This class has really been a great learning experience for me. I came in as a Race and Ethnic studies major which I believe to be an anthropological field of study. However most of what I learn with race only pertains to the United States, so Anthropology was a breath of fresh air. It was great to look at other cultures and use the techniques of ethnography to understand things that I have been studying in the Unites States.
Another great part about this class is that it helps me immensly in Juvenile Hall. Ever since this class I have been taking great notes on the actions and institutions of the Juvenile Justice system. From these notes I am able to both track the progress of my teaching skills as well as what I am getting the incarcerated youth to study.
I cant stress how much it means to me, to fully understand other people. I know that this is a very hard task, but I think it is where much of my passion lies. Anthropology should be a required major, you can major in everything as long as you major in Anthropology as well. It would make sure that people understood how they effect other people, stumping all the ways in which people screw each other over around the globe.
All in all I love Anthropology, this is not the last you have seen of Bergen Milam
Thursday, December 17, 2009
pg. 422 Exercises.
1) I would choose 3 VIP's. The first being Dave Chappelle. I think that for my day and age, he is one of the most well known racial activists, despite the fact that most people don't understand that he is a racial activist. He chose to attack racism through the lens of comedy, and he does it with such passion and creativity. He speaks of problems like internalized racism, definitions of whiteness, breaking down stereotypes, and exposing the institutionalized racism that still occurs in the United States. All of this is done through making people laugh, we may not know what we are seeing, but he is keeping peoples eyes on what is important, how race effects certain people.
I think my very important place would be the San Bernardino Juvenile Hall. This place has taught me more than University of Redlands has (no offense professor Cole). To be able to study how hundreds of thousands of children get their childhood taken away from them is an incredible experience. It's emotionally draining, as well as physically, but it is all worth it. TO be able to help a child understand that what he or she went through is not supposed to happen is something that everybody needs to experience. I know I dont know what is good for these kids, but I know that I can help them do what THEY wanna do, whatever it is.
2)I think my choice to choose Dave Chappelle is pretty telling where I'm from. I'm not from New York, but Chicago is pretty in tune with it's African American culture as well. I used to sit around with my friends and watch every new episode as I came out. However, most of my friends do not bother to analyze it in the ways that I do. I try and find his motivations, ideas or concepts that he wraps each skit around. Whenever I watch an episode I know that there is a deep meaning he is trying to convey so i try very hard to understand that.
The San Bernardino Juvenile Hall is a very interesting place for me to get attached to. Im not sure exactly why, but I do have one theory. I think that I like it so much because of the people that I grew up with in high school. I was a pretty bad kid and got into a lot of trouble, so when I see these same kids wrapped up in the bullshit that I was wrapped up in, my heart goes out. So in that sense my background has something to do with it. But it is more of a present day situation for me. It was something new that I chose to dive into.
I think my very important place would be the San Bernardino Juvenile Hall. This place has taught me more than University of Redlands has (no offense professor Cole). To be able to study how hundreds of thousands of children get their childhood taken away from them is an incredible experience. It's emotionally draining, as well as physically, but it is all worth it. TO be able to help a child understand that what he or she went through is not supposed to happen is something that everybody needs to experience. I know I dont know what is good for these kids, but I know that I can help them do what THEY wanna do, whatever it is.
2)I think my choice to choose Dave Chappelle is pretty telling where I'm from. I'm not from New York, but Chicago is pretty in tune with it's African American culture as well. I used to sit around with my friends and watch every new episode as I came out. However, most of my friends do not bother to analyze it in the ways that I do. I try and find his motivations, ideas or concepts that he wraps each skit around. Whenever I watch an episode I know that there is a deep meaning he is trying to convey so i try very hard to understand that.
The San Bernardino Juvenile Hall is a very interesting place for me to get attached to. Im not sure exactly why, but I do have one theory. I think that I like it so much because of the people that I grew up with in high school. I was a pretty bad kid and got into a lot of trouble, so when I see these same kids wrapped up in the bullshit that I was wrapped up in, my heart goes out. So in that sense my background has something to do with it. But it is more of a present day situation for me. It was something new that I chose to dive into.
Ethnographic study on U-Club
For my ethnographic study of food in Redlands I decided to observe people eating at the U-Club. The U-Club is the fanciest place on campus to eat so I figured peoples habits and actions would be pretty interesting there.
The first thing that I noticed was the amount of people present in the room, and how you were seated. The whole room dimly lit, and carpeted. The main eating area is set behind the waiting room and the Hostesses podium. Not very man people were there my first two times eating, a tuesday and a wednesday afternoon at 1. Parties with large amounts of peole are seated in the middle while everybody else is in small 3-4 person groups surrounding the outside of the room.
Another thing that stood out was how people spoke in U Club. everybody speaks very softly, one group even began whispering as some points. In comparison to the other eating establishments on campus this was very surprising. It is sometimes hard to hear ones own thoughts while manuevering through the 1220 rush in the commons, but in U Club everything is in good order and at a low decibal level.
Instead of the buffet line (often looked at as less classy), you order your food from a waiter, who after supplying you with a free appetizer of bread and olive spread will bring it to your table. I think that this shows how we value certain services in the United States. It would be informal for us to get up and get our own food, and more acceptable to have a waiter to take care of you.
The last thing that intrigued me was the tip. At U Club you are expected to tip the waiters, using your school lunch card! This above all is the signifier of a classy joint.
The first thing that I noticed was the amount of people present in the room, and how you were seated. The whole room dimly lit, and carpeted. The main eating area is set behind the waiting room and the Hostesses podium. Not very man people were there my first two times eating, a tuesday and a wednesday afternoon at 1. Parties with large amounts of peole are seated in the middle while everybody else is in small 3-4 person groups surrounding the outside of the room.
Another thing that stood out was how people spoke in U Club. everybody speaks very softly, one group even began whispering as some points. In comparison to the other eating establishments on campus this was very surprising. It is sometimes hard to hear ones own thoughts while manuevering through the 1220 rush in the commons, but in U Club everything is in good order and at a low decibal level.
Instead of the buffet line (often looked at as less classy), you order your food from a waiter, who after supplying you with a free appetizer of bread and olive spread will bring it to your table. I think that this shows how we value certain services in the United States. It would be informal for us to get up and get our own food, and more acceptable to have a waiter to take care of you.
The last thing that intrigued me was the tip. At U Club you are expected to tip the waiters, using your school lunch card! This above all is the signifier of a classy joint.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Anthropology and Work
Anthropology has been something that I continuously see myself taking part of further on in life. I I think that it is a very unique job that can and should be used in every field. One always needs an expert on the rule of the land, and all of the intertwining systems that need to be acknowledged before trying to bring change to a place, or even to fully understand a group of people.
I wasn't in class for the movie, so I'm writing more about my interests in pursuing Anthropology as a career. I am a Race and Ethnic studies major, also being a White male, I feel like anthropology is necessary for me to begin to understand the race relations and policies in our own country. We wouldn't have such great understanding of different familial structures or kin networks of we never had anthropologists jump into our own culture. There are tons of other examples oh how anthropology is important to studying race relations in all cultures.
Largely I would like to use anthropology with my work in Juvenile Hall. I volunteer every Thursday and Friday, and since taking this intro class, I have begun to improve my ethnographic skills, as well as improved my understanding of the Juvenile Hall. I imagine that I will be doing much more anthropological work in juvenile hall, and hopefully use it in my capstone when I am a senior.
I wasn't in class for the movie, so I'm writing more about my interests in pursuing Anthropology as a career. I am a Race and Ethnic studies major, also being a White male, I feel like anthropology is necessary for me to begin to understand the race relations and policies in our own country. We wouldn't have such great understanding of different familial structures or kin networks of we never had anthropologists jump into our own culture. There are tons of other examples oh how anthropology is important to studying race relations in all cultures.
Largely I would like to use anthropology with my work in Juvenile Hall. I volunteer every Thursday and Friday, and since taking this intro class, I have begun to improve my ethnographic skills, as well as improved my understanding of the Juvenile Hall. I imagine that I will be doing much more anthropological work in juvenile hall, and hopefully use it in my capstone when I am a senior.
The Link for the Crack Economy Article
Here is the Link to the article by Philippe Bourgois on the Crack Economy
www.philippebourgois.net/Nation%2095.pdf
www.philippebourgois.net/Nation%2095.pdf
Crack-enomics
This is a response to the article we read about the working conditions of people who sell crack.
Learning about the hours, and time that dealers spend working was a very interesting twist to the perspectives that are commonly associated with people who sell drugs. I think that it really reveals the hidden prejudice we have against these people, and shows how we use those prejudices to project an image on to people we have never allowed to speak for themselves. This article interested me for many reasons, it deals with race and class, it flips a common perspective, but mostly it speaks about a population that I am somewhat familiar with.
In high school I was friends with several people who sold drugs, and I learned a lot about the inner workings of these systems very early on in life. I understand that selling drugs and especially crack is not an easy job, and requires a lot of responsibility and stress to keep the business running. What I first noticed was how quickly people were to say that selling drugs is easy. It tells me the lack of appreciation and understand of the issues that people in poverty face. To me I don't see it at how easy it is to sell drugs, but how hard it is to get a legitimate job that is close to where you live, and pays a living wage. People would not resort to a dangerous, time consuming job like selling drugs if they could use that same motivation and get enough bang for their buck in the legal world.
I think this article did a great job at explaining the differences and similarities between a legal job and selling crack. However, it did a better job at revealing societies problems of dealing with poverty. Selling drugs is a direct product of poverty, it is something that society pushes on people. People sell drugs out of necessity, necessity for money, food and respect. It is not an issue of peoples morals, except for the politicians who turn a blind eye towards the millions of people living in poverty.
Learning about the hours, and time that dealers spend working was a very interesting twist to the perspectives that are commonly associated with people who sell drugs. I think that it really reveals the hidden prejudice we have against these people, and shows how we use those prejudices to project an image on to people we have never allowed to speak for themselves. This article interested me for many reasons, it deals with race and class, it flips a common perspective, but mostly it speaks about a population that I am somewhat familiar with.
In high school I was friends with several people who sold drugs, and I learned a lot about the inner workings of these systems very early on in life. I understand that selling drugs and especially crack is not an easy job, and requires a lot of responsibility and stress to keep the business running. What I first noticed was how quickly people were to say that selling drugs is easy. It tells me the lack of appreciation and understand of the issues that people in poverty face. To me I don't see it at how easy it is to sell drugs, but how hard it is to get a legitimate job that is close to where you live, and pays a living wage. People would not resort to a dangerous, time consuming job like selling drugs if they could use that same motivation and get enough bang for their buck in the legal world.
I think this article did a great job at explaining the differences and similarities between a legal job and selling crack. However, it did a better job at revealing societies problems of dealing with poverty. Selling drugs is a direct product of poverty, it is something that society pushes on people. People sell drugs out of necessity, necessity for money, food and respect. It is not an issue of peoples morals, except for the politicians who turn a blind eye towards the millions of people living in poverty.
Student Initiated Study of Parties
For my first student initiated study, I chose to explore the norms of the party life, via my eldest brothers Halloween party. Partying is always portrayed as a huge part of college (great way to spend Mom's money), and as a result, there has been a long history of the culture of parties. I will be comparing and contrasting my eldest brothers party with the parties I encounter at the University Of Redlands. There are a couple variables that must be put out on the table before we proceed. First, my brother is in Graduate School and as a result, everyone of the people at his party besides me, were also graduate students. Second, it is legal for everyone at his party to be drunk, or to drink while there.
The first thing difference I noticed between the two party scenes would be the entrance of a guest. For most parties in Redlands, no one is alerted when someone enters a party, they simply walk in and blend in with the crowds of people mulling about. When someone would enter my brothers' party, the rest of the people were alerted, and that guest usually brought some sort of food or beverage with them as a gift. I think this is important because it shows the relationship of the guests with the host as well as the rest of the guests. My brothers' party was much more personal, while parties at Redlands are more open to the public and strangers to the host.
One thing I found to be similar between the two parties was the position of crowds of people. In both scenes, the largest population of people were circled around the bar, or whatever alcoholic beverages were being served. The second largest crowd of people resides outside, on the balcony or in the backyard. Both of these crowds are similar in both situations, for what I feel to be the same reason. Both of these locations serve functions, both social and physical. The bar serves as the place to acquire alcohol, but it is also the place to meet new people, to introduce yourself or to help someone you don't know with their drink. Likewise the balcony, or backyard is used as a smoking depot. Smoking, is also a social action, which helps strangers meet each other and have a conversation for as long as their cigarette burns.
The biggest shock to me, was the similarities between the two scenes. I thought going into this study that the two places would be completely different , primarily due to the maturity levels of both groups. However, this wasn't so, despite the more personal atmosphere of my brothers' party, it was nearly identical to a party I'd visit at the University of Redlands.
The first thing difference I noticed between the two party scenes would be the entrance of a guest. For most parties in Redlands, no one is alerted when someone enters a party, they simply walk in and blend in with the crowds of people mulling about. When someone would enter my brothers' party, the rest of the people were alerted, and that guest usually brought some sort of food or beverage with them as a gift. I think this is important because it shows the relationship of the guests with the host as well as the rest of the guests. My brothers' party was much more personal, while parties at Redlands are more open to the public and strangers to the host.
One thing I found to be similar between the two parties was the position of crowds of people. In both scenes, the largest population of people were circled around the bar, or whatever alcoholic beverages were being served. The second largest crowd of people resides outside, on the balcony or in the backyard. Both of these crowds are similar in both situations, for what I feel to be the same reason. Both of these locations serve functions, both social and physical. The bar serves as the place to acquire alcohol, but it is also the place to meet new people, to introduce yourself or to help someone you don't know with their drink. Likewise the balcony, or backyard is used as a smoking depot. Smoking, is also a social action, which helps strangers meet each other and have a conversation for as long as their cigarette burns.
The biggest shock to me, was the similarities between the two scenes. I thought going into this study that the two places would be completely different , primarily due to the maturity levels of both groups. However, this wasn't so, despite the more personal atmosphere of my brothers' party, it was nearly identical to a party I'd visit at the University of Redlands.
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