Prep
In Prep, Curtis Sittenfeld expresses upon the idea of negligence towards outcasts. He expresses that, even though people make mistakes, they can still be judged for making them. The main character in Prep, Lee Fiora, is a primary example. She had to face her classmates because of one mistake her teacher made. Even though Lee was not the one who made the mistake, she was still being criticized for it. She says, "I would never have friends; the best I'd be able to hope for from my classmates would be pity.". I think that Sittenfeld is trying to say that neglecting people in a certain situation like that is not the way to resolve a matter.
I understood this story very well. There was nothing that confused me. It did not throw me off at all.
So far, we have not really talked about neglecting teenagers in class. However, it is a significant topic concerning them and it would be interesting if it was addressed more in class.
I have to say that this story made me think about teenagers deserving respect. They deserve to be heard and not get shut out by anyone. They are still trying to find themselves and I bet that it is not easy for them.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Tricia Rose/The Hip Hop Wars
The Hip Hop Wars
In this article, Tricia Rose does not ignore the good and bad side of hip-hop. She emphasizes that hip-hop is not dead, just the history of it is. In the early years of hip-hop, people of all different ages would actually come together for the sake of hip-hop because it was considered to be "safe" back then. No one was rapping about violence or derogatory statements on women. When Tricia Rose talks about what hip-hop was like back then, she says "It was mostly for fun and for play. It wasn't primarily an economic industry, where people got involved more for money than for creativity. It had live community origins."
In the world of hip-hop today, it seems like there is no limit to anything. Rappers have the freedom to say what they want to say. It also seems like they do not care if anyone is offended by their music as well. These are the rap artists who rap about the sex and violence. However, there are some rap artists out there, like Common, who actually rap about important topics such as politics and war. I feel that these are the kind of artists who have a major influence in our world today.
While I was reading this article, I really understood Tricia Rose's words and wisdom on this essential topic. I definitely agree with her when she said that people need to get involved with an educated, sophisticated position on hip-hop. That would really make people think about the certain messages coming from within the lyrics of a hip-hop song.
So far, we have not talked about the relevance of hip-hop in class. However, I know that will change the next time we have class.
I have to say that Common is one of my favorite artists that I listen to. He carries out important messages on politics and love which do not include derogatory remarks. I feel that his lyrics are really smooth and people should not be offended by his music at all.
In this article, Tricia Rose does not ignore the good and bad side of hip-hop. She emphasizes that hip-hop is not dead, just the history of it is. In the early years of hip-hop, people of all different ages would actually come together for the sake of hip-hop because it was considered to be "safe" back then. No one was rapping about violence or derogatory statements on women. When Tricia Rose talks about what hip-hop was like back then, she says "It was mostly for fun and for play. It wasn't primarily an economic industry, where people got involved more for money than for creativity. It had live community origins."
In the world of hip-hop today, it seems like there is no limit to anything. Rappers have the freedom to say what they want to say. It also seems like they do not care if anyone is offended by their music as well. These are the rap artists who rap about the sex and violence. However, there are some rap artists out there, like Common, who actually rap about important topics such as politics and war. I feel that these are the kind of artists who have a major influence in our world today.
While I was reading this article, I really understood Tricia Rose's words and wisdom on this essential topic. I definitely agree with her when she said that people need to get involved with an educated, sophisticated position on hip-hop. That would really make people think about the certain messages coming from within the lyrics of a hip-hop song.
So far, we have not talked about the relevance of hip-hop in class. However, I know that will change the next time we have class.
I have to say that Common is one of my favorite artists that I listen to. He carries out important messages on politics and love which do not include derogatory remarks. I feel that his lyrics are really smooth and people should not be offended by his music at all.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Marc Prensky/Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants
Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants
In this article, Marc Prensky emphasizes that the digital age is very affective towards students in classrooms. He emphasizes that students rely too much on technology. They have a hard time paying attention to lectures in classes. He says, "They are used to the instantaneity of hypertext, downloaded music, phones in their pockets, a library on their laptops, beamed messages and instant messaging. They've been networked most or all of their lives. They have little patience for lectures, step-by-step logic, and "tell-test" instruction."
His point is that the reason why students rely so much on technology is because technology is the new "text" when it comes to their education. Students prefer to use technology whereas their teachers prefer to actually verbally speak in classes. However, that has changed significantly. Older people have been learning how to use technology to their advantages. Prensky says, "Today's older folk were "socialized" differently from their kids, and are now in the process of learning a new language. And a language learned later in life, scientists tell us, goes into a different part of the brain."
I did not get confused while reading this article at all. I think it is very thorough and concise. So far, I cannot relate this reading to anything we have done in class yet.
One comment that I have to make is that there are some people out there still who refuse to accept technology. It is usually the ones who prefer to stay old-fashioned.
In this article, Marc Prensky emphasizes that the digital age is very affective towards students in classrooms. He emphasizes that students rely too much on technology. They have a hard time paying attention to lectures in classes. He says, "They are used to the instantaneity of hypertext, downloaded music, phones in their pockets, a library on their laptops, beamed messages and instant messaging. They've been networked most or all of their lives. They have little patience for lectures, step-by-step logic, and "tell-test" instruction."
His point is that the reason why students rely so much on technology is because technology is the new "text" when it comes to their education. Students prefer to use technology whereas their teachers prefer to actually verbally speak in classes. However, that has changed significantly. Older people have been learning how to use technology to their advantages. Prensky says, "Today's older folk were "socialized" differently from their kids, and are now in the process of learning a new language. And a language learned later in life, scientists tell us, goes into a different part of the brain."
I did not get confused while reading this article at all. I think it is very thorough and concise. So far, I cannot relate this reading to anything we have done in class yet.
One comment that I have to make is that there are some people out there still who refuse to accept technology. It is usually the ones who prefer to stay old-fashioned.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Thomas Hine/The Rise and Fall of the American Teenager
The Rise and Fall of the American Teenager
In this article, Thomas Hine expresses his own ideas about the hardships of raising teenagers. He emphasizes that it is difficult to put parents into their kids' shoes. The parents cannot relate to their kids because they only remember when they were teenagers themselves. Some parents do not see teenagers as being competent. They feel like they are bound to make mistakes everyday of their lives until they become adults. As far as the positive side of teenagers go, Thomas Hine feels that teenagers need to enjoy their lives while they are still young. He emphasizes that certain values can help teenagers create better futures for themselves. He says, "For many individuals, such a long period of education, exploration, and deferred responsibility has been a tremendous gift". He also says, "When I speak of the rise of the teenager, I'm really talking about the acceptance of the idea that youth is a time for experimentation and protracted preparation, usually in school". I have to say that I agree with that statement.
Thomas Hine expresses that, overall, teenagers are very difficult to deal with. Some parents have learned how to deal with them and some parents still have had trouble with learning how to accept them. Whether teenagers are doing criminal activities or having sex, parents have a hard time of preventing all of it. Some parents just let it happen and do not even care what happens in the aftermath. Overall, teenagers adapt to their own worlds in which they choose to live in.
Personally, I did not get confused by this article at all. I thought that Thomas Hine gave some really strong points in this article and I enjoyed reading about them.
I think that this reading does not relate to anything we have covered in class so far. However, I have a feeling we will talk about certain things pertaining to this article in further detail as we have more class discussions. There is a question that popped into my mind once I was done reading this article and that question is "What are teenagers' lives' going to be like in the near future?"
In this article, Thomas Hine expresses his own ideas about the hardships of raising teenagers. He emphasizes that it is difficult to put parents into their kids' shoes. The parents cannot relate to their kids because they only remember when they were teenagers themselves. Some parents do not see teenagers as being competent. They feel like they are bound to make mistakes everyday of their lives until they become adults. As far as the positive side of teenagers go, Thomas Hine feels that teenagers need to enjoy their lives while they are still young. He emphasizes that certain values can help teenagers create better futures for themselves. He says, "For many individuals, such a long period of education, exploration, and deferred responsibility has been a tremendous gift". He also says, "When I speak of the rise of the teenager, I'm really talking about the acceptance of the idea that youth is a time for experimentation and protracted preparation, usually in school". I have to say that I agree with that statement.
Thomas Hine expresses that, overall, teenagers are very difficult to deal with. Some parents have learned how to deal with them and some parents still have had trouble with learning how to accept them. Whether teenagers are doing criminal activities or having sex, parents have a hard time of preventing all of it. Some parents just let it happen and do not even care what happens in the aftermath. Overall, teenagers adapt to their own worlds in which they choose to live in.
Personally, I did not get confused by this article at all. I thought that Thomas Hine gave some really strong points in this article and I enjoyed reading about them.
I think that this reading does not relate to anything we have covered in class so far. However, I have a feeling we will talk about certain things pertaining to this article in further detail as we have more class discussions. There is a question that popped into my mind once I was done reading this article and that question is "What are teenagers' lives' going to be like in the near future?"
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