Wednesday, February 18, 2009

The Human Race

The book that we are currently reading has made me realize how important understanding race is. I view everyone as individuals with differences. I don't think that just because someone is black we should treat them any different. I think human race is a beautiful thing, and it really interests me. I am interested in culture and how different people live their lives. I think us as a people need to be more appreciative of other people and their cultures. When we are born we can't choose what race we are going to be. We are born into a a family that is so unique, that is part of a whole world of culture and race. I think we need to be me more appreciative of the different cultures around us, and respect alternate ways of life.

OuR PrEsIdEnT

If any of you watched the 24 series, you will all know that they had an amazing guy play President Palmer, and he was African American. He was very respectable, and solved a lot of dramatic problems that went on in the series. Issues like war and terrorism that effected the country. Obviously President Palmer was a character, and was made up. But I think his effect on America in the 24 series, got us ready for our amazing current black president, President Obama. Palmer could save America from war, so will America think Obama can save us from the real war in society? 5 years ago i don't think America would have been ready for a black president, because we were scared for change. The vision in 24 was able to show us that having a black president will be ok. Now America is ready for change, and I think really good things are going to come out of the change of getting a black president. We shouldn't compare Obama to other presidents, because every president is different. But just because he is black, we should treat him with just as much respect as we have with our other presidents. Things are changing, and its going to be an interesting next four years to see what is going to happen.

SeX AnD AdS

After going to genderads.com and looking at the sex ads, it made me realize how much advertisements use sex to sell their products. After watching a bunch of commercials, I found that cologne and perfume uses sex to sell, clear to to topic of "under armour." There are so many things that need to be advertised, and there are so many different ways to advertise things in a very broad board. It makes me wonder why we have chosen to use our body to sell the product. And I came to the conclusion that it is because we are drawn into sex and appearance of others because of our human nature. we pay attention to what is interesting to us. Gender ads quotes: "Many critics of the critics of popular culture use the adage 'sex sells' the justify the depictions in popular culture." Sex sells the product, and weather we like it or not, it works. I don't think that it is always the right way to sell a product, but if sex gets the attention of the audience, then the people that advertise really don't have a choice to use "sex." Because their job is to sell things, and get results from us buying their things.

Friday, February 6, 2009

Not What You Think


In the book we have been reading, Where the Girls Are, it talks about something that I am very passionate about. And I know it sounds cheesy, but I LOVE pageants. In chapter 7 it talks about the Miss America Pageant. The chapter portrays the Miss America contestants as a "cattle auction." And the girls are only up on state to show off their butts and boobs. I have done 8 pageants, and let me tell you, there is a ton more the just modeling on stage. Pageants may not be what you think they are. I did the Miss UVU pageant here on campus last semester. In order to even qualify for the competition we were all required to do community service hours with something that we are passionate about around campus. We also had to earn a hundred dollars which would be donated to the Children's Miracle Network, a hospital with kids in need. If we did not do these things we could not compete. The contestants not only acquire service hours and fund raising, but they are all very talented as well. There is a talent portion in the pageant, which ends up being a majority of your final score. I play the piano, and I played a piece by Chopin for the Miss UVU pageant last year. I ended up getting first attendant, and I was so excited because I got scholarship money to help me further my education. I used the organization to get scholarship money, and make a difference in serving my community.
Pageants are not only about modeling in your swim suit, and walking around in high heels. But there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes. Like i mentioned before, there are some things that are required of the contestant to even participate.These girls want to make a difference in the community. These pageant girls want to further their education by earning scholarship money, because if you win a pageant, you get scholarship money, you don't get cash to use however you want.
Once again, there is a lot of stereotyping that goes on with pageants. But this is just some information about what goes on, so this information may or may not change your mind about pageant girls :)