1. In paragraph 4, what does Flora mean by "cognitive whiplash?
I think she was saying that when paparazzi capture celebrities without make-up, with dingy clothes and their flaws. It shows how normal they are.
2. What is the "cultural niche" that celebrity watching fulfills in our society?
The red carpet, the Super Bowl ring, the hand prints outside Grumans Chinese Theater and it's ability to immortalize.
3. Flora writes that "celebrities provide a common currency in our society in our fractured world." What does she mean by this? Do you agree with her? Can you think of any instances where celebrities provide us with a way to connect?
Finding out gossip about a celebrity lets us realize that they too have issues.It takes us out of our world and puts us into their world. I know that when I was watching a show called "Cribs" that viewed celebrities lifestyle. I started imagining what if I lived like that.What would I do with all this money? Would I spend it the way they do or differently? I stepped outside of myself and the worries that I had and had the chance to be fascinated about someone else excited life.
4. What is the "exposure factor"?
The more the person is exposed the more that we take a liking to that person and their looks.
5. Why, according to Flora, are we so drawn to stars?
That they were once like us watching celebrities and shows just like us.
6. How might a reality TV star and an actor deal with fame differently?
A reality star is more cooperative, wants attention, enjoy publicity whereas an actor ambivalent feeling about fame and how it is tied in with her craft.
Discussion
1. In what ways can star watching be inspiring? What inspirational celebrities can you think of who fulfills this role? What needs can celebrity watching fulfill?
A celebrity that I found inspiring is Morgan Freeman. I watched a documentary that he made of High School students in Mississippi. He filmed this because he wanted to show that in 2010 that they were still have segregated proms. So Freeman wanted to pay for them to have one prom with both races attending. It was insane how the white students did not want to have the prom but state "they are not racist, and they don't feel that whites and blacks should party together." I fault their parents because they were there encouraging them that it was wrong to share the same space as blacks. I like the fact that Freeman brought it to the medias attention that things like this occurs. Even if all did not find this was wrong maybe he touched a few others to see differently.
2. How does celebrity watching affect your friendships?
I don't think it affects my friendship in any way.
3. Using the reading-against-the-grain strategy, can you find any flaw in Flor's argument?
I think she's accurate about it. Although I have yet to meet a celebrity I am sure that I will be excited about meeting one. I can see how we look at newspapers and get excited to read about the gossip in their lives especially when it has to do with money, infidelity, and surgery. We tend to get caught in their life.
4. Think of a current big celebrity; do Flora's points about our fascination with celebrities apply to this celebrity? Why or why not?
Yeah. I'm thinking of Kim Kardashian. How she started out was a bit extreme but now she one of the most famous women talked about. When we heard about her failed marriages many people were excited. Others speculate that she's had surgery to enhance her bottom. Her beauty and her style amazing. We all want to know and or see more of her.
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Friday, October 24, 2014
Mid term
Just the thought of enrolling into school was nerve wrecking but exciting at the same time. It brought me back to my early years when I attended Northside Middle school. The night before school I would lay my best shoes and alfit to match on a chair. Somehow I would still wake up an hour earlier than what my clock was set because I was full of excitement. So now I enrolled in college with that same feeling with a little bit of issues.
Transitioning out of the military to become a civilian is difficult. This can be a negative and positive at the same time. We were trained to live by what we call The Warrior Ethos. I will always place the mission first, I will never accept defeat, I will never quit, I will never leave a fall comrade. So as a positive I have the mindset of school being my mission. I will not accept a C because to me that is midway of defeat. There is no possible way I could quit. Not only have I gotten out of the military without completing my goals of retirement but I have kids that depend on me. My classmates are my comrades, if they struggle I will help them even if it is guiding them to the counselors to receive help. As a negative, I am a veteran of many deployments and my experiences can get in my way at times. Truthfully I am afraid to sit in a classroom with 20 students. There are days that I feel like I'm back in Afghanistan and every one is a threat. I get so nervous that it prevents me from going to class. I know it will take time but I am so determined to succeed so I'm willing to put in therapy time.
Even though I have these issues I am focused on succeeding so I can help others. What I liked about Pikes Peak Community College is that they have help for veterans. They have their own section just to help veterans with applying for their GI Bill, which pays for school. If it is too busy to sign up for classes at enrollment we can always go up stairs to the VA lounge without having to wait for too long. They also have helpful information there about tutoring, certificate programs, and even if you want to do homework in a quiet place you are welcome to go. Now that we are in the halfway point it seems as if its getting tough but I like the challenge. I helps me to be a better student. I think I can study more and putting more effort into my assignments would help my grades even more.
I feel that what you put into school is what you ill get out of it. If you study the minimum amount or not at all it will reflect and show on your grades. You have to have it in your mind and heart that the reasons why you want to go to school. Have your goals in mind as a refresher when you feel yourself falling behind or wanting to give up. I understand that there will be hard times as well as good times in school but I keep giving myself positive affirmations and push through. This is a new change for me. I have little doubt that I will fail. There is too much resources out there to help me and I advise everyone to at least try and see how it is. I was a soldier fighting for my country but now I am a student striving to succeed in college and life.
Transitioning out of the military to become a civilian is difficult. This can be a negative and positive at the same time. We were trained to live by what we call The Warrior Ethos. I will always place the mission first, I will never accept defeat, I will never quit, I will never leave a fall comrade. So as a positive I have the mindset of school being my mission. I will not accept a C because to me that is midway of defeat. There is no possible way I could quit. Not only have I gotten out of the military without completing my goals of retirement but I have kids that depend on me. My classmates are my comrades, if they struggle I will help them even if it is guiding them to the counselors to receive help. As a negative, I am a veteran of many deployments and my experiences can get in my way at times. Truthfully I am afraid to sit in a classroom with 20 students. There are days that I feel like I'm back in Afghanistan and every one is a threat. I get so nervous that it prevents me from going to class. I know it will take time but I am so determined to succeed so I'm willing to put in therapy time.
Even though I have these issues I am focused on succeeding so I can help others. What I liked about Pikes Peak Community College is that they have help for veterans. They have their own section just to help veterans with applying for their GI Bill, which pays for school. If it is too busy to sign up for classes at enrollment we can always go up stairs to the VA lounge without having to wait for too long. They also have helpful information there about tutoring, certificate programs, and even if you want to do homework in a quiet place you are welcome to go. Now that we are in the halfway point it seems as if its getting tough but I like the challenge. I helps me to be a better student. I think I can study more and putting more effort into my assignments would help my grades even more.
I feel that what you put into school is what you ill get out of it. If you study the minimum amount or not at all it will reflect and show on your grades. You have to have it in your mind and heart that the reasons why you want to go to school. Have your goals in mind as a refresher when you feel yourself falling behind or wanting to give up. I understand that there will be hard times as well as good times in school but I keep giving myself positive affirmations and push through. This is a new change for me. I have little doubt that I will fail. There is too much resources out there to help me and I advise everyone to at least try and see how it is. I was a soldier fighting for my country but now I am a student striving to succeed in college and life.
Friday, October 10, 2014
Saturday, October 4, 2014
Understanding Barbara Ehrenrich
1. She feels that theses former cooks, waiters and/or clerks that are now managers crossed over to the dark side. She believes that their sole purpose it to just sit around and make sure others do not. I can relate to her in some ways and I can understand where sheis coming from. Being in the military we also have managers called Squad Leaders. They micromanage what we do and make sure our jobs are properly done and if it not to our standards they make life harder for us. Then we have Leaders. Those are the Squad leaders that will help us or give us more guidance. Those are the managers that I respect. The ones that will help us instead of micromanaging.
2. Gail lives with her male friend that has been hitting on her. Since she can not afford rent on her own she feels that she obligated to stick around because she can not do it alone. Jack has it a little better. He lives in a trailer that he owns and only pays $400-a-monthfor lot fees. While Tina and her husband rents a room at the Days Inn for $60 a night because they have no care,and it is walking distance to work. This equals $420 a week, which is too expensive for anyone. So I feel they have the worst out of all of them. I think that Gail, Tina and her husband should move in together. Gail wants to get away from her boyfriend but cannot afford rent on their own.
3.
4. Maybe at the time she can experience how it is to live on a low wage income but in reality she knows what she truly has. She is always welcome to go back to being a professor after completing the book. She knows that she has stubility there. These other waitress can not. This is their way of living on a daily. No I do not believe that she can relate to them. This is just a project for her book. Not her actual life. Ehrenreich has more than what they have other than money. She has a college education which is very valuable in our society now.
5. I can fully understand Ehrenreich and how she view things when it come to helping fellow employees. I believe that maybe he could have done more. Maybe he could have given her a room without charge or at a very low rate without anyone knowing. As long as it it cleaned every morning and her stuff is in her car. I think that we need to be more loyal to people that we work with. If we see them struggling help them every now and then. Not saying give them everything you have. I am spiritual and I believe God has and is blessing us every day. At least return that to others that are less fortunate.
2. Gail lives with her male friend that has been hitting on her. Since she can not afford rent on her own she feels that she obligated to stick around because she can not do it alone. Jack has it a little better. He lives in a trailer that he owns and only pays $400-a-monthfor lot fees. While Tina and her husband rents a room at the Days Inn for $60 a night because they have no care,and it is walking distance to work. This equals $420 a week, which is too expensive for anyone. So I feel they have the worst out of all of them. I think that Gail, Tina and her husband should move in together. Gail wants to get away from her boyfriend but cannot afford rent on their own.
3.
4. Maybe at the time she can experience how it is to live on a low wage income but in reality she knows what she truly has. She is always welcome to go back to being a professor after completing the book. She knows that she has stubility there. These other waitress can not. This is their way of living on a daily. No I do not believe that she can relate to them. This is just a project for her book. Not her actual life. Ehrenreich has more than what they have other than money. She has a college education which is very valuable in our society now.
5. I can fully understand Ehrenreich and how she view things when it come to helping fellow employees. I believe that maybe he could have done more. Maybe he could have given her a room without charge or at a very low rate without anyone knowing. As long as it it cleaned every morning and her stuff is in her car. I think that we need to be more loyal to people that we work with. If we see them struggling help them every now and then. Not saying give them everything you have. I am spiritual and I believe God has and is blessing us every day. At least return that to others that are less fortunate.
Understanding Lars Eighner
1. When he began Dumpster diving he didn't particularly like that word so he would use terms such as "scavenging" and "scrounging". He says this when he means to be obscure. Lars described that lived from the refuse of others. "He was a scavenger". He felt it sound more honorable niche. Others would use "foraging" to be polite but he reserved that word for gathering nuts and berries. "Dumpster diving" seemed too cute and inaccurate to him because he felt he lacked the athletic ability to lower himself into the Dumpster as true divers did.
2. A new scavenger will be filled with disgust and self loathing. He will feel ashamed, so he will lurk around, ducking behind things, dive at night and skulking around. This may bring suspicion to a person. Although he may not be able to erase the stigma of eating out of the dumpster the stage will pass with experience. Once a scavenger finds useful items like shoes, clothes, calculator etc., he begins to understand that people throw away good stuff. Then his Dumpster shyness begins to dissipate. He then may get lost once finding good things. He may feel that he can repair them. Keeping things although they have completely no value to him or market. They may feel that since it is free why not keep it. That's when they become lost and may not be able to recover. This may sound like a hoarder.
3. He found from scavenging two deep lessons. The first to take what he can use and let the rest go by. The second is of the transience of material being. He feels that he shares values with the wealthy. He feels that they both know they have plenty more from what we came from. Maybe meaning their money and values and his values that he finds in dumpsters. He seemed very in touch with life and nature. Every time he touches something in the dumpster he envisions throwing it away maybe for the next diver to find it more valuable. He would always find the bright side of things. I personally can not imagine eating out of a Dumpster. I do not care if is in a can. Some how he manage to leave the shame behind and learn how to survive off of garbage. When he stated that scavenging is a modern form of self-reliance because the cities are now filled with plenty of Dumpsters. I feel that he is saying this is more common now. Since they have more Dumpsters there will be more valuable items for divers to obtain.
4. Although I can not see myself diving in Dumpsters, I can see how he may find value from others trash. In our society we do take things for granted. It's easier for us to throw things away and say we can purchase another one. Even if our fund are low. A few years ago I had guilt of throwing things away that may not been needed to be thrown. So now I donate. I know there are others out there that need it more than I do. Reading this actually makes me want to really put thought into what I do not need to throw away.
2. A new scavenger will be filled with disgust and self loathing. He will feel ashamed, so he will lurk around, ducking behind things, dive at night and skulking around. This may bring suspicion to a person. Although he may not be able to erase the stigma of eating out of the dumpster the stage will pass with experience. Once a scavenger finds useful items like shoes, clothes, calculator etc., he begins to understand that people throw away good stuff. Then his Dumpster shyness begins to dissipate. He then may get lost once finding good things. He may feel that he can repair them. Keeping things although they have completely no value to him or market. They may feel that since it is free why not keep it. That's when they become lost and may not be able to recover. This may sound like a hoarder.
3. He found from scavenging two deep lessons. The first to take what he can use and let the rest go by. The second is of the transience of material being. He feels that he shares values with the wealthy. He feels that they both know they have plenty more from what we came from. Maybe meaning their money and values and his values that he finds in dumpsters. He seemed very in touch with life and nature. Every time he touches something in the dumpster he envisions throwing it away maybe for the next diver to find it more valuable. He would always find the bright side of things. I personally can not imagine eating out of a Dumpster. I do not care if is in a can. Some how he manage to leave the shame behind and learn how to survive off of garbage. When he stated that scavenging is a modern form of self-reliance because the cities are now filled with plenty of Dumpsters. I feel that he is saying this is more common now. Since they have more Dumpsters there will be more valuable items for divers to obtain.
4. Although I can not see myself diving in Dumpsters, I can see how he may find value from others trash. In our society we do take things for granted. It's easier for us to throw things away and say we can purchase another one. Even if our fund are low. A few years ago I had guilt of throwing things away that may not been needed to be thrown. So now I donate. I know there are others out there that need it more than I do. Reading this actually makes me want to really put thought into what I do not need to throw away.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)