Weekly quotes - and IG Page for anyone instrested!

“There is a particular set of rules that govern social relations in each of those spaces.”

Social norms, those who don’t follow are weird or negatively labelled, however, people who step out of line and out of the norms are usually the ones who change things. The Suffragettes and civil rights activists changed fundamental parts of society by dismissing those rules. Of course, these groups fel the full wrath of the public attacking them for their rebellious acts. These don’t need to be protest pieces though; in Japan, subcultures of fashion such as Lolita, reject the social norm of women aspiring only to marriage as they grow older. The fashion isn’t harmful, or even visually offensive, but echoes childlike tones to reject the expectations placed on adult women. The chapter talks about a prep school, rich boys learning how to be “rich boys.” Many of the UK Prime Ministers all attended the same schools; Eton, Harrow, and Westminster. There’s a clear connection to societal schooling and people in positions of authority. If you’re like ‘them’, you’re in the club.  

“Once-authentic cultural acts have been subsumed by capitalism.”

Things cultures used to do, isolated, have naturally changed and been altered with the development of society. Examples of this would be culturally significant tattoos being done on the body instead of with early body modification instruments because it makes the process less painful, it’s easier, and it’s a beneficial alteration to keep the practice alive. However, capitalism alienates us from our culture by manufacturing desires that take our attention away from our heritage and culture. Beauty ideals is a good example of this; some cultures and typically religions uphold certain beauty ideals and items that come with that. A bindi, for example, is a piece of Indian culture through Hindus and Jains. However, capitalism is closely linked with fashion in how it churns out new trends, the fashion world projecting new “must-haves” for us to buy then disregard for the next month’s ideals. Throughout modern history, the bindi has been subject to the removal of any significance because of the fashion machine; Gwen Steffani sported one often throughout the 90s, along with various other singers throughout the 00’s, and even now it’s seen in festival culture like Coachella. A similar thing has happened to the Native American headdresses, typically reserved for leaders of Nations.

For my project, I've started an Instagram Page for women that have influenced Criminology in different ways, beyond just writing legislation. If you're curious, feel free to have a look! I already have two posts up.

Mapping Black Europe (Edit)

Black Magic at the White house 
Jeannette Ehlers

     One of the pieces of work I viewed was Black Magic at the White House by Jeannette Ehlers
In this piece of art work the slideshow shows slave ghosts dancing or lighting candles or inscriptions in a White House Colonial Mansion.  But more on this piece after we look a little into more of the artists work.
      I noticed Jeannette Ehlers the artist appears to be of African ancestry and a lot of her work appears to be egocentric and centered around that. Here webpage where you can view her work is at Jeannette Ehlers Homepage.  In addition to her work in the gallery I viewed her online work.  One that I found very interesting was How Do You Talk About Threehundred Years in Four Minutes | 2014 | Excerpt 02:35 min . located at http://www.jeannetteehlers.dk/m4v/video22.htm which is very interesting.  In it is an African man in a large backed wicker chair which is turning and turning during the whole time. It says "There is an old man, across the Mississippi, there's an old man.  And the dead don't rest to Judgement day.  Don't look up and don't look down, the ghost that makes the rich man frown.   Then give me bow your heads, and look at them ropes until your dead."  The words are as is and some were left out just to narrow the discussion.  I definitely would recommend that everyone check out her site and this video.
      The artist Jeannette Ehlers main theme is African themes focusing on disadvantage over the centuries, discrimination, and how power affects Africans.

How do you Talk about 300 years in 4 minutes?
http://www.jeannetteehlers.dk/m4v/video22.htm



 The artist Jeannette Ehlers main theme is African themes focusing on disadvantage over the centuries, discrimination, and how power affects Africans.  The only piece I noticed that didn't seem to directly point to an African theme was "Waves | 2009 | 08:04 min (loop)

 I feel that the Black Magic at the White House demonstrates that African labor and hard sweat contributed to the power in the White House and contributed to even that power today, and in most cases represents a clear power division between whites and blacks in the United States.  We can relate this piece to "300 years in four minutes" whereas it shows how oppression takes its part against Africans in countries such as America.  On the outside too, everything looks great, fancy, elegant, but on the inside you see the labors the African women are putting into the mansion day in and day night, even their ghosts remain there in the Colonial mansion dancing and cleaning, dancing and cleaning.  Note how these works by Ehler demonstrate both racial inequality, how spaces that are predominately non-African are favored, and how Power plays out.  As mentioned prior, the artist emphasizes the African culture in different countries, and how space, location, nationality, imperialism and race play a part to disadvantage Africans.  

      I think that in the book "Seeing Power" we can bring some comparisons to power and how it plays a part.  The book references Katrina.  “After Visiting Katrina-ravaged New Orleans in 2006, the artist and activist Paul Chan was struck by the thought that the decimated landscapes and looming oak trees in New Orleans reminded him, more than anything, of the minimalist set called for in Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot.  It was, perhaps, an odd association, but Chan saw what he saw:  a theater of absurdity in the weed-grown streets.  Beckett’s play begins with the most-simple stage instructions, a country road, a tree, evening.  It is both everywhere and nowhere placeless, without contest and almost outside of time.  The flooded remnants of post-Katrina neighborhoods seemed to fit that description in all its most haunting implications.  Where once houses stood there were only stone front steps that led to homes that weren’t their foundations disappearing amongst the abundant tropical flora, the desiccated trash from a flood long passed still hauled into piles along the roads.”    Here I feel like you can relate all the pieces of art to the note by the author.  Katrina was widely ignored and the devastation and destruction was ignored.  Louisiana and these areas were mostly African American and they were left unfixed and not helped.  The Power was in majority white neighborhoods and thus these neighborhoods, even though for tourism, were widely ignored for a great time (Thompson, "Seeing Power" 107).  

Nigra Videri

Avantia Danburg

The next piece I did was “Nigra Videri”  by Avantia Danburg & Ailsa Anastatia.  It is an animation.  It depicts an African woman who in the beginning is walking solely alone down a subway escalator.  She soon passes a sign that says “this months word is faith” and she enters on through a door with a handicap sign on it.  However it is not a handicap door, and the black woman is not handicapped in a physical sense, but this symbolizes that she is handicapped in life, by society.  The subway representing a public place.  “I’m there but I’m not I’m there when I want too.”  The character says this as she is looking out the window onto the streets.  Then she begins to walk down the center of the street on a walking median.  To Sidewalk which appears to be a run down area.  She then says, “I share my color, at my time.”  She begins to touch the building and it appears as if it burns.  Like her color actually destroys the value of the house and section she is in.  Portraying the sense of how the minority is below those in power.  I feel like the next scene depicts like white and black roots and the black roots and thicker but the white roots are all over and then it continues into the clock throughout time but forever stuck at 7 o'clock which may represent the hour of God or Faith.  

Watch The Video here

Forever stuck in time at 7, does it represent the hour of God or Faith?

The next scene depicts what appears to be a raven and the character gets on her back and flies over a stadium.  I am assuming maybe the stadium is a Katrina Stadium and then it says, "When I want them to see me" and the character is on a stage with a microphone and it appears she is about to give a speech to the public.  The rest continues with this theme.  They show how power plays an affect.  Imperalism, race and identity all play a role in this piece of art.  

When I want them to see me (from Nigra Videri)

The book even says an ex black panther met to help to try to recognize and rethink New Orleans.  ... "to conversations with Malik Rahim ex-Black Panther and founder of the community activist organization Common ground (Thompson, "Seeing Power" pg. 110).  I really feel we can tie this quote from seeing power into the theme of how minorities are not seen until it is in an area of power or influence of the majority and they are not wanted.

Bibliography

  
Avantia Danburg & Ailsa Anastatia. Online:  https://vimeo.com/48663987

Ehlers, Jeannette.  Online: http://www.jeannetteehlers.dk/

Thompson, Nato.  "Seeing Power Art and Activism in the 21st century."

03/27/2019 Quotes

"Over the last 100 years, the corrosive byproduct of the machines of cultural production has bathed like smog over all of us, radically obscuring our vision.  We can call this byproduct cultural capital."  (pg 83)

  I love this quote.  It is explaining that the street artists and protests and other methods evolved into something more like social media ran by corporations and the rich, and thus it is not the same as in the past.   I like how they explain that it is a cause of cultural capital and how technology molds the way we are activists and how these are controlled by rich and the elite corporations and thus they are obscuring our views and visions by controlling the platforms.

"This is what Bourdieu called the habitus.  This is the way one navigates and thinks about the world."

  I like how this explains how we view the world through social constructs such as social media and how mass media or changes in technology through cultural capital can mold our views and beliefs, in this case through corporate entities instead of in the past through more primitive methods.  This is like the first example but in addition they define this as the habitus or how we see the social world. (pg. 85)

My Proposal

My proposal is on Global climate change. I picked this topic because I am interested in the environment. My major is criminal justice and to make global climate change part of my major I will call my title Environment justice. Global climate changes are basically part of a science branch and not herd a criminal justice branch; it not a big topic. However there are laws that protect the environment. One of the main causes global climate change is the Greenhouse effect; they are gases in the atmosphere such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, and other gases.

This is an image about the Greenhouse Effect

This had many effects because the earth’s temperature increases; which causes sea level rise and extreme weather events. Carbon dioxide is the main cause for climate change and it is because of human activity; such as the burning of fossil fuel.

The levels of CO2 thousands of years ago

Image by Time Scavengers

The way I get my information is by watching Vice News and watching Ted Talk videos because they are very reliable when they report problems that are happening in the world. The one of the people that influenced me on climate change is former vice precedent Al Gore

Al Gore talking about Climate Change in Ted Talk

Proposal

Christopher Pastor

I am planning on exploring gender, roles and norms in society. I will be mostly focusing on masculinity as well as the patriarchy. 

Kelvin Cedeno
Professor Cacoilo
Acts of Resistance: Activists, Interlopers and Pranksters
March 5, 2019
Project Proposal

Project Proposal

The value of education is misguided in this general education system. But i do not argue the fact that what school system teach us is for our better system. General Education is the foundation of skills, knowledge, habits of mind, and prepare students for the experience that they need to succeed. This ideal is misguided with education . It has it cons and pros but i am here to give reasons of really the value of education. School system education try to give a broad education that they believed will benefits us in the future. Although this may or may not be true. There is a downfall to this idea. Through elementary school to high school , it is just full of broad education that may or may not be relevant to your interest. Whos to judge and tell us what we really need to be learning. No one is to tell you but yourself. Although we may have mentors , only we are able to determine what we should really be learning. But yet again sometime some of us need that extra push and motivation to learn more. Everyone is different and has there own way of learning. This value isn't really forces into today education. We should have more type of education that fits students own strategy in learning. So it gives a comfortable approach into learning.

The value of college today is basically paying to be taught of a interest of yours. The point of college is to graduate with a degree. The way we look at a degree is that it shows that we have met the requirement and education for this specific degree depending on the major. So the question is , is it worth the money? College focuses only on the requirement that is given to you for the major, but it does not help you on the long run when you actually get your degree that you worked hard paying for basically. College should focus more on having a guaranteed job ready for students after graduating. Also, for their considerable investment, alumni should receive a lifetime of services to help with their professional and personal growth. According to the College Board, the average cost of tuition and fees for the 2017–2018 school year was $34,740 at private colleges. That is a big investment for students who has to pay to be successful. I at least expect colleges to give some sort of rewards for meeting the requirements to get a degree. Some sort of reduction in money values for serious students. College need to notice if students really getting there money worth. For example, whos really teaching us? We blindly have teachers that does not even teach us the right way. Let's be honest we all had those teachers. That you absolutely learn nothing  during the course. So many may prefer. Some may prefer to have a low student ratio class so students have better opportunity to get a relationship with teachers. Even that can motivate students to do better.
    Some may believe that the upper class rich may not have the knowledge that middle and lower class have. I agree with this but to an extent. I cannot judge anyone of their grind their parents went through to get there family to where there is. I just believe that middle and lower class don't have the same opportunities as upper rich class have. Lower class have a reason to work harder so they can give there reason.

“What never seems to end for students and parents, however, is understandable anxiety over paying for college. The relentless rise in the costs of higher education alarms payers and the public. According to the College Board, over the last 10 years average tuition and fees rose 51 percent at public four-year colleges and 36 percent at private institutions, outpacing the consumer price index. Undergraduate tuition and fees at elite private schools such as Harvard grew even faster. For example, Harvard undergraduate tuition and fees are $27,448 this year, up from $17,851 in 1995 and $9,500 in 1985. With room and board added, next year's bill at Harvard will be an attention-getting $42,000. That's as much as the average family income in the United States.”-DANIEL S. CHEEVER JR.

Just an example for a high education College pay for a ivy school. You guys may be may think why must we raise college. College shouldn't be an overpriced pay for someone to be successful.  Worst part about that is this world can have a chance of missing out on a great student that actually have the ambition to make change. Low income student that strive to work hard can have this problem.

    Is it really the money worth? College do not teach many other education that is important in society. Experience is something cannot be reached in education. Some may divided this in “book smart” and “street smart”. These just another aspect of life that need to be experience . College is not able to teach it . Such like going through your own daily life seeing how people are. The decision you make can influence you to not make them again. Aspect in life like that is one example of why something you just have to teach yourself. We do this without even knowing it.

    This college education system is to corrupt financially that some may not have the same advantages. We need to make change so everyone has the advantages so we are able to see more the potential in students. Even that can make this world a better place but yet we don't give most opportunity. We need to promote more scholarships and financial aid for those that need it and want to pursue wanting an education to better themself For the future. 61% percent of New Jersey is     $32,247 or more in debt from university.

https://www.valuepenguin.com/average-student-loan-debt

“Is a College Degree Worth the Costs? Essay.” Essay on Contrasting Ralph and Jack in Lord of the Flies | Bartleby, www.bartleby.com/essay/Is-a-College-Degree-Worth-the-Costs-FKJTY3QZVJ.

Boston.com, The Boston Globe, 3 June 2005, archive.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/06/03/is_college_worth_the_money/.

Project Proposal GMOs, "hey you eat them already"

Justin McHugh

3/6/2019

Project Proposal

GMOs

     Many people when asked believe GMO (Genetically Modified Organism), in our case plants such as fruits and vegetables, and their sub-products are very dangerous for human consumption.  However, extensive research has been done since the 1990s on this matter and little harmful effects have been found in Genetically Modified Food.  I have been studying with my major and have focused on GMOs.  I think I want to focus on the art aspect of how the fruits are larger, and images that show the reduction of pesticides and starvation that has been helped due to GMOs along with stating that 70% of all livestock is fed with GMOs.  I would also like to state too that this insertion of genes in a lab are called transgenes, nevertheless humans have been genetically modifying plants for thousands of years, regard the picture.  I want to focus on more the art and images behind GMOs while I present each topic.

    Yes, this is still genetically modifying the DNA in the plants over time, and yes it isn't natural, that's why it's called selective breeding. As mentioned above too, 3rd world countries rely on GMO products.  The google search image below shows this.

      And of course we all know the age old photos prior to gmos.  Seeing on the news every weekend, waiting to call in to help the poor children.  GMOs are helping fight this.

     And as of pesticides GMOs have provided traits or allow plants to create insect repellants such as chitanases without being toxic to the environment or humans.  We have cut down on many pesticides such as round up and made ddt illegal due to advances in genetics and GMOs.

      I would like now to show you a powerpoint Presentation.  Please note the sources for this post are listed within the powerpoint presentation.


Powerpoint

Bibliography

http://fizzucked.com/post.aspx?slpostid=4311-CRAZY-Difference

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkJnOWGCejQ

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3428689/What-fruit-vegetables-look-like-Researchers-banana-watermelon-changed-dramatically-ancestors-ate-them.html

https://westofpersia.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/eggplant-from-vine.jpg

https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/banana-sold-in-singles/875805

https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/sites/gateway/files/carrot-1.jpg

https://healthcautions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/corn-3.jpg

  Fang H, Huangfu L, Chen R, et al. Ancestor of land plants acquired the DNA-3-methyladenine glycosylase (MAG) gene from bacteria through horizontal gene transfer. Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):9324. Published 2017 Aug 24. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-05066-w

  Guo, C., Ge, X. & Ma, H. Plant Mol Biol (2013) 82: 239. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11103-013-0057-9

  Wang W, Xia H, Yang X, et al. A novel 5-enolpyruvoylshikimate-3-phosphate (EPSP) synthase transgene for glyphosate resistance stimulates growth and fecundity in weedy rice (Oryza sativa) without herbicide. New Phytol. 2013;202(2):679-88.

https://livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe70s/pests_08.html

https://youtu.be/M5Qly-VQfbo

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080628065632.htm

https://www.mnn.com/your-home/organic-farming-gardening/stories/7-fruit-and-veggies-that-used-look-whole-lot-different-than-they-do-today

http://www.bt.ucsd.edu/gmo.html

http://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2015/roundup-ready-crops/

https://www.alamy.com/grass-seamless-border-vector-illustration-isolated-on-transparent-background-meadow-greenery-grass-field-decoration-element-for-registration-and-image179920658.html

https://www.naturalscience.org/topics/natural-agriculture/genetically-modified-organisms-gmo/

https://ucrtoday.ucr.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/wildtype_vs_transgenic_arabidopsis_plus_chem.jpg

https://www.nextnature.net/2009/08/why-are-carrots-orange-it-is-political/

https://www.littlethings.com/agriculture-changed-fruits-vegetables

https://monsanto.com/innovations/plant-breeding/articles/produce-ancestors/

https://inhabitat.com/gmo-tomatoes-could-stay-fresh-for-over-a-month/

Project Proposal

Johanna Riera

Acts of Resistance: Activist, Interlopers, and Pranksters SP 19

Professor Cacoilo

March 6, 2019

Gender-Gap Project Proposal 

            STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) careers are known to be highly occupied my males. Statistically, women are not prevalent in such careers. According to Microsoft only, 6.7% of women graduate college with a STEM degree. After doing research, the gender gap in STEM degrees seem to be consistent across all ethnicities. In efforts to call attention to this topic, this project proposes to create a website aimed towards providing information about this gender-gap. The main component of this website would include interviews with current successful women in STEM. Such information would nurture the audience and encourage women to pursue their interests/careers. The audience for this project is not only directed for women. The purpose is to bring to question the gender imbalance in STEM degrees. Whether the reasoning is due to the result of women choosing other careers freely or whether there are stereotypes/biases holding back women from pursuing these fields.

Comparison of women and men in STEM fields and non-STEM fields. 

Comparison of proportion among races and genders in STEM
Data is consistent across all ethnicities. 

There are many theories as to “why women are falling behind  in STEM”. One of the reasons being that the STEM field is perceived to be very masculine. In other words, not a fit place for women. To counteract this theory, women are just as capable as men in this field. Another possible theory is that there are not enough women role models in the STEM field. Young girls would be more encouraged to pursue a STEM field is they were exposed to role models early on in their life. This applies to older women too, the lacking of women in STEM makes it seem as “It is impossible to accomplish”. Through this proposed website, the public would have full information that would encourage them to continue or pursue their interests despite different discrimination comments or experiences they may have encountered or heard about. The manner by which the audience would be allowed to engage would be by requesting different types of works, commenting, asking questions etc. This part of the proposal can definitely be worked on to allow the audience to engage with the project.

As a junior Biology major, I have experienced gender discrimination in various occasions/different ways. However, none of the encounters have ever paved me to second guess my career choice. Ultimately, I plan to practice medicine while also conducting scientific research. I do recognize that different comments made can/have lowered my self-esteem as a women. When conducting biomedical engineering research prior to the start of my college career, a student (male) made a comment to me “Yes this program is very selective but of course you got in, you are a women, it is easier for you”. Such a comment was very belittling unfortunately, this occurs to many women. As I proceed in my career, I recognize the male heavy occupancy. It is also a bit worrying to know that when applying to different specialties in medical school, males seem to be at preference. Example: neurosurgery. In terms of my portfolio, this project would be of benefit given that it would show future interviewers that gender-gap and stereotypes would never get in my way of pursuing my passions. Ultimately, by creating a community or even a platform where women can be encouraged would certainly make a difference. Seeing other women well established in their STEM career would be very motivating/encouraging for women.

When researching for my project the current doctor I shadow has significantly inspired me. She has her Md/Phd degree and practices advanced cardiology at Mount Sinai. I plan to interview her for this project along with a few other people. However, I do plan to continue to interview other women after this semester project comes to a conclusion by the end of the semester. In addition, Dr. Jedidah Isler was also very inspirational. She is the first woman to earn a PhD in Astrophysics from Yale. After viewing her TED talks she does a successful job in advocating women of color in science. Currently, she continues to study the origin of energy from powerful black holes, and she speaks about the importance of inclusiveness in STEM. She constantly quotes Oprah Winfrey, “You get in life what you have the courage to ask for”. This quote speaks to what this project proposes to do. Through providing such an encouraging website for women, it could build on courage for women to pursue their true passions despite gender inequality.

Dr. Jedidah Isler, Phd 

 Resources 

https://inside.collegefactual.com/stories/women-vs-men-in-stem-degrees

https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2017/03/07/inspiring-girls-stay-stem-makewhatsnext/

http://jedidahislerphd.com/