For this assignment, you will post a reflection of the class journey -- where did we start, where did we go, what did you learn, whose shoes did you walk in along the way. Include in your work the following:
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?
The primary difference between my choice of topics and the required texts was the content and material covered. With the priming assignments, as long as we stayed within the boundaries of what was requested we could use for our subjects basically anything that we desired (for an example, we had the freedom to “visit” any of the museums in California). I tried to choose subjects that both had an impact and made an impression on me in my life, as well as observe some places that I wasn't completely familiar with. The result was satisfactory and I feel that I have learned a considerable amount. On the other hand, the topics found within My California and Train Go Sorry were personal accounts, stories about the authors and the individuals that the various authors wrote about. The two books were very interesting and were immensely entertaining.
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?
I initially thought that my opinions and comments would be vastly different from that of my fellow classmates but I was incorrect. A lot of the times my classmates would write about similar topics or interpret something in a fashion that I had done. My classmates work made me think of the myriad of ways that a given topic can be understood and built upon (using Freire's philosophy). After reading an assignment completed by a classmate, I would take what they expounded and find a way in which I could build upon it and perhaps add to the significance of an answer. I found this to be a very effective method that helped with my learning in this class.
3. How would Freire and the idea of dialogue and scaffolding play into your answers?
Freire's ideas of dialogue and scaffolding had a lot to do with how an individual actually learned material. By participating in class we were able to learn from each other and hear what everyone had to say about a particular assignment. This method of active learning was a relatively new thing – seeing that I am used to reading from books and memorizing facts and bits of information – and I found it an effective way to take a course. By using Freire's pedagogical theory on scaffolding, we were able to make an interpretation and allow another classmate to take that interpretation and insert something that they found to be interesting or different.
4. What was your overall experience with these topics?
My experience with this class was rewarding. I was able to apply myself to the readings and successfully explore California online, and come away with a new founded knowledge of culture and diversity. My California provided some interesting accounts about various writers and the book Train Go Sorry made me aware of a Deaf Culture that I never knew existed before I enrolled in this humanities class. I was ultimately able to aggregate all of the information that I had learned and turn it into something meaningful and positive that I can use in society. This has been a great introduction to the humanities. This will be the equivalent of one page length.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
5b - "Train Go Sorry" Class Reflection
5b - Class 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.
Response to Miranda Ashe's Essay:
After reading Miranda Ashe's essay on the book “Train Go Sorry,” I learned that according to statistics, if offered the choice, most deaf people would choose to remain unable to hear because it is greatly apart of who they are as individuals. I thought this to be a rather astonishing fact because most would probably speculate that if an opportunity presented itself, the majority would assume the ability to hear. This allegedly isn't true and I think this truly shows the strength and resilience of a remarkable culture that many misunderstand.
Response to Michele Piscitello's Essay:
Through reading Michele Piscitello's essay, I learned that one of the major debates within the deaf world is special versus mainstream education. While the book mentioned this concept several times, I didn't put substantial thought into the importance of this question until I read Michele's essay. Indeed, it is a significant question and there exists no really definite answer. Probably a balanced, intermediate approach would be the best thing in such circumstances concerning the education of deaf students. I believe special education to be important for the student because it allows for special emphasis in areas of learning that are not as acute in regular schools. On the other hand, being involved in mainstream education is also important because it allows for one to get a reasonable grasp on culture outside of the deaf community. A great mention in the essay, it really makes one question which would be the better choice regarding education for the deaf community.
Response to Megan Mullen's Essay:
Megan mentioned in her essay that she once knew a student that had a cochlear implant, and that after the procedure is finalized, you cannot resort to traditional hearing aids. I knew that damage was done to the point of being irreparable to traditional hearing, but I wasn't aware that you couldn't utilize frequent hearing aids afterwards. It is perfectly understandable why such a procedure would be formidable, especially considering it's the result is ultimate.
Monday, April 27, 2009
5a - Train Go Sorry Essay
Train Go Sorry - Essay Responses
"My name is Frank and I am a hearing student that was 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."
1. What does Train Go Sorry mean (who in the book is this referring to; there is a specific person, include his name and his outcome. Remember that good college writing assumes no one has read the information and you must present it or 'teach' it by giving us details.)?
Train Go Sorry is an American Sign Language (ASL) phrase that translates to missing an opportunity or a connection. While commonly understood in the deaf world and Deaf Culture as similar to the English idiom “you missed the boat,” the instance in which it occurs within this book refers specifically to the many missed contacts and chances endured by James Lee Taylor III. James Taylor is an African American deaf student and eventual graduate who is one of the prominent and reoccurring characters within the confines of Cohen's writing. Standing at the crossroads of poverty and disability, James must overcome what is usually considered to be two insurmountable obstacles. Growing up in an apartment house that is a part of the New York City projects, he is raised by his mother Delores and lives amongst his brothers Andre and Joseph as well as his sisters, Linda and Denise. The sibling that has a particularly influential impact on his mentality is his younger brother Joseph, who has interminable involvement with crime and the law, which culminates in his residence at the Rikers Prison. James' personal ailments occur shortly after coming into contact with a dog that contracts bacterial meningitis when he is of the age five. James subsequently becomes completely deaf, relying on residual hearing and lip reading as a sole outlet of vocalization, his only contact into the hearing world. By the time James Taylor was fourteen years of age, he was attending the St. Joseph's School for the Deaf in the Bronx. He subsequently started to attend the Lexington School for the Deaf (the same school where the author's father was once superintendent), and during attendance manages to achieve prestigious academic honors and tenure as president of the Black Culture Club. James will ultimately receive his diploma to the melody or Sir Edward Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance. Content at the prospects of attending Camden County College, James probably reflected on what was changing at what occurred. Leaving behind the dorms of Lexington and friends like Paul Escobar was similar to abandoning familiarity, but it was something that was necessary for progress and the attainment of a lucrative future. Train go sorry may represent the idiom “you missed the boat,” but in reality, and especially the evening he graduated, James knew he was more fortunate than most. When he went to visit his brother in prison, he realized that it was indeed Joseph that missed such a boat. With the support of the deaf community and those closest, he could utilize the same perseverance he was employing through out his entire life and ultimately obtain success.
2. 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 of the book is Leah Cohen, author and narrator. Growing up in the Lexington School for the Deaf and not being hard of hearing herself, she experienced a submersion that most never experience and that altered her life dramatically. People who were deaf seemed to be present throughout her life, not strictly confined to the boundaries of her residence. Her grandparents, Samuel and Fannie Kolominsky (eventually changed to Cohen), were also deaf and had an equally meaningful impact in Leah Cohen's dispositional development. With all of the contact with the Deaf Culture, it becomes an inevitable circumstance that Cohen wants to be apart of the Deaf Culture and finds herself walking in the shoes of one who is not hearing-impaired but longs to be involved with those that are. Where a deaf individual may feel socially isolated in a world full of those that strictly hear, Cohen feels equally alone in a world where there are those that struggle to speak and understand the spoken word. With a profound understanding of the culture and diversity that is inextricably linked with the deaf community, at best Cohen will only be able to participate at a distance regardless of her cognizance and empirical (observational) knowledge relating to the deaf. Her sister Riba and adopted brother Andy probably endure similar plights. Ultimately, this is the most notable reason that explains her desire to become apart of the Deaf Culture.
3. What is one image you won't ever forget? Draw us a picture in words to explain this. What chapter is it in?
An image that I won't ever forget after reading this book occurs in the chapter “Falling Within the Banana.” After James' cochlear implantation examination, he encounters several people on the way back to the Lexington Dormitories. Among these spontaneous contacts is a man who asks information regarding the train that he is considering boarding. “The uptown number one?” he asks James several times. After he fails to elicit a response from James (because James can't hear or read the man's lips), the man takes the silence as an offense and walks away in disgust making, his dislike discernible to those around him. If delineated and interpreted concretely, this can be viewed as a message concerning the lack of deaf awareness and respect towards these individuals. I was stirred by the man's appalling reaction towards James' silence and was surprised the stranger was not more empathetic towards others he does not know personally. If your not familiar with one's etiology, you should not make assumptions or draw conclusions because chances are that you will not be correct or fortuitous. I think more people should read Train Go Sorry and raise much needed awareness of the subject matter at hand.
4. What are 5 facts about ASL or Deaf culture you think everyone should know after your reading of this book?
Five facts that everyone should know about ASL or Deaf culture after reading this book are as follows. One should know that the teletypewriter device (or TTY) enables the deaf to communicate through phone services. That bacterial meningitis is a major cause of deafness in children. One should be aware that oral methods of instructing deaf pupils was once preferred over the combination of oral instruction and American Sign Language usage. That American Sign Language is called “American” for a reason, and that is because it is not a universal signing system. In fact, other countries have their own distinct systems sign languages. That while the country is making improvements, there is still inadequate services and schools provided for the deaf. That not all registered deaf people are completely non-hearing, but that they may rely on residual hearing in order to intercept words and sentences.
Conclusion -
Overall, I thought this book to be well written, invigorating, and enlightening. I really enjoyed the read and I thank the professor for choosing such a neat opportunity to observe and understand the Deaf Culture and community.
Monday, April 20, 2009
4c – Classmate Reflection on Assignment Three
1. Who is your classmate, what is the component category, what is the name of the choice?
EXAMPLE classmate Liz, component a World Cities, San Francisco...
The classmate web log that I used for comparing and contrasting for this assignment was Rhianon's. We both did the 3a assignment on world cities for one of the component categories and chose San Francisco as one of the cities for that particular assignment. The name of the choice was 3a world cities.
Rhianon's Web Log URL - http://rhianonlarson.blogspot.com/
2. What is something similar this classmate said about the choice?
EXAMPLE Liz and I both focussed on blank
Something similar that we said about our choice of San Francisco concerns the city's connection to the study of humanities. We both came to the conclusion that comparing and contrasting two different cities (for an example, comparing San Francisco with New York City) can provide invaluable information. Such an observation allows us to apprehend the cultural differences, political nuances, and economic niceties that make each city a unique place.
3. What is something different this classmate said about the choice?
EXAMPLE Liz and I have differing opinions on blank
Our stereotypes about the city of San Francisco differed considerably but both of our points seem to be well founded. The stereotypes that I found about San Francisco included primarily the tourist assumptions that are usually realized when one sees the city in a magazine or on the television. Rhianon focused on the political stereotypes of San Francisco, bringing attention to the often over emphasized liberal policies. She also mentioned the pan handlers and bums as a typical image that people intercept about the city of San Francisco.
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?
This assignment had a lot in common with Paulo Freire's philosophy and ideas on education. Freire's “banking concept” and theories regarding the “tabula rasa” seemed to correlate strongly with the procedure of the assignment. I went into this assignment assuming that I had a definitive understanding regarding the disposition of the city of San Francisco, but I was pleasantly surprised to discover the opposite. For an example, when I was comparing and contrasting the stereotypes of San Francisco, I never thought of the alternative opinions that someone may hold of such a place. The most significant idea that emerged from this assignment was the applicable properties of Freire's ideology. I never knew they could be understood on a student to student basis. I found myself learning from one of my classmates and the assignment exhibted Freire's ideas in action.
EXAMPLE classmate Liz, component a World Cities, San Francisco...
The classmate web log that I used for comparing and contrasting for this assignment was Rhianon's. We both did the 3a assignment on world cities for one of the component categories and chose San Francisco as one of the cities for that particular assignment. The name of the choice was 3a world cities.
Rhianon's Web Log URL - http://rhianonlarson.blogspot.com/
2. What is something similar this classmate said about the choice?
EXAMPLE Liz and I both focussed on blank
Something similar that we said about our choice of San Francisco concerns the city's connection to the study of humanities. We both came to the conclusion that comparing and contrasting two different cities (for an example, comparing San Francisco with New York City) can provide invaluable information. Such an observation allows us to apprehend the cultural differences, political nuances, and economic niceties that make each city a unique place.
3. What is something different this classmate said about the choice?
EXAMPLE Liz and I have differing opinions on blank
Our stereotypes about the city of San Francisco differed considerably but both of our points seem to be well founded. The stereotypes that I found about San Francisco included primarily the tourist assumptions that are usually realized when one sees the city in a magazine or on the television. Rhianon focused on the political stereotypes of San Francisco, bringing attention to the often over emphasized liberal policies. She also mentioned the pan handlers and bums as a typical image that people intercept about the city of San Francisco.
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?
This assignment had a lot in common with Paulo Freire's philosophy and ideas on education. Freire's “banking concept” and theories regarding the “tabula rasa” seemed to correlate strongly with the procedure of the assignment. I went into this assignment assuming that I had a definitive understanding regarding the disposition of the city of San Francisco, but I was pleasantly surprised to discover the opposite. For an example, when I was comparing and contrasting the stereotypes of San Francisco, I never thought of the alternative opinions that someone may hold of such a place. The most significant idea that emerged from this assignment was the applicable properties of Freire's ideology. I never knew they could be understood on a student to student basis. I found myself learning from one of my classmates and the assignment exhibted Freire's ideas in action.
Monday, April 13, 2009
4b - "My California," Classwork Reflection
1.) Choose any 1 classmate that wrote about your same essays and briefly compare/contrast their choices and ideas versus what you said (eg "In my readings of these same authors I found that BLANK and my classmate also thought BLANK. An interesting point of view I didn't think of that my classmate said is BLANK")
I choose Kendra to learn about the second set of essays.
From the essay by Hector Tobar entitled Ode to Cal Trans, I learned an interesting fact about the white-helmet portrait. The workers of Cal Trans supposedly place one of these picture where ever a worker dies on the job. An appropriate and respectable homage to the employees of a well known union of California.
The second story by Thomas Steinbeck called Montalvo, Myths and Dreams From Home, I learned about an interesting – albeit mythical – California known as Big Sur. I found this amusing and I actually read the essay myself.
I learned in the third essay that despite being in Orange County, California, Seal Beach has managed to successfully maintain a small-town look and feel. Quite a formidable task for any city/town in that area.
From Kendra's writing I learned some interesting things about Maverick's in Half Moon Bay. I already new that Half Moon Bay was the oldest city in San Mateo County, however.
3.) Like number 2, choose any 1 classmate that wrote about a set of essays that you didn't read.
I checked out Alfredo Ramirez's blog to do the third part of this week's assignment.
From the first essay by Firoozeh Dumas, I found the pool keys as a symbol of freedom an interesting concept concerning a family from Iran.
Cotton Candy Mirrors by Devorah Major was the second essay required for group three. I didn't learn anything particularly relevant, so I decided to read the story myself. It was simply an amusing account of childhood occurrences in a neighborhood when one day they decide to investigate a fun house. It was a fun read like many are within this book.
Berkeley, written by Michael Chabon immediately caught my attention. From Alfredo's web log, I learned that this was an excerpt about the atmosphere of the town of Berkeley and being on the town University campus. I also read this myself and found it really neat comparing and contrasting one area from another. The quote that Alfredo chose was also one of my favorite from the reading.
The final essay is by Kathi Kamen Goldmark and is entitled California Honky Tonk. Prior to the reading, I didn't know we had that type of bar atmosphere in the area. I know there exist bikers, but the “biker bar” wan an interesting concept for liberal California.
For this assignment, I decided to compare my responses with Monica Badgley. We both read the same essays from the My California book. The authors were Arax, Liu, Jefferson Parker, and Macke)
For the essay by Arax, Monica reached similar if not the same conclusions that I made concerning the importance of farming and the pervasive commercialism in modern day, rural California. One of the primary differences between our observations however exist in our unique writing styles and the techniques that we employ. Whereas I was trying to encapsulate the essay and grasp key points, Monica has seemed to implement a thorough summary style that is very effective in conveying the essence of the stories. Are techniques of writing remained constant for all four of the essays.
For the second essay, we both realized similar points about the veritable realities behind places like Beverley Hill. We both had the same sentence quoted as our favorite. The impressions that the story made made on each other was different, however. Monica said it reminded her of a recent trip to the city. I didn't think of any particular city, but thought of the cities in general that possess transients of one kind or another, and that they are found everywhere.
The third required reading by Jefferson Parker was my least favorite of the four. It talked about a fishing trip and I thought maybe I missed something in my original read because I came to the conclusion that it was simply an anecdote about angler fishing on the River Owens. Monica was able to extract more from this reading than I was able. Unfortunately, I didn't find this account to be particular fascinating, it reminded me of nothing remarkably familiar, and I found it rather ponderous in general.
The final story was my favorite and was written by Mary Mackey. We seemed to have a similar experience with this reading and both enjoy the company of water fowl. I used to have a home near a large pond where the ducks and geese lived, but have moved from there a while ago.
2.) Choose any 1 classmate that wrote about a different set of essays and tell us one thing you learned per author presented.I choose Kendra to learn about the second set of essays.
From the essay by Hector Tobar entitled Ode to Cal Trans, I learned an interesting fact about the white-helmet portrait. The workers of Cal Trans supposedly place one of these picture where ever a worker dies on the job. An appropriate and respectable homage to the employees of a well known union of California.
The second story by Thomas Steinbeck called Montalvo, Myths and Dreams From Home, I learned about an interesting – albeit mythical – California known as Big Sur. I found this amusing and I actually read the essay myself.
I learned in the third essay that despite being in Orange County, California, Seal Beach has managed to successfully maintain a small-town look and feel. Quite a formidable task for any city/town in that area.
From Kendra's writing I learned some interesting things about Maverick's in Half Moon Bay. I already new that Half Moon Bay was the oldest city in San Mateo County, however.
3.) Like number 2, choose any 1 classmate that wrote about a set of essays that you didn't read.
I checked out Alfredo Ramirez's blog to do the third part of this week's assignment.
From the first essay by Firoozeh Dumas, I found the pool keys as a symbol of freedom an interesting concept concerning a family from Iran.
Cotton Candy Mirrors by Devorah Major was the second essay required for group three. I didn't learn anything particularly relevant, so I decided to read the story myself. It was simply an amusing account of childhood occurrences in a neighborhood when one day they decide to investigate a fun house. It was a fun read like many are within this book.
Berkeley, written by Michael Chabon immediately caught my attention. From Alfredo's web log, I learned that this was an excerpt about the atmosphere of the town of Berkeley and being on the town University campus. I also read this myself and found it really neat comparing and contrasting one area from another. The quote that Alfredo chose was also one of my favorite from the reading.
The final essay is by Kathi Kamen Goldmark and is entitled California Honky Tonk. Prior to the reading, I didn't know we had that type of bar atmosphere in the area. I know there exist bikers, but the “biker bar” wan an interesting concept for liberal California.
Monday, April 6, 2009
4a - Group 1 Readings
Group 1 Readings: Arax, Liu, Jefferson Parker, and Mackey
Reading 1: "The Big Valley"
1. Write the story title and author name. .25 point
The title of the first story is “The Big Valley,” by Mark Arax (pages 17 - 27).
2. Summarize the reading in one brief paragraph; be specific in your summary. Remember that your classmates will rely on you for this information. 2 percent
The story “The Big Valley,” by Mark Arax tells the reader several interesting accounts of his family's history, which includes the author's life growing up near Forkner Avenue in Fresno, California, and his father and grandfather's efforts during their agricultural years and ascendancies. Arax continues on to elaborate on the plights of agronomists, past and present, and how the once fig farms and vineyards of his predecessors have given away and became commercial establishments and shopping outlets.
3. Which was your favorite sentence or paragraph (include entire quote; use quote marks and page number)? 1 percent
My favorite quote in the story occurs on page 25, and says the riddle of selling sun-dried grapes “was no more complicated than getting every woman in China to place a single raisin in her pot of rice.” I thought this was a particularly neat quotation, and it is actually a quote within the story, and was originally adduced by William Saroyan. I thought it was a worthy quotation that epitomizes the adversities that farmers and agriculturalists face today.
4. What did the reading make you think of? (be specific eg "There is a bridge in SF that spans 4 miles from SF to Oakland and in the middle of the bridge it crosses an island called Treasure Island. This story makes me think of that specific little island where I can see the entire city and bay area. That city was also in the news recently where .... ) .75 percent
This story made me think of the inevitable preponderance of modern day corporations and how they are affecting those individuals who make a living off agricultural means. The lack of subsidies, funding, and support of these agricultural practices may ultimately lead to the demise of modern day farming.
5. What is one thing you did not know before you started the reading that you now know (again, be specific using concrete examples)? 1 percent
I didn't know that Tulare, California, was home to the biggest farm equipment show in the world. I thought this a rather interesting and fascinating fact.
Reading 2: "Transients in Paradise"
1. Write the story title and author name. .25 point
The title of the second story is “Transients in Paradise,” by Aimee Liu (pages 29 - 35).
2. Summarize the reading in one brief paragraph; be specific in your summary. Remember that your classmates will rely on you for this information. 2 percent
This reading by Aimee Liu provides a more realistic interpretation of the demographics and denizens that comprise Beverly Hills, California. When people think of Beverly Hills, they will be compelled to cerebrate the pervasive fashion, designer goods, theatrical stars, and mansions. In a sense this is true, though not entirely. As Aimee Liu mentions, many fail to take into any type of recognition the “transients” that occupy the city, and this oversight culminates into a division of fear and desire.
3. Which was your favorite sentence or paragraph (include entire quote; use quote marks and page number)? 1 percent
My favorite quotation was “we are all transients of one kind or another. On our way into or out of wealth, into or out of sanity, beauty, love, health, or death.” I found this to be very true and appropriate statement for this story.
4. What did the reading make you think of? (be specific eg "There is a bridge in SF that spans 4 miles from SF to Oakland and in the middle of the bridge it crosses an island called Treasure Island. This story makes me think of that specific little island where I can see the entire city and bay area. That city was also in the news recently where .... ) .75 percent
While reading, this story made me think of all of the different cities throughout the world that project a similar false image as Beverly Hills supposedly does.
5. What is one thing you did not know before you started the reading that you now know (again, be specific using concrete examples)? 1 percent
I didn't know that poverty was a serious problem in Beverly Hills. Perhaps it is the transients that come into the city to work the jobs no one else will pursue, but in either case I was surprised.
Reading 3: "Showing Off the Owens"
1. Write the story title and author name. .25 point
The title of the third story is “Showing Off the Owens,” by T. Jefferson Parker (pages 37 - 43).
2. Summarize the reading in one brief paragraph; be specific in your summary. Remember that your classmates will rely on you for this information. 2 percent
T. Jefferson Parker's story tells of a fishing trip that he made with an acquaintance, Brian Wiprud, along the River Owens which lies along the “white Sierra Nevada.” Several days are passed along this river while they try and succeed in catching rainbow trout – of sizes from six to ten inches according to Jefferson Parker's attestations – while enjoying time doing so in general.
3. Which was your favorite sentence or paragraph (include entire quote; use quote marks and page number)? 1 percent
My favorite sentence, which I thought to be quite humorous, was the one made concerning the nature of “In-N-Out Burger.” Jefferson Parker's friend, Wiprud, mentions how the 'out' of In-N-Out Burger “kind of worries me.”
4. What did the reading make you think of? (be specific eg "There is a bridge in SF that spans 4 miles from SF to Oakland and in the middle of the bridge it crosses an island called Treasure Island. This story makes me think of that specific little island where I can see the entire city and bay area. That city was also in the news recently where .... ) .75 percent
While not an avid fisher myself, I don't possess to many personal accounts or experiences in which to relate. If I were to relate this story, I would probably invoke an instance where I had the pleasure of sharing my hobby or interest with someone who was enthusiastic about something as I was.
5. What is one thing you did not know before you started the reading that you now know (again, be specific using concrete examples)? 1 percent
Before reading this anecdote, I wasn't aware that collared lizards possessed the ability to swim in
Reading 4: "The Distant Cataract About Which We Do Not Speak"
1. Write the story title and author name. .25 point
The title of the fourth and final story that was required for group one was “The Distant Cataract About Which We Do Not Speak,” written by Mary Mackey (Page 45 – 49.)
2. Summarize the reading in one brief paragraph; be specific in your summary. Remember that your classmates will rely on you for this information. 2 percent
This short story tells of the American River Parkway in Sacramento County, and how it acts as an excellent intermediary between the life at the university where Mackey teaches and the perpetual sounds of traffic and rush hour. The account starts out with Mackey deceiving a group of waterfowl, and then goes on to talk about the wide variety of culture that occurs in this county of California. The ethnic groups include Hmong Vietnamese, Russians, Samoans, and African-Brazilians. Overall, Mackey makes the American River Parkway seem like a very inviting and pleasant place to visit.
3. Which was your favorite sentence or paragraph (include entire quote; use quote marks and page number)? 1 percent
This story was probably my favorite out of the group of selected readings. I found this account to be both humorous and amusing. The quote that I particularly like describes the ducks reasons for not reacting to the presence of a creeping, but not completely covert human in their water habitat. “The mallards do not notice my approach. They never do. Perhaps ducks are nearsighted, perhaps they have a limited ability to sort out foreground and background, perhaps they are too busy dunking under to grab a beak-full of duckweed, or perhaps they just don't give a damn,” (pages 45 and 46.)
4. What did the reading make you think of? (be specific eg "There is a bridge in SF that spans 4 miles from SF to Oakland and in the middle of the bridge it crosses an island called Treasure Island. This story makes me think of that specific little island where I can see the entire city and bay area. That city was also in the news recently where .... ) .75 percent
This type of seclusion, away from the bustle and tumultuous habits of humanity, reminded me of the type of seclusion that I enjoy immensely at the mountain cemetery in the town of Sonoma. The peaceful settings of the American River Parkway seemed to have much in common with my favorite retreat.
5. What is one thing you did not know before you started the reading that you now know (again, be specific using concrete examples)? 1 percent
I lived in Yolo County for a year of my life and I was never aware of the tremendous Russian population around the Sacramento area. As mentioned above, Mackey also discusses other ethnic groups in the immediate area.
Monday, March 30, 2009
3c – Inland Areas – Redding and Cathedral City, CA
Redding and Cathedral City, California
1. Contains a title using the format listed above .25 points
See Title Above.
2. Contains a web link to your locations. (eg you can use the tools in your blog where you paste your work; there is a little icon that looks like a link) .25 points
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_City,_California
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redding,_California
http://www.pe.com/localnews/riverside/stories/PE_News_Local_S_gayrights26.365ba4b.html
http://www.cathedralcity.gov/
3. Contains an explanation regarding how this component (any aspect of it; eg content of videos, content of websites) connects to your study of humanities. .25 point
Observing inland California is just as important to the study of the state as it is to the humanities. These last couple of sections – 3a and 3b – we had the pleasure of taking several field trips to beaches and world cities and now the opportunity presents itself to depart from the pacific region and approach the inland where one can notice a difference in geography, geology, and culture. In the field of humanities, over emphasis and accentuation on one subject or area can culminate in a lack of balance and therefore it limits the complete spectrum of a given study. Inland California may be categorized as such a place that doesn't receive this emphasis mentioned above – which the pacific does receive, think of the bay area – and which in turn will cause many to omit this culture and diversity from their picture of California. As a result, the study of inland California is important to the study of humanities because it allows us to comprehend the full breadth of what the Golden State has to offer.
4. Contains the following elements that will be used in upcoming projects for analytical purposes:
a. What are some assumptions/stereotypes you think people have of each location: 1 point
I have decided to regard Redding and Cathedral City for this weeks humanities assignment. I have conferred with others on the subject of inland California before and most assume that the inner cities are more conservative and traditional than their Pacific counterparts. This assumption in a sense is true, and according to the Inland Empire news paper The Press-Enterprise, things like gay rights and economic equality are a little harder to obtain for advocates and activists alike. These assumptions than transform into other conservative stereotypes that may possess a veritable base in other states, but lack truth in the state of California. In Redding, many like to think of it as a “western” town, with southern values. While it is indeed a western city, the idea that a place like Redding or Cathedral city are analogous to a city like Birmingham is tantamount to comparing an eastern capital with Washington D.C. Overall, while some of these assumptive observations may be true, the resulting stereotype results in an undesirable image for the inland area. Another stereotype is that these inland areas are warmer than the coast cities. This is also true because the cool air supplied by the Pacific has to flow a farther way to reach the settlements further inland.
b. List 3 things that make each location similar: 1 point
Three things that make Redding and Cathedral City similar:
Both cities have experiences substantial growth in the last few years as result of annexations.
Both cities possess a household median income at the $30,000 dollar range, with Redding at $34,194 and Cathedral City at $38,887.
Redding and Cathedral City were previously homes of Native American Indian tribes, the Wintu and the Cahuilla Indians respectively.
c. List 3 things that make each location so different: 1 point
Three things that make Redding and Cathedral City different:
Redding resides in Shasta County and Cathedral City, Riverside County.
Redding has twice the population of Cathedral City, therefore a difference in size.
Cathedral City has a 328 foot elevation and Redding has a 495 foot elevation.
d. Questioning: What else would you like to know about these places? 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. .5 point
Being fascinated with history, I would like to learn more about the backgrounds and beginnings of these two interesting cities. The Wintu and Cahuilla Indians are the tribes that previously occupied Redding and Cathedral City. Did these tribes assimilate into the population of the settlers or perhaps did they resist change?
5. 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) . .5 point
I learned from Maria's blog last week - http://mariagn.blogspot.com/2009/03/assignment-3b-la-jolla-beach-and-doran.html – that both the La Jolla beach and the Doran beach have an abundance of local visitors. This is not a common experience, because I always assumed that locals didn't visit their adjacent localities with frequency, and rather left it with the tourists. This is important to the study of humanities because it helps better understand the motive of human nature and the passage of culture between those that abode and those that are visiting. This is related to a cultural context.
Maria's blog link:
http://mariagn.blogspot.com/2009/03/assignment-3b-la-jolla-beach-and-doran.html
Monday, March 23, 2009
3b - Beaches: Half Moon Bay and Santa Monica State Beaches
Half Moon Bay State Beach
Santa Monica State Beach
1. Contains a title using the format listed above .25 points
See Title Above.
2. Contains a web link to your locations. (eg you can use the tools in your blog where you paste your work; there is a little icon that looks like a link) .25 points
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_California_beaches
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Monica_State_Beach
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half_Moon_Bay_State_Beach
3. Contains an explanation regarding how this component (any aspect of it; eg content of videos, content of websites) connects to your study of humanities. .25 point
Connecting California beaches to the study of humanities is generally more difficult than observing correlations between the humanities and other objects. If I were to sele
ct an aspect of California beaches that relates to the aforementioned study, I would probably bring notice to the beaches various and mixed nature – geographical function and recreational function – and how this may provide an outlet for human expression. Beaches have performed a service for humanity and continue to function in a similar manner today. Beaches and other analogous venues have been utilized for their recreational value as far back as Victorian England, however such a purpose was restricted due to various beliefs that pervaded the recreational activity, including the dress (for swimming) which was thought of as immodest. As will be seen, not one beach is alike another, although similarities do exist. While they all reside on the Pacific coast in California, there are many differences that can be sought. Comparisons and contrasts will be discerned using the following questions below.4. Contains the following elements that will be used in upcoming projects for analytical purposes:
a. What are some assumptions/stereotypes you think people have of each location: 1 point
One of th
e interesting things about beaches is that they represent a stereotype themselves in connection to the state of California. When people cogitate, reflect, and think about California, they will usually think about the beaches and the culture that is so prevalent in popular portrayal of the state. The 1960's music group The Beach Boys are also an excellent source when pursuing the stereotypes of California beaches. Many of their songs revolve around that particular geographical concept and as a result, helped instigate the modern day notions concerning California and it's National Park system (beaches).b. List 3 things that make each location similar: 1 point
Three things that make the beaches of Santa Monica and Half Moon Bay similar are:
1. They both reside on the California's Pacific Coast.
2. These two beaches are both considered apart of the California State Park system.
3. They both possess similar amenities for the patrons.
c. List 3 things that make each location so different: 1 pointThree things that make the beaches of Santa Monica and Half Moon Bay different include:
1. Santa Monica State Beach is in Los Angeles county and Half Moon Bay State Beach is in San Mateo county.
2. While hot weather seldom occurs at Half Moon Bay beach (69 degree Fahrenheit average) it is quite common at the Santa Monica State Beach (73.2 degree Fahrenheit average).
3. Half Moon Bay beach has been identified as a greater marine environment and habitat for wildlife than Santa Monica beach.
d. Questioning: What else would you like to know about these places? 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. .5 point
I would like to be more informed about the wildlife that inhabits these various California beaches. I understand that beaches provide a function concerning recreation for Californians, but they also are important homes for the diverse wildlife that permeates their entireties. Considering the presence of wildlife in these beach regions, I was wondering whether or not sharks are a prominent problem, for an example at Santa Monica and Half Moon Bay State beaches. Are these sharks a problem for the patrons?
5. 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) . .5 point
Somethingng that I learned from a classmate last week concerns two cities transportation systems. According to Sierra's blog (http://sierradotcom.blogspot.com/2009/03/3a-boston-and-san-francisco.html) both San Francisco and Boston have underground transportation with similar titles used to designate the service. I can't really claim this to be a common experience, I had little opportunity so far in my twenty years of life to ride on trains or other related transportation methods. This is in relation to a cultural aspect of our study of humanities. Transportation connects people, thus it connects and assimilates culture and diversity.
Sierra's Blog Link: http://sierradotcom.blogspot.com/2009/03/3a-boston-and-san-francisco.html
Monday, March 9, 2009
3a World Cities – Sacramento and San Francisco
1. Contains a title using the format listed above .25 points
Title Above
2. Contains a web link to your locations. (eg you can use the tools in your blog where you paste your work; there is a little icon that looks like a link) .25 points
3. Contains an explanation regarding how this component (any aspect of it; eg content of videos, content of websites) connects to your study of humanities. .25 point
Observing two cities can conceive many correlations in relation to humanistic studies. The comparisons and contrasts that are made can explain a substantial amount concerning the human condition and how certain regional cultures and settlements are developed. Through surveying two separate cities, several things may be realized including the causes of political leanings, historical development, and an areas ethnic background. All of these things contribute greatly to the comprehension of humanities.
4. Contains the following elements that will be used in upcoming projects for analytical purposes:
a. What are some assumptions/stereotypes you think people have of each location: 1 point
Observing two cities can conceive many correlations in relation to humanistic studies. The comparisons and contrasts that are made can explain a substantial amount concerning the human condition and how certain regional cultures and settlements are developed. Through surveying two separate cities, several things may be realized including the causes of political leanings, historical development, and an areas ethnic background. All of these things contribute greatly to the comprehension of humanities.
4. Contains the following elements that will be used in upcoming projects for analytical purposes:
a. What are some assumptions/stereotypes you think people have of each location: 1 point
Some assumptions and stereotypes that people may have about Sacramento are typical for a state capital. Being the state capital of California as previously mentioned, many people might assume that Sacramento is heavily populated when in fact it only resides as number seven on the top ten list. People might also speculate that the population of the state capital is predominantly white. While this is true to an extent (whites occupy 48.29 % residency) there is a great deal of ethnic diversity with the other 51.71% of the population.
When people think of San Francisco, they usually associate it with seagulls, trolleys, f
isherman's wharf, the Golden Gate Bridge, et cetera. While these “stereotypes” are not necessarily incorrect, they are partially inaccurate in terms of the true contents of the bay area city. b. List 3 things that make each location similar: 1 point
Three things that Sacramento and San Francisco have in common or that makes them similar includes:
1. They both possess strong ties with Spanish and Native American (indigenous) history.2.
2. They both share a Californian Mediterranean climate.
3. Also, San Francisco and Sacramento both have professional basketball teams of the NBA (Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings respectively).
c. List 3 things that make each location so different: 1 point
Three things that make Sacramento and San Francisco different includes:
1. San Francisco has nearly double the population that Sacramento possesses.
2. San Francisco has a China Town whereas Sacramento doesn't.
3. San Francisco is on a peninsula where Sacramento is situated South of the American River in the Central Valley.
2. San Francisco has a China Town whereas Sacramento doesn't.
3. San Francisco is on a peninsula where Sacramento is situated South of the American River in the Central Valley.
d. Questioning: What else would you like to know about these places? 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. .5 point
I would like to learn more about the cultures of these two cities. Through my reading this week, I have learned that each of the cities – San Francisco and Sacramento – possess fascinating histories and have had a profound impact from Spanish explorers. Would both of these cities be drastically different today if they were affected by another European country opposed to the Spanish?
5. 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) . .5 point
I learned from Kendra's blog from last week (http://kendra-human7spring09.blogspot.com/2009/02/2c-california-redwoods.html) that the tallest tree in the world is Hyperion, which stands at an astonishing 379.1 feet. This is probably a common experience because I also like to discern interesting facts about the world around us, and knowing the world's tallest tree is a pretty neat fact. I think this does relate to our studies in the humanities because it represents the human effort towards environmental preservation. This tree is related to a historical and cultural context. Redwood trees have always been deeply rooted in California history and culture. Indeed, the California state tree is the Redwood.
URL to Kendra's blog from last week: http://kendra-human7spring09.blogspot.com/2009/02/2c-california-redwoods.html
Monday, March 2, 2009
2c Clint Eastwood
1. Contains a title using the format listed above .25 points
See above title.
3. Contains a brief paragraph how it connects to your study of humanities. 1 point
Humanities are the study of the human condition. Whether your studying religion, history, literature, philosophy, or the arts, you are observing the humanities. In the modern age of technology – like the Internet, television and photography – visual arts have garnered considerable prominence in recent years as important aspects of the humanities. Probably one of the most important areas of the visual arts today is film and cinema. While there exists many forgettable films, actors, and actresses, every so often the United States manages to produce a classical icon that has contributed substantially to the development of the arts. A notable example regarding the aforementioned traits is Clint Eastwood, born in San Francisco, a true and definite Californian original.
4. Contains the following "analytical elements":
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. 1 point
I chose Clint Eastwood as my subject, the great American actor, director, producer, writer, and composer. I feel very sound about my choice. The visual arts (like film) are an essential component of the study of humanities and I believe that Clint Eastwood has contributed enough to the arts in a significant and relevant way to be considered a respectable representative of this area of the visual arts. As previously mentioned, the subject of my assignment this week is the distinguished film industry polymath. Clint Eastwood has used a wide assortment of techniques in his acting and directing career, from his outlaw disposition in his early Sergio Leone western films (The Good, the Bad and the Ugly) to his characteristically tough persona as Harry Callahan in the Dirty Harry series. Eastwood's later directing career has allowed a lot of freedom for his versatile talents and the films that resulted have been very successful and have garnered Academy Awards for many, especially in the directing, acting, and best picture categories (Unforgiven, Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby, and Letters From Iwo Jima). As of this year (2009), Clint Eastwood has received the National Board of Review best actor award for his most recent film Gran Torino.
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
My choice is about one of the greatest actors and directors to ever contribute to the arts. Clint Eastwood's remarkable collection of films and awards attest to this fact. Many other actors and directors have proclaimed Clint as very influential in the development of their careers (even his contemporaries like Martin Scorsese).
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. .5 point
The primary impetus that led to my choice is Clint Eastwood himself. I have always enjoyed his acting, directing, writing, and music composition. Eastwood's classic movie quotations like “go ahead, make my day” are simply irresistible and never fail to elicit applause. I especially enjoy Eastwood's work when he is residing in the directors chair, the works that are produced are of an impressive caliber that stand out from the rest. Clint Eastwood and quality are seemingly inextricably linked.
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. Example: I learned that John Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath was based on his personal experience working with farm workers. I would like to know if
the characters he used in that book are fictitious or are they people he met? .5 point
If I could know more about Clint Eastwood, I would like to be more informed about Clint Eastwood's forthcoming career, and whether or not the preceding rumors are true regarding his retirement from the acting stage. Could Eastwood possibly find a supporting role in his current impending film “The Human Factor,” or has his extraordinary career reached the inevitable terminus?
5. 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) . .5 point
Something that I learned last week from a classmate (Cathy) was that the Exploratorium was founded in 1969 and was “dedicated to teach students hands-on” (http://cathyishuman7.blogspot.com/). I believe this is a common experience. When I went to visit the Exploratorium when I was younger, many of the exhibits are indeed meant for the utilization of ones perceptions, especially touch. The museum's founding date and its purpose does relate to humanities in a way. This foundation marks a pivotal contribution to the sciences and learning, which can culminate into the understanding of the human condition. I find the Exploratorium to be linked both culturally and historically to California. It has always existed as an integral part of San Francisco's attractions as well as having its own past (history). Blog used: http://cathyishuman7.blogspot.com/
Monday, February 23, 2009
2b California Palace of the Legion of Honor
1. Contains a title using the format listed above .25 points
Response: Title above and reads "2b California Palace of the Legion of Honor"
2. Contains the sources you used with links to these sources .25 points
Response: I used two websites for this assignment:
3. Contains a brief paragraph how it connects to your study of humanities. 1 point
Response: The California Palace of the Legion of Honor connects to the study of humanities in several important ways. As a museum of fine art, it provides much insight i
nto European art and critical art movements in general (like Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, Cubism, et cetera). These works of art and the movements that each represent are very critical for the understanding and interpretation of more specific areas in the humanities and interdisciplinary fields of study. Art is an important component of modern civilization and the Legion of Honor provides a viable means to view these fascinating pieces that serve as a pivotal conveyance of human emotion and expression. Overall, being able to appreciate and interpret art is a necessary component to fully understand the humanities. The California Palace of the Legion of Honor is an excellent place to develop and hone this appreciation.
nto European art and critical art movements in general (like Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, Cubism, et cetera). These works of art and the movements that each represent are very critical for the understanding and interpretation of more specific areas in the humanities and interdisciplinary fields of study. Art is an important component of modern civilization and the Legion of Honor provides a viable means to view these fascinating pieces that serve as a pivotal conveyance of human emotion and expression. Overall, being able to appreciate and interpret art is a necessary component to fully understand the humanities. The California Palace of the Legion of Honor is an excellent place to develop and hone this appreciation.4. Contains the following "analytical elements":
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. 1 point
Response: I chose the California Palace of the Legion of Honor for my museum assignment. When I made this choice, I thought of the vast collection of art and history that the museum has available for people to observe. The artists featured are some of the worlds greatest and this respectable collect
ion includes works from Monet, Rodin, David, Rubens, Degas, and El Greco for example. The subject of the work is very broad and includes the subjects of all the artist included within the museums confines. The 'thing' that I chose includes the utilization of many mediums, from the canvases that the paintings use to the bronze used in the construction of the various sculptures such as Auguste Rodin's The Thinker (image above). The museum itself is a ¾ scale emulation of the Palais de la Legion d'Honneur in Paris and is made of concrete, stone, and reinforcing bar. In front of the monolithic structure is a large fountain, and all of this (the museum, fountain, courtyard, et cetera) is situated prominently in Lincoln Park in the North West region of San Francisco. Depending on the day your there, you can see and hear different exhibits, from Fabergé collections to discussions about Domenikos Theotokopoulos.
ion includes works from Monet, Rodin, David, Rubens, Degas, and El Greco for example. The subject of the work is very broad and includes the subjects of all the artist included within the museums confines. The 'thing' that I chose includes the utilization of many mediums, from the canvases that the paintings use to the bronze used in the construction of the various sculptures such as Auguste Rodin's The Thinker (image above). The museum itself is a ¾ scale emulation of the Palais de la Legion d'Honneur in Paris and is made of concrete, stone, and reinforcing bar. In front of the monolithic structure is a large fountain, and all of this (the museum, fountain, courtyard, et cetera) is situated prominently in Lincoln Park in the North West region of San Francisco. Depending on the day your there, you can see and hear different exhibits, from Fabergé collections to discussions about Domenikos Theotokopoulos. 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
Response: My choice is about the museum and how it is a valuable outlet for the creative and intellectual mind. Many people these days don't bother to submerge themselves in the arts and classics. The California Palace of the Legion of Honor is an excellent place and provides many such opportunities to learn about the art of our world, something that many neglect to do.
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. .5 point
Response: I had the opportunity to choose from many neat museums available to us in the state of California and out of all the choices, I decided to use the California Palace of the Legion of Honor as my subject. Considering the museum's close proximity to where I live, I thought it an excellent choice for my museum assignment. I also have an affinity for European art and this also helped in making my decision. I feel very strongly about my choice because its familiar to me and I know it has a lot to offer to people. The Legion of Honor was relatively simple to “visit” online and the tools that the website has available almost makes you feel like your actually there. Being “inside” the Legion of Honor proved to be very compelling, so I knew I had to choose this museum as my subject for this assignment.
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. Example: I learned that John Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath was based on his personal experience working with farm workers. I would like to know if
the characters he used in that book are fictitious or are they people he met? .5 point
the characters he used in that book are fictitious or are they people he met? .5 point
Response: I would like to know more about the specifics of the museum's contents. There is many paintings, pieces of furniture, and sculpture inside the museum and I would like to learn more about these. I learned much from all of this research about the Legion of Honor. Something that I found particularly interesting was how the museum also acts as the western terminus of the Lincoln Highway, the first highway to cross America. I wonder why they chose this specific location to terminate the highway rather than some other pacific region in California?
5. 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) . .5 point
5. 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) . .5 point
Response: After reading Thida's blog regarding last weeks assignment (http://missthaiteeveeblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/2a-sonoma-county.html), I learned that the Salute of The Arts in Sonoma Valley is an art festival that takes place during the summer. I found this to be a good thing to mention for this week, especially since the subject is museums and this interesting fact was about an art festival. I do think that the recognition of the arts is a common experience that I share. Having such a perception of the things that people create and give life to – things that are very important to the humanities – is something that we all need to give more attention. This does relate to the theoretical foundation of the class because like I mentioned before, the arts – whether its a festival or a museum – are very important and substantial in relation to the study of humanities. I think that this one thing relates to a cultural context. Sonoma County has always been about festivities, and the art festival mentioned above and in Thida's blog is a cultural aspect of Sonoma in general.
Monday, February 16, 2009
2a - San Bernardino, CA
Assignment Outline -
1. Contains a title using the format listed above .25 points
2. Contains the sources you used with links to these sources .25 points -
3. Contains a brief paragraph how it connects to your study of humanities. 1 point
4. Contains the following "analytical elements":
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. 1 point
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
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. .5 point
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. Example: I learned that John Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath was based on his personal experience working with farm workers. I would like to know if the characters he used in that book are fictitious or are they people he met? .5 point
5. 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) . .5 point
- My Responses for Assignment 2a -
2. Works Cited:
"San Bernardino, California." Wikipedia. 16 Feb 2009 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Bernardino,_California.
"County of San Bernardino, California – Official Website." sbcounty.gov. 2008. 16 Feb 2009 http://www.sbcounty.gov/.
"U.S. Route 66." Wikipedia. 2008. 16 Feb 2009 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_66.
3. Breif Paragraph:
Choosing the city of San Bernardino, CA is an appropriate topic in relation to the study of humanities because both the county and the city of San Bernardino (in relation to the assignment 2a) encompass many of the observations and perceptions that should be made by a student in a successful study of human expression, diversity, and commonality. San Bernardino is also connected and in intimate relation to the old Route 66 (“Main Street of America), a historical highway which has made a profound impact in the development of California's disposition, character, and culture.
4. Analytical Elements:
a. For my “Place in California”, I choose the city of San Bernardino. I once lived in Southern California when I was younger and have been to this county several times during the ascendancy of my life. I haven't visited this region in recent years and personal reflection on this county now elicits much fond memory and nostalgia. When studying the humanities, more specifically the culture of California, I thought that this particular city would be an excellent place to start with this project.
San Bernardino is a true California classic which truly embodies the demographics, climate (Mediterranean), and culture that distinguishes much of California from the rest of the states. While there exists to many notable features to justifiably enumerate, one can only attempt while trying to capture the essence of a given city like San Bernardino. There exist many sights that one can witness while visiting San Bernardino. While the neighborhoods are not directly "named", it doesn't seem to deter from any sense of regional direction. One of the most distinctive and prominent features within the city's confines includes some of the now historic “Googie architecture” that can be found throughout. Such architecture is characterized by many futuristic, geometrical, and angled shapes that invoke earlier generations. San Bernardino is also known for it's California State University (CSU) and as a location of one of the several “Fox Film Theaters” built during the 1920's. Parks and recreation are distributed throughout and include the Peris Hill Park and the Glen Hellen Regional Park which contribute some necessary green to the scenery. To accent the entire experience is a rather thorough transportation system which includes an international airport and a section of old route 66.
Internet links to pictures of San Bernardino's segment of Route 66 and Googie architecture:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:OldRoute66PavementMark.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Car_Wash,_San_Bernardino,_CA.jpg
b. My choice is not about any specific park, building or monument but about a city. I believe that this specific city is a great example found in Southern California that represents substantially the California experience and culture.
c. My object of concern was chosen out of personal experience, perception, and preference. I feel sound about my choice in that San Bernardino is an excellent portrait – while not overly blatant like some other cities (Los Angeles for example) – of life and culture in California. Specific observations are not hard to discern when supporting such an argument. One only has to visit one California city (like Santa Rosa or Windsor) and compare it with another (Santa Monica or San Bernardino). The argument can definitely be devised and fought regarding the individual uniqueness found within Santa Rosa or Windsor but the same argument can be made about one of the fine cities of Southern California (like San Bernardino) or even northern cities like San Francisco. In conclusion (and keeping in ones mind that this is my personal opinion), easily the latter cities triumph in the encapsulation of the quintessence of California.
d. I would like to learn more about the features and history that give these types of cities that certain California “feel and taste.” I understand that California is marked by great diversity which may help contribute to it's distinctive atmosphere, but so are other cities in the United States (like New York City). Considering and based off the evidence of the given example that diversity is not the only factor, what makes California just that: California?
5. Considering that this is still only “week one” of the second project (2a), I will have to call upon an example from week one seeing that there exists no other appropriate precedent. For my example, I have decided to use an excerpt from Anthony Musetti's blog:
“What is the subject of the work? I see the early 1900’s architecture, I see college student strewn among the grass, and reading under trees. I hear the roaring of the USC crowd on Friday nights and the smell of the sultry Southern California air.”
I agree with Anthony Musetti's descriptive mentioning here (especially the “sultry Southern California air”). This does possess some correlation with my view of the Southern California region and atmosphere and it involves a historical context integrated with some cultural background (USC). I do believe that his blog pertains to our study of humanities and that Paulo Freire's philosophy is indeed appropriate for our course.
1. Contains a title using the format listed above .25 points
2. Contains the sources you used with links to these sources .25 points -
3. Contains a brief paragraph how it connects to your study of humanities. 1 point
4. Contains the following "analytical elements":
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. 1 point
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
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. .5 point
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. Example: I learned that John Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath was based on his personal experience working with farm workers. I would like to know if the characters he used in that book are fictitious or are they people he met? .5 point
5. 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) . .5 point
- My Responses for Assignment 2a -
2. Works Cited:
"San Bernardino, California." Wikipedia. 16 Feb 2009 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Bernardino,_California.
"County of San Bernardino, California – Official Website." sbcounty.gov. 2008. 16 Feb 2009 http://www.sbcounty.gov/.
"U.S. Route 66." Wikipedia. 2008. 16 Feb 2009 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_66.
3. Breif Paragraph:
Choosing the city of San Bernardino, CA is an appropriate topic in relation to the study of humanities because both the county and the city of San Bernardino (in relation to the assignment 2a) encompass many of the observations and perceptions that should be made by a student in a successful study of human expression, diversity, and commonality. San Bernardino is also connected and in intimate relation to the old Route 66 (“Main Street of America), a historical highway which has made a profound impact in the development of California's disposition, character, and culture.
4. Analytical Elements:
a. For my “Place in California”, I choose the city of San Bernardino. I once lived in Southern California when I was younger and have been to this county several times during the ascendancy of my life. I haven't visited this region in recent years and personal reflection on this county now elicits much fond memory and nostalgia. When studying the humanities, more specifically the culture of California, I thought that this particular city would be an excellent place to start with this project.
San Bernardino is a true California classic which truly embodies the demographics, climate (Mediterranean), and culture that distinguishes much of California from the rest of the states. While there exists to many notable features to justifiably enumerate, one can only attempt while trying to capture the essence of a given city like San Bernardino. There exist many sights that one can witness while visiting San Bernardino. While the neighborhoods are not directly "named", it doesn't seem to deter from any sense of regional direction. One of the most distinctive and prominent features within the city's confines includes some of the now historic “Googie architecture” that can be found throughout. Such architecture is characterized by many futuristic, geometrical, and angled shapes that invoke earlier generations. San Bernardino is also known for it's California State University (CSU) and as a location of one of the several “Fox Film Theaters” built during the 1920's. Parks and recreation are distributed throughout and include the Peris Hill Park and the Glen Hellen Regional Park which contribute some necessary green to the scenery. To accent the entire experience is a rather thorough transportation system which includes an international airport and a section of old route 66.
Internet links to pictures of San Bernardino's segment of Route 66 and Googie architecture:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:OldRoute66PavementMark.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Car_Wash,_San_Bernardino,_CA.jpg
b. My choice is not about any specific park, building or monument but about a city. I believe that this specific city is a great example found in Southern California that represents substantially the California experience and culture.
c. My object of concern was chosen out of personal experience, perception, and preference. I feel sound about my choice in that San Bernardino is an excellent portrait – while not overly blatant like some other cities (Los Angeles for example) – of life and culture in California. Specific observations are not hard to discern when supporting such an argument. One only has to visit one California city (like Santa Rosa or Windsor) and compare it with another (Santa Monica or San Bernardino). The argument can definitely be devised and fought regarding the individual uniqueness found within Santa Rosa or Windsor but the same argument can be made about one of the fine cities of Southern California (like San Bernardino) or even northern cities like San Francisco. In conclusion (and keeping in ones mind that this is my personal opinion), easily the latter cities triumph in the encapsulation of the quintessence of California.
d. I would like to learn more about the features and history that give these types of cities that certain California “feel and taste.” I understand that California is marked by great diversity which may help contribute to it's distinctive atmosphere, but so are other cities in the United States (like New York City). Considering and based off the evidence of the given example that diversity is not the only factor, what makes California just that: California?
5. Considering that this is still only “week one” of the second project (2a), I will have to call upon an example from week one seeing that there exists no other appropriate precedent. For my example, I have decided to use an excerpt from Anthony Musetti's blog:
“What is the subject of the work? I see the early 1900’s architecture, I see college student strewn among the grass, and reading under trees. I hear the roaring of the USC crowd on Friday nights and the smell of the sultry Southern California air.”
I agree with Anthony Musetti's descriptive mentioning here (especially the “sultry Southern California air”). This does possess some correlation with my view of the Southern California region and atmosphere and it involves a historical context integrated with some cultural background (USC). I do believe that his blog pertains to our study of humanities and that Paulo Freire's philosophy is indeed appropriate for our course.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Assignment 1c
Two Classmates:
1 – a. Kendra lives an astounding 52.9 miles away from the main college campus and is currently taking this course because she requires more humanities classes in order to transfer to a UC.
b. Two things that I learned from Kendra's research on Paulo Freire include that Freire practiced Catholicism as a religion and that he denied Marxism as distancing him from that theological affiliation.
2 – a. Megan lives 23.3 miles away from the main college campus in Santa Rosa and is currently taking this online humanities course because it was recommended to her by a friend.
b. Two things that I learned about Freire from reading Megan's blog include his concept of “banking” which stipulated that students were like empty “accounts” that teachers “filled up” and that he wanted to learn from his students just as much as he wanted to teach them. Freire believed the teacher-student relationship to be very important and essential.
How this information will relate to our studies:
I think that observing the theories of a distinguished educator (Paulo Freire) before proceeding further into this course will establish an important structural basis. Keeping in mind his pedagogical ideas regarding how one should learn can act as a profound model throughout the duration of the class. Using his insights and ideology can perhaps “open new doors” and allow us (the students) to learn the humanities in unprecedented fashion, thus optimizing what we learn.
1 – a. Kendra lives an astounding 52.9 miles away from the main college campus and is currently taking this course because she requires more humanities classes in order to transfer to a UC.
b. Two things that I learned from Kendra's research on Paulo Freire include that Freire practiced Catholicism as a religion and that he denied Marxism as distancing him from that theological affiliation.
2 – a. Megan lives 23.3 miles away from the main college campus in Santa Rosa and is currently taking this online humanities course because it was recommended to her by a friend.
b. Two things that I learned about Freire from reading Megan's blog include his concept of “banking” which stipulated that students were like empty “accounts” that teachers “filled up” and that he wanted to learn from his students just as much as he wanted to teach them. Freire believed the teacher-student relationship to be very important and essential.
How this information will relate to our studies:
I think that observing the theories of a distinguished educator (Paulo Freire) before proceeding further into this course will establish an important structural basis. Keeping in mind his pedagogical ideas regarding how one should learn can act as a profound model throughout the duration of the class. Using his insights and ideology can perhaps “open new doors” and allow us (the students) to learn the humanities in unprecedented fashion, thus optimizing what we learn.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Assignment 1b
Three important and significant facts concerning Paulo Freire -
Possibly one of the most important influences that formulated the thinking and ideology of Paulo Freire involves his economic background which pertinaciously enveloped him during the early years of his life. Born on 1921 in the Brazilian city of Recife, Freire was exposed to many fiscal hardships which possessed striking similarities to that of the Great Depression. While a superficial observation could produce a conclusion that promulgated Freire's middle class status, the deceiving properties of his family's social rank should be observed and noted. One of the first of these properties that should be noted involve the (actual) poverty and involuntary fasting that witnessed Freire's existence during 1929. Though the experience proved not to be a prolonged issue, it still managed to be highly pivotal in assisting the creation of his pedagogical ambitions.
Another significant aspect about Freire's ideology concerns his distinguished views on the nature of education among the less privileged class. First worth mentioning is how he went about to accumulate such pedagogical opinions. His philosophical views as they pertain to the educational sphere are primarily influenced from great classical orators, authors, and philosophes, as well as from Marxist and anti-colonial ideals. Considering the great extent to which he relayed the thoughts of phenomenology and other transcendentalist theory, the German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel is also considered by many to be a substantial source of inspiration.
After investigating the various origins of his “muses” and inspirations, it is now proper to look at a third and final crucial item concerning the Brazilian educator Freire. This final factor that one should endow with considerable importance regards his educational theories and the substance in which these theories take form. There can be considered eight important theories that Freire developed concerning his most fundamental educational principles and they may be listed as follows:
Theory of Value
Theory of Knowledge
Theory of Human Knowledge
Theory of Learning
Theory of Transmission
Theory of Society
Theory of Opportunity
Theory of Consensus (Lyons)
It should be mentioned that the “Theories” of the enumerated list above all possess equal significance in determining a particular pedagogical algorithm (Freire's formula) and not one of the listed items need be accentuated over another. While this “Golden Mean” may possess veracity, the “theory of value” and “theory of transmission” are of special importance because they (the theories) represent some of his most basic ideas regarding educational theory and practice. Questions like “who should teach?”, “what shall be taught?”, and “what is worth learning?” are all addressed within the confines of the theory's notational medium. It is primarily these theories (when implemented in unison) that balustrade the infrastructure of Freire's pedagogical ideologies.
Works Cited
"Encyclopedia of World Biography on Paulo Freire." Book Rags. 2 Feb 2009 http://www.bookrags.com/biography/paulo-freire/.
"Paulo Freire." Wikipedia. 31 January 2009. Wikimedia Foundation. 2 Feb 2009 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulo_Freire.
Lyons, John. "Paulo Freire's Educational Theory." New Foundations. 4 January 2008. 2 Feb 2009 http://www.newfoundations.com/GALLERY/Freire.html.
Possibly one of the most important influences that formulated the thinking and ideology of Paulo Freire involves his economic background which pertinaciously enveloped him during the early years of his life. Born on 1921 in the Brazilian city of Recife, Freire was exposed to many fiscal hardships which possessed striking similarities to that of the Great Depression. While a superficial observation could produce a conclusion that promulgated Freire's middle class status, the deceiving properties of his family's social rank should be observed and noted. One of the first of these properties that should be noted involve the (actual) poverty and involuntary fasting that witnessed Freire's existence during 1929. Though the experience proved not to be a prolonged issue, it still managed to be highly pivotal in assisting the creation of his pedagogical ambitions.
Another significant aspect about Freire's ideology concerns his distinguished views on the nature of education among the less privileged class. First worth mentioning is how he went about to accumulate such pedagogical opinions. His philosophical views as they pertain to the educational sphere are primarily influenced from great classical orators, authors, and philosophes, as well as from Marxist and anti-colonial ideals. Considering the great extent to which he relayed the thoughts of phenomenology and other transcendentalist theory, the German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel is also considered by many to be a substantial source of inspiration.
After investigating the various origins of his “muses” and inspirations, it is now proper to look at a third and final crucial item concerning the Brazilian educator Freire. This final factor that one should endow with considerable importance regards his educational theories and the substance in which these theories take form. There can be considered eight important theories that Freire developed concerning his most fundamental educational principles and they may be listed as follows:
Theory of Value
Theory of Knowledge
Theory of Human Knowledge
Theory of Learning
Theory of Transmission
Theory of Society
Theory of Opportunity
Theory of Consensus (Lyons)
It should be mentioned that the “Theories” of the enumerated list above all possess equal significance in determining a particular pedagogical algorithm (Freire's formula) and not one of the listed items need be accentuated over another. While this “Golden Mean” may possess veracity, the “theory of value” and “theory of transmission” are of special importance because they (the theories) represent some of his most basic ideas regarding educational theory and practice. Questions like “who should teach?”, “what shall be taught?”, and “what is worth learning?” are all addressed within the confines of the theory's notational medium. It is primarily these theories (when implemented in unison) that balustrade the infrastructure of Freire's pedagogical ideologies.
Works Cited
"Encyclopedia of World Biography on Paulo Freire." Book Rags. 2 Feb 2009 http://www.bookrags.com/biography/paulo-freire/.
"Paulo Freire." Wikipedia. 31 January 2009. Wikimedia Foundation. 2 Feb 2009 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulo_Freire.
Lyons, John. "Paulo Freire's Educational Theory." New Foundations. 4 January 2008. 2 Feb 2009 http://www.newfoundations.com/GALLERY/Freire.html.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Assignment 1a
Questions For Assignment 1a:
1. What is your first name only (NOT last name)
2. Why are you taking this class and what do you hope to learn
3. How far do you live from SRJC main campus (go to google, maps to get the SPECIFIC answer; for this you type in your address and 1501 Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa, CA to find the exact mileage. EXAMPLE: 2.6 miles from campus. The goal here is to use new tools available to us. You can always come back to edit this)
4. What do you think of when you think "California"? Does this differ from what non-Californians think and if so, how?
5. Have you created a blog or webpage in the past?
6. Regarding computers, are you on a mac or a pc?
7. What was your January 20th, 2009 like, or what do you remember of this day?
Question Responses:
1. My first name is Frank.
2. I am currently taking this humanities class because I possess a profound interest of the subject matter found within the courses spectrum. I found that taking an introductory course of the various humanities would be a very fun and fascinating experience, and what better way than to do it online.
3. According to Google Maps I live 16.2 miles away from campus
4. When I think of “California”, I think of the 31st state of the United States, the most populous of the fifty (50) states, and a state that possesses an abundance of history and distinct cultural characteristics. I have lived in California all of my life and thus have special attachments to this particular state.
5. I am currently keeping a blog for an English class that also happens to be an online course. I haven't kept a webpage or blog anytime in the past (not even a myspace), but now I find myself operating two of them (web logs) simultaneously and for the first time.
6. As of now, I'm using a PC (Sony Vaio) as my computer of choice.
7. My January 20th, 2009 - while seemingly ordinary and lacking eccentricity - was actually anything but average. It was an important day for myself and for the United States. President elect Barack Hussein Obama II became inaugurated as the 44th president of the United States, hopefully ushering into the confines of this North American country an era of change and progress.
1. What is your first name only (NOT last name)
2. Why are you taking this class and what do you hope to learn
3. How far do you live from SRJC main campus (go to google, maps to get the SPECIFIC answer; for this you type in your address and 1501 Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa, CA to find the exact mileage. EXAMPLE: 2.6 miles from campus. The goal here is to use new tools available to us. You can always come back to edit this)
4. What do you think of when you think "California"? Does this differ from what non-Californians think and if so, how?
5. Have you created a blog or webpage in the past?
6. Regarding computers, are you on a mac or a pc?
7. What was your January 20th, 2009 like, or what do you remember of this day?
Question Responses:
1. My first name is Frank.
2. I am currently taking this humanities class because I possess a profound interest of the subject matter found within the courses spectrum. I found that taking an introductory course of the various humanities would be a very fun and fascinating experience, and what better way than to do it online.
3. According to Google Maps I live 16.2 miles away from campus
4. When I think of “California”, I think of the 31st state of the United States, the most populous of the fifty (50) states, and a state that possesses an abundance of history and distinct cultural characteristics. I have lived in California all of my life and thus have special attachments to this particular state.
5. I am currently keeping a blog for an English class that also happens to be an online course. I haven't kept a webpage or blog anytime in the past (not even a myspace), but now I find myself operating two of them (web logs) simultaneously and for the first time.
6. As of now, I'm using a PC (Sony Vaio) as my computer of choice.
7. My January 20th, 2009 - while seemingly ordinary and lacking eccentricity - was actually anything but average. It was an important day for myself and for the United States. President elect Barack Hussein Obama II became inaugurated as the 44th president of the United States, hopefully ushering into the confines of this North American country an era of change and progress.
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