Jessica Claire

Week 9 Question

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 03:13:16 -0400

1) Violence in culture is about as old as culture itself, from cave paintings of hunting to human sacrifice in religious rites, and controversies over that violence probably aren’t far behind. With that in mind, are there particular dangers (whether or not they’re new) associated with the kind of violent representation described in this week’s readings?

Growing up when we ask our parents what is sex they usually respond with “Its the love between a man and a woman”. But as we get older what we see in movies and pornography, they lack the whole idea of love. This weeks readings have shown us how porn has become violent and inhumane ways people treat others. One example of an incident of sexual violence is the incident in Nanjing also known as the rape of Nanjing where thousands of women were sexually tortured by japanese soldiers during the forgotten holocaust of World War II. Today there is a new form of sexual violence that seems to have become a worldwide problem and that is human trafficking.

Human trafficking is a profiting process of people selling women and children to, usually men, for sex. If you dont know much about human trafficking you might want to watch the movie. What scares me the most is that in third world countries, parents sell their daughters to men for money. Most of these women and children dont escape the system and instead of the police helping them, they are charged for prostitution and believe they cant be helped. This relates to violent content in porn and the sex world because men pay to do whatever they want with these women and children and watching pornography that are violent gives them fantasies that they would like to act out too. I’ve been to Bangkok, Thailand and I was shocked of how movies that depict Thailand of having a lot of prostitutes does not stray far from what we see. Through my experience of watching Human Trafficking and going to Thailand it scares me of how the pornography has somewhat corrupted the meaning of sex. Walking the streets I witnessed very young boy prostitutes that I dont think were even sixteen years old and men flashing photo albums of prostitutes pictures they can bring to you. The violence in what we see through these media outlets has a strong influence on our views of sex and can also have a big affect on younger generations.

Discussion Question Week 8

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 05:21:21 -0400

Sarracino and Scott claim that their book is neither pro-porn nor anti-porn. After reading a substantial amount of their writing, do you believe this claim, or is it simply there to defray criticism? What evidence do you have for their pro- or anti- inclinations?

I agree with Sarracino and Scott that their book is neither pro-porn nor anti-porn, though they clearly state they don’t choose sides they look more into the what makes porn such a big part of our culture. This book does not pick sides but speaks what others are too uncomfortable to talk about, how sex has been introduced through basically every media and how it has shaped our culture. “But the mainstreaming of pornography, with its shaping influence on American life and culture, is more complex and subtle than simply the evolution of the pornographic movie industry.” (18) The book also mentions that through decades sex has been available to adults and Hollywood is a good example of how America has more and more so accept sex.

Through outlets such as playboy, created by Hugh Hefner, America has found a more glamorous way to promote sex, though sometimes in the Porning of America it does seem that the article could be anti-sex by explaining how sex is being distributed to children. “With increasing frequency, [the Olsen twins] were photographed in clothing that was tight and revealing but still maintained, if only marginally, their personal as sweet and wholesome girls.” (25) The authors later discuss that in their teens the photography gradually became more sensual. However the authors don’t pick sides they discuss the growing need to express yourself “sexually” and what the audience see as the glamorous Olsen twins others see them as a huge dollar sign that can add to the interest of sex and porn.

Today, sex is a big part of American culture and with expansion of porn and media that promote sex, it will cease to die. Sexual content can be seen through many outlets besides the media, it can be seen through clothing and even dance. Porn has become mainstream and it is neither promoted or discouraged in this book but just a way for people to understand the relation of porn and sex, and America.

School & Things: Week 7 Free Thought

Sun, 24 Jul 2011 05:57:44 -0400

School & Things: Week 7 Free Thought:

cortneys:

Social separation between class, age, ethnicity, and gender has been part of American culture for decades. However, America is not alone. China, Japan, India, Southeast Asia and Korea all have been guilty of social separation as a tool for keeping order and control over their citizens. The idea…

In Boyds article she talks about the separation of the intellectual class and the less mature. All over the world the cyber world is continues to aid in the social separation. I think this also has relates to Lee’s article about Japanese in America. It is hard to open up to people who are different than us thus we stray away from the unfamiliar, Like the Japanese, they were a lot different than the caucasian men that have been in America for most of their lives. Rather than accepting them, they pushed them away. The different social class have rather kept us in our comfort zone and help us from wandering away from the familiar. Boyd talks about how these sites are used for networking and meeting new people but what we are doing is completely opposite.

: week 7

Sat, 23 Jul 2011 20:51:00 -0400

: week 7:

bryant-m:

For the past seven months I’ve been trying to make sense of a recent phenomenon on Facebook that bears significance to my current research interest in mixed martial arts. Beginning in January of this year the UFC started streaming live fights off of both their pay-per-view and cable undercard; an…

I like your example that you use to relate to the topic examined in Danah Boyds article. I dont really know much about UFC and I dont watch it but my brother is a big fan, he doesnt order the fights but he watches it online. The internet is not as easily accessible for everyone as it is for us, and Boyd sheds light on the interesting users on Facebook and Myspace. How sites like these are intended for social networking it does not necessarily bring everyone together but more so I think is a cyber separation of class. Technology does not bring cultural harmony but separates us even more from people who are different from us.

Rachele: Week 7 Rambling

Sat, 23 Jul 2011 20:41:46 -0400

Rachele: Week 7 Rambling:

rkwolfe:

The readings were a lot to handle for me. I am a Caucasian female and blonde, who grew up between Waianae and Waimanalo. Anybody who knows Oahu knows that I was the one being teased and threatened because of my skin color. I had racial slurs spat at me everyday. “You *** haole!”

Reading…

I really like how you used a life experience to relate to this article, it give another example of how racism is somewhat still alive today. I took the class Japanese in America at Manoa and he talked about Hawaii as being, I think it was called, a melting pot. Hawaii has become such a diverse place to live with people of all different cultures and how you said people call you “haole” its just as much of a racist slur as one of the few that were mentioned in the article. I also strongly believe that its about how you are raised and not about the color of your skin. I know that there has been much controversy on nurture vs. nature.

week 7

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 03:30:27 -0400

“There’s a concept in sociology called “homophily.” It means birds of a feather stick together.” Trying to keep up with these “technological advances” many people don’t think that the reason for switching from Myspace to Facebook has anything to do with class. Again Myspace and Facebook is another example of differences, inequalities and segregation.

This article interests me because I never thought about Myspace and Facebook like the way Danah Boyd explains in his article “Facebook and Myspace Users Clearly Divided Along Class Lines”. I support some of the reasons that the other interviewees said like how it is easier to use and more friends are using another site than the other. “social-networking sites, there’s almost no networking going on. People use these sites to connect to the people they know”. It is another way people are separating themselves from one another, and about choosing a site that you are able to find people just like you. “Social stratification is pervasive in American society (and around the globe). Social media does not magically eradicate inequality. Rather, it mirrors what is happening in everyday life and makes social divisions visible.” These sites were generated for social networking but they have only created an online way of somewhat of different classes

With all different ways of separating ourselves from people who are different its hard to break down the barriers of social class. “What we’re dismissing are the values and cultures of people who are different”, Every person has their own reasons for switching from one site to another but these sites are adding to the growing wall that is breaking apart our society. Thus people are already divided, and understand that people of different cultures live in different environments from one another. Boyd says “we cannot expect technology to automatically integrate people and generate cultural harmony”, that these sites that specify in bringing people together to meet new people and is the playground of social networking is not as it seems. These sites show us the inequalities we continue to face today and what we should be doing to create unity among all people.

School & Things: Week 4 Q.2

Sun, 03 Jul 2011 05:16:13 -0400

School & Things: Week 4 Q.2:

cortneys:

The Terminator, Clash of the Titans, and even Finding Nemo, have been translated and premiered in multiplex theaters around the world. Today, Hollywood works to produce more appealing movies with even more eye catching cinematic effects but the attraction to American films is a product of…

I agree with your views on American influences that are found in American films that are watched all over the world today. And its true that Hollywood promotes global trade that helps increase Americas wealth. Not only has globalization influenced countries people to have an interest in America but has also influenced foreign film writers to come to Hollywood to promote their own movies and try to make it in Hollywood and where they cant from where they are from. These forms of migration and interaction promote trade between countries and also promote cultural exchange and enhance international agreement.

Urara's Blog: Week 4 Response

Sun, 03 Jul 2011 03:17:57 -0400

Urara's Blog: Week 4 Response:

umorioka:

Cultural exchange is a simple exchange of cultures in which two or more cultures coexist without dominating or overpowering one another. When one culture dominates another by economic or technological superiority, that is cultural imperialism. An example of cultural imperialism is given in…

I agree with your definitions of cultural exchange and cultural imperialism. Barbers example from the book has also made me think how other countries are so interested in American culture. American films has made it quite easy for other countries to learn about American culture because television is easier to access and more enjoyable to watch then reading a book. With other countries so interested in American culture it has made it easy for American companies to sell their products all over the world. Sports have also been used to promote cultural exchange. With foreign players they are able to travel all over the world and countries can use them as somewhat of an mutual agreement and understanding.

yohei7: Week 4 Q.1

Sun, 03 Jul 2011 03:05:21 -0400

yohei7: Week 4 Q.1:

yohei7:

My basic understanding is that “cultural exchange” is somewhat mutual interaction of different cultures while “cultural imperialism” is mainly one-way enforcement of a culture to others. This does not necessarily mean that these two types of cultural relationship are easy to distinguish:…

I agree with your definitions on cultural exchange and cultural imperialism. Both somewhat affect globalization. Hollywood has a strong influence on the whole world and other countries learn from each other through the many different interactions. Globalization has helped countries share information and learn from each other, and how Hollywood has had an impact on the world is quite interesting. Hollywood’s global influence has affected free trade with other countries around the world, by showing people how life is in America influences other countries people to learn more about America and creates an interest in American culture.

Week 4 Question 1

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 04:08:08 -0400

When discussing culture and globalization, how do we distinguish “cultural exchange” from “cultural imperialism?” These are value-laden terms, which provoke emotional reactions. Is the difference simply in the eye of the beholder, or is there some basis on which we might evaluate international cultural trade to determine when each of these modes is operating?

Globalization has affected many countries in different ways but mostly has given many countries access to foreign products, better access to external financing, political development, etc. When countries deal with ones foreign to them they do more than just trade products but share their cultural differences. Cultural exchange is the exchanging of students, athletes, tourists between countries to promote an understanding of different cultures. Cultural imperialism is when one culture dominates another forcing their policy’s and ethics on them.

I believe that it is not in the eye of the beholder it is rather those two cultures decision and feelings of the interaction. If both countries agree upon letting their people communicate with the other and explore each other’s home it is cultural exchange. But if one country goes against the others will then it is cultural imperialism. For example when westerners/missionaries came to Hawaii, Hawaiians were somewhat accepting and agreed upon meeting and interacting with them. They explored each other’s cultural differences and found themselves very different from one another. But as more and more westerners came to Hawaii they found that the Hawaiian monarch was not what they were used to. They introduced government and religion to the people of Hawaii that eventually replaced Hawaiians natural way of living in Hawaii. This is an example of Cultural imperialism and today Hawaiians are still trying to maintain and recover their culture but with the influences they have endured it makes it very difficult for them. I don’t believe it is in the eye of the beholder but on how countries feel about the interaction if they agree then it is cultural exchange if they disagree it is cultural imperialism.

Week 3 Question 3

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 05:29:18 -0400

Anderson suggests that televised science fiction often deals with historical events and Wallace tells us that even Disney’s “Future World” is largely a story about the past. Why does popular culture continually return to the past for its narratives, even in mediums like science fiction, which are ostensibly about the future?

History has a strong link with today and the future because of popular memory which Wallace explains depends on a given community at a given time and how popular historical images and stories, Anderson says, influence Americans’ understanding of our mutual past. Wallace says, “Whether or not film and television are fundamentally useful to the needs of historical representation has been the subject of much controversy for historians.” TV is constantly looking back on history and can be found on many channels on TV like History Channel and PBS.

In both articles it seems that television science fiction and Disney’s “Future World ” are indicators of the cultural processing. History is constantly being repeated on television, though it may be in different ways, its still shows how popular culture continues to return to the past and sometimes may give off the impression of not being closely related to history at all. In the case of historical events, television a model implement of cultural memory where history will constantly be repeated. In Mickey Mouse History Wallace talks about how it “provides the right kind of past for the hipper sensibility” and maybe professionals do not want us to know about the realities of our past and present but rather conform to stereotypes and by adopting convenient ideologies makes it easier to attract more people. Thus when trying to understand the importance of popular culture we must factor in historical representation that do not provide a valid understanding of the past.

Popular culture and Social class

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 04:34:45 -0400

Culture in social class is very different and are all influenced by many things such as their environment, religion and ethnicity but throughout the years culture transforms with time. Both culture and social class are intertwined and the members in each class make up cultural differences, culture can be defined by what society can collaborative agree on and find the most appealing and that the different classes create cultural differences.

In Halls reading, ideas of change and transformation greatly affect our culture. With every century, political struggle and power created a more prominent distinction between each of the social classes. He also explains how the terms ‘popular’ and ‘class’ have an intricate relation with one another, and the term ‘popular’ indicates separate relations of culture to class. Throughout the reading he examines how popular culture comes from social class and that social class help the people decide what is popular. What greatly adds to what is popular is change, Hall says that popular culture comes with change and questions traditional forms of life. It is not chance that there are different characteristic forms of what we think of as traditional popular culture. Through ‘the people’s struggle and resistance generate change, people change thus culture will change.

It is important to keep social class in mind when examining popular culture because they both go hand-in-hand. Culture is perceived as a way of life and is constantly changing and ‘the people’ are the object of ‘reform’, their struggle and resistance add to the transformation of culture.

Its just me. :)

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 07:09:00 -0400

Hi guys my name is Jessica, I am an American studies major and currently a senior. The reason why I’m taking this class is to fill a requirement, I just recently declared my major so basically Im just trying to introduce myself to all the different classes.

I’ve lived in Hawaii my whole life except one year when I attended Northern Arizona University for my freshman year. I came back home because I really missed it and now im at UH. I’m not a beach person but I recently started paddle boarding this summer and find it very fun. :)