Feb 8th reading

So the "Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria" was interesting. What I basically got from it was that the black community finds comfort within each other. Black people find more support and emotional understanding and support in other black people rather than in other races. Since they have that, it's hard to go out of their comfort zones. I can somewhat relate to this idea. Being as though, the college I attend is made up of mostly white people; I tend to make up the minority of my classes. Sometimes it seems like I can't relate to some of the white students or I don't think they can relate to me or understand a problem I may be having, because they never experienced it or have gone through anything. Therefore if I see a black person I feel a certain bond or instant connection. Don't get the wrong idea because I do have friends outside of my race. In fact I'm not even cool with every or ALL black people. I don't automatically trust a person just because they share the same color as me. For the most part I give everyone (all races) the same treatment. If you seem like a nice person, I don't mind talking to you or hanging out. However I think the idea that this section presents applies for all races. I rarely see Whites, Asians, Chinese, Hispanics, etc. sitting outside of their race. Why is that? Are they afraid? Do they too find more support and comfort within their own community and race? Speaking as a African American, I will say that at times I feel no one could ever understand fully how it feel to be black. I'm not sad or feel unfortunate for being a black woman. I take pride in who I am and feel blessed to be a part of such a strong heritage. I think that being confined to one group of people, who are black goes back to slavery days. Back then blacks stuck together because they were all each other had and they listened to each other, being support systems, so the samething is going on today. Its about being comfortable and not feeling judged, alone or out of place...

I read the other selections, but I felt more strongly about this one. See you guys at the discussion!

Race && Ethnicity

In this reading a lot about stereotypes and how they come about were analyzed. Also, they way people judge others off of their appearance and/or race before they get to know the person. I find it believable that people do that. Personally I tend to judge people based off conversation and the way they carry themselves. I try not to go solely off of looks because in high school people made WRONG assumptions of my just because of the way i wore my hair, the brand of my clothes, color of my lip gloss, how high my heels may have been that day and just other silly observations. Once they got to know me, they had a total change of thought. Most thought I was stuck up and conceited which is far from how I am. After going through that experience I learned not to be so quick to judge or place labels on other because I hated when it was done to me. I know it still goes on but knowing who I am and being comfortable with that has allowed me to look pass it. The reading mentions stereotypes about different races. African Americans being athletic which is such an present assumption! I found it interesting that the book says definitions of race is always changing. I agree with this because it seems as if the world changes every day and each day new things are being discovered and talked about and I most certainly agree that race and ethnicity is one of those topics. In my 12th grade year of high school I read a book called The Tipping Point. The book describes many scenarios and examples that realate to real life. One chapter was about people and their environments. It basically said that people are more affected by their environments than they think. After researching and studying I absolutely agree to this finding. I said that to say that when the book says peoples judgments or stereotypes has something to do with their upbringing, I believe that as well. I think stereotyping is a learned behavior and isn't natural.

I enjoyed these few pages! [SIDE NOTE: I seriously need to get with the program, referring to this blogging by 6pm thing, Ughhh I'm going to get it!! Sorry Ms. Jess =)]

Ohk Soo...

I enjoyed these readings. I often feel like some shows put black characters in shows just to say they were in there and/or to make the show seem funnier. Although Im not a fan of The Simpsons, I will admit that I watch Family Guy. Sometimes, I feel like they go over board. Shows like Family Guy and The Boondocks, create so many stereotypes. With our closed minded society it's vert important to not get caught up into catagorizing everyone into one mold, based off of the perception of a character from a TELEVISION show. I think people get confused in seperating reality from fiction. It's a shame. One episode of Family Guy, had peter acting like a ghetto secratary. He had long purple nails, spoke ghetto, and kept putting people on hold. At some point its like ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. Sometimes these "comical" shows can be very insulting and damaging to certain races.

I watch MTV a lot. I never liked Next, Date My Mom, or Roomradiers. But I do find myself making sure I can watch my favorite shows! lol. I agree 100 percent that Next degrades women to the fulliest. Young girls are being portrayed as nothing. The sad thing to me is, some girls dont mind being degraded for a few minutes of "fame". What's even worst is those who don't know and think everythings ohk. MTV has so much miney that thet are over the whole degrading to women thing. I think society has become excepting to stereotypes and dont care enough to do anything about it. Maybe we've become discouraged? Im not sure, but I think something needs to be done.

PISSED. CAN'T BELIEVE THAT JUST HAPPENED

IM SUPER UPSET RIGHT NOW, I JUST WROTE A LONG BLOGG AND IT DELETED OUT OF NOWHERE. IM NOT WRITING IT OVER. I DONT EVEN REMRMBER EVEYTHING I SAID. WOW IM SOOOO PISSED. IM SICK TO MY STOMACH. I can't believe this just happened, i seriously want to cry, I rushed home and everything to do this as soon as I finished the freakn computer just deleted it. UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. I will say I liked this reading. I agree that MTV is degrading to women. Peolpe all over should read this book.

Sorry guys I'm mad right now and rather not blogg. I'll have more to say during discussion. Ttygl :'(

Reading 119 to 124.. Finally something I could get into lol!!

Im sooo happy this reading wasn't as dry as the first! This one was more about watching television and how to analyze it. It was cool how the text used real life and popular shows to explain how directors think. Also I found it interesting to know how the camera being held ay different levels and angles makes a difference. I thought all shows were basically filmed the same way. I never thought it really made a differance on which camera was used and where you held it. But now that I think of it, when I used to watch sope operas with my grandma, there were ALWAYS close-ups. Seriously, there would be a major close-up then it would go into another scene. Lol. Im starting to think this book really knows what it's talking about jk. Another thing that stood out to me numerous times, that was mentioned in the book was the limited races displayed in shows. Sometimes I wonder why isn't there a black person in the cast? If there is a black person, then they're either crazy, ghetto, funny, unemployed, and have a lot of drama. Im some cases it's funny, but not when the entire cast is white and the black person is the onnly one looking foolish. Smh.

I guess some people subject to degrading themselves to a certain degree when they have a nice pay check waving in their face...

But so far so good, very enlightening ready for the next section!

First Reading

The World is A Text, is interesting. After I read the first few pages, I thought it was going to be sort of tedious. Being as though it kept repeating the same idea, but in different words. Since I was working out as I read, I was able to focus more on it because it helped distract me from how long I was on the machine! I found it interesting how the book brings different ways of interpereting and describing information. Also I appreciated the many examples, that were given to help explain the more complex meanings. It helps when you I can relate to whatever it is being taught to me.

The reading provoked me to think more deeply when coming across paper advertisements and commercials. I've noticed new things that I never picked up from advertisments that I've seen before. I feel like I can learn a lot from The World is A Text, it's already begon to change my ways of thinking.

All in all I have more positives than negatives, and can't wait to learn more.

Reflection of My Name

During the first day of English class, we were put into groups and told to discuss the meanings of our names. Right away I though "IM IN TROUBLE"!...lol I didn't have a clue of where my name came from or why I was named it. Therefore, I was skeptical about the whole activity. Fortunate for me my group members found it funny and didnt look at me like I was a crazy goose!

Obviously my name Ashley. I asked my mom later that night where my naem came from and she said she got the idea from a popular sopa opera. "Ashley" is a a very popular name; therefore, I don't feel as though my name defines me or describes me. Being as though Iconsider myself to be an unordinary and unique individual. However, I don't allow my name to set any type of boundaries around me. I live day to day as the person I've grown to be, regardless of my name. All in all, my name, its self, doesn't mean that much about me, but the person behind it and the differnent characteristics and traits represents and means a lot.