Proposal #4

I decided to incorporate my paper on feminism into a fairytale. I'm not sure which fairytale I am going to use yet but I am considering Snow White and Hanzel & Gretel. By using either of these I think I can incorporate the inequalities that women feel against men. I also think that I may be able to address the sterotypes that feminists deal with. Considering I also have to write the analysis paper these may be harder than what I anticipated and a lot more writing, but I love writing more creatively. This might be one of the more fun papers for me also. I'm going to narrow my audience down to young women because they are less likely now days to understand feminism or see the purpose it serves today. I'm not sure yet on my audience but that is my idea. My point is going to be to prove that feminism is needed and we are not post-feminism.

3 Women about Feminism

Mother-age 54-Believed that feminism is womens idea of being equal to men and being able to think for themselves. Based on her definition of feminism, yes, she considers herself a feminist, because she believes women should have equal rights and not be under the control of men. Voting is one issue she remembers happening in history that related to feminism. Man-haters is a stereotype that she categorized femimists in. She believes feiminsm is needed today because men still think it is a mans world.
Friend-age 27-Believed feminism is a movement lead by women to get equal rights. She doesn't consider herself a feminist. She believes there is still a need for feminist but doesn't see where it is personal to her. She has most commonly heard the stereotype of dikes for feminists. She also recognizes the movement of abortion from feminism.
Neice-age 16-Not to sure what feminism is but linked it to women and an action they take. She did not consider herself a feminist because she didn't fully know what it was and after I tried to explain it to her she also did not see where it was a personal enough issue to her to consider herself a feminist. She could not link feminim to any particular movement other than voting. She did not see the need for feminism today and thinks we have equal rights.

Blog Spot Female Chauvinist Pigs

What shocks me the most about this text is the detail. The issues address very "real" issues in todays society. I have read many articles and other sources about issues like porn and GGW, but the book addresses these issues in detail. Instead of just saying GGW showcases girls lifting their shirts it describes in detail how the girls act and talk. Another topic that shocked me was about the CAKE group. I didn't know what it was untill reading this book. I was shocked I have heard of things like the Playboy mansion but the parties and actions of this group was shocking. This is different from all the other text just in the way it is worded. The other books seemed to make a sentence that could be 5 words long, 15 words long and that is just confusing. The topic in this book is also very different because it hits closer to home with society. Although branding and hip-hop are very real topics I personally dont think they are as addressed now days as the issues in Female Chauvinist Pigs. I do not have any personal experiences with the text for the most part other than the knowing of it being so popular and desired.

Proposal #3

I am still not real sure what to write about. I would like to write about the issues that feminist fought for in earlier times and compare them to now but I'm not sure how to narrow it down to one topic. I have also considered writing about Hugh Hefner and his role in feminism. My problem may be with finding sources for either of these topics. The book talks about both of these subjects in the first chapter. I'm still not sure what it means to be a feminist so that may be included in my paper.

Overview and analysis of Early Femal MC's

This section covers everything about female artist. It shows how males dominate the hip-hop artistry and how women have standards based on it. It talks about women and how they should express their feminine personality. This section also describes how women like Salt n Pepa have broke through some of the barriers by expressing their sexuality and suceeded. Ogbar describes how women have a sterotype based on the jezebel. Ogbar also relates some of the female artistry to slavery days. Further it goes on to describe how women stood up to men in their lyrics by downing the men, then moving on to women who portray the image of gold diggers, lascivious vixens,and violent mob girls. In my analysis it shows how women have came face to face with the men in competition and changed their image to become successful. It also describes how some women go more towards the jezebel characteristics and some like Queen Latifa go more towards complementing theirselves and their race. Ogbar argues in this section that over time female artist have created a negative image for themselves by dressing in a provocative manner, and calling themselves bitches, hoes and sluts. He provides several examples of these types as artist such as lil kim. Ogbar also tries to make the point that you don't have to be a part of this image to do well in the industry. For example people like Queen Latifa and Lauryn Hill have won seceral awards and sold platinum albums without falling into this image.
4.Accolades-a brace or a line used in music to join two or more staffs carrying simultaneous parts
Jezebel-an offensive term for a woman regarded as sexually immoral or manipulative (insult) Lascivious-showing a desire for, or unseemly interest in, sex ; provoking lustBraggadocious-empty boasting, arrogant pretension, cockiness
Misogynistic-a hatred of women, as a sexually defined group Coterminous-next to and sharing a common boundary with something
Hegemony-control or dominating influence by one person or group, especially by one political group over society or one nation over others
Elitism-the belief that some people or things are inherently superior to others and deserve preeminence, preferential treatment, or higher rewards because of their superiority Subjugation-the act or process of bringing somebody, especially a people or nation, under the control of another, e.g. by military conquest
Touted-to praise or recommend somebody or something enthusiastically (usually passive) Anomalous-deviating from the norm or from what people expect.
Hip-hop and blackness (17-27)2. Ogbar makes the argument in this section that black artists are more credible in hip-hop and rap. He is not completely against white artists because he does make the point that they can write about drugs, prisons, gangs, and poverty as well, however, they are not credible in the sense of racism, prejudice, and discrimination.3.Ogbar is arguing that being black doesn’t mean you are stupid or a comedic image like a clown-like figure. He is saying that being black isn’t a crime, and that people should be true to their culture and not give into being something they’re not. He mentions rap artist Ice Cube, who takes a stand against all the years of being put down for being black. Ice Cube talks about the humiliation of the black people by use of the minstrel in Public Enemy’s “Burn Hollywood Burn”. Cube raps “But some things I’ll never forget… so step and fetch this shit. For all the years we looked like clowns, the joke is over. Smell the smoke from all around.” He is here challenging racism, he is showing that he is black, he is intelligent and he is proud. Ice Cube’s 1991 hit “True to the Game” hits hard on those artists who have given into the “white culture”. He mentions how they date white people, live with white people, and tolerate racist offenses. No one should try to be something they are not, they should stick to what they are and be proud of it. 4. Pernicious-causing great harm, destruction, or deathCipher-a written code in which the letters of a text are replaced with others according to a systemSalient-particularly noticeable, striking, or relevantSymposium-a formal meeting held for the discussion of a subject, during which individual speakers may make presentationsCurtailed-to reduce the length or duration of somethingPanacea-a supposed cure for all diseases or problemsVirulently-extremely poisonous, infectious, or damaging to organismsIndolent-lethargic and not showing any interest or making any effortConcomitantly-happening or existing along with or at the same time as something else (formal)Ostensibly-presented as being true, or appearing to be true, but usually hiding a different motive or meaningEsoteric-intended for or understood by only an initiated fewPretentiousness-acting as though more important or special than is warranted, or appearing to have an unrealistically high self-imageChallenging the Neo-minstrel (27-34)2. In Ogbar’s argument of the Neo-minstrel section still makes fun of African Americans but in a modern day type of way. In some cases Ogbar presents African Americans almost make fun of it as well, but at the same time they comment on how white dressing in costume and make up to look black made them look like "clowns"3. The Minstrel was a show that depicted African Americans as comedic, dumb, and primitive. Ogbar is arguing that this still exists today, just in a modernized form. A Spike Lee movie Bamboozled is mentioned. In this movie, a stiff and nerdy black man is assigned to make a T.V. show considered “racially real”. The show actually ends up being called “The New Millennium Minstrel Show”. It depicts black men sitting drinking 40.oz beers and playing with guns. This is a modern racist view of the typical black male. Flavor Flav is also mentioned here, in regards to his reality show “Flavor of Love”. In the show Flav is “a garishly dressed character whose appetite for fame is fed by a house full of women and buckets of fried chicken.” This show is depicting the black race as a funny, dumb culture. It is looked at by some as a way for white people to watch as the black culture is humiliated4. Myopic-lack of foresight or long-term planningAficionado-somebody who is enthusiastic and knowledgeable about somethingcoon-a highly offensive term for a black personColloquial-appropriate to, used in, or characteristic of spoken language or of writing that is used to create the effect of conversationVituperative-an outburst of violently abusive or harshly critical languageBuffoonish-somebody behaving in a silly wayMonolith-a tall block of solid stone standing by itself, whether a natural rock feature or a stone column shaped and erected by somebody, e.g. as a monument

Blogspot for March 3rd Hip-Hop Artist

The hip-hop artist I selected is Tupac Shakur. Tupac was born in New York City and primarily grew up in Harlem. In 1988 he moved to Oakland, California where he demographically dominated. Thus the song “California Love” Following this move, in 1991 his first breakthrough music came as he was a member of Digital Underground. That same year he also started getting individual recognition for his album “2Pacalypse Now.” Tupac was exposed to the typical hard upbringing including violence and racism. He also had a personal experience with his mother being a member of the Black Panther Party. This experience is part of his credibility in his music. During his career he also experienced more racism and prison life. Keeping it real means a rapper or artist must be able to relate to his lyrics through personal experience. This also gives them their credibility. The audience is then who determines whether or not he is real. Tupac expressed his realness through lyrics and his infamous tattoo “Thug Life” on his stomach, that he received during time he served. I do believe Tupac is creditable because of his roughly influenced past and his experiences throughout his career. He also earned authenticity and realness through his death. In one quote I read from Tupac he states that he may have grew up to be a preacher or something, instead of a rapper, if they (society) hadn’t tried to ruin him. This quote gives him more authenticity and realness of the effect his past experiences and earlier events in history affected him.

Overview and Analysis of Hip-Hop and Blackness and Challenging the Neo-Minstrel

From how I read these two sections of the book I am not to sure I can provide an accurate overview. In the section of Hip-Hop and its Blackness it pretty much discussed how black people have been portrayed through all types of the media and how it has changed. Starting with shows like Heat of the Night, then the Jeffersons, then to Bamboozled and how they have changed the image of black people. It also covered how black image and artistry is involved in a political scene and how they are portrayed. In the section Challenging the Neo-Minstrel it focused more on how blacks are portrayed in a bad way or inaccurate way. It described more in detail of black people and the image of them being referred to as coons and why. I am struggling to understand this book but in my analysis of these two sections I would say it boils down to how all black people in general want to be portrayed based on their personal experience not from the eyes of a white man. It seems to me that they(black artist) classify the image of poverty, drugs, and violence as normal within their race and if a black person is not subject to that then they to are not worthy of having an opinion that opposes theirs. I also would say that these artist feel like the image they portray says something politically about where they stand in society and how they are mistreated. I don't know if I interpretted these sections correctly but I did read it with an open mind and I just don't understand the majority of the terminology and references they make to certain movies, songs, artist, or even historical events.

Proposal for Hip-Hop Revolution

On my paper this time I intendend to explain why hip-hop has an image. Often times this bad image is not excepted but I would like to prove a few reasons why artist feel the need to have a bad image to it's critics. With that said my target audience would be hip-hop critics such as Bill O'Reilly. My position is that most hip-hop artist have learned to use this image to make money and explain their daily encounters that they go through. I don't listen to alot of hip-hop but it seems to me that a cowboy wouldn't have a lot of credability singing about the slums or prejudice with the police. Since most hip-hop artist are black most critics cannot relate to the prejudice they have now and have had for a long time. I think that showing examples of how black people and hip-hop artist in general suffer from prejudice will be the best way to persuade my audience. I already know that black people feel prejudice from police, job opportunities, and financial status'. I also know that alot of the prejudices are based from the days of slavery. This paper should explain why this image is excepted with some people and not others as well as let the critics of hip-hop understand reasonable explanations for people to relate to hip-hop music and their image.

I didn't fully understand this chapter. As elementy as it sounds there were a lot of words that I didn't know which lead me to be unsure of some of the situation. The teenagers walked out of their Philadelphia HS because they did not want their school to be private. I believe they were attempting to make a stand for the inconsistencies in the Edison's School Inc. plan to make their school private like how the funding would brand them, how they were already in a sense branded, and things like the teachers salaries. I think the ethos that they have with each other is the sense of them being controlled as a group and not being included in important decision making issues. The residents of the Philidelphia shared an ethos of being controlled also they were not included in this decision. The parents shared the ethos of being controlled in an opinion but also being controlled about important decisions that may involve something very personal to them, their children. I'm not sure they shared to much of an ethos with the school board, media or Edison. Again, I don't fully understand this movement by the teens so it is very hard for me to determine the ethos. I don't think education is an actuall franchise it is just a system developed for children to get an education and it has worked with several modification for a very long time. I think that some people could see it as a franchise because there is always change. I think that it should have definately included the Philidelphia residents especially since it effects their children in many ways. I don't really see any way I am personally affected by any kind of franchising in school but I was there and am still here for a reason, that reason being to learn as long as I am not personally being charged for Pepsi or Coke to put a vending machine in I just don't care. I'm sure some of the money I pay goes to something that I would rather not support but it is the same way in my utility bills, credit card bills and taxes so it is hard for me to be very concerned. The government will some how find a way to always take advantage of us for some greater cause that we as individuals would find ridiculous so we don't have a lot of choice other than to vote when possible to change things or deal with it. I would only like to be consulted in a situation like this if I had a say so. If it is a situation that our opinion is not going to make an actuall difference then I might go along with the flow depending on the situation.

Project Proposal for Branded

When I sat down to write my project proposal I first had to think of the overall writing assignment. The issue I am interested in is the (APK) Annual Advertising and Promoting to Kids. The writing assignment ask us to provide an argument. My goal is to provide an opposing view from Alissa Quart’s, to the parents that are not sure how the marketers take advantage of their children. Quart offers her analysis of the fourth annual APK as an event for “celebrating marketers’ ability to take advantage of kids (page 47).”

I intend to research this event and some of the top marketers behind it and see what they provide youth in a positive way. I would like parents to see that these marketers have effect on our youth but it is up to them to personally raise their child/children as to whether they get taken advantage of.

I know so far that the book Branded has been very well researched. I also can see that in a few descriptive words we are led to form an opinion before finishing a sentence. Being an open minded person, I am also able to look at both sides and not stand firmly enough on one or the other to stand on a side outside of this classroom. I believe Quart intended for this book to make young people form an opinion that is favorable to her view which in a way is taking advantage of them herself. From what I know so far there are a lot of different views that agree or oppose to Quarts that I would like to address.

Trendspotters

In my opinion I think brands locate trend spotters by watching what is currently popular. Most brands already know what is current or popular, so it is easy for them to search out a young adult or anyone that already has somewhat of a social status that may have an impression on others. By this I mean if they find a young adult who is in with a good crowd and has influencing power over their peers this attracts them. Again in my own opinion if they find this particular kind of person they may seek them because they are already buying into the brand status. It is important to be able to understand and identify with the audience because then brands have an idea what is current, popular and desired by their audience. This gives them ideas to create new things and be able to sale the items. If brands or marketers know what their audience is interested in they can market towards that. They conduct their research with surveys, observation, and probably even checking their competitors. If they keep up with the economy status they can also know how to market their items and get them to sell but still make money. Teens are the most powerful sector because they are easily manipulated and do not necessarily have a budget of their own. They also are well aware of what is cool or socially accepted and fell the need to keep up with what is accepted. When I was in my teenage years it was common to know who was popular or considered cool by everyone. I did not personally try and keep up with everyone else but I seen the jealousy that one would cause another by coming in with the newest style of shoes, hairstyle, or even jewelry. In the boys it was hard to tell them apart at times because everyone dressed the same and had the same clothes, shoes, and hats. Now that I am older I can look back and pick out the people who would have jumped at the chance to work for a marketer without pay, and just for the clothes or the social status. I think trend spotting is good if you are into keeping up with what is new, updated or even considered cool. I don't think it is something I would personally ever be interested in but now days our world is somewhat based around fashion and style. With that being said I think trend spotters may potentially give young adults a sense of reality about have a real job and the work it may take and also may help someone who is actually seeking a career in this field.

My name is Melissa Castro and I am twenty-seven years old. I have one daughter, Reayez, which is three. I decided to attend Missouri Western about a year ago simply to be able to support myself and my daughter. I am majoring in Biology but my goal is to become a game warden for the conservation. I am on my fifth year of remission from having lymphoma cancer. My cancer is one of the things that prevented me from attending college sooner. I hope to graduate and be set in a career before my daughter is to far into school.
In my spare time I enjoy fishing, camping, and spending time with my family and friends. I am very family orientated and get great security from having them. We have a lot of family BBQ's and go to the lake with each other.
In this class I hope to get grasp on the whole blogging thing. Blogging is not something I have ever done and I am a little unsure how it works. I would also like to take something from one of the books that I can look back on and remember. I
In five years I would like to be finished or close to being finished with school. I would also like to see my daughter doing well in school and being able to provide anything she wants. In ten years I would like to be building a home on the property I currently own or buying a home. In fifteen years I would like to be at the same job for the previous ten years. I would like to see my daughter growing healthy and strong. I would also like to have one more kid.
The one thing I would like to get out of the whole college experience is a successful education that I can apply to daily life and a profession that I enjoy.