Friday, June 8, 2007
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Writer's Choice ~ Indoor -vs- Outdoors
Pulling into my neighborhood one early evening in May brought home lots of memories of my childhood. Most of our neighborhood consists of large to 5-acre lots with homes. I drove onto our side country road anxious to get home, eat and relax. To my surprise within a ¼ mile stretch I could have my thirst quenched by a group of young entrepreneurs by a nice refreshing glass of lemonade. I couldn’t help but smile as my eyes watered and my mind wandered back 25 years to memories of neighborhood kids gathering together outdoors daily, trying to buy ice-cream and popsicles with Monopoly money, catching wagons full of caterpillars, climbing many trees, and collecting bushels of cat tails. I couldn’t help but think how great it was to see young kids outdoors, using their imaginations as they round up the other neighborhood kids to sell their lemonade and play a game of toss while they waited for their next customer. So many of these memories returned from this one incident of young entrepreneurs which made me realize that there is something missing in today’s generation of kids. They’re not outdoors selling lemonade and collecting bugs; they are indoors with the newest coolest video and computer game fending off their “evil” enemies. We as society have allowed the traditions of getting “fresh air” change from daily to possibly weekly.
Second, kids are gaining unhealthy physical habits. What do they do when they watch T.V.? They eat. What about sitting at the computer or at a game system? They are not exercising their bodies. These all add to the growing cause of overweight children in America, which has doubled since 1976. As there becomes more indoor entertainment, computers, game systems & T.V., kids are becoming less active which is causing the rise in health related issues in children, and some adults.
Third, kids are lacking social skills, which also leads to a lack of respect towards others. We gain social and problem solving skills and respect, by interacting with other people. This is something that is unobtainable through a game or T.V. We need to have interaction with humans to be able to adapt to our surroundings, and to prepare ourselves for the work world. It is very clear that the more time spent alone on computers is driving wedges in children’s social skills. How can we learn respect if we don’t interact with people on an everyday basis?
Finally, family-bonding time is becoming ascetic. It is very difficult to actually get to know one another when there is a constant interference of electronic devices. When outdoors you have the ability to talk to one another without the many interruptions that these devices may inflict. We can be who we really are, laugh and enjoy one another’s time. I rarely ever hear my kids laugh when they are playing an electronic game or when they are on the computer. But when they are outdoors with their friends on the trampoline, I just fall in love listening to them laugh and pretend that they are bouncing on the moon. Or when my daughter and I are playing Scattergories at the kitchen table and my daughter turns to her dad and says, “Hey dad, mom and I are doing some bounding time right now. She will help you in a bit.” These are the times we want to remember. These are the times that are harder to come by. In the essay “Thoroughly Modern Dining” by Richard Pillsbury states “The changes that we see in our lifestyles while using them as celebration vehicles, however, tell us much about the nature of the changing family and maybe even suggests a warning about what may await us later in life.” Even though this essay’s main point was regarding traditions in dining out versus dining in, it hit home to how many of the customary traditions have taken a hit and have been altered with today’s new pop culture trends. We need to grasp onto some of the older traditions that keep our families together and our young ones happy and healthy.
Voice and Audience ~ The Family Stone
- In the beginning of this movie, Meredith is going to visit her boyfriend’s (Everett), family for Christmas. She has only met one family member, a younger sister Amy, from a past visit. Before Meredith and Everett show up, Amy is giving a “briefing” on what type of person Meredith is. Uptight and high strong, with an annoying throat tick when she gets nervous. This gives the family a painted picture before they even meet Meredith of what type of person she may be. The family watches Meredith and Everett pull up in the car. Everett quickly tells Meredith that his family are all in the house at the window watching her. So before she even enters the house, she knows the family has been waiting and watching for “her”. Kelli, Everett’s dad comes out to greet the two of them, giving them hugs. It seems clear that Meredith is uncomfortable with the “hugging” introductions and prefers to shake hands.
I think this incident shows perspective of others by when the family listens to what Amy has to say about their first meeting, which allows the family to make a presumption of her character and personality. That she is a professional businesswoman that is high strong, uptight and has annoying habits. She is warned by Everett that his family is watching through the window. I think the filmmaker wants us to see that she is a outcast before she even walks through door.
Who are we are under our Clothes? ~ ORIGINAL
People choose clothing for many reasons. Some as simple as "to protect and cover", "to keep warm", or to avoid being arrested for streaking in public. The more common known reason would be to conform to societies expectations. Sometimes doing this we have a tendency of not revealing or loosing touch with our true identity and personality. You can't always tell a person by clothing alone, just like you can't judge a book by its cover, however, it can say a lot. Who are we under our clothes?
There are many reasons why people conform to societies expectations, one of them being your place of work. In some jobs you are required to dress to an image that identifies your position at work. People will wear certain styles & colors, business suits, Carhart, uniforms, etc., to identify them as a part of a group.
"Society, which the more I think of it astonishes me the more, is founded upon cloth.” Thus Thomas Carlyle in 1836. “Little less astonishing today is some of the cloth objects chosen by their wearers. But when such objects become, like uniforms, obligatory and regulated, with implications of mass value, they are irresistibly fascinating.” (Excerpted from Uniforms: Why We Are What We Wear, by Paul Fussell)
We are not always given an option to what we wear in the work world. Which leaves us wondering,” Is that person wearing that suit, an uptight person?” “ Are they a person of responsibility and/or power?” Or, “Are they just fitting the image?” They could be or maybe they go home and “rip” off their suits and put on those jeans they are most comfortable in. There is a lot of misleading of identity when you are out in public, when it comes to what people wear.
A person always looking for the newest, coolest outfit, with the newest, coolest accessories are often considered conforming to societies expectations. They want to be accepted by others so bad, that they will do whatever it takes to fit that image with their clothing. If the new Abercrombie & Fitch sweatshirt is $90, it doesn’t matter as long as it fits the image the person is trying to convey. There is an understanding that a lot of this begins at a very young age. Volunteering in the school system around young kids really has opened my eyes up to what has become a growing problem. The majority students are wearing name brands at very young ages. We as adults have enforced our ways of dressing onto our children, by buying clothes at Nordstrom, Macys, etc., and boycotting the more inexpensive stores such as Target & Sears because they don’t carry all name brands. Really, babies don’t care if their first shoes, say NIKE. So as we instill these beliefs into our children we are possibly opening up an issue that could continue on through their lifetime. Yes, it is great to get something nice to wear and feel good about ourselves, but are we doing it for the right reason or are we trying to fit in?
As children become adolescences it becomes a challenge to integrate with peers at school. Often children are grouped at school and socially separated in status by their clothing. This is a major contributor in peer pressure related problems. Most children want to "fit in" and be "popular". In order to achieve this station in school, children will dress in accordance with the "clique" they wish to be a part of. This problem only gets worse as they get older. Some children will dress in opposition to protest the popularity struggle. Even by doing this they are grouping themselves. It seems most people are either afraid to be themselves or uncomfortable being different. Other children dress to hide who they are because they are embarrassed of their selves. I decided to ask my 12-year-old daughter, who is in 6th grade, why she wears what she wears? I made sure to tell her that I want her to tell me exactly how she feels, and that there was no right or wrong answer. This is what she quoted to me. “I like to wear clothes that express who I am and ones that are more expensive, better brand, because it is most likely the “in thing”. When she stated the “in thing”, she used her fingers as to making quotation marks. I was a little surprise for she doesn’t always show that “attitude” when shopping for clothes. But as I contemplated a little deeper over her answer I remembered that adolescences quite often don’t tell their parents “everything” they are thinking. Truthfully, I do take my kids to certain stores to shop for their clothes, because I don’t want them made fun of at school. I just didn’t think they always caught on. It is a trap! Even as a 35 year old, I am still confined to social expectations.
As I did a little further research I found some quotes from Middle and High school students regarding how they feel about their selves and what they wear.
“I have been bullied about how I dress, and so have others at my school. I think that every kid in the world should be encouraged and treated with kindness every day of the year.” JORDAN at Evansville Christian School, http://www.courierpress.com/
“Female teenagers are very concerned with the way they look. They have the influence of all the models and movie stars. Female teenagers feel they have to look like the latest "hot celebrity." These young teenagers often believe that they have to wear a certain kind or brand of clothing.” CAMERON at Evansville Day School, http://www.courierpress.com/
Now we have to ask ourselves if how we dress really reflects our personality or are we trying to fit an image or “picture” that we think is acceptable to society? To answer this question, we have to ask that question of ourselves. From work clothes, to everyday clothes, from young kids to adults, we all are caught in the clothing trap to some degree or other. All we can hope is that we recognize this trap and try to find a way to be true to our identity.
Reflecting back....Moving Forward
What am I looking for? Being 35, a Christian, a mother of three busy growing children and a wife to a great husband, I know it isn’t a matter of what I am looking for. I have everything. It is doing what God wants me to do. I know that God will always pave the way, and all I have to do is follow. I know, you are probably thinking, “That’s all?” No, it isn't easy but in the end, very rewarding.
At the beginning of the quarter, with a full load of college courses, one of which was fully online, I thought to myself, “What was I thinking?" I am going to sink with this load I took on. Then I looked at my kids and I knew could float! I could swim! I could do this! :0) Isn't that what I always tell my kids? Now sitting here reflecting back, I think to myself what a great experience!
English 101 was the class I decided to take online. When I first read the assignments, I went into shock. Not because there was too much. No. But because it had been 17 years since I had been in school, and much of the assignments were overwhelming. Then the class jumped into the assignments right away and it was amazing how many of the students had some of the same fears. We had some great essay's to read over and many discussions as a class regarding the essays. When I first started the Discussion Board assignments, I was concerned of not saying the right thing. But that was okay, for some of us had different opinions, some had similiar opinions, but we were all along for the same ride.
This past year I have struggled with my own individuality, my own identity and my family’s position in our community. How appropriate to take a English Class that focuses on Identity, Traditions and Community for the quarter. When it all comes down to the final thought, they are all intertwined in some way or another. Identity is important to maintain self. Traditions, many of the times, is part of our Identity. Community is just not a place you live, it is also people and groups that have many of the same interests. All in all, it comes back to who we are.
As a part of our Grand Finale for English 101, we have the opportunity to reflect on some of our work over the past quarter. Besides reflecting on what we learned in a whole, we are also asked to include four pieces that reflects our best thinking and writing skills. As I have done this, I realized that I indeed have progressed in my writing skills, trying to trust my thoughts and ideas. The four pieces I decided on are:
___________________________________________
- Critical Thinking Skills - The Mask DB
- Revision and Reseeing - We are who we are under our Clothes Essay
- Awareness and Audience - The Family Stone Video DB
- Writers Choice - Indoors -vs- Outdoors Essay
Who are we under our Clothes? ~ REVISION
There are many reasons why people conform to societies expectations, one of them being your place of work. In some jobs you are required to dress to an image that identifies your position at work. People will wear certain styles & colors, business suits, Carhart, uniforms, etc., to identify them as a part of a group.
Paul Fussell states, "Society, which the more I think of it astonishes me the more, is founded upon cloth.” Thus Thomas Carlyle in 1836. “Little less astonishing today is some of the cloth objects chosen by their wearers. But when such objects become, like uniforms, obligatory and regulated, with implications of mass value, they are irresistibly fascinating.” Uniforms: Why We Are What We Wear
We are not always given an option to what we wear in the work world. Which leaves us wondering,” Is that person wearing that suit, an uptight person?” “ Are they a person of responsibility and/or power?” Or, “Are they just fitting the image?” They could be or maybe they go home and rip off their suits and put on those jeans they are most comfortable in. There is a lot of misleading of identity when you are out in public, when it comes to what people wear.
A person always looking for the newest, coolest outfit, with the newest, coolest accessories are often considered conforming to societies expectations. They want to be accepted by others so bad, that they will do whatever it takes to fit that image with their clothing. If the new Abercrombie & Fitch sweatshirt is $90, it doesn’t matter as long as it fits the image the person is trying to convey. A lot of this begins at a very young age. Volunteering in the school system around young kids really has opened my eyes up to what has become a growing problem. The majority students are wearing name brands at very young ages. We as adults have forced our ways of dressing onto our children, by buying clothes at Nordstrom, Macys, etc., and boycotting the more inexpensive stores such as Target & Sears because they don’t carry all name brands. Really, babies don’t care if their first shoes, say NIKE. So as we instill these beliefs into our children we are possibly opening up an issue that could continue on through their lifetime. Yes, it is great to get something nice to wear and feel good about ourselves, but are we doing it for the right reason or are we trying to fit in?
As children become adolescences it becomes a challenge to integrate with peers at school. Often children are grouped at school and socially separated in status by their clothing. This is a major contributor in peer pressure related problems. Most children want to fit in and be popular. In order to achieve this station in school, children will dress in accordance with the clique they wish to be a part of. This problem only gets worse as they get older. Some children will dress in opposition to protest the popularity struggle. Even by doing this they are grouping themselves. It seems most people are either afraid to be themselves or uncomfortable being different. Other children dress to hide who they are because they are embarrassed of their selves. I decided to ask my 12-year-old daughter, who is in 6th grade, why she wears what she wears? I made sure to tell her that I want her to tell me exactly how she feels, and that there was no right or wrong answer. This is what she quoted to me. “I like to wear clothes that express who I am and ones that are more expensive, better brand, because it is most likely the in thing.” When she stated the “in thing”, she used her fingers as to making quotation marks. I was a little surprised because she doesn’t always show that attitude when shopping for clothes. Which then reminded me of an essay by Emily White, High School’s Secret Life.
“The popular kids at Calhoun dress overwhelmingly in the ubiquitous trendy brand Abercrombie & Fitch. They sport the logo on T-shirts, pants, bags, baseball hats.”
But as I contemplated a little deeper over my daughter’s answer I remembered that adolescents quite often don’t tell their parents everything they are thinking. Truthfully, I do take my kids to certain stores to shop for their clothes, because I don’t want them made fun of at school and I want them to fit it. I just didn’t realize they always caught on to that. It is a trap! Even as a 35 year old, I am still confined to social expectations.
Now we have to ask ourselves if how we dress really reflects our personality or are we trying to fit an image or “picture” that we think is acceptable to society? To answer this question, we have to ask that question of ourselves. From work clothes, to everyday clothes, from young kids to adults, we all are caught in the clothing trap to some degree or other. All we can hope is that we recognize this trap and try to find a way to be true to our identity.
My Critical Thinking Skills
I decided to do my Critical Thinking Skills assignment on the discussion we did online with classmates from English 101. Lucy Grealy, THE MASK. Remix - reading + composing culture (Catherine Latterell) 2006. This was about a young lady who had been diagnosed with a form of cancer, in which she lost nearly 1/2 of her jaw. She talks about the different type of pain she went through that wasn't physical. She called it, "deep bottomless grief...called ugliness." Alienation, humilation, etc.
"I treated despair in terms of hierarchy: If there was more important pain in the world, it meant my own was negated."
Lucy always seemed to look at the less fortunate. I think she felt that if she could find someone that was worse off then her, then her problems were less valued. She didn't want to give herself permission to suffer. Although deep down, she was suffering.
"I breathed in the condensing, plastic-tainted air behind the mask and thought that I was breathing in normalcy, that freedom and ease were what the world consisted of, that other people felt it all the time."
When she hid behind the masks at Halloween, she experienced a sense of freedom and joy, she figured others felt daily. She wanted to feel it all the time, and she figured the only way she could experience that was to "hide" her scars. When indeed she couldn't hide the scars that lie beneath the surface, deep down.
"I wanted nothing to do with the world of love; I thought wanting love was a weakness to be overcome. And besides, I thought to myself, the world of love wanted nothing to do with me."
Lucy didn't feel as if she deserved love. If she "needed" it, it would be considered a weakness; something else she would have to defeat. As far as she was concerned the love of the world didn't want her either.
