What's important to me?

This was the question posed to me by a therapist some time ago, and it's a question that I've certainly considered on more than one occasion. And yet a definitive answer still eludes me. What is important to me? There is no easy answer to a question like that.

During the middle of the session nothing immediately came to mind. Then, after a moment of thought, things that I considered important began to surface. Chief among those thoughts, or really, what sprang to mind first, were thoughts of my family and friends. Followed by my interests in writing, reading, acting, and socializing. Soon more thoughts came to mind as to what was important to me.

Philosophy, Psychology, Ideology, History, Mythology, Sociology, etc. These were all areas of study that I found fascinating. And they were important to me because I was able to engross myself in their knowledge so deeply, and from that knowledge, I was able to carve out an identity for myself from everything I had learned. And in my mind, having a definitive identity of oneself is pretty important.

Soon after I acknowledged these fields of study that interested me, I began to think of mere words that resonated with me or had some significance to them: Friendship, Comradery, Fraternity, Family, Love, Honor, Loyalty, Respect, Dignity, Duty, Sacrifice, Legacy.

Intelligence, Modesty, Humility, Honesty, Authenticity, Sincerity.

Justice, Logic, Reason, Rationality.

Irrational, Absurd, Anger, Hate, Disdain.

Gratitude, Insight, Intuition, Demonstration.

The Tangible, the Intangible, the Ethereal, the Spiritual, and the Ramifications of Everything In Between.

Life and Death.

Words. Concepts. Feelings.

The real and the abstract intertwining. That is what is important to me. That, and finding the balance to walk the line between the two.

Teach For America Letter of Intent

“Every day, at every turn, I see something, something that stares me straight in the eye, that intimidates me, and belittles me to the point where I feel too inadequate to approach it. It’s nothing new, and other’s acceptance of it shakes my idea that it doesn’t belong. I can’t stop thinking about it as I wait for someone to pull around the bandwagon so I can jump on it. I put my hands in my pocket while I pass the time. My fingers jingle the keys to the bandwagon.”

I wrote the above passage when I decided to film a solo documentary in Peru. Being a young woman in a foreign place did not empower me to spread awareness about child labor, but being a human did. I discovered the power I possess to make a difference in a place where change is unwelcome. Walking alone through the poorest parts of Lima, through streets that weren’t streets, dark paths in the sand covered in filth and occupied by disease-stricken dogs, was the most enlightened yet unsettled I have ever felt.

            Socioeconomic injustice isn’t confined to the developing world. As I drive through impoverished parts of Tuscaloosa, in route to my comfortable sorority home, a new light has been cast for me – injustice has taken shelter in the education system in my own backyard. Teach For America’s mission is not one I can allow myself to watch unfold and sit idly by; I have to be a part of it. As Vice President of my sorority, I helped initiate the Champions Are Readers program for third graders at Holt Elementary in Tuscaloosa. Working with these students taught me how a small amount of attention develops a crucial difference. Today’s children will soon be members of our society. We can shape the kind of members they will become through effective education.

While improving test scores is a reasonable short-term goal, my hopeful accomplishment is something longer lasting. I believe in increasing my students’ self-awareness by showing them that they are intelligent, competent, and headed towards success. My goal is to liberate students from the conceptions created and sustained by the education system’s repetitive cycle. My students will know the doors the world holds open for them, as I show them how to use their talents to break any glass ceiling they’ve been living under. When my students have the confidence necessary to compete against others who come from the “right side of the tracks,” I will consider that a victory. Success begins with raised confidence which results in raised test scores.

Teach For America is not a two-year commitment, it is a life-long attitude. Every day, at every turn, I see solvable problems. Throughout my life I will confront them, hopefully first through Teach For America, and ultimately with my camera in hand.  My allegiance to Teach For America’s mission won’t end after two years but instead will be internalized as fuel for my next project, and each one that follows.

My Creative Process

A drawing I did. A visual representation of my creative process when writing songs.

Rooster's Blues House opens on the strip.

NOH8 Campaign and the HRC visit Tuscaloosa!

My Perú.

At first, when I was thinking about studying abroad, Peru wasn’t even on my radar—I had this impression that Peru just another small country in the middle of South America. That’s what surprised me the most when I got there—not only is Peru a huge country, but the landscape, people and culture is so diverse. Every different department of peru has its own special food, music and culture—from the beautiful andes mountains, to the breathtaking coast to the historical Macchu Picchu to the exotic Amazon jungle—even 2 months wasn’t long enough to see all the wonders peru has to offer.

There is also never a dull moment in Lima, where I spent most of my time. The night life is amazing, there are so many beautiful places to see and fun clubs and restaurants—and downtown historical lima is so beautiful and there are so many stories behind all the cool architecture

The best part, about Peru however are the people who live there—los peruanos. There’s nothing better than sitting down with a group of people who have adopted you into their own family and sharing a great meal of anticuchos on the grill, papas rellenas, Peru’s famous Ceviche, or my favorite—Aji de Gallina. We could sit around for hours talking and laughing—the people of Peru are so warm, inviting, and easy to talk to—even when spanish isn’t your first language.

I’ve been back in the states for months now, and every so often I’ll be spending time with friends, when all of a sudden something takes me back---man it makes me miss peru—In fact, I fell so much in love with Peru, that I wouldn’t be surprised if one day I decide to go back—and stay for good.

The Starbucks People.

The air inside Starbucks was cool and refreshing in comparison to the unseasonal heat that characterized this Alabama Sunday. A smattering of people sitting inside, first occupying the more comfortable sofas that were available as well as less comfortable but perhaps more practical tables organized throughout, were far more in number than the amount of available parking outside would suggest. Few enough people that there was still plenty of seating to choose from, but enough that finding an area where sitting would not infringe on other’s bubbles of space had become difficult. The first meaningful interaction I observed demonstrates the former sentiment.
In the coveted corner, where the entirety of this Starbuck’s sofa collection was located, sat three adult men and one woman, around a coffee table where half empty cups had been placed, engaging in official sounding, most likely work related conversation. One of the men was partially blocked from my view by a large display of Tervis Tumblers, mugs and other Starbucks paraphernalia that had strategically been placed in the middle of the store. The next time I looked up, I found that my view had even more been blocked by a guy who, seeming to have come from nowhere, sat down at a table directly in the middle of the store. His sudden appearance, followed by a dialogue of apologies and questions—“Did our noise scare you off?” “You were here first; are you sure…?” lead me to realize that he was indeed the same man that had been obscured earlier from my view, and that really there were only three members the cluster of colleagues that occupied the envied sofas. The man, now more easily referred to as guy, because in clear view looked much more similar in age to me than any of the others in the sofa discussion, pulled out his computer and with headphones in his ears began to smile, almost smirk, as if he knew something the rest of the world around him just didn’t get.
With his large glass of ice water and computer situated now on the table in front of him, he began to spread cream cheese on a bagel, all the while staring at his computer with the same, uninterrupted grin. A somewhat distracting burst of laughter came forth from that same corner of businessmen, but did nothing to break the smile of the so concentrated guy, who now had a smudge of cream cheese on the corner of his mouth. After several minutes of the same, the young man suddenly stood up, put his computer away in its protective case, sat down again, comfortably resting one leg up on the chair next to him, and began to stare out the window. With no screen or anything protecting his gaze from mine, there was a slight tension that began to fill the room—perhaps because he suspected he was being watched, or even more so because he was afraid someone else knew that he himself was doing some watching. Whichever the reason why, in only a few short minutes he had pulled his computer out a second time. At one point in all of this, he stood up and walked away, most likely to go to the bathroom, and on his way exchanged friendly words with the barista that suggested previous familiarity between the two. To my suspicion, only a couple more minutes after his return from the restroom, the young guy walked toward the door, calling behind him, “I’m headed out, but don’t worry I’ll probably be back later.” The barista looked forward to his return.
I however, did not stay long enough to verify if the young man proved true to his word.

Dion, Berscheid & Walster (1972)-What is Beautiful is Good

            The experiment, “What is Beautiful is Good” by Dion, Berscheid & Walster (1972), is purposed to depict the possibility that there is an existing correlation between inward character and one’s outward appearance. The designed experiment was in attempt to determine whether or not individuals associate certain personality traits/ success potential (social desirability, ability lead better lives) with persons of specific levels of attractiveness and if so, what causes this correlation. Also taken in to account was jealousy so Sex of Subject X Sex of Stimulus Person was investigated.

            Sixty Students (30 male, 30 female) were placed in designated rooms where they were introduced to the experiment. They were each given 3 envelopes containing pictures of stimuli persons described as physically attractive, average attractive, and unattractive. The dependant variables included the judgments made by the subject students about the stimuli persons which were recorded in booklets. The students first rated each photo for 27 different personality traits on a 6-point scale. To determine the level of social desirability each stimuli possessed, the subjects then graded the stimuli on 5 different personality traits depending on which of the three possessed the most or least amount of the given trait. In order to asses whether or not more attractive people were more likely to lead happier, more successful lives, the students were asked to state which of the three stimuli were more or less likely to experience certain life experiences. Lastly, to test the assumed occupational success of the stimuli, the subjects associated a status level of 10 different occupations with each stimulus.

            As predicted, the attractive individuals were expected to live happier and more successful lives. The results show that the subjects assumed the attractive stimuli would be more socially desirable, have higher occupational status, better marital competence, social and professional happiness and were more likely to marry. However, unexpectedly, the subjects assumed the attractive stimuli would have the least parental competence

            This study is an experiment and not a correlation because it includes dependant variables and a control. The independent variables in the experiment are the pictures of the stimuli, the subjects, and the questions asked. The dependant variables are the responses given about the stimuli by the subjects and the control is the picture of the average attractive stimuli.

            However successful, the experiment could have been affected by certain flaws. There is a possibility of sensory leakage, for instance, if the subject were to look over at another subject’s notebook, he/she may unknowingly be influenced causing him/her to rate the stimuli in a similar manner. This would, in turn, create an inaccurate result. Another experimental flaw is the lack of randomization. The subjects may have recognized the pattern (attractive, average, unattractive) and based his/her decision on the perceived rather than their unbiased opinion. To improve the accuracy of the experiment, the subjects could be placed in separate rooms with no access/communication to the other subjects.

            In the future, some areas of research include exploring any truth behind the “What is Beautiful is Good” theory of perception. Experimenters could study the social success levels reached by attractive, average, and unattractive subjects. Personally, I feel that in society we are taught to live by the “What is Beautiful is Good” theory. Why else would we dress up for interviews? Or court appearances? We are told that first impressions are everything and that your outward appearance is the first impression you give.

More than just a class.

The reason I signed up for Dr. Chapman’s SPE100 class was to get an easy A. I needed to take an elective to fulfill my core and a friend of mine recommended this class. I asked him if it would be easy, he just laughed at me and assured me that I wouldn’t have a problem with it. Again, I asked if it would be easy enough to get an A in, he got a serious look on his face and said, “Vicki, just take it. It changed my life.”

            The first day of class we were all told about these community service hours that were required as a part of our grade. Twenty definitely seemed like a lot so I knew I had to begin right away. I went to Get On Board Day to look for a service organization to join, there is where I found UA Mentors. UA Mentors is a program that pairs you with a child or two from a local school to mentor and tutor for the semester. I immediately signed up and awaited my placement. I then got an e-mail from Star Bloom, the Honors College Professor who is in charge of the program. She paired me up with two third graders at Matthews Elementary, Jailyn Bishop and Tiffany Peña, where I went every Thursday from 3:00-5:00pm. My first day was September 3^rd and I have been almost every Thursday since then.

            The mission and purpose of UA Mentoring is to give hands on teaching experience to students while providing a safe and nurturing after-school environment for children. I worked as a tutor and mentor, basically I would sit with the girls and help them with their homework, teach them skills to help them get ahead, and learn about their lives. There were many other students that worked with me, most of them were a part of the honors college and were fulfilling service requirements for a class. There was an upperclassman, Logan Dowell, who was in charge of the third grade class and the third grade mentors and a graduate student, Jia Chen, who over-looked the entire program at Matthews.

            This service learning experience taught me a lot, not only about teaching but also about myself. It really gave an archive of skills I did not have before I began tutoring. Sometimes these girls had a hard time understanding some of the material that they were being taught. I knew they were very smart girls and that it wasn’t the material that wasn’t understandable but rather the way it was being taught wasn’t compatible to their way of learning. It made me better appreciate everyone as an individual and understand that many times things have to be approached in a different manner in order for them to be understood.

            The UA Mentors program is great and really does some phenomenal things for the lives of these children however, it does face some challenges. Because the mentors are college students, and many of them are participating for class credit, they do not share the same passion as Star Bloom and Jia Chen for touching the lives of the children. I found it truly disappointing that some mentors would fail to show up consistently or when they were there, they did not give significant attention to their mentees. It would break my heart to see the tears in a child’s eyes because yet again their mentor did not care enough about them to come. However terrible the consequences of the aforementioned challenges can be, the success stories are of much greater content. Many of these children would fall behind in their class because their parents work or are simply disinterested in their schoolwork. Without proper at-home practice, a child can truly be set back from his or her classmates. UA Mentors successfully provides a safe and nurturing atmosphere for these kids to grow socially and intellectually.

            What surprised me most was how attached I became to Tiffany and Jailyn. I have continued to mentor even after completing my twenty hours, and will continue to do so next semester as well. I believe my work there has not only benefitted the girls but also UA Mentors as a program. I tried to not only be a part of the program but also provide input about how the program can be expanded. I took the mission and purpose to heart when I began my service and am confident that I have positively impacted the children in my class. What I learned here is something that I will carry with me in the future. I hope to one day be a teacher. This experience has opened my eyes to the importance of understanding each individual in the classroom. So many times the teacher will simply teach to the class, but I found that difficult when every child is unique. Being able to connect with the students on a one on one level is very important.

            The reason I signed up for Dr. Chapman’s SPE100 class was to get an easy A, but now I have found that classes are more than just about grades and teachers are more than just graders. Each class is an opportunity to better yourself as a person and as a future member of society. This class and it’s service learning experience has opened my eyes to a new approach to life. My experience has taught me to be flexible, understanding, and interested; all things that I believe will make me a more responsible member of society. So Dr. Chapman, this class has changed my life, too.

A letter to my brother...

Michael,

As we grow and look ahead in our lives, we search many archives for advice on how to be successful in life, love, and happiness. We seek the words and wisdom of our family, friends, and professors who speak, we hope, with our best interests in mind and at heart. Their counsel, although valuable, gives no warrant. No person can direct you to the course of success. So instead, I will leave you with the word of the One who can. 

6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well.8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
  9 Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.10 Love each other with genuine affection,* and take delight in honoring each other.11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.*12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.13 When God's people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
  14 Bless those who persecute you. Don't curse them; pray that God will bless them.15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.16 Live in harmony with each other. Don't be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don't think you know it all!
  17 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
  19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,

"I will take revenge;
  I will pay them back,"*
  says the LORD.

20 Instead,

"If your enemies are hungry, feed them.
  If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap
  burning coals of shame on their heads."*

21 Don't let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.

Romans 12:6-21

48 … When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.

Luke 12:48

Remember how much you have been given in this life, and remember these are gifts to be used wholly, purposefully and joyfully. Your talents are limitless, so give them no limits. Don’t just reach, but go, because you can. But wherever you go, go with the guidance of the One who knows, adores, and created your heart and soul. He will take you beyond any expectation of success and joy you have imagined.

Never turn away from love, and never turn away love from anyone.

Your partner in crime always,

Vicki

Response to Four Days in September

 

Based on Fernando Gabeira’s account of the MR-8’s kidnapping of US ambassador Charles Burke Elbrick, Four Days in September provides an emotive, ambiguous approach to the struggle between the Brazilian military dictatorship and the revolutionaries of the urban guerrilla opposition movement. The movie uses situational and semantic contrast to evoke an ambivalent response from the audience and, ultimately, convey the complexity of the situation. Perhaps the most glaring piece of irony in the film is revealed through Artur’s statement that “[the MR-8] and the military seem very different, like two ends of a horseshoe, but actually [they are] very close.” This observation is strengthened by the rigid, militaristic structure of the opposition group, which, like the Brazilian dictatorship, obliges its members to blindly carry out orders regardless of moral complications. By conveying this similitude, Four Days in September blurs the line between “right” and “wrong” in the context of the struggle. To be sure, the film is undeniably critical of the military dictatorship and praises the intentions of the protagonists. However, the assertion that these characters are merely “innocent kids with big dreams being used by dangerous scum” reveals the uncertainty of the ambitions of the opposition leaders. Ambassador Elbrick’s letter to his wife employs contradistinctive language to further pit the protagonists against the opposition leadership. In the letter, he describes Julio as “a child involved in a very dangerous game” and wonders,“What kind of sad destiny led [Reneé’s] delicate hands to pick up such a cold weapon?” The image of a child with “baby-soft skin” in a perilous situation and the juxtaposition of delicate hands on a cold weapon push the audience to question the morality of the existence of such an opposition group. Certainly, many scenes in the film, particularly final scene, elicit a response that is sympathetic to the opposition movement. However, this response is ultimately muddied by the irresolution that stems from the unmistakable similarities between the military dictatorship and the MR-8.  

Left out to dry...

Why do you think that the homeless are treated with such disdain?

Maybe it has something to do with one's fear of becoming like them. In psychology I learned that we create excuses for the homeless, such as the fact that they are lazy and it is their fault for becoming homeless, so that we can arrive at the solution that we are not lazy and therefore will not become homeless. Because people in general are so fearful of the homeless, they are not wanted in public areas. Shop owners, subway managers, etc. do not want homeless people in their facilities because it makes their facility less attractive to their customers.

Because of these ideas we have developed about them, we are almost ashamed to give them any sort of support. Helping the homeless is seen as agreeing and possibly supporting their lifestyle. People will claim to care about them but will not look them in the face as individuals. Society will give the homeless a helping hand as long as they don’t have to actually touch their hands.

If we don't want to give them homes, and we don't want them on the streets, then where do we want them to go?

            Homeless people have just as much, if not more, of a right to be on the streets because that is, in fact, their home. It's only natural for them to be allowed to sleep under bridges and other abandoned areas. These places are not used by the general public and simply exist. Every night officials and street security wake these people from their sleep and ask them to"move along". Why? They are not in anyone’s way. They should be bothered by officials unless they are being a bother. These people not only are denied a place to sleep also a warm meal. Restaurants don't want homeless customers scaring off their more regular customers. It is illegal to deny service to someone because of gender/race. Denying service to someone because of his or her social standings should be an enforced illegality.

 But who's going to help?

The Jersey Shore

THE JERSEY SHORE (2009- ) - Genre: Television Series

FOUR HORIZONTAL INTERTEXTUAL CONNECTIONS:

The Real World (1992 - ) - Genre: Television Series
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103520/
 This series made reality TV what it is today. The filming techniques used in shooting The Real World are also used in The Jersey Shore. Both series feature a random group of friends living together in a house, having the same job, the common telephone line, etc. Also, both series feature a confession room where characters give their commentary on the "house happenings".

Jerseylicious (2010 - ) - Genre: Television Series
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1583417/
 Jerseylicious began after The Jersey Shore made the Guido persona such a success. This series features a beauty salon in New Jersey complete with all the drama and hair gel you see in The Jersey Shore.

Real Housewives of New Jersey (2009- ) - Genre: Television Series
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1411598/
This reality series features Italian-America characters, like The Jersey Shore. Again, this series survives off the drama created by the characters between each other.

Big Rich Texas (2011- ) - Genre: Television Series
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2023893/
This reality show follows a 5 wealthy members of an elite social group in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas. This series is guido-free but the way in which these characters interact is very reminiscent of The Jersey Shore.

FOUR VERTICAL INTERTEXTUAL CONNECTIONS:

Rosary - Genre: Art?

The Italian-American characters of The Jersey Shore talk about their Catholic roots. Many of the male characters wear rosaries around their necks.

Italy - Genre: Geography

 The characters claim Italian roots and the fourth season was actually filmed in Florence, Italy.


The Godfather (1972) - Genre: Film

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068646/

This drama made being Italian-American "cool". This was one of the first gang movies that showed an insider view of the Mafia. The Jersey Shore is similar in that it is the first reality television series to show "what it's like to be a guido."



Men's Fitness Magazine - Genre: Literature

The male characters on The Jersey Shore are very focused on fitness. They live by the saying, GTL, which stands for Gym, Tan, Laundry. Even the halloween costumes and doll depictions of the characters are complete with six-pack abs. 


TWO PUBLIC TERTIARY TEXTS:

Jeremy Clyman, M.A.- Blog Journalist, Psychology Today
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/reel-therapy/201001/mtvs-jersey-shore-under-the-microscope
"[Snooki]is so desperate for love and affection that she over-plays her hand and pushes the group away with impulsive, overly-aggressive moves...In my mind, this internal tug-of-war in which the need for uncompromising acceptance battles a sense of total alienation is a central feature to her."

Jon Caramanica - Critic, New york Times
 http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/31/arts/television/jersey-shore-has-its-day-at-university-of-chicago.html
"Jersey Shore” is one of the most reflexive and self-referential shows on television, and its participants among the most self-aware."

TWO SIGNIFIERS:

Tanning Bed

 Tanning is iconic in the sense that it is part of the crews daily GTL ritual. Snooki was even featured in a pistachio advertisement cracking open the nut using a tanning bed. However, a tanning bed is also symbolic of the character's unhealthy yet socially acceptable lifestyle.

The Jersey Shore

The Jersey Shore Pier is iconic because it was the setting for the first seasons of the show. The pier is also symbolic of the beach/night life culture that the characters are very much a part of.