Intercultural communications is to me a tool to be used on how to analyze your individual actions and the power they have when it comes to other people. I can look at some of the things I enjoy in and love in a society that I so harshly criticize. Intercultural communications has taught me to greatly appreciate my own privileges and understand the privileges of others. I enjoy how textual recordings and directions are new and innovative because it gives me hope to know that people are thinking. My pessimism as cooled under the thought that this information is spreading due to continuously growing technology. This information keeps me humble and constantly searching for ways in becoming a better person, then realizing that a “better” person is subjective and that this goal really means becoming a person I want to be. I’ve learned that being understood is important for everyone who communicates.
A sense of my own culture has been thought about and recorded in public document. The experience that has come from communicating with those without the use of facial expression, gesture, and vocal tones has been learned and almost adapted to a type of communication. Technology has never really been a strong suit of mine but is an adaptation I know will greatly benefit. This class ignited my passion to continue in the direction of gaining all of the knowledge I could possibly gain.
I can find contradictions and possible scenarios while taking these thoughts as mere assumptions built out of my own cultural lens. In the beginning I found it highly difficult to keep myself in check in placement judgment upon other individuals. I can apply new identities of individualist, Western American, and the avowed identity as a dialectical approacher. After this class I have found it hard to not see individuals as cultures. I feel the way my group culture that has been filtered through my person in order to be translated and passed down as crucial information for the survival of our species. My belief that if people never move on, if they never progress in thought or in technique, and that our global society will surely parish, have been influenced by a mix of teachings and life experiences.
I can find how the way cultural influences of my history, my ethnicity and race enact upon the way I solve conflicts and hold expectations of others for an appropriate conversation. I have to keep in mind my perceptions and experiences in order to keep judgments that meet the needs of my community. My Mother’s golden rule to “Treat people the way you want to be treated”, has transformed to more of a “Understand how a person sees based on the contexts, and possible experiences before coming to the next communication phase”. Or the American belief that “Everyone deserves equality” turns into “Everyone needs equity in order to survive in today’s global context.” I can ask questions as to how conflict is both good and bad then apply that crazy concept of subjectivity.
Intercultural has influenced me to see this world as more a magical place. Where there are always reasons for everything. Lauryn Hill’s motto: “Everything is Everything” speaks to this notion very well. The thoughts, like this, that exist in intercultural communications however aren’t new. I can look at artwork from minority cultures and decipher their possible life experience expressed in their art with an understanding that these perceptions are coming from my own experiences in the shared global context. The faster the information of intercultural communications in contexts spreads the better. Where do you think we are as a human race in understanding the importance of understanding each other? Does this question even have any perceptions or preconceived notions of the cultural backgrounds involved?
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Relationships
Who’s Culture?
The question to this assignment poses a problem. In the conflict of my own culture there are, what could be described as, many enclaves. I have, found a question that could describe the norms in my family when it came to relationships
:How do we define our cultures inside of our mainstream culture and what values will we try to instill on our future generations due to our experiences with our immediate family?
In North Minneapolis black families were very different from each other. As a family, we transitioned from a culture that follows closely to a heterosexual familial that followed the “American Dream”. My father worked for Naval recruitment and missions as while we lived on base. Our Sundays were spent in dress clothes and scripture of Christian ways. It wasn’t until our familial transition to North Minneapolis, Minnesota where a new world would open up to new colors and flavors of people and perspectives.
Upton Ave. North provided a place that was not only LGBTQ, but was filled with a common sense of economic struggle. This sense provided an atmosphere of community as people shared home cooking, recipes, clothing and even shelter. These influences became more and more evident as my Mother’s and Father’s relationship deteriorated. I took on the opportunity to find safety and shelter where I lived. I had friends to go to and talk to about feelings. This became the first part of my own cultural enclave.
With a single Mother, roles in the house also changed. The four of us did most of the cleaning while my Mother worked through the social environment for work and friends. As we got older cooking and cleaning become chores. My biggest brother was in charge of watching and supervising all of our activities. In this new world my Mother gained the ability to express more of her identity that was hidden in a false life. For over 10 years I would be able to say that I had two Mothers while others acknowledge the common “Mom and Dad”. These relationships exposed us to new perspectives and ways of thinking. These relationships were also interracial. I draw many Hispanic and European influences in the way I have shaped my current identity. It was the combination of these influences and new responsibilities my Mother instilled upon us in order to teach us lessons for the preparation of the “real world”.
We were prepared to deal with the all sorts of possibilities of there being “different people”, of limitations of materialistic resources, and most importantly, sex. My Mother did not want us to make the mistake of creating too large of challenges for to early times. Her birth of my big brother at 16 took her into alternate routes she did not originally expect to take. She constantly emphasizes the freedoms we have when we only have to take care of ourselves.
Individuality was highly valued in the household. Larger societal taboos such as homosexuality, tattoos, and piercings had long ago been demolished. However, any legal policies were highly valued. It was the fear of us becoming trapped like the man in front of the gas station with no direction. Her hand and her voice were very loud when it came to my brother’s potentiality in gang relations. It was her hand and her voice that enforced involvement and self improvement. She has successfully raised four different individuals with the rules she has set up in our family’s culture. In my eyes, the values of individuality, self improvement and sufficiency were values put in place for the enjoyment of our lives and the purpose of being a positive member of the community.
Weddings will come from the perspectives and decisions made from the four of us will provide new ways to consider courting. What my Mother wants and what we do are to be understood and separated so that we make our own decisions and our own culture, as we become adults who toss ourselves in this crazy salad.
The question to this assignment poses a problem. In the conflict of my own culture there are, what could be described as, many enclaves. I have, found a question that could describe the norms in my family when it came to relationships
:How do we define our cultures inside of our mainstream culture and what values will we try to instill on our future generations due to our experiences with our immediate family?
In North Minneapolis black families were very different from each other. As a family, we transitioned from a culture that follows closely to a heterosexual familial that followed the “American Dream”. My father worked for Naval recruitment and missions as while we lived on base. Our Sundays were spent in dress clothes and scripture of Christian ways. It wasn’t until our familial transition to North Minneapolis, Minnesota where a new world would open up to new colors and flavors of people and perspectives.
Upton Ave. North provided a place that was not only LGBTQ, but was filled with a common sense of economic struggle. This sense provided an atmosphere of community as people shared home cooking, recipes, clothing and even shelter. These influences became more and more evident as my Mother’s and Father’s relationship deteriorated. I took on the opportunity to find safety and shelter where I lived. I had friends to go to and talk to about feelings. This became the first part of my own cultural enclave.
With a single Mother, roles in the house also changed. The four of us did most of the cleaning while my Mother worked through the social environment for work and friends. As we got older cooking and cleaning become chores. My biggest brother was in charge of watching and supervising all of our activities. In this new world my Mother gained the ability to express more of her identity that was hidden in a false life. For over 10 years I would be able to say that I had two Mothers while others acknowledge the common “Mom and Dad”. These relationships exposed us to new perspectives and ways of thinking. These relationships were also interracial. I draw many Hispanic and European influences in the way I have shaped my current identity. It was the combination of these influences and new responsibilities my Mother instilled upon us in order to teach us lessons for the preparation of the “real world”.
We were prepared to deal with the all sorts of possibilities of there being “different people”, of limitations of materialistic resources, and most importantly, sex. My Mother did not want us to make the mistake of creating too large of challenges for to early times. Her birth of my big brother at 16 took her into alternate routes she did not originally expect to take. She constantly emphasizes the freedoms we have when we only have to take care of ourselves.
Individuality was highly valued in the household. Larger societal taboos such as homosexuality, tattoos, and piercings had long ago been demolished. However, any legal policies were highly valued. It was the fear of us becoming trapped like the man in front of the gas station with no direction. Her hand and her voice were very loud when it came to my brother’s potentiality in gang relations. It was her hand and her voice that enforced involvement and self improvement. She has successfully raised four different individuals with the rules she has set up in our family’s culture. In my eyes, the values of individuality, self improvement and sufficiency were values put in place for the enjoyment of our lives and the purpose of being a positive member of the community.
Weddings will come from the perspectives and decisions made from the four of us will provide new ways to consider courting. What my Mother wants and what we do are to be understood and separated so that we make our own decisions and our own culture, as we become adults who toss ourselves in this crazy salad.
Breaking Bad #9
Breaking Bad #9
This show not only characterizes the life of a fast pace plan to achieve the American dream but the conflict that arises between a struggling father and family, his job, and his diagnosis of a life threatening cancer. It combines the characters context, perceptions, and issues. What happens when a high school chemistry teacher faces the growing bills of treatment and life expenses. His economic context reflects today's job losses and limitations. His pain smears across his face and body through his emotions and language.
The show depicts the darker side of what it means to be "American" in terms of the necessity of money. The economic contest of Walter White evokes desperation of Walter White. He must find a way to support his wife, and his physically and mentally disabled son along with their large and beautiful suburban home, good clothes, and their expensive family SUV. Walt's plan to fast crash might be argued to be fueled by some sort of bucket list. Ways Walt could have "honestly" gotten money for his expenses Walt chooses another route. With his high skills and his underpaid jobs Walt finds himself in the underground world of hard drugs. He becomes a successful Meth cooker and seller.
It is here that he kills and deceives other people in order to gain he material to support his family? A thought that could be described as selfless and courageous or was his goal really to gain the respect and dignity he's always wanted? Here would be described as selfish and evil? I say that Walt found a way to gain both selfish and selfless approaches to making his life seem well lived. He would finally be able treat those bullies, who teased his son, the way he always wanted to. He would swear at them, he would throw them, he would put on just as much hurt as they put on his son. Walt would support his family as best he could , as fast as he could, and the way he wanted before his final final.
Walt's American value of family plays a large role in his motives and actions. It is also Walt's individualistic interest that gets him through the actions he does to achieve his objectives. Walt's privileges and status set up in the show make his endeavors interesting. He is a white older male who teaches school children, drives a family SUV, has a family with good reputations that live in a suburban home. Walt seemed to luck out every time there was opportunity to escape. He was not obvious. He did not possess the characteristics of a stereotypical "drug dealer". But whenever there was an opportunity to get in trouble with people of a minority culture Walt was sure to find himself barely surviving.
It is heard of Americans being perceived as a land full of guns and cowboys. Because of shows like Breaking Bad it is possible for foreign audiences to name America as a land of individual wars with other peoples. They might find similarities in the conflict of different cultures. Breaking Bad is a show that foreign audiences can find similarities when it comes to the desperation of money, family, self fulfillment and death. These are just some of the things, I believe, that tie people together. What are specific influences that might change the perceptions developed from some of the elements that bring us together?
This show not only characterizes the life of a fast pace plan to achieve the American dream but the conflict that arises between a struggling father and family, his job, and his diagnosis of a life threatening cancer. It combines the characters context, perceptions, and issues. What happens when a high school chemistry teacher faces the growing bills of treatment and life expenses. His economic context reflects today's job losses and limitations. His pain smears across his face and body through his emotions and language.
The show depicts the darker side of what it means to be "American" in terms of the necessity of money. The economic contest of Walter White evokes desperation of Walter White. He must find a way to support his wife, and his physically and mentally disabled son along with their large and beautiful suburban home, good clothes, and their expensive family SUV. Walt's plan to fast crash might be argued to be fueled by some sort of bucket list. Ways Walt could have "honestly" gotten money for his expenses Walt chooses another route. With his high skills and his underpaid jobs Walt finds himself in the underground world of hard drugs. He becomes a successful Meth cooker and seller.
It is here that he kills and deceives other people in order to gain he material to support his family? A thought that could be described as selfless and courageous or was his goal really to gain the respect and dignity he's always wanted? Here would be described as selfish and evil? I say that Walt found a way to gain both selfish and selfless approaches to making his life seem well lived. He would finally be able treat those bullies, who teased his son, the way he always wanted to. He would swear at them, he would throw them, he would put on just as much hurt as they put on his son. Walt would support his family as best he could , as fast as he could, and the way he wanted before his final final.
Walt's American value of family plays a large role in his motives and actions. It is also Walt's individualistic interest that gets him through the actions he does to achieve his objectives. Walt's privileges and status set up in the show make his endeavors interesting. He is a white older male who teaches school children, drives a family SUV, has a family with good reputations that live in a suburban home. Walt seemed to luck out every time there was opportunity to escape. He was not obvious. He did not possess the characteristics of a stereotypical "drug dealer". But whenever there was an opportunity to get in trouble with people of a minority culture Walt was sure to find himself barely surviving.
It is heard of Americans being perceived as a land full of guns and cowboys. Because of shows like Breaking Bad it is possible for foreign audiences to name America as a land of individual wars with other peoples. They might find similarities in the conflict of different cultures. Breaking Bad is a show that foreign audiences can find similarities when it comes to the desperation of money, family, self fulfillment and death. These are just some of the things, I believe, that tie people together. What are specific influences that might change the perceptions developed from some of the elements that bring us together?
"Kyrgyzstan Seeks Russian Help to Quell Unrest"
“Kyrgyzstan Seeks Russian Help to Quell Unrest”
The quell that is happening in this international conflict includes two groups of different political followers and two groups of different ethnicities. It’s funny not to think of these two groups as a reflecting mirror that is happening between the political binary in the United States. But, before venturing into that perspective it is imperatively, important that we remember the context of cultural, historical and structural elements involved. We must also remember to take perceptions tentatively as to not allow engraved stereotypes to block ethical observations.
The quell happening between these two parties consist of those who support the rejected president, Kurmanbek S. Bakiyev against those who support the new president, Roza Otunbayeva. It is not safe to say that the quells in the United States and that of around the surrounding Russian parts, but it is safe to say that the quells are similar. There are only two sides. The difference that seems to rise betwixt the US and Russian cultures is the different elements combined in their ethnic differences.“ The Uzbek Foreign Ministry said in a statement that violence against Uzbeks was being carried out in a manner calculated to provoke ethnic conflict” (Michael Schwirtz, New York Times).
It has been reported that a total of “six people died…[and] nearly 1,000 people had been wounded, mostly by gunshots” (Yelena K.Bayalinova, New York Times) in these heated riots. A government attempt as a professional intermediary enacted permission upon police and military to take open fire amongst the protestors to prevent attacks on each other and governmental buildings. The ethics of these actions seem very ass backwards. In an attempt to cure conflict that had opportunity to be properly mediated, destructive approaches were instead considered in the resolution. My ability to think further on both sides of government and disputant runs dry. How are bombs and guns going to protect any civilians if there are two sides and everyone is fighting? How are the rippling explosions of military infantry going to protect the welfare of governmental buildings and innocence?
My attempt to use comparisons in order further understand the situation becomes de-motivated due to the realization that I have not the experience nor the cultural, historical, and structural elements of these, now, three groups in conflict. It is my western culture that leads me to find a conflict like this, as an opportunity to seek out socials by integrating our ideas in order to find a fair solution. It is my lens that is in strong support of democracy versus another kind of government. Religion is believed to run deep. So deep and so common, in fact, the possibility of people considering Russia’s current conflict as something natural since the hatred originally stemmed from ancestral history. In my own love for “Intercultural Communications in Contexts” by Judith Martin and Thomas Nakayama it would be in the voice of my perceptions that it would be wise for these groups to gain a mediator. This mediator can therefore take these two groups through the steps of entering a potentially more effective way of conflict. This process would be done completely different of my elemental conflicts (affection, interest, values, perceptions, and goals).
The quell that is happening in this international conflict includes two groups of different political followers and two groups of different ethnicities. It’s funny not to think of these two groups as a reflecting mirror that is happening between the political binary in the United States. But, before venturing into that perspective it is imperatively, important that we remember the context of cultural, historical and structural elements involved. We must also remember to take perceptions tentatively as to not allow engraved stereotypes to block ethical observations.
The quell happening between these two parties consist of those who support the rejected president, Kurmanbek S. Bakiyev against those who support the new president, Roza Otunbayeva. It is not safe to say that the quells in the United States and that of around the surrounding Russian parts, but it is safe to say that the quells are similar. There are only two sides. The difference that seems to rise betwixt the US and Russian cultures is the different elements combined in their ethnic differences.“ The Uzbek Foreign Ministry said in a statement that violence against Uzbeks was being carried out in a manner calculated to provoke ethnic conflict” (Michael Schwirtz, New York Times).
It has been reported that a total of “six people died…[and] nearly 1,000 people had been wounded, mostly by gunshots” (Yelena K.Bayalinova, New York Times) in these heated riots. A government attempt as a professional intermediary enacted permission upon police and military to take open fire amongst the protestors to prevent attacks on each other and governmental buildings. The ethics of these actions seem very ass backwards. In an attempt to cure conflict that had opportunity to be properly mediated, destructive approaches were instead considered in the resolution. My ability to think further on both sides of government and disputant runs dry. How are bombs and guns going to protect any civilians if there are two sides and everyone is fighting? How are the rippling explosions of military infantry going to protect the welfare of governmental buildings and innocence?
My attempt to use comparisons in order further understand the situation becomes de-motivated due to the realization that I have not the experience nor the cultural, historical, and structural elements of these, now, three groups in conflict. It is my western culture that leads me to find a conflict like this, as an opportunity to seek out socials by integrating our ideas in order to find a fair solution. It is my lens that is in strong support of democracy versus another kind of government. Religion is believed to run deep. So deep and so common, in fact, the possibility of people considering Russia’s current conflict as something natural since the hatred originally stemmed from ancestral history. In my own love for “Intercultural Communications in Contexts” by Judith Martin and Thomas Nakayama it would be in the voice of my perceptions that it would be wise for these groups to gain a mediator. This mediator can therefore take these two groups through the steps of entering a potentially more effective way of conflict. This process would be done completely different of my elemental conflicts (affection, interest, values, perceptions, and goals).
Thursday, June 10, 2010
The It
It's weird to actually believe that it has only been two years since I left my mother's house and went on to college. I remember leaving with urgency and incentive to finally be out my Mother's protective grasp. I see the world as a place filled with opportunities and challenges. As I stepped out that door , from Eagan, Minnesota to River Falls, Wisconsin and landed in an institution where I felt safe. It wasn't until after the first 4 months that I realized that there were no more free groceries. The security of clothing would become obsolete. The realization of these costs came in waves of worry and anxiety for accomplishment. I became uncertain of where my future would lie. I analyzed these experiences using the U theory in describing such a transition.
I looked up at an unfamiliar ceiling and unable to sleep. I had done my homework, I completed my work shift, but what have I forgotten, to eat. My stomach growled as I thought up images of my Mother’s and Brother’s home cooking. I knew what would happen when I gained independence. I knew my belly wouldn’t always be full or that I wouldn’t have the most comfortable shoe or that I wouldn’t always have money in my pocket because I had experienced this before. I just didn’t know what it would feel like to go through alone.
I began the first part of my transition on a shaky discourse of anxious anticipation. The next day would bring even more transitional experiences. River Falls is a small town. Coming from a graduating class of 530 people, burning smokestacks and brown people, River Falls seemed like a very foreign place. Tractors ran down the roads carrying barrels of hay as the 18 wheelers carried cages of chickens, horses, pigs and cows. I had never, knowingly met a farmer my age until the day I stepped on the concrete of the University of Wisconsin River Falls. Deep fear arose as I realized just who I was going to school with. Knowing better I tried my best to avoid segregating myself. I still looked for familiar faces. Seeing one face that would hopefully provide me with some sort of comfort, I approached the lonely black female and male standing at the edge of the UC stairs. They looked at me as if I had ants crawling out of my ears and burst out laughing at my presence. I continued to proceed and they walked away without a second glance.
In this experience, not only did I experience culture shock, but also experience open dejection from a context I thought would supply my embodied ethnocentrism. I knew better, but that hurt. I looked down and realized what I looked like, which reminded me who I was. I was wearing torn jeans with pinstriped floods, painted Chucks, and a black argyle sweater. My hair was swooshed heavily to the side as one earring complimented the composition on my right ear.
I should have known better. It goes back to the idea of how much we should actually care about how people think of us. As I grew that first year I learned this. I have continuously learning and flouring above certain pressures and prejudices that we experience when communicating with others. What can we do to help others resist these pressures and feel comfortable in new contexts that we share?
I looked up at an unfamiliar ceiling and unable to sleep. I had done my homework, I completed my work shift, but what have I forgotten, to eat. My stomach growled as I thought up images of my Mother’s and Brother’s home cooking. I knew what would happen when I gained independence. I knew my belly wouldn’t always be full or that I wouldn’t have the most comfortable shoe or that I wouldn’t always have money in my pocket because I had experienced this before. I just didn’t know what it would feel like to go through alone.
I began the first part of my transition on a shaky discourse of anxious anticipation. The next day would bring even more transitional experiences. River Falls is a small town. Coming from a graduating class of 530 people, burning smokestacks and brown people, River Falls seemed like a very foreign place. Tractors ran down the roads carrying barrels of hay as the 18 wheelers carried cages of chickens, horses, pigs and cows. I had never, knowingly met a farmer my age until the day I stepped on the concrete of the University of Wisconsin River Falls. Deep fear arose as I realized just who I was going to school with. Knowing better I tried my best to avoid segregating myself. I still looked for familiar faces. Seeing one face that would hopefully provide me with some sort of comfort, I approached the lonely black female and male standing at the edge of the UC stairs. They looked at me as if I had ants crawling out of my ears and burst out laughing at my presence. I continued to proceed and they walked away without a second glance.
In this experience, not only did I experience culture shock, but also experience open dejection from a context I thought would supply my embodied ethnocentrism. I knew better, but that hurt. I looked down and realized what I looked like, which reminded me who I was. I was wearing torn jeans with pinstriped floods, painted Chucks, and a black argyle sweater. My hair was swooshed heavily to the side as one earring complimented the composition on my right ear.
I should have known better. It goes back to the idea of how much we should actually care about how people think of us. As I grew that first year I learned this. I have continuously learning and flouring above certain pressures and prejudices that we experience when communicating with others. What can we do to help others resist these pressures and feel comfortable in new contexts that we share?
As the Extreme Weirdo
These societal norms are more powerful than we think. I take a dialectical approach of all
the science, interpretive, and contextual perspectives in order to be able to articulate
my experience as a n extreme weirdo. The context exists at a small social gathering at my
house. We are friends amongst friends and are very open to using each other for
non-predetermined social experiences. My culprit was my past roommate and current close
friend. Our relationship was, and luckily still is, strong enough to support such "odd"
behavior.
Our conversation begins at the ridiculousness of the movie, AVATAR. My eyes stare closely
into his. This, however, was normal. Constant and steady attention between us when communicating
was quite normal. This wasn't going to work. so I tried phase two of the experiment and saw an
instant response due to the shifted position of Lee's body. I kept my eyes away from his. He assumed
that I was under some sort of inebriation and showed some concern. I told him not to worry and
proceeded to move on. My conversation about the marketing strategy of useless consumer products
lagged on without any observation of Lee’s responses to my words. I couldn’t read his expressions
in order to really nail any common witty comment or funny joke. There was nothing to feed off of.
I felt as if I was suffering from sort of social disorder. I lasted about 5 minutes into the
conversation until I needed to inform Le of what exactly I was doing in order to finish our intense
conversation on why the possibility of humans being scientifically attracted to each other based on
atomic and molecular functions of our elemental make up, was indeed, very possible.
This conversation was only slightly productive so I needed to get my game going onto someone
a little less close. I needed more experience on exactly how much and inappropriate social actions
can effect a potential relationship. A relationship with a little less intimacy would do just fine.
I was going to have to go in, as the weird kid. I was going in as the black, female in a context of
an all white social gathering.With this small reflection in mind I still had two objectives left. I
still had to get a person into a corner and still wanted to weird someone out with my staring. I
found my other culprit. Lee’s best friends, little brother.
He just got out of high school and the
only word that could describe him is a word popularly used in high school, awkward. He didn’t have a
clue how to approach others outside his social group. We had talked before and he’d seen me around
campus but never in an intimate setting such as my house. I introduced myself, which was the first
large step back. I came at him with energy and determination to find out his name again, Bobby. I
spoke to him with incessant eye contact. This intimidated him. He turned and smiled to his buddy
sitting to the far left of him. I asked how his day was and his affiliation with my two Amery friends.
I nodded and said my hm’hmms . I allowed my interest in his conversation to open up opportunities that
would lead us to the side of the refrigerator. When he found where he was, he exemplified a facial
expression that represented some sort of aloofness. My objectives became complete I laughed and told
him this is going to have to be what he expected from such a social group. I gained the experience from
this situation that, not everyone reacts the same to certain behaviors and attitudes. Bu t, again this situation feeds the evident notion that everything is indeed, subjective. My experiment an idea like this to my audience and weirded everyone out as: The Extreme Weirdo. How can we share concept of subjectivity.
the science, interpretive, and contextual perspectives in order to be able to articulate
my experience as a n extreme weirdo. The context exists at a small social gathering at my
house. We are friends amongst friends and are very open to using each other for
non-predetermined social experiences. My culprit was my past roommate and current close
friend. Our relationship was, and luckily still is, strong enough to support such "odd"
behavior.
Our conversation begins at the ridiculousness of the movie, AVATAR. My eyes stare closely
into his. This, however, was normal. Constant and steady attention between us when communicating
was quite normal. This wasn't going to work. so I tried phase two of the experiment and saw an
instant response due to the shifted position of Lee's body. I kept my eyes away from his. He assumed
that I was under some sort of inebriation and showed some concern. I told him not to worry and
proceeded to move on. My conversation about the marketing strategy of useless consumer products
lagged on without any observation of Lee’s responses to my words. I couldn’t read his expressions
in order to really nail any common witty comment or funny joke. There was nothing to feed off of.
I felt as if I was suffering from sort of social disorder. I lasted about 5 minutes into the
conversation until I needed to inform Le of what exactly I was doing in order to finish our intense
conversation on why the possibility of humans being scientifically attracted to each other based on
atomic and molecular functions of our elemental make up, was indeed, very possible.
This conversation was only slightly productive so I needed to get my game going onto someone
a little less close. I needed more experience on exactly how much and inappropriate social actions
can effect a potential relationship. A relationship with a little less intimacy would do just fine.
I was going to have to go in, as the weird kid. I was going in as the black, female in a context of
an all white social gathering.With this small reflection in mind I still had two objectives left. I
still had to get a person into a corner and still wanted to weird someone out with my staring. I
found my other culprit. Lee’s best friends, little brother.
He just got out of high school and the
only word that could describe him is a word popularly used in high school, awkward. He didn’t have a
clue how to approach others outside his social group. We had talked before and he’d seen me around
campus but never in an intimate setting such as my house. I introduced myself, which was the first
large step back. I came at him with energy and determination to find out his name again, Bobby. I
spoke to him with incessant eye contact. This intimidated him. He turned and smiled to his buddy
sitting to the far left of him. I asked how his day was and his affiliation with my two Amery friends.
I nodded and said my hm’hmms . I allowed my interest in his conversation to open up opportunities that
would lead us to the side of the refrigerator. When he found where he was, he exemplified a facial
expression that represented some sort of aloofness. My objectives became complete I laughed and told
him this is going to have to be what he expected from such a social group. I gained the experience from
this situation that, not everyone reacts the same to certain behaviors and attitudes. Bu t, again this situation feeds the evident notion that everything is indeed, subjective. My experiment an idea like this to my audience and weirded everyone out as: The Extreme Weirdo. How can we share concept of subjectivity.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Do You Speak American?
Do You Speak American? Sea to Shining Sea
Alrighty folks, I’ve had my dukes up for this one. The objective was to simply identify the origin of each accent. I went into the assignment thinking I had it in a bag. As cocky as I was, I dropped my dukes and immediately took the left hook. I even failed the northern origin of my accents, my origin. As I sit stuffed in the time out corner, I thought. How could I have possibly gotten so many of these accents wrong? Was it my terrible ability to carefully listen? Could it have been some sort of sociological message embedded in the activity? After pondering I realized, it was simply experience in travel.
I know there is media, but have a created a habit of avoiding media for any sort of cultural education because of my cynicism. Without my own experiences of going to these places and experiencing these English dialects myself, they wouldn’t be known, or understood. The origin of the West, North, Midland, Southern, New England, and Mid-Atlantic accents originate. I could not correctly place the speakers. However, this still did not explain why I failed the speakers from my own northern region.
When listening to the other speakers I realized that I ethnocentrically placed everyone in my own region. Perhaps it was some sort of subconscious pride, some disgusting amount of confidence in the diversity of my area. Or perhaps it was my own personal experience of people rarely being able to decipher where I’m from unless I’m in a dramatically “different” region myself.
Do You Speak American? What Lies Ahead?
English is a continually changing language indeed. After being sucker punched by what could ethnocentrically be described as gibberish, I was blown away by how differently people speak from others. I insisted that the woman describing a dress requirement was saying “sacks” and not “socks”. I was embarrassed at my ability to apply obvious things in certain situations.
But here, there is a simple problem: I didn’t have a damn clue on what this person was saying! Do I have a problem? Is there a way that I could somehow be able to understand everyone in the United States? Are my listening skills terrible? I could only feel a raging passion to apply what I’ve recently learned to the real world. A fellow student, Alicia, asked me if my confidence had gotten any better after taking the quiz. Well, let me tell you, Alicia, that there has been an ultimate K.O., but a passion that has ignited more passion to get my young spirit out into the world.
Alrighty folks, I’ve had my dukes up for this one. The objective was to simply identify the origin of each accent. I went into the assignment thinking I had it in a bag. As cocky as I was, I dropped my dukes and immediately took the left hook. I even failed the northern origin of my accents, my origin. As I sit stuffed in the time out corner, I thought. How could I have possibly gotten so many of these accents wrong? Was it my terrible ability to carefully listen? Could it have been some sort of sociological message embedded in the activity? After pondering I realized, it was simply experience in travel.
I know there is media, but have a created a habit of avoiding media for any sort of cultural education because of my cynicism. Without my own experiences of going to these places and experiencing these English dialects myself, they wouldn’t be known, or understood. The origin of the West, North, Midland, Southern, New England, and Mid-Atlantic accents originate. I could not correctly place the speakers. However, this still did not explain why I failed the speakers from my own northern region.
When listening to the other speakers I realized that I ethnocentrically placed everyone in my own region. Perhaps it was some sort of subconscious pride, some disgusting amount of confidence in the diversity of my area. Or perhaps it was my own personal experience of people rarely being able to decipher where I’m from unless I’m in a dramatically “different” region myself.
Do You Speak American? What Lies Ahead?
English is a continually changing language indeed. After being sucker punched by what could ethnocentrically be described as gibberish, I was blown away by how differently people speak from others. I insisted that the woman describing a dress requirement was saying “sacks” and not “socks”. I was embarrassed at my ability to apply obvious things in certain situations.
But here, there is a simple problem: I didn’t have a damn clue on what this person was saying! Do I have a problem? Is there a way that I could somehow be able to understand everyone in the United States? Are my listening skills terrible? I could only feel a raging passion to apply what I’ve recently learned to the real world. A fellow student, Alicia, asked me if my confidence had gotten any better after taking the quiz. Well, let me tell you, Alicia, that there has been an ultimate K.O., but a passion that has ignited more passion to get my young spirit out into the world.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Far and away from Far and Away
Once upon a time in a land far, far away: Far and Away, a romance movie that stars Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. . . I saw these names and immediately stopped munching on my sour cream potato chips. This was a turn off. I could tell immediately what was in store for me as a hunched in disappointment. I could foretell that this American made movie would be some sort of attempt to provide some sort of crappy understanding of oppression in the beginning of America’s greatness by showing the hardships experienced by some sappy romantic couple. Geez my cynicism is disgusting.
Ron Howard did, however, show that oppression existed even in the Irish communities. The relationship between the Irish peasants such as the Donnellys and the privileged land owner, Stephen Chase played by Thomas Gibson, represented the power conflict that existed between the two classes. However, it was hard for me to look deeper to relate to the power struggle because the characters in the film are all white! This even got a little confusing. I began to lose confidence once again.
It was after the introduction of Shannon Christie that regained a little of my attention. Yes she was hot, but there was more. It was how she packed and saved her future lover from a high class gun fight, her ability to grow and prosper in a new environment in her determination for survival and to attain her dream of getting some of that Oklahoma territory. Intrigued, I gained more hope for a great movie experience.
It was when a bout of masculinity was displayed by the great, one and only, Tom Cruise that regained my demise. Though it was a Hollywood type movie, I couldn’t help but feel that great masculinity was glorified. The rippling of Tom Cruises muscles gleaming as his face jeered with power only left me with that same old feeling. With my own consumerist cynicism I couldn’t help but view this scene as a boost for Cruise’s star power. This, I thought, was a distraction. Howard, however, still did a decent job of showing how the oppressed oppress each other in order to climb the ladder. He also shows this in the beginning when Mr. McGuire fools a naïve Shannon by taking her prized spoons for his own prosperity and then in return, is shot to death by some of the desperate oppressed. Afterward, more oppressed people pick off almost all of Shannon’s valuables as she is turned upside down in the swarm of confusion.
The film, over all, did a mediocre job of expressing the hardships of Irish immigrants coming to America. Interactions changed only because of an identifiable community. Oppression still existed in the homeland but changed and formed when it came to the disparity of being placed in a new environment. But, uh-oh, that cynicism kicks back into gear when there is no noted diversity of oppressed peoples, when there is no memberable mention of how that dreamland was attained for the United States to get for free. I knew there was classism, but I was still confused on how there was racism if the people looked the same. Was it all about classism? The way they spoke? The stereotype of red hair?
Ron Howard did, however, show that oppression existed even in the Irish communities. The relationship between the Irish peasants such as the Donnellys and the privileged land owner, Stephen Chase played by Thomas Gibson, represented the power conflict that existed between the two classes. However, it was hard for me to look deeper to relate to the power struggle because the characters in the film are all white! This even got a little confusing. I began to lose confidence once again.
It was after the introduction of Shannon Christie that regained a little of my attention. Yes she was hot, but there was more. It was how she packed and saved her future lover from a high class gun fight, her ability to grow and prosper in a new environment in her determination for survival and to attain her dream of getting some of that Oklahoma territory. Intrigued, I gained more hope for a great movie experience.
It was when a bout of masculinity was displayed by the great, one and only, Tom Cruise that regained my demise. Though it was a Hollywood type movie, I couldn’t help but feel that great masculinity was glorified. The rippling of Tom Cruises muscles gleaming as his face jeered with power only left me with that same old feeling. With my own consumerist cynicism I couldn’t help but view this scene as a boost for Cruise’s star power. This, I thought, was a distraction. Howard, however, still did a decent job of showing how the oppressed oppress each other in order to climb the ladder. He also shows this in the beginning when Mr. McGuire fools a naïve Shannon by taking her prized spoons for his own prosperity and then in return, is shot to death by some of the desperate oppressed. Afterward, more oppressed people pick off almost all of Shannon’s valuables as she is turned upside down in the swarm of confusion.
The film, over all, did a mediocre job of expressing the hardships of Irish immigrants coming to America. Interactions changed only because of an identifiable community. Oppression still existed in the homeland but changed and formed when it came to the disparity of being placed in a new environment. But, uh-oh, that cynicism kicks back into gear when there is no noted diversity of oppressed peoples, when there is no memberable mention of how that dreamland was attained for the United States to get for free. I knew there was classism, but I was still confused on how there was racism if the people looked the same. Was it all about classism? The way they spoke? The stereotype of red hair?
The Power of Ascribed Identities and Avowed Identities
The Power of Ascribed Identities and Avowed Identities
Ascribed Identity
Who was responsible?
Resistance
African-American/Black/Negro/Negroid
Society- Government-Peer
Ascribe other identities
Emphasize avowed identities
Student
Society- Government-University of Wisc River Falls-Peer
Ascribe other identities over time
Woman- Female
Society- Government-Peer
Ascribe other identities over gender binary
Emphasize avowed identities
Queer
Society-Peer
also Avowed identity
Ascribe other identities
Emphasize avowed identities
American Citizen- Wisconsin Citizen
Society- Government-Peer
Ascribe other identities through travel
Emphasize avowed identities
Atheist
Society-Peer
Ascribe other identities
Emphasized Avowed identities- communicating beliefs not related to Atheism
In the process of becoming who I am today, I have found that I use also consider ascribed identities in the process of reflecting and becoming who I am today. Though I don’t agree with the societal expectations that come with the identities, I have both subconsciously and consciously considered these identities. In the beginning my anger led me to believe that I was invincible from being labeled from anyone. I later learned that I not only could avoid being labeled by my peers and even avoid being labeled by myself.
There I was again folks, wallowing in my own identity crisis. The ascribed identities of being an African-American, a Student, Woman- Female, Queer, An American Citizen of Wisconsin, and ascribed to what the majority would consider “Atheist”. The folks giving me these roles exist fully in the context of our society. From then on they can be labeled as institutions, Government and University or grouped individuals, Peers.
The resistance to these given labels gives me a chance to strategize how I communicate with others and how I can enjoy my interactions by how I emphasize my own avowed identities. Ascribed Identities from governments and peers, correct or not, are enacted for the purpose of categorization and generalization. These ascribed identities are appearance based and can be both harmful and beneficial. Understanding the power of these labels, depending upon the individual, can allow for some kind of fun. Because these identities are appearance based I simply resist some of these identities by not appearing in public, in society, on normal terms.
I create my avowed identity based on my passions, my childhood, my heritages, the things I love in life and the entities I want to be. I express these avowed identities as best I can in the way I dress, the way I walk, and most importantly, the way I communicate with others. I have recently attributed my privilege to do this because, on societal terms, I am considered to be good looking. Mind the reader, it has greatly disgusted me to type those last 16 words. Appearance is what’s on the surface. A fact and a way of life many people seem to be steering away from. But who are they to blame? When one of the biggest powers in our society (e.g. Government) focuses on such a shallow perspective of who people are based on their appearance, why shouldn’t we expect our people to do the same.
This same importance is evident in the most oppressed communities that exist in this society. When we see children killing each other over FUBU jackets or Nike Air Jordans that’s when we should know that we have to look deeper. When people can’t get a job because the manager might risk “hiring an illegal” that’s when we know that we have to look deeper. When two loving people can’t adopt a child because they ways are seen different from the way the majority does it, that’s when we know that we have to look deeper. Even on a global level! When we see the mass genocide of other cultures and their way of life because some hire up would like to eat his ice cream with a golden spoon, that’s when we know!
People shan't be turned away because of different identities they cannot control. I type this with utmost passion and the utmost anger at our society. The government may have a lot of power, but what can we do that’s in our power to spread this message so that we can stop killing ourselves over such bullshit.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Chapter 4 "Quiz" Reflection
When first opening up the quiz, I was prepared to answer questions that pertained to chapter 3's reading assignment. I was blown to bits when I realized that it was a drill on what I knew about the history of different historical figures from different races. I felt stupid. As an advocate for "non-butterfly" diversity action, I felt as though I had failed. I had gone out of my way to crunch jargon of sociological concepts and theories without carrying one of the core necessities of understanding what it means to be socially aware. I had skimped on the history, the history of my foreign humanity.
My boyfriend nervously watched as I swore under my breath. I was embarrassed. This assignment has taught me to look at the surface as well as the depth. I began a full blown spree of researching who's who. I first got a list for the white men, piece of cake. I went onto the white women, which posed some sort of challenge. The black men were known from my bringing up as a black female, easy as pie! It wasn't until I ended my spree with the black females did all the rest of the races become difficult. Not only were my panicky research abilities lacking but the internet was full of irrelevant information of the cultures.
Not only have my googling skills taken a shot, but so had my dignity. After this experience I thought a little bit. My knowledge of other people was lacking because I simply hadn't had any experiences that had exposed me to such knowledge. Coming from a more individualistic society, the history stuff taught to the "average" students primarily consisted of white men, successful battles, and the beginning of America's greatness.
Still, this is no excuse. I have a duty to be an ethical citizen. I now have the privilege and the access to a world of information and resources. This assignment worked as reminder of how much I actually know and need to find out. A new flame for history has indeed been discovered.
My boyfriend nervously watched as I swore under my breath. I was embarrassed. This assignment has taught me to look at the surface as well as the depth. I began a full blown spree of researching who's who. I first got a list for the white men, piece of cake. I went onto the white women, which posed some sort of challenge. The black men were known from my bringing up as a black female, easy as pie! It wasn't until I ended my spree with the black females did all the rest of the races become difficult. Not only were my panicky research abilities lacking but the internet was full of irrelevant information of the cultures.
Not only have my googling skills taken a shot, but so had my dignity. After this experience I thought a little bit. My knowledge of other people was lacking because I simply hadn't had any experiences that had exposed me to such knowledge. Coming from a more individualistic society, the history stuff taught to the "average" students primarily consisted of white men, successful battles, and the beginning of America's greatness.
Still, this is no excuse. I have a duty to be an ethical citizen. I now have the privilege and the access to a world of information and resources. This assignment worked as reminder of how much I actually know and need to find out. A new flame for history has indeed been discovered.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
What's a "Myself"?
My ethnicity predominantly consists of African, European, and Native American descents. It is funny to see blacks grouped together as one race when in fact, blacks are comprised of many ethnicities. The ridiculousness of categorizing people by their skin color proves to be anti-productive in assuming ones ethnicity. It seems to prove the race system being used as more of a class system. My own biological information has collected from across the globe so for someone to assume that I’m all African based on the color of my skin concludes stupidity onto the spectator. My appearance affects who I am.
When described in more detailed political terms, I only know of my European and Native American descents. My European ancestry comes from Ireland and France. My Native American ancestry comes from the Choctaw and Cherokee natives. But because of certain laws and policies put in place, I am not legally ,therefore not socially, part of any of those groups. The historical segregation of these groups has affected my linguistics or my communication. The way I Communicate makes up who I am.
These laws and policies follow both the benefits and costs of the class system. The amount of access that one has to certain privileges depends on their race with little to no relevance of one’s ethnic background. My privilege of going to college will affect my occupation which will then affect how much money I have which will then lead to more opportunity to where I move in the class system. Up to my almost 20 years of life experience, I feel I can confidently say, that race plays more of role of who you are in society than ethnicity. It is race not ethnicity that has influenced me in becoming the person I am. It is race because, like a board game, it is the card that keeps you in the game. Whether you like it or not, you play or you die.
It is my black race that I share with my black parents that has brought me to experiences and opportunities that have developed who I am. Everything from florescent wind suits of the 90s to 24 hour videogame stints with my 3 brothers. “Myself” comes from daydreaming on cold playground swing sets, watching my mother struggle over bills, losing a dog, talks about sex, parades, experiencing divorce, cold cream of wheat, the list is endless folks. I always promised myself that everything I absolutely loved in my experiences and opportunities, I would become. From my Grandmother’s warm kisses to my elementary wrestling matches at recess with the boys. These experiences exist in social variables, such as: race, ability, class, gender, religion, media environment, and institution.
These social variables effect communication, occupation, and appearance; all of what make the essentials for a person’s class. But there’s a catch, only a small portion of these variables may be controlled, race, ability, and gender may not be changed. The less you can assimilate the more difficulty for achievement. Who knows, maybe you’ll be the next billionaire.
With these experiences, opportunities, and variables has given me my play on the board. The board consists of figures that dispense, receive, and carryout information to other bodies, all for the movement of energy fueled by desires and survival. When someone encounters me they assume I’m black, which means nothing but African. No. Some get confused because “The way I talk is so proper.” Or they think I have some sort of accent. In today’s society the importance of ethnicity is as valuable as a fire place knick-knack. It won’t be until the importance of self relativism when all human effectively strategize to let our people truly prosper.
When described in more detailed political terms, I only know of my European and Native American descents. My European ancestry comes from Ireland and France. My Native American ancestry comes from the Choctaw and Cherokee natives. But because of certain laws and policies put in place, I am not legally ,therefore not socially, part of any of those groups. The historical segregation of these groups has affected my linguistics or my communication. The way I Communicate makes up who I am.
These laws and policies follow both the benefits and costs of the class system. The amount of access that one has to certain privileges depends on their race with little to no relevance of one’s ethnic background. My privilege of going to college will affect my occupation which will then affect how much money I have which will then lead to more opportunity to where I move in the class system. Up to my almost 20 years of life experience, I feel I can confidently say, that race plays more of role of who you are in society than ethnicity. It is race not ethnicity that has influenced me in becoming the person I am. It is race because, like a board game, it is the card that keeps you in the game. Whether you like it or not, you play or you die.
It is my black race that I share with my black parents that has brought me to experiences and opportunities that have developed who I am. Everything from florescent wind suits of the 90s to 24 hour videogame stints with my 3 brothers. “Myself” comes from daydreaming on cold playground swing sets, watching my mother struggle over bills, losing a dog, talks about sex, parades, experiencing divorce, cold cream of wheat, the list is endless folks. I always promised myself that everything I absolutely loved in my experiences and opportunities, I would become. From my Grandmother’s warm kisses to my elementary wrestling matches at recess with the boys. These experiences exist in social variables, such as: race, ability, class, gender, religion, media environment, and institution.
These social variables effect communication, occupation, and appearance; all of what make the essentials for a person’s class. But there’s a catch, only a small portion of these variables may be controlled, race, ability, and gender may not be changed. The less you can assimilate the more difficulty for achievement. Who knows, maybe you’ll be the next billionaire.
With these experiences, opportunities, and variables has given me my play on the board. The board consists of figures that dispense, receive, and carryout information to other bodies, all for the movement of energy fueled by desires and survival. When someone encounters me they assume I’m black, which means nothing but African. No. Some get confused because “The way I talk is so proper.” Or they think I have some sort of accent. In today’s society the importance of ethnicity is as valuable as a fire place knick-knack. It won’t be until the importance of self relativism when all human effectively strategize to let our people truly prosper.
Holiday Graduation
It is to my understanding that this assignment is meant to be created from a situation that is filled with context where we, UWRF students, have little to no experience in communicating. Then we are to list social rules that can be described in the situation. I have chosen a place that I have been before because my current access to a “unique” situation is quite limited in River Falls, WI. As a minority, I believe that this situation is still appropriate because it is an experience that allowed me to be the predominant culture and analyze both myself and the other culture in that position.
Even though I've always enjoyed watching human communication, whether it was at the Mall of America or in my own mother's kitchen, it is funny to know that others have observed similar situations. They are the social linguists, the anthropologists, communication specialists, etc. In their power they have been able to gift me with actual words and concepts. The ability to articulate these interactions, however, brings to me the ethical concern of over simplifying the human condition. I realized this ethical dilemma by observing human communication through the lens of social science. I began the journey of what would be described in the context I was in, as a creeper, to observe human interactions at my little brother's graduation party.
I looked for signs of anxiety and uncertainty according to the anxiety uncertainty management theory of William Gudykunst. The theory is based on strategies people use when they encounter a situation that brings up uncertainty and therefore anxiety. When you’re in an environment that exposes your “minority” culture fully to the initial predominant culture, you best believe that there will be anxiety.The environment consisted of a boisterous family and close friends. The context is located in a small, cramped, suburban townhome. There is a dance floor that is directly in the middle of the living room. Generalized, there are two primary cultures: the “Afrocentric” culture and what could be described as the “Eurocentric” culture. The rules that exist in these cultures are both different, and therefore some interesting observations can be made.
The first group, the group that could be described as the “Eurocentric” culture, shared close distance zones with their peers. The bodies faced toward each other and away from the context that would bring them uncertainty, and therefore anxiety. The Eagan High School students formed a tight circle around the living room dance floor where the “Afrocentrics” predominantly resided in the context. For this day, in America, we were the context and someone else didn’t know what to do.
It was humorous to watch my auntie and my big brother’s stepmother try to involve all the partygoers and watch the non-participatory audience walk away shyly. There were rules in both cultures in the context of the party. The “Afrocentric” culture required participants to actively participate in actions that could be described as overly-enthusiastic or were perhaps too involved. This would include, close distance zones with others, loud talking and laughing, and affectionate touches. The “Eurocentric” culture had distance zones with more space, softer talking, and more conservative body movements.
I felt bilingual in the "unique" situation of outgoing, overly enthusiastic, blacks in a room with awkward, white, suburban, teens because of my close experience in both worlds. I felt a sense of ethnocentrism when I came across the lost audience. They don’t know how to have fun, I thought. I stopped immediately and realized what I had done. I had just stumbled over what could be the beginning of my own irrational hate. To assume that my cultures way of doing things was better over another’s is part that beginning. I had forgotten where I came from. I forgotten my own “Eurocentric” characteristics of going to college, speaking “articulately”, and the unique qualities that my person possesses. I embraced my “afrocentricity” and used it for my own glorification. I began to feel biracial in the situation and immediately began to help my brother’s overly affectionate stepmother and crazy auntie unite the two groups. I wanted to bring people together. It is not wrong to have pride in your culture, but it is wrong to assume that one’s culture is superior to another’s.
Question for assgn #2: Could it be true that the conversational constraints theory could be described as being more appropriate for large scale cultural differences where the anxiety uncertainty Management theory would be more for analyzing enclaves that existed for more than 200 years (ex: black and whites)?
Even though I've always enjoyed watching human communication, whether it was at the Mall of America or in my own mother's kitchen, it is funny to know that others have observed similar situations. They are the social linguists, the anthropologists, communication specialists, etc. In their power they have been able to gift me with actual words and concepts. The ability to articulate these interactions, however, brings to me the ethical concern of over simplifying the human condition. I realized this ethical dilemma by observing human communication through the lens of social science. I began the journey of what would be described in the context I was in, as a creeper, to observe human interactions at my little brother's graduation party.
I looked for signs of anxiety and uncertainty according to the anxiety uncertainty management theory of William Gudykunst. The theory is based on strategies people use when they encounter a situation that brings up uncertainty and therefore anxiety. When you’re in an environment that exposes your “minority” culture fully to the initial predominant culture, you best believe that there will be anxiety.The environment consisted of a boisterous family and close friends. The context is located in a small, cramped, suburban townhome. There is a dance floor that is directly in the middle of the living room. Generalized, there are two primary cultures: the “Afrocentric” culture and what could be described as the “Eurocentric” culture. The rules that exist in these cultures are both different, and therefore some interesting observations can be made.
The first group, the group that could be described as the “Eurocentric” culture, shared close distance zones with their peers. The bodies faced toward each other and away from the context that would bring them uncertainty, and therefore anxiety. The Eagan High School students formed a tight circle around the living room dance floor where the “Afrocentrics” predominantly resided in the context. For this day, in America, we were the context and someone else didn’t know what to do.
It was humorous to watch my auntie and my big brother’s stepmother try to involve all the partygoers and watch the non-participatory audience walk away shyly. There were rules in both cultures in the context of the party. The “Afrocentric” culture required participants to actively participate in actions that could be described as overly-enthusiastic or were perhaps too involved. This would include, close distance zones with others, loud talking and laughing, and affectionate touches. The “Eurocentric” culture had distance zones with more space, softer talking, and more conservative body movements.
I felt bilingual in the "unique" situation of outgoing, overly enthusiastic, blacks in a room with awkward, white, suburban, teens because of my close experience in both worlds. I felt a sense of ethnocentrism when I came across the lost audience. They don’t know how to have fun, I thought. I stopped immediately and realized what I had done. I had just stumbled over what could be the beginning of my own irrational hate. To assume that my cultures way of doing things was better over another’s is part that beginning. I had forgotten where I came from. I forgotten my own “Eurocentric” characteristics of going to college, speaking “articulately”, and the unique qualities that my person possesses. I embraced my “afrocentricity” and used it for my own glorification. I began to feel biracial in the situation and immediately began to help my brother’s overly affectionate stepmother and crazy auntie unite the two groups. I wanted to bring people together. It is not wrong to have pride in your culture, but it is wrong to assume that one’s culture is superior to another’s.
Question for assgn #2: Could it be true that the conversational constraints theory could be described as being more appropriate for large scale cultural differences where the anxiety uncertainty Management theory would be more for analyzing enclaves that existed for more than 200 years (ex: black and whites)?
Monday, May 24, 2010
Lauren Evans: Two Truths One Lie
Hello Everyone!
My name is Lauren Evans. I am a marketing communications major here at UW-River Falls. I am living in River Falls for the summer and looking for a chance to keep my mind stimulated. Here is a contribution to today's game "Two Truths and a Lie": I was born in Minneapolis, I grew up with a dog in my house and I graduated from Eagan Highschool. Haha Enjoy!
My name is Lauren Evans. I am a marketing communications major here at UW-River Falls. I am living in River Falls for the summer and looking for a chance to keep my mind stimulated. Here is a contribution to today's game "Two Truths and a Lie": I was born in Minneapolis, I grew up with a dog in my house and I graduated from Eagan Highschool. Haha Enjoy!
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