Monday, July 27, 2009
Cultural Identity
At the salon on Thursday, we were able to view Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi. This film, based on the graphic novel that some of you are reading, is a prime example of a cultural narrative. Think back to the film or novel to one scene or memory of the author. Going off of assignment #3 and #4, identify a defining memory that makes you who you are, and elaborate.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Ok, this might sound strange or something, but this is one of the biggest reasons as to why, I am who i am. The reason i am SO shy and introverted, is because I honestly, do not know how to start a conversation, without being to nervous, about what to say. An example, is when i was going to a new school, and I there was a group of girls standing by the door, and I wanted to talk to them, and when I walked up to them, and introduced myself, and said hey, they just simply walked away. I mean I had otjher friends, that moved to the school with me, but I wanted to have more friends, and expand my horizons.
ReplyDeleteTo this day, I am still SO shy, that it is quite scary. Maybe college will be better for me, since there are so many people, and no one is the same. I do however, want to be a part of a group that has so many different personalities. I just have to learn to talk I guess...
MY HEIGHT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR ME. I KNOW THAT IM NOT EVEN THAT TALL BUTT MY ALMOST 5'9 FRAMN ANNOYS ME. EVERYONE IN MY HOUSEHOLD IS 5'6 OR SHORTER EVEN MY PARENTS! I CAN NEVER UNDERSTAND WHY I GOT THE HEIGHT IN THE HOUSE. MY UNCLE AND HIS KIDS ARE TALL TOO ALL REACHING 6 FEET AND TALLER EVEN THE GIRLS BUT WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ME. IF I COULD CHANGE HEIGHTS WITH A PERSON THAT WAS LIKE 5'7 AND WANTED TO BE TALL I WOULD.
ReplyDeleteSO WHEN I STARTED SCHOOL OF COURSE I WAS TALLEKR THAN EVERYONE AND ALL THE KIDS MADE FUN OF ME, EVEN IN HIGH SCHOOL ALL THE BOYS WOULD PICK ON ME AND TELL ME ABOUT MY HEIGHT. IM NOT SURE WHY THEY CARED BECAUSE I WASNT EVEN TALLER THAN THEM AND THE ONES THAT I WERE TALLER THAN WERENT EVEN THAT FAR BEHIND. SO ANYWAS I AM ALWAYS SORTA SELF CONSCIOUS, LIKE I WONT REALLY WANT TO WEAR HEELS WITHOUT FEELING LIKE SOMEONES MAKING FUN OF ME OR FEELING TO TALL. IT SUCKS I GUESS BECAUSE THAT THE ONLY THING I HAVE LOW SELF ESTEEM ABOUT. THATS WHY YOU MIGHT NEVER SEE ME IN HEELS UNLESS IM WITH MY BOYFRIEND BEAUSE HE'S A GIANT! AND I NEVER WALK STRAIGHT UP I LITTLE MY HEIGHT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. COLLEGE COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE THERE ARE WAY MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE WAY TALLER THAN ME SO I WONT FEEL SO BAD!
One memory that makes me who I am , is when my mom was physically abused by my father. I was only four years old when a saw it with my own eyes, but its stays on my mind no matter what. Even though i was little, i knew what was going on. My dad broke her nose, and thats finally when my mom opened her eyes and realized she was smarter than that. She divorced him, and she become a role model to me.
ReplyDeleteToday that makes me believe that no women should ever get abused any kind of way by a man. My mother taught me to be a strong young lady that doesnt take shit from anybody. From that day on my mother was a great mom, and she was strong, she left her past alone and started at great future with her kids. My mom showed me to have courage and believe in myself, and that will always be with me!
the one thing that has made me who i am now was my jackass phase. (this is all explained in my paper)In 6th grade me and my three best friends, will, Eric, and Kimmy were riding our bikes to my house after school. we rode past my uncle perry's house and i turned to wave to him. i rode straight into the back of a car. my body got pasted to the car and then just peeled back and fell on the ground. after that happened we decided to make our own jackass movies.
ReplyDeletewe did all kinds of stunts and pranks. that added to who i was. it made me a more creative and energetic person. it made me interesting to talk to cause i had all the stories about what we did. it help bond with my friends and i think that it was the best time of my life so far. but it can't last forever. we only did that from 6th grade till mid freshmen year. but we did have a "reunion" of my sophomore year. it was winter break and we all decided to go to a huge hill and do snowboarding and sledding stunts. it was the most fun any of us had in a while. that was the last thing we ever did for jackass.
One memory that defines who I am is when I finally began to accept my new school, St. Gregory as the place where I would be finishing high school.
ReplyDeleteChicago Waldorf was the only school that accepted me. I was turned down by everyone else because of my horrendoulsy low math grades. Their environment, or perhaps the high school environment in general, was so different than what I was used to. It was very independant based and I was more comfortable with one-on-one help in mass quantities. To mnake this story a little shorter, it was around sophomore year and it was only a short time before winter break that my teachers were realizing this environment wasn't working for me. So my head teachers, after talking with me and my mom and watching me in class for what seemed like forever, decided that they had no choice but to expel me.
Thats when I was left with the only option before me: attending a catholic school and giving up my right to choose what I want to wear for the next two and a half years. So for the longest time I was so angry and depressed that I was put into this situation. It took me a really long time to realize that it was no ones fault but myself. Part of the reason why I did so poorly my sophomore and junior year is because I was unwilling to accept my new place. It wasn't until my vice-principle called me and my mom in for a meeting that the truth really hit me. Here was a school that was willing to take me in and giving me so many chances, and what was I doing to show them I appreciated it? I was getting into trouble and basically getting by with D's and lots of D- ...
If it wasn't for me going to St. Gregory I wouldn't have met my best friend, I wouldn't have met a lot of amazing people. Honestly, if I was given a choice to change everything and graduate from Waldorf, I would say no. I've been impacted on a deep level at St. Gregory and I have impacted so many other peoples lives. I learned a lot about myself at that school and I'm proud to say it's where I graduated.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI’m a film critic. But, one time in my short writing career it was my criticism that got criticized. The first time I actually wrote a movie review was last year in my newspaper class. It was on the movie Eagle Eye, and I did everything I could to make sure my teacher liked it. I was told by him to rewrite and revise it over and over again and I did so with no back talk. I knew that my opinion on movies were always on point I made sure of it but I had never put it in writing so this was going to be a new task at hand.
ReplyDeleteMy first movie review was on the movie “Eagle Eye.” I love Shia Labeouf and all his work so I thought this would be a great chance for me to present my work to my class and my teacher and hear their two cents on my thoughts of the film.
I wrote revised and revised. When it was time for me to hear my grade I thought with out a doubt I would earn an “A”. My teacher told me it wasn’t up to par I got an 85 percent on the review. I was crushed it was an “F” in my eye’s all my hard work just to get a stinking “B”.
So, I did some homework I read movie reviews from pros like Roger Ebert and the late Great Siskel. It would be a good way for me to get even better learning how the two greats do it. While I was doing this everything he told me was going through my head I was so determined to show him I could deliver.
In my newspaper class we did a movie review every month and that time had come again I was ready. My next review was on Saw V one of my favorite trilogies. I went to work doing everything I did last time but better he said I didn’t go in deep enough so I drowned myself in it he said it wasn’t dressy enough in style so I put a tux on my opinion. I spent double time on this one I did then the last.
When judgment day arrived I was ready. My teacher told me it was Chicago Tribune worthy and I got an “A.”
I learned at a young age that you on use criticism to make you better at what you do and that’s exactly what I did in this situation I took what was thrown at me and I hit it out the park. I’m still getting better each day with voicing my thoughts and opinions about movies and I’ll always be open to her opinions too because everybody’s a critic just how they use their words and opinion makes them the type of critic they are.
karla: Thats how i used to be, because i'm so short i got made fun of in middle school, but eventually i got over it because i love the way i am, and being tall is great, its better than being short, and not being able to reach places :)your perfect just the way you are!
ReplyDeleteSIMMONE: Thats how I was when I started high school. I was like one of the quietest people ever. I've gotten so much better since then but I still struggle with starting a conversation from time to time.
ReplyDeleteKARLA: If you're 5'9 I would trade with you in a heartbeat. But seriously thats how I feel when I'm around all my friends who are actually taller than me.
Wow, Jasmine, your story was so deep and powerful. And you're right, no man should EVER put their hands on any female. And it's good, that your mom got out of that situation, because I sure as hell would have.
ReplyDeleteI remember when I was younger all I seen was violence, from my grandmother and her husband to parents. They would always argue and fiscally fight about everything even those little things that we just laugh about. It seem like that’s the only thing I remember more clearly then all the good things that I barely remember. I remember when I when my parents always put me in the middle of the situation like I had to choice which one I wanted to live with. It was once upon a time when I was crying for my father because I haven’t seen him to some months and he didn’t want to see because the chosen so random women over me. I have to say emotionally it hurt me and killed me that I thought they didn’t love me because they would always fight but I have to make sure, or should I say I know that wouldn’t allow there decisions and they mistakes effect my life.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jasmine, alot of people tell me that im lucky to be tall but I'm learning to deal with it but I'm still kind of like UGGHH tallness! I guess your right at least i can reach things. lol That sucks about what happend when trying to talk to those girls, they were probably jerks anywas.
ReplyDeleteKarla: Being tall is awesome, but it is very expensive that’s why I don’t like it, but like Jasmine said your perfect the way you are God doesn’t make mistakes when he creates us remember that.
ReplyDeleteSimone; thanks, yea im glad she got out of that situation too, because if not it wouldnt have been pretty. I would have been fighting my dad!
ReplyDeleteDan lets trade heights! All my friends are short I only have one girl friend thats taller than me so it's akward!
ReplyDeleteexcuss...my spelling...sorry!..but i can relate to jasmine it seem like we kind of leave the same life but you went more detail. but i glad you stayed strong
ReplyDeleteKarla, I understand your story, but mine was the opposite, I was and still am really short. To only make matters worse, i was really, really, wide. My weight has gotten better, but as for my height, no, I'm still only 5'1. :(
ReplyDeleteJasmine:5'1 thats like the best ever! It is really short though! Yeah since im tall I have better control of my weight.
ReplyDeleteKingston: Your right he makes no mistakes but the clothes are expensive! And a B is a great grade! I hated writing for newspaper! no offense atleast you worked hard to get a A in the end!
Aujuena: thanks, we do have kinda the same story, and im glad that you stayed strong too. That makes us who we are today :)
ReplyDeletekarla. i would kill to have your height...beside of being a fashion designer i always wanted to be a model and with your height i would be on point.
ReplyDeleteKingston: love you stories!!! it shows that you are a hard worker and never give up on anything until its right! I like that :)
ReplyDeleteJASMINE: Thats a really powerful story. It takes a lot of courage for anyone to get out of an abusive relationship. I've seen some of my friends in abusive relationships who couldn't get out until sometimes it was too late. And yes no man should ever lay a hand on a woman like that!
ReplyDeleteAujuena; lol Im selling my height for 5000$ lol
ReplyDeleteI thought about modeling but its too much commitment for me.
The first time I ever smoked weed! Wow that day changed my view on just about everything pertaining to mother earth and nature! My friends and I had gone to one of my friend’s boyfriends house and we knew he was a weed head! Him and his friends rolled up literally seven blunts in a matter of seconds! Me and my friend dede were the first ones that were offered the first blunts. Basically it was our job to start the rotation. So I thought why the hell not you know! So after about the fifth blunt everybody was busted! Except my friends boyfriend and his friends after all seven blunts were gone I looked around the room and it felt like the room was looked at me. We were all silent for a second and then angel( my friend) farted BIG TIME! I looked at my friend dede and she busted into a fit of laughter. She lighted so hard she fell to the floor and started to roll around and that was it for the next what seemed liked and hour nobody could stop laughing everybody did something different and stupid! I stuck my finger in my in dede’s noses and left it there she was so gone she didn’t even know it. After about 3 hours of nothing somebody suggested we go to the store everybody felt like they hadn’t eaten in two weeks so we all hauled our asses up an walked to the store once we got there I stopped and said “who got da money man cuz I’m flat like cj’s head!” everybody busted out again then we realized nobody had money so angel’s boyfriend asked us what we wanted ant to head back to the house we did it and about two blocks into our journey we heard gunshots and we flipped put and ran! You can pretty say our high was blown and we were aware of everything now her boyfriend had just robbed the store. My first thought was “Aw hell naw” needless to say we never messed with him again! Never again will I smoke weed with my friend’s boyfriends because the guys she pick are well flat out crazy!
ReplyDeleteDan: thank you, and yea i have been there to when friends are in abusive relationships and dont want to get out because they say their in LOVE. You can only help the ones who want to get out.
ReplyDeleteI WOULD HAVE TO SAY, SOMETHIN MY FATHER TOLD ME WAY BACK WHEN I WAS A KID THAT HAS STUCK WITH ME UNTIL THIS DAY IS SOMETHIN THAT DEFIED WHO I AM. AS A KID, WHEN I USED TO DRIVE AROUND NEIGHBORHOODS WITH MY DAD. I REMEMBER HE USED TO GET OUT OF HIS CAR AND PEOPLE WOULD START RUNNING. AT FIRST I ALWAYS WONDERED WHY THEY RAN FROM ONE MAN. THEN ONE DAY I FINALLY ASKED HIM, WHY DONT YOU BRING YOUR FRIENDS WITH YOU TO PICK UP YOUR USUAL COLLECTIONN? HE SAID TO ME, "BECUASE I DONT NEED THEM." HE SAID, "YOU DONT HAVE TO GANG BANG TO BE HARDCORE". "DONT GIVE A GANG A CHANCE TO MAKE A NAME FOR THEMSELVES BECAUSE OF U. "BETTER, MAKE A NAME FOR YOURSELF." DONT BE A FOLLOWER, BE A LEADER. IF U FOLLOW THE CROWD YOUR WHOLE LIFE, YOUR ONLY GONNA GET AS FAR AS THE CROWD HAS GOTTEN." TIL THIS DAY THAT HAS STUCK WITH ME. THAT MOMENT DEFINED MY FUTURE. SO I ALWAYS TRY TO LEAD INSTEAD OF FOLLOW.
ReplyDeleteKarla....how about we just trade heights so then we would just be even lol
ReplyDeleteI WISH I WAS AS TALL AS YOU KARLA. IT SUX BEING 5-6 AND GETTING DUNKED ON MY DUDES TALLER THAN YOU.
ReplyDeletesoflysohigh: that story was super funny! Have you smoke since then because if that was me I would have never even set my eyes on a blunt!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your story Kingston. It makes me think about the whole system of grading. I always talk to my class about the rubric or grading system that I put in place, and have a discussion about the nature of grades, and what they represent. There is an option in college to take a class as pass/fail as opposed to being awarded a letter grade, but many students to not select this option. There are also grade-free universities out there. How do you think a grade-free class would affect the motivation and participation of the students? Your own motivation?
ReplyDeleteAlso, if you are a G. Siskel fan, did you know that there is the Gene Siskel Film Center not too far from Columbia? They show interesting films, and have workshops. Here's the link:
http://www.artic.edu/webspaces/siskelfilmcenter/
Ernesto: I love that you are a leader, and not a follower! thats great
ReplyDeleteThanks Jasmine that means a lot. Your situation was no walk in the park, but it good to see you haven’t let that slow you down keep moon walking towards your dreams and goals like your doing right now and don’t look back.
ReplyDeleteAUJENA: I called it first!!! Karlas height is mine lol
ReplyDeleteErnesto...I just love your quotes your father shared with you my mommie tells me that all the time
ReplyDeleteDan....No way!
ReplyDeleteKingston: thanks :)
ReplyDeleteI want to add to my blog, I was also going to say that, watching (haha) Oprah and The Today Show on NBC, made me consider, doing a career in journalism, because they just blantantly ask questions, and have so much confidence, adn that's what I want.
ReplyDeletethe highest bidder can have it lol
ReplyDeleteI would have to say that the memory that sort of makes me who I am is me having to move a lot when I was younger. I got to meet a bunch of different people, which was always interesting. I'm not really sure why we moved so much, all I knew was that it got really annoying and old. Being the new kid was always tough, thankfully I never had to start school in the middle of the school year. I think I might've moved a total of 6 times, which isn't that much but still. I haven't moved in a while, because my parents really like where we live right now. This was good news just because I got to stay in the same school, all four years.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing that I think "makes me who I am" are the people that I've met in between the whole moving thing. I can honestly say that I've only kept in touch with the people who have been there for me, and cut out the ones who weren't. I only have a few good friends, that I completely trust and see on a daily basis, and then I have a bunch of "friends" that I hangout with on occasisons and party with. I hate that it's like that, but a lot of my friends don't get along, just because I hang out with different groups of people. I guess just meeting and seeing new people and not really knowing what to expect from them has had a huge impact on me, because I've learned to be more accepting of people and just open minded. :D
IM SORRY, I MEANT TO SAY IT IT SUX TO GET DUNKED ON BY DUDES TALLER THAN ME.
ReplyDeleteERNESTO: Thats good advice from your dad! I HATE followers they're always changing who they are to blend in with a crowd
ReplyDeleteI definitely identify with Simone's story. When I hear people talk about stories from high school, I also think back to my experiences. I would say that the high school years were for me, and are for many, an awkward phase. In fact, I always wonder about those people who say that high school was the best time of their lives. That was not so for me, though I do look back on it fondly.
ReplyDeletekarla yea actually i did smoke after that but i n ever smoked with anybody but my freinds but i don't smoke any more and girl i wisjh i did have your height! got me feeling lika midget over here! lol
ReplyDeleteGriselda: I'm your friend even if you did send me to the wrong train station :)
ReplyDeletelol
ReplyDelete