Final Preparations and Farewell

Well, we finally had our last class on Tuesday.  It's almost hard to believe.  It seems like just yesterday we started class even though it was months ago.  We discussed our final exam and Maggy reviewed many of the social theories that were discussed over the semester. We take our final exam tomorrow night and part of me will truly miss this course.  There aren't many classes that have the flare and the kind of discussions we have had.

All in all, I've learned a lot this semester, a good bit about myself, but a lot about society as a whole.  Tomorrow is my last final exam and I am poised to receive straight A's this semester if all goes well, and I am most pleased because this is a feat I haven't accomplished in many years.  I may continue to write in my blog, but I'm not sure yet.  After the trials of my past summer... well I kind of got away from writing, but that's a story and a blog for another time... Good night my friends, and good luck!

Coming to a Close and a visit from Harold and Kumar...

Well this week in class we discussed our final projects.  I already turned mine in because I wasn't sure when it was due.  I did my PowerPoint presentation on "The Producers".  It was a really enjoyable project and I had lots of fun creating it.  I only have one final to go for the semester and am working on one final project.  I'm happy about both of those things.

After we discussed our final projects and viewed final race presentations, we watched "Harold and Kumar Go to Whitecastle."  The movie is a stoner flick that has many blatantly overt messages on race, class, and gender.

The film starts out showing a very confident and aggressive Kumar who enjoys smoking marijuana in large quantities while systematically avoiding admission to medical school.  Harold works as an investment banker who doesn't display many masculine characteristics.  The movie is basically a coming of age story for Harold, who in the end, confronts his foes, gets the girl, and becomes the dominating man society says he should be!

We are preparing for the final and will watch one final film on Tuesday.  I'm really looking forward to break.  Now I'm going to finish watching "Batman and Robin" on NetFlix and then try to force myself to work on my English project.

Group Presentations and Final Preperations

This week's class was pretty short.  Maggy was ill so she let us out early.  We presented our group projects and they were very informative.  Each group had a particular racial or ethnic group that they were assigned.  We then researched how each group is portrayed in the media.  Not surprising, but many stereotypes were discovered and discussed.

Our group discussed African-Americans and we presented data from the American Slavery Era, Civil Rights Era, and the present day... We had a lot of fun with our presentation and it seemed to be well received.

It's almost time for our final projects to come due and I think I'm going to try and start on mine sometime next week.  I'm going to watch "The Producers" and discuss its messages on race, gender, and class.  Thanksgiving approaches and we are on break next week.  It's hard to believe that this semester is about to conclude.  It honestly feels like we just started.  Happy Thanksgiving my friends!

The Semester's End Approaches

Ok, so I'm trying to be productive after sitting around the house all day playing Tiger Woods on the Xbox... I just couldn't get any motivation until about an hour ago.  Last night's class was way shorter than normal.  We only have five more classes before the end of the semester.  I'm kind of shocked at how fast it's flown by.

Our end of semester projects are going to be due soon.  I will be keeping a digital portfolio to turn in.  I'm pretty sure I'm going to use the movie "The Producers" by Mel Brooks for my analysis.  It's hilarious and it's also full of race, class, and gender messages.

We got split up into our groups again and we were assigned group projects.  My group will be discussing how African Americans have been portrayed in the mass media, past and present.  We looked up various cartoons and videos for our presentation.  I'll be putting the finishing touches on the Power Point presentation this weekend.  Not much else was discussed.

"Bamboozled" and the Continuing Struggle of Civil Rights...

Well, I'm a day late with this blog. I've been so uber stressed that I just didn't have it in me to finish it up last night before class. Work has been taking a heavy toll on my soul and I feel like my very life force has been drained... Nonetheless, onto the discussion of last week's class...

We watched the film "Bamboozled" which was directed by Spike Lee. It was a very "in your face" kind of film about race, class, and gender. It was almost the perfect movie for us to watch and study. It covered absolutely everything we could want to discuss in class about our three main issues.

Delacroix's superior is Mr. Dunwhittey, the senior vice president at CNS. Dunwhittey informs Delacroix that his writing is weak and too "white". Dunwhittey states that he is blacker than Delacroix is. Delacroix was dissatisfied with the direction CNS and Dunwhittey want to take his writing. So, he comes up with a plan to be relieved of his contract... He decided to write a minstrel show. It would be a show so offensive, that he is sure to be terminated from him duties at CNS and free to pursue other ambitions, although he doesn't mention what those may be.

Minstrel shows are extremely offensive by nature. They imply that African-Americans are essentially not even people. They imply that they are uneducated animals who have the lowest place in society. They imply that African-Americans exist only to be subservient to Caucasians and that they are for the entertainment of society. The audience should find the entire concoction to be negative, starting with the portrayal of African-Americans in their dress, speech, looks, etc. He takes it to an extreme though; he puts African-Americans in black-face. He places them in the old South on a plantation, next to the watermelon patch no less. He called the show "Mantan". His sidekick was called "Sleep and Eat".

Delacroix chose a street performer to portray Mantan because he assumed (rightfully so) that Manray would be easily ‘bought’. Delacroix knew that he was living on the street and in desperate need of some way to earn a living. He also assumed that Manray would not be unconcerned about the larger issues with a minstrel show. Manray didn’t seem to care what he did in the performance initially. He was uneducated about the issue and was striving to meet his basic needs.

Whites and blacks were both part of the audience and seemed to enjoy the show that Delacroix created. There were more minorities in the audience, however. What was ironic is that by the end of the movie, most everyone in the show was in black-face. I think that both groups thought that the show was humorous and were not looking for a deeper message that was being conveyed, whether Delacroix wanted it to be or not.

Lee’s message about being Black in America was clear. While we have made leaps and bounds on the issue of civil rights, there is still a large amount of racism in this country. While much of it is ‘hidden’ in nature, and portrayed in media under the cover of being humorous, it still conveys a message of hate. On a personal note the way the movie ended made me feel extremely guilty for even laughing at the initial and middle parts of the movie. Maggy stated that this was the objective of the movie itself. Lee also implies that many minorities are still ignorant on these issues that directly affect them. They actually affect ALL of us.

Many people in the movie criticize Delacroix himself; a great example is the radio talk show host. Dunwhittey criticizes Delacroix for his previous writings, and states that, “Dude, I’m blacker than you are!” Sloan also criticizes Delacroix for what he has done. He created a monster, despite its success with mainstream audiences (and at the end, Delacroix knows this to be true).

Most of the whites interact with the blacks in the film with respect. Dunwhittey is the only one who seems to be over the top with his racial awareness (or lack thereof). He often states that he is blacker than Delacroix and is highly fascinated with black culture. His portrayal is a mixture. While he uses offensive slang, he does seem very interested with the African-American culture, though he uses them for his own professional and personal gain.

Frankly, I was shocked at the ending. It totally violated my expectations and pretty much all of my schemas. I never expect there to be such a bloodlust. It was a very poignant display of just how race in America is still an explosive issue. I also didn’t expect to see Delacroix’s death at the hands of Sloan, his ex-assistant. I firmly believe that you reap what you sew and hate can only breed more hate. Rage can only breed rage. I was hoping to see Manray rescued and go on to be a champion for civil rights and tolerance. I was also hoping that Delacroix would see the error of his ways and live to stand beside Manray. I think Lee could have made a less violent conclusion of the film; conversely I think the violence was his point. History has shown it is what this kind of racial debauchery can ultimately lead to. To sum up my response in one word: wow.

Overcoming Racial Roadblocks

Last week's class was a very interesting one. It built upon what we discussed in the previous week, so feel free to consult my last blog for background information.

We began class by having each group present detailed Power points on various individuals who were not Caucasian, and have greatly benefitted all of man-kind, not just their particular race. Our group's presentation was on Sitting Bull, less commonly known as Tatanka Yotanka. He was a Sioux Native American war chief that defeated Lt. Colonel Custer at the Battle of Little Bighorn in Montana. He advanced his tribe's cause and resisted oppression from the US government. He eventually retired but was assassinated by US-led forces.

Maggy topped off the class by showing us other unique individuals and court cases that have affected sometimes radically, US policy and law. She discussed how many of the policies of yesteryear would not even be considered today. We've definitely moved forward past racial roadblocks, but others still remain. Race doesn't seem to be the highlighted one today. The battle for equality for sexual minorities seems to be our generation's battlefront. My previous blog on "coming out" has a more detailed discussion on that issue.

Racial Stereotypes

In this week's class we watched the introduction to the movie "Soul Plane" and observed the racial stereotypes contained within. Maggy described it as a movie that is, "about as offensive as it gets..." It takes racial stereotypes over the top, which is one of the things that make it funny.

It starts out with an out of work African American man who has quite the negative experience on a major US airline. He ends up suing the airline for damages as his dog was killed in flight. The defense attorney points out that he is an out of work man trying to make an easy score. He ends up winning the lawsuit and starts his own airline.

The fun truly begins after that. His airline is based out of terminal "Malcom X" and 99.8% of passengers are African American. The terminal features many fine vehicles (mostly Cadillac), a basketball court, fried chicken, jewlery stores with plenty of bling available, etc.

The aircraft itself was pimped out as well. The plane was painted to be purple and it even had spinners on its wheels! First class was truly that: first class. Low class, as he called it, looked more like a subway car than an aircraft, and it even had standing room. Most of the flight attendants were African American, with the exception being the "sexed out" Hispanic.

The few passengers who weren't African Americans felt truly out of place. The one Arab man who boarded the plane was continually harassed by airline security and called "Ossama" multiple times. The white family we see was also typified with a last name of "Honky", had a gold-digging wife, a sex crazed teenage daughter, and a nerdy son.

We didn't get to finish the movie, but what we saw was worth watching nonetheless. After the movie we began a group project and will make PowerPoint presentations next week. I don't really have a deep analysis for this week's blog... class this time was more laid back.

Sexual Oppression in America

Last week's class was one that hit close to home for me personally. After the midterm that I forgot about, we had a guest speaker from the GSA on campus that told his story of how he came out. He also spoke on how gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender groups are truly one of the last groups in America to be denied fundamental rights, and how we are still treated as second class by our government and society.

The class and lecture was conducted in a very informal, relaxed way. We simply asked questions, and they were answered. I found a lot of parallels of my own life's story to our speaker's.

I had always known I was gay, ever since middle school. Yet, like our speaker, I continued to date girls because I was raised in a very religious, conservative home. I knew that my thoughts, feelings, and desired were 'wrong' and inconsistent with my mother's beliefs, yet I couldn't deny that I was attracted to other males. I remained closeted until college, at which time I felt much more comfortable with myself and came out to a select group of my friends. It wasn't long after this event that my mother overheard a conversation that I never intended for her to hear.

I had been dating another guy that I went to college with. I didn't really go out to the club because I was so scared of being 'discovered'. Because of this I met other guys online, for the most part. I was having problems with my boyfriend at the time so I was talking to a close friend of mine about it. I didn't realize my mom was home... I thought she had gone to her Wednesday evening Bible study, like she always did. I sought counsel from my friend Jen, and my mother overheard the entire conversation. She must have suspected for quite some time that I wasn't straight, but now... her suspicions were confirmed and there was nothing I could do or say to the contrary. The brawl ensued. My mother proceeded to tell me how she had failed me, not the other way around. She cried, for hours... I also received the religious speech about how I am going to burn in Hell... etc.

Our relationship became strained and was never the same again. It wasn't long after this that I moved out of my mom's house. I wasn't ready to face the world alone, financially if for no other reason, but... I had no choice. I was on my own. We didn't talk much for about two years. Once she became mentally ill though, I started to get closer to her again. It was too late, however. She is currently unable to even recognize me as her son. It's funny how now, it doesn't matter if I'm gay or straight... all that matters is that I try to be there for her. My sexual orientation means little now, as she just enjoys having someone to talk to.

Our speaker also discussed how society views homosexuality, particularly for the male, as unacceptable. It would be very hard for two men to walk down the street holding hands and displaying affection towards each other. Homosexual cannot marry in the vast majority of states and are denied many other basic rights, including health benefits. While I do not have anyone special in my life at the present time, this still affects me. I pay my taxes just like every other American and deserve the same rights as all other people. Politicians tend to use fear as a tool to ensure reelection. Regardless of the political landscape, the challenges facing homosexuals are no different than the challenges that faced civil rights era African Americans.

It is hard to be gay in America, period. Many European cultures are far more accepting and tolerant. We should take a cue from our friends there and be more progressive. It's not easy to find a partner that wants more than just a quick fling in the gay sub-culture, nor is it easy for a same-sex couple to enjoy the same basic things that their heterosexual counterparts do.

I am different than most gay men. Anyone who knows me knows this to be true. I don't get drunk every weekend, I don't do drugs, I don't live to party at the gay bar every night it is open, and I am not ‘active’ in the gay community. I also don't have a really sheek fashion sense and don't have to wear Hollister or American Eagle clothing everywhere I go.  I realize not all of these stereotypes apply to every gay man... I am nevertheless, a hard-working professional who just wants to find happiness, like every other human being. The Preamble to the US Declaration of Independence reads:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness."

While the founding fathers used the word 'men', I believe that today's culture replaces the word men with 'people'. Just because someone has a different sexual orientation, or is of a sub-culture, doesn't mean that they can be denied their basic rights. While yes, I may be different, I am still an American citizen. I provide a much needed service to those in need and give freely of myself. I just wish to find a special man to share my life with and build my dreams. I ask the extreme, right-wing conservatives: What is so wrong with this desire?

Gender's role in entertainment and everyday life...

Last week in class we discussed the role and expectations of gender, particularly in Hollywood. What is masculine and feminine, first of all? What way should a man or woman act? What way should a man or woman not act? The mass media greatly influences our expectations and schemas that we use to answer these questions.


We started by looking at advertisements and articles from different magazines. Many depict muscular, athletic men and tend to pair them up with supermodels that could literally be supported with one hand, or other appendage. These particular body types were described as ideal. Larger females and skinny males didn't fetch much attention in the magazines. The athletic females also had very little coverage, despite the fact that they would likely have been better matches for the athletic males.

We watched clips from different movies and discussed how certain actors tend to always be cast for particular roles. You would never expect to see Bruce Willis in a movie such as Mrs. Doubtfire. In turn you'd never expect to see Robin Williams in something like Live Free or Die Hard. Speaking of the latter, we discussed how Bruce Willis' screen daughter had just as much of a kick-ass attitude as he does.

Films and TV depict what are 'normal' masculine and feminine behaviors. When these norms are violated, we often laugh or make of fun of those who are different. We used the male nurse example from Meet the Fockers. It built up the stereotype that males shouldn't be in a nursing position because we aren't supposed to be nurturers. The examples could go on and on.

Lastly we described the struggle for power between competitors and how these struggles can have good and bad consequences. The scene in Dum Line showed the fight between the underdog and the top dog. It's almost as if a group exists there are those who will embody power, and others who will crave it. The latter group will tend to do whatever it takes to obtain its objectives.

Gender is such a hot button issue in today's society. With the movement of the gay, bisexual, lesbian, and transgender communities, gender is not so cute and dry anymore. Gender roles and expectations are not so black and white anymore. I say again, the world is grey.

Battle of the Sexes?

Ok, so I missed class last week courtesy of the cold and flu season. This blog, therefore, is a synopsis of mostly my opinion and some of the other things I’ve looked at in other people’s blogs.
 So – we’re discussing the issue of sex and gender. This has always been a sounding point and a matter of debate in American culture. We live in a predominately patriarchal society. Our culture has been dominated by men for as long as we have had our own culture. This goes back to our European roots. Is this the best system though? Of course it is not. Women still receive less compensation than male counterparts doing similar jobs, even if the males have less education and training.

We also began to touch on the adult entertainment industry and how society views its participants. Women are viewed poorly and with reproach, often being called sluts and whores. Men are basically viewed as “getting a piece of ass.” Why should women who participate in the making or directing of pornography be viewed differently than men? They’re in the same industry. It all goes back to the patriarchal views of society. Traditionally, women are viewed as weak and feeble. When they step out of the typical roles set forth by society, they face many more hurdles than their male counterparts. This point goes beyond the adult film industry, however.

My blog is rather broad this week, and my thoughts are mostly fragmented. Stress and sleep deprivation are prevalent once more. Even in spite of all that though, the point I am making is surely clear. Changing this culture is the responsibility of us. Yes, us. The students who seek higher education have a responsibility to try and promote tolerance and understanding. We are the leadership of tomorrow… some of us are even the leadership of today. We cannot fail in our responsibilities to leave the world in a better way than how we found it.

Building up stereotypes or tearing them down?

Building up stereotypes or tearing them down?Building up stereotypes or tearing them down?


Ok, so this week in class I was running on empty. I had worked a very long night shift on Monday and by 6:00 PM I was pretty run down. Despite my sleep deprivation, class proved most interested. We watched another video from the late ‘50s. It was more realistic than the previous one we viewed and it focused on mobility and immobility in the social strata.

We talked about the American social system and structure again, and I’m not going to be as hardcore on it in this blog… for my feelings on it feel free to consult my last one. Nonetheless, we described how the classes view and interact with each other. We also discussed how the government labels and manages poverty.

Before going into each social class and its respective stereotypes, it’s important to note that people are people. No two members of a group are alike. There are members that embody and display many of the traits that our stereotypes reflect, but there are also many that don’t.

We discussed how so many of the lower class seem content to remain in their social setting. It’s a closely knit group and they know that they can rely on each other in times of need. Maggy gave an excellent example. Someone in the community doesn’t have enough for dinner tonight; someone else may have a large pot of spaghetti and will share with those who are less fortunate. This group doesn’t tend to look to the future regarding money simply because its members can’t. Many don’t know if they will have enough money for food today, let alone next week. This leads some members of the upper and middle classes to perceive that the lower class is irresponsible.

The middle class was described as being thrifty, generous when able, and planners of the future. I grew up in a lower-middle class family and we had many struggles. Despite them all, my mother always tried to look to the future and wanted me to have a better life than she did. She made many countless sacrifices for me that often left her with nothing. I know of many middle class families that are like mine was growing up. We all want to achieve something better, not just for ourselves, but for our children as well.

The upper class was described in many ways such as: snooty, rude, arrogant, ostentatious, greedy, et. al. However, we brought up the fact that many members of the upper class are in fact friendly, benevolent, and again, planners for the future. While many rich Americans exemplify what we see on MTV, Bravo, and other networks, many more (such as Bill and Miranda Gates) have pursued philanthropy and have truly dedicated themselves to bettering humanity. Many upper class members don’t associate with members of the other classes, and they feel it is with good reason. There are so many scammers and swindlers out there that surely this new person must be after my money, right?! It is possible, but not always. Climbing is something many in the middle class pursue but admission to this group is difficult.

I feel like I should have more to say about this topic but I think I pretty much covered everything previously in my discussion about what I perceive as immobility in the social strata. In closing, perhaps these three social groups need a better understanding of their own members before they try to understand others.

Immobility in the Social Strata

Immobility in the Social Strata

This week’s class was very informative at large. My blog likely won’t be as long as the previous weeks’ though, mostly because I feel this issue is easily defined. I think the discussion about immobility within the social hierarchy of America was revealing, and sickening to say the least. Many politicians have always preached the message of the ‘American Dream’ and how fluid our social system is to all of our citizenry. What happens though when the dream turns into a nightmare?

I do believe that it is possible to move upward in the social hierarchy because I am a living example of that possibility. However, the pathway to doing this is generally slow and requires much planning, work, and implantation to achieve success. To ascend to higher levels of prestige, power, property, etc. requires vast amounts of time and energy. It is generally not something that can be achieved overnight.

I grew up in a single-parent household without much, if any prestige or power. We had some property, but not enough to amount to any recognition in the social strata. I am the first member of my family to receive a college degree and to work as a professional in the healthcare field. Despite having worked in emergency medical services since I was 18, I have only just now began to reap great rewards from my career. Ascension to higher levels of recognition and success is a long-term investment, but one that will pay off if it is seen through to the finish.

Some people don’t have stories quite like mine. Circumstances that may or may not be as a direct result of their actions have hampered many from achieving success. We discussed four of the theories of social stratification and many had goods points. It’s almost as if our country and social hierarchy is a mixture between two of them in particular. Social Darwinism and the Functional Theory seem to dominate our not just our way of life, but our way of thinking.

In order to achieve maximum potential, we have to rethink our system of education, government, our whole way of life really. I am an optimist, but I am also a realist. I know that the utopia that I have mentioned, is likely not possible or probable. Nevertheless, people that have a true desire and drive to achieve a greater place in life should be given the opportunity to do so when there is none currently present for them.

Shouldn’t we shatter the immobility of our social strata, and make the ‘American Dream’ a reality, not just a vision?

Are we really our parents' children?

Are we really our parents’ children?

This week’s discussion in class was highly informative, not to mention entertaining… It was a complex discussion for me because I really couldn’t offer much input. I know that must be a shock to anyone who knows me because I usually always have something to say. Our discussion was on habits, sayings, and beliefs passed down from one generation to the next, particularly from parents but also from the mass media and world around us.

I didn’t have much to offer for the discussion because I grew up quite differently than most ‘traditional’ children. I never knew my father whom my mother had divorced when I was only six months old. My mother was highly protective of me and I was not allowed to mingle with other children outside of the classroom. We didn’t have a lot of financial resources to make extracurricular activities possible regardless. I spent a lot of time around adults and grew up with the saying tattooed to my mind: “As long as you live in my house, you live under my rules.”

Despite all of this, I think I turned out ok. I matured much more quickly than my counterparts in school and adapted quite well to the adult world. The only problem was that I didn’t develop any real social skills or social life until I became a freshman in college at West Virginia University. I quickly learned that I didn’t really identify with others in my age group, not yet anyway. I came from a highly functional dysfunctional family. There are plenty of examples of this in the programs we see in the mass media.

Stewie Griffin comes from a family in which he is well cared for, but is always attempting to find new methods to exterminate his mother: Lois Griffin. He always fails but I think his presence demonstrates a highly disgruntled portion of American society. So many people are displeased with their family lives, among all of the other roles we play. So I must ask the question: Are we really our parents’ children? Does history repeat itself and do we conform to the standards our parents have set for us? Do we embrace nonconformity though, and form our own?

I believe that despite the high influx of information technology into American culture, and the continuing rise of the information superhighway, we are a generation that is a combination of both. We all tend to cling to our upbringing, but society has changed, even though it remains the same. It has changed in the sense that we spend less time with our families as we grow. The economic trend of yesterday and today require both parents to work often times… That’s assuming though that both parents are together and are involved in the family’s life. That’s an assumption we just can’t make. Families tend not to be traditional anymore. There are families with only a single parent, both parents, same-sex parents, or grandparents at the ‘helm’ among many other combinations I’m sure I’ve failed to mention.

We all take these numerous cues differently than those around us. This is what makes us unique. Even though we receive conditioning from our families as we grow, our world around us also gives us clues to draw from about the way life is supposed to be. Children have less time with their families, and more time with high availability of information in its many forms. So, are we truly our parents’ children, or have we evolved into something more complex? Perhaps time will tell as we raise our own children and continue to travel faster on the information superhighway.

The Mass Media Frenzy

When I first came into this class, I knew it would complement the way I look at society. I like to think I’m a pretty liberal individual and am far from judgmental. After our discussion in class I started to look for the ways that the mass media affects our receipt of information as well as our world views.

We discussed the TV show Family Guy in class on Tuesday and I think it’s an excellent example of the views and thought processes of ‘mainstream’ Americans. Peter is a Eurocentric, highly sexist male that feels his patriarchal control of his family should not be questioned, despite his bumbling. The show itself shows his feelings that he is superior to other ethnic and cultural groups, but he’s not afraid to mingle with them. The series does incorporate minority groups in its programming, including the handicapped, homosexual, and racial minorities, albeit at their expense. The show uses these groups for humor, and despite Peter’s attitude to these groups, his lack of understanding usually ends up undermining him in the end.

Bravo was mentioned as being a center for dissemination of counterculture. I have the channel so I thought I’d check it out. It gives minority groups attention and specialized programming that other networks would not. Queer Eye for the Straight Guy demonstrates the network’s commitment to the promotion of this counterculture. It prescribes to the bias that gay men are superior to their straight counterparts on issues such as fashion sense and taste for example. It also fuels the stereotype that straight men cannot be classy and need guidance on how to maintain a nice self image and the maintenance of relationships.

These are only a few ways in which the mass media effects and affects our perceptions of the world around us. Information technology is an excellent source of data on the world around us, but we must always be careful to review that data critically and not forget to explore the world around us. We need to form our own opinions and ideas and not allow others to manipulate our thought processes.