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Saturday, June 4, 2011
Revision Piece Revision
About five years ago I became friends with a new group of “metal heads”. This group has taught me many new things about myself. This group of people is what I believe to be my very first community that I actually felt a part of, the Metal community. If it wasn’t for this community that I speak of, I really don’t think I would be the person I am today. Before I joined this group of people, I was trying way too hard to fit in and be cool with everyone, and now that I look back at these memories, I realize that how hard I was trying was actually working against me. This group was the exact opposite of how I viewed life. My life made basically an 180-degree turn. I’ve learned more about myself over these 5 years than any time prior. I have learned about myself are some of my favorite things that have happened to me. This community helped me learn that I do not care about how others perceive me. People’s perception of me once was one of the most important things to me. Now that I can truly allow myself to be me all the time, I am so much happier. Another thing that I have learned about myself through this community is that I have talents, which I would have never before imagined. This community has taught me that I am a musician and a better one than what I could have imagined ever being. I’ve learned that I am competitive with just about everything, probably more than what I should be. I am very thankful for my community and everything that the “metal heads” have helped me learn about myself.
Critical Thinking Revision
(Part 1)
Being an outsider is being someone who is not accepted within the majority community, being someone who is not adequately understood and different than what the mainstream concept of "normal" is. In the film "District 9" there are literally millions of outsiders, these outsiders are the aliens (or Prawns). One way this movie demonstrates what it is to be an outsider is by the hostility between humans and aliens. From the time that the aliens touched Earths ground they were outsiders. The customs of these aliens were different than that of a human and this caused tension between the two species. Riots started because of how badly humans wanted the aliens to be segregated from their species. Once the aliens became segregated from humans they became even more of an outsider. They lived in the slums of the Johannesburg separated from the humans by many miles. The aliens were not accepted within the majority community (human community) because the humans did not adequately understand them. Since the aliens were living in the slums they were also considered "lower class" citizens, and history has shown that in many cases those of the "lower class" are not fully accepted within the majority community.
Aliens in this movie were not understood in many ways and all of these ways cause people to be considered outsiders in real life as well. These aliens spoke a different language than any human language and this caused issues during the initial time period of them being on Earth. Neither alien nor human understood each other until many years later when each species seemed to understand each other fine. That ties in with our classes past reading "How To Tame a Wild Tongue", speaking another language or having a different accent is seen negatively in a separate community.
Wikus was also an outsider in this movie because of a tragic event that happened to him. He came in contact with a chemical that caused him to start transforming into an alien. When this happened a rumor went out that it was caused from him having sex with an alien. Other humans found that to be "different" from what is normal and could not understand why some one would do such a thing. Since he had become misunderstood and different he became an outsider from the human community.
From these examples it can be seen that the film "District 9" defines being an outsider as, "someone who is not accepted within the majority community, being someone who is not adequately understood and different than what the mainstream concept of "normal" is". The aliens lived differently and spoke differently causing them to be outcast from the majority community. Wikus was misunderstood with the misconception that he had sexual relations with an alien, which also caused him to be outcast from the majority community.
(Part 2)
Both the film and the discussions affirmed my belief of what it is to be an outsider. When I first read the prompt of this assignment I immediately began to think of what I believe it means to be an outsider. When I came across my answer I realized that it was the same in the movie. Our fellow classmate Peter Gienger said the following, "This film presents an important idea that identity changes from things that happen to us and can even force us to become dis-communitized (othered or outsidered)". He was speaking of Wikus' change from human to alien and how this caused him to become an outsider, which affirms my beliefs. Audra West said, "I see many perspectives about what it is to be an outsider. The main character is devastated by the fact that he is now different from what he was, he is angry that his own friends, family, colleagues, and every human being has turned against him. We also see a sense of commradery and loyalty form between outcasts". Audra also believed that Wikus became an outsider because of his change.
Being an outsider is being someone who is not accepted within the majority community, being someone who is not adequately understood and different than what the mainstream concept of "normal" is. In the film "District 9" there are literally millions of outsiders, these outsiders are the aliens (or Prawns). One way this movie demonstrates what it is to be an outsider is by the hostility between humans and aliens. From the time that the aliens touched Earths ground they were outsiders. The customs of these aliens were different than that of a human and this caused tension between the two species. Riots started because of how badly humans wanted the aliens to be segregated from their species. Once the aliens became segregated from humans they became even more of an outsider. They lived in the slums of the Johannesburg separated from the humans by many miles. The aliens were not accepted within the majority community (human community) because the humans did not adequately understand them. Since the aliens were living in the slums they were also considered "lower class" citizens, and history has shown that in many cases those of the "lower class" are not fully accepted within the majority community.
Aliens in this movie were not understood in many ways and all of these ways cause people to be considered outsiders in real life as well. These aliens spoke a different language than any human language and this caused issues during the initial time period of them being on Earth. Neither alien nor human understood each other until many years later when each species seemed to understand each other fine. That ties in with our classes past reading "How To Tame a Wild Tongue", speaking another language or having a different accent is seen negatively in a separate community.
Wikus was also an outsider in this movie because of a tragic event that happened to him. He came in contact with a chemical that caused him to start transforming into an alien. When this happened a rumor went out that it was caused from him having sex with an alien. Other humans found that to be "different" from what is normal and could not understand why some one would do such a thing. Since he had become misunderstood and different he became an outsider from the human community.
From these examples it can be seen that the film "District 9" defines being an outsider as, "someone who is not accepted within the majority community, being someone who is not adequately understood and different than what the mainstream concept of "normal" is". The aliens lived differently and spoke differently causing them to be outcast from the majority community. Wikus was misunderstood with the misconception that he had sexual relations with an alien, which also caused him to be outcast from the majority community.
(Part 2)
Both the film and the discussions affirmed my belief of what it is to be an outsider. When I first read the prompt of this assignment I immediately began to think of what I believe it means to be an outsider. When I came across my answer I realized that it was the same in the movie. Our fellow classmate Peter Gienger said the following, "This film presents an important idea that identity changes from things that happen to us and can even force us to become dis-communitized (othered or outsidered)". He was speaking of Wikus' change from human to alien and how this caused him to become an outsider, which affirms my beliefs. Audra West said, "I see many perspectives about what it is to be an outsider. The main character is devastated by the fact that he is now different from what he was, he is angry that his own friends, family, colleagues, and every human being has turned against him. We also see a sense of commradery and loyalty form between outcasts". Audra also believed that Wikus became an outsider because of his change.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Voice Audience Revision
What would someone first think that they would find inside my wallet just from its outer appearance? On the outside my wallet is gray, black, covered in skulls, and the leather is very worn and cracked. Personally I would think that there would be heavy metal concert tickets or some sort of horror movie imagery within its contents. Even though this is my wallet, it is still to my surprise that none of the above listed is inside this flimsy cracked leather.
When my wallet is first opened all that can be seen is my driver’s license as well as the top ends of some cards. Before I get into detail of what my assortment of cards is; I will begin with the basics, my driver’s license. My driver’s license is the king of the wallet. It has its very own pouch with a clear cover that allows all of its front contents to be seen without needing to pull it out. A lot of information about me can be gathered from this piece of plastic with my picture on it. After my name is my address, this has been my address ever since I could walk. I definitely don’t plan on living at this address forever, but I could stay here in Marysville. Next you will find that I am a male who is 6ft 3in, 175lbs, I have blue eyes, and I am an organ donor. My photograph is the last thing about me other than my signature. I believe that a little can be determined about me just from my picture, if I am to “judge this book by its cover”. In my picture you will see my natural hair color, which up until recently not many people ever knew it is blonde. Also you will see that my hair is a Mohawk that hangs down to my shoulder. Only one of my ears is exposed in this photo, my hair is covering the other half of my head. On this ear you will see that it is pierced, but the earring is much thicker than your average earring (yes it did hurt making it that way). If I were to see my I.D. from an outside point of view I would simply assume that this teenager is just another person who dresses like a rocker.
Next to my driver’s license is my EVCC student I.D. card. Other than the fact that it shows what school I go to, the only information about me that can be gathered from this is from the photo of me. This photo was taken about 2 years after my driver’s license photo. In this image you will see that my hair down to the middle of my chest and that it is black. Since in this photo my hair is not a Mohawk and it is all lying behind my ears, you are able to see that in one ear I have one piercing and in the other ear I have two. Also in this photo I am wearing a baphomet necklace. From the information on my student I.D. I would once again just assume that this teenager is just another person who dresses like a rocker.
All of what is left in my wallet does not contain very much about me as individual items, but you can see a fair amount about me from looking at all of them as a whole. In my wallet is my BECU debit card, State Farm insurance card, Allstate Platinum Plan Membership I.D., Auntie Anne’s Pretzel-Perfect-Pass, Fred Meyers gift card, CPR/ AED card, and a Compliant First Aid Training L.L.C. certificate of Completion card. What you can learn about me just from all of this is; it is likely that someone in my family works for Boeing, I am well insured with my car, I like pretzels, I shop at Fred Meyers, and that I went through some sort of formal training based around saving lives and helping injured people.
People would miss out on a lot of information about me if all they had was my wallet to go off of. First they would miss that I am not just some teenager that dresses like a rocker, I am a singer and believe it or not looking how I look is actually my uniform and helps me get paid better. Next they would miss that I am working towards a teaching certificate and degree in physical education at EVCC. Other information that is missing is, the reason I use BECUAED card and first aid certificate while I was in the Sno-Isle Fire Service program.
From this assignment and its readings; I have found that just by looking at someone’s wallet you can sometimes see a rough outline of that person’s life, but all the details are left out.
When my wallet is first opened all that can be seen is my driver’s license as well as the top ends of some cards. Before I get into detail of what my assortment of cards is; I will begin with the basics, my driver’s license. My driver’s license is the king of the wallet. It has its very own pouch with a clear cover that allows all of its front contents to be seen without needing to pull it out. A lot of information about me can be gathered from this piece of plastic with my picture on it. After my name is my address, this has been my address ever since I could walk. I definitely don’t plan on living at this address forever, but I could stay here in Marysville. Next you will find that I am a male who is 6ft 3in, 175lbs, I have blue eyes, and I am an organ donor. My photograph is the last thing about me other than my signature. I believe that a little can be determined about me just from my picture, if I am to “judge this book by its cover”. In my picture you will see my natural hair color, which up until recently not many people ever knew it is blonde. Also you will see that my hair is a Mohawk that hangs down to my shoulder. Only one of my ears is exposed in this photo, my hair is covering the other half of my head. On this ear you will see that it is pierced, but the earring is much thicker than your average earring (yes it did hurt making it that way). If I were to see my I.D. from an outside point of view I would simply assume that this teenager is just another person who dresses like a rocker.
Next to my driver’s license is my EVCC student I.D. card. Other than the fact that it shows what school I go to, the only information about me that can be gathered from this is from the photo of me. This photo was taken about 2 years after my driver’s license photo. In this image you will see that my hair down to the middle of my chest and that it is black. Since in this photo my hair is not a Mohawk and it is all lying behind my ears, you are able to see that in one ear I have one piercing and in the other ear I have two. Also in this photo I am wearing a baphomet necklace. From the information on my student I.D. I would once again just assume that this teenager is just another person who dresses like a rocker.
All of what is left in my wallet does not contain very much about me as individual items, but you can see a fair amount about me from looking at all of them as a whole. In my wallet is my BECU debit card, State Farm insurance card, Allstate Platinum Plan Membership I.D., Auntie Anne’s Pretzel-Perfect-Pass, Fred Meyers gift card, CPR/ AED card, and a Compliant First Aid Training L.L.C. certificate of Completion card. What you can learn about me just from all of this is; it is likely that someone in my family works for Boeing, I am well insured with my car, I like pretzels, I shop at Fred Meyers, and that I went through some sort of formal training based around saving lives and helping injured people.
People would miss out on a lot of information about me if all they had was my wallet to go off of. First they would miss that I am not just some teenager that dresses like a rocker, I am a singer and believe it or not looking how I look is actually my uniform and helps me get paid better. Next they would miss that I am working towards a teaching certificate and degree in physical education at EVCC. Other information that is missing is, the reason I use BECUAED card and first aid certificate while I was in the Sno-Isle Fire Service program.
From this assignment and its readings; I have found that just by looking at someone’s wallet you can sometimes see a rough outline of that person’s life, but all the details are left out.
Writers Choice Revision
"Until I can take pride in my language, I cannot take pride in myself" (Anzaldua pg. 82), to me this statement is false. Anzaldua backs this statement up by saying, "I am my language" (Anzaldua pg 82), and "Until I am free to write bilingually and to switch codes without having always to translate, while I still speak English or Spanish when I would rather speak Spanglish" (Anzaldua pg. 82). In no way do I believe that my language has a connection to my pride of self. I feel that pride of self should come from things I do, ways I help, how I act. The English language is not a factor of pride to me; it is a factor of convenience because it’s the main language of where I live.
"as long as I have to accommodate the English speakers rather than having them accommodate me, my tongue will be illegitimate" (Anzaldua pg. 82). Throughout the text of this essay Anzaldua backs up these feelings. She speaks of how in different situations/ places/ or with different people she has to speak different languages/ dialects, many of which are based around the English language. I agree with this statement partially. I see how it would be frustrating not being able to speak your native tongue all the time in order for others to understand you. By speaking Spanish in a primarily English country I don't believe the language is illegitimate, but less convenient. Last summer I went to Mexico for a couple of weeks, and I went through somewhat of the same situation, just on a smaller scale. There were times and places that I could speak English and everything would be fine, but a majority of the time if I didn't speak Spanish I would not have success in what I was trying to accomplish.
"Pocho, coultural traitor, you're speaking the oppressors language by speaking English, you're ruining the Spanish language." (Anzaldua pg. 79) I can see both sides of this argument having valid points. On the negative side one is angry that the accuser can't see that one can speak multiple languages. On the other side the person is angry that another would stop speaking Spanish to start over with English.
"as long as I have to accommodate the English speakers rather than having them accommodate me, my tongue will be illegitimate" (Anzaldua pg. 82). Throughout the text of this essay Anzaldua backs up these feelings. She speaks of how in different situations/ places/ or with different people she has to speak different languages/ dialects, many of which are based around the English language. I agree with this statement partially. I see how it would be frustrating not being able to speak your native tongue all the time in order for others to understand you. By speaking Spanish in a primarily English country I don't believe the language is illegitimate, but less convenient. Last summer I went to Mexico for a couple of weeks, and I went through somewhat of the same situation, just on a smaller scale. There were times and places that I could speak English and everything would be fine, but a majority of the time if I didn't speak Spanish I would not have success in what I was trying to accomplish.
"Pocho, coultural traitor, you're speaking the oppressors language by speaking English, you're ruining the Spanish language." (Anzaldua pg. 79) I can see both sides of this argument having valid points. On the negative side one is angry that the accuser can't see that one can speak multiple languages. On the other side the person is angry that another would stop speaking Spanish to start over with English.
Timed Write Revision
Being an outsider is being someone who is not accepted within the majority community, being someone who is not adequately understood and different than what the mainstream concept of "normal" is. In the film "District 9" there are literally millions of outsiders, these outsiders are the aliens (or Prawns). One way this movie demonstrates what it is to be an outsider is by the hostility between humans and aliens. From the time that the aliens touched Earths ground they were outsiders. The customs of these aliens were different than that of a human and this caused tension between the two species. Riots started because of how badly humans wanted the aliens to be segregated from their species. Once the aliens became segregated from humans they became even more of an outsider. They lived in the slums of the Johannesburg separated from the humans by many miles. The aliens were not accepted within the majority community (human community) because the humans did not adequately understand them. Since the aliens were living in the slums they were also considered "lower class" citizens, and history has shown that in many cases those of the "lower class" are not fully accepted within the majority community.
Aliens in this movie were not understood in many ways and all of these ways cause people to be considered outsiders in real life as well. These aliens spoke a different language than any human language and this caused issues during the initial time period of them being on Earth. Neither alien nor human understood each other until many years later when each species seemed to understand each other fine. That ties in with our classes past reading "How To Tame a Wild Tongue", speaking another language or having a different accent is seen negatively in a separate community.
Wikus was also an outsider in this movie because of a tragic event that happened to him. He came in contact with a chemical that caused him to start transforming into an alien. When this happened a rumor went out that it was caused from him having sex with an alien. Other humans found that to be "different" from what is normal and could not understand why some one would do such a thing. Since he had become misunderstood and different he became an outsider from the human community.
From these examples it can be seen that the film "District 9" defines being an outsider as, "someone who is not accepted within the majority community, being someone who is not adequately understood and different than what the mainstream concept of "normal" is". The aliens lived differently and spoke differently causing them to be outcast from the majority community. Wikus was misunderstood with the misconception that he had sexual relations with an alien, which also caused him to be outcast from the majority community.
(Part 2)
Both the film and the discussions affirmed my belief of what it is to be an outsider. When I first read the prompt of this assignment I immediately began to think of what I believe it means to be an outsider. When I came across my answer I realized that it was the same in the movie. Our fellow classmate Peter Gienger said the following, "This film presents an important idea that identity changes from things that happen to us and can even force us to become dis-communitized (othered or outsidered)". He was speaking of Wikus' change from human to alien and how this caused him to become an outsider, which affirms my beliefs. Audra West said, "I see many perspectives about what it is to be an outsider. The main character is devastated by the fact that he is now different from what he was, he is angry that his own friends, family, colleagues, and every human being has turned against him. We also see a sense of commradery and loyalty form between outcasts". Audra also believed that Wikus became an outsider because of his change.
Aliens in this movie were not understood in many ways and all of these ways cause people to be considered outsiders in real life as well. These aliens spoke a different language than any human language and this caused issues during the initial time period of them being on Earth. Neither alien nor human understood each other until many years later when each species seemed to understand each other fine. That ties in with our classes past reading "How To Tame a Wild Tongue", speaking another language or having a different accent is seen negatively in a separate community.
Wikus was also an outsider in this movie because of a tragic event that happened to him. He came in contact with a chemical that caused him to start transforming into an alien. When this happened a rumor went out that it was caused from him having sex with an alien. Other humans found that to be "different" from what is normal and could not understand why some one would do such a thing. Since he had become misunderstood and different he became an outsider from the human community.
From these examples it can be seen that the film "District 9" defines being an outsider as, "someone who is not accepted within the majority community, being someone who is not adequately understood and different than what the mainstream concept of "normal" is". The aliens lived differently and spoke differently causing them to be outcast from the majority community. Wikus was misunderstood with the misconception that he had sexual relations with an alien, which also caused him to be outcast from the majority community.
(Part 2)
Both the film and the discussions affirmed my belief of what it is to be an outsider. When I first read the prompt of this assignment I immediately began to think of what I believe it means to be an outsider. When I came across my answer I realized that it was the same in the movie. Our fellow classmate Peter Gienger said the following, "This film presents an important idea that identity changes from things that happen to us and can even force us to become dis-communitized (othered or outsidered)". He was speaking of Wikus' change from human to alien and how this caused him to become an outsider, which affirms my beliefs. Audra West said, "I see many perspectives about what it is to be an outsider. The main character is devastated by the fact that he is now different from what he was, he is angry that his own friends, family, colleagues, and every human being has turned against him. We also see a sense of commradery and loyalty form between outcasts". Audra also believed that Wikus became an outsider because of his change.
Reflection Letter
My name is Brett Larsen; I am 19 years old and still trying to find out a lot about myself. Though I feel that I still have many years to go to completely find myself throughout this quarter I have made huge steps in this process. What I do know is, I am a musician. I live, breath, eat, and sleep music. Currently I am going to EVCC to work towards becoming a Physical Education teacher; though that is a passion of mine, being on the road touring with my band is all I think about every day. Many people strongly disagree with what I sing about in my band and that’s why Death Metal is still an underground genre. I know that if some of the record label deals we are working on go through I will live a life on the road and be dirt poor for the rest of my life; I wouldn’t have it any other way.
At the beginning of this quarter we focused on Identity, the reading and assignments I did for this section helped me realize a couple things about myself. First off it helped me realize how much better my life is when I stop worrying about what others think about me. I also realized how proud of myself I am for never being the kind of person to give into peer pressure from others. The realization of all this has made me a lot happier. When we moved onto the Community section it made me think a lot about my friends as well as my passions. My friends helped get me into the passions I have. Most of them are musicians and focus primarily on the genre “Death Metal”, now I spend almost every weekend of my life on stage with them having one hell of a time. They push me pretty hard to always strive to better myself in school, music, life, everything. One of the last topics we covered in this class was Tradition. In the tradition unit I learned more about how big of an impact the Internet has on my life and most peoples I knows life. When I was young I would communicate face to face with my friends and family, and now I communicate a lot through the Internet but thankfully still primarily face to face.
At the beginning of this quarter we focused on Identity, the reading and assignments I did for this section helped me realize a couple things about myself. First off it helped me realize how much better my life is when I stop worrying about what others think about me. I also realized how proud of myself I am for never being the kind of person to give into peer pressure from others. The realization of all this has made me a lot happier. When we moved onto the Community section it made me think a lot about my friends as well as my passions. My friends helped get me into the passions I have. Most of them are musicians and focus primarily on the genre “Death Metal”, now I spend almost every weekend of my life on stage with them having one hell of a time. They push me pretty hard to always strive to better myself in school, music, life, everything. One of the last topics we covered in this class was Tradition. In the tradition unit I learned more about how big of an impact the Internet has on my life and most peoples I knows life. When I was young I would communicate face to face with my friends and family, and now I communicate a lot through the Internet but thankfully still primarily face to face.
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