THANKSSS

I just wanted to say thank you to Nick Jen Loretta and Colleen I love my mix tape and its a great way to remember our class and everything this semester. Thanks so much you guys 

Choice Assignment #3 Disney's got my eye

After searching for an analysis of the “Jungle Book” I realized that Walt Disney created some great classics with a very interesting lining to the message in the film. I decided to take a close look at some movies such as “The Little Mermaid”, “Beauty and the Beast”, “Pocahontas”, and “Aladdin”. After going through these classics I decided to take a closer look at the women in these films. Ariel, Belle, Pocahontas, and Jasmine are a group of woman who seem to be searching for something more than what their family’s desire for them. Also the fact that each of these characters are searching for love outside of their families comfort zone shows that maybe Disney had a problem with mixing races.

One of the first references I make to these characters and how they feel in life is from Thomas Hine’s, “The Rise and Fall of the American Teenager”. Hine states, “Despite the mythology of youth as a revolutionary and utopian time, study suggests that teenagers’ principal preoccupation is to adapt, to find a place in life.” (Hine 2) When reading this statement it becomes clear that each of these female characters want to find something new than what they have been brought up in life. Ariel wishes to walk on land, Belle wishes to get out of her “provincial life”, Pocahontas is seeking to find something “just around the river bend”, and Jasmine wishes to find a “whole new world”. These female characters are looking for adventures beyond what their family values.

Not only are these female characters looking for adventure, but they are also finding out they are in love with men out of their reach. Hine states, “Teenagers occupy a special place in the society. They are envied and sold to, studied and deplored. They are expected to break some rules, but there are other restrictions that apply only to them. They are at a golden moment in life – and not to be trusted.” (Hine 10) Hine suggests that teenagers are confused and of course making mistakes is something they are going to do, however, they are not to be trusted with big decisions. Each of the families of these female characters seem to hold high expectations on marriage and find they are making mistakes with the men they are wanting to chose.

Ariel wishes to marry a man of the land. Prince Eric is the man Ariel longs to be with. Her father the King of the mer people finds this to be simply impossible and also find humans to be barbaric. Belle’s father wishes her to marry Gaston, a witty and horrible man with an egotistical character. Belle however, finds an interest in the Beast of her town. She sees a light in the beast and falls for him over time. Pocahontas is destined to marry to Kocoum. He is a man form her tribe that is able to build her a strong home and also able t take great care of her. Of course this is not settling to the young female who wants to see, just around the river bend. She falls for a lovely sailor John Smith that it from the American culture with his blonde hair and bright blue eyes. Last but not least Jasmine is searching for a whole new world other than the castle where she lives. She finds herself invested in love with a “street rat”, Aladdin. This is made clear throughout the film that Aladdin is not of the right match for Jasmine.

Not only does all of this suggest that their families have certain values and issues with their daughters making decisions but it also suggests that with Disney there is an issue with mixing races. Ariel the mermaid in love with a human? Belle the young beauty in love with a beast? Pocahontas the Native American in love with a true American man? Jasmine the Middle Eastern princess in love with a street rat? None of these seem to add up to the true essence of love that we see in “Cinderella” and “Sleeping Beauty” where both female characters find a love of similar race.

After reviewing these films many questions are being raised as to family values and marriage. Each of these female characters are seen as teenage characters. Each faced with many different obstacles and yet each still finds a happy ending to their story. Disney must always create that happy ending due to its audience. However, what happens when obstacles like these are being raised in real life. When the mixing of races come into play with love, or when teenagers want to find more than what their family has to offer. Many ideas and views collide causing such a shamble of losing one’s family support and more. I wonder if Disney knew what he was creating when putting for these great classics.

What do you lose after having sex?

It is unclear what teenagers lose after having sex. For some it is that sense of innocence. For others it is the loss of the title VIRGIN. After viewing "What You Lose", I find myself asking the same questions as Patricia. What do people feel they lose after sex? What do teens feel is the right time to lose their virginity?

Many of the people she interviewed had some interesting comments about sex. “Sex is like Pokémon cards back in the day, you gotta have it” and also “I’ve tasted the honey and want the hive now”. Certain comments like these make me wonder if people really do appreciate how they are giving part of themselves away to another person in life. It always makes me wonder if something so sacred as the innocence of ones childhood (virginity) is at all a big part of their life.

When one thinks about sex you are most likely questioning the reason for sex. For teenagers in today’s society it is not often clear as to why certain teens get involved physically with another person. Whether is it heterosexual or homosexual relations it is unclear that if many find it is for love?

Many of the “virgins” had a great deal to say about sex and love in the video that Patricia put together. Many students felt that if you love someone then that’s when you should be able to know if sex is necessary. As for other teenagers they feel it is apart of the timing in their life. One boy had said he felt that 16 was the right age to lose his virginity. He felt that it was the age he wanted to tell people when they asked him about losing his virginity. As for others they felt maybe they should have waited. Patricia proves that even though she was in love with a man in her long term relationship she was still not willing to give a sacred part of herself away.

Not only is it the peer pressure of other students of giving part of one's self away but it is also the factor from the media and movies. A clip shown on this video was of Dawson’s Creek. This show plays a big role in sex and relationships due to the topsy-turvy relationships the characters have in the show. If this is what our society is watching you can’t help but wonder the anxious activities teenagers are going to be doing in their lives while they are about 15, 16, 17 years old.

The topic of sex and virginity has not been taken lightly since the beginning of time. In literature back when Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales", the Wife of Bath (fictional character) was looked at as a promiscuous women and until this day there are still women like her that have that title. Now with teenagers losing their virginity at such a young age it is under great questioning as to the reasoning. For love, pleasure, coming of age?

As Patricia's video tries to find the underlying reasoning for losing virginity and what it is one person does lose after sex I find myself now asking some of the same questions?

my dearest fear

The video I chose to discuss was the dearest fear video. after viewing this video it makes me realize that not only is it a fear to the after results of being tested and whether a person is positive or negative. It is also the after result of what people think of you. To hear young people say they would be cautious of others who have aids makes me wonder if they think they can get it by just talking to the person, or if they really know it has to be through sex, blood, and needles. 

Certain things in this video such as facing fear while talking to fear as the narrator says seems significant. He was facing his fear of being tested and having to deal with needles but as by talking to the camera about his fear. many teenagers today feel that if they don't get tested they won't have to worry about the after result of HIV and AIDS. However, it is only the beginning of a long and bumpy road if you do not get tested.

This movie really hit home for me due to the fact that I have friends scared to get tested for STD'S AIDS and HIV. I worry die to the fact that I know people don't always use protection and are not careful. I find myself always saying be careful, get tested, etc. I guess I don't really know what I'm talking about when it comes to things like this. 

This movie not only hits home with fears such as AIDS and HIV it hits home to every fear in the world that people face. Just as one boy said, "Fear is a shadow, it follows you everywhere."

choice assignment # 2 "I wanna be like you!"

As young children have seen all over the world, the “Jungle Book” is one of many Disney classics at hand. Disney as a whole has a great way of portraying teenagers. However, the “Jungle Book” is top notch. 

Searching throughout the jungle Mowgli is a young adult trying to find acceptance. Left in the jungle as a baby Mowgli has to adapt to the wild habitat that surrounds him. Brought up by a pack of wolves Mowgli demonstrates the wild, carefree attitude of being a teenager. As the tables turn and time moves on the wolves must let the man cub go for the fierce tiger of the jungle, Sheer Con is returning. This means the young adult must find a village of people like himself. 

For viewers seeing the movie for the first time there are songs and laughter throughout the entire movie. However, to someone like Linda Christensen we see factors of race, ethnicity, and coming of age in a teenagers’ life. Author to “Unlearning the Myths That Bind Us,” Christensen demonstrates different activities with students about movies such as the “Jungle Book” and more. Christensen states: “Many students don’t want to believe that they have been manipulated by children’s media or advertising. No one wants to admit they have been “handled” by the media. (Christensen 128).”

The “Jungle Book” is a prime example of being handled. Many audiences do not realize the message that is being portrayed in the film. A young boy travels throughout the jungle searching for acceptance. Wolves, monkeys, and even buzzards find it hard to accept this young boy. The only time Mowgli finds his acceptance is when he sets his eyes on a young girl from the man village. 

This message does not only suggest that the boy is an outcast, much like students in high schools that fit certain stereotypes (Gothic, skaters, nerds), but its also suggests that the young boy cannot be happy without finding a woman or vise verse. Christensen touches base upon this also in her article: “Happiness means getting a man, and transformation from wretched conditions can be achieved through consumption (Christensen 133).” Now along the lines of this gender and relationship status the young girl we find is singing a song of finding a husband and creating a baby. This song is being played just as the young girl sets eyes on Mowgli. 

Now unless Disney is trying to tell teenagers they are not accepted anywhere then this proves that audiences have been handled. They believe they are in for a fun song filled adventure and yet they are shown that acceptance is hard to come by and heterosexual love is the only way you can be accepted. 

Now as if it were not going to get any better looking at this fun filled Disney movie, why don’t we take a look at race. It is curious that during the scene when Mowgli is taken by monkeys to see King Louie, we find that all the voices of these monkeys are of African American men. Not to mention the fact that the king of the monkeys is named Louie. When I first heard this all I could think of was Louie Armstrong, a famous jazz/blues musician. This typically made me wonder why a Disney classic would have African American voices put to a monkey’s character. 

Another racial question I ask myself is about the song that King Louie sings to Mowgli. “I wanna be like you, I wanna walk like you, talk like you…” This particular song brought attention to me because I feel like King Louie is saying he would like to be human, but could it mean an African American man wants to be like a white man?

After viewing this movie inside and out I can definitely agree with Christensen’s statement about being handled by the media because I never would have thought of these different symbolizes as a child. 

The most interesting thing about this is while babysitting the Friday after my watching the movie, I asked the mother of the children I watch and she was absolutely blind sighted by these comments I had come up with. She is currently refusing to show her children Disney movies. 

“If you’re not on MySpace, you don’t exist.”

So I decided after reading on you tube and myspace that I would blog on, of course, my space. I have mixed emotions on how I feel about the website and each reading brings up very good points. Much of the first article I find a description of what myspace is. I must say it is a great way for teens and even adults to stay in contact with one another. It does create a great socialization skill throughout the world. However, It does create an issue when you notice that people are unable to carry on a typical conversation without mentioning someones comment about this person, or someone looked terrible in this picture, etc. It also creates an issue among students in schools that cannot necessarily look their teachers in the eye, or even another person for that matter. Many people are fixed on typing into a computer that eye contact doesn't really matter.
Now granted the second article did a question and answer and gave pros and con's to the website, I feel that many of the pros are things teenagers wouldn't even think about. Myspace is a great way to get students to test the waters on creating a website and understanding different codes and more. Just last semester I was enrolled in a class that required programming. Now had it not been for recently having a Myspace I think I would have been a chicken running around with my head cut off. I must say yes, myspace does have a positive aspect. However, I don't think those aspects are what teens are interested in. I feel that myspace for teens is a way to keep up on the latest gossip, turn their sexuality up a few notches, even for people to find a possible way of dating.
Much of what the second article does is look at myspace in a positive way (like a teen would) and a negative way (like a parent would). This type of thinking is to be seen through any aspect that reveals lives on the Internet and such an open field.
One of the things that I must agree with is the statement, “If you’re not on MySpace, you don’t exist.” This statement is beyond true to all myspace users. Every person that I have talked to about this website and knows I do not have a myspace I get the response, "What's Wrong With You!!!!"
I could honestly go on for days on how I feel about this website. I just want to admit that their are many positives and negatives to this site. A positive is the computer aspect of it. A negative is what happened last week to a young girl who was brutally beat up because of myspace comments. I'm sure we've all heard the story and I'm honestly disgusted with this story.

Final Project

So I'm really interested on taking on something about teenage girls and the fabulous myspace. Personally I wish myspace never existed although I did have one at one point in time. Then I began to see a change in girls and their personalities behind the camera and in person. I really would like to look deeper into the myspace picture zone versus the girls in person. MUCH of the time i find that these "sexy girls" are really the most insecure people who would never want their bodys seen but becasue of myspace and photo shop etc. it's okay for them to to post them all over the net.