It's been exactly 1 month since my last post. Life just took a roller coaster slide for the worse, and my trying to write only positive things was rather dificult.
I have a whole mess of things I need to write about Harry Potter, because it came out yesterday, but this came up and doesn't require a load of planning or thinking, so here you are.
Pedagogue figures are fantastic. Everyone needs one in their life at some point. The teacher figure who can provide opinions when asked, but not overload the subject, and NEVER create a fear of asking questions. In fact, the one who may simply use the conversation's subject matter to inspire the student to become one who ... well my favorite quote sums it up quite well: "There is nothing to fear except the persistent refusal to find out the truth, the persistent refusal to analyze the causes of happenings." -Dorothy Thompson
The truely beneficial pedagogue will teach the student that it's not about the _____. It's about analyzing the causes of happenings. I've had many wonderful people like this in my life, and I'd like to mention one here, as I see my opinions on things changing because of things he said to me years ago. This is the case with all of them, but the others will get another post, this is long already. Now I'm to the point where I can provide such a position for those younger than me... my first truely deep relationship with a teacher figure was when I was 15 and he was 18. We had a class together, and I was just starting to question things around me, and he provided me with the same idea as I have listed above. It was one of the most liberating experiences I'd ever been through at the time. I couldn't wait till I had observed the world around me in such detail that I could offer someone else what he had given me. The last time I saw him, he wrote in my notebook, "And now I pass the torch to you." I've never forgotten that. It may have been his faith in me that gave me the hope to continue the journey.
And so it came. Simply by being around those a few steps behind me (while never forgetting to follow those a few steps ahead of me) and encouraging them to THINK! TO THINK for themselves and never take anything as fact until they have thoroughly examined it, because the history of the human race proved that people who thought they knew everything only knew quite little. Slightly relevant tangent: Doctor Who had an episode where a space community was run by their news station, which was only publishing lies that they used to manipulate the community. It was effective because of the way that most people were not allowed to get ahold of the facts, even the newspaper workers' memories were just computer chips, and how their one information source was fascist and biased. They had in turn created a society that had stopped asking questions. This is probably on a more subtle, subconcious level what we all do in any type of intelligable conversation with anyone whose opinion may be unformed or neutral. One of the individuals I'm most proud of is a boy I met on a forum just after leaving my own pedagogue, I was 15 and he was I believe 12. We frequently share many intellectual discussions over facebook these days, and I can honestly say that he has grown as much or more this year as I did when I was 15. It's amazing. Maybe this is what my 18 year old "mentor" felt like while watching me.
So now that we have established obvious exposition as obvious, I'd like to paste here a recent conversation. It's about, in fact, the topic of education itself. Here you are. I've erased the real names. The bracketed stuff is my own commentary on the conversation, written in my perfect 20/20 hindsight right now.
It started with a thought provoking facebook status. Which I'm proud of in itself. ;)
Him: So, I cant stand it when our literalistic communist wanna bees for teachers play the blame game and say all our problems are the farmers who are using too many pesticides and watering the crops to much and using too much fertilizer, but without the American farm families who risk it all to feed our selfish asses, wed all be screwed. I love you American Farmers ♥ and I'm proud to be one ♥
Me: Just wait, soon enough the genetically modified test tube foods will become commonplace, and nobody will blame the pesticides.
....They'll blame the people who regulate cloning and transgenics for giving us cancer. You see, literalistic communist teachers will ALWAYS blame someone. :P there's just no way out. Three cheers for consumerist society!
Him: I know Alex its ridiculous and it always seems to be the science teachers that say this garbage I think they should screen the people they hire as I think they have no right to press their political ideals and beliefs down the students throats when they can barely carry on a correct conversation with people... and they call themselves educated. I'm hip hip and hurraying for a communist run future! hip hip hurray!
Me: It is true, they *shouldn't* press their political beliefs on anyone, but if your beliefs are strong enough (regardless of how poorly founded lol!) your feeling is basically that anyone with opposing beliefs is going to doom our future. And then when you get a teaching position, it's as if someone has entitled you to spew those beliefs to the future - the children. Like giving a bully a megaphone.
Him: Amen to that! Luckily I certainly hope I wouldnt tell people what to believe as people should have their own opinions and my two cents have no use being in there. I think the future of america should be able to make thier own decisions and not what their teachers press into them. Luckily I dont listen to them and the next time they say something against american farmers, well id better find a bitch to hold my weave because their will be a knock out drag down fight going on in science class... okay that was my wigger moment for the day lol lets hope for a non misogynistic future where children can make their own damn decisions for what they believe in and that american farmers arent that bad ;)
3rd person: I had a biology/science teacher and he tried to teach us we came from apes and enforced that we learn it and test on it. I was against it and he failed me on that subject but I don't think they should bring in any of their "own" beliefs into teaching.
Him: Oh yes they most deffiantley do i was raised in a republican conservative household and a democratic liberal teacher was telling all the republicans do is lie and cheat and everything said on fox news is a total and complete sham, yes they have thier own opinions but keep it between the adults are children should not be raised believeng they are better than another for their polictical beliefs!
Me: [trying not to make it apparent that I'm holding back spurting my unadulterated athiestic beliefs. I realized as I was writing the following that if I simply said that the aforemention liberal has a point, that I would be a hypocrite of what I'm about to explain is wrong. Plus one point for working through innrer termoil on the internet!] I would like to give props to that teacher, Fox is.... >.<
It's the job of the teachers to encourage kids to think outside the box that raised them.... otherwise kids would grow up to be their parents little robots, and that's no better than that of the teachers. [What I was getting at is that I know he's raised by a religious right family, and I too would have been inclined to be brainwashed by only watching Fox news, if someone hadn't told me to think outside the box that raised me. But I don't think I conveyed the objectiveness correctly - this shit's harder than it looks!]
But both parents and teachers who think they are right usually lose sight of encouragement and skip right to recruiting the easily influenced. The best of each will not give their opinion as fact, but teach the student the valuable life lesson of questioning *everything.* Humanity's history is full of people getting it dead wrong. It's those who sought real answers and not accepting myths that progress the race.
There is a happy medium to be found.
3rd person: There is a happy to medium, but as I experienced with this one teacher if you didn't agree with him, he failed you in that subject, that is soo not right. I can see if he has his own perspectives on how science is and he may disagree with ...the text book, as he did this as well. But not try to literally imprint something someone does not believe in. Not like talking about political views, but religion? Even political views, the teacher should not bash the other side. The should encourage students to get all the answers and think on their own, I totally agree, but not dominate what the kids think.
Me: Well agreeing or not, I studied the material and took the tests because it was part of the ciriculum. If religous parents don't want their kids learning evolution, they should homeschool them. Although that very reason is why many kids become their parents' robots, because they don't recieve the outside opinions in the years where they may naturally question things. Even the Amish let the 16 year olds "out" to decide if they want to continue being Amish. Some parents are not so supportive. Of course it's not the science teacher's place to condemn religion for its logical fallacies, but many can't help it... they gotta teach what they gotta teach.
Truly, a teacher figure of any kind who has mastered presenting their beliefs in a palatable way while only using said beliefs to encourage progessive thinking - not making it about the belief - is worth his or her weight in gold. They are few and far between. ♥
3rd person: Alex there is expected curriculum, I don't disagree there, but it isn't right the way this teacher enforced these beliefs on our class, he didn't expect you to just get through the subject he flat wanted us to agree. This is why I refused ...to cooperate with it. That is thinking on my own. I was 16 and I did not feel like a robot, I am very outgoing to learn and make my own decisions on things in life. But what he was enforcing was absolutely diabolical. I wasn't raised to think a certain way or you will be deemed bad. I was raised to think of God, but wasn't imprinted to the point I HAD to be secluded from other options and decisions. Yea, the Amish are the ones I can see drowning their young into one belief and nothing else. Not allowing them to think on their own. I am far from that restraint. I had many great teachers and they did teach you to reach far and learn whatever comes your way and take it in and examine it to your own thoughts and decisions. But also have my parents to thank, whom let me explore and learn many outlets as to have a great variety of experiences and the freedom to choose. I am not disagreeing with you, just also think some are too elaborate in their teachings.
Me: Yes for sure, those types of teachers (and parents/caretakers with the same mentality) are the ones that abuse their power - bully with a megaphone - who force their opinions as fact and really are doing the children an injustice. Actually... the one I had who taught us evolution was the same way. And since I was quite religious at the time, his straight-forward factual tone was rather offensive. But again, they only say so because they are so firm in their belief that they seem to think if other people don't live their lives according to what the teacher himself is saying, it will more or less doom us all. Like Al Qaeda being so firm in their religion that they think they must dominate the world with it to gain approval by their creator, etc. It's why Fred Phelps does what he does, fear for the future. The economics teacher who states their political opinions as fact to the influencable students does so for fear of the affect those future voters have on the rest of us. Which may be a reason kids often learn better from peers.... the peers are still figuring out life too and may not be solid enough to force the opinion. Life is facsinating! [Here I am alluding to how I was way more willing to listen to the 18 year old trying to teach me about life than I was the teachers who shoved their work in my face. Even if he often stated his opinion as fact, or more appropriately fact-based, it was more of an encouragement to go SEEK THE TRUTH and form my own opinions.... as opposed to those who say "this is how this works, follow this or you'll wreck us all."]
In having these conversations, I realize that because I am planning on going into a field of teaching, I need to work on being even more objective and encouraging rather than a preacher. I never want to cause a student to feel offended or embarrassed over a previous subscription to any given belief. As I've just demonstrated above... if you plant the seed of curiousity, the student will go searching. And if you're so damn confident that what you think is correct, perhaps they'll stumble on beliefs that line up with yours in the process.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
When is it not personal?
The Logo channel is a station that has the power to give today's LGBT population either immense hope or another dose of depression.
I watch some of the shows occasionally. I loved it when I first moved from LA to Colorado, because things like The L Word reminded me of home.... everyone watched it. Human rights movements were everywhere. Gay friends and activism were a part of life. And as human nature would have it, I took these things for granted until they were no longer there for the taking. It isn't that Colorado is particularly universally homophobic.... it's just that I haven't met a single out LGBT person all year. It's an issue that gets swept under the carpet and overshadowed by the oh so much more important problem of how much taxes the rich have to pay. <--- In case you aren't good at interpretting tone over internet, that was sarcasm. Who knows how long it will take for gay marriage to be accepted... what with the religious right dominating the population out here - I shit you not - there is a governor candidate running who wants to outlaw abortions AND birth control. BIRTH CONTROL! WTF!!! I think if marriage equality showed up on the ballot, the man would go into anaphylactic shock. [/tangent] My point here is that the general feel of the midwest is that religion rules everything.
The shows and stories on Logo are great inspiration. Sometimes the more reality-like ones are even uplifting just by the simple fact that they have an air of... this is normal, this is common, this is life.... even if they don't directly address rights and oppression. There's a funny thing about inspiration though. If the receiver has absolutely no outlet to pursue it, it can just as quickly turn to loss of hope. See, see here, all this cool stuff other people are doing, see, I would do that, except that I can't. I went through this before I moved actually, in a different venue. I follow a method of horse training that was violently opposed where I came from. I couldn't stand watching inspirational displays of horsemanship because I knew I wasn't "allowed" to try anything myself. And anytime an opportunity to learn something came along, it just added depression. I imagine this is how the typical midwestern LGBT teen feels about Logo. Look at all these out and happy people, I would be out and happy, except that I can't. And so I stopped watching it for the most part.
...Until tonight. My usual shows weren't on. Didn't wanna watch that episode of Family Guy for the 3rd time this week. I inched over to peek at Logo and discovered that actually Doc (the documentary channel) had something called Born Again. Rolling my eyes expecting a history of the baptist church, I clicked the info. It was a documentary about how a women's relationship with her Evangelical family was effected by her being a lesbian. Perhaps it was the emotional sadist in me, but I decided to watch it. And it was amazing and life changing, as most late night decisions are. ;)
This woman grew up in a verrrry religious Evangelical environment. Out of school, she went to Europe, as most fresh out of school kids do. In Holland, she fell in love with another woman. Because of her upbringing, it was hard to accept at first. Cliff notes version, she finally came to terms with herself, abandoned her family's religion, and came out. Back in America, she found a girlfriend who she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. Needless to say, her parents were disgusted.
Her brother became enstranged. Her parents rejected her. They couldn't deal with it. She didn't let her own daughter bring her girlfriend into their home because she wouldn't allow the "sin" to happen in her house. She compared it to allowing someone in their house if they were going to steal or kill. For family functions, they made her stay in a hotel. She just wanted her family's love and support, she wanted to be part of their lives. Her brother said that he didn't want her in his life because her sins were sending her to hell and he couldn't associate with that, whereas she didn't believe in after life and just wanted to enjoy her time with them here. When he was telling his kids about his sister, he started with "She doesn't love god." He didn't allow the kids to call her partner Aunt Catherine. He said because she wasn't blood family. Yeah well, she asked if she married a man would he let them call him Uncle __? Yes, but this love isn't recognized by god, so they can't call her an aunt. She was talking about how her being gay had pulled them apart. She asked him if he would love her more if she were straight and Evangelical, and if he wouldn't have abandoned her. His response, exactly - "God unites, and if you were born again we would have a relationship that would grow much deeper much faster." I think I puked in my mouth. She asked her parents pretty much the same thing. Her mom said that she loved her no matter what, (real convincing! the daughter didn't seem to feel that way!) but that she hoped she'd repent and change before she gets sent to hell for her sin. That's a mother's love for ya. "Praying that I will return to the faith is almost a denial, its a refusal to see who I truly am."
Near the end, she reflected on how religion pulled her apart from her parents. "You go so many years without getting acceptance, or it being conditional, and after a while you just say screw it."
Another of my favorite quotes from this brilliant documentary (I would put this on a bumper sticker if I wouldn't get keyed in CO) "When you've been raised so extremely religious, you have to completely reprogram yourself, it takes a while before you can start becoming a normal human being again."
"Religion is like drug, nothing can break through the hold of a true believer. Though its taken time, I've excluded myself and found my own family... I have been born again."
The documentary showed a clip of the 2004 presidential debate. They were celebrating a victory, I'm assuming it was the win but I was busy typing notes and didn't care that much to watch Bush affairs. Mary Cheney was not allowed to appear on stage. Because Republicans are anti-gay and like, what would damage their image? UGH! She made another awesome point - Oppresion is like dealing with dissapproving parents all over again. 11 states voted to ban gay marriage. The Bush administration tried to redefine the constitution for equality and freedom for all.... straight people. Every internet debate on gay "lifestyle" invariably has some Christian yahoo on his soap box, preaching that it's the gay person's choice to be offended by the Christian religion. You know, we'll just have our little religious talk here and if you don't like it, then ignore. SERIOUSLY? What planet are they from (religuloustopia of course!), in what world does that make sense. Soooo often, you hear people telling them "don't take it personally." How is it not personal, when the only reason there is even any stigma attached to homosexuality is because the Bible says its taboo? How is it not personal that a large chunk of humanity... full of people who have never met you, nor ever will... hates you, because of who you are. And we're supposed to live with that?
When is it not personal, after your family abandons you, religion condemns you, law questions your ability to raise children, and your government wont even recognise your marriage for what it is????
This isn't the post on my opinions on and case for gay rights, this documentary just needed to be talked about. And because I'm the pink flamingo on the great lawn of rural Christians:
BE the change! It's the difference that makes a difference. I think I'm gonna get one of these shirts and wear it around town for a day, see what kind of reactions I get. Because I'm sorry Evangelical living in your utopian see-no-evil world, but I take in personally.
I watch some of the shows occasionally. I loved it when I first moved from LA to Colorado, because things like The L Word reminded me of home.... everyone watched it. Human rights movements were everywhere. Gay friends and activism were a part of life. And as human nature would have it, I took these things for granted until they were no longer there for the taking. It isn't that Colorado is particularly universally homophobic.... it's just that I haven't met a single out LGBT person all year. It's an issue that gets swept under the carpet and overshadowed by the oh so much more important problem of how much taxes the rich have to pay. <--- In case you aren't good at interpretting tone over internet, that was sarcasm. Who knows how long it will take for gay marriage to be accepted... what with the religious right dominating the population out here - I shit you not - there is a governor candidate running who wants to outlaw abortions AND birth control. BIRTH CONTROL! WTF!!! I think if marriage equality showed up on the ballot, the man would go into anaphylactic shock. [/tangent] My point here is that the general feel of the midwest is that religion rules everything.
The shows and stories on Logo are great inspiration. Sometimes the more reality-like ones are even uplifting just by the simple fact that they have an air of... this is normal, this is common, this is life.... even if they don't directly address rights and oppression. There's a funny thing about inspiration though. If the receiver has absolutely no outlet to pursue it, it can just as quickly turn to loss of hope. See, see here, all this cool stuff other people are doing, see, I would do that, except that I can't. I went through this before I moved actually, in a different venue. I follow a method of horse training that was violently opposed where I came from. I couldn't stand watching inspirational displays of horsemanship because I knew I wasn't "allowed" to try anything myself. And anytime an opportunity to learn something came along, it just added depression. I imagine this is how the typical midwestern LGBT teen feels about Logo. Look at all these out and happy people, I would be out and happy, except that I can't. And so I stopped watching it for the most part.
...Until tonight. My usual shows weren't on. Didn't wanna watch that episode of Family Guy for the 3rd time this week. I inched over to peek at Logo and discovered that actually Doc (the documentary channel) had something called Born Again. Rolling my eyes expecting a history of the baptist church, I clicked the info. It was a documentary about how a women's relationship with her Evangelical family was effected by her being a lesbian. Perhaps it was the emotional sadist in me, but I decided to watch it. And it was amazing and life changing, as most late night decisions are. ;)
This woman grew up in a verrrry religious Evangelical environment. Out of school, she went to Europe, as most fresh out of school kids do. In Holland, she fell in love with another woman. Because of her upbringing, it was hard to accept at first. Cliff notes version, she finally came to terms with herself, abandoned her family's religion, and came out. Back in America, she found a girlfriend who she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. Needless to say, her parents were disgusted.
Her brother became enstranged. Her parents rejected her. They couldn't deal with it. She didn't let her own daughter bring her girlfriend into their home because she wouldn't allow the "sin" to happen in her house. She compared it to allowing someone in their house if they were going to steal or kill. For family functions, they made her stay in a hotel. She just wanted her family's love and support, she wanted to be part of their lives. Her brother said that he didn't want her in his life because her sins were sending her to hell and he couldn't associate with that, whereas she didn't believe in after life and just wanted to enjoy her time with them here. When he was telling his kids about his sister, he started with "She doesn't love god." He didn't allow the kids to call her partner Aunt Catherine. He said because she wasn't blood family. Yeah well, she asked if she married a man would he let them call him Uncle __? Yes, but this love isn't recognized by god, so they can't call her an aunt. She was talking about how her being gay had pulled them apart. She asked him if he would love her more if she were straight and Evangelical, and if he wouldn't have abandoned her. His response, exactly - "God unites, and if you were born again we would have a relationship that would grow much deeper much faster." I think I puked in my mouth. She asked her parents pretty much the same thing. Her mom said that she loved her no matter what, (real convincing! the daughter didn't seem to feel that way!) but that she hoped she'd repent and change before she gets sent to hell for her sin. That's a mother's love for ya. "Praying that I will return to the faith is almost a denial, its a refusal to see who I truly am."
Near the end, she reflected on how religion pulled her apart from her parents. "You go so many years without getting acceptance, or it being conditional, and after a while you just say screw it."
Another of my favorite quotes from this brilliant documentary (I would put this on a bumper sticker if I wouldn't get keyed in CO) "When you've been raised so extremely religious, you have to completely reprogram yourself, it takes a while before you can start becoming a normal human being again."
"Religion is like drug, nothing can break through the hold of a true believer. Though its taken time, I've excluded myself and found my own family... I have been born again."
The documentary showed a clip of the 2004 presidential debate. They were celebrating a victory, I'm assuming it was the win but I was busy typing notes and didn't care that much to watch Bush affairs. Mary Cheney was not allowed to appear on stage. Because Republicans are anti-gay and like, what would damage their image? UGH! She made another awesome point - Oppresion is like dealing with dissapproving parents all over again. 11 states voted to ban gay marriage. The Bush administration tried to redefine the constitution for equality and freedom for all.... straight people. Every internet debate on gay "lifestyle" invariably has some Christian yahoo on his soap box, preaching that it's the gay person's choice to be offended by the Christian religion. You know, we'll just have our little religious talk here and if you don't like it, then ignore. SERIOUSLY? What planet are they from (religuloustopia of course!), in what world does that make sense. Soooo often, you hear people telling them "don't take it personally." How is it not personal, when the only reason there is even any stigma attached to homosexuality is because the Bible says its taboo? How is it not personal that a large chunk of humanity... full of people who have never met you, nor ever will... hates you, because of who you are. And we're supposed to live with that?
When is it not personal, after your family abandons you, religion condemns you, law questions your ability to raise children, and your government wont even recognise your marriage for what it is????
This isn't the post on my opinions on and case for gay rights, this documentary just needed to be talked about. And because I'm the pink flamingo on the great lawn of rural Christians:
BE the change! It's the difference that makes a difference. I think I'm gonna get one of these shirts and wear it around town for a day, see what kind of reactions I get. Because I'm sorry Evangelical living in your utopian see-no-evil world, but I take in personally.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Watch me burn
One of those strong opinions that I've had for a while and always wanted to put somewhere is how I feel about pop culture and domestic abuse.
To start with, modern media does nothing kind to the way people view abusive situations. Come to think of it, Lifetime is about the only media source that constantly, vigilantly cries out against it... and because it is in origin the channel to turn women against men and the system, they are preaching to the choir. If LMN and Spike could swap programs for a day, there may be some mutual understanding on the gender roles front, but alas I don't see this happening in the distant future.
More than a small handful of women struggle with their own images. From mothers to the girls next door, they are doing something to try to earn themselves some self respect. Sometimes they discover healthy ways of coping with life. Others, they believe the lies that tv tells them. One of the far too common ones is when they take the martyr approach. They view themselves as the sacrifice to make the situation better, victimizing themselves. Feeling sorry for themselves at the same time as being proud of what they endure. It's basically emotional masochism. I suppose we all do it to some degree. The over achievers work themselves into the ground so they can wallow in self-pity and then earn an ounce of resepct for themselves. The housewife is critical on every aspect of herself, because she's emotionally dependant on the man. This is a terribly destructive response when applied to relationships.
If you ask me, the worst and most unfortunate part about pop culture is the way in which the most influential people and groups use their fame. I'll use a major one for example here. Eminem. Take his new song Love The Way You Lie ft Rihanna. And if you haven't seen it.... I don't believe you. The lyrics alone are enough to idolize a domestic abuse situation. Eminem's tone of obvious control over the girlfriend caters to those martyr personalities, sucking them into the ever-worsening downward spiral of lessening self respect. The music video stars Megan Fox, anything she does is going to become attractive. I have a theory that if someone else did this song with the same lyrics, but different tone, and having the Megan Fox escape at the end, it would send a totally different message. But she stays with her abusive boyfriend in the video, making that the new idealistic position.
"Just gonna stand there And watch me burn
But that's alright
Because I like The way it hurts
Just gonna stand there And hear me cry
But that's alright
Because I love The way you lie
I love the way you lie"
Rihanna's lines fuel the fire in that they put a voice to that woman emotion of co-dependancy. The single reason that women stay in relationships with domestic violence is because their boyfriend has so much control over her, that she's convinced she absolutely cannot function without him.
No matter your opinion of him, Eminem is without a doubt one of the most popular rappers in the world. Definitely in America anyway. If he wanted to, if he cared, he could use his fame to promote the good things that this generation needs. Pick a cause, he could positively impact it. And yet there he goes, spurting his homophobic lines, dissing minorities and the disabled. He put out his album Recovery after coming back from the drug life. This could have been a perfect opportunity to talk about getting clean, to un-glorify that lifestyle, or to rip apart the glittering generality that some fans inevitably have for that image of the drug life - the convoluted hardened street kid, or fallen women. BUT NO! He made it all about himself, stating it was his choice to do drugs, his to get clean so he could start rapping and making more money (as if his capitalist ass needed more $), and that he didn't give a crap who he offended along the way.
"His gift is a curse, forget the earth he's got the urge To pull his dick from the dirt and fuck the universe." Yeahhh, real inspirational Eminem. The people who both listen to his material AND enjoy it are the ones with crack leaking out of every bodily orphus... The ones who felt society rejected them for whatever reason, and subsequently stopped trying. They are already going down the road of destruction - in some way, shape, or form - when they turn to music to try to find one shred of humanity they can relate to. Then they discover Eminem, who instead of giving them hope to find a healthier lifestyle, validates this road, and pushes them farther down it. Small wonder why there is little hope to possitively affect these groups.
Well there's my lovely little rant on rapping and modern society. Not to worry, I'm usually rather positive, and promise to come out with some posts about media that's actually good for the youth and youthful minds of the world. (It exists? Crazy, right!?!?!)
Here's a much better media approach, by the nonconformist Amanda Palmer. Her tone and expression are so sarcastic, yet the message is so clear. Especially at the end. ;)
To start with, modern media does nothing kind to the way people view abusive situations. Come to think of it, Lifetime is about the only media source that constantly, vigilantly cries out against it... and because it is in origin the channel to turn women against men and the system, they are preaching to the choir. If LMN and Spike could swap programs for a day, there may be some mutual understanding on the gender roles front, but alas I don't see this happening in the distant future.
More than a small handful of women struggle with their own images. From mothers to the girls next door, they are doing something to try to earn themselves some self respect. Sometimes they discover healthy ways of coping with life. Others, they believe the lies that tv tells them. One of the far too common ones is when they take the martyr approach. They view themselves as the sacrifice to make the situation better, victimizing themselves. Feeling sorry for themselves at the same time as being proud of what they endure. It's basically emotional masochism. I suppose we all do it to some degree. The over achievers work themselves into the ground so they can wallow in self-pity and then earn an ounce of resepct for themselves. The housewife is critical on every aspect of herself, because she's emotionally dependant on the man. This is a terribly destructive response when applied to relationships.
If you ask me, the worst and most unfortunate part about pop culture is the way in which the most influential people and groups use their fame. I'll use a major one for example here. Eminem. Take his new song Love The Way You Lie ft Rihanna. And if you haven't seen it.... I don't believe you. The lyrics alone are enough to idolize a domestic abuse situation. Eminem's tone of obvious control over the girlfriend caters to those martyr personalities, sucking them into the ever-worsening downward spiral of lessening self respect. The music video stars Megan Fox, anything she does is going to become attractive. I have a theory that if someone else did this song with the same lyrics, but different tone, and having the Megan Fox escape at the end, it would send a totally different message. But she stays with her abusive boyfriend in the video, making that the new idealistic position.
"Just gonna stand there And watch me burn
But that's alright
Because I like The way it hurts
Just gonna stand there And hear me cry
But that's alright
Because I love The way you lie
I love the way you lie"
Rihanna's lines fuel the fire in that they put a voice to that woman emotion of co-dependancy. The single reason that women stay in relationships with domestic violence is because their boyfriend has so much control over her, that she's convinced she absolutely cannot function without him.
No matter your opinion of him, Eminem is without a doubt one of the most popular rappers in the world. Definitely in America anyway. If he wanted to, if he cared, he could use his fame to promote the good things that this generation needs. Pick a cause, he could positively impact it. And yet there he goes, spurting his homophobic lines, dissing minorities and the disabled. He put out his album Recovery after coming back from the drug life. This could have been a perfect opportunity to talk about getting clean, to un-glorify that lifestyle, or to rip apart the glittering generality that some fans inevitably have for that image of the drug life - the convoluted hardened street kid, or fallen women. BUT NO! He made it all about himself, stating it was his choice to do drugs, his to get clean so he could start rapping and making more money (as if his capitalist ass needed more $), and that he didn't give a crap who he offended along the way.
"His gift is a curse, forget the earth he's got the urge To pull his dick from the dirt and fuck the universe." Yeahhh, real inspirational Eminem. The people who both listen to his material AND enjoy it are the ones with crack leaking out of every bodily orphus... The ones who felt society rejected them for whatever reason, and subsequently stopped trying. They are already going down the road of destruction - in some way, shape, or form - when they turn to music to try to find one shred of humanity they can relate to. Then they discover Eminem, who instead of giving them hope to find a healthier lifestyle, validates this road, and pushes them farther down it. Small wonder why there is little hope to possitively affect these groups.
Well there's my lovely little rant on rapping and modern society. Not to worry, I'm usually rather positive, and promise to come out with some posts about media that's actually good for the youth and youthful minds of the world. (It exists? Crazy, right!?!?!)
Here's a much better media approach, by the nonconformist Amanda Palmer. Her tone and expression are so sarcastic, yet the message is so clear. Especially at the end. ;)
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Because there is hope
Greetings loved ones! Let's take a journey...
To the deep dark world views of this American teenager. I have decided to start keeping track of the things I think so I don't waste time repeating myself in my head. ;) Again. More. Still.
I'm far too disorganized to keep a real journal, and I hate my penmanship. So instead of periodically writing pages of my thoughts, and losing them in the depths of my closet, I'm taking the modern route - drop all ideas of concieted thought, and stickin' it on the internet! There's 21st century logic for ya!
A bit of background: I'm from everywhere man. I was born in Nashville, Tennessee. With the rednecks and country music. For almost 5 years, we lived in a tiny Midwestern town of 1500 in rural Iowa. Then for the years that mattered, 10-17, I grew up in the heart of Los Angeles, California. I'll always consider myself a Valley Girl. LA is a huge part of who I am. Now I live in the middleonowhere Colorado, pursuing a horsey career. Since experiencing this major culture shock, many things that seemed to be simply a part of life in LA are vastly different out here. Different enough for me to want to vocalize my opinions somewhere. If for no better reason than to log my own introspection.
Oh know, another one of those new-agers out to take over the world right? Opinionated groups go to extremes to get people's attention, yes. But I somehow find comfort in it... that they feel that whatever action they are taking will do some good in the world. Us modern day hippies are calling others to pay attention to the situation. Dorothy Thompson said, "There is nothing to fear except the persistent refusal to find out the truth, the persistent refusal to analyze the causes of happenings." Why would people create National Geographic specials about how the world is going to end if it is inevitable? Why would people protest if they didn't have a voice? Why would anyone try to elicit any kind of change in their surroundings? Because there is hope. I am sure that tons of people look at all the violence and rage in the world and feel that one person can't affect the world in the slightest. But if there ever was a figurative teeter totter on which the fate of the future rested... the time is now. People take actions and make noise because it isn't too late to change. This is the generation that will go down in history as either the idiots that screwed us all over, or the saviors of humanity. I know which side I'm on!
Have hope!
To the deep dark world views of this American teenager. I have decided to start keeping track of the things I think so I don't waste time repeating myself in my head. ;) Again. More. Still.
I'm far too disorganized to keep a real journal, and I hate my penmanship. So instead of periodically writing pages of my thoughts, and losing them in the depths of my closet, I'm taking the modern route - drop all ideas of concieted thought, and stickin' it on the internet! There's 21st century logic for ya!
A bit of background: I'm from everywhere man. I was born in Nashville, Tennessee. With the rednecks and country music. For almost 5 years, we lived in a tiny Midwestern town of 1500 in rural Iowa. Then for the years that mattered, 10-17, I grew up in the heart of Los Angeles, California. I'll always consider myself a Valley Girl. LA is a huge part of who I am. Now I live in the middleonowhere Colorado, pursuing a horsey career. Since experiencing this major culture shock, many things that seemed to be simply a part of life in LA are vastly different out here. Different enough for me to want to vocalize my opinions somewhere. If for no better reason than to log my own introspection.
Oh know, another one of those new-agers out to take over the world right? Opinionated groups go to extremes to get people's attention, yes. But I somehow find comfort in it... that they feel that whatever action they are taking will do some good in the world. Us modern day hippies are calling others to pay attention to the situation. Dorothy Thompson said, "There is nothing to fear except the persistent refusal to find out the truth, the persistent refusal to analyze the causes of happenings." Why would people create National Geographic specials about how the world is going to end if it is inevitable? Why would people protest if they didn't have a voice? Why would anyone try to elicit any kind of change in their surroundings? Because there is hope. I am sure that tons of people look at all the violence and rage in the world and feel that one person can't affect the world in the slightest. But if there ever was a figurative teeter totter on which the fate of the future rested... the time is now. People take actions and make noise because it isn't too late to change. This is the generation that will go down in history as either the idiots that screwed us all over, or the saviors of humanity. I know which side I'm on!
Have hope!
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