Friday, March 11, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
American Stereotypes
Thinking of a tradition in my family that surrounds food is incredibly hard. There are seven of us, my mom and six younger siblings, and it is rare if we eat at the same time, let alone same things. In fact, I am one of the only people who even uses the dining table and I use it infrequently. It is easy to say then, that our only food tradition would have to be thanksgiving.
My mom is a great cook. I tell her all the time that the only reason I will visit in later years is so that she will cook for me. She has a full-time job and usually just wants to come home and sleep, but sometimes, usually weekends, she will make a feast for us kids. Thanksgiving is an entirely different story. Mom doesn't ask for much help in the kitchen, if ever, so generally speaking, she does all of the cooking. Potatoes, gravy, corn, casserole, yams, several pies, different types of rolls, and of course the turkey. Dinner is something she takes great pride in. It breaks her heart whenever she runs out of time to make something and has to buy it from the store.
Thanksgiving is one of the several times we all sit down to eat together. Sometimes my grandparents, or family friends, will join us as well. Family dinners are something looked forward to probably only for the food. Though we love each other, I have never experienced a family dinner in which there was not an argument among my sisters. It hurts to see my mom's attempt at family unity fall to petty bickering, but usually, the arguing is in good humor and does not escallate too much.
I imagine one day, when we are all older, the fighting will only get worse, but I know that no matter what, we will come together on Thanksgiving in a show of our unconditional love for one another and our Mom.
My mom is a great cook. I tell her all the time that the only reason I will visit in later years is so that she will cook for me. She has a full-time job and usually just wants to come home and sleep, but sometimes, usually weekends, she will make a feast for us kids. Thanksgiving is an entirely different story. Mom doesn't ask for much help in the kitchen, if ever, so generally speaking, she does all of the cooking. Potatoes, gravy, corn, casserole, yams, several pies, different types of rolls, and of course the turkey. Dinner is something she takes great pride in. It breaks her heart whenever she runs out of time to make something and has to buy it from the store.
Thanksgiving is one of the several times we all sit down to eat together. Sometimes my grandparents, or family friends, will join us as well. Family dinners are something looked forward to probably only for the food. Though we love each other, I have never experienced a family dinner in which there was not an argument among my sisters. It hurts to see my mom's attempt at family unity fall to petty bickering, but usually, the arguing is in good humor and does not escallate too much.
I imagine one day, when we are all older, the fighting will only get worse, but I know that no matter what, we will come together on Thanksgiving in a show of our unconditional love for one another and our Mom.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Dancing Communities
A dance club is a community. A community is a group of people that share a similar interest. In a dance club, you have all kinds of people. The common denominators that the people in the club share can be many things. Some people like to drink, some just like to dance, and still others are simply going to the club to find someone they can "go home" with. Certain clubs will play certain types of music. The people who attend will generally have an appreciation for the type of music and the style of dance associated with it. If you played hip-hop at a country club, you would confuse and irritate the patrons. This is because in that community, the dance club plays country and that is how they dance or simply what they enjoy listening to.
These common interests are what keep the community together. If half the people liked hip-hop and the other half liked country, there would be a lot of pressure on the DJ to play both, both halves of the group would never be pleased at the same time, and a rivalry would probably form until one group overtook the other or they compromised and decided to play one type of music on each night. Tensions with in communities can cause a community to fall apart. As the pressure to maintain a certain atmosphere in the club arose, it simply divided into different mini communities within the greater one. A community can not function to its fullest potential without a particular sense of uniformity that is shared amongst its members.
Also, a community is held together by the idea of exclusivity. That does not necessarily mean people are intentionally excluded, it could simply mean that certain people would not try to be a part of that group of people. A community is designed to create a place where people feel accepted and a part of something bigger. At the club, people can relate to others because they too may enjoy a few drinks or are looking for love. The value in a community comes from the things and people that are put into it. If no one went to the dance club, there would be no use or desire for that community.
I love going to dance clubs. I can honestly say it is because I simply like to dance. The loud music eliminates all the chatter of unimportant conversations and allows you to connect with people in a meaningful physical way. You communicate in few words so it is body language that allows you to express yourself. It is just a nice release at the end of the week. My preference is a hip-hop club. There are a few things about the club that even people who go regularly don't like, but I love it all. I don't care if it costs extra because I am young or if some guy keeps trying to dance with me after I say no. It is part of the territory and many people who go would agree that the fun is definitely worth it.
These common interests are what keep the community together. If half the people liked hip-hop and the other half liked country, there would be a lot of pressure on the DJ to play both, both halves of the group would never be pleased at the same time, and a rivalry would probably form until one group overtook the other or they compromised and decided to play one type of music on each night. Tensions with in communities can cause a community to fall apart. As the pressure to maintain a certain atmosphere in the club arose, it simply divided into different mini communities within the greater one. A community can not function to its fullest potential without a particular sense of uniformity that is shared amongst its members.
Also, a community is held together by the idea of exclusivity. That does not necessarily mean people are intentionally excluded, it could simply mean that certain people would not try to be a part of that group of people. A community is designed to create a place where people feel accepted and a part of something bigger. At the club, people can relate to others because they too may enjoy a few drinks or are looking for love. The value in a community comes from the things and people that are put into it. If no one went to the dance club, there would be no use or desire for that community.
I love going to dance clubs. I can honestly say it is because I simply like to dance. The loud music eliminates all the chatter of unimportant conversations and allows you to connect with people in a meaningful physical way. You communicate in few words so it is body language that allows you to express yourself. It is just a nice release at the end of the week. My preference is a hip-hop club. There are a few things about the club that even people who go regularly don't like, but I love it all. I don't care if it costs extra because I am young or if some guy keeps trying to dance with me after I say no. It is part of the territory and many people who go would agree that the fun is definitely worth it.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
My Wallet
My wallet is an orange, blue, and grey tribute to Sonic the Hedgehog. It has a checkerboard pattern with each of the main characters faces repeated throughout and A large patch with Sonic in one corner. Inside, you will find my driver's license, debit card, library card, a piece of paper with my student ID number, a piece of paper with both my bank account numbers, a Hot Topic gift card and reward card, bank and fast food receipts, and $49 in various bills, all face forward.
While maybe not the most exciting or unique things to have in a wallet, it is pretty clear from my wallet that I am a teenage girl. Hot Topic is a store typically frequented by the a younger generation as it is a music and pop culture inspired store. Also, my license will specifically show you that I am only eighteen years old. The student ID number shows that I am a student. The fact that my wallet itself displays a cartoon character, anyone could easily assume that I am young. People could assume that I am just another lazy teenager because of my many fast food receipts. The fact that I never spend more than $3-6 could imply that I also do not have much by the way of income.
There are thousands of things people would miss about me simply by looking through my wallet. I do not have any pictures of my mother or five siblings. There is no evidence of my several best friends. In fact, even my license displays the wrong address because I have yet to change it. My wallet displays only the bottom right corner of the mural that is my identity.
While maybe not the most exciting or unique things to have in a wallet, it is pretty clear from my wallet that I am a teenage girl. Hot Topic is a store typically frequented by the a younger generation as it is a music and pop culture inspired store. Also, my license will specifically show you that I am only eighteen years old. The student ID number shows that I am a student. The fact that my wallet itself displays a cartoon character, anyone could easily assume that I am young. People could assume that I am just another lazy teenager because of my many fast food receipts. The fact that I never spend more than $3-6 could imply that I also do not have much by the way of income.
There are thousands of things people would miss about me simply by looking through my wallet. I do not have any pictures of my mother or five siblings. There is no evidence of my several best friends. In fact, even my license displays the wrong address because I have yet to change it. My wallet displays only the bottom right corner of the mural that is my identity.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
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