Reflection Log 5 - Multicultural Education

Our play is starting to get really good! We finished the script yesterday, and we have the blocking and transitions pretty well worked out after class today. We just need to practice both of those elements more tomorrow in the lab, and then finish memorizing lines. I have my two down!

I think we just have to work on projection a little bit more. Ms. Rose was extremely helpful today in making our play better and more cohesive.

My autoethnography is also coming along really well. I have most of my writing done, I just need to cite one more source in my paper. I also need to write a conclusion, and add a few transitions. I'm at least halfway done, with most of the writing out of the way, so that's exciting!

I can't believe that Multicultural Education is coming to an end. I have loved the class so much! I'm glad though that the final projects give us an opportunity to get creative while showing what we have learned at the same time. It's a great way to end the class, if there could be such a thing.

Technology Update 5

I am super proud of our technology group! We are doing so well.

We're nearly finished with the Project Ouline, Nisha just has to finish her part. We're done with advertisements after fixing a few to make them better with the constructful help of Ms. Cornelius. And our presentation is coming under way too. The letter is finished as well. I have full confidence that we will be able to finish in the computer lab tomorrow, and be well prepared by Wednesday. All that we may have to do is go over what we want to say in our presentation in a little more detail before Wednesday rolls around.

I finished my evaluations today, completed the letter and a few parts of the project outline. What a great day! I am excited to finish off our work tomorrow.

Houston!

Houston was incredibly fun! I loved the art that we saw, and I definitely want to go back to the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (CAMH) next Saturday to get a free clay flower. The Hand + Made exhibit was like nothing I have ever seen before.

Here's one that we saw!

There were amazing pieces. I was so excited to see Nick Cave soundsuits in person! They were incredibly vibrant, playful and many expected them to come to life at any moment. I loved seeing all of their details and imagining what they would sound like if worn. There were other innovative pieces, like an entire band set made out of wood and gold pieces for random parts of the face accompanied by large pictures. I loved the exhibit, and it showed me that there are so many amazing things I can make with my own hands. Art can be so much more than a statue or a painting, and this exhibit showed that art has a much wider range. For me, creative pieces like these were much more enjoyable and innovative than a lot of other artworks. They were inspiring in that way.



I also liked the Cruz Ortiz exhibit, featuring works like the one above, because it combined Spanish and English to reflect his personality. I loved that, and I thought it was much more fun to see the meaning behind words in different languages with the combined cultures. He also had interesting work, taking broken down garbage and turning it into pieces with painting on them. I liked his prints, painting, and tents with strobe lights, even if I may not have understood it all.

The student artwork on exhibit was also good. They put a lot of work into it, and there were many different styles there. I liked the layout of the building and seeing that average people who love art and put a lot of effort into it can create beautiful pieces.


The play was phenomenal. Intelligence Slave was about a prisoner of war held captive by Nazis, forced to invent a calculator in order to survive. It was a personal and captivating look at a different side of the Holocaust. I loved how it was performed in a theater in the round. I felt so close to the actors, and it was more interactive with the audience that way. It was a great play that definitely got me thinking.

Dinner at the Hardrock Cafe was the perfect way to end they day. The food was delicious, and sitting in a cozy booth with some of the great friends I've made here was an amazingly good time. It felt like we all were older and having dinner together somewhere. I laughed so much, and felt at home so much that it felt like a trick.

The field trip was fantastic, and I greatly enjoyed it!

Ethics

Ethics has definitely challenged me to think about my opinions on what is right and wrong, and why I think so. I do greatly wish that the course involved ideology and focused more on where different views on ethics came from on a societal level (since I think that most of them came about through ideology, which is used to keep societal principles in place). Even so, I still think every time I am in that classroom, and I question why myself and others determine what is ethical the way we do.

I love learning about different types of ethics that people use, since most of the time I do not consider how each person's different views on ethics can be categorized. Subjectivism, supernaturalism and cultural relativism were all incredibly interesting to consider, and when finding their many flaws, I couldn't help but wonder why they are so widely used by many people. That made me think that more people should take a course like this, to find what they really think about ethics, and hear arguments against their logic so that they can back their beliefs up. This is definitely what I am doing. I agree with a lot of subjectivism, which is defined as what the self likes is considered good and ethical. While I don't think that someone considers everything they like to be good, their morals and ideals for what they really want in life determine what they view as good. This is one of the only concepts that make sense for each person being able to have their own unique view on right and wrong, while still being able to relate and be similar to the views of so many.


Food Inc. was also great. I had seen the movie before, and I definitely questioned the ethics of many practices in the food corporation when I did. This time I was able to take visual notes, and I brainstormed artistic ideas that reflected my feelings, deep moral hurt, at the industry in a different manner. These are definitely ideas that I would like to use later on in my life, maybe to help combat the many ethical issues with the food corporation that I still found shocking upon a second filming of the movie.

I also liked the case studies, as they brought up great class discussion and thoughts on morals and ethics. I hope that we do more scenarios where we choose how ethically right / wrong something is and defend our position, because this was a great way to see what our intuitive beliefs on ethics are when brought out by a situation.

I believe that this is one of my most thoughtful classes, and I'm greatly enjoying it.

I love me some Austin!

The trip to Austin was awesome. I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would, although it did make me a little homesick. It felt weird not to go home after it. I loved seeing my family and my hometown though! The trip definitely revived my love for Austin.



I liked seeing the Blanton again. There were new pieces in that I hadn't seen before, like a white painting with small details in replace of a black one, a painting where a wall of graffiti turned into a girl's hair, and the largest charcoal drawing I have ever seen done of pigs. These pieces were great, and I highly enjoyed the unique pieces of artwork and the way that they spoke to me. I also think that How to Build a Cathedral is an incredibly calming piece that makes me think deeply every time I see it. The only drawback was little time in the museum, and a mean painting moderator who bluntly told me that I "was told wrong" about being able to take video in the museum.

And if the museum was good, the musical performances at Threadgill's were even more incredible. I love seeing music in Austin, the live music capital of the world, especially smaller, local indie artists. We got to see many types of music, my favorite of them Betty Soo's calming melodies and a song that chanted Do I have to put my handcuffs on your mama? by another artist that we all greatly enjoyed singing along with. The performances made me want to get out and listen to more local music, since I am so greatly blessed with living in a city so full to the brim of it. Keep Austin Weird!

Reflection Log 4 - Multicultural Education

After Dr. Webb-Hasan's speech, I am very excited to write my autoethnography. I know that I want to take on the cheating problem at my school. The top students of my class and at least the one above ours are infamous for their cheating, as well as many students in the top ten percent. At such an academically competitive school, such behavior cannot be permitted, as it is only detrimental for those students and the student body as a whole. Those students do not become prepared for college or receive a valuable education, and many students in the class feel put down or pressured to cheat with an already stressful school workload. The main problem is that students feel like cheating is necessary to get into the top ten percent, and students who are academically honest feel slighted. This has created a rift and the highest source of tensions for students at my school.

I want to use what I have learned in the past to make large quilts or chains of papers that each student can decorate saying something like "My education is more than a GPA or class rank" on it. I'm still figuring out exactly what I want it to say, as I think there's probably something that can get my message across better. I hope that in doing a project like this, students will realize that there are other methods to cope with stress, and that LASA needs a supportive environment that values education and doesn't pressure students to "achieve" by cheating.

I am really excited to work on this, and to use what I have learned both in the Governor's School and as a person to make a greater change in my school.

I am also excited to work on my group's play, which focuses on classism and discrimination. Our script is coming along well, and we are going to work on and finish it tomorrow. I think we're sending a strong message, hopefully without being too cheesy. Since we're performing on Wednesday, we are going to finalize our play and music selections by Sunday. I really like the tableau and music aspects to the play as well, as I think they allow for more areas for creativity and different means to work against classism and discrimination.

Visual Culture

I have really enjoyed the visual culture class, as I feel it has definitely broadened my perspectives on art. Watching the Art 21 series has done this by far through showing what artists of many different styles try and accomplish with their art. Their messages have been powerful, and their artistic styles varied by far. I think differently about the possibilities that artwork has now, such as sending a strong message easily like Xico Gonzales or Banksy. And never before did I imagine artwork through mediums like Second Life (Cao Fei), silhouettes (Kara Walker), an ice rink (Maya Linn) or pivoting, revitalized houses (Mel Chin). I have so many more ideas now, and there is so much more that I want to do artistically to get my points on society across.

Scene from Pepon Osorio's No Crying Allowed in the Barbershop

There are many more mediums for art possible, like suits and collages on houses, than I thought. I don't have to master painting to make powerful artwork. I also loved how strong of social activists each of the artists have been that we looked at. Tyree Guyton's Heidelburg Project is incredible, an eclectic challenge to the senses that replaces burned downed houses. The new houses' reflections of society - chaotic, sometimes disturbing, hopeful and bright - are incredible. I want to do artistic projects that involve and strengthen the community. I have learned that artwork really can be a medium for social change, and it's something that I'm definitely interested in using and focusing more on in the future.

I have also really enjoyed the theater projects, as they have shown us another powerful medium through which to portray feelings on society and change that is needed. When we did the tableau activity, our messages were really powerful without having to say anything (and when we did add one word, that made the messages even stronger). Using the body and portraying change needed in that manner really speaks to an audience, and I think it showed everyone in the class how effective theater can be to convey need for change. I look forward to using theater in upcoming, cultivating projects for the Governor's School.

Technology Update 4

Since this morning, our group has logos, a started powerpoint showing information, some advertisements for our group, and clothing and item designs with the logos that could be used for people to buy and to go to the homeless.

Here are the logos!

Our accompanying slogan for much of the clothing is Asking for Change.

And here are links to our designed items:

http://www.customink.com/designs/bottle/xcg0-000e-vtah/hotlink?cm_mmc=hotlink-_-2-_-Body_txt-_-button1 - Water bottle

http://www.customink.com/designs/hat/xcg0-000e-vtbb/hotlink?cm_mmc=hotlink-_-2-_-Body_txt-_-button1 - Warm Hat

http://www.customink.com/designs/t1/xcg0-000e-vt6r/hotlink?cm_mmc=hotlink-_-2-_-Body_txt-_-button1 - T-shirt

http://www.customink.com/designs/blanket/xcg0-000e-vt8t/hotlink?cm_mmc=hotlink-_-2-_-Body_txt-_-button1 - Fleece Blanket

http://www.customink.com/designs/sweater/xcg0-000e-vt4p/hotlink?cm_mmc=hotlink-_-1-_-Body_txt-_-button1 - Sweater

We are very excited about the work that we have gotten done, and we want to make a video for our group. We are hoping that it can include an interview with a homeless person if we see one in Houston, which would of course be accompanied by an RA. We still need to ask an RA, but we think this could be great for the promotion of our company.

Technology Update 3 - Two birds, one stone

Wow, did ideas really get going yesterday in Technology. I'm becoming very excited about this project! By the end of the class, we had developed a group name (Hands for the Homeless), tentative logo designs with hands meshing together to make an outline of a house, and some really cool ideas on what our group could do.

Get it? Like the sole of a shoe!

We started thinking of Toms shoes, where when one of their shoes are purchased, a pair goes to a child in need of shoes. Why not do the same thing, but with items for the homeless? In buying a T-shirt, blanket, pair of socks, jacket or hat with artwork promoting the equality of the homeless, a different image is spread of them. And in sending that object to a homeless person in need, a lot more good is done as well. The plan combats both the societal downcast against the homeless by providing a T-shirt or other item someone can display, and provide for the homeless at the same time.

Profits could also go toward job-readiness training for the homeless and suit lentals, or providing showers avaliable for the homeless. 88% of the homeless in a survey said that a good paying job would help them become self sufficient. More education, better health care, having their own apartment and staying off drugs/alcohol were also up there. Profits could go toward helping any or all of these areas in order to combat homelessness.

I'm also excited by the art aspect of this as well, since art is a great medium to send messages creatively, and in doing so get others to reassess their thoughts on a societal norm. This is exactly what needs to be done for the homeless, who are looked down upon from fear and being a societal outcast. This project seems like it could actually be accomplished, and also do a lot of good.

Reflection Log 3 - Multicultural Education

This class empowered me to go beyond feeling uncomfortable by discrimination and antilocution. Simply not doing those acts yourself, while still allowing it, still does a lot of damage. I have to stand up against acts like saying people are "acting white or black", and so do others. Society should not have set views on someone based on any ism, and it will take a lot of effort and action to combat those views that have dominated society for so long.

But I have realized that no change will come in any person's view unless each who has a vision of a better world, where each person is viewed for themselves and not through any ism, works toward it. That means calling others out on their hurtful behavior that perpetuates set views of groupings of others, stereotypes and discrimination. This sort of action is especially needed for others to realize their ations, and how small jokes and avoiding types of people contribute to much larger views that end up holding others down.

I hate being viewed as my sex, ethnicity or anything else first. I am so much more than that, as we all are. So I have to work on not doing this to others, and taking action when others do so.

Reflection Log 2 - Multicultural Education

After the Watch activity, I learned that I have to be more conscious of biases, of others and myself. This goes especially for authority figures and people who I want praise and attention from. This cycle that was seen in the activity, where a teacher looks down upon one's work and the student becomes upset and demotivated in the classroom, can happen in other areas too. Any time someone has a bias against you or what you are doing, their view hurts you and makes you feel terrible. This happens with popular kids too, who other kids want attention from but they ignore because they are deemed as not good enough. Just like how kids so often make each other feel, I was demotivated in this activity and it was horrible to be treated that way, when I had the same capabilities as any other student.

Feeling that way made me want to guarantee that I help any and every other student to be motivated and have some support, instead of the other way around. When my own biases, attitude and anger come out onto others, it depreciates them and really affects their capabilities. I had to be harshly put in the receiving position to realize this. As a leader, I have to motivate others and bring out their best, and call others out on their biases and show them the way that they affect others.

Technology Update 2

When we had to think of a topic/issue that our group wanted to take on, we sat for a moment. I threw out some ideas, and we searched online. I wanted to address a social stigma, something that is outcast in society, and help fix that. Then I thought of homelessness. The homeless are deemed inferior, viewed as struggling, strange people who do not work hard enough to have a home or job. This view is rediculous. Oftentimes the homeless do not have easy access to shelter or hygiene, making getting a job seem out of reach. Health care is another worry, as is safety and getting enough food and water. Depression can easily take hold, making options like alcohol and drugs seem like the best way out.

Most of us become uncomfortable just thinking about the homeless, let alone imagining what would happen if somehow we were put in that position.

by Banksy

My group wants to lobby for services for the homeless, and put out an ad campaign that shows that the homeless are equal peoples who deserve access to basic services and opportunities. In doing this, we hope to make life a little bit easier for those who have it so difficult, and decrease the social stigma against the homeless.

We are all excited to work on this project, and come up with some sketch and slogan ideas! I hope that we can make something great to help combat this societal issue, because the homeless affects us all.

Forced Choice Activity

I really enjoyed the forced choice activity. While sometimes I didn't know which area to go to, I thought that once I had made a choice with reasoning behind it, the activity was easier. It was really interesting to hear what affected other's lives so much, and the activity was a good forum to share my thoughts as well. I learned a lot more about my fellow groupmates, and what they struggled with or wanted to explore. Whereas in normal conversation, concepts like gender and religion don't often come up, we were all able to talk about deep areas like these in a free manner. I enjoyed that, and I liked hearing deeper concepts about group four beyond what their hometown is. It was a lot of fun. The activity made me think about my own beliefs, and listen to those of others as well. I got a lot out of it.

Reflection Log 1 - Multicultural Education

This class is going to be challenging and wonderful. Already, Ms. Rose has asked us to keep an open mind and think about different perspectives. While most students are told this and asked to think of different perspectives, the Name 5 activity showed something different. I came in thinking that I wasn't too biased, that I was generally equal thinking, yet I could not name 5 well-known Latino Americans. I have biases, some of which may have been ingrained from teaching styles, that I wanted to ignore. The only way to get past those though is to realize them first, which I think this class will help with.
I also liked the parts of the lecture on self empowerment, and everyone's responsibility to participate and give their all to their community. It's entirely true. Earlier this week, I heard Maya Angelou talking about the same thing. She said that we are not scared of failure, but we are scared of succeeding because it means that we then have a greater responsibility to act on and continue our successes. I want to take on that responsibility and not be scared of success, and I know I'm meant to because of the many times that I keep seeing this message, like in this classroom. It was great to hear that again from Dr. Webb-Hasan, and it's something that I am really going to try to work on improving in myself.