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.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
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.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
My Body
Portfolio Assignment
Chapter 6, Exercise 2
Honestly, I can't remember a time when I wasn't feeling pressures or criticisms on my body. Whether people were actually criticizing me, or whether I was just feeling societies pressures, I'm not sure, I'm not sure the differences are too great. I'm the youngest of 3 siblings, 2 brothers and 1 sister, and we constantly harassed each other at any given opportunity. No one in my family would be considered overweight, but growing up I was definitely the chubby one. My family would never say anything to make me feel bad, but I got little jokes and side remarks quite frequently.
I think that this is because my family is part of a society that values a certain set of looks. Unfortunately, we value a set of looks that is very hard to accomplish while still maintaining good health. My family valued good health higher than achieving these good looks, but still used this perspective of beauty as their orientation to looking healthy. I was ushered into soccer as a way to stay healthy and keep active, which I played all the way through high school. In high school, I learned how to appreciate my healthiness versus my body definition. However, I began working out and lifting weights in order to start shaping my body to fit our cultural norms. I think that men have it easier, and my pressures in high school were never anything that would effect my mood or happiness. I knew girls that were greatly effected by these norms, and I think men are a lot quicker to disregard a woman that is not considered "pretty".
Beauty is purely cultural, you can look at different standards of beauty within our own country as evidence. Our culture has been increasing the importance of being thin, and sometimes unhealthily thin. Delaney talks about Marilyn Monroe being a size 12, while most admired women now-a-days are around sizes 2 or 3. The media is a huge contributor to this, mostly because they primarily choose women who hold these unreasonable standards of beauty as representations of all women. I think that a lot of people can surpass our cultural importance of beauty and realize the importance of who the man or woman really is. There is a group of people in our own culture that refuse to abide by our standards of beauty, these people are confident in who they are and know where true beauty lies.
Chapter 6, Exercise 2
Honestly, I can't remember a time when I wasn't feeling pressures or criticisms on my body. Whether people were actually criticizing me, or whether I was just feeling societies pressures, I'm not sure, I'm not sure the differences are too great. I'm the youngest of 3 siblings, 2 brothers and 1 sister, and we constantly harassed each other at any given opportunity. No one in my family would be considered overweight, but growing up I was definitely the chubby one. My family would never say anything to make me feel bad, but I got little jokes and side remarks quite frequently.
I think that this is because my family is part of a society that values a certain set of looks. Unfortunately, we value a set of looks that is very hard to accomplish while still maintaining good health. My family valued good health higher than achieving these good looks, but still used this perspective of beauty as their orientation to looking healthy. I was ushered into soccer as a way to stay healthy and keep active, which I played all the way through high school. In high school, I learned how to appreciate my healthiness versus my body definition. However, I began working out and lifting weights in order to start shaping my body to fit our cultural norms. I think that men have it easier, and my pressures in high school were never anything that would effect my mood or happiness. I knew girls that were greatly effected by these norms, and I think men are a lot quicker to disregard a woman that is not considered "pretty".
Beauty is purely cultural, you can look at different standards of beauty within our own country as evidence. Our culture has been increasing the importance of being thin, and sometimes unhealthily thin. Delaney talks about Marilyn Monroe being a size 12, while most admired women now-a-days are around sizes 2 or 3. The media is a huge contributor to this, mostly because they primarily choose women who hold these unreasonable standards of beauty as representations of all women. I think that a lot of people can surpass our cultural importance of beauty and realize the importance of who the man or woman really is. There is a group of people in our own culture that refuse to abide by our standards of beauty, these people are confident in who they are and know where true beauty lies.
List of Technologies I used Today
1. Cell phone
2. Electric Shaver
3. Ipod
4. Nintendo Wii
5. Flat Screen TV
6. Laptop (internet)
7. Stereo
8. Mini-Fridge
9. Printer
10. Car
11. Credit Card
12. Tivo
13. Lunch Card
14. Calculator
2. Electric Shaver
3. Ipod
4. Nintendo Wii
5. Flat Screen TV
6. Laptop (internet)
7. Stereo
8. Mini-Fridge
9. Printer
10. Car
11. Credit Card
12. Tivo
13. Lunch Card
14. Calculator
My thoughts on technology
Portfolio #5
Technology Use
It's hard to gauge how exactly how critical technology is in my life. Right now I'm thinking it probably effects 90% of my life, at least. I think back to my early childhood, and laugh at the outdated electronics I grew up using. I remember using those really big floppy disks, to play computer games on my fathers old computer, or the very first GameBoy that was roughly the size of a brick. I keep thinking back and I never had a time in my life where I wasn't using continuously developing electronics, or other technologies. My generation is a slave to technology, and from an early age we learn to master all the technologies we incorporate into our daily routines.
I found Danah Boyd's article on the class divisions between Facebook and Myspace to be extremely interesting, and disturbing. I first joined Facebook my Sophomore year in high school. I did not want to join at first, and thought that because all my friends were doing it, then it must be something that everybody is doing, and I didn't want to be a part of any clique. However, I ended up joining Facebook and would use it daily from there until this summer. I think about how people spoke of the differences between Facebook and Myspace at my high school, and they were mostly based around trends. Myspace was known as an alternative thing, it was mostly for musicians, artists and alternative style kids (emos, goths, punks, etc.). Facebook was seen as something new and good because it could make you ultra-social, all of a sudden you could know everyones business at any point in time. I think that there are class struggles behind these divisions I saw in high school as well, and the Boyd article helped reveal that to me.
I recently deleted my Facebook, due to the following reasons. First I did not like the idea that by having a Facebook I was pretty much creating an online, photo-journal of my life, for everyone to see. I think it's creepy and dangerous to have information about you saved onto an internet database for the rest of your life. Second, I think that life is a lot more interesting when you allow your relationships to be tested by time and distance. Facebook allows you to be with your friends whenever and wherever you are, which can be beneficial, no doubt. However, It takes away the mystery and magic that existed within the relationships you had with certain people.
Technology is exponentially growing in our country, and every new generation that comes will be expected to have a greater and greater reliance on technology. American culture is all about faster and more efficient, and technology is the only that both of those increase. This greatly effects our sense of time, technology has caused us to be able to find the most minimal ways to measure time. As long as these extremely small units of time exist, we will be measured up against them, constantly trying to shave off a nano second at every corner.
Technology Use
It's hard to gauge how exactly how critical technology is in my life. Right now I'm thinking it probably effects 90% of my life, at least. I think back to my early childhood, and laugh at the outdated electronics I grew up using. I remember using those really big floppy disks, to play computer games on my fathers old computer, or the very first GameBoy that was roughly the size of a brick. I keep thinking back and I never had a time in my life where I wasn't using continuously developing electronics, or other technologies. My generation is a slave to technology, and from an early age we learn to master all the technologies we incorporate into our daily routines.
I found Danah Boyd's article on the class divisions between Facebook and Myspace to be extremely interesting, and disturbing. I first joined Facebook my Sophomore year in high school. I did not want to join at first, and thought that because all my friends were doing it, then it must be something that everybody is doing, and I didn't want to be a part of any clique. However, I ended up joining Facebook and would use it daily from there until this summer. I think about how people spoke of the differences between Facebook and Myspace at my high school, and they were mostly based around trends. Myspace was known as an alternative thing, it was mostly for musicians, artists and alternative style kids (emos, goths, punks, etc.). Facebook was seen as something new and good because it could make you ultra-social, all of a sudden you could know everyones business at any point in time. I think that there are class struggles behind these divisions I saw in high school as well, and the Boyd article helped reveal that to me.
I recently deleted my Facebook, due to the following reasons. First I did not like the idea that by having a Facebook I was pretty much creating an online, photo-journal of my life, for everyone to see. I think it's creepy and dangerous to have information about you saved onto an internet database for the rest of your life. Second, I think that life is a lot more interesting when you allow your relationships to be tested by time and distance. Facebook allows you to be with your friends whenever and wherever you are, which can be beneficial, no doubt. However, It takes away the mystery and magic that existed within the relationships you had with certain people.
Technology is exponentially growing in our country, and every new generation that comes will be expected to have a greater and greater reliance on technology. American culture is all about faster and more efficient, and technology is the only that both of those increase. This greatly effects our sense of time, technology has caused us to be able to find the most minimal ways to measure time. As long as these extremely small units of time exist, we will be measured up against them, constantly trying to shave off a nano second at every corner.
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