LifeAcoustic

South Africa

2008-03-03T14:56:00.010-06:00

So - if you want to actually be able to read the text, you'll have to click the image. Even then, it's still small. My apologies...

A collage of images created in a caffeinated state while comfortably basking in the sun at Caffetto.

I intended for this to be a visual argument, but in essence, I think it's become an essay since it's not terribly persuasive. In composing this piece, I have to admit to frustration and confusion. Is Word my only option for constructing an artistic/visual work? I have no idea. And then, is taking a screen shot my only hope for publication? I used crude methods to get to this final destination and feel very limited in my ability to be creative considering my writing tools. All this technology, and I don't know what to do with it. When choosing images, I kept in mind emotional impact as well as coherence. I'm sure that I probably wasn't supposed to include any text in my visual assignment but I did anyway. I feel as if each of the characteristics (salience, organization, coherence, etc) were limited due to my composing in Word. The presentation would have been strengthened by larger images, perhaps a different format, pictoral graphics, as well as my own photography. I struggled with these issues in my media analysis post for Rick Beach as well.

As many of you know, I see my life drifting away from the intended path. While I believe passionately in education and know exactly what I'm capable of (i.e. giving 150% to the kids and surviving as an outstanding teacher), I don't think I want that for my life. I know what it takes to be one of those teachers that stands out from the crowd. I'm not a good balancer, as I have extremely high expectations for myself. What's the point in doing anything if you don't do it well? I don't want to be a mediocre teacher. There are enough of those out there. I don't doubt that I can do it - the question is - do I want to? In my dream world, I'm seeking growth, change, and connection.

If I get brave and go to Boikarabelo, perhaps I'll have another opportunity at creating a visual argument. Then I could showcase my own pictures.

There are 1.2 million AIDS orphans living in South Africa. Boikarabelo, founded by Marion and Con Cloete in 1990, is dedicated to improving the lives of the economically challenged, especially children who have been orphaned by or exposed to HIV/AIDS. Using the traditional African village (and its inherent ubuntu values of cooperation and joint responsibility) as a model, the community works together to break the cycle of poverty and bring hope, safety, education and sustainable growth to all residents. The community includes an orphanage, school, village, medical clinic and organic farm. Your donation will help Boikarabelo and its residents work together to feed themselves, educate themselves and to better themselves.

For more information go to www.boikarabelo.org

Take me to the BEACH.

2008-02-27T15:50:00.008-06:00

The BEACH. Zihuatanejo. My favorite place in Mexico. A happy “hola” echoes from stranger to stranger on every street corner with a genuine friendliness unfound on a New York City subway or an LA boulevard. It’s a slower pace to life. Quieter. Simpler. A great escape. Bright sunshine warming my skin as I fall into a trance, mesmerized by the sound of the waves swishing on the sand. My mind blank. Relaxing. Resting. Daydreaming. A stray thought - Andy in Shawshank Redemption: ""Tell you where I'd go. Zihuatanejo. It's in Mexico. Little place on the Pacific. You know what the Mexicans say about the Pacific? They say it has no memory. That's where I'd like to finish out my life, Red. A warm place with no memory... It's down there, and I'm in here. I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy living or get busy dying."

Forgot where I was for a moment. Beach - Rick Beach. What a guy! I find myself fascinated by Rick's fascination with media literacy. Digital writing is quickly becoming a coveted pasttime for young adults as they nimbly navigate the labrynths of myspace and facebook. Not only are these places to connect with friends and waste time, but they are also places to recreate yourself through words and images. They are destinations for expression and individuality. How do I know this? I confess. I have a myspace account. Be my friend? No facebook for me though. When it started getting popular, you needed to have a university e-mail address, and I had already graduated. So, I never jumped on that bandwagon. Back to what I was saying...

Academics. Digital writing. Here's the part that got me thinking: "However, in participating in classroom or academic chat sites in an academic setting, students may need to adopt a different set of practices than in social networking sites related to discussing assigned readings, brainstorming ideas, or engaging in mutual problem solving" (Beach, et al., 11). He goes on to say that we, as teachers, need to help students construct voice, purpose, and audience, create and maintain online identities, and convey beliefs/attitudes through online written language. What a great tool this internet thing can be! My surprising concern (I surprise myself sometimes) relates to "teaching an old dog new tricks" so to speak. These kids have been online since they could walk. I recognize that they're amazingly resilient and flexible, but still...the generation of students that we will be teaching are not newbies in the world of technology (except maybe for 10th grader, Tony, who needed a detailed explanation today of what it means to double-space a paper - yikes). For the most part, they're already actively a part of something that we may not be - participatory cultures. How do we adapt their already adept skills to an academic standard without zapping the fun out of it? It's one thing to spend your free time perusing the web and writing blogs but quite another to teach kids how to purposefully utilize the available online tools.

This week, my resource has nothing to do with my blog post. I usually like to cleverly link the two, but I decided that I'd forget about this website if I waited until it fit perfectly into my little blog bubble. Check out www.teenreads.com - Authors! Reviews! The Ultimate Reading List! Podcasts/Videos (coming soon)! This is a very cool website devoted to teens and their reading interests. I think there are a lot of sub-par websites out there on just about any and every topic. This one is worth a few minutes of your time.

Clap, Clap, Clap!

2008-02-20T21:15:00.009-06:00

"We do not recommend a red pen under any circumstances simply because of its negative connotations" (Dornan, 186). Eva anybody? I felt sort of special last semester when Eva gave us each our very own spankin' new green pen. It was symbolic of who we are to become - conscious, mindful teachers. In my opinion, there is too much red in a world that needs to reflect much more green. Life is full of mistakes. Watch out! Don't look around the corner. You're about to make another mistake. The moment of truth comes like two roads diverged in a wood. Do you choose the worn, yet comfortable path of regret where mistakes symbolize failure? Or do you embrace the road less traveled - shaping your own destiny laced with growth and enlightenment - learning from your many mistakes? Education empowers students. Their writing improves with guidance from teachers who spend time constructively commenting on their papers. As a young student, I can remember being devastated getting back papers (that I devoted 110% to writing) covered in red pen. "Woe is me. I can't do anything write/right." As a college student, I can remember the firey hot anger I felt getting a paper returned with a marginal grade at the top (for me, at least) and NO comments. I'd put many hours and a lot of heart into that beautiful piece of writing. "Professor Emeritus, my ass." Yikes. The two extremes must make peace somewhere in the middle. Too much or too little is too confusing. Praise and constructive criticism from a respected teacher are invaluable and give students the motivation, self-esteem, and sense of self-efficacy vital to improving writing. I'm glad that Dornan takes the time to share these kind of thoughtful ideas and experiences. I'm going to need all the help I can get!

That said, I think it's also important to praise those who spend all their time praising everybody else. Sometimes it's the littlest things that make the job worth it. And sometimes, it's the big things. For the last 43 years, Minnesota has elected a teacher of the year. It's the oldest and most prestigious award given in Minnesota education. Check out Mike Smart's blog. He's the current Minnesota Teacher of the Year.

DY-NA-MITE!

2008-02-12T21:26:00.006-06:00

"Time to the writer is like play dough in the hands of a toddler."

The concept that writers control and shape time in their stories is new to me. If it's new to ME, oh studier of English, it's definitely new to kids. Such a simple thing, and yet I've never concentrated on it in my own writing. I've never given much thought to how powerful it can be to expand what was mere moments in real time to what becomes pages in literary land. Hence - exploding a moment! Ka-pow! (Think Adam West Batman). The image of stealthily putting a stick of dynamite between words, shattering a sentence or two into many pieces, then putting them back together again, not in the original way they were found but in a new way, glued together with complimentary sensory details and drama - astounded that there's more now than when one began... cool.

In my experience, students have the least practice with effective revision strategies. They don't like to do it and further, they don't know how to do it. This isn't the first time they've claimed to hate something they've never tried. Caviar anyone? They struggle when it comes to peer review. Constructive criticism from their buddies isn't enough to guide students on a mission toward successful revision. Instead they need concrete tools to utilize when they just can't figure out what to do next. Barry Lane has it figured out. Thoughtshots, Snapshots, Exploding a Moment, and well, don't we all just love Making a Scene? These are smart, sassy, simple ways for students to hone their craft and crank out a final product they can be proud of.

As I was searching for a resource, I came across a powerpoint that illustrates Exploding a Moment beautifully. Check it out here.

Okay, so I wanted a picture of dynamite, and well, I guess I found some. This is the best I could do... GOSH.

You say you wanna be a WHAT?!

2008-02-06T16:29:00.000-06:00

That's right. I'm planning on being an English teacher (well, at least getting licensed) and I consistently have to look up words and concepts in the articles we read. What the hell is rhetorical analysis, anyway? My oh my - I feel stupid. Well, for all those others out there feeling as stupid as I do, here you go: website 1, website 2, website 3. Did you know that rhetoric is the study of potential misunderstanding? Where have I been? Living under a rock? This whole rhetorical analysis comes into play in the anti-5-paragraph-essay article by Kimberly Wesley. Long story short, she ends up arguing for teaching the 5 paragrah essay as a "rhetorical form" with three units. She says that the traditional form painfully limits the choice of purpose, audience, and topic (creativity), thus preventing students from thinking rhetorically (I think I know what that means now).

Surprise, surprise - guess who supports teaching the 5 paragraph essay? I feel that the 5 paragraph essay is an amazing jumping off point for beginning writers. Organization, as we know, is crucial to putting your thoughts together and writing an "essay." Teaching students to master this is setting them up for the baby steps to success. By following some specific guidelines, it helps them to begin to formulate ideas and analyze material. BUT, that being said, it isn't the end all, be all. It can't be taught in isolation. The only thing that does is crank out a student like me who panics when given free reign during creative writing class. It's a helpful guide when students are first learning to write, especially in regards to academic writing.

Check out the bulleted list of the things included in the Capstone Leadership Project. If you're a high school junior or senior wanting to apply for the "Minnesota Scholars of Distinction in Leadership" award, you better know your five paragraph essay. I just thought that was really interesting.

Oh - this is entertaining too.

Digging for Sapphires

2008-01-30T18:05:00.000-06:00

Digging for Sapphires. I love this analogy. Buried in the Earth amidst imposters (pebbles and rocks) lie beautiful jewels. When cleaned and polished, these stones sparkle and take on value, especially to the one that discovered them. Not everyone can find them. Like panning for gold, it takes patience and determination. The work hardly seems worth it at first... until that little blue flash of light catches your eye. Ruth Culham likens this process to the challenge of choosing a topic to write about. What a daunting task! BUT, once you uncover that most intriguing topic, you must acquire the resources/skills (i.e. 5 other traits) necessary to crank out a quality product, perhaps something resembling a precious sapphire ring in a beautiful diamond setting.

As I was reflecting upon the the "6+1 Traits of Writing," my usual thoughts surfaced - "How practical is this? Are schools actually using it?" WELL... this time, I had the opportunity to find out. My cooperating teacher confirmed that teachers are in fact teaching these traits - some more than others. However, it's all still very subjective as teachers determine the rules and instruct students in the characteristics of "good writing." There wasn't a lot of time for a more in-depth conversation, as we then went into lockdown mode and entertained students for the next hour and fifteen minutes. I'm not quite sure how a chlorine spill occurs, but one certainly did today. Oh and did you know that a pro can build 36 stories or more in Jenga?

When I was searching for some type of resource to attach to my thoughts above, I ran across a list (compiled each year) of actual metaphors and analogies from high school essays submitted by teachers across the country. I don't know that I'm convinced that these are from real papers that kids have written, but nevertheless, they're great! I figured that lost among all of this academia, we sometimes forget our sense of humor. Okay, maybe that's just me.

Laugh. It's good for you.

Evaluation Criteria

2007-12-15T15:04:00.000-06:00

If students were to create their own documentary, here are some of the things I would look for:

-Does this documentary convey a message to the audience?
-Is the topic choice appropriate?
-Does this documentary include research by the student? Did the student seek out interviewees, media sources (newspaper, internet, books), and other background information necessary for the validity/credibility of the claims being made?
-Does this documentary use varied editing techniques?
-Did the student write a reflection of the documentary creation process, focusing on difficulties, strengths, and weaknesses as self-evaluated by the student?

Media Mania

2007-12-15T10:13:00.001-06:00

The media.

I have to admit that I don't intentionally seek out too many media sources in an average week, but at the same time, I have to acknowledge, that I am unsuspectingly exposed to more media than I care to be. I work out at the Uptown Y and find myself sometimes reading the ticker at the bottom of the CNN screen. I ride the bus and there are advertisements all over the place, from billboards to bumper stickers. The media source I seek out the most would be the radio and the internet. I live alone (with my two kitty-cats) and will turn on the radio for background noise. I listen to the Current (89.3) and MPR. I occasionally read St. Paul/Mpls magazine when I have an extra $4.50 and the same goes for the NY Times ($5!). I watch very little TV. I used to love the show "Lost" but who knows when that is coming back on the air. My internet is provide by Qwest. The world wide web is where I fall prey to whatever corporate domination decides to overtake my favorite (or just most frequent) websites - hotmail (a necessary evil), youtube, myspace (pathetic, I know), and that's about it. You are now getting a sense of how simple my life is. I have made a conscious choice to avoid corporate America as much as I can. I shop at the coop, try to buy independent clothing (or at least from environmentally responsible companies that don't exploit their workers), am into fair trade, etc. I recognize that the two words "control" and "corporate" are inextricably linked, never to be undone. Access and media content show obvious biases and reflect the values of whatever corporation is making the big bucks off of our addiction to entertainment. While I'm not exactly happy that Fox/News Corp/Google superpower dictates myspace or that my entertainment supports any corporate greed, I suppose there are necessary evils. It's nearly impossible to escape some tainting, unless I were a self-sustaining hermit living in the woods.

Soundtrack of Life

2007-12-12T15:41:00.000-06:00

Storyhill, better known to the longtime followers as Chris and Johnny, stole my vulnerable heart years ago. There is something about the acoustic guitar that makes me fall deeper in love with each strum. I don't play, but I admire those who do. This year, my Christmas present to myself is going to be a brand spankin' new acoustic guitar. Hopefully the guys at the Podium won't think I'm too crazy.

Chris Cunningham and John Hermanson have almost 20 years of creative genius together. I love their harmony, their lyrics, their simplicity...
Folk music, from its genuine roots to contemporary singer-songwriters, has always been my favorite genre of music. I really have a variety of interests but I'd say that I gravitate towards folk the most. If I were to list some of my favorite musicians (not necessarily folk), they would be, in no particular order: Storyhill, John Gorka, Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, Richard Shindell, Michael Penn, Bruce Cockburn, Greg Brown, Wilco, Pearl Jam, Radiohead, Ben Lee, REM, Amos Lee, the Frames, Ryan Adams, Ben Taylor, Coldplay, Counting Crows, Howie Day, John Mayer (and Trio), Pete Yorn, Jem, Tracy Chapman, Ben Folds, Beck, Bob Schneider, Justin Roth, David Wilcox, Rosie Thomas, Jack Johnson, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, Damien Rice, Van Morrison, Train, Neil Young, Mike Doughty, Cake, Teddy Thompson, John Butler Trio...

One song? I can only pick one song?

Spaces by Storyhill

I'm thankful for the engine and all the sound it steals
It's not silence, but it's like it -- its constant rhythm heals
My heart like the rumble that nothing can conceal
I know it's not empty, that's only how it feels

And I know I need the spaces
The uncertain places in between
The empty, the unspoken, the silence unbroken
And I know you know what I mean

You ask me why I'm leaving, I ask you why you always stay
With nothing here you can believe in that will carry you away

There's nothing between where I am and the edge of this broad day
(And I know I need the spaces)
It's only wide open and I know I'll find my way
(The uncertain places in between)

'Cuz I know I need the spaces
The uncertain places in between
The empty, the unspoken, the silence unbroken
And I know you know what I mean
I know you know what I mean

This song has always had a special place with me. Perhaps it's because I have lived in an in-between place for so long and experienced challenges at every turn. The confusion about finding your way speaks to me. I still don't know which direction I'm running in. I believe there is a great purpose for me and my big heart, but I don't know what it is. The more I think about it, the less confident I am in my career convictions. I want to help in Darfur. I want to volunteer at the orphanage in South Africa. I want to meditate in Nepal (and maybe climb a mountain). I want to see the Amazon rainforest before I die.

This song has amazing harmonizing vocals. I love to replay it over and over, singing along with the lyrics. It reminds me of the purity of truth and honesty. It reminds me of the things that inspire me. And it reminds me that its okay to be both simplistic and complex.

Let's Get Real!

2007-11-30T14:56:00.000-06:00

After Rachel's presentation regarding the three movie versions of "Hamlet," I am further convinced of the value of modern film in the classroom. The stark contrast between the three created a perfect opportunity for me to make personal judgements about each of them. In my own teaching philosophy, I always come back to some of the same themes - perspective, imagination, mindfulness, communication, critical thinking - the list goes on. In an urban environment, I see a great need to get the students to "buy in" to whatever you've got on the curriculum for that particular day or year. For example, Shakespeare on its own is overwhelming and often misunderstood. The language is difficult even for the best readers. Imagine what an endeavor it must be for a stereotypical inner-city student who is already a struggling reader! I do believe that the text must be read as it is - in Shakespearean language. However, "No Fear Shakespeare" which presents both the original text as well as a modern English translation would be a great supplement. THEN follow that up with a contemporary version of the text like Baz Luhrmann's "Romeo + Juliet" or Michael Almereyda's "Hamlet" and you've got them hooked. Perhaps Shakespeare isn't so much of a chore if it's presented in this way. Older film adaptations that maintain literary and dramatic elements closely imitating the traditional text do not give the students much food for thought. They don't facilitate further understanding of the language of the time, nor do they foster much critical thinking. Instead, they simply give a visual representation of a difficult text. I'd much rather take students to the live theater than subject them to this kind of adaptation.

Contemporary film is amazing in its ability to surprise its audience and step outside the box. This type of film allows students to make personal connections as well as think critically about their interpretation of the text. Shakespeare is timeless and the conflicts/topics can often be twisted to reflect modern societal/familial/personal issues. I love that they continue to make movies that push the envelope. I respect and admire those who aren't afraid to take risks. Now, if only I could get students to take the leap of faith with me and trust that reading can be an adventure!

Envisioning a Documentary

2007-11-30T14:30:00.002-06:00

As I've grown older, I've developed a great appreciation for documentaries. I also find myself reading more non-fiction, especially memoirs. There's something about passionately exposing the truth that draws me in and keeps me coming back for more.

I have so many ideas for creating my own documentary. In October of 2005, I drove a 16 passenger van complete with one stranger and a bunch of animals, down south to Mississippi to volunteer my time, energy, and passion toward rescuing animals rendered homeless by Hurricane Katrina. While I know that a documentary of sorts is actually in the works, there are so many perspectives one could take. My documentary would give voice to the innocent - those who may otherwise be forgotten. There were countless organizations helping people, but what about the animals? I would hope that by viewing this documentary, the audience would see the value in animal rescue and recognize the importance of the little lives who bring so much joy to their families without even trying. The greater message lies not in the destruction but in the loss and the need for compassionate rebuilding - of families, of community, of a city.

I would interview the owners of animals lost in the storm. I'd ask them questions that will likely evoke an emotional response - about their search, about their pets, about their struggle, about beginning anew, etc. I would have to work diligently to acquire video tape of the hurricane. I would incorporate newspaper articles, personal accounts, pictures, etc. Editing would be key in making this an effective documentary. While I think there would be an outpouring of support and countless victims who want to tell their story to the world, I anticipate the difficulty to fall squarely upon my lack of technical aptitude.

I think it would be truly fascinating to document the life of a Jamaican orphan. After volunteering this past summer, my eyes were opened to some of the serious political injustices that are occurring in the world. It's one thing to know that the world is screwed up and another thing to actually see it. It takes years to complete the adoption process because of the politics involved. Birth certificates get "lost" and certain individuals take their sweet time, probably waiting for bribe money. Some of these so-called orphans have "parents" who refuse to give up their rights but also refuse to care for their children. As a result, these innocent kids find themselves living in the orphanage until they're deemed old enough to be on their own. Such a longitudinal study would be extremely difficult as it would require years of commitment on the part of the subject, but hopefully it would help expose some of the secrets that keep so many from having a home to call their own.

Podcasts

2007-11-26T17:31:00.001-06:00

This blog is supposed to be about our favorite podcasts. This is a completely foreign concept to me. Until this past June, I was using a Gateway with Windows 98. It had a CD burner but refused to admit it. It threw a tantrum whenever it wanted, crashing without possibility of reboot until it was good and ready. Virus protection? Perhaps 3 years ago. The damn thing couldn't even run a scan in safe mode. Yikes. So, anyway - technology in my world has been limited. Even now, I have a Nano iPod (that what it's called?) sitting in a box. It came with my macbook but I haven't taken the plunge because I can't figure out how to get my 3000 stolen songs from Napster off of my desktop piece of crap.

Back to the reason for this post - podcasts. So, a couple of weeks ago, when I was looking at this assignment, I even looked up "podcast" on the web to get a view of the concept beyond the Richardson book. I knew it was something you listened to, but I wasn't totally clear on what could be defined as a podcast. Pretty much just like a vlog but without the visual. If I were going to listen to a podcast, I think it would probably be something from NPR/MPR, an environmental podcast, or something related to urban teaching.

This just in: The Latest News Report Ever

2007-11-26T14:07:00.000-06:00

November 14th, 2007
Channel 11 - 10:00pm

10:00 - Patient care is suffering because of a nurse shortage. Nurses are worried, stressed, and understaffed. Minnesota needs a new state law for staffing.
10:02 - Funeral for police officer at the Basilica. He was struck by a squad car and killed. "He would have been overwhelmed by the turnout." The drama is further heightened as we hear shots fired to honor his service.
10:03 - 6 uninvited guests at Arlington High School in St. Paul. (Big deal at the school and all the news stations showed up, but only 15 seconds on the news).
10:03 - "No Special Session" tax bill.
10:04 - 35W bridge house vote. Bachman voted No. John Kline voted No.
10:04 - 35 soldiers come home from Iraq
10:04 - War funding bill - end combat in Dec 2008
10:05 - OJ Simpson will go to trial.
10:05 - Power outage by mouse in SE Campus area.
10:05 - You aren't getting enough sleep. Poll on Kare11.com
10:06 - Forecast coming up AND a fish story that puts yours to shame. Plus, commuting, next on the Extra.
Commercials
10:10 - Twin Cities is trying to put the brakes on the ill effects of their commute. The amount of stress during commuting and its negative impact on the body can exceed that of riot police and combat pilots in a crisis situation. Moral of the story: change your lifestyle if you have a long commute. This was then followed by a dumb joke.
10:16 - Coming up tomorrow night on the KARE11 Extra - Alzheimers - "so many families can relate..."
10:17 - Weather - Belinda Jenson yaps for a while about winter survival awareness week. Pack your car with these items and whoops, the producer forgot to include a candy bar.
10:18 - Sneak peek at Tuesday and Wednesday - big Thanksgiving travel days. Predicted a storm Tuesday. (Where was it?)
10:19 - Finally, the weather! WINDY, but calmer over night. Nothing major coming up.
10:20 - In case you've never watched the news in your life, sports is up next.
Commercials
10:25 - I tend to lose focus during the sports. T-Wolves, plus other basketball stuff. Early signing period for high school basketball players. One kid is going to the U of M.
10:26 - Division 1 basketball letters
10:26 - Chester Taylor starting Vikes (?). 2000 tickets left for the game.
10:28 - Winner for baseball coach something. The fish story is COMING.
Commercials
10:32 - (Leno must start at 10:35). 360 pound grouper caught in the Gulf of Mexico. One fillet is 53 pounds. Ha ha ha - and another dumb joke - something about finding several small children inside.

So, as it turns out - the commercials take up about 1/3 of the show, weather and sports get about 3 minutes each, the actual news gets about 6 minutes, and the Extra which is generally a "consumer/health/entertainment feature story" sucks up it's own 6 minutes. When you break it down, the amount of actual news that might be beneficial to the average viewer is next to nothing. 10:04 was a speed round, tag-team effort by the anchors to see how many stories they could get cover in a minute. I had a tough time keeping up with my pen. As I reflect, I think one of the most irritating things about the whole thing is that there was hardly any news about what is going on in Minneapolis or St. Paul. A power outage due to a mouse got the same number of seconds as Arlington High School's intruders? What the? And who cares about OJ Simpson anyway? There was nothing "local" about the news during this broadcast. And isn't that what it's all supposed to be about? Local news? We have the world news at 5:30pm for those interested in a tiny snapshot of what's happening globally. The news is just as high paced as the society in which we live. I suppose that they are appealing to the on-the-go American who isn't going to take the time to listen to lengthy coverage on important issues. The strategy is to thrust information at viewers, with happy banter in between, in order to keep the audience engaged and coming back for more. Ending with a silly story about a giant fish is perhaps a technique to combat the inevitable negative news that is reported. As we all know, the news is skewed in such a way that we never get the whole story. We simply get tiny blurbs that tell us what "they" want us to know - in turn influencing our perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs.

Pregnant Teen Barbie

2007-11-06T20:30:00.001-06:00

***FYI - THIS WAS FOR A MEDIA LITERACY CLASS. IT IS COMPLETELY FICTIONAL AND SIMPLY MEANT AS A MOCK AD***

Have you ever wanted to be like Britney Spears?
A glamorous, scantily clad, single mom
on a downward spiral to God knows where?
Well, now you can!

Live vicariously through Pregnant Teen Barbie:

With Pregnant Teen Barbie, you can experience the joys of pregnancy and birth without the hassle of getting fat and having to buy a whole new wardrobe!

Pregnant Teen Barbie can go to the hospital all by herself, or she can secretly give birth in her own home. With Pregnant Teen Barbie, YOU decide!
After 5 hours of Super Awesome labor, Pregnant Teen Barbie becomes
TEEN MOMMY BARBIE!

With a Barbie Baby* to hug and pet and squeeze and love, all of her very own!

*Babies sold separately, Ken not included.

~Created by Angela and Genevieve~

Think about it.

2007-11-06T12:03:00.000-06:00

If there is no struggle, there is no progress.
Those who profess to favor freedom,
yet deprecate agitation are men who want
crops without plowing up the ground.
They want rain without the thunder and lightning.
They want the ocean without the awful roar
of its many waters. This struggle may be a moral one;
or it may be a physical one; or it may be both mental and physical; but it must be a struggle.
Power concedes nothing without demand.

-Fredrick Douglass (c. 1817-1895)

Slacker-Strivers

2007-11-04T16:14:00.000-06:00

At Genevieve's suggestion, we took a look at an article by David Denby out of the New Yorker. You can find it here. It focuses on a newer phenomenon he calls the "slacker-striver relationship." The trend of the past several years has involved romantic comedies with leading male and female characters that embody the stereotypical "slovenly hipster" and female "straight arrow." As I reflect upon this, I can only think that the creation and success of characters like these is a result of societal request. This is what we, as Americans, are drawn to and asking Hollywood to produce. Does this reflect the reality of dating/love/marriage as we know it?

As time continues to march on, gender roles are continually changing. Woman are seeking higher education and waiting longer to be married. They are developing careers before families. What then is happening to the traditional male role (both in real life and in film)? If women are waiting to be married, the heterosexual men out there then, by no choice of their own, are also waiting. If the characters of "Knocked Up" are any bit realistic, perhaps men aren't making the best use of their time while they patiently wait, unless slacking is a desirable extracurricular activity. It's really fascinating to look at how movie genres have shifted over time to represent either the utopian ideal or societal expectations or...

I've noticed that the last couple of years have lacked in really good, wholesome romantic comedies. Slap-stick, goofy stuff like "Blades of Glory" aren't hard to come by, nor are action/killer/suspense flicks, but what about if you're just looking for a mellow, feel-good Saturday night? I'm bummed that I missed "Once" when it was in the theaters. I am REALLY looking forward to catching it when it comes out on video. It may even be a buy-it-before-you-see-it kind of movie, as those that know me well say I'd love it.

Anyway, still keeping my eyes peeled for a good drama or romantic comedy...
Any suggestions?

my long-awaited video

2007-11-04T15:41:00.000-06:00

I've been done with this a while but forgot to post it. While it isn't a masterpiece, it's the best I could do. I struggled with the timing on the photos, especially when a transition was involved. The iMovie program crashed enough times that I was ready to throw my macbook out the window. This is the result of my beginner skills - a video of my parents and my one sister in Alexandria at the end of the summer:

What IS education... really?

2007-10-26T06:46:00.000-05:00

This is a video that was on the "featured videos" section of youtube. I almost NEVER look at these. Something compelled me this time (at 6:30 in the morning!), and I'm glad it did. What is this saying about "higher" education in the United States?

Where were YOU on Sunday night?

2007-10-18T07:41:00.000-05:00

Most Sunday nights, I find myself snuggled in bed with a book. Okay, so as pathetic as it is, I can often be found there on Friday or Saturday night as well. This past Sunday, however, I found myself in North Minneapolis. What in the heck, you ask, were you doing there? This adventure began simply by helping a classmate out - he needed some papers for an assignment due this afternoon. Then it's, "Meet my kitten. Have a cup of tea." Aw... I couldn't resist either offers. Animals win me over just about every time, and this one was no exception. And better than that, I love Chris and Johanna. We think alike. Any opportunity to make friends with people I admire - sign me up.

So, I have to admit, even though I don't watch many shows (I only get 4 channels, sometimes 5), I have guilty pleasures in the television world. I love "Lost" and occasionally catch late-night reruns of Sex and the City. I used to watch "Everwood" on the WB (oh!) and when I'm at my Grandma's, I find myself looking for "Project Runway." Okay, no more confessions, except for this - I've always wanted to "get" Desperate Housewives. I never wanted to see it during the first season. So, I didn't watch. Usually, this means I won't ever try to catch up. After the show started getting a lot of hype, I wanted to see what it was all about, but I wasn't ambitious enough to spend an hour trying to figure it out. However, Jo and Chris took care of that. They're closet Desperate Housewives watchers. Shhh... don't tell. :)

As the show began, Chris feverishly caught me up on who was married to who, who was pregnant and who was faking, who was having an affair and who attempted suicide... drama, drama, drama. Why ARE we so fascinated by other people's drama? An American phenomenon, I suppose. So for an hour, the 3 of us were hunkered down, being sucked in by the women and their charades on Wisteria Lane. We talked about how we're bombarded with commercials and advertisements for hundreds of television shows that are vying for our attention. The more dramatic, it seems, the better chance that people will check it out. The laid-back atmosphere in which we watched set the stage for a happy-go-lucky viewing environment. We all agreed that Desperate Housewives is the equivalent of a primetime soap opera that continues to suck you in every week because you're dying to know what's going to happen next. Is he really going to kill her? Will she die of cancer? What's the big secret about her past? People who wouldn't normally be watching TV find themselves a part of these imaginary worlds. While our television choices might not necessarily reflect our internal attitudes toward the real world, these kind of programs provide an escape from reality. Viewing together creates an opportunity for collaboration and connection. The characters are well-developed, edgy, and semi-realistic enough to keep viewers interested. Desperate Housewives invites a mature audience into a neighborhood where gossip and drama are the name of the game. In the end, we're all (viewer, actors, and characters) seeking the same thing - success and happiness in a very busy, complex, confusing world.

Environmentalist=Hippie=Dirty White Guy on Drugs?

2007-10-18T04:54:00.000-05:00

Cue the Grateful Dead or Bob Marley. This blog should have it's own soundtrack.

"How do people construct generalizations about categories of people?"
There seems to be some kind of fixed essential notion that most environmentalists are tree-hugging dirty hippies who believe in free love, communal living, nudity, and pot smoking. Hippies have long-standing stereotypes that have left negative footprints in the minds of a more traditional and conservative society. Typically associated with old white guys in tye-dyed t-shirts with beards giving a peace sign and smoking a joint, hippies have come to represent one of the counter-culture groups around the world. Media representations of this group are rooted in 60s fundamentalism that remains timeless. It's true. Many hippies are liberal, environmentally-conscious consumers - wearing locally handmade clothes, buying organic produce (or growing their own), and living a minimalist lifestyle. But, if that's all it takes - count me in. I'm a hippie. (For what it's worth, my older sister calls me a hippiewannabe.) The question really seems to become... what part of this image is missing or silenced? You don't have to live out in the woods (or literally in a tree) to be an environmentalist. What about the young professionals that drive hybrid cars and shop at Whole Foods? Or members of the Green Party? There must be environmental lawyers who wear a suit to work everyday that consider themselves environmentalists? Why are there no images of ethnic minorities who care about the Earth? Surely they exist. I find it extremely interesting that it's the year 2007 and we all still know what a hippie is, yet there has never been any formal teaching. As they are bombarded with image after image through television, movies, magazines, internet, etc. children learn, whether we want them to or not, exactly what stereotypes exist. A parent's job is no longer limited to feeding, clothing, and loving their little ones but involves counteracting the forces that create narrow-minded judgements. Look at how Native Americans are portrayed - as savage Indians running around in loin cloths with tomahawks. Look at how "beautiful women" are portrayed. We now have children as young as 5 becoming anorexic. Look at glorified sports stars and the non-stop schedules that some of these children now have after school. The media, often driven by the superpowers that be (corporations with money), still shape the the views of the public at large. The power of society... wow.

Beck!

2007-10-17T22:07:00.000-05:00

After making Baker watch this - he said it was blogworthy.
I love it. Yes, I do.
Man, I bet he's good live.

Editing

2007-10-04T11:18:00.000-05:00

I did the assignments out of order, like Baker did. You'd think a graduate student could decipher a simple syllabus. Oh well.

This is a trailer for the unbelievably powerful documentary "Angels in the Dust." I wish I could see it, but it's not coming anywhere close to us.

I'll go to this place someday. I swear it.

Considering that this is a movie trailer, the entire thing is an editing masterpiece. If you can watch it without crying, you're a stronger person than I am. The trailer begins with an African hymn. This is an editing technique that helps convey the emotional content. Then we see a herd of elephants and a woman begins narrating the story. B-roll footage was used for cutaways that give insight into what the woman is talking about. We here the sound effect of a gun shot as an elephant is killed from an aerial rifle. She tells a story of baby elephants and then there is a "fade transition" into video of African children.

The editors then used Titles throughout as additional commentary and information. These are positioned to provide an extra emotional boost to an already powerful video. Actual interviews with the people who gave up everything to start this school and orphanage are shown. More b-roll footage, along with music, and audio from the interview are all wrapped into one as they share their amazing vision with the audience. Quick cuts of the documentary show narrative development without giving away the the entire documentary. All of this remarkable editing helps convey meaning and the themes of community and survival. As the title page rolls at the end with the name of film "angels in the dust," as a final hurrah, the audience is left with sounds: children singing and playing hand-clapping games...

Oh, my heart!

An Analysis of Pretty Woman

2007-09-27T11:30:00.000-05:00

Pretty Woman - the quintessential rags to riches romance. This clip lends itself to a good "narrative analysis." In this type of analysis, the events are defined in terms of how they shape the story. Knowing that this movie is a romantic comedy (of sorts), one can reasonably assume based on prior knowledge, that there will be a happy ending. Any loose ends will be tied neatly in a bow at the end. The audience then uses "prototypical schema" to fill in gaps and predict outcomes. The archetypal narrative pattern in this movie falls in line with the stereotypical Cinderella story. The handsome prince and the princess fall in love and live happily ever after. There are certain cultural values being exhibited in this clip - money, power, love, success. It plays on the viewers own desire for love, leading many, especially impressionable adolescents and young adults, to strive for this unrealistic romantic relationship in their own lives. Mr. Right should look just like the handsome Richard Gere, have millions of dollars, and rescue you from an otherwise difficult life. This is a perfect time to talk about the "feminist analysis" - primarily the sexist portrayals of men and woman in film. Considering the fact that Julia Roberts is a prostitute, the movie presents the image of women as sex objects within a patriarchal society run by powerful men. Though the movie attempts to move beyond that image, asserting that a man can love a woman for more than her body, the ending still embodies a skewed version of reality. Richard Gere is portrayed as a hero for rescuing Julia Roberts from her life. Opera music, red roses, a fairytale ending. The cultural construction of the roles of men and woman are clearly defined in this clip, representing masculinity and femininity on opposite spectrums. Oh, I'm sure I could say a lot more... but I happen to like Richard Gere... a lot. He's one of my favorite Buddhists. :)

Snickers Kiss!

2007-09-20T11:04:00.000-05:00

In this 30 second SuperBowl Commercial, the first shot is from a distance (establishing a long shot) of two mechanics huddled over the engine of vehicle. Autoshop sounds can be heard in the background. This serves the purpose of setting the scene. This is followed quickly by a zoom shot of one of the mechanics reaching into the pocket of his shirt for a delicious snickers bar. The camera closes in on the snickers and then there is a medium shot of the action of the mechanic putting the snickers halfway in his mouth. You hear the ripping of the package. The 4th or so shot is a closeup on the face of the other mechanic looking longingly at his partner. There isn't any sappy background music or other farfetched effects. You can see the profile of the first mechanic in the foreground. Immediately, it's a close up of both them as the second mechanic goes in for the "kiss"... SMACK! Right on the lips. At least he got half a snickers out of it. The moment they realize they're locking lips, the camera backs up as they jump away from each other. This is a low-angle shot where the audience is looking up at the second mechanic (the kisser). He says, "I think we just kissed." The camera flips back to the first mechanic as he replies, "Quick, do something manly." This flipping back and forth occurs a couple more times as the men rip open their shirts and pull out their chest hair while screaming bloody murder. The scene ends, of course, with a picture of the inside of a "Snickers: Most Satisfying."

I laugh outloud every time I see this commercial. As a Super Bowl commercial, it's been designed to engage the audience, make them laugh, and keep their attention as they wait for the big game. The camera angles change rapidly, keeping pace with the expectations of the audience. If the commercial can't keep attention, certainly the football fan will be off the couch and getting a snack, rather than sitting through television ads. In this fast paced world, commercials have 30 seconds to get the job done. If they fail, ultimately, their product loses out over the competition. There are a lot of clever commercials out there vying for attention.

Vlog Assignment

2007-09-13T09:58:00.000-05:00

After being sufficiently frustrated searching for just the right vlog for this assignment, I stumbled upon the perfect site for me. All I have to say is - YEEHAW! This website is Daryl Hannah's (star in such films as Splash, Roxanne, Steel Magnolias, Kill Bill, etc) chance to share her other passion in life - the environment. Her website, www.dhlovelife.com, complete with blogs and weekly vlogs, explores a greener way of living. I am a true environmentalist at heart and so I LOVE that with the click of a button, I can learn about what's currently happening all over the world as well as get a sneak peak at places I otherwise wouldn't have an opportunity to see. I continue to be educated about issues that are important to me such as global warming, organic foods, GMOs, biodiesel, etc. Clearly, this vlog is designed for people like me - environmentally-conscious individuals who want to make a difference in their lifetime. However, I also think that this vlog is for anyone who wants to learn a little bit more about green living. It's designed to be unobtrusive, educational, and above all, inspirational! In the particular clip that I watched called "Bike Culture," Daryl interviewed real people - bikers - who are on the roads everyday. They shared their experiences and what they love about bikes and biking. She also exposed the phenomenon "Critical Mass," advocating their plight and encouraging viewers to join. Using music as well as jumbled clips that range from interviews to Daryl riding her own bike to shots of the city, Daryl captures her audience's attention, never leaving them to be bored watching a single shot. Of course, her celebrity status allows her to employ devices that I novice might not be able to, BUT her vlogs somehow seem to remain simple. I was completely impressed.

Please click forward to the 6th episode if you'd like to view "Bike Culture" - otherwise, watch them all! :)