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.
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