I found this news article to be very interesting about a college. Many colleges this year are not sure if they will have enough students to enroll in their schools, because of our economic rescission. However, a college in Kentucky does not have an issue. The college gives free tuition. I can’t believe a college gives free tuition (Fitzpatrick, 2009).
The way the college gives free tuition is by their students’ working in service jobs or campus jobs. The students receive $3.80 per hour and four-years of free college. Not to mention some work experience. The students that work help to cover 80% of the colleges cost. Further, the college gets donations to help with the rest (Fitzpatrick, 2009).
The college is laying off 30 percent of its employees or considered 5 percent of its staff. However, the college is still going to give free tuition to its students. Many top colleges/universities have a decline in applications this year. However, this Kentucky college has a 15% increase in applications. Way to go with free tuition, but the college will be making stiffer regulations to get into the college (Fitzpatrick, 2009).
Further, the college is receiving an increase in applications from top performing students. The average admitted student has a 3.48 GPA. This does not come to surprise, because many high school graduates, this year, said, financial reasons were a major factor in determining where they would go to college. The college is use to getting students with financial reasons is a major factor to attend. However, the college this year has obtained many more students with a higher GPA (Fitzpatrick, 2009).
In conclusion, it would be great if many colleges could follow this college’s example in Kentucky, called Berea. It would be nice to have free tuition and not be in debt when finished. However, everyone can’t work for a college to pay for their tuition. So, this probably would work for recent high school graduates, but not for working adults (Fitzpatrick, 2009).
Reference
Fitzpatrick, L. (2009). Deci$ion$: How One College Is Snagging So Many Students. http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20090502/us_time/08599189548200
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Friday, April 24, 2009
4-1
I found an article this week on rudeness in the workplace. This article is very interesting. The article does show that popular cultural ideas are still important today. Further, these rude occurrences do apply in our everyday lives and do need to be avoided (Balderrama, 2009).
The first rude gesture at work is interrupting. No one likes to be interrupted when they are in a conversation, meeting or phone call. However, this does seem to occur a lot at work. We all need to try and be patient at all times. I hate, when I go somewhere and someone cuts in front of me, because they are in a hurry. I feel this example, is the same as interrupting someone that is on the phone, in a meeting or conversation (Balderrama, 2009).
Further, many adults are not using the words “please” and “thank you”. It is considered rude and we teach our children the importance of these words, but as adults we are forgetting to use these words. We need to remember etiquettes are still a practice in our culture. Without using these polite words we can be seen as pushy and uncaring, besides rude (Balderrama, 2009).
Why would someone leave his or her garbage behind in the lunchroom for someone else to pick up? Does everyone know this is considered rude? It seems odd that someone would do this, but people do. It seems that someone who does this is a slob (Balderrama, 2009).
How many people have heard people cussing at work? This is frowned on in the workplace, but so many still do it. It is important to remember that everyone doesn’t want to hear private phone conversations either. Don’t use speakers at work and try to keep phone calls between yourself and the receiver. Everyone doesn’t care what you did last night or your new shoes (Balderrama, 2009).
We need to acknowledge our co-workers, when we pass by them in the hall. People catch onto the sudden glare at the floor or wall. We need to say, “How are you” and stop the sudden avoidance. It is important to not be rude and everyone needs to try and be considerate at all times (Balderrama, 2009).
Reference
Balderrama, A. (2009). 6 Examples of Workplace Rudeness. Retrieved April 24, 2009, from http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Article/MSN-1849-Workplace-Issues-6-Examples-of-Workplace-Rudeness/?cbsid=157798724793445b9b4c23a139926f95-293881933-wq-6&sc_extcmp=JS_1849_home1&cbRecursionCnt=2&SiteId=cbmsnhp41849&ArticleID=1849>1=23000
The first rude gesture at work is interrupting. No one likes to be interrupted when they are in a conversation, meeting or phone call. However, this does seem to occur a lot at work. We all need to try and be patient at all times. I hate, when I go somewhere and someone cuts in front of me, because they are in a hurry. I feel this example, is the same as interrupting someone that is on the phone, in a meeting or conversation (Balderrama, 2009).
Further, many adults are not using the words “please” and “thank you”. It is considered rude and we teach our children the importance of these words, but as adults we are forgetting to use these words. We need to remember etiquettes are still a practice in our culture. Without using these polite words we can be seen as pushy and uncaring, besides rude (Balderrama, 2009).
Why would someone leave his or her garbage behind in the lunchroom for someone else to pick up? Does everyone know this is considered rude? It seems odd that someone would do this, but people do. It seems that someone who does this is a slob (Balderrama, 2009).
How many people have heard people cussing at work? This is frowned on in the workplace, but so many still do it. It is important to remember that everyone doesn’t want to hear private phone conversations either. Don’t use speakers at work and try to keep phone calls between yourself and the receiver. Everyone doesn’t care what you did last night or your new shoes (Balderrama, 2009).
We need to acknowledge our co-workers, when we pass by them in the hall. People catch onto the sudden glare at the floor or wall. We need to say, “How are you” and stop the sudden avoidance. It is important to not be rude and everyone needs to try and be considerate at all times (Balderrama, 2009).
Reference
Balderrama, A. (2009). 6 Examples of Workplace Rudeness. Retrieved April 24, 2009, from http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Article/MSN-1849-Workplace-Issues-6-Examples-of-Workplace-Rudeness/?cbsid=157798724793445b9b4c23a139926f95-293881933-wq-6&sc_extcmp=JS_1849_home1&cbRecursionCnt=2&SiteId=cbmsnhp41849&ArticleID=1849>1=23000
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Assignment 1-5
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Sunday, April 19, 2009
Record Stores Closing - Assignment 3-1
For centuries, music stores have been around. However, many music stores are finding it hard to survive with many music stores being online and new technology developing. Some record companies are trying to compete against the online music market by creating a “Record Store Day”. This is a day devoted to record stores. Saturday has been the chosen day for many stores (King, 2009).
It is hard to believe that many music stores are closing, because of the Internet. However, the Internet does allow people to search for the best prices for a CD and find CDs that might have been hard to find, before. Further, the Internet is quicker and easier to use. Traditionally, we would have gone store to store by foot, however, the Internet allows us to do everything from home. This is great for consumers, but bad for music stores.
Further, in 2008, CD sales fell, because I-tunes has become the biggest music retailer in the USA (King, 2009). I-tunes must be popular among young Americans. I have never used I-tunes and I am still using our traditional CDs. Therefore, I do not know much about this new technology, called I-tunes. Can anyone tell me about I-tunes and how different and convenient is I-tunes compared to traditional CDs?
It is surprising that there are only two thousand independent record stores left in the United States (King, 2009). It seems that CDs will be obsolete soon. So, we all better get on the bandwagon and start using this new technology called, I-tunes, unless, we will miss out, on our favorite songs and artists. Further, we better start honoring our record stores, unless we will loose them all. So, we need to visit and buy from our local record stores to keep some of them alive.
Reference
King, D. (2009). Record Store Day. WHEC.com. Retrieved April 19, 2009, from http://www.whec.com/news/stories/S886003.shtml?cat=566
It is hard to believe that many music stores are closing, because of the Internet. However, the Internet does allow people to search for the best prices for a CD and find CDs that might have been hard to find, before. Further, the Internet is quicker and easier to use. Traditionally, we would have gone store to store by foot, however, the Internet allows us to do everything from home. This is great for consumers, but bad for music stores.
Further, in 2008, CD sales fell, because I-tunes has become the biggest music retailer in the USA (King, 2009). I-tunes must be popular among young Americans. I have never used I-tunes and I am still using our traditional CDs. Therefore, I do not know much about this new technology, called I-tunes. Can anyone tell me about I-tunes and how different and convenient is I-tunes compared to traditional CDs?
It is surprising that there are only two thousand independent record stores left in the United States (King, 2009). It seems that CDs will be obsolete soon. So, we all better get on the bandwagon and start using this new technology called, I-tunes, unless, we will miss out, on our favorite songs and artists. Further, we better start honoring our record stores, unless we will loose them all. So, we need to visit and buy from our local record stores to keep some of them alive.
Reference
King, D. (2009). Record Store Day. WHEC.com. Retrieved April 19, 2009, from http://www.whec.com/news/stories/S886003.shtml?cat=566
Stereotypes 3-3
Women are stereotyped as being more passionate and caring toward people. Therefore, women should become teachers or nurses. If women go in other professions such as business they might find it harder to climb up the ladder. There has been a stereotype that men are better in business then women. However, this does deal with society and history, because men use to work and women stayed home. Women were supposed to care for the kids and family. On the other hand, men were looked at as managing the household. Therefore, history shows stereotypes between men and women and these stereotypes are in practice somewhat in our society today.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Japan’s Cultural Change:The Kogyaru Fashion
Introduction
The article, “Wearing Out Racial Discourse: Tokyo Street Fashion and Race as Style”, is about race, fashion and cultural change. The article goes to all lengths to explain how the young Japanese, of Japan, are changing culture. The article is aimed at a general audience that wants to know more about the Japanese and how their popular culture is changing. This aim can be seen through the explanations of the Japanese history and the comparisons between Japanese and Whites (Black, 2009).
Street Fashion
Further, this article is about street fashion and not about catwalk fashions. The article discusses fashion change, in Japan, through photographs taken by Shoichi Aoki. Street fashion is a fairly new concept in Japan. The Japanese in the past were famous for mimicking fashion from the west. However, the young Japanese have developed a fashion called, “kogyaru”. This fashion has been established as a subculture fashion in Japan (Black, 2009).
Beauty
Kogyaru fashion has been around for a while, however, this fashion is still influencing young girls and boys, at an all time high. The style is about beauty and a hint of Caucasian appearance. The look is basically a set of physical signifiers and how the signifiers change the physical appearance of a person. Therefore, this fashion can be understood as having a racial importance, because of the physical changes (Black, 2009).
What is the Change?
The most important aspect of the kogyaru fashion is the yearning for dark skin. This desire for dark skin is referred to as, “ganguro”. Ganguro means “blackface”, in English. This desire for darker skin is a huge shift in the Japanese culture. The older Japanese, found pale skin to be the most desired, especially for women (Black, 2009).
Kogyaru Fashion
The kogyaru fashion is made up of different components and is made possible through the use of makeup. For instance, the face is covered with dark foundation. Further, the lips are colored with white lipstick, so the dark skin tone can stand out. The eyelids are colored in with white eye shadow, which is supposed to help the eyes look bigger. Further, the kogyaru fashion requires platform boots, mini skirts, and tinted contact lenses, which are either green or blue. Some people dye their hair blond, also (Black, 2009).
The article, “Wearing Out Racial Discourse: Tokyo Street Fashion and Race as Style”, is about race, fashion and cultural change. The article goes to all lengths to explain how the young Japanese, of Japan, are changing culture. The article is aimed at a general audience that wants to know more about the Japanese and how their popular culture is changing. This aim can be seen through the explanations of the Japanese history and the comparisons between Japanese and Whites (Black, 2009).
Street Fashion
Further, this article is about street fashion and not about catwalk fashions. The article discusses fashion change, in Japan, through photographs taken by Shoichi Aoki. Street fashion is a fairly new concept in Japan. The Japanese in the past were famous for mimicking fashion from the west. However, the young Japanese have developed a fashion called, “kogyaru”. This fashion has been established as a subculture fashion in Japan (Black, 2009).
Beauty
Kogyaru fashion has been around for a while, however, this fashion is still influencing young girls and boys, at an all time high. The style is about beauty and a hint of Caucasian appearance. The look is basically a set of physical signifiers and how the signifiers change the physical appearance of a person. Therefore, this fashion can be understood as having a racial importance, because of the physical changes (Black, 2009).
What is the Change?
The most important aspect of the kogyaru fashion is the yearning for dark skin. This desire for dark skin is referred to as, “ganguro”. Ganguro means “blackface”, in English. This desire for darker skin is a huge shift in the Japanese culture. The older Japanese, found pale skin to be the most desired, especially for women (Black, 2009).
Kogyaru Fashion
The kogyaru fashion is made up of different components and is made possible through the use of makeup. For instance, the face is covered with dark foundation. Further, the lips are colored with white lipstick, so the dark skin tone can stand out. The eyelids are colored in with white eye shadow, which is supposed to help the eyes look bigger. Further, the kogyaru fashion requires platform boots, mini skirts, and tinted contact lenses, which are either green or blue. Some people dye their hair blond, also (Black, 2009).
The mix
The kogyaru fashion is a mix between a change in Japanese culture and a western desire. The cultural change can be seen in the desire for darker skin. The western desire can be seen in the face features such as the contact lens. The widening of the eyes is a symbol of white beauty and blond hair, also. Further, the platform boots and mini skirts follow the idea that longer legs are beautiful, which is another characteristic of Whites or Western (Black, 2009).
History of Japan
The Japanese had the desire to look white or westernized for generations. This desire started back in the late 1800s, when the United States made friends with Japan, for trading purposes. The Japanese did not allow foreign influences in the country, before this friendship was made. This friendship was developed through a treaty. After this treaty the Japanese consumed the western culture in many ways and tried to become white. However, the Whites made the Japanese feel inferior (Black, 2009).
The Japanese seen the White people taking over the world, therefore, the Japanese wanted to be like them. So, the Japanese prized the western look and tried to change their appearance to be White. The Japanese women color their faces white. Further, the Japanese tried to strengthen their identity among the Whites by creating a racial hierarchy. The Japanese fought for years to be at the top of the Asian hierarchy, so they could be the closest, to being white. The Japanese scarified it’s own culture by modernizing its military, economic power and drawing a racial line between the Asians. The Japanese did accomplish this hierarchy through its anthropology and the Japanese were at the top. Hence, the Japanese were the closest to being white (Black, 2009).
Analysis of Japan’s Present & History
The kogyaru fashion might weaken the racial hierarchies that the Japanese in the past worked hard to establish. However, certain racial identities will still probably be prized more, then others. The kogyaru fashion, might have established an idea, that you are able to be beautiful and not have to be White. Further, this fashion does show that racial identity can be combined and still be beautiful (Black, 2009).
Conclusion
In conclusion, this article is trying to explain how the young Japanese have created a different fashion sense. Further, how the White or Western desire is still there, but in a new way that has been changed to some degree. This article is great for understanding how popular culture can be changed within a generation and how the idea of beauty can change. This article is well written and easy to understand (Black, 2009).
References
Black, D. (2009). Wearing Out Racial Discourse: Tokyo Street Fashion and Race as Style. Journal of Popular Culture, 42, 239-256. Article retrieved April 2, 2009, from Academic Search Complete.
Google Images. (n.d.). Retrieved April 24, 2009, from http://images.google.com/
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Icons!!!
An icon is something we cherish and hold close to our heart. Past icons consisted of religious attachments. However, contemporary icons have a different meaning, but still have a type of holiness to them (Browne, 2005). There are three icons that I hold close to my heart, which are: smoky the bear, naseeb, and my little ponies.
Smoky the bear has been around for years and is a symbol of being careful around fire. He is a brown bear that wears jeans and most of the time is seen holding a shovel in his hand. Naseeb is a website that is online and is used to help find a soul mate or friend. My little ponies have four-legs and resemble live ponies. However, the ponies are colored, in unrealistic colors, and are made out of plastic.
When I was a child, Smokey the bear, would come to my campsite. He would lecture me and say, “Do not play with fire”. He was always friendly and kind. He reminded me to take precautions, before I acted, unless my actions could harm other people. He explained that a fire could harm the trees, animals and people. The last thing we need is a forest fire, he would say.
Nasseb is where I meet my husband. It represents love and friendship. I use to play with my little ponies when I was a child. My mother reminds me often that I was attached to these pony toys. However, I am able to share these ponies’ with my daughter now, so they mean a lot more.
Smokey the bear means a lot to me. He is an imaginary character, however, he means care, love, and friendship, to me. He shows care and love by the words he uses such as “Care will prevent 9 out of 10 forest fires” (Survive Disaster, n.d.). He shows friendship by shacking hands of kids, hugging them, taking pictures with them and giving out coloring books and crayons. Further, Smoky the bear is a childhood memory that I will always remember. I use to see Smoky when I went camping, up in the mountains, with my parents, in California.
Naseeb is just a website. However, it means a lot more to me, because that is where I meet my husband. The website helped to bring us together and helped to develop my family and my life. Since, Naseeb helped to develop my family, I am able to share many things with my child such as my little ponies’. These toys mean comfort, relaxation, time spent well and bonding. I am glade that I am able to share these ponies’ with my daughter.
Reference
Browne, R. & Browne, P. (2005). Profiles of Popular Culture: A Reader. Madison: The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System.
Survive Disaster. (n.d.). Retrieved April 9, 2009, from http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.quailpublishing.com/samples/The%2520Bear.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.quailpublishing.com/samples/WildfireSample.htm&usg=__gdcmE5OjSewr5ofce3J5BdCVp6M=&h=361&w=273&sz=100&hl=en&start=38&um=1&tbnid=J_ZUVyPelAnFdM:&tbnh=121&tbnw=92&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsmokey%2Bthe%2Bbear%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4GGLR_enUS309US309%26sa%3DN%26start%3D20%26um%3D1
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