I can't believe it! No one in this family understands me! I work and work all day everyday, waiting and driving my boss around. Waiting and watching as he goes on fancy lunches and closes deals worth millions. More money is made in one conversation than my family can hope to make in our lifetime. I'm so sick of it! It's always "Yes sir" or "No sir" or "Right away sir". Mama left the South to escape slavery but we're still kept under the thumb of the rich and white. They say education is how they got ahead, it's how they made that money they're spending like water, but I don't see that. Even at their worst they were still middle class. They've never felt the grip of poverty, the worry about providing clothing for their children. Walter hasn't had new shoes for a semester, yet my boss has more than ten pairs! My child has to bag groceries for pocket money, but the little white boys and girls have more than enough to fritter away on useless things. This is why I need the investment to work out. The startup money will grow and grow. After all, everybody has drink liquor, so I'd never go out of business. Ruth never gives me no support so I'll just have to convince Mama myself.
- Walter Younger
Sunday, December 21, 2014
Sunday, December 14, 2014
Puzzle Post
Once upon a time far, far away in the Montana mountains there lived a family called the Washington's. They lacked a blue blood heritage, but were in possession of such enormous wealth that they had more power than any other family: royal or not. The Washington presided over their land with an iron fist, protecting it, their source of wealth, from invasion by the surrounding country, the United States. This was accomplished by bribing the rival government and eliminating threats from the air. The deaths were justified as necessary to protect the resources that everyone in the area was dependent on. In their isolation from the rest of the world the corruption of the Washington family grows as do their delusions of their own worth, shown through the rhetoric employed by the author. Their dependence on the human labor provided by the slaves resonates strongly with people today because of the sheer ridiculousness of the idea that you could keep of news the termination of slavery from slaves previously living in the South ; The power the Washington family maintains over their workers is of such strength that they could claim pink elephants were the only species that exist and the slaves would believe it. The corruption of the Washington family is brought down because of an escaped prisoner's determination and the remaining members of the family are forced to wander, like Moses, back to civilization.
Saturday, November 29, 2014
Should Race/Enthnicity Influence Dating? My answer: No
“In 1967, only 4% of Americans approved of interracial marriage, yet the Supreme Court dismissed the desire of 96% of Americans who did not support it in order to preserve the rights of the minority.”
― Kathy Baldock,
The United States has had a long history of enslavement and discrimination based on race. The founders and other leaders of the country broke treaty after treaty with the Native American Tribes. Slavery was outlawed with the end of the civil war, but it has only been XXX years since the Civil Rights Movement made substantial strides in meeting its goals.Since anti-discrimination laws have passed relationships between different races have become easier (in most places). The best way to measure these mending relationships is through marriage.
Marriage is one of the most declarative things people can do. It is stating that two people that accept each other and are willing to overcome future obstacles as a team. It is an enormous commitment that people do not go into without loving and trusting each other, and the social changes in society show that the number of interracial marriages is on the rise. The rate of these marriages is higher with some races than others, but all have occurred in the United States.
Completely eliminating racism from a society is not possible. There are always people who will make a bigger deal about race than it should be, but by learning about other cultures and experiencing a different world view, through friends or family, is the best way to combat the racism that we encounter everyday.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/05/interracial-dating-teens-_n_1406967.html
Video about the generational gap in opinions about interracial dating
― Kathy Baldock,
The United States has had a long history of enslavement and discrimination based on race. The founders and other leaders of the country broke treaty after treaty with the Native American Tribes. Slavery was outlawed with the end of the civil war, but it has only been XXX years since the Civil Rights Movement made substantial strides in meeting its goals.Since anti-discrimination laws have passed relationships between different races have become easier (in most places). The best way to measure these mending relationships is through marriage.
Marriage is one of the most declarative things people can do. It is stating that two people that accept each other and are willing to overcome future obstacles as a team. It is an enormous commitment that people do not go into without loving and trusting each other, and the social changes in society show that the number of interracial marriages is on the rise. The rate of these marriages is higher with some races than others, but all have occurred in the United States.
Completely eliminating racism from a society is not possible. There are always people who will make a bigger deal about race than it should be, but by learning about other cultures and experiencing a different world view, through friends or family, is the best way to combat the racism that we encounter everyday.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/05/interracial-dating-teens-_n_1406967.html
Video about the generational gap in opinions about interracial dating
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Lavish Living
“Pleasure was the color of the time.”
― Harold Clurman
The 1920's in America are characterized by an economic boom after the conclusion of the first World War. The boom caused an increase in money held by Americans which in turn increased demand for items previously considered luxurious. Advertising finds new prominence in mass media and is able to spread mass consumerism to places that were previously untouched. As items were previously considered a luxury become commonplace, the wealthy need new ways to show their dominance in their society. In the Great Gatsby, author F. Scott Fitzgerald shows the over-the-top lengths the rich resort to in order to retain and add to their prominence in society,
Nick observes a "corp of caterers" (40) emerging from Gatsby's house carrying the most lavish dishes imaginable around the house and yard. The house itself is "gaudy" (40) with obvious, ornate showings of wealth that attract people from all walks of life. East and Westsiders alike mingle and take part in the excessive celebrations hosted by Gatsby. The host himself is described as a "character" who watches his guest from a distance. He sees them enjoying his food and alcohol and admiring the fantastic surroundings without interaction. Gatsby enjoys the fame and admiration that comes with hosting lavish parties, yet he chooses to miss many of the opportunities and connections for further social advancement that his guest could provide him. His focus is seemingly on impressing his guests and encouraging the spread of rumors about himself to spread his influence in a more unconventional way.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJ8Kq1wucsk
― Harold Clurman
The 1920's in America are characterized by an economic boom after the conclusion of the first World War. The boom caused an increase in money held by Americans which in turn increased demand for items previously considered luxurious. Advertising finds new prominence in mass media and is able to spread mass consumerism to places that were previously untouched. As items were previously considered a luxury become commonplace, the wealthy need new ways to show their dominance in their society. In the Great Gatsby, author F. Scott Fitzgerald shows the over-the-top lengths the rich resort to in order to retain and add to their prominence in society,
Nick observes a "corp of caterers" (40) emerging from Gatsby's house carrying the most lavish dishes imaginable around the house and yard. The house itself is "gaudy" (40) with obvious, ornate showings of wealth that attract people from all walks of life. East and Westsiders alike mingle and take part in the excessive celebrations hosted by Gatsby. The host himself is described as a "character" who watches his guest from a distance. He sees them enjoying his food and alcohol and admiring the fantastic surroundings without interaction. Gatsby enjoys the fame and admiration that comes with hosting lavish parties, yet he chooses to miss many of the opportunities and connections for further social advancement that his guest could provide him. His focus is seemingly on impressing his guests and encouraging the spread of rumors about himself to spread his influence in a more unconventional way.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJ8Kq1wucsk
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Pro Punctuation
"I believe that every English poet should read the English classics, master the rules of grammar before he attempts to bend or break them, "- Robert Graves
Punctuation is the backbone of English, recognized worldwide as the "international language". A consistent set of rules in grammar allows many people, even those learning English, to have a solid base of understanding that grants them further opportunity to push themselves to becoming more proficient in their knowledge.
In the age of mass media that reaches an international audience, Twitter reigns supreme in supposed
conciseness. With the limited number of characters many people claim that less grammar is needed to get their point across and many of the millions of tweets made every day continue with the disregard of punctuation. Amanda Cosco from Social Times says that these tweets are only "thoughts" (Source F) that can be conveyed in 140 characters or less. The few "thoughts" that make use of the limited space by using punctuation become elevated, expressing more with less.
Even though we disregard many grammar rules when speaking in everyday life, punctuation is still what defines us and our relationships. America has a very casual approach to speaking, but this makes the distinction between formal and normal speech and writing much wider. What makes the difference between a skilled speaker/writer and an amateur is how the punctuation is utilized in piece. In Notes on Punctuation (SourceD), author Lewis Thomas's use of many types of punctuation makes his writing appear to be at a more accomplished level than what many people commonly see. He also uses the punctuation to convey the importance of itself in the things we read all the time.
Punctuation is the backbone of English, recognized worldwide as the "international language". A consistent set of rules in grammar allows many people, even those learning English, to have a solid base of understanding that grants them further opportunity to push themselves to becoming more proficient in their knowledge.
In the age of mass media that reaches an international audience, Twitter reigns supreme in supposed
conciseness. With the limited number of characters many people claim that less grammar is needed to get their point across and many of the millions of tweets made every day continue with the disregard of punctuation. Amanda Cosco from Social Times says that these tweets are only "thoughts" (Source F) that can be conveyed in 140 characters or less. The few "thoughts" that make use of the limited space by using punctuation become elevated, expressing more with less.
Even though we disregard many grammar rules when speaking in everyday life, punctuation is still what defines us and our relationships. America has a very casual approach to speaking, but this makes the distinction between formal and normal speech and writing much wider. What makes the difference between a skilled speaker/writer and an amateur is how the punctuation is utilized in piece. In Notes on Punctuation (SourceD), author Lewis Thomas's use of many types of punctuation makes his writing appear to be at a more accomplished level than what many people commonly see. He also uses the punctuation to convey the importance of itself in the things we read all the time.
Sunday, November 9, 2014
The Bluest Eye: Beautiful Passage
“They seemed to have taken all of their smoothly cultivated ignorance, their exquisitely learned self-hatred, their elaborately designed hopelessness and sucked it all up into a fiery cone of scorn that had burned for ages in the hollows of their minds― cooled ―and spilled over lips of outrage, consuming whatever was in its path.”
― Toni Morrison, The Bluest Eye (65)
Pecola herself learned to hate herself through the harsh words or her mother and people that surrounded her. She saw proof in what they told her in the preferred adoption of white beauty standards by all people in society. Her early
education of her worthlessness to society was by no means unique. All members of her community have experienced it before and each has his/her own way of dealing with it. The older married couples can take out their frustrations on each other while the children are left to deal with it by themselves or with their friends. The group of boys who team up to torment Pecola do so with the knowledge that the people in the lowest community (them) still have the power to ridicule the members who are lower than them The hopelessness of their prospects to escape their place in society causes anger that they can only take out on an outcast. They harm her in any way that they can in their effort to regain some semblance of control in their lives, lives that are controlled through the prejudices and old laws of the white dominated society. The description of the all consuming hatred felt by the boys shows the inevitability of their own abuse to other in society. It also shows how the self loathing brainwashes the children since before birth.
― Toni Morrison, The Bluest Eye (65)
Pecola herself learned to hate herself through the harsh words or her mother and people that surrounded her. She saw proof in what they told her in the preferred adoption of white beauty standards by all people in society. Her early
education of her worthlessness to society was by no means unique. All members of her community have experienced it before and each has his/her own way of dealing with it. The older married couples can take out their frustrations on each other while the children are left to deal with it by themselves or with their friends. The group of boys who team up to torment Pecola do so with the knowledge that the people in the lowest community (them) still have the power to ridicule the members who are lower than them The hopelessness of their prospects to escape their place in society causes anger that they can only take out on an outcast. They harm her in any way that they can in their effort to regain some semblance of control in their lives, lives that are controlled through the prejudices and old laws of the white dominated society. The description of the all consuming hatred felt by the boys shows the inevitability of their own abuse to other in society. It also shows how the self loathing brainwashes the children since before birth.
Sunday, November 2, 2014
Dark Girls
"The United States is unusual among the industrial democracies in the rigidity of the system of ideological control - 'indoctrination,' we might say - exercised through the mass media."
We are always told that differences make us stronger, more unique. They are what makes an individual an individual. Despite this we are grouped by these differences. Interests and abilities are used in school but appearance is more commonly used in normal encounters. One of the most prominent perpetrators of widespread stereotypes is the media.
As the world shrunk with the discovery and exploration of new lands, the Europeans who conquered the new places established their dominance as ruling power. Their places at the top of the hierarchy spread new ideologies including the white beauty standards that were popular in their home continent.
The conquerors may have spread the new beliefs to other countries, but mass media has allowed beauty standards to circulate the globe with speed and effect never thought possible. The documentary "Dark Girls" explores "...the roots of classism, racism, and the lack of self esteem..." that is experienced by dark skinned women and men today. In one scene there was mention of women (with dark skin) in a developing country that wanted to have a skin whitening treatment to undergo the transformation that Michael Jackson experienced. In a third world country, women saw that a person of color, like them, who changed skin color as he was met with success. To them, this was their idol succumbing to white beauty standards.
As the world shrunk with the discovery and exploration of new lands, the Europeans who conquered the new places established their dominance as ruling power. Their places at the top of the hierarchy spread new ideologies including the white beauty standards that were popular in their home continent.
The conquerors may have spread the new beliefs to other countries, but mass media has allowed beauty standards to circulate the globe with speed and effect never thought possible. The documentary "Dark Girls" explores "...the roots of classism, racism, and the lack of self esteem..." that is experienced by dark skinned women and men today. In one scene there was mention of women (with dark skin) in a developing country that wanted to have a skin whitening treatment to undergo the transformation that Michael Jackson experienced. In a third world country, women saw that a person of color, like them, who changed skin color as he was met with success. To them, this was their idol succumbing to white beauty standards.
\
Sources
"Dark Girls" Directed by D. Channisin Berry, Bill Duke
Sunday, October 26, 2014
True Reflection?
"The evolution of social media into a robust mechanism for social transformation is already visible. Despite many adamant critics who insist that tools like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube are little more than faddish distractions useful only to exchange trivial information, these critics are being proven wrong time and again."
We see role models in television, movies, and the people we interact with in real life. However the media and "pop culture" reflect who is charge and has the most power and influence. The people we look up to in entertainment reflect the view of the people watching, but it is still a limited view. Hollywood, while becoming more diverse, still reflects Caucasian stars the most. They are the ones we see most often in magazines and in commercials.
Hollywood stars are known by adults and young people alike, but new stars are popping up. They aren't on the T.V or in magazines. They are online. Youtube has allowed people to connect with others in a way never thought possible before. Musicians, comedians, teachers and chefs no longer need to go through traditional methods to reach an audience (Labels, connections etc.). Things like race are no longer the huge barrier they might otherwise be and content becomes what really matters.
The internet showcases a more representative look at the world we live in. Content is uploaded of viewed from countries all over the world allowing people to experience the smaller more global world we live in. Prejudices can only be changed with exposure to the truth, and the worldwide connections that the internet provide help to achieve this and many other goals.
We see role models in television, movies, and the people we interact with in real life. However the media and "pop culture" reflect who is charge and has the most power and influence. The people we look up to in entertainment reflect the view of the people watching, but it is still a limited view. Hollywood, while becoming more diverse, still reflects Caucasian stars the most. They are the ones we see most often in magazines and in commercials.
Hollywood stars are known by adults and young people alike, but new stars are popping up. They aren't on the T.V or in magazines. They are online. Youtube has allowed people to connect with others in a way never thought possible before. Musicians, comedians, teachers and chefs no longer need to go through traditional methods to reach an audience (Labels, connections etc.). Things like race are no longer the huge barrier they might otherwise be and content becomes what really matters.
The internet showcases a more representative look at the world we live in. Content is uploaded of viewed from countries all over the world allowing people to experience the smaller more global world we live in. Prejudices can only be changed with exposure to the truth, and the worldwide connections that the internet provide help to achieve this and many other goals.
Sunday, October 19, 2014
"You can't regulate child labor. You can't regulate slavery. Some things are just wrong"- Michael Moore
Many Americans will say that the Civil War ended slavery. Legally it did. Congress abolished slavery in 1865, but it continues today under another name: human trafficking.
When we think about trafficking we things of places far away, usually third world countries with corrupt or ineffective police forces. However much we wish that the problem would stay away it has developed a deeply rooted presence in the United States. The two main types of human trafficking supply people for the labor and sex industries. People of all races and backgrounds are kidnapped, threatened, or drugged into the trafficking rings where they are sold or used by the highest bidder. 82% of people taken in the United States in 2013 were under 18 years of age and at any time 293,000 American youth are at risk for being coerced into the human trafficking industry. Runaways and children with abusive parents are often those who are exploited most as they are easy targets who have no one that will miss them or want to know what happened.
Slavery has always had a history of preying on the weak. What made it possible for the slaves traders to obtain slaves was their guns and money. The same thing occurred in Ancient Greece and Rome. While it remains possible to limit human trafficking, I believe that it is impossible for it to stop completely. As long as humans have the desire for power and control, there will be exploitation of other people.
Sources
http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/law-enforcement-bulletin/march_2011/human_sex_trafficking
http://stophumantraffickingny.wordpress.com/a-survivors-story/
Many Americans will say that the Civil War ended slavery. Legally it did. Congress abolished slavery in 1865, but it continues today under another name: human trafficking.
When we think about trafficking we things of places far away, usually third world countries with corrupt or ineffective police forces. However much we wish that the problem would stay away it has developed a deeply rooted presence in the United States. The two main types of human trafficking supply people for the labor and sex industries. People of all races and backgrounds are kidnapped, threatened, or drugged into the trafficking rings where they are sold or used by the highest bidder. 82% of people taken in the United States in 2013 were under 18 years of age and at any time 293,000 American youth are at risk for being coerced into the human trafficking industry. Runaways and children with abusive parents are often those who are exploited most as they are easy targets who have no one that will miss them or want to know what happened.
Slavery has always had a history of preying on the weak. What made it possible for the slaves traders to obtain slaves was their guns and money. The same thing occurred in Ancient Greece and Rome. While it remains possible to limit human trafficking, I believe that it is impossible for it to stop completely. As long as humans have the desire for power and control, there will be exploitation of other people.
Sources
http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/law-enforcement-bulletin/march_2011/human_sex_trafficking
http://stophumantraffickingny.wordpress.com/a-survivors-story/
Sunday, October 12, 2014
"Be Yourself"
"Some people are your relatives but others are your ancestors, and you choose the ones you want to have as your ancestors. You create yourself out of their values"- Ralph Ellison
In our country we are bombarded with the message to "Be Yourself". We try. We develop our own interests and preferences, but we forget how much we are shaped by those who came before us. Some of the most important people are our parents. They teach us morals, values, and right from wrong. They help us set goals and push us to succeed. Yes, parents have the most direct influence on us, but so do other relatives, ones we may have never met. My ancestors that came to America made my life possible as well as those of my parents and grandparents. They may be long gone but their influence remains. I am classified by who they were, what they did, and where they came from. Nathanial Hawthorne ran into the same problem. He felt the weighed down by the choices and actions of his ancestors. The guilt he felt coupled with his talent for writing produced his most famous work: The Scarlet Letter.
The Scarlet Letter explores how different people deal with the punishments dealt by the society in which they live. Hester Prynn had to survive the public opinion of her actions (Hawthorne's ancestors) while Dimmesdale had to deal with the guilt from his hidden actions of the past (Hawthorne himself). Hawthorne's guilt about what his family did in the past shows in his cynical writing. To me it is not possible to truly be your own person, to have been the only one to shape your actions and how you are seen. Everything about everyone is shaped by someone else; appearance, clothing, speech patterns, even ambitions.
www.ted.com/talks/julian_baggini_is_there_a_real_you
In our country we are bombarded with the message to "Be Yourself". We try. We develop our own interests and preferences, but we forget how much we are shaped by those who came before us. Some of the most important people are our parents. They teach us morals, values, and right from wrong. They help us set goals and push us to succeed. Yes, parents have the most direct influence on us, but so do other relatives, ones we may have never met. My ancestors that came to America made my life possible as well as those of my parents and grandparents. They may be long gone but their influence remains. I am classified by who they were, what they did, and where they came from. Nathanial Hawthorne ran into the same problem. He felt the weighed down by the choices and actions of his ancestors. The guilt he felt coupled with his talent for writing produced his most famous work: The Scarlet Letter.
The Scarlet Letter explores how different people deal with the punishments dealt by the society in which they live. Hester Prynn had to survive the public opinion of her actions (Hawthorne's ancestors) while Dimmesdale had to deal with the guilt from his hidden actions of the past (Hawthorne himself). Hawthorne's guilt about what his family did in the past shows in his cynical writing. To me it is not possible to truly be your own person, to have been the only one to shape your actions and how you are seen. Everything about everyone is shaped by someone else; appearance, clothing, speech patterns, even ambitions.
www.ted.com/talks/julian_baggini_is_there_a_real_you
Sunday, October 5, 2014
The Not Uniform Uniform
The first time that I experienced a strict dress code was when I spent the summer in Japan. I was part of an exchange program that presented me with the opportunity to study at a Japanese school. In American schools the dress code is very lax. It allows most styles and the enforcement of the code is very lax. It was another experience in Japan. School mandated top, skirt (pants or guys), socks, shoes , belts and bags were needed to enter the school. The school had an approved list of hairstyles for both genders. It was enforced by teachers, and unannounced uniform checks for the entire school. Teacher checked to make sure that shirts (and camisoles) were tucked in properly, and they measured hair length to be sure that it met school standards.
We may not have a school imposed uniform at Troy High, yet many people in our school dress the same way. Trends seem to be make uniforms in high schools. Some of them are easier to escape than others, but the pressure is always there to buy a certain brand or style of clothing. When we do see people with a personal aesthetic that differs from the norm, we stare and think how bizarre it seems. In a country that values self expression, it seems ironic that it is often limited by whatever trends are current.
We may not have a school imposed uniform at Troy High, yet many people in our school dress the same way. Trends seem to be make uniforms in high schools. Some of them are easier to escape than others, but the pressure is always there to buy a certain brand or style of clothing. When we do see people with a personal aesthetic that differs from the norm, we stare and think how bizarre it seems. In a country that values self expression, it seems ironic that it is often limited by whatever trends are current.
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Repeated Roses
One of the most recognized symbols of love is the rose. The romance that is associated with the rose became widely known during the Victorian era. In a society that frowned upon open openly expressing feelings, floral arrangements and bouquets were sent as coded messages. Different variations in color (for the same types of flower) carry different meanings . Yellow roses represent joy and friendship, peach is for modesty, pink is for grace, and red (of course) confers love and respect. The leaves on a rose show hope, and a rose without thrones convey love at first sight.
With Homecoming approaching many people use flowers, especially roses, to ask each other out. Even though few young people today know about/use the language of flowers, it has remained in use throughout literature, art and music. Shakespeare used the hidden meanings of flowers throughout his plays (Ophelia, Hamlet, etc.). A more recent novel by Vanessa Diffenbaugh was written with floriography as a major theme.
In class we are reading The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, and one item that has been repeatedly seen is a red rosebush. The roses are beautiful and contrast the gloomy setting of the book. They have already been related to Hester and Pearl, and I expect that I will be seeing them again during my reading.
With Homecoming approaching many people use flowers, especially roses, to ask each other out. Even though few young people today know about/use the language of flowers, it has remained in use throughout literature, art and music. Shakespeare used the hidden meanings of flowers throughout his plays (Ophelia, Hamlet, etc.). A more recent novel by Vanessa Diffenbaugh was written with floriography as a major theme.
In class we are reading The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, and one item that has been repeatedly seen is a red rosebush. The roses are beautiful and contrast the gloomy setting of the book. They have already been related to Hester and Pearl, and I expect that I will be seeing them again during my reading.
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Blog Post #2
The United States is a nation of immigrants. Immigrants came to the U.S. to escape from poverty, persecution, famine, and overpopulation in their countries of origin. The influx of people into the country has, and continues, to create a diverse population. People are always cautious about the unknown. When people with different customs and traditions come into contact with those already situated, problems may occur. Stereotypes are one of the most common. It makes things easier to label a group of people than to take the time to learn about each individual. The common traits that are first observed are applied to all people that fit in that group. What may been true for a few is blown out of proportion, causing people who do not share the traits to feel pressured by the stereotypes.
It is not possible to change a stereotype in a short amount of time, but it is possible to change the mind of an individual. By sharing our culture, languages, and customs people learn that many preconceived notions they hold are not accurate. If we take the time to appreciate our differences it is possible to understand each other, and to eventually do away with stereotypes.
It is not possible to change a stereotype in a short amount of time, but it is possible to change the mind of an individual. By sharing our culture, languages, and customs people learn that many preconceived notions they hold are not accurate. If we take the time to appreciate our differences it is possible to understand each other, and to eventually do away with stereotypes.
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Blog Post #1
This week in class we spent a lot of time discussing memorials. People as constantly fighting, and when the fighting escalates deaths occur. We make memorials to remember people that have died. They can be big or small. They can be for many people or for individuals, yet they all have the same purpose; to remind us of what we have lost and what we have to lose.
Memorials are only one way that we are reminded of death. We see other reminders constantly. Makeup/lotion commercials focus the anti-ageing properties of the product that the company is trying to sell. Diet programs remind us that we have to exercise to live longer. Vacuum infomercials try to convince us that our homes are brimming with dust particles that will decrease our life expectancy. Advertisers know that by making ordinary things seem dangerous we may be frightened or convinced into buying their products. They prey on our constant awareness of our limited lifespan that they themselves have helped create.
We see this awareness of death reflected in more innocent ways as well. Most people I know will say that they have a list of things they want accomplish before they die, in other words, a bucket list. The term "bucket list" comes from the phrase "to kick the bucket" a slang or informal way to say "to die". The proliferation of awareness about death has become normal in the modern world. Looking and feeling young are emphasized more in media and our everyday lives. While looking towards the future is important, more awareness should be placed on what is happening now.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear_mongering
Memorials are only one way that we are reminded of death. We see other reminders constantly. Makeup/lotion commercials focus the anti-ageing properties of the product that the company is trying to sell. Diet programs remind us that we have to exercise to live longer. Vacuum infomercials try to convince us that our homes are brimming with dust particles that will decrease our life expectancy. Advertisers know that by making ordinary things seem dangerous we may be frightened or convinced into buying their products. They prey on our constant awareness of our limited lifespan that they themselves have helped create.
We see this awareness of death reflected in more innocent ways as well. Most people I know will say that they have a list of things they want accomplish before they die, in other words, a bucket list. The term "bucket list" comes from the phrase "to kick the bucket" a slang or informal way to say "to die". The proliferation of awareness about death has become normal in the modern world. Looking and feeling young are emphasized more in media and our everyday lives. While looking towards the future is important, more awareness should be placed on what is happening now.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear_mongering
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