1. What difference did you notice in your choice of topics in the first part of the class versus the topics found in the texts My California and Train Go Sorry?
I noticed that we looked at broad, impersonal topics at the beginning, such as looking at different cities, museums, etc. Our later assignments touched on the human element behind those things and places we had looked at. My California, for example, had stories in it relating to many areas of California we had been introduced to in earlier assignments.
2. What difference did you notice when you read your classmates work regarding the same topics versus your own opinions? Did their works make you think of something different?
Everyone in the class has a different background they come from, as as a result, even when I agreed with someone and held the same view as them, there was always a slightly different slant on what they were saying. I found many times that people brought up points about things that I had not initially thought of, which in turn allowed me to come to other conclusions and look at subjects in a new way.
3. How would Freire and the idea of dialogue and scaffolding play into your answers?
Freire believed that students should be active learners, rather than passive ones; this can be achieved through dialogue. Through our blogs, we have been creating dialogue about our topics, and have learned from each other, through a process called scaffolding. All these things have played into my answers; I have been reading other people's knowledge and points of view on multiple topics since the begining of the semester, and have learned from them. What I learn from other's influences my points of view as well, and influences the way I think about topics and how I respond to them.
4. What was your overall experience with these topics?
I enjoyed reading about our state and other people's experiences. I learned a lot about cities I already knew of (but didn't really know anything about). I also thought it was really interesting to read other people's responses to the assignments. It showed me what other people think; it's refreshing to hear other people's point of view, even if you don't necessarily agree. It allows you to understand other people better, which I think is really important, especially in a world that has such a large population. We all have to live together, and understanding is key to cooperation and harmony.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Saturday, May 2, 2009
5B Train Go Sorry Reflection
Choose any 3 classmates of project 5a. Read each of these 3 essays. Create a blog post with the classmates names as references. Tell us one thing you learned from each classmate.
1. I learned from Cathy that technology is giving deaf people greater accesability to information, education and resourses. I hadn't really thought about it a whole lot, but the internet has probably been extremely helpful for the deaf community, as it allows for non-verbal communication easily.
2. From Frank, I learned bacterial meningitis is the most common cause of deafness in children.
3. From Elisabeth I learned that if the cochlear implant isn't implanted right, then it will cause permemnant loss of any hearing that person might have.
1. I learned from Cathy that technology is giving deaf people greater accesability to information, education and resourses. I hadn't really thought about it a whole lot, but the internet has probably been extremely helpful for the deaf community, as it allows for non-verbal communication easily.
2. From Frank, I learned bacterial meningitis is the most common cause of deafness in children.
3. From Elisabeth I learned that if the cochlear implant isn't implanted right, then it will cause permemnant loss of any hearing that person might have.
Monday, April 27, 2009
5A Train Go Sorry
"I am a hearing student (or deaf student) assigned the book Train Go Sorry in my Introduction to Humanities Class. Other readings assigned in this class include several essays from the book My California. In both books, we examined the cultures of California that form a microcosm of the U.S. In this essay, I will incorporate 4 required questions."
What does Train Go Sorry mean? Train Go Sorry means a missed connection or "missed the boat". In the book, this phrase refers to James, a deaf student who goes to visit his brother in prison, and his missed connection with his brother. Has he been able to hear, he may have called his brother ahead of time to make sure he would be able to see him when he went to visit. Instead, James was shuffled around between guards and forced to wait a long time, only to find out that his brother wasn’t around- he was in court that day. If the prison had someone versed in ASL, they could have let James know this information much sooner, instead of keeping him waiting so long. James also feels this term applies to himself because he almost "missed the boat" on life. He came to school being a trouble maker and poor student, and was eventually able to turn his life around and become a honor roll student. He attributed his deafness to being a reason why he wasn't in prison like his brother.
What pair of 'shoes' do you think the main person in the book is walking in and what did she learn? In other words, who or what culture does she want to belong to and why? The main person in the book is the author/narrator Leah Hager Cohen. She is a hearing person who grew up in the world of the deaf; her parents taught at a school for deaf children, and both her grandparents were deaf. Cohen always wanted to be part of the deaf culture, in part because she had been around it since she’d been born. She often felt isolated when she was growing up, as she noticed the rapport the Deaf culture brought deaf people. Cohen wanted to fit in; she also viewed the deaf experience as a shared one, rather than the isolated world of the hearing. She enjoyed the closeness of the school and the students, the physical intimacy of sign language.
What is one image you won't ever forget? Draw us a picture in words to explain this. What chapter is it in? One image I won’t forget is in Chapter 5. Cohen’s grandfather, Sam, collapses and is taken to the hospital. Cohen’s father rushed to the hospital to explain that Sam was deaf, and that he would like to serve as an interpreter. The hospital refused, saying they already had an ASL interpreter, and he was sent away. All attempts to check on Sam’s condition were met with a lack of concern or consideration from the hospital staff. When Cohen’s grandmother went to visit and check on Sam, she was told that he had died of cardiac arrest. This was unforgettable to me because it’s truly shocking that there would be such a lack of concern for Sam on the part of the hospital; it’s very sad and unfair. Had Sam been a patient who could hear, would he have received better care? Would he have lived? It was amazing to me that a hospital wouldn’t have anyone available who could communicate with the deaf.
What are 5 facts about ASL or Deaf culture you think everyone should know after your reading of this book? Of the 2 million Americans who are hearing impaired, only about 200,000 of them are culturally Deaf. American Sign Language was created in 1817, however it wasn’t considered an actual language until the 1950s. For about 100 years, doctors didn’t want deaf children to be taught ASL because they felt it prevented them from being able to master English. They believed knowing English would allow them to live in the hearing world rather than apart from it. 90% of deaf children come from hearing families, so schools are central to Deaf culture. Deaf people, as opposed to other groups with disabilities, have a unique and rich culture, with their own language, social clubs, athletic groups, theater companies, schools and media.
What does Train Go Sorry mean? Train Go Sorry means a missed connection or "missed the boat". In the book, this phrase refers to James, a deaf student who goes to visit his brother in prison, and his missed connection with his brother. Has he been able to hear, he may have called his brother ahead of time to make sure he would be able to see him when he went to visit. Instead, James was shuffled around between guards and forced to wait a long time, only to find out that his brother wasn’t around- he was in court that day. If the prison had someone versed in ASL, they could have let James know this information much sooner, instead of keeping him waiting so long. James also feels this term applies to himself because he almost "missed the boat" on life. He came to school being a trouble maker and poor student, and was eventually able to turn his life around and become a honor roll student. He attributed his deafness to being a reason why he wasn't in prison like his brother.
What pair of 'shoes' do you think the main person in the book is walking in and what did she learn? In other words, who or what culture does she want to belong to and why? The main person in the book is the author/narrator Leah Hager Cohen. She is a hearing person who grew up in the world of the deaf; her parents taught at a school for deaf children, and both her grandparents were deaf. Cohen always wanted to be part of the deaf culture, in part because she had been around it since she’d been born. She often felt isolated when she was growing up, as she noticed the rapport the Deaf culture brought deaf people. Cohen wanted to fit in; she also viewed the deaf experience as a shared one, rather than the isolated world of the hearing. She enjoyed the closeness of the school and the students, the physical intimacy of sign language.
What is one image you won't ever forget? Draw us a picture in words to explain this. What chapter is it in? One image I won’t forget is in Chapter 5. Cohen’s grandfather, Sam, collapses and is taken to the hospital. Cohen’s father rushed to the hospital to explain that Sam was deaf, and that he would like to serve as an interpreter. The hospital refused, saying they already had an ASL interpreter, and he was sent away. All attempts to check on Sam’s condition were met with a lack of concern or consideration from the hospital staff. When Cohen’s grandmother went to visit and check on Sam, she was told that he had died of cardiac arrest. This was unforgettable to me because it’s truly shocking that there would be such a lack of concern for Sam on the part of the hospital; it’s very sad and unfair. Had Sam been a patient who could hear, would he have received better care? Would he have lived? It was amazing to me that a hospital wouldn’t have anyone available who could communicate with the deaf.
What are 5 facts about ASL or Deaf culture you think everyone should know after your reading of this book? Of the 2 million Americans who are hearing impaired, only about 200,000 of them are culturally Deaf. American Sign Language was created in 1817, however it wasn’t considered an actual language until the 1950s. For about 100 years, doctors didn’t want deaf children to be taught ASL because they felt it prevented them from being able to master English. They believed knowing English would allow them to live in the hearing world rather than apart from it. 90% of deaf children come from hearing families, so schools are central to Deaf culture. Deaf people, as opposed to other groups with disabilities, have a unique and rich culture, with their own language, social clubs, athletic groups, theater companies, schools and media.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
4C
1. Who is your classmate, what is the component category, what is the name of the choice?
I chose Lindsey, and looked at 3A World Cities, San Fransisco
2. What is something similar this classmate said about the choice?
We both mentioned the same stereotypes about the city; that it's associated with the gay community and liberal politics.
3. What is something different this classmate said about the choice?
Lindsey mentioned that San Fransisco is a port city, something I didn't really think about, but something which greatly influences it. Being a port means that there is a large influx of people coming and going, which adds to the diversity of an area greatly. It also makes an area more important to the nearby cities, as a port recieves all kinds of shipments and goods, which many nearby cities rely on.
4. How would you relate this to Freire's ideas regarding dialogue? For example, you went in thinking one idea, your classmate had a different idea. What new idea emerged from this process?
I had focused on the news of San Fransisco for 3A, and so was looking at the interests of the area based on that. Linsdsey focused more on history and demographic information. Together, they give a more well-rounded view of the culture of the area. The history and geography of and area often gives rise to the interests of a population, as does the level of diversity. Everything about a place (it's history, demographics, ect) plays a part in it's culture, which continues to evolve as the area and it's resisdents change and grow over time.
I chose Lindsey, and looked at 3A World Cities, San Fransisco
2. What is something similar this classmate said about the choice?
We both mentioned the same stereotypes about the city; that it's associated with the gay community and liberal politics.
3. What is something different this classmate said about the choice?
Lindsey mentioned that San Fransisco is a port city, something I didn't really think about, but something which greatly influences it. Being a port means that there is a large influx of people coming and going, which adds to the diversity of an area greatly. It also makes an area more important to the nearby cities, as a port recieves all kinds of shipments and goods, which many nearby cities rely on.
4. How would you relate this to Freire's ideas regarding dialogue? For example, you went in thinking one idea, your classmate had a different idea. What new idea emerged from this process?
I had focused on the news of San Fransisco for 3A, and so was looking at the interests of the area based on that. Linsdsey focused more on history and demographic information. Together, they give a more well-rounded view of the culture of the area. The history and geography of and area often gives rise to the interests of a population, as does the level of diversity. Everything about a place (it's history, demographics, ect) plays a part in it's culture, which continues to evolve as the area and it's resisdents change and grow over time.
Monday, April 13, 2009
4B Reflections on My California
1. Choose any 1 classmate that wrote about your same essays and briefly compare/contrast their choices and ideas versus what you said.
I read Kendra's blog, and found that she and I felt very similarly about the readings. She mentions how we take freeway travel for granted (Ode to Caltrans), seeing it as a necessity rather than a conveniance. I agree with this completely- I recently moved to Santa Rosa from Windsor, because I was communting to Santa Rosa almost daily. When living in Windsor, I always travelled by the freeway, despite the fact that driving on the freeway has always made me extremely nervous. I never really considered leaving earlier and travelling by backroads- I always felt like I had to go by the freeway to save time; a conveniance, but one I tended to take for granted and never think about. I also agreed with her about Montalvo, Myths, and Dreams of Home. I too feel like even though I love this state and find it beautiful, I often take it for granted. An interesting point Kendra made that I hadn't really thought of was how she said an area can be treasured by some, while unthought-of by others. This is so true! I think in many ways Californians (in general) forget exactly how desirable of an area we live in, and pay it less thought than people who may dream of living here. Like Kendra, I didn't know much about the location of Seal Beach besides it being located in Southern California (The Last Little Beach Town). She noted how it's hidden location keeps it almost scret to people who are local to the area, and I think that's an important point about Seal Beach. Because it's not well known, it's been able to maintain the small town feel much longer than it's other Orange County beach town counterparts. With Surfacing, Kendra mentioned being familiar with Maverick's and hearing about the surfing contests there. This is one thing I did not share with her- I had never heard of Maverick's or even known that surfing was popular there, until reading Surfacing. I've never known very much at all about surfing, despite it being a popular sport along the coast.
2. Choose any 1 classmate that wrote about a different set of essays and tell us one thing you learned per author presented.
I read Monica's blog (group 1). I learned from her about The Big Valley essay, and how Fresno has strong roots with agriculture, and how there is the biggest farm equipment show in the world about an hour south of Fresno. I also learned that the land outside of the city of Fresno is flat agricultural land, bu that occasionally farmers have to sell some of it off to developers if they've had financial difficulty that year. The second essay she read was called Transients in Paradise, and from her summary I learned that desire and fear are two emotions that prey upon the millionaire residents in Beverly Hills. I also learned that Beverly Hills has no hospital, and most of it's residents weren't born there, and probably won't die there either. In the summary of Showing Off The Owens, I learned that there is a river called the Owens River that is really good for fly fishing. For some reason, I didn't really realize there were any places to fly fish in California. I've always pitured it being something that is done only back east, and I have a specific image of Montana as being a place where it would be popular. In the summary of The Distant Cataract About Which We Do Not Speak, I learned some people in Sacramento actually kyack to work! I think that is so awesome, and seems like a fun healthy way to get to work, although I imagine it could have it's downsides as well.
3. Like number 2, choose any 1 classmate that wrote about a set of essays that you didn't read.
I read Jennifer's blog (group 3). I learned from her summary of Bienvenidos a Newport Beach a little more about homeowner's associations. I realized that they had certain standards, such as how the front yard must look, the color of the house, etc, but I didn't realize that some of them provide private community pools every few blocks. I also didn't know that Newport Beach was such a well-to-do community. In her summary of Cotton Candy Mirrors, I learned how some kids spent their summer at Playland in the Fun House. This was much different than any summer vacation time I ever had- as a kid I never really went anywhere or did uch during summer vacation other than read incessantly. It made me realize that some kids actually spent their summer vacations acting like kids! In her summary of Berkley, I learned that the residents of Berkley realy value the diversity of their city. In the summary of California Honky-tonk, I learned that the band El Rancho Motel named their band that because ‘third rate romance, low-rent rendezvous' fit their image. I always think it's interesting to learn how bands get their names, because in many ways, the name of a band contributes to the image they want to portray.
I read Kendra's blog, and found that she and I felt very similarly about the readings. She mentions how we take freeway travel for granted (Ode to Caltrans), seeing it as a necessity rather than a conveniance. I agree with this completely- I recently moved to Santa Rosa from Windsor, because I was communting to Santa Rosa almost daily. When living in Windsor, I always travelled by the freeway, despite the fact that driving on the freeway has always made me extremely nervous. I never really considered leaving earlier and travelling by backroads- I always felt like I had to go by the freeway to save time; a conveniance, but one I tended to take for granted and never think about. I also agreed with her about Montalvo, Myths, and Dreams of Home. I too feel like even though I love this state and find it beautiful, I often take it for granted. An interesting point Kendra made that I hadn't really thought of was how she said an area can be treasured by some, while unthought-of by others. This is so true! I think in many ways Californians (in general) forget exactly how desirable of an area we live in, and pay it less thought than people who may dream of living here. Like Kendra, I didn't know much about the location of Seal Beach besides it being located in Southern California (The Last Little Beach Town). She noted how it's hidden location keeps it almost scret to people who are local to the area, and I think that's an important point about Seal Beach. Because it's not well known, it's been able to maintain the small town feel much longer than it's other Orange County beach town counterparts. With Surfacing, Kendra mentioned being familiar with Maverick's and hearing about the surfing contests there. This is one thing I did not share with her- I had never heard of Maverick's or even known that surfing was popular there, until reading Surfacing. I've never known very much at all about surfing, despite it being a popular sport along the coast.
2. Choose any 1 classmate that wrote about a different set of essays and tell us one thing you learned per author presented.
I read Monica's blog (group 1). I learned from her about The Big Valley essay, and how Fresno has strong roots with agriculture, and how there is the biggest farm equipment show in the world about an hour south of Fresno. I also learned that the land outside of the city of Fresno is flat agricultural land, bu that occasionally farmers have to sell some of it off to developers if they've had financial difficulty that year. The second essay she read was called Transients in Paradise, and from her summary I learned that desire and fear are two emotions that prey upon the millionaire residents in Beverly Hills. I also learned that Beverly Hills has no hospital, and most of it's residents weren't born there, and probably won't die there either. In the summary of Showing Off The Owens, I learned that there is a river called the Owens River that is really good for fly fishing. For some reason, I didn't really realize there were any places to fly fish in California. I've always pitured it being something that is done only back east, and I have a specific image of Montana as being a place where it would be popular. In the summary of The Distant Cataract About Which We Do Not Speak, I learned some people in Sacramento actually kyack to work! I think that is so awesome, and seems like a fun healthy way to get to work, although I imagine it could have it's downsides as well.
3. Like number 2, choose any 1 classmate that wrote about a set of essays that you didn't read.
I read Jennifer's blog (group 3). I learned from her summary of Bienvenidos a Newport Beach a little more about homeowner's associations. I realized that they had certain standards, such as how the front yard must look, the color of the house, etc, but I didn't realize that some of them provide private community pools every few blocks. I also didn't know that Newport Beach was such a well-to-do community. In her summary of Cotton Candy Mirrors, I learned how some kids spent their summer at Playland in the Fun House. This was much different than any summer vacation time I ever had- as a kid I never really went anywhere or did uch during summer vacation other than read incessantly. It made me realize that some kids actually spent their summer vacations acting like kids! In her summary of Berkley, I learned that the residents of Berkley realy value the diversity of their city. In the summary of California Honky-tonk, I learned that the band El Rancho Motel named their band that because ‘third rate romance, low-rent rendezvous' fit their image. I always think it's interesting to learn how bands get their names, because in many ways, the name of a band contributes to the image they want to portray.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
4A Group #2
Essay 1
1. Write the story title and author name.
Ode to CalTrans by Hector Tobar
2. Summarize the reading in one brief paragraph.
Tobar writes about how the Los Angeles freeway has affected him throughout his life, giving him different perspectives on things as he grew older. When he was a child, the freeway was a way to go home, and had almost magical properties of transportation. As he grew older, Tobar began to see it as a “place of pollution and peril.” (pg 57) He mentions that when his wife was pregnant, he refused to take the freeways, because of the danger he saw there, mentioning the accidents he had seen. He also talks about how he had seen the area grow bigger and more developed and congested over the years. Despite the negative aspects of it, Tobar conveys a respect and snese of nostalgia about the freeway and the impact it had on his life and many others.
3. Which was your favorite sentence or paragraph.
“I was, then, just becoming aware of the cycles of life and death, and how the flow of traffic sometimes guides us against our will onto the cloverleaf exchanges between our earthly selves and the great highways of the beyond.” pg. 54
4. What did the reading make you think of?
The reading made me think of how I have seen Santa Rosa grow and become more congested in the 18 years I’ve lived here. When I was a kid, Hwy 101 didn’t really have bad traffic, and two lanes were enough for all the residents in the area. In the past ten or so years though, it seems like the population has grown exponentially, and I find myself missing the way things were. The reading also made me think about CalTrans, and how we take for granted the people who maintain our freeways so that we can get to where we need to go.
5. What is one thing you did not know before you started the reading that you now know.
I learned more about traffic in other countries, and how it’s very different than in America. Tobar says “cars and pedestrians live incestuously” (pg 52) and gives the example of Montevideo, Uruguay, where you can drive really fast on freeway-like conditions and still have to dodge pedestrians. It sounds very stressful!
Essay 2
1. Write the story title and author name.
Montalvo, Myths and Dreams of Home by Thomas Steinbeck
2. Summarize the reading in one brief paragraph.
Steinbeck says “California has always been all things to all people”. The “myth” of California is always reinventing itself, and has been shaped by people’s needs and desires, making the state unique. Steinbeck believes Big Sur to be the epitome of a mystical, magical place, and feels it’s representative of the beauty and power of California. He explains how the Spanish Renaissance movement indirectly affected the naming of California; an author named Montalvo named his fictional utopian island California, and when Cortez and his men found Baja California in 1533, they felt inspired to name the place after Montalvo’s creation because of it’s beauty.
3. Which was your favorite sentence or paragraph.
“There is nothing I know that compares with the magnificence of a sunset seen from high in The Big Sur, and nothing as mysterious and enchanting as riding through the fingerlings of fog as they trace through the scrub oak up the canyons.” (pg 67)
4. What did the reading make you think of?
The quote I picked specifically made me thing about Armstrong Woods, located in Guernville. It’s a redwood forest that is absolutely beautiful, and since it’s located close to the coast, there are days when it stays foggy until midday, when the fog finally burns off. I was hiking there one time on such a day, when the fog started to burn off, and through the trees you could see wisps off fog riding on the sunlight. The whole experience- the incredibly ancient, tall, aromatic trees; the shimmer of fog carried on the rays of sun leaking down between the branches- was filled with the majesty Steinbeck mentioned, and I can see why our state was named after a beautiful utopia.
5. What is one thing you did not know before you started the reading that you now know?
I learned that there have been Sasquatch sightings in the area of Big Sur, and that there are local legends of beings called “Dark Watchers,” who sound a lot like brownies or fairies. They are little beings who are hard to spot, and will take offerings of food, leaving behind small gifts of thanks such as a pretty sea shell.
Essay 3
1. Write the story title and author name.
The Last Little Beach Town by Edward Humes
2. Summarize the reading in one brief paragraph.
Since the 1960s, Seal Beach had remained virtually the same size, and despite being located in Orange County, retained much of it’s old time “Beach Town” charm. Most of the businesses have been locally owned, and there is a relaxed feel to the town versus the hustle-bustle of Los Angeles and other SoCal towns. It continues to be a very family oriented town, and there is a sense of trust among the citizens not found in big cities. Today the city is in need of money, and has started to open up areas for development, which is slowly impeding on the small town feeling.
3. Which was your favorite sentence or paragraph?
“The water becomes monochromatic in this light, a pattern of grey and white circlets, moving sinuously, like scales on a reptile’s skin, rippling and sparkling in the sunlight, the waves so close together it’s impossible to differentiate them, their sounds merging into one sustained hiss, the reptile’s mesmerizing sigh.” Pg 74.
4. What did the reading make you think of?
The description of Seal Beach’s tourist based past reminds me of what I think of when I think of Santa Cruz, and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. I think of a beautiful beach town that’s sunny, with lots of shopping, rides, beach related recreation, and a long pier.
5. What is one thing you did not know before you started the reading that you now know?
I learned that Seal Beach went in reverse of a lot of beach side towns/cities in California. It started out being a place for tourists and recreation, and later ended being a quiet town comprised mostly of it’s residents, without attempts to pull in tourism.
Essay 4
1. Write the story title and author name.
Surfacing by Matt Warshaw
2. Summarize the reading in one brief paragraph.
Warshaw talks about Half Moon Bay and how it has a small but dedicated surfing crowd, despite not being known as a surfing town. He weaves in half Moon Bay history, how it had been a whaling point and resulted in carcasses of ships being scattered in spots, about bootleggers during Prohibition sneaking their contraband in small custom boats. He focuses on a sixteen year old surfer named Jay Moriarity, who attempts to surf a treacherous wave at a place called Maverick’s Point in Half Moon Bay. At first he is unsuccessful and gets dragged down under water, fighting to resurface. His board gets broken in two. After a rest, he takes a replacement board out to reattempt the wave, and this time he is successful; he rides wave after wave and manages to stay on the board and above the water.
3. Which was your favorite sentence or paragraph?
“In the late eighties, a surf magazine writer theorized that the essential requirement for big wave riding is not courage, or daring, or fitness, but a placid imagination.” Pg 87
4. What did the reading make you think of?
The reading made me think of the movie Surf’s Up, which is an animated movie about a young penguin surfer who enters a surfing championship, in part because of his surfing idol and his reverence for the sport. The penguin reminds me of Jay Moriarity, and how he kept persevering to try to achieve his goal to surf the wave at Maverick’s Point.
5. What is one thing you did not know before you started the reading that you now know?
I learned that the first surfing in America took place in Santa Cruz in 1885. I had no idea that it had been around so long!
1. Write the story title and author name.
Ode to CalTrans by Hector Tobar
2. Summarize the reading in one brief paragraph.
Tobar writes about how the Los Angeles freeway has affected him throughout his life, giving him different perspectives on things as he grew older. When he was a child, the freeway was a way to go home, and had almost magical properties of transportation. As he grew older, Tobar began to see it as a “place of pollution and peril.” (pg 57) He mentions that when his wife was pregnant, he refused to take the freeways, because of the danger he saw there, mentioning the accidents he had seen. He also talks about how he had seen the area grow bigger and more developed and congested over the years. Despite the negative aspects of it, Tobar conveys a respect and snese of nostalgia about the freeway and the impact it had on his life and many others.
3. Which was your favorite sentence or paragraph.
“I was, then, just becoming aware of the cycles of life and death, and how the flow of traffic sometimes guides us against our will onto the cloverleaf exchanges between our earthly selves and the great highways of the beyond.” pg. 54
4. What did the reading make you think of?
The reading made me think of how I have seen Santa Rosa grow and become more congested in the 18 years I’ve lived here. When I was a kid, Hwy 101 didn’t really have bad traffic, and two lanes were enough for all the residents in the area. In the past ten or so years though, it seems like the population has grown exponentially, and I find myself missing the way things were. The reading also made me think about CalTrans, and how we take for granted the people who maintain our freeways so that we can get to where we need to go.
5. What is one thing you did not know before you started the reading that you now know.
I learned more about traffic in other countries, and how it’s very different than in America. Tobar says “cars and pedestrians live incestuously” (pg 52) and gives the example of Montevideo, Uruguay, where you can drive really fast on freeway-like conditions and still have to dodge pedestrians. It sounds very stressful!
Essay 2
1. Write the story title and author name.
Montalvo, Myths and Dreams of Home by Thomas Steinbeck
2. Summarize the reading in one brief paragraph.
Steinbeck says “California has always been all things to all people”. The “myth” of California is always reinventing itself, and has been shaped by people’s needs and desires, making the state unique. Steinbeck believes Big Sur to be the epitome of a mystical, magical place, and feels it’s representative of the beauty and power of California. He explains how the Spanish Renaissance movement indirectly affected the naming of California; an author named Montalvo named his fictional utopian island California, and when Cortez and his men found Baja California in 1533, they felt inspired to name the place after Montalvo’s creation because of it’s beauty.
3. Which was your favorite sentence or paragraph.
“There is nothing I know that compares with the magnificence of a sunset seen from high in The Big Sur, and nothing as mysterious and enchanting as riding through the fingerlings of fog as they trace through the scrub oak up the canyons.” (pg 67)
4. What did the reading make you think of?
The quote I picked specifically made me thing about Armstrong Woods, located in Guernville. It’s a redwood forest that is absolutely beautiful, and since it’s located close to the coast, there are days when it stays foggy until midday, when the fog finally burns off. I was hiking there one time on such a day, when the fog started to burn off, and through the trees you could see wisps off fog riding on the sunlight. The whole experience- the incredibly ancient, tall, aromatic trees; the shimmer of fog carried on the rays of sun leaking down between the branches- was filled with the majesty Steinbeck mentioned, and I can see why our state was named after a beautiful utopia.
5. What is one thing you did not know before you started the reading that you now know?
I learned that there have been Sasquatch sightings in the area of Big Sur, and that there are local legends of beings called “Dark Watchers,” who sound a lot like brownies or fairies. They are little beings who are hard to spot, and will take offerings of food, leaving behind small gifts of thanks such as a pretty sea shell.
Essay 3
1. Write the story title and author name.
The Last Little Beach Town by Edward Humes
2. Summarize the reading in one brief paragraph.
Since the 1960s, Seal Beach had remained virtually the same size, and despite being located in Orange County, retained much of it’s old time “Beach Town” charm. Most of the businesses have been locally owned, and there is a relaxed feel to the town versus the hustle-bustle of Los Angeles and other SoCal towns. It continues to be a very family oriented town, and there is a sense of trust among the citizens not found in big cities. Today the city is in need of money, and has started to open up areas for development, which is slowly impeding on the small town feeling.
3. Which was your favorite sentence or paragraph?
“The water becomes monochromatic in this light, a pattern of grey and white circlets, moving sinuously, like scales on a reptile’s skin, rippling and sparkling in the sunlight, the waves so close together it’s impossible to differentiate them, their sounds merging into one sustained hiss, the reptile’s mesmerizing sigh.” Pg 74.
4. What did the reading make you think of?
The description of Seal Beach’s tourist based past reminds me of what I think of when I think of Santa Cruz, and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. I think of a beautiful beach town that’s sunny, with lots of shopping, rides, beach related recreation, and a long pier.
5. What is one thing you did not know before you started the reading that you now know?
I learned that Seal Beach went in reverse of a lot of beach side towns/cities in California. It started out being a place for tourists and recreation, and later ended being a quiet town comprised mostly of it’s residents, without attempts to pull in tourism.
Essay 4
1. Write the story title and author name.
Surfacing by Matt Warshaw
2. Summarize the reading in one brief paragraph.
Warshaw talks about Half Moon Bay and how it has a small but dedicated surfing crowd, despite not being known as a surfing town. He weaves in half Moon Bay history, how it had been a whaling point and resulted in carcasses of ships being scattered in spots, about bootleggers during Prohibition sneaking their contraband in small custom boats. He focuses on a sixteen year old surfer named Jay Moriarity, who attempts to surf a treacherous wave at a place called Maverick’s Point in Half Moon Bay. At first he is unsuccessful and gets dragged down under water, fighting to resurface. His board gets broken in two. After a rest, he takes a replacement board out to reattempt the wave, and this time he is successful; he rides wave after wave and manages to stay on the board and above the water.
3. Which was your favorite sentence or paragraph?
“In the late eighties, a surf magazine writer theorized that the essential requirement for big wave riding is not courage, or daring, or fitness, but a placid imagination.” Pg 87
4. What did the reading make you think of?
The reading made me think of the movie Surf’s Up, which is an animated movie about a young penguin surfer who enters a surfing championship, in part because of his surfing idol and his reverence for the sport. The penguin reminds me of Jay Moriarity, and how he kept persevering to try to achieve his goal to surf the wave at Maverick’s Point.
5. What is one thing you did not know before you started the reading that you now know?
I learned that the first surfing in America took place in Santa Cruz in 1885. I had no idea that it had been around so long!
Monday, March 30, 2009
3C Inland Areas
Sacramento and Bakersfield
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacramento
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakersfield,_California#Geography_and_climate
http://www.bakersfieldcity.us/Baklife_as/baklifeaswebpics/Picture5.jpg
http://www.wirelesstechchat.com/wp-content/uploads/sacramento_550_050917.jpg
How it connects to my study of humanities:
In assignment 3b we looked at coastal areas. This assignment looks at inland areas, which tend to be quite different demographically in comparison. This assignment will give us a broader view of how different areas of California can be diverse, as well as increasing our knowledge of California.
What are some assumptions/stereotypes you think people have of each location:
Sacramento has a lot of things to do and is a large college town. Bakersfield makes me think of smog and pollution.
List 3 things that make each location similar:
- Both are large inland cities
- Both are listed as top growing cities in California
- Both were areas people migrated to during the gold rush
- Sacramento is mostly liberal, while Bakersfield is mostly conservative politically
- Sacramento is located in central California, while Bakersfield is located in Southern California.
- Sacramento has a Medeteranian climate, (cool, wet winters and hot, dry summers) while Bakersfiled has a semi-arid, dry steppe climate (long, hot and dry summers and a short, cool winter)
Questioning: What else would you like to know about these places?
I know that Sacramento is named one of the most racial/ethnically diverse cities in the US, and has a notable lack of racial disharmony, giving it the title "Most racial/ethnically integrated city". I'm wondering why there is more harmony there than in other racially diverse places, and how they could help influence other places to be the same. I know Bakersfield is notably conservative in an area that is mostly liberal; I'm curious if there is a reason why (certain industries, etc)
Using your classmates work from last week, tell us one thing you learned from 1 student. Is this one thing some common experience you share or some experience that is completely different than what you experienced? Is this one thing related to our class theoretical foundation and if so, how? Is that one thing related to historical or cultural context of this country or a different one? Link that persons blog to this entry.I learned from Elizabeth that Bodega Bay runs parallel to the San Andreas faultline. I was aware that the San Andreas ran thoughout this whole area, but didn't realize it was parallel to Bodega Bay. This in some ways could be related to our states history, because the San Andreas faultline has been the cause of some major damge and rebuiding throughout our state, such as in the 1980s earthquake.
Elizabeth's Blog
Monday, March 23, 2009
3B Beaches
Seal Beach and Bodega Bay
Seal Beach is located in Orange County, by Los Angeles. Bodega Bay is located about 20 miles west of Santa Rosa.
Sources:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2QlLHbrgoEk5McZhJqM3hadDIUW6QdJjVdiQ91CmbRc7XkSwHj4xDkSbrIPvPNDRuHMSO4ML2g9b3Xe2YYONi7yexGRL5bqXsLwVcOK5TqaEwZnNBZI74x5qNArK1N33H-k-cTdbjKnl/s400/BodegaBayViewShot.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seal_Beach,_California
http://www.bodegabay.com/
http://www.beachcalifornia.com/bodespa.html
http://www.beachcalifornia.com/seal.html
http://www.visitusa.com/california/images/beach-photos/orange-county/seal-beach/seal-beach.jpg
How it connects to my studies of humanities:
A big misconception about California seems to be about it's beaches/beach towns- many people picture the warm, sunny, and smooth sanded beaches of Southern California, without realizing the diversity of the California Coast. By comparing two different beaches in California, we can learn about their differences and similaries in culture, enviornment, economy, etc.
What are some assumptions/stereotypes you think people have of each location:
Seal Point is located in Orange County, near Los Angeles. Most people would probably assume it is sunny year round, and filled with surfers and tourists. Bodega Bay, to some, might be seen as the same way. To others, who were more familiar with the area, Bodega Bay could be stereotyped as a rough, rocky coastline; slow paced, and slightly rural.
List 3 things that make each location similar:- Both are beautiful oceanside towns
- Tourism is an important industry for both
- Both have a wealth of recreational oppurtunities
List 3 things that make each location so different:
- Population- Seal Beach has a population of 24,157 while Bodega Bay has a population of 950.
- Types of beaches- The coast of Bodega Bay is craggy and rocky, while the coast of Seal Beach is smooth and flat.
- Types of recreation- Bodega Bay provides mostly outdoor recreation, such as camping, fishing, kyacking, surfing, and golfing; also some spas and galleries. Seal Point has many beach activities, such as beachcoming, surfing and fishing, but it also has a lot of places to shop as well as museums.
Questioning: What else would you like to know about these places?
I read that Boeing was the largest employer in Seal Beach. What I am wondering is, what do the many of the people in Bodega Bay do for a living?
Using your classmates work from last week, tell us one thing you learned from 1 student. Is this one thing some common experience you share or some experience that is completely different than what you experienced? Is this one thing related to our class theoretical foundation and if so, how? Is that one thing related to historical or cultural context of this country or a different one? Link that persons blog to this entry.I learned from Thilda's page that most people in LA drive their own cars, while San Fransisco has BART and other public transportation. I guess I never thought about LA's transportation and how a lack of mass public transportation could be a major contributor to their pollution problem. It seems something like BART would be a benifit there.
Thida's Page
Monday, March 9, 2009
3A World Cities
San Fransisco and New York
Contains a web link to your locations.
NY daily News
http://www.nydailynews.com/index.html
SF Gate
http://www.sfgate.com/
http://kaduka.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/972005golden_gate_bridge-s.jpg
http://cache.virtualtourist.com/1640133-Lady_Liberty_and_the_modified_Manhatten_skyline-Statue_of_Liberty_National_Monument.jpg
How it connects too my study of humanities.
- Looking at news from 2 different areas gives me an idea of how the culture in each location is. It tells me about what's happening in the area, what kind of cultural events are popular, what kind of interests the people there have, what kinds of social problems (which would impact what concerns/issues the people care about) and to an extent, how they view themselves and the rest of the country.
- Some people strongly associate San Fransisco with gay people, and it's viewed by many as being extremely liberal politically. I also know a person who only thinks of bums and panhandlers when they think of San Fransisco. New York is stereotyped as being very busy and full of rude people. It's also considered a liberal city, but not as much as S.F. I also think of Broadway when I think of New York, and how N.Y is a huge theater town (like Hollywood with movies).
List 3 things that make each location similar:
- Both are huge coastal metropolitan cities, and are two of the most famous big cities in the US. Because both are so large and diverse, both are very liberal.
- Both of them had news about entertainment, such as movies, theater, and celebrities.
- Both had news about the state of the economy, showing that it is a concern for both.
- San Fransisco Gate had a couple stories about animals and pets on the front page. One example of this was a story about holistic medicine for dogs and cats, and another was about a chimp a the SF zoo. There was also a section of reader submitted photos of their pets. The NY news didn't have any news about animals that I could see (except one involving a celebrity). This suggests that pet ownership may be a larger culture in SF than NY.
- The NY Daily News had a lot more celebrity gossip than that of the SF news. Celebrity gossip consummed the first few stories on the page, and you had to go down a ways to see more general news, and later local/national news, and then waas followed by more gossip. The SF news, on the other hand, was less concerned with gossip, although it did have some stories. This may have something to do with the fact that NY is very connected to the entertainment industry, and so may be of larger interest to the general public. Also, SF is part of Northern California, a culture distinctly different than that of LA and Southern California. The lack of celebrity news may be a result of the disdain some North Californians show towards Hollywood.
- The SF news had a food and wine section that was really large, with reviews, recipes, top 100 resturants, and editorials. The NY news had a small section that had resturant reviews. This could suggest that people in NY go to resturants more frequently than people in SF, who may cook at home more (Maybe a transportation issue? I've heard most people in NY don't drive, and it seems like it would be a pain to call cabs/busses/walk to do grocery shopping all the time. A restaurant would be way more conveniant- and probably cheaper than in SF, since NY is so much bigger).
- I know both San Fransisco and New York are famous cities. I am wondering, which one is more famous worldwide, and for what reason?
Using your classmates work from last week, tell us one thing you learned from 1 student. Is this one thing some common experience you share or some experience that is completely different than what you experienced? Is this one thing related to our class theoretical foundation and if so, how? Is that one thing related to historical or cultural context of this country or a different one? Link that persons blog to this entry.
- I looked at Lori's page about the California Academy of Sciences. I learned that nearly the whole building is made from recycled materials. I thought this was really cool! I, like Lori, have been to the Academy since it's reopening, and found my experience to be like hers- there is so much information available around the whole building, that it's hard to get it all. This is related to our class because I think it really shows how Californians are becoming increasingly more enviornmentally concious, and how the Bay Area culture tends to be enviornemntally friendly.
Lori's Page on C.A.S.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
2C Jack London
Jack London was born in San Fransisco in 1876, and is best known for his books White Fang and The Call of the Wild. He spent time in his young adulthood as a vagrant, a cannery worker, a laborer, a sailor and a gold prospector (to name a few!), but he really wanted to go to U.C Berkeley and get a higher education. London eventually got the chance to go, but dropped out 6 months later. He was essentially self-educated; much of what he learned was from reading books at the library. London was also one of the first Americans to make a true living on writing alone.
Sourceshttp://www.jacklondon.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_London
http://www.getyourwordsworth.com/WORDSWORTH-JackLondon.html
http://saintmaryschs.org/pix/Reading/Dan%20San%20Souci%20Jack%20London%20photo.jpg
http://www.parks.ca.gov/DEFAULT.ASP?page_id=24220
http://www.erbzine.com/mag12/1272.html
http://www.erbzine.com/mag12/1273.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhNojX6DoV8&feature=related
How it connects with my study of humanities.
- Jack London wrote many novels, articles and essays that impacted the way people thought of certain issues at the time- which impacts how we think now, as well. He wrote a lot about animals, showing them in a more understanding and humane way, which was probably less common in the late 1800s/early 1900s. He also wrote with a very socialist slant in his younger years, as his experience with poverty had made him sympathetic to others in the same condition. He also lectured about about women's suffrage and socialism.
A. Observation: What did you choose? What do you see or hear or feel or think of in the choice you made? What is the subject of the work? If you chose a 'thing' what is the work made of and what techniques (colors, lines, shapes, textures)does the creator use? Be specific in your description. If you chose a place, be specific in your description of what you see or hear. Talk to your reader as though they cannot see the item but somehow must draw a painting of what you see or hear.- I chose author Jack London, who wrote many stories about humans and animals interacting with each other and survival in the wilderness. His stories tend to have themes of individuality and survival of the fittest, and in a sense capture the pioneering spirit of the mid/late 1800s. Much of his inspiration was drawn from his time spent in the Klondike, where the conditions were harsh. His stories are filled with adventure and are thrilling in their constant struggle between man/animal and the environment.
Clip from the movie White Fang
B. Interpretation: What is your choice about? Give specific examples to support this statement in 2 sentences; do so in a way that teaches us something about your choice. Make Paulo Freire proud!
- Jack London is an example of how someone can change their circumstances if they have the drive and the opportunity to do so. London was fortunate that he had a basic education and the ability to read, because this allowed him to become successful despite having no college degree. A turning point in his life was when he was arrested for 30 days for vagrancy. He made a decision to change the direction his life was going, and start his writing career.
C. Judgment: What led you to your choice? What do you think or feel about this choice? Why do you feel this way? Support your thoughts with specific observations.
- I chose Jack London because he is a local historical celebrity, and although I've been to Jack London State Park, I never knew much about him. Jack London grew up in poverty, and much like Paulo Freire, he developed a socialist view and believed education was a way out. However, what made him different is that although he joined the socialist party and voiced many of their views, it seems he really didn't do much to help others in poverty, aside from doing some lectures and mentioning it in his writing. He played into the game of making money to be rich as much as any capitalist. He became absorbed with his ranch and once said, "I write for no other purpose than to add to the beauty that now belongs to me. I write a book for no other reason than to add three or four hundred acres to my magnificent estate." Once he was older, he complained about the "ineffective" laborers that he employed on his ranch, and was ambivalent towards socialism. This to me seems hypocritical; you would think he would be more understanding towards laborers, seeing how he had difficult laboring jobs. I also think if he was truly sympathetic to the plight of others, he would have done some philanthropic work, to better the lives of others with his money, rather than focus on his ranch. It's as if he forgot where he came from, and what initially drove him to become a success.
D. Questioning: What else would you like to know about this choice? When completing the question section, lead your audience into the question by stating a fact you do know, yet you still have the related question. This way, both your audience and you will have an educational experience.
- I know Jack London had a huge library - 15,000 volumes! I am wondering if Jack London State Park is in possession of his library still, and if so, is it available for the public to view?
Using your classmates work from last week, tell us one thing you learned from 1 student. Is this one thing some common experience you share or some experience that is completely different than what you experienced? Is this one thing related to our class theoretical foundation and if so, how? Is that one thing related to historical or cultural context of this country or a different one? Link that persons blog to this entry (eg cut paste that blog entry here)
- I read Mayra's page about the Exploratorium. I learned that it was founded by Frank Oppenheimer, who felt that it was necessary for people to utilize all their senses in order to understand and learn about the world around them. This relates to our class, because humanities is something that deffinatley uses more than just sight. In order to learn more about other cultures, one must be willing to use every means necessary to learn and understand. For example, we use our ears for music, our mouths to sample new food, our eyes to view a painting. Oppenheimer's idea of using the senses turns us into active learners.
http://miloshumanside.blogspot.com/2009/02/2b-san-francisco-exploratorium.html
2b The San Francisco Exploratorium
http://www.exploratorium.edu/hhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGMj4sIGYc0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXfVSAPzkcE&feature=related
3)
The San Francisco Exploratorium connects me to my studies of humanities because it helps people that go to it better understand how things work. People learning how things work are more likely to learn how those things help the world run. Basic science projects help a person understand difficult things. Some people shy away from things that look difficult to understand but once they see how they work people realize that it was never hard at all. The Exploratorium also goes into showing people about the earth and how it sustains life. It shows various aspects of the world such as plant life, insects, the night sky, water in fundamental ways.
4)
a. I chose the San Francisco Exploratorium. You can touch, create and imagine in this place. It’s great to play and learn all at the same time. Frank Openheimer founded the Exploratorium after his experience with his brother on the Atom Bomb. He was a physicist and also a rancher. He understood that for others to understand they had to not just see from far away but to touch and feel hear and even smell. He created a fun environment of science. There are science experiments everywhere you see. Things you can step into like in a bubble hoop big enough for a person to be inside of. There are lots of people exploring things they have never seen and like children want to touch and be a part of to understand.
b. The Exploratorium teaches people difficult things with basic concepts that they can understand better. Possibly giving them things to aspire to learn more from and become.
c. When I was in Elementary school I went to it and haven’t gone since. I remember it being a great experience because as a 12 year old you want to explore not only by hearing a teacher talk about something in a classroom but by experiencing the thing itself. I feel great about my choice because it had me thinking about when I went and how my mother experienced the time with me as well, she was chaperone. It was a great time of nothing but exploration and realizing how simple things that looked difficult to understand weren’t. It’s an amazing place to go to and just walk around only watching others play and learn.
d. I learned that Frank Oppenheimer founded the Exploratorium after his experience with his brother the ‘Father’ of the Atom bomb J. Robert Oppenheimer. I’d like to know how he came up with what would be a part of the Exploratorium.
5) Dawnyel wants to learn more about her small town within it is where her family resides. Its funny to think about because I live next door in Sonoma and it’s a pretty small town too but unlike Dawnyel my whole family does not live here so I don’t have stories from buildings where my parents got married or anything like that. I want to go back to the small town in Mexico that my parents were married and touch the walls of my Grandparents house. Knowing that because it is so incredibly rural it will probably never lose its small town feel. It relates to our class because she is learning about what surrounds her right outside her parent’s home. Her own history and she is who she is. I personally think its related to her personal history and the small town USA context.
http://2apetaluma.blogspot.com/
Saturday, February 21, 2009
2B Los Angeles County Museum of Art
The LACMA is the largest art museum in the United states. It houses artwork that dates from ancient times to present, from all cultures around the world. Besides paintings and sculptures, the museum also houses a research library and records, hosts concerts, and records podcasts of special events and art collections. Their mission statement is "To serve the public through the collection, conservation, exhibition, and interpretation of significant works of art from a broad range of cultures and historical periods, and through the translation of these collections into meaningful educational, aesthetic, intellectual, and cultural experiences for the widest array of audiences." http://www.lacma.org/about/AboutLACMA.aspx
How it connects to my study of humanities.
- This art museum contains vast amounts of culture and knowledge, that is easily accessible. There is an amazing amount of content on their website, so even if someone lives far away, they can still take a look around the museum and watch videos of events that have happened there. Art is very powerful and we are all connected by it's impact on our lives and our psyche. It's something that anyone from any culture could share, appreciate, experience and relate to. Art bridges language barriers as well.
A. Observation: What did you choose? What do you see or hear or feel or think of in the choice you made? What is the subject of the work? If you chose a 'thing' what is the work made of and what techniques (colors, lines, shapes, textures)does the creator use? Be specific in your description. If you chose a place, be specific in your description of what you see or hear. Talk to your reader as though they cannot see the item but somehow must draw a painting of what you see or hear.
- I chose LACMA, which is a huge museum with seven buildings. The artwork is divided up by time period and region. I saw many different works of art that spanned nearly all of art
history! Their website is extremely educational, and I looked at several pieces. One piece I looked at was a painting by Wilfred Lam named Tropico. Lam was born in Cuba, and later moved to Paris, where he met and was somewhat influenced by Pablo Picasso. During WWII, he was forced to live in Havana. His style is surrealism mixed with cubism, and is influenced by his interest in Santeria, an Afro-Cuban religion. This piece is interesting because there are lots of sharp angles and limited color (shades of gray, yellow and black, and the surrealistic images give it a quality of a half-remembered dream.
- The LACMA is about making art and culture more accessible to people. They do this by having a physical museum, with works that span lots of time and many cultures, as well as by offering lots of content on their website of artwork, concerts, interviews, and overviews of exhibitions. By doing this, they make sure that even if it's difficult for someone to actually go to the museum in person, they can still learn about a lot of the artwork and artists on their website. Also, by providing such a vast array of artwork from many cultures and time periods, they ensure that visiting them is an education in many cultures, so that a person would be sure to come across something that was outside of their experience, thus enabling people to learn more about each other.
- I chose the LACMA because I read an overview about it, which said that it contained 100,000 pieces of art, from all over the world. I feel that this museum is of huge cultural importance because of the diversity of artwork they have to offer. I saw artwork from Japan, China, Korea, Africa, the Americas, and different parts of Europe. I saw a prehistoric pot that had ibexes drawn into it, beautiful pieces of furniture from the 18th century, musical instruments made in South America that were shaped like animals, masks from African tribes, intiricately carved bowls for medicine men, a gorgeous lamp from the Middle East- just to name a few. All of these tell stories about the people who made them, and give us a cultural perspective about other societies.
D. Questioning: What else would you like to know about this choice? When completing the question section, lead your audience into the question by stating a fact you do know, yet you still have the related question. This way, both your audience and you will have an educational experience.
- I know that the LACMA has some pre-historic art; I am wondering- what is the oldest piece of artwork that they are in possession of?
Using your classmates work from last week, tell us one thing you learned from 1 student. Is this one thing some common experience you share or some experience that is completely different than what you experienced? Is this one thing related to our class theoretical foundation and if so, how? Is that one thing related to historical or cultural context of this country or a different one? Link that persons blog to this entry.
- I read Granville's page about Fort Ross. I learned that at Fort Ross was a trading post in the early 1800s, that was occupied by Russians, Native Alaskans, and Americans who all lived and worked together in harmony. I have been to Fort Ross area once a few years ago, but I didn't go to any historical sites, so although I did know there were Russians at the fort, I didn't realize there was actual diversity there, let alone harmony. This is related our class theoretical foundation because it gives me a better understanding of the cultural and historical context that has shaped how that area was in the past and is today.
http://arsenal-clockendgooner.blogspot.com/2009/02/2a-fort-ross-northern-coastal-sonoma.html
The history of Fort Ross is unique and provides insight into a cultural mix not usually associated with California. I have always enjoyed the mix of cultures found in California, but I was fairly ignorant of the Russian contribution to our areas history. I may be mistaken, but I do not think you will find many places in California that had Russians ,Native Alaskans and Americans working and living together. The surprising thing or pleasant thing is that despite there being few Russians actually living within the fort, the whole of the people seemed to live in relative harmony with one another and inter-marriage was commonplace. That said I am referring to the early 19th century, so I am quite sure that ideal living came along with usual mind sets of the times but in comparison to say early 19th century Georgia I am sure I would have rather been in Fort Ross especially if you are not Caucasian. The history of Fort Ross also provides us with several written records of how the many Native populations were living and working. The Russians used the Natives in the sense that they utilised their knowledge of the land and resources to apply it to their ill-fated Russian-America trading post.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_County_Museum_of_Art
http://www.lacma.org/about/AboutLACMA.aspx
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTBxAR2yCx0&feature=related
http://collectionsonline.lacma.org/mwebcgi/mweb.exe?request=focus;id=161162;type=101
http://collectionsonline.lacma.org/MWEB/about/islam_about.asp
http://collectionsonline.lacma.org/mwebcgi/mweb.exe?request=record;id=23848;type=101
http://collectionsonline.lacma.org/mwebcgi/mweb.exerequest=link;dtype=i;key=136024;page=801900101
http://collectionsonline.lacma.org/MWEB/about/ancnear_about.asp
http://arsenal-clockendgooner.blogspot.com/2009/02/2a-fort-ross-northern-coastal-sonoma.html
Friday, February 13, 2009
2A Santa Barbara
How it connects to your studies of Humanities.Santa Barbara is located in Southern California, between the coast and the Santa Ynez Mountains. It has a beautiful Mediterranean climate and is a destination spot for tourists, due to the weather, it's beaches, and the beautiful Spanish style architecture. The city has both Spanish and Mexican roots, and a rich cultural background. This connects to my study of humanities because Santa Barbara is outside of my personal experience; by studying it, I get a greater understanding of the area itself and California as a whole.
A. Observation: What did you choose? What do you see or hear or feel or think of in the choice you made? What is the subject of the work? If you chose a 'thing' what is the work made of and what techniques (colors, lines, shapes, textures)does the creator use? Be specific in your description. If you chose a place, be specific in your description of what you see or hear. Talk to your reader as though they cannot see the item but somehow must draw a painting of what you see or hear.
- My subject is Santa Barbara. I saw a lot of architecture called Spanish Colonial Revival, which I found out is actually modern architecture that is designed to look like the Spanish Colonial architecture that would have been there while the Spanish were colonizing there. It's truly beautiful! White walls with Terra-cotta colored roofs. The contrast is very appealing. The city definitely has a Mediterranean, Spanish flare. I also saw beautiful views overlooking the city from the Santa Ynez Mountains. The coast of Santa Barbara is more calm and tropical looking than our craggy Sonoma coastline! The city itself looks tropical too, as there are many places lined with palm trees throughout it.
B. Interpretation: What is your choice about? Give specific examples to support this statement in 2 sentences; do so in a way that teaches us something about your choice. Make Paulo Freire proud! .75 point
- I chose Santa Barbara because I've heard of it many times, and was curious about it's history. I learned that around 13,000 years ago, the Chumash (a Native American tribe) lived in the Santa Barbara area. The Spanish sailed there in 1542, but didn't really colonize it until 1782, when Spanish missionaries came with their families to build the mission and the Presidio (a military outpost). In 1812, the earthquake destroyed the mission and the town, although it was later rebuilt. In 1822, the Mexican War of Independence ended Spanish rule, and the area was controlled by Mexico until the Mexican-American war in 1846.
- I was curious to learn how this area was founded, and compare it to an area close to home. I found it interesting, because santa Barbara's history was quite a bit different than the history of the city of Sonoma. Sonoma was first inhabited by Miwok, Pomo and Wintun Native Americans, and later had a Spanish mission built there. The mission in Sonoma was under Mexican control, however, as it was built after the Mexican War of Independence. This shows how the culture of these two towns would be different. Santa Barbara had primarilly Spanish influence, which is demonstrated in the architecture and in it's cutural festivities (mainly the anual Fiesta, also called "Old Spanish Days). The city of Sonoma has Mexican archetecture and is designed like a traditional Mexican town.
- I learned there is an adobe named the Carrillo Adobe in Santa Barbara. I would like to know- is the same family that built the Carrillo Adobe in Santa Rosa?
- I learned that Jennifer feels "that everyone has a little bit of information that he or she brings to the discussion and that information is going to be different from what other people got." I agree with her. This relates back to the concept of dialogue and sharing ideas. Everyone has different experiences in life that cause them to think/feel/act in different ways, and by sharing our views and information about our worlds, we can really begin to understand one another and connect to each other.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Assignment 1c
The two people I chose to write about are Sierra and Frank.
From Sierra's blog, I found that she loves her family and friends very much and that she not only uses a Mac, but she is very enthusiastic about that. She's also very excited about Obama.
I found out that Frank is a native Californian. He has an impressive vocabulary. He also seems excited about Obama.
Sierra has taken a class where she studied Paulo before. She seemed to have a lot of insight into what he's all about. She had brought up how he had gone hungry during the depression and that was the impetus for his lifelong fight against hunger and poverty. I knew he had lived through the depression, but I didn't ever put two and two together. Sierra also talked about how he was really interested in languages and how languages may be misconstrued. The issue of poverty is very interesting because so much of the world does live in poverty and that is going to be the prevailing basis from which they interact with the world. In addition, the issue of language is of utmost importance. Language affects how we perceive the world. We are affected by symbolism of all kinds, language included. One example of this is in Japan. The Japanese word for husband is shujin, which means master. That term hasn't been used as much during the latter half of the twentieth century. The word that is now commonly used is a Japaneseified version of an English word, patonaa (partner). If I were a little girl growing up in Japan and I was to understand that someday I would be marrying my master, I would have a very different perception of marriage and my place in the world than if I grew up knowing that I would someday be marrying my partner. There are examples of this sort all throughout the world and as students of the humanities we have to realize that our understanding is limited by our experiences and the connotations that certain words and symbols have in our culture.
Frank talked about how he found that Pauolo was influenced by Marxist and Anti-Colonial thought. Secondly, he talked about how when he was forming his educational theories, he based it on eight basic principles. These two concepts are interlinked because the educational theories that he has ask questions about things like who is to present the material, what kind of material should be presented...etc. The colonial approach to ruling the indigenous people of the lands that took over was to lord over them, demean them, subject them to poverty and exploit their labor. The educational systems introduced by colonialists mirrored that social structure, so the students became the marginalized subjects. This is important because the remnants of this kind of rule and education are still alive and well in many developing countries and continue to reinforce a way of thinking continues to keep people impoverished.
What I learned the most from this assignment is that everyone has a little bit of information that he or she brings to the discussion and that information is going to be different from what other people got. It's going to be interesting to see how we all weave our thoughts together as the semester goes on.
From Sierra's blog, I found that she loves her family and friends very much and that she not only uses a Mac, but she is very enthusiastic about that. She's also very excited about Obama.
I found out that Frank is a native Californian. He has an impressive vocabulary. He also seems excited about Obama.
Sierra has taken a class where she studied Paulo before. She seemed to have a lot of insight into what he's all about. She had brought up how he had gone hungry during the depression and that was the impetus for his lifelong fight against hunger and poverty. I knew he had lived through the depression, but I didn't ever put two and two together. Sierra also talked about how he was really interested in languages and how languages may be misconstrued. The issue of poverty is very interesting because so much of the world does live in poverty and that is going to be the prevailing basis from which they interact with the world. In addition, the issue of language is of utmost importance. Language affects how we perceive the world. We are affected by symbolism of all kinds, language included. One example of this is in Japan. The Japanese word for husband is shujin, which means master. That term hasn't been used as much during the latter half of the twentieth century. The word that is now commonly used is a Japaneseified version of an English word, patonaa (partner). If I were a little girl growing up in Japan and I was to understand that someday I would be marrying my master, I would have a very different perception of marriage and my place in the world than if I grew up knowing that I would someday be marrying my partner. There are examples of this sort all throughout the world and as students of the humanities we have to realize that our understanding is limited by our experiences and the connotations that certain words and symbols have in our culture.
Frank talked about how he found that Pauolo was influenced by Marxist and Anti-Colonial thought. Secondly, he talked about how when he was forming his educational theories, he based it on eight basic principles. These two concepts are interlinked because the educational theories that he has ask questions about things like who is to present the material, what kind of material should be presented...etc. The colonial approach to ruling the indigenous people of the lands that took over was to lord over them, demean them, subject them to poverty and exploit their labor. The educational systems introduced by colonialists mirrored that social structure, so the students became the marginalized subjects. This is important because the remnants of this kind of rule and education are still alive and well in many developing countries and continue to reinforce a way of thinking continues to keep people impoverished.
What I learned the most from this assignment is that everyone has a little bit of information that he or she brings to the discussion and that information is going to be different from what other people got. It's going to be interesting to see how we all weave our thoughts together as the semester goes on.
Sources:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbsGBElDR7o
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Barbara,_California
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Barbara_Presidio
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonoma,_California
http://gicgott.blogspot.com/2009/02/assignment-1c.html
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