Week 9 - Research Reflection

My topic (advertising and children) revealed a lot of interesting information I didn't know before. For example, the consumer relationship, mandates to protect children, consumer advocates, experiments measuring various effects, content analysis of television commercials aimed toward children, etc. Having done the research and understanding certain aspects of content analysis, now, when I'm watching cartoons with my nephews, I find myself analyzing the shows for product placements and gender stereotypes. I'm sure that there are people in class who have a younger family member. I think it's important to know that advertisers target children as consumers first, not citizens, which means possible negative consequences that can offer children a false sense of entitlement, limit their goals, and negatively affect their identity (buy more products or people won't like you). It's good to be informed about this stuff and have a conversation with children about how they're being pursued (fantasy vs reality, not being good enough, etc). I guess that's what I would like for people to take away from this.

Week 8 - Technology and Society

When I first think about technology and it's relation to our society, I tend to focus on efficiency. Not just getting things done faster, but covering more detail within a shorter amount of time. For example, medical technology able to detect and diagnose faster and from a vaster library. And more of a practical example, a smart phone. Our phones are always doing more - taking high quality pictures, capturing HD video, display various media, maintain a social network, and so on across a broad area. As a result society seems smaller, yet there's an equal inward push; take the previously mentioned social networking sites for example. You're able to keep in touch with people on a global scale, yet you're doing so in a very isolated manner.

Blog 7

“However, while the soma brings peace, it strips its users of freedom, rational thought, and individuality altogether” (p 351)

This particular quote from today’s reading got me thinking about the TSA airport body scanning and invasive pat-downs. I’ve read articles and watched YouTube videos where children, babies, grandparents, and breast cancer survivors are humiliated in front of the other lucky travelers and there’s always someone interviewed in the article who says that they don’t have a problem with it because it makes them feel safer. When I read or hear people saying that, my brain wants to explode at the stupidity. This is related to the “those that ignore the lessons of the past are doomed to repeat them” quote because it was present in the minds of those who wrote the constitution. Thomas Jefferson says “Those who surrender freedom for security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.” I understand the importance of protecting vulnerable points but there are an infinite number of things that need protected and applying that invasive strategy to everything will lead to the type of police state that wipes out democracy.

Blog 6 - Economy and the Environment

This is a difficult topic, because when I think about our current economic situation I don't immediately think about the environment. Though I suppose it could be argued that the U.S. economy is in the shape that it's in due to a lack of alternative, renewable energy. Supporting multiple wars is clearly draining the economy. Currently there are citizens in countries in the Middle East region clashing with their leaders/ideology, with reports of their government killing peaceful protesters, and the U.S. gets involved with the countries that have an abundant supply of a particular natural resource (ignoring Syria, involved in Libya). I understand that watching out for your countries best interests is a part of maintaining a state, but when the cost is that everything else falls apart, then clearly the environmental aspect should be magnified and explored more vigorously so the relationship between the economy and this particular environmental factor isn't a toxic one.

Blog 5 - What is Race?

The author’s overall argument is that race is social and cultural construction. It doesn’t exist because there are no biological differences, but the effect of it still does because the terminology is still used by groups to make others feel inferior. Appeal to Appeal to both emotions (pathos) and logic (logos) are used when the author talks about the history of the word. It was “developed by what was then a dominant white, European-descended population, and serves as a means to distinguish and control other “non-white” populations in various ways” (pg 646). He goes on to point out the erroneous nature of “race” and how it only accounts for physical appearance, not region or cultural. Instead ethnicity should be used because it encompasses cultural differences. We’ll continue to “wallow in stupidity” if we’re not educating people on the correct terminology.

Blog 4 - Perspective on Standardized Testing

I found a news article about standardized testing, basically explaining how an elementary school is going to try and "beat the FCAT!". I understand the theory of holding teachers, schools and districts accountable with standardized testing but it seems like the teachers are forced to teach to the standardized test materials, leaving little room for students and teachers to be creative and learn/teach in multiple ways. Why spend time learning through group work if students are measured only individually? So I understand that children should understand basic reading and math skills, but children are different, and perhaps it takes different learning styles to better reach them all. Standardized testing seems to unfairly punish those different, those who aren't proficient route learners. There's a definite lack of creativity involved when you're only asked to memorize, it's very robotic and I think that's hurting U.S. students.

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20110410/ARTICLES/110419985/1109/sports?Title=Students-begin-week-of-standardized-testing-with-a-more-demanding-FCAT

Blog 3 - A Man's Feminism

The argument is deductive, with each general statement supported until reaching the specific conclusion. Raja Johnson-Howe begins by explaining the perceived balance of gender equality, then uses real life examples of derogatory terms (an appeal to values) associated with the feminine to show how there is still gender inequality. It’s shown how this limits both women and men before concluding that gender equality requires active participation by both men and women.

Raja Johnson-Howe’s overall argument is that feminism, although furthered by legal mandates, still requires active commitment and acceptance by both men and women to truly achieve equality. There’s unevenness within the progress that has already taken place, in terms of gender inequality and association.

Raja Johnson-Howe explains this by saying “The feminine is still undervalued, which means that women and range of qualities in men are still undervalued” (pg. 610).

Traits associated with males are still highly valued while female traits are viewed as weak. Basically, it’s alright for women to be associated with traditional male traits, like being assertive, strong, etc. but men are viewed as weak if they are associated with traditional feminine traits. Even further, women may compromise their perceived power if they display traits associated with femininity. This is because society hasn’t truly embraced gender equality and it requires active participation by both women and men to make it truth.