Recently, we have talked a little about how popular television shows and movies have very few minorities. I watch shows every day and don't really think about how the majority of characters are white, as a white person myself, it doesn't really stick out to me. Reflecting on the shows I watch, I can not think of a single T.V. show where the majority of characters are a minority.
However, many shows and movies do have a "token" minority. They are often cast just to show that the show does cast minorities. It is interesting to notice though, that the token minority often plays a stereotype of their minority for comedic value. For example, in Modern Family, Gloria, a hispanic woman, has a very strong accent, and does typical hispanic things.
Do you think their could ever be a popular show with a cast of mostly minorities?
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
AS Final: Is Anything Really Candid?
This Photo of Rahm Emanuel on a train strikes me as a very important contemporary American artifact, as it portrays the themes of reality versus perception and politicians reaching out to the middle class.
At first glance, we see Emanuel on a train speaking on the phone. According to the caption tweeted out by ABC News’s Dan Lopez, a “woman was on the phone being interviewed for a job and this guy took her phone to put in a good word.” I think a very important point to note however, is that while we can judge the photo on what it appears to be, we have to think deeper to fully understand what is going on. For example, it is very hard to believe that Rahm Emanuel just happened to be on a train next to a woman on a job interview, who he felt he knew well enough to give a recommendation to, when an ABC news person was sitting just across the way. I remember Mr. O’Connor posing the question earlier “Can a photo really ever be candid?” To answer that question, I don’t believe anything really is. Both Rahm Emanuel and the woman both most likely saw the man with the camera there, so the picture therefore, was posed. We learned through the death of Spiro Bolos assignment, that by looking at an artifact at first glance, we cannot truly know the full story behind it.
Another interesting point to notice in this photograph is the motivation behind Rahm Emanuel’s riding of the train. While the public transportation system is the most convenient way of transportation for most common Americans, Rahm Emanuel could easily find a quicker, more private way of transportation. We can clearly see in the way he dresses in his nice suit and tie, compared to the assumed middle class woman sitting next to him in a t-shirt, that he is not a simple, average American. While the way he dresses may show clear differences between Emanuel and the middle class, by riding the train, Emanuel may be attempting to relate to the middle class. Also, in the caption, Lopez refers to Emanuel as “this guy.” By calling Emanuel this guy, it brings attention to the fact that Emanuel is just another guy, while in fact; he is the Mayor of Chicago. It is also interesting to note that this photo was tweeted, a method of distribution in which many average Americans would see the photo. We have studied many politicians in class who attempt to reach out to the middle class, including Andrew Johnson, who was picked for vice president for his ability to relate to the middle class.
We have learned through history that it is very important for politicians to reach out to the middle class, as the middle class carries a lot of power in numbers. For example, Charles Schenk was able to worry the government by riling up the middle class by claiming WWI was “in the interest of Wall Street’s chosen few.” By claiming the war was in interest of only a select wealthy few, Schenk was able to upset the middle class enough to worry the government. So politicians have learned that reaching out to the middle class allows them to keep the majority of Americans under control.
Besides reaching out to the middle class by being like the middle class, in this photo Emanuel is directly helping the middle class with one of the most important topics in contemporary America: jobs. As we saw in analyzing a NY Times photograph of the most used words at the national conventions, the most used word, besides “Romney” and “Obama” was Jobs. It was used frequently by both the Republicans and the Democrats, as one of the things they both agree on is lowering the unemployment rate. By helping a woman out with her interview, Emanuel shows that he is working towards that goal.
This photograph displays themes for today and the future. I believe that politicians reaching out to the middle class will become even more important in the future, so it will be extremely important to think critically about what we see to examine what is really happening.
At first glance, we see Emanuel on a train speaking on the phone. According to the caption tweeted out by ABC News’s Dan Lopez, a “woman was on the phone being interviewed for a job and this guy took her phone to put in a good word.” I think a very important point to note however, is that while we can judge the photo on what it appears to be, we have to think deeper to fully understand what is going on. For example, it is very hard to believe that Rahm Emanuel just happened to be on a train next to a woman on a job interview, who he felt he knew well enough to give a recommendation to, when an ABC news person was sitting just across the way. I remember Mr. O’Connor posing the question earlier “Can a photo really ever be candid?” To answer that question, I don’t believe anything really is. Both Rahm Emanuel and the woman both most likely saw the man with the camera there, so the picture therefore, was posed. We learned through the death of Spiro Bolos assignment, that by looking at an artifact at first glance, we cannot truly know the full story behind it.
Another interesting point to notice in this photograph is the motivation behind Rahm Emanuel’s riding of the train. While the public transportation system is the most convenient way of transportation for most common Americans, Rahm Emanuel could easily find a quicker, more private way of transportation. We can clearly see in the way he dresses in his nice suit and tie, compared to the assumed middle class woman sitting next to him in a t-shirt, that he is not a simple, average American. While the way he dresses may show clear differences between Emanuel and the middle class, by riding the train, Emanuel may be attempting to relate to the middle class. Also, in the caption, Lopez refers to Emanuel as “this guy.” By calling Emanuel this guy, it brings attention to the fact that Emanuel is just another guy, while in fact; he is the Mayor of Chicago. It is also interesting to note that this photo was tweeted, a method of distribution in which many average Americans would see the photo. We have studied many politicians in class who attempt to reach out to the middle class, including Andrew Johnson, who was picked for vice president for his ability to relate to the middle class.
We have learned through history that it is very important for politicians to reach out to the middle class, as the middle class carries a lot of power in numbers. For example, Charles Schenk was able to worry the government by riling up the middle class by claiming WWI was “in the interest of Wall Street’s chosen few.” By claiming the war was in interest of only a select wealthy few, Schenk was able to upset the middle class enough to worry the government. So politicians have learned that reaching out to the middle class allows them to keep the majority of Americans under control.
Besides reaching out to the middle class by being like the middle class, in this photo Emanuel is directly helping the middle class with one of the most important topics in contemporary America: jobs. As we saw in analyzing a NY Times photograph of the most used words at the national conventions, the most used word, besides “Romney” and “Obama” was Jobs. It was used frequently by both the Republicans and the Democrats, as one of the things they both agree on is lowering the unemployment rate. By helping a woman out with her interview, Emanuel shows that he is working towards that goal.
This photograph displays themes for today and the future. I believe that politicians reaching out to the middle class will become even more important in the future, so it will be extremely important to think critically about what we see to examine what is really happening.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Religious Schooling in America
The issue of deficient public education has been all over the news lately, but the decline of successful catholic schools hasn't been talked about much. According to a NY Times Op-Ed, "Catholic Education, in Need of Salvation," "enrollment has plunged despite strong demand from students and families." Catholic schools have been receiving less funding from churches, which causes the price of enrollment to skyrocket. And frankly, not many people are able to afford to attend these schools. This is causing Catholic schools to only survive in very affluent neighborhoods. While Catholic schools once thrived in providing a good education for children living in less than ideal situations, they are now becoming inaccessible for people who do not come from wealth.
The author of the Op-Ed argues that the failing of the Catholic schools is a very negative thing because without them there is a lack of options other than public schools. However, I think with all of the successful charter schools starting to emerge around the nation, we are loosing the need for the Catholic schools. You could read more about charter schools here.
Many people would still argue that a major benefit of a Catholic school is that parents get to give their children a religious upbringing. However, more and more Americans are beginning to bring children up without a religious affiliation. It is becoming more popular to let children choose their own identity. A blogger for the New York Times, wrote about this issue. She argues that children should be able to find their own place in the community without a preset place from their parents. I honestly think that this is a great progression that our country is making. I think that every person has a right to choose their own faith and beliefs. A person's beliefs, in my opinion, is not hereditary, but a choice. And if a child is brought up in a Catholic school, they do not have as much room to develop their own individual identities.
In what ways do you think Catholic or other religious schools still play an important role in America? Or is the need for religious schools no longer present? Will charter schools replace the need for private religious schools?
The author of the Op-Ed argues that the failing of the Catholic schools is a very negative thing because without them there is a lack of options other than public schools. However, I think with all of the successful charter schools starting to emerge around the nation, we are loosing the need for the Catholic schools. You could read more about charter schools here.
Many people would still argue that a major benefit of a Catholic school is that parents get to give their children a religious upbringing. However, more and more Americans are beginning to bring children up without a religious affiliation. It is becoming more popular to let children choose their own identity. A blogger for the New York Times, wrote about this issue. She argues that children should be able to find their own place in the community without a preset place from their parents. I honestly think that this is a great progression that our country is making. I think that every person has a right to choose their own faith and beliefs. A person's beliefs, in my opinion, is not hereditary, but a choice. And if a child is brought up in a Catholic school, they do not have as much room to develop their own individual identities.
In what ways do you think Catholic or other religious schools still play an important role in America? Or is the need for religious schools no longer present? Will charter schools replace the need for private religious schools?
Monday, January 7, 2013
NHL Lockout Unnoticed?
The NHL has been in a lockout for the past several months, and it its finally over, but what I find interesting is that no one has really been talking about it. I think its interesting how little it's been in the news and how few people know about it. The only people who have really noticed are hockey fans. Most people who aren't into hockey had no idea that the NHL was in a lockout.
I definitely would have thought that it would have been in the news more, but I guess with all of the major political events and tragedies going on, that not much attention was put on it. I'm sure that some NHL fans were very upset by the lockout though, and that is why I am a little confused as to why more attention wasn't put on the lockout. I think if the lockout was in the news more, there may have been even more of an outcry from fans, and it could have been resolved sooner.
Why do you think the Lockout wasn't shown much in the news? Would more coverage of the lockout have helped it get resolved sooner?
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Illinois Gay Marriage Bill
We have talked a lot about our liberties, and one liberty that has been debated a lot lately is whether gay marriage should be allowed. In Illinois, a gay marriage law may pass in the very near future. While the vote may not happen in the next few days, hopefully in the next legislation there will be a vote. The Washington Post quotes Sen. Heather Steans saying its a matter of "when, not if" the bill will pass. It may be a few weeks before the bill will pass, but everyone seems to be pretty on bored.
ABC7 news says, "A letter was given out to parishioners at Holy Name Cathedral Sunday morning said the church is not against gay relationships, but against gay marriage." If even the church has that opinion, and that is the strongest opposition to the bill, it seems pretty certain that the bill will pass. I think this will be a great step for Illinois to take. Gay marriage bills are slowly working their way through the states, and soon, hopefully the entire country will allow same-sex marriage. It seems crazy that not too long ago interracial marriages were not allowed. That too became a right by working its way through the states. I predict that sometime in the future gay marriage will be as unopposed as interracial marriage. Eventually, most people will come around.
Do you agree that in the near future same-sex marriage will be allowed nationwide?
ABC7 news says, "A letter was given out to parishioners at Holy Name Cathedral Sunday morning said the church is not against gay relationships, but against gay marriage." If even the church has that opinion, and that is the strongest opposition to the bill, it seems pretty certain that the bill will pass. I think this will be a great step for Illinois to take. Gay marriage bills are slowly working their way through the states, and soon, hopefully the entire country will allow same-sex marriage. It seems crazy that not too long ago interracial marriages were not allowed. That too became a right by working its way through the states. I predict that sometime in the future gay marriage will be as unopposed as interracial marriage. Eventually, most people will come around.
Do you agree that in the near future same-sex marriage will be allowed nationwide?
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