Blogging Around: Connections in Confusion

My first comment was on Sophia Almeroth's blog. I really thought that she had some great, thought provoking questions within her post. I really liked how it made me think about postmodernism. I love The Devil Wears Prada, but now I look at it in a different light.

Sophia, I completely agree. The fact that the scene was taken out of the context of the movie made it a lot more powerful and impressive. I think it's amazing how everything is sort of interconnected, and really isn't our decision. Many people think that they have free will, but what this scene is saying is that we don't really get to choose. We don't have free will. We are influenced about everything. Your last question really intrigues me too: Who/What influences us the most?

The next commented I posted was on Nigel Howard's blog. He did a connection post on Tenacity and College. When I first started to read it, I was confused at the connection, and if there really was one. But as I kept going, he writes of finding his own strength through the battle towards victory. I found myself thinking about my college application experience, and how our's were very similar.

Nigel, first of all, you have a way with words that makes me want to keep reading. You write almost melodically, and I really love that, but that's beside the point. This post has a very crazy and deep connection to myself. I myself am not the smartest girl out there. I mess up all the time, and let's be real, my attention span varies on the day. But, my mother has trained me to be better than what I do normally. College is such a beautiful freedom, it's a learning period and it can really change where you want to go in life. Thinking back to when I was a kid, I really thought that it would never come, but it has and it still seems as dream-like as it was when I was younger. It's crazy to think that we, next year, will be off and on our own. I've learned to push myself more than I already do, and how to put it forth to something that I love to do. I'm going to college to study comedy... For me, that is a dream come true. Tenacity and grit is something that I've learned, and thankfully, really hard to unlearn.

Change of Mind: Postmodernism

In the beginning of this unit, I could really only understand one thing: Postmodernism.

But using the term 'understand' is giving myself a ton of leeway. Postmodernists in my mind seemed like they were just a bunch of paranoid assholes who had nothing better to do but bring the Modernists down. It felt as if there were to be argument, their only defense would be The System.

I just didn't like the fact that they were the opposite of the Modernists, and that they had radically different ideas, but as we watched examples of what they actually meant, I think I have found a completely different view.

In the film Syriana, Tim Blake Nelson is confronted about corruption in the oil company. He then goes on to explain that corruption is everywhere and everything. The reason that we have rules against corruption is so we can actually BE CORRUPT. 

We change things and bend them and makes things so we can break them. We are influenced by everything, and we can't escape it, and that's exactly what Postmodernists are saying! They just want others to accept it.

Even though I feel as if they can come of apathetic, or kind of 'all knowing', I still really like what they have to say about certain topics. I think that they really have great points.

Connections: Martin Luther King Jr. and Portlandia

Before this lesson all I really knew about 'breaking the status quo' was wrapped up into a song from High School Musical. It seemed as if it was all about being yourself and shining through the stereotypes.

But as we've discussed the topics futher in this class, I've realized that it's not just about being yourself; it's about breaking the "norm" for a better, more effective out come that in the end makes people feel more empowered and generally more happy.

As we all know, MLK was the atomic bomb of breaking down the walls of the status quo. He pushed things to the limit and then some. He IS the most important person in the war against segregation and has impacted the lives of every single person on this earth.

But as we continued to talk, I realized that breaking the status quo didn't have to be something as monumental as equal rights; it just has to be different.

That's why I think that the show Portlandia is a perfect example of this. Portlandia, which was created by Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein is changing the way people view sketch comedy.

When you hear the term 'sketch comedy' your mind immediately wanders to the Dick Van Dyke show or SNL, but Portlandia has taken everything that those shows have, and twists it into a weird, interesting, unique new outcome. This show has little quirks that make it what it is. They take current things, and completely distort and change it into something that is bizzare and hilarious in a way that you never thought existed.

When I think something is funny on television, I usually enternalize it. But when I'm watching Portlandia, there is always a guaranteed burst of laughter from me. I LOVE this show. It has shown me a new side to creativity, but also a new side to breaking the status quo.

Seasons 1 & 2 are on Netflix. Watch them.

Blogging Around

The first blog I commented on was Sophia's blog post about cleaning her closet. I really loved the way your and my brain really worked the same. I completely agree with you. When I feel like I have to do work, I hate it. But, when I'm able to sit down and actually get it done, I feel so much better. I love to clean, but it takes time. That's what everything is like for me, and I think that it's really cool you and share that fact.

The second blog I read was Malcolm's iMedia where he talks about "Tell Him" by Lauryn Hill, covered by Esperanza Spalding. First of all, I think Esperanza Spalding, she's a genius, and she presents herself in such a beautiful way that makes me love her even more. Malcolm, I LOVE this song. I myself love covers of songs. I think that it takes one thing that was already creative and makes it even more creative. This cover is particularly amazing. She makes this song hers. I absolutely love how passionate you are. Everyone knows that you love music, but it your writing we really know just how much.

Get Organized: A Tribute to Aristotle

Fact: Raina Payne has OCD.*
*Meaning she likes to clean and organize

I chose to organize my backpack, because I feel as if even though I use it almost everyday, I overlook it when it comes to cleaning it.

I threw out all of the little papers and wrappers at the bottom. Then organized my side pockets so it only had my ID and my iPod in it. Then I placed my latest script and my keys in the top pocket, my health/beauty(or aesthetics if you so desire). I then placed everything else there was to have in the big pocket.

It was spotless, at least for the rest of the day.

When I get things organized, I feel like everything is organized.

Obviously not everything in my life is organized just because of this one thing; but for a second, I not only feel a sense of cleanliness, but of peace.

That's how my brain works. It's no secret that I'm a control freak; but it's for a different reason than just wanting power. I want for my brain to be at peace.

Everytime I clean or organize, I know how I can relieve stress, or how I can get my brain back to square one instead of freaking out and having it go off in 50 different directions.

I'm all about the organization.

Metacognition: Floating Through the Paragraphs

I write essays in one day. I think of my thesis, find my quotes and information, and then start writing. I usually get a pretty good grade as well.

I've tried to spread it out evenly through a couple of days, but it never works.

I end up getting 4 pages of paragraphs that have nothing to do with each other. By the time I was finished, I never wanted to go back and change what I had written.

In one night, I'm able to successfuly accomplish an impressive paper in about 4 hours. I sit down, headphones in and just go. Writting until my fingers actually ache. Then when I'm done, I sigh, and go over it and over it and over it until I know that it flows.

Then of course I ask my mother if it makes sense.

I've gotten it down to a science:

1. Think about what I actually want to write about.

2. Find information that I actually want to prove.

3. Write a paper that I'm actually passionate about.

I've figured out how to make most papers I write not a waste of my time. I try not to write things that aren't for myself.

You can tell if you read a paper whether was written just because it was assigned, or because it was something that the person turned into something they loved, and it just happened to be assigned.

I want to be interested.

I don't want to be bored with what I do.

If I'm sitting at a computer for 2 hours writing something that I think is a bunch of crap, then it's going to be a bunch of crap.

And I don't want that.

Best of this Week: Presentation

Last week we started watching Born into Brothels and I thought that it was a very powerful documentary not just because it was a powerful subject, but because of how it was presented.

As you stated, the cinematography in this movie was impeccable;

The way the colors and movements flowed had a huge effect on how it impacted me.

 

 

This documentary really made me feel as if I was in India, living these children's lives. The swirving, the sounds, the colors;

 

I was able to connect with these children even though I've never come close to experiencing what they have.

 

 

I was so impressed by everything that was presented, and all in all, I really felt like it made the point it was trying to. It left a lasting impression.

 

I FEEL compelled do help them. I  FEEL like using

my talents and passions to help others.

 

But I mainly  FEEL impacted.