europe but is not addressed because of our understanding that we must allow for cultural diversity and freedom within our own culture. It really drove home the point that while it is important to allow for cultural expression, that it is just as equally important to make an effort to put a stop to the cultural practices that detrimentally harm living, breathing humans.
Friday, May 8, 2015
Semester Favorites
Throughout the semester we all have done some wonderful work! :)
Looking back on my posts, these three are my favorites:
Mutations of Hip
I merge different ideas from different areas of my studies and discuss how hip really originates in the city for the most part. Though that seems to change with the introduction of the Internet.
Westerns, Pulp, and Noir
In this post I imitated the style of Joan Didion. I described Los Angeles as the birth place of pulp fiction and went along with Leland's idea that this city in particular marks a shift in male identity in U.S. culture.
Social Upheaval and Cultural Mixing
Here I discuss how social upheaval is a part of hip as well as cultural mixing. It seems the two don't belong together but work together quite well.
I picked these because I feel many of these happened when I was on top of things.
In "Mutations of Hip" I was able to merge ideas from several different ideas in different areas of my study. I was on my game. Though I suppose it's easier to have everything together earlier in the semester, or maybe I just get better at procrastinating as things progress. Perhaps it sounds a bit braggy, but this particular post makes me feel brilliant (don't ask me how I'll feel about it 5 years from now).
In "Westerns, Pulp, and Noir" I felt like I got in touch with my inner poet. Yes, I was copying Didion's style but it was nice to get a little dramatic again. I feel like I was able to make a beautiful comparison between the San Andreas Fault and the idea of Los Angeles as a broken city. I think I did a decent job of tying in Leland's ideas of Pulp and the end of westward expansion. Sometimes I start giggling at how melodramatic this is. Though I suppose the catastrophic language is part of Didion's style.
In "Social Upheaval and Cultural Mixing" I feel the poetic nature of Didion carried over into this post a bit. I like seeing my further understanding of Leland's ideas. I like the metaphor I'm able to make with the cocoon and the half-formed moth. I know. It's kinda silly but I'm a big fan of extended metaphors. I should use them more often. Though maybe I use one too many this this post... Whatever, it's still awesome.
Before this course and thinking differently through Leland, I tended to think that all popular music and some entertainment was just something crafted for money and was moving more in that direction. Entertainment has become much more monetized than in the past but that doesn't really mean that it makes it less real. Especially since all artists cast an image of who they are when they create or perform their art. I thought of it just as a superficial practice to turn the economy by encouraging consumers to fit in by purchasing all of the newest, latest goods. I suppose this is true to a certain extent. However, hip also encourages people to consider sides to things they may not have considered before and contributes to cultural blending. Not on the same level as activism; though hip has a much larger audience than the average activist. The idea needs some exploring but perhaps part of the reason that young people do not vote on a larger scale is because Rock the Vote pushes for change solely through the means of hip. People don't feel like they are being taken seriously when they are told to vote because this celebrity with lots of money says you should. Maybe I just have too much of a high expectation for humanity. (Uh-oh, my inner cynic is rearing to bite again!) I guess I understand more of how hip spreads ideas and brings about change more than just the trends that catch on.
I guess my strengths lie in a sort of lyrical and metaphoric language. I didn't use as much of that this semester because I felt like I couldn't use it as much in essays and articles. I think I should practice integrating these together cause I felt like I really shined when I did that, but not too much. Is there a way to overdo symbolism and metaphors? Regarding my thinking process I think I excelled in turning things on their sides and trying to think about them in a typical way besides what seems apparent. I was introduced to feminist thought when I was a junior in high school and it sort of escalated from there since it fit well into my understanding of the world. I guess my biggest weakness is that I get a little too worried about offending people and try to be too polite at times. though I had the issue of being "too nice" before I ever incorporated feminist theory into my thought process. In a way I guess this weakness could also be a strength as people I disagree with don't feel like I'm being disrespectful when I debate with them. I think an argument has more chances to seed an idea when the person you're debating with doesn't feel like you're trying to belittle or tear them down. I'm still trying to find a balance between being worried about making people mad and standing up for what I believe. I think I'm sort of getting there. It's easier to have that confidence in writing when you're disagreeing with a stranger rather than a friend or relative.
Throughout this semester I think I at least worked towards a "B," I'm not going to say that I'm a perfect little worker. I had opportunities to get extra points that I didn't take. I also really started to get out of my groove towards the end of the semester. I suppose it happens with a lot of people. Though I feel like my procrastination is something that I need to learn to work around because it really limits my potential. Lots of things were on time in the beginning of the semester but after I realized that I could turn things in late I got a bit too lax and let things go later than they should have. I need to stick to a schedule instead of taking the attitude that I could get things done later. That being said, I feel I did work hard at researching and thinking about my topics. I need to find a balance between writing and my thought processes. Procrastination doesn't really help me do that. Maybe it sort of helps me put some of my ideas together.
Thanks for the semester! I feel like I learned a lot! I think the pitches will help a lot! It taught me about how to freelance a piece. I'm sure I'm going to get a lot of use out of this! :)
Looking back on my posts, these three are my favorites:
Mutations of Hip
I merge different ideas from different areas of my studies and discuss how hip really originates in the city for the most part. Though that seems to change with the introduction of the Internet.
Westerns, Pulp, and Noir
In this post I imitated the style of Joan Didion. I described Los Angeles as the birth place of pulp fiction and went along with Leland's idea that this city in particular marks a shift in male identity in U.S. culture.
Social Upheaval and Cultural Mixing
Here I discuss how social upheaval is a part of hip as well as cultural mixing. It seems the two don't belong together but work together quite well.
I picked these because I feel many of these happened when I was on top of things.
In "Mutations of Hip" I was able to merge ideas from several different ideas in different areas of my study. I was on my game. Though I suppose it's easier to have everything together earlier in the semester, or maybe I just get better at procrastinating as things progress. Perhaps it sounds a bit braggy, but this particular post makes me feel brilliant (don't ask me how I'll feel about it 5 years from now).
In "Westerns, Pulp, and Noir" I felt like I got in touch with my inner poet. Yes, I was copying Didion's style but it was nice to get a little dramatic again. I feel like I was able to make a beautiful comparison between the San Andreas Fault and the idea of Los Angeles as a broken city. I think I did a decent job of tying in Leland's ideas of Pulp and the end of westward expansion. Sometimes I start giggling at how melodramatic this is. Though I suppose the catastrophic language is part of Didion's style.
In "Social Upheaval and Cultural Mixing" I feel the poetic nature of Didion carried over into this post a bit. I like seeing my further understanding of Leland's ideas. I like the metaphor I'm able to make with the cocoon and the half-formed moth. I know. It's kinda silly but I'm a big fan of extended metaphors. I should use them more often. Though maybe I use one too many this this post... Whatever, it's still awesome.
Before this course and thinking differently through Leland, I tended to think that all popular music and some entertainment was just something crafted for money and was moving more in that direction. Entertainment has become much more monetized than in the past but that doesn't really mean that it makes it less real. Especially since all artists cast an image of who they are when they create or perform their art. I thought of it just as a superficial practice to turn the economy by encouraging consumers to fit in by purchasing all of the newest, latest goods. I suppose this is true to a certain extent. However, hip also encourages people to consider sides to things they may not have considered before and contributes to cultural blending. Not on the same level as activism; though hip has a much larger audience than the average activist. The idea needs some exploring but perhaps part of the reason that young people do not vote on a larger scale is because Rock the Vote pushes for change solely through the means of hip. People don't feel like they are being taken seriously when they are told to vote because this celebrity with lots of money says you should. Maybe I just have too much of a high expectation for humanity. (Uh-oh, my inner cynic is rearing to bite again!) I guess I understand more of how hip spreads ideas and brings about change more than just the trends that catch on.
I guess my strengths lie in a sort of lyrical and metaphoric language. I didn't use as much of that this semester because I felt like I couldn't use it as much in essays and articles. I think I should practice integrating these together cause I felt like I really shined when I did that, but not too much. Is there a way to overdo symbolism and metaphors? Regarding my thinking process I think I excelled in turning things on their sides and trying to think about them in a typical way besides what seems apparent. I was introduced to feminist thought when I was a junior in high school and it sort of escalated from there since it fit well into my understanding of the world. I guess my biggest weakness is that I get a little too worried about offending people and try to be too polite at times. though I had the issue of being "too nice" before I ever incorporated feminist theory into my thought process. In a way I guess this weakness could also be a strength as people I disagree with don't feel like I'm being disrespectful when I debate with them. I think an argument has more chances to seed an idea when the person you're debating with doesn't feel like you're trying to belittle or tear them down. I'm still trying to find a balance between being worried about making people mad and standing up for what I believe. I think I'm sort of getting there. It's easier to have that confidence in writing when you're disagreeing with a stranger rather than a friend or relative.
Throughout this semester I think I at least worked towards a "B," I'm not going to say that I'm a perfect little worker. I had opportunities to get extra points that I didn't take. I also really started to get out of my groove towards the end of the semester. I suppose it happens with a lot of people. Though I feel like my procrastination is something that I need to learn to work around because it really limits my potential. Lots of things were on time in the beginning of the semester but after I realized that I could turn things in late I got a bit too lax and let things go later than they should have. I need to stick to a schedule instead of taking the attitude that I could get things done later. That being said, I feel I did work hard at researching and thinking about my topics. I need to find a balance between writing and my thought processes. Procrastination doesn't really help me do that. Maybe it sort of helps me put some of my ideas together.
Thanks for the semester! I feel like I learned a lot! I think the pitches will help a lot! It taught me about how to freelance a piece. I'm sure I'm going to get a lot of use out of this! :)
Living in the Present With Imperfections
The Beat aesthetic described in Leland's Hip: the History is one that does not focus on the present or the past but embraces what happens in the moment, so it's pretty forgiving of mistakes and flaws. This kind of attitude can be seen in different aspects of our media. With one event happening after another and all of these things taking place within seconds on the internet, many news items or YouTube videos become old news within minutes as viewers move onto the next thing. Celebrity goofs and blunders are constantly popping up in the news and are forgotten about as soon as the next big thing to fire up the nation occurs. From the shirt storm controversy to Gamergate and Trayvon Martin to Michael Brown to Freddie Gray. The internet does care about all of these events and individuals but seems to move on relatively quickly after said events happen. The Internet does care about all of these events and individuals but seems to move on relatively quickly after said events happen. This seems particularly true with celebrities as the Internet has moved on from collectively hating Avril Lavigne's Hello Kitty.
Perhaps this applies more to celebrities that we happens to like for the most part. Though this is a bit of an older example, we seem to have a cultural acceptance for Trent Reznor, the sole member of Nine Inch Nails, as he won both an Oscar and a Golden Globe award for his soundtrack in The Social Network in 2011 and was nominated for a Golden Globe for his soundtrack in Gone Girl this year. He's had a bit of a bumpy history as he's had problems with addiction and depression. One of his first albums The Downward Spiral focused on the downfall of an addict, which ended up becoming strangely prophetic. His most recent album Hesitation Marks focuses on coming out alive after recovering from an addiction. I would say that Downward Spiral is more of a worship of flaws and living in the moment. Closer, the most popular track from the album, discusses sex addition and bluntly describes the desire within the moment with the line “I want to f—k you like an animal.” Later on in All Time Low, one of the more popular tracks from Hesitation Marks, he seems to have stepped away from the Beat aesthetic somewhat has he describes addition with this line “Get down on the floor/ Shut the goddamn door/ You've done this all before/ You're coming back for more.” This particular line has removed the worship of the present, which makes sense as living in the moment proved to be destructive to him. It could be said that Kurt Cobain was a victim of allowing the Beat aesthetic to move too far through his art and his way of life and that was partially what lead to his downfall as he was unable to come to terms with different life events as he continued to barrel past them in his practice of living in the moment. Beat aesthetic can help with forgetting what happened in the past, but sometimes we aren't ready to forget about those things. Sometimes our flaws are wonderful at doing us in.
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