America the Beautiful

I was left rather speechless after last Thursday's class. This was one of the best documentaries I think I've ever seen. From the second Gerren was introduced on screen I was shocked. She is such a beautiful girl, but was so young. I think its great that mothers like hers allow their children to follow their dreams, even if they are as big as modeling but I think that mothers also need to draw the lines. The young girl who wanted to model, but felt she needed plastic surgery to do it not only made me sad, but the fact that her mother told her that they would do whatever it took for her to be a model, infuriated me. I understand plastic surgery in an effort to "fix" ones body after something drastic has happened to it; for example, a friend of mine has two children and she said that after having her kids, she felt that her breasts would never be the same, so she had a breast augmentation. I understand breast reductions, and even "nose jobs" for someone who has trouble breathing due to a deviated septum...but cosmetic surgery, just so you can look like someone you see on television or a magazine, is absolutely heartbreaking to me. A friend of mine and I recently had a conversation about high school girls who get breast implants for a high school graduation present. One, I can't believe parents actually buy this for their kids, and two, if these girls would simply give it a few years, they would grow out of their insecurities. At least, I hope so...

I don't know what it would take for people to begin seeing themselves as beautiful, but something does need to change. If the standard of beauty changes to larger women or something like that, I'm afraid that the cycle will just continue and companies will continue to make money off anything and everyone they can. I do think that documentaries like this, and classes like this one, are a step in the right direction though.

Latino's in the Media

Last week we discussed how Latino's are portrayed in the media. Most everyone has seen movies like Cheech and Chong or a film featuring the "spicy" Latino woman or the Latin lover, but are these accurate portrayals of Latinos and Hispanics living in the United States? I feel like most of what we see regarding Hispanics today is the news media telling stories of illegal immigrants or criminals, so I think that sadly, many people take this view they see in the news and apply it to all Hispanic people they see.

In Jour 2320 over the summer, I interviewed a Hispanic woman about how she felt they were portrayed in the media today and she seemed to think the same thing. She felt that if more positive stories were shown on the news about Hispanics, then people would have much different opinions of Hispanics and the Hispanic culture. I don't think that shows like George Lopez or comedians like Carlos Mencia are really helping with stereotypes either.

I had to take a portion of the United States citizenship test at the beginning of a class not long ago and I was absolutely shocked at how difficult it was. The types of questions that were on the test dealt with everything from politics to United States history questions. I don't necessarily think that its a bad idea for tests concerning history to be on the test but I don't understand the necessity of many of the questions. The entire time I was asking myself, "Why do you NEED to know this in order to be a citizen?" Either way, it did surprise me and made me think a lot harder about illegal immigrants and how long it takes most people applying for citizenship to actually become citizens.

Spike Lee

I went into seeing Spike Lee speak last Thursday not knowing what to expect. I knew that seeing him speak was an opportunity I would probably never get again so I was definitely excited.

I think everything he spoke of regarding education was really inspiring. It's taken me a long time to really figure out what I want to do with my life so I can definitely relate by saying that journalism kind of found me. I have always been writing so when I found something that I could do with the rest of my life that involved writing and photography, I felt incredibly grateful. I remember him mentioning that sometimes parents can be the biggest killers of dreams and I can see that as being true. Our parents just want the best for us in most cases so I understand them wanting us to find jobs and professions that will make us money and take care of us for the rest of our lives but I think doing something you love is much more important. It was really reassuring hearing him say things like that.

I won't deny that later in his speaking I felt like he was talking more to the African American crowd in the audience and no so much the white crowd, but either way, I think everything he said could in some ways be beneficial to everyone listening.

I really expected the Q&A to be a little more "heated" than it actually was. I was expecting people to ask probing questions and not the same "What should I do am an aspiring director" question. However I did really think it was neat how when someone would ask him to sign something, he graciously got up and did it instead of telling them no and sending them back to their seats.

All and all, I'm really glad that I attended and I think I got a lot out of the entire event!

Oh, Disney...

I never really thought of Disney as being in any way detrimental to the millions of children who watch the hundreds of movies; but after class Thursday, I realized that they could actually be.

I, as so many other children, grew up watching Disney movies but I don't think I ever grew up expecting to be treated like a princess from men in my life or anything such as that. I didn't grow up associating certain animals featured in films with any race or group of people. However, I did grow up with great parents who always would bring me back to earth if my head ever got to high in the clouds. This being said however I think that kids should be allowed to be kids and there is no harm in a three or five year old believing in Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy.

I remember someone in class making the comment that kids will grow out of associating something negative with a group of people, based on something they've seen in a movie. I'll use my fathers side of my family as an example yet again as I have many times in this blog. I think the fact that that side of my family has always lived in the same area, and that they have never really experienced very many other people in their lives is a reason for how close minded so many of them are. I think that if parents teach their kids more that there is so much diversity in today's world then they will grow out of any negative associations they've formed as children. But, if they aren't taught about this, then they may carry around their same views of people their entire lives.

Until next week...

Women in the Media

First, I want to quickly discuss the WWE video that we watched in the beginning of the class that seemed to spark so much controversy. Never is it ok for women to be treated in the way they were in the video, in the wrestling ring. I know that there are people who watch these wrestlers and idolize them for the things they do and they way they treat people but honestly, do these people really not know that the entire thing is fake and in no way real? Again, no, it's not alright, but it's also not real. The people who watch wrestling and think that it is real, I don't see how they could be very educated or have been raised in an environment where their parents told them that this isn't the way ANYONE, woman or otherwise, deserves to be treated. The performers in wrestling, men and women, I suppose should take more responsibility for their actions. I don't think that the men are the only ones to blame because the women wrestlers go into those situations knowing EXACTLY what is going to happen to them. They're actors, and nothing more.

During our discussion at the end of class it seemed that the biggest question was why is it ok to show domestic violence and such in movies and in television and as I stated before, it's not. It's not because so many people have a hard time separating real life and what they see on t.v. Through classes such as this, and with the help of parents better educating their children, I think the entire situation will get better because people will learn the impact this kind of thing has on certain people as well as children.

Until next week!

Men in the Media

I'd be surprised to hear anyone argue with the documentary we watched in class on Thursday. I mean sure, there could be discrepancies with a few things; I won't deny that I was absolutely shocked to hear what Howard Stern had to say about the Columbine tragedy, and of course he is rather degrading to women, but any woman going on his show has to know what she is in for. I think maybe the maker of the documentary looked a little too deep into "Rocky" as I truly see that movie as nothing but an underdog story. But, as far as his main points went, I agree.

Especially in the south, so many boys are raised from the beginning to be "tough," and even as boys begin to grow up, I still think that many have the mind set that they need to be strong, they need to assert themselves to other boys, etc. I think it's probably a combination of having to prove to themselves that they are "manly" and that they are strong as well as feeling as though they have to prove this to other boys. I don't think this assertion includes violence against women in any way...I think men who engage in that sort of violence have some deeper seeded problems than just wanting to prove manliness. I think women do this as well, but not necessarily in the same context.

I think in many instances women dress for other women. They want to look nice so that other women will think they look nice. I personally have just gotten to a point in my life where I don't feel like I have to be, act, or dress in any certain way to fit a certain mold, or impress anyone other than myself. I think it just takes growing up, and even getting an education, for many men and women to realize that they don't have to fit those molds that are traditionally set for men or women.

GLBT in the Media

I have plenty of gay friends, and it always breaks my heart anytime anyone puts them down in any way, shape, or form. I think I've said it many times in this blog already but they are just people, they just live differently than I do. I know that everyone has their reasons for believing in the way that they do but I truly don't see the harm in someone being gay.

This time last year, I was visiting a few friends in Uptown Dallas. Uptown is an area of Dallas with a large gay population. While at a friends apartment, the two of us went downstairs to let in our friend, who is gay. While walked to the door, we walked upon a young man (who seemed to be drunk), staring out the door at our friend and saying derogatory things like "No fags allowed," etc. We walked past him and let our friend in and the three of us kept walking, trying to ignore what was said. He couldn't ignore the guy anymore and immediately started to defend himself as we pulled him into the elevator with us to avoid any more confrontation. After that happened, I remember being absolutely livid that there are such close minded people in the world that would say such hurtful things to someone they had never met before, just because of their sexual orientation.

In class we discussed an organization that call themselves Christians, who boycott soldier funerals (soldiers who are not gay) because of the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy. In my opinion, I'm not sure how these people can call themselves Christians. I think they are just a group of people who want attention and need to attack others in order to get it.

Onto the documentary, I mentioned last week that not very much can shock me but I must say I was shocked by a few of the scenes that were shown, that were apparently shown on television...but I wasn't so much shocked by the fact that they were between gays or lesbians...I would have been shocked if it were a man and a woman in the scenes.

Until next time...