Week 15

Final Wiki Assignment: (500+ words) Using Wise as your source, post about what you have taken away from the readings and discussions in this class. What have learned about yourself or others cultures/co-cultures? What insights, if any, have you experienced? Feel free to discuss several different topics but remember to cite the text (any chapter is fine).

This semester I have learned a lot from reading "Cultural Globalization" by J. Macgregor Wise.  He had many good concepts throughout the book.  In the chapters it went into good detail about what is going on in the world.  I am actually trying to go into music, so when I read chapter 4 Global Music it really caught my eye.  This chapter explained how music in the present has formed from music in the past.  Josh Kun calls the territorialization by music audiotopia: "music is experienced not only as sound that goes into our ears and vibrates through our bones but as a space that we enter into, encounter, move around in, inhabit, be safe in, learn from (Wise, pg. 77)".

I feel that this is a good line because I believe that many people listen to music and they can all relate. There are many different genres but if i am not feeling good or something is wrong I can always listen to music to make things better. The reading and post that we did for our discussion helped me keep up to what was going on.  This allowed other people to look on the web and read peoples thoughts of the chapter we just read.

Although we had a discussion every week throughout the class I still feel that it was difficult on some chapters to understand the reading because I did not have anyone actually teaching me.  The reading was helpful and it was nice to see other peoples point of view on the topic. Sometimes I wouldn't have a clue what to write on but when you see other peoples ideas and thoughts it is that little spark you need to get going.  I took in a lot from the class and learned different meanings of situations during the discussion.  I have never taken an online class before because it had always seemed difficult to teach yourself and I found out to late to change. While reading chapter 4 it talks about the different genres such as Punk and Hip hop. I felt that I related to the Hip hop so I wanted to talk about punk.  I am not the type to judge music because I am a fan and can not count anything out but I just haven't listen to it. I have heard that punk is almost like a city in its own way. People who really feel that they are in to this punk culture have there own way of living, such as designing there own clothes with rips or holes in them.

I am thankful for many things and this class has taught me so much although I know i haven't done so well on some of the work. I believe that from reading both books I have learned so much and have got a better understanding of the course.

Week 13

Wise discusses how we define our cultural territories or have them defined for us. Again, this week you have a few options on the question you address. Please identify which option you choose to use by only pasting in your wiki page the option chosen.

Option #1: How do you define your own cultural/co-cultural territories? Be specific and use examples.

In chapter 5 "Territories of cultural globalization", Wise says " Spaces and territories precede us, suspend us, make us who we are, and or legacy. Spaces and territories precede us, suspend us, make us who we are, and our legacy" (Wise, 108). I believe while growing up my cultural territories developed at my aunt and grandma's house. I learned so much from them and it is always a blessing to see them because they taught me so much. My grandma used to live in San Dimas but she moved back to Louisiana so I don't get to see her as much, but we do talk on the phone.  If it wasn't for my aunt I would have missed out on so many good meals. She would make foods that were from different cultures that didn't look good so I would second guess eating it, but most of the time it was good. I think that this is one territory that i stepped out and explored. I would like to thank my family for helping me see different territories and cultures.

Week 12

There are two options for this week’s discussion question. Please identify which option you choose to use by only pasting in your wiki page the option chosen. Both deal with the role of music in establishing and projecting your own culture.

Option #1: Select one song or artist/band or genre of music that you would use to exemplify your personal or a co-culture you belong to and the role it plays in signaling who you “are.” Be specific and use examples.

The genre of music that I chose that best fits my culture I believe would be "oldies".  When I went both sides of my family they would always play it.  They would play Barry White, Earth Wind & Fire, Cool n the gang, TLC, Michael Jackson, and The Temptations. There are many more but thats just a few. Being a young kid you didn't get to say much on what you wanted to listen to. I felt that I was being punished for having to listen to it, but as I got older it started to grow on me.  Wise states in the book "but also an affective one, since we use music as well to alter our own bodily states, our mood, our affect, our intensity" (Wise,78).  I feel this is very true because some music can change your mood, maybe if your having a bad day you can put it on and make things all better. Some music can get you really pumped before a game or big event.  I feel that this genre of oldies describes a part of my culture and a part of me.  This music is very uplifting and good to dance to.

Week 11

Wise and Kjeldgaard (pp. 71-72) discuss the idea of the “consumptionscape” – how we construct our culture through the act of consuming local, regional, national, or global goods. Within the context of this chapter - describe your own consumptionscape and how it impacts your cultural self.

The reading gives me many ideas of consumptionscape.  I feel that it impacts my life by the things I go out and buy.  Kjeldgaard says that "urban youth focused on style and identity" (Wise,71).  I do feel this is true and if that person can't find it at the store they always have a better opportunity of finding the item online.  Being a young adult who goes out to the mall, bars, and clubs, you do come across new clothes, hats, and shoes.When I see a hat i usually will go out the next day to look for it but most stores do not have the brand new hats in stock, so once i get back home i go online to look for it.  When the holidays start to come and the people who do not go out as much can still do there shopping and i do believe it is faster around those times. I do see the online shopping starting to pick up.  I am the one who if i know a hat or pair of shoes are coming out will try to get them the first couple of days.  As you can see everyone is different but it does impact my culture.

Week 10

Often the media we consume reflects our culture(s). Select a television program or movie that embodies or bridges your culture(s) or co-culture(s). Describe that particular cultural aspect(s), explain why you think that TV program or movie is a good representation of your co/culture, and how this links into the text.

The TV program that i feel best embodies my culture is a show that i used to watch back home called "Entourage".  In the show there are five best friends, who live in LA an work hard with a very good life style.  They all live in different places of the city but are all close to help one another out in difficult situations.  I feel this is almost how my life is just not as good with all the fancy cars an houses. I am from LA an can relate to a lot in this show with my friends an their problems.

Wise explains, "Identity is not essential since one can become something one is not" (14). This aspect of life shows that although you may live in a big city life is not always like that. For me I can relate to that because I have lived there my whole life an have been there for friends an family when they have gone through hard times. After seeing the shows every week it always makes me want to go out an work hard in life to do better.

Week 9

Strategic essentialism is a way to express an “essential identity” (which in practicality do not exist) but it is important to express that identity (gender, race, ethnicity, etc) at a particular time and place (p. 14). See text for examples.

 Recall a time and place where you either practiced strategic essentialism or witnessed it practiced by a friend, relative, or co-worker (not in the media or via hearsay). Be specifc. How did it make you feel? Was it effective?

While sitting here thinking about Strategic essentialism I had 2 choices but narrowed it to my aunt and her job. My aunt does commercial loans for banks.  On days that I would go visit my aunt  i noticed that her boss doesn't really know what she is doing. Her boss (Cherry) argues  with everybody that works there. It seems that when it is time to close a loan the broker always seems to find something wrong with the document.  Cherry will then come back complaining that someone has messed up.

Although i know when my aunt gets a little mad cause when she does her work she always checks it but her boss always has to say something.  I think it is good how my aunt doesn't pay her much attention an just goes on to a new project instead of trying to argue.

As for how it made me feel. I found it a little funny with everything that goes on, but after time I noticed Cherry had 

calmed down and was not complaining as much. I do believe this worked an was effective because my aunt told

me that they have been closing more loans.

WEEK 4

How will new technology affect the development of your future "Cultural-self"?

I feel as if when new technology does come out, it will change alot of peoples lives.  it seems as if every year they have something new that comes out.  During the early 1900s most information was put onto news papers for the public.  "Jerferson once remarked that news papers were more necessary than the government.."(pg.92).  I have noticed that when people want to know whats going on in the world they usually will turn to the TV or the Internet. Since these new technologies have come out it seems that the news paper isn't that big of a resource any more.

When i hear of technology in the next 15years i think of products that will be expensive but it will also do everything you want.  I believe they will come out with something so that you will not have to get out of your been an it will all be done by a touch of a remote.  I think peoples living habits will change through the years from everthing, because people already use the web, text messages, and friends to stay updated.

Week 3 

What is the “value” of a college degree? Why did you choose to attend college and what are your expectations (specific or general) for earning a degree?

A college degree is a great value in todays life.  In the 90's and early 2000's employer's used to allow high school diploma's but since many American's are finishing school they have now changed it to a degree in college.  I feel that if you do obtain a degree you will have a better chance of getting a job, but with this economy it won't make a difference right now.  If a employer see's that you have completed college they will think more highly of you for going and finishing. One day you might go to a job interview and there are 3 people there but I am the only one to get a degree I will have a good chance of getting the job.  Many jobs are checking to see if you have your degree and if not they might not even hire you.

I choose to attend college because I was not ready for the work life and I feel there is still so much i can learn in school. I also made a promise to my dad before he passed away that I would finish college with a degree and a good job.