In sociology social roles are expectations for the ways in which people are expected to behave in specific situations. These expectations are created and defined by the societies in which the people live. Different societies have dissimilar social roles. Role expectations include both actions and qualities.  For example, a teacher may be expected not only to deliver lectures, assign homework, and prepare examinations but also to be dedicated, concerned, and responsible.

We cannot talk about social role without explaining social status. According to sociologists, social status is the honor or prestige attached to one’s position in society.  It may also refer to a rank or position that one holds in a group. For example, we are all students in this class and each one of us is either a son or daughter of somebody. The position or rank of a person or group within the society can be determined in two ways. A person can earn their social status by their own achievements also known as achieved or attained status. Alternatively, a person can be placed in the position. This inherited position is known as ascribed status meaning they are predefined for an individual at birth. For example prince William of England will have many high expectations compare to any poor child born in England.

In modern societies like ours, occupation or job is usually thought of as the main determinant of status. Other factors such as ethnic group, religion, gender, voluntary associations and hobby can have an influence also. This achieved status is when people are placed on the stratification structure based on their individual merits; the most commonly used here in America is education. The amount and kind of education people attain determine the kinds of jobs they get. The kind of work people do is the main determinant of their income.  Therefore, one’s place within the stratification structure is determined by financial, academic or political success. The higher a person is in rank, the better off he is. Moreover, the education, occupation, and income of parents largely determine the kinds of advantages or disadvantages they create for their own children. These situations are the roots of social inequality we observe in every society. Based on that observation, the gap can only grow deeper and deeper with time. For example Blacks are substantially less well educated than Whites just because the parents of blacks are poorly educated themselves. The sharp difference between blacks and whites is the continuing legacy of slavery. For centuries whites could educate themselves, passing that huge advantage to their children while it was forbidden for blacks to get any kind of education.

In the United States of America, there is no difference in the opportunity given to both girls and boys to have access to education. After graduation comes the reality of the work world. In fact, according to Donald J. Treiman, a sociologist, at equal levels of education, women earn about 60 percent of what men earn. This is explained by the gender preference for men over women that prevails in the work place. Women’s potential seems to be undermined by their so called women to-do task. In fact, the work lives for many women are interrupted for childbearing. Consequently many corporations want to avoid the stress of training and hiring somebody else for her job to replace women whenever they have to be put on leave. Moreover when it comes to gender in American society, women and men are assigned predetermined cultural roles. Women assume the roles of mothers, housekeepers, and servants to their husbands and kids, while men are providers, protectors, and heads of the household. More and more, we see a change in society today regarding the gender roles. Indeed, in modern homes, husbands and wives work both outside of the house. Both are providers for their family and both do the housekeeping job for the well being of the all family.

Works cited

Treiman, Donald J. “Status Attainment.” Encyclopedia of Sociology. 2^nd ed. Vol. 5. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2001. 3042-3049. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 13 Feb. 2013

Here are some other examples of material culture in West African countries.  These are examples of clothing that we wear to special events like weddings and parties.  This has remained the culture for generations and it helps identify us and our culture. When a woman wears these clothes, it shows respect and also shows that we are proud to show our cultural clothes to others. They are different type of these clothes and different textures. Here you can see they are made into different styles.  Some of the styles show the status of the person wearing it.

This is what men wear for special events.

The other material thing that is considered a part of material culture is the kind of homes people live in. Houses in Congo differentiate people in the society.  Houses represent the status of individuals in the community.  If you come from a rich background, people we automatically tell that you are rich because you can afford to live in a very beautiful house.

The above  is an  example of a house for someone who is rich and has a high status in the society. Material culture has become very important to most Congolese people because if you own a house like this one you create a history and you will be respected.

Another example of homes people consider important and which give them high status is the French-style home.  French-style homes are built to show how much people value material culture. They also show outsiders that we have things that are important to us. I think having material culture is a good thing and can help you in some ways. Not all the homes in Congo are like those shown above.   These are only shown to demonstrate some of the material culture of Congo.

Not all rites of passage in the United States are birthdays, major life events can fall into this category as well. Graduation from high school or college is a passage into the next stage of life. Getting married for the first time and having a baby for the first time allows one to move into a new social status such as being a wife/ husband and a parent.

While reading of other culture’s rite of passage ceremonies, I found myself judging other cultures because of safety or health hazards. My display of ethnocentrism is how many people of the United States would act upon hearing of these events. In Vanuatu, men participate in a rite of passage called land diving. Once a male reaches the age of seven or eight and has been circumcised, they can partake in this event. These males climb on top of a ninety-eight foot tower. They tie vines to their ankles and jump. A good jump ends with the male’s head or shoulders touching the ground. However vines do not have the elastic qualities that bungee cords do, so a miscalculation in the length of the vine can end in serious injuries or death. During a boy’s first jump, his mother holds onto an item signifying his childhood, when he dives the mother throws the item away. This event is now becoming a tourist attraction for people to come see. However many experience culture shock and cannot believe the danger these men put themselves in.

In the Northwest Amazon, the Tukuna people have a rite of passage for young women that involve alienation. Once a young girl begins her menstruation period for the first time, she is forced into seclusion for four to twelve weeks. She is put in a chamber within the dwelling of the family that is constructed for this purpose. The girl is thought to be in danger of demons called the Noo while in this chamber. Near the end of this ritual, guests arrive in masks that allow them to become incarnations of the Noo. After this encounter with these “demons” the young girl stays within the chamber for another two days, she paints her body with black genipa dye for protection from the Noo. After the alienation is over, the young girl is surrounded by her relatives and led out into festivities where her family dances around her until dawn. At that time she is given a fire brand that she will throw at the Noo, breaking their power. The young girl has now safely entered into womanhood.

Even more extreme rites of passage can be found around the world, many of them involve circumcision or body mutilations. Although people of these cultures put themselves through great pain, the reward to become a man/woman is so great that cultures cherish these events and they have lasted through generations. Industrial and post-industrial societies tend not to have such violent acts as rites of passages. Rites of passages that are less extreme include ceremonies such as a Bar Mitzvah for Jewish boys transitioning into men. Whether extreme or not, each type of passage is important to the culture from which it comes from.

Works Cited

“10 Bizarre Rites Of Passage.” Listverse. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2013.

“8 Interesting (And Insane) Male Rites of Passages From Around the World.” The Art of Manliness RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2013.

Web. 23 Feb. 2013. <http://listverse.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/ayof-image-21_794222i-tm.jpg&#62;.

Web. 23 Feb. 2013. <http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/patrimonio/patrimonio0901/patrimonio090100036/4174917-driver-license-identification-card.jpg&#62;.

Web. 23 Feb. 2013. <http://weddingcakes.simpleweddingdecorations.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/bride-and-groom wedding-cake-topper-2013.jpg>.

Witt, Jon. SOC 2012. Ed. Gina Boedeker. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2011. 88. Print.

Anthony van Dyck, Charles I at the Hunt, 1635, oil on canvas, Louvre (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Happy 414 year Anthony van Dyck!

Anthony van Dyck (1599-1641) was a Baroque Flemish painter, who worked in Peter Paul Rubens‘ workshop. The artist found royal favor in London, where he became a court portraitist to Charles I. Van Dyck developed a portrait style in which his subjects where represented naturally, but nevertheless, emphasizing their elegance and social status. As a portraitist, he became more influential than Rubens.

Van Dyck’s natural style is apparent in the portrait of Charles I at the Hunt, made in 1635. Van Dyck shows the king resting on a hunt against a landscape that illustrates his domain. Behing the king stand his attendants who care for his horse and hunting trappings. Charles I is shown as an aristocrat with no specific attributes revealing his royal status, conveying, in this manner, relaxed authority. His poise and absolute authority are visible, nevertheless. Charles I stands to the illuminated side of the canvas, against the bright sky. The lighting creates a shimmering effect in his clothing, while his servants are placed in the shaded area of the canvas. The king’s pose conveys regal assurance: he places proudly a hand on his hip, while he rests the other on his walking stick. Charles seems to survey his kingdom, and turns to look down to the viewer with a slight smile, expressing arrogance. The low-view point is interesting, as the king was known for his short stature.

The painting exemplifies Van Dyck’s graceful arrangement of figures, mastery of landscapes and brilliant brushwork.

Everyone, whether they know it or not, has a mini internal battle about what decisions to make. Do I do this because I want to, or do I do this because everyone thinks I should? We don’t normally actually think this, but it happens nonetheless. Even the clothes we choose to wear in the morning are based on ideas of conformity. Should I wear a suit to work or some jeans and a t-shirt? Everything we do is based on, not only social norms, but the sanctions we might receive if we don’t act appropriately. Sanctions are “the penalties and rewards we face for conduct concerning a social norm” (Witt 130). For example, if I walked down the street and stared at everyone coming my way, I would get weird looks and maybe a few grumbles under the breath. This is a minor negative sanction. A positive sanction would be if I worked hard at my job and received a promotion. We do things and get some kind of a sanction for it, whether that be good or bad. These sanctions directly affect our behaviors. No one wants to go somewhere and get weird looks, so they dress appropriately. This is just one way conformity plays a role in our daily lives.

Conformity also plays a role in socialization. Socialization is the “lifelong process through which people learn the attitudes, values, and behaviors appropriate for members of a particular culture” (Witt 73). Everything that we are taught at a young age shows us how we are to live our lives properly. If we don’t conform to these ideals early, we become outcasts in our society. In our culture it is considered beautiful to be skinny and tan. In other cultures it is beautiful to have small feet and be pale. Depending on the culture you’re raised in, you conform to a different set of social rules and norms. This connects to the idea of a generalized other. This is when “an individual acts, he or she takes into account an entire group of people” (Witt 77). When we conform our behaviors and actions to that of those around us, we aren’t only thinking about ourselves, we are thinking about an entire group of people. This group of people sometimes consists of everyone that you will encounter when you walk outside. Other times it’s only the people you know.

Conformity contributes to our identity as humans. We identify ourselves with the statuses we’ve been given or achieved such as, father, police officer, and president. With each of these statuses comes a specified set of roles we adhere to. For example, a fire fighter will put out a fire, or a baby sitter will feed the children they’re watching. What if the people in these statuses did not conform to the roles they are ascribed. Chaos would ensue because no one would know who was supposed to do what. Conformity provides a sort of order to society so we all can live together peacefully. Conformity is such a natural thing we never really think about. Everything we do and say is some form of conformity. It shapes our identity as people and shapes even the smallest decisions we make. Conformity is a good thing, but can it also be negative?

For some reason, whenever I think of the word “conformity,” I think of it negatively. In my head, being like everyone else sounds terrible. I’ve been taught my whole life that I’m a precious unique little snowflake who shouldn’t be and never will be like everyone else. I think this is true, but to an extent. We are individuals with certain likes and dislikes, but everything we do has been influenced by some outside source. We conform to what we see as correct from our friends, family, and even the media. What would happen if everyone thought and acted the same way? We would go nowhere as a society and become stagnant. We wouldn’t be creating new things and coming up with new ideas abecause everyone would conform to everyone else. We need those anti-conformist people to think of new things and to bring us forward as a society. I think there is a certain balance between lots of conformity and little conformity.

In my personal experience, I’ve found conformity to be awful. Certain things in the society of today I think are wrong and should not be conformed to. For example, I don’t think underage drinking is okay, and I don’t think sex before marriage is okay either. These thoughts are becoming old and obsolete, but I don’t want to conform to these things simply because I think they are wrong.  I think we have to be choosey about the things we conform to. We can’t just do what everyone else is doing because the majority of people are doing it. The old adage of, if he jumped off a cliff would you follow, seems to apply here. We need to decide what parts of society are okay to conform to and which parts are not so okay. When we make these decisions, I think our lives will be easier to live because we will have a better understanding of ourselves and where we fit into the world.

Works Cited

Witt, Jon. Soc. Ed. Gina Boedeker. 2011th ed. New York: McGraw Hill, 2011. N. pag. Print

Take a look at the cars below. What’s the difference between them?

There is no difference other than the reactions that the cars will yield and the impressions they give off. The Corolla can get one to their destination flawlessly, just as the BMW can. But the BMW will have people on the streets turn their heads and think: ‘This guy is pretty well off.’ The Corolla will be ignored and looked passed. What’s the difference between these watches?

The first watch has two functioning hands, just as the second watch does. One would be able to adequately tell the time with either of these two watches on their wrist. The first isn’t going to get many looks or glances. The second, however, will spark interest and envy in the hearts of others. The last of our examples, let’s take a look at these two phones.

They both have the ability to output and receive calls. The iPhone has a plethora of specs, but it really all comes down to the intention of the item. Phones are for calling. Some people, however, invest a large sum of money to purchase that BMW above over the Corolla. Some choose to purchase that G-Shock rather than the “crappy watch.” Some invest in the iPhone rather than the Intensity II.

That’s alright with me. People have every right and obligation to spend money for leisure and for nice things. My point here isn’t that we don’t need iPhones or BMW’s. My point is that we buy social status. We don’t buy a watch, we buy watches that higher our social status. We buy cars not for their performance, but for the attention.

Think of things that you’ve purchased recently. Maybe a set of Dre Beats? A new picture frame for your house? A skin for your iPhone? When you and I purchase these things, we buy them (typically subconsciously) with the intention of impressing somebody or a general populous of people. We buy things with the hope of being thought as being higher due to the item. If your house looks better and is filled with nice things, you are aware and hopeful that your guests will think that you are better off than you, perhaps, are.

Is this a bad thing? Of course not. Indulge, buy nice stuff, and enjoy.

Just reflect on what you’ve recently purchased and why. You may be surprised.

~Ddog

The self-absorption in the obsession over social status is mind-boggling, It’s unbelievably freeing when you learn to not care about what other people think about you, because you finally get to be you without the pretense.

Not that I’ve perfected the art, I still get twinges now and then when people tell me I’m the strangest person they’ve ever met, but hey, I feel free, and happy. And I don’t think I’m the strangest person they’ll ever meet. I’m probably just the most overtly free with myself. People just tend to think you’re strange when you don’t conform with the social norm, but I’m okay with that. I’m happier that way. Hehe.

And seriously, people are in their own heads 24/7, and being with oneself is tough enough as it is. The times when people think of other people are rare indeed. (I’m included in the list. I’m as self-absorbed as they come. My blog is just for my own self-serving use. Haha.)

When people do think of others, it’s what I call Love. One of the reasons love is such a wonderful thing.

Credits to Lifehack.

The scheme is due to come into action this year – the original announcement suggested that it would be as early as next month, though I’m not sure if that’s still true. The exchange would be voluntary for existing employees, but businesses are allowed to offer only this type of contract to new hires.

The rationale for implementing this change is fairly transparently to further the Tory goal of labour market deregulation. They think that businesses aren’t hiring people because they’re worried they won’t easily be able to fire them again if they turn out to be rubbish. As opposed to, you know, because the lack of consumer demand is dissolving their revenue. Last year’s suggestion in the Beecroft report that companies should just be able to fire people willy-nilly didn’t go down that well, so this seems to be an attempt to get to the same place in a more palatable way. Rather than “We should be able to fire you whenever and for whatever reason we want”, it’s “Why don’t you exchange your employment rights for ‘Ownership rights’?”.

On the face of if this might not be too terrible. It’s a free choice – existing employees can keep their rights if they want to, and employers offering the ‘no rights’ contract might scare off potential applicants. However, leaving aside the fact that most people will take just about any job they can get right now, this rosy picture still leaves out an important way in which human beings tend not to behave with perfect economic rationality.

In his book Choosing the Right Pond, the economist Robert Frank gives a good example of this. Imagine a mining company which allows people to work in unsafe conditions for higher pay. In the world of traditional economics, this is a rational market. People that value their safety highly (those with children, for example) will stay in the lower paid, safer conditions, whereas the more adventurous, money hungry types will trade away their safety for more cash. It’s an optimal outcome because everyone gets what they want. The problem, as Frank points out, is that people fundamentally don’t think about money and safety in the same way. Money (or what it can buy) is both visible and relevant for your social prestige. Safety is neither of these things. For this reason, it doesn’t just matter how much money you have in absolute terms, it matters how much you have relative to other people. This means that the ‘rational market’ for safety breaks down. If one person opts for the riskier, more lucrative conditions, they don’t just enrich themselves, they make everyone else feel relatively poorer. In order to regain their previous status, the others have to opt for the riskier conditions too. In the end, no-one has gained any ground status-wise, but they have all sacrificed their safety. Just like an arms race between countries, where billions are spent maintaining parity, everyone would have been better off if they could have just agreed beforehand that no-one would accept the riskier conditions. Luckily, we live in a country with health and safety laws that prevent this kind of thing from happening (though more on this another time…).

The parallels between Frank’s example and the shares-for-rights plan are obvious. If the scheme ends up being attractive to employers (although there are encouraging signs that it won’t be), we could end up seeing these little ‘arms races’ enacted in companies all over the country.

If there’s a take-home message from this it’s that, when crafting legislation which ostensibly allows ‘free choice’ and ‘flexibility’, we really need to go beyond the traditional economic picture and think about how people’s positional concerns are likely to affect their behaviour.

Novelist Frances (Fanny) Burney. Portrait by her brother, Edward Francis Burney, c. 1784-1785. Located in the National Portrait Gallery, London. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. Burney was a “bluestocking,” a term coined in the 18thC to refer to an intellectual or educated woman. Socialite Elizabeth Montagu organized the Blue Stockings Society in the 1750s in an effort to cultivate intellectual discussion among women.

Dain has always viewed certain types of women in a stereotypical way, but Jessica is different. What it is about Jessica that disrupts Dain’s assumptions about certain types of women? Do you think this scares or is intriguing to Dain? How?

2. ”Since the encounter at the coffee shop, he could not bear to have Bertie out of his sight. Wherever Dain went, whatever he did, he could not enjoy himself unless Bertie was there.

“Bertie, of course, believed he’d finally won Dain’s undying friendship. Gullible baconbrain that he was, Bertie had no idea that the alleged friendship was Dain’s revenge on her.

“Which only showed how despicable a villain Dain was. His quarrel was with Jessica, but no, he couldn’t fight fair and square with someone capable of fighting back. He had to punish her via her poor, stupid brother, who hadn’t the least idea how to defend himself” (Chase 67-68).

Bertie is an important character in Lord of Scoundrels. What function do you think Bertie plays in the courtship of Dain and Jessica? In what ways do you think Bertie’s situation hinders Jessica’s feelings towards Dain?

Group 9 MB

It has become more and more popular for some of us in the Western culture to stretch the holes in our ears to fit bigger jewelry. Sometimes this jewelry is more tunnel like and so see through, and sometime this jewelry is more like a larger version of the stud.

There are many reasons that one may stretch the holes in their ears, and funnily enough, very few people actually stretch the holes in their ears solely for the purpose of offending their family members. Some reasons for stretching the holes in one’s ears are:

1. Less infections. This is one of the reasons that I personally have stretched the holes in my hears. Currently I am sitting at a 00 gauge and I am very happy with that. Most people don’t even notice that I have larger holes in my lobes than other people. I typically wear wood plugs or glass plugs or tunnels in my ears and find that I do not get ear pain or infections as often as when I would wear typical metals in my ears.
2. For aesthetic purposes. A lot of people find it attractive to have larger holes in their lobes. That is a matter of personal opinion of course and so everyone has different ideas about whether it is attractive or not. There are also different levels of intensity in the gauging of ears (in my opinion). The larger you stretch, the more intense the societal reaction will be.
3. There is a lot of really cool looking jewelry that one can only wear if the holes in their lobes are bigger than when first pierced. This tends to be a weak argument for stretching one’s ears, but since having my ears stretched, I have definitely used this as an argument to go bigger than I already was. Some jewelry only comes in certain sizes and many start at large sizes like a 0 gauge. Some reasons for this include the actual size of the design of the jewelry, if there is something suspended inside, the size of that also dictates how large the jewelry must be. There are many other factors, such as material being used etc. but those are just a couple of examples.
4. To be a part of a different social group. Now this is a rather…strange reason (in my opinion). It is assumed that most people who have stretched their lobes belong to a more hardcore group in society. Though this is not always true, it is largely accepted as true. Sometimes, in an effort to fit in, some may want to stretch their lobes.

These are only a few reasons one may want to stretch the holes in their ear lobes, there are many more which may be dependent on culture and social status, social groups and many other things.

Just remember, there are many different types of people who may choose to have their ear lobes stretched, and that does not mean you need to treat them any differently, or tell them how disgusting you think it is. Instead, try to appreciate some of the intricate jewelry some wear in their stretched lobes and respect that it is that person’s decision what they do with their own ear lobes.

Some great places to get gauged jewelry are Etsy, Wildcat, Painful Pleasures, and Body Candy. But of course you can find many other places. If you know of any great websites to get gauged jewelry, leave it in the comments!

By Jessica Fairweather

When I was younger I was admittedly somewhat intrigued by the power that the “upper class” seemed to have. And yet, I had no idea that the REAL upper class was the group of people for whom things are secondary and relationships are first. The true upper class are the parents, caregivers, teachers, administrators, service providers, board members, volunteers, and philanthropists who are focused on our more vulnerable populations.

Can one fit the more conventional definition of “upper class” and still belong in the category of the “Real Upper Class”? Well of course. Some of the wealthiest people are also the most giving of themselves.  It’s just that I have shifted my view of what the “upper class” is about. It really has nothing to do with money. It is about showing the unconditional love, tireless optimism, and unwavering dedication to children and adults with special needs, or other vulnerable populations, and doing so with total heart. In my book, the Real Upper Class encompasses people who give of themselves without concern for status; people who spend their days serving others with kindness, authenticity, and devotion. 

Gone are the days when, like most, I strived to achieve the traditional notion of status via power (in the form of wealth or possessions). Once I met my son, understood what it meant to really LIVE, and began to live a life of meaning, I realized that I had arrived. I am incredibly grateful to the people who served my child and inspired me to work to be considered part of that Real Upper Class. 

When I was growing up, it wasn’t cool to be smart or raise your hand to answer questions in class.  Students who strove to go a little further became labeled brown nosers and teacher’s pets.  As a high school teacher for 10 years, this mentality still exists, present in 90% of the classes I taught.  Unfortunately, this negative peer pressure steers some individuals away from over-achieving, leaving it behind for fame, popularity and social status.  The end result of this cultural phenomena is a society which does just enough to get by.

In the book of Genesis, there is a boy who fits the brown noser, teacher’s pet stereotype.  However, this boy refused to lower his personal standards.  Instead, Joseph went above and beyond the expectations of others.  Although, his brothers wanted to kill him, despite being sold into slavery and falsely accused of a crime he didn’t commit, Joseph went a little further, Genesis 39:21-23.  Inspired by God, Joseph’s work ethic led him to run an estate, prison and eventually the nation of Egypt, Genesis 41:29-30.

During his sermon on the mount, Jesus took this concept one step further in Matthew 5:41-42.  When you go the extra mile, you exceed and surpass what a typically person would do.  In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Luke 10:25-37, Jesus demonstrates what going a little further resembles: a model of care, compassion and consideration.  Furthermore, Matthew 25:35-36 breaks down what an individual can specifically do.  Finally, the apostle Paul encloses a prayer within Colossians 3:17, 3:23 to remind Christians of their motivation for going a little further.  Pay it forward today!

by Jay Mankus

“My place is a mess and it is hard work cleaning up before and after a diner so it is very rare that I invite people at home”. He doesn’t invite people without any reason, if some people would go to his place for diner that would likely to be for work reasons and they would bring pizzas to eat easily without having to wash dishes later.

He would rather invite people for a drinking party than for a diner as it is less work to clean. Actually that is more a family thing to invite people over diner at home and there must be some reason such as a birthday.

He claims that food is really significant and if he would invite friends over diner at his place, they would say “what’s wrong with you?” and may think that he doesn’t have enough money to invite them at a restaurant. So he prefers inviting people at the restaurant because he has less efforts to make and preserve its social status.

Just last week I broke up with my boyfriend via Facebook. Maybe break up isn’t the right word, but I literally became so enraged at his inattentiveness to me on this medium that I de- friended him. That’s right. I’m fucking nuts.

I could dribble on about my reasoning for this, but let’s face it, it’s embarrassing enough that I even did it, why would I validate my madness with dot points (which I could totally do and you would probably see my point a little…. maybe.)   Instead I am going to point out just how controlling a medium Facebook has become in my life.   Judge me as you will readers but I’m sure (I hope) that some of you have similar habits with facebook and I need to get some understanding around why / how this social media platform is starting to control my life.   Unable to commit to that deactivation button I have no other outlet than this blog, and hopefully some comments from any readers (if there are any??)

11 ways to know if you’re a Facebook junkie
- If you read your news feed as a way of waking yourself up (whatever happened to some good old tunes? Blaring some Doctor Dre as I peel my pasty self from my nice warm bed and start the day.. or what about Sunrise?  Being able to laugh at all the propaganda they shove down the morning viewers throats.. or the infomercials, wonder bras, or knives that cut through bricks?)

- If you constantly update your status (this isn’t something I do all that much, but I do post way too many lame quotes and funny pictures, a way of trying to reel in the likes?)

- If you log on to a computer, check for any notifications, log off, walk away, sit down and start watching something, then straight away find yourself checking Facebook on your phone (I do this ALL the time – I have nothing to comment on, except.. what the fuck. No Maddie, in the space of 30- seconds you have not had a friend like a photo or write something on your wall)

- If you just scroll through your photos over and over again   (I swear this is an ego thing, maybe it’s because I just really like photos, but realistically I think it’s because I like to see the way my profile would portray to others. It’s actually really self conceited to think that an ex lover, or an old friend would randomly just scroll through my photos, I mean, I don’t. Or do I?)

- If you find yourself only looking at the same people.  (I have about four people I will check up on at least once every couple of months)

- If you use Facebook as a news source  (Enough said, what ever happened to resourcing actual news and different music sites?)

- If you feel the need to take a photo of your outfit every time you go out and post a selfie of yourself looking in the mirror. (I’m proud to say I don’t do this, but granted it’s probably because I never feel like I’ve earn’t it.  If I was working out several times a week and had sweet abs I would most definitley feel the need to post that bad boy).

- If you’re constantly checking yourself in to places that people would not give a fuck about. (Seriously, do not check yourself in to bed, it’s not an amazing new place you should be claiming.  We’ve all got one, and sleep in it every night also).

-  If you go out for an amazing night, and find yourself checking for the photos the very next day (Come on guys, back in the day the photos would need to be printed and put up in your room.  Now we check the next day to see how we looked in the club the night before.. tsst tsst.

- If you get annoyed that you’re always the one taking the camera out, because in the back of your mind you know you won’t be tagged in any of them.

-  If you think about going out and need to make sure you’re not wearing the same top that you were last tagged in

So if you answered yes to those 11 things, you have made me happy as I know I’m not alone.   Obviously I’m the more crazy one given I deleted my bf, who I live with off my Facebook, so rest easy there.

You guys might disagree and feel free to let me know.   I envy those people who are so blasé about it, rarely signing in and not giving a shit about photo tags or albums.   I’d love to know how they do it though, I have such an addictive personality, it seems Facebook has taken over my life!

I think the important thing is to remember that Facebook can often feel like an extension of ourselves, like it somewhow validates who we are, where we go and what we do.     When in reality everyone is so busy, checking there own facebooks that rarely would they even go on to your page, or see your status up date.   It’s important to touch base with reality, stop and look outside the bus window. Take time to appreicate the moment rather then trying to snap it up and post it to Instagram.   Everyone is unique and gorgeous in their own way, and it’s the time spent around people and taking in the small things that we will truly treasure when we are all old and grey.

Cheers,  Facebook Nut – Madz

Today, having filled them out carefully over the weekend, the teachers in the Eighth Grade passed out the “High School Course Selection / Recommendation Forms” to our students.

This is always a big deal.

There are sighs of relief, fanning the air around the faces of some students: 

I made it, after all!

Oh, thank goodness. I won’t have to face my (WASP, or Irish-American, or Italian-American, or Russian, or Chinese, or Japanese, or Indian, or Pakistani, or Bagladesi, or Iranian, or French, or German) mother / father / grandmother / grandfather!

Thank goodness I won’t have to tell my [Harvard-educated, MIT-mentored, Stanford-schooled, Yale-feted, Berkeley-breathed (not the cartoonist!), Columbia-crested, Wellesley-weaned, Brown-begotten, Princeton-pampered] parents that I didn’t make it.

Thank goodness, I won’t have to tell my (Boston-Brahmin establishment-upholding, endowment-elevating, charity-donating, old-money-possessing) family members that I am in a middle or lower-level class.

Then, there are doubts in the form of winged question marks fluttering like moths around the heads of other students:

Am I no good then? Does she hate me, after all the time I spent, nodding and smiling, answering and participating, working hard, stressing out, sleeping less? Does she? What was the point of all this?

Am I no good then? Do I lack the brains? Do I not read and write well enough for her? Does she think I can only do this much, and no more?

Am I no good then? Does she think I cannot read John Steinbeck, because I didn’t understand the language in The Pearl? (That book is so hard! How can she expect me to understand it? And it was a book I didn’t like anyway!)

Then, there are always tears held in check in the case of some students. Sometimes, the dam breaks. The floodgates are opened. One could drown in their sadness.  (This hasn’t happened this year, but it could!):

I knew it. I’m no good, really. She’s just confirmed it for me. I am a dunce. I always was. I wonder what my I.Q. is! It must be in the low 80s. I’m sure of it!

I knew it. My mother / father / sister / brother / other teachers all told me that I didn’t really have it in me to do this, and I don’t. I’m never going to be good at anything. I might as well give up.

I knew it! I should just stick to skateboarding or hanging out downtown with my friends. It’s much easier. Doesn’t really demand work. I’m not good at thinking, anyway. When I’m sixteen, I’ll quit school!

There are the jubilant ones.
There are the doubtful ones.
There are the resigned and defeated ones.
There are the belligerent ones (Not any so far, this year).
There are the indifferent ones.
There are the realistic ones.

And through all of this, I feel terrible.

I never believed in levels for my subject– not at this grade, anyway! They’re only children, I say to myself. Give them the work, yes, but give them a break! Their brains are growing. Their tastes are changing. Their maturity is slowly unfurling its wings.

They’re only just beginning to understand that critical thinking isn’t about criticism.

In their book, up until now, or at least for several of them, inferring was the same as implying.

In their book, up until now (and probably still), to talk things over between themselves is the same as talking things over among themselves, because after all, all teenagers know that two is the same as more than two. Right?

In their book, to be beside themselves because they are roundly defeated in an argument is the same as the fact that an irrelevant factoid might be besides the point in a rational discussion, which fact pointed out by someone might make them cry. What’s the difference?  they might argue. They lost! That’s the point!  (This is the juncture where the chance to down a couple of aspirin is not to be passed up).

To be teenagers of thirteen and fourteen is to love a person, a subject, a teacher, a friend, a movie, a book, a celebrity, a cupcake, a dress, a hairstyle, a pet, a T.V. show, pasta, pizza, burgers, soccer, dance, music, musicians, actors, actresses, passionately, devotedly, equally … until they hate some of those same things equally.

They can indulge in rational thought, sure, just as they can call upon logic to prove points and impress grownups. They can don sensible behavior, like a school uniform, only to quickly lapse into absolute irrationality, stripping their minds of any sense, and donning foolishness, like those skimpy clothes that girls keep in their lockers (away from the eyes of parents) in order to change into them in the Girls’ Bathroom, and walk down the hallways in scandalous attire, only to be caught and made to change back into sensible clothes by the Assistant Principals or the School Nurse. 

Keeping all this in mind, I can (knowing that it will probably not register) use logic, trusting to their put-on rationality, and they will nod miserably and agree with what I’m saying, and then go home, cry to their mothers and say, “I hate her!  She hates me! She put me in the __________ level!”  Their mothers will say, “She doesn’t hate you, but you can put on your best behavior and be sure to make all your work pretty.  I’ll hire you a tutor, and you can bring your grades up.  Then, we can appeal her recommendation!”

How can I explain to them that these recommendations aren’t personal? That I spent hours looking over their grades, their essays, their tests and their quizzes, and mentally reviewing their class participation and accuracy of responses to thought-provoking questions? That I worry that I may have not been fair to someone, and thus go over my recommendations even more carefully?  That I might be condemning someone to feel like she or he is a failure, because she or he hasn’t been recommended for the __________ level?

So, the day passes. However, so far, no tears this year. Tomorrow, the day after, and all of the next few weeks, there will be a flood of emails, requests, pleas to change my recommendation. In some cases, the recommendation will change, if they improve between now and May.

Until then, we labor on, mightily. We hope the children won’t hate us. We don’t hate them. We love them. We want them to feel successful. Unfortunately, hidden in all these recommendations is the underlying feeling of unworthiness for students.

If the levels didn’t carry with them a number (credits in the High School) and a social stigma (idle chatter at suburban cocktail parties, status-related boasting, worry about college admissions, you-name-it), it would be wonderful. It would simply mean that people go where they can grow.

We teachers do all this in good faith.

The system, however, is ranged against good faith. The system needs numbers. Numbers are helpful. They can be used to impress, justify, silence. They can be manipulated to show a slanted viewpoint. They can be used to frighten and convince. Sometimes they tell the truth.

And sometimes, they are the enemy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The End of My Rant~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

am I at the radius…

or the diameter?

of family,

of friends,

courtship prolonged,

I walk away,

in crowded rooms,

on planted ground,

variance make me,

on my own,

what helps me lead,

it has them love,

love?

too strong…

no,

it’s true,

hands in pocket,

genetics bond me,

to matriarch,

to patriarch,

the expectations,

language and grit,

old eyes,

sanguine tongues,

reunions,

ancestry labelled,

the person defined,

a family tree,

I find myself…

a departed root,

growing in direct contrast,

call me a black sheep,

I’m not offended,

I am glorified.

One of my earliest memories is of my mother and my grandmother standing in the middle of the kitchen in the home where I grew up with their arms wrapped around each other . . . weeping. My oldest brother, Jim, walked into the room and stood next to me. “Do you want a cookie?” he asked.

I looked up at him and said, “Why are Mommy and Grandma crying?”

Jim picked me up and sat me on the edge of a table that was filled with food. He looked straight into my little face and said, “Daddy isn’t coming home anymore. Daddy’s gone to heaven to be with God.”

And all my little three-year-old mind could figure out was that I must have been a very bad girl for God to take my daddy away.

I always knew there was a God.

I always knew that I wasn’t good enough for Him.

I always knew abandonment.

I always tried so hard to be good.

It was an impossible task.

Third grade was a memorable year for me. It was the year we moved into the new elementary school. It was the year I had the meanest teacher in the school district – aptly names Mrs. Pickens. It was the year I had my tonsils removed and subsequently had to go to speech therapy to relearn how to talk. And, it was the year my best friend heard me say that I had a step-father . . . “I didn’t know you were one of those girls!” she declared.

After that, we weren’t quite best friends anymore.

Growing up as “one of those girls,” I learned very early that I wore an invisible scarlet letter and that step-fathers are not daddies. This was a revelation brought to me by my sister. I had been calling him “Daddy” ever since my mother had told me that he was my new “Daddy.” But my sister soon set me straight. “He is NOT our daddy and you are never to call him that!”

My big sister was a huge influence in my 6-year-old world, so from then on, I called my step-father “Bob.”

No one seemed to care why I had a step-father – but it did matter that my mother wasn’t from our community, that we didn’t go to church, and that my mom wasn’t Dutch. My father had been Dutch, but he was gone and I had the dreaded step-father instead. It didn’t take me long to figure out that value was found in your last name, where you lived, how much money you made, what you wore, and who your friends were. And if your family didn’t go to church, you were a heathen – definitely a lesser-than.

I had nothing which would signify value – in fact, having a step-father put my value factor in the negative. Of course, it didn’t help that I was fat and ugly, with frizzy hair and a gap between my two front teeth. God seemed to take pleasure in making me miserable – the “religious” neighbor kids were quick to point out all of the things that were wrong with me, my siblings, as well as my parents. They were quick to let me know that whatever they thought of me, this was certainly what God thought of me – even though He was the one who made me that way and put me in that situation. Surely God was punitive toward this fat, ugly, frizzy-haired girl with a step-father and a family that didn’t go to church. It certainly seemed that God had abandoned me.

Perhaps it was in seeing and experiencing so much unfairness that I developed such a heightened sense of justice. Learning that people at every level – children, adults, parents, teachers, “Christians” – judge people based on their last name, income, neighborhood, social status, etc., I railed against this attitude with every fiber of my being.

My first recollection of holding people accountable came in the third grade. We would always trade papers after taking daily tests on multiplication tables. The two girls in front of me would always trade papers and then change each others answers in order to get perfect scores every day. One day, I pointed out what they were doing and the teacher looked at those two girls and then looked at me. “These girls would never do such a thing!” she declared. Of course they wouldn’t. They were from well-to-do families and went to the beauty parlor for their hair cuts and wore store-bought clothes. How could I ever make such an accusation against such fine, upstanding girls?

As I got older and into junior and senior high school, I discovered that I fell into the crack between the “haves” and the “have nots.” I was definitely a “have not” by most folks standards, but no one could deny my intelligence or talent. With excellent grades and as one of the most celebrated musicians in my school, I became marginally acceptable to the “haves” and was always welcomed by the “have nots,” but never fully embraced by either.

 “It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back”

                                                                         ,Public Enemy

As promised last week, I would feature the awesome and truly gifted Shepard Fairey’s print, one his most recent pieces of the new year for “Poster of the week”. So here it is at long last, ready for me to show off the marvel that it is and can proudly say that I officially own a copy of such a prestigious print.

Back in early January Fairey was trickling teasers out and little snippets of the piece to be, leading me and many others to become hooked, awaiting the grand revelation that would become the “Sedation Pill”. Inspired by the Public Enemy album  “It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back”, with the meaning there for you to either frantically decipher or create your own belief and ideology from. As with most Fairey creations, they leave you captivated with the level of detail and sub levels of depth, with you almost wanting there to be a hidden message amongst the designs. Its upto you the audience to believe what you want, with the “All seeing eye” (Illuminati symbolism) making an appearance again, as within many other creations. Its all ploys to draw you in, there is no conspiracy as many like to believe, its pure imagination and almost a device that makes you come back for more. Especially the soviet feel the prints always have, with the strong imagery and use of red, black and white, that’s why this print is special, its of a new breed reflecting a whole new colour palette, but still being recognisable of Fairey.

Stepping on from the message, which is down to you the audience to decipher, with my own personal take being how we the society are fed this “Sedation Pill” and almost expected to stay in line within the human life, pay your taxes, work, have a family, abide by the laws,we are almost fed this pill from birth. Almost hypnotized by what we see from the media, TV and celebrities, it allows an escape from the realities of human life.

I wanted to focus on how the colours build up the image, adding the levels of depth than the human eye can focus in on. With the addition of Gold and other gold variants, Fairey has managed to create a whole new feel from the iconic red giving a new breath of life (which it didn’t need) but just allows us to see how versatile his work can actually be. With it being capable of expanding out from the safeness of the original colours into new realms. One of the reason s why I was so adamant on purchasing this print, with it being such a new wave and a step aside from his usual workings, I was attracted at first sight, showing just how much of an impact that something so flat can have. And its not even a case of being flat 2D, the setting of depth amongst the colours allows the image to rise up and act almost as if its coming out at you.

Unlike the recent “Posters of the week”, this print had no real need of textures, I found as well, relying on the use of shapes to add a visual texture, especially with the ray lines across the woman’s face. Funny enough, through the technique of spray painting, which is a realm that I have little understanding, but would like to eventually, I found that the spray adds the secret texture. Brushing your hand across the surface of something so flat, you can instantly feel the raised levels beneath your finger tips, one of the many loves that comes with Screenprint  you can actually feel the works ink, giving more of a desire than what you’d get from digital printing.

Overall, I have to say that any lover of art, whether its fine art, graphics or illustration, you can all feel a connection within the print. It combines so many elements and so much attraction, that you can’t help but want to stare at the print for hours, feel inspired in yourself and almost look it over and over again just to be sure that there isn’t some fine little detail or message that you may have missed.

Thank you Mr Fairey for your work, and may we continue to bear witness to such influential and inspiring masterpieces in the near future. For all of you that either haven’t heard of the man, or haven’t really seen much of his work then I’d advise you to strongly look him up, and become hooked yourself. Stay tuned as well folks, for next weeks “Poster of the week”, which I can say is a piece from the greatness that is Drew Millward, so stay focused!