Art and its Many Interpretations

This weeks readings both hit on interesting topics.  I would like to focus on Ways of Seeing by John Berger, which raised many interesting questions and arguments that I had not thought about before when it comes to art, visualization, and seeing in general.  I found this reading to be similar to Eagelton’s in the way that they both play on the idea of creating ones own meaning when approaching things vs. going along with the accepted definition of a particular piece or thing.  The article explores in depth the idea of mystification which as we have come to know it is the opposite of doxa.  Doxa is described as the accepted meaning of something or common assumption therefore, mystification is described as removing or not allowing an assumption to be made.  Mystification involves keeping in mind that there are always different ways to read anything.  The reading also expanded on ideas from Walter Benjamin’s The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction, which spoke about the modern context that is created when a painting or piece of art is replicated.  The argument is made that this process of modern replication severs the original meaning from the painting or artwork, but as we discussed in class I feel that this is not completely true.  When looking at a replicated painting you are in some aspects still seeing the original meaning in many ways, perhaps you cannot see each individual brush stroke but one comes to understand the general image and therefore I think the context of how you might interpret the painting is what really changes.  Another topic that is touched on in the article is the idea that we do not simply just see things as they are as solely individual objects or beings.  We see things in relation to other things.  We are constantly forming relationships between objects to better understand each object.  This is why context changes but meaning does not as much in my mind.  Because each time you see a painting you are seeing it in a different environment.  The time, the place, and the people you are with, etc. all affects how you interpret something.  Whether it is text, paintings or anything, the past and our environment are constantly playing a role in our interpretation of every thing on this earth.

Is Individuality Really Just Picking and Choosing What You Let Influence You?

The readings for this week that questioned and discussed primarily individuality were a nice change of pace.  I enjoyed these readings as opposed to some of the denser ones from previous weeks.  The fiction pieces were both very different and enjoyable and touched on interesting topics.  The key word this week I think is individuality.  In The Lesson by Toni Cade Bambara we are introduced to Sylvia the narrator who is a young African American girl with quite an attitude.  She prides herself on being tough and not listening to Miss Moore a neighborhood lady who tries to educate the children.  Sylvia in the story is exposed to the extreme prices at a toy store and is shocked because the value of a dollar she knows is much higher coming from a poor ghetto upbringing.  At the end of the story she leaves 4 dollars richer and with a lesson even though she is trying to resist one as much as possible.  This story was an example of how even though she prides herself as being an individual and rebelling from authority and teachings; other people and your surroundings are constantly shaping your individuality.  Even though Sylvia did not want Miss Moore’s trip to the toy store to have an impact on her, it did.  It made her think.  This idea ties into the basic concept of Appiah’s piece in the book.  Although this piece was a very different style of writing the two works go hand in hand when it comes to theme.  Appiah also argues how individuality is a combination of outside influences.  Individuality can only be valued if you have relationships with other people.  Therefore, some people’s basic understanding of individuality as a “lone wolf” type is really far off base.  Without bonds and relationships with other humans we could not be free beings he states.  I strongly agree with this and I also agree with the fact that our individuality comes from a combination of all other people in our lives.  For example when asked to write five “I am” statements in class I wrote, “I am a twitter fanatic, a shopaholic, philosophical, determined, and lucky” One could argue that these traits are what make me my own individual, the combination creating a unique being.  But the truth is without other people influencing me a lot of these traits would not be true to myself.  For example without the influence of my friends and celebrities on twitter I myself never would have gotten one.  Without the influence of my mom being stylish and smart I would not be a philosophical shopaholic.  Without the influence of the schools I went to growing up I would not be determined.  And finally, without the influences of my parents their jobs, my town, etc. I might not consider myself lucky.  Individuality is a wonderful thing, but without sharing a bit of yourself with others and in turn receiving from them we wouldn’t have any individuality at all!

Is Individuality Really Just Picking and Choosing What You Let Influence You?

The readings for this week that questioned and discussed primarily individuality were a nice change of pace.  I enjoyed these readings as opposed to some of the denser ones from previous weeks.  The fiction pieces were both very different and enjoyable and touched on interesting topics.  The key word this week I think is individuality.  In The Lesson by Toni Cade Bambara we are introduced to Sylvia the narrator who is a young African American girl with quite an attitude.  She prides herself on being tough and not listening to Miss Moore a neighborhood lady who tries to educate the children.  Sylvia in the story is exposed to the extreme prices at a toy store and is shocked because the value of a dollar she knows is much higher coming from a poor ghetto upbringing.  At the end of the story she leaves 4 dollars richer and with a lesson even though she is trying to resist one as much as possible.  This story was an example of how even though she prides herself as being an individual and rebelling from authority and teachings; other people and your surroundings are constantly shaping your individuality.  Even though Sylvia did not want Miss Moore’s trip to the toy store to have an impact on her, it did.  It made her think.  This idea ties into the basic concept of Appiah’s piece in the book.  Although this piece was a very different style of writing the two works go hand in hand when it comes to theme.  Appiah also argues how individuality is a combination of outside influences.  Individuality can only be valued if you have relationships with other people.  Therefore, some people’s basic understanding of individuality as a “lone wolf” type is really far off base.  Without bonds and relationships with other humans we could not be free beings he states.  I strongly agree with this and I also agree with the fact that our individuality comes from a combination of all other people in our lives.  For example when asked to write five “I am” statements in class I wrote, “I am a twitter fanatic, a shopaholic, philosophical, determined, and lucky” One could argue that these traits are what make me my own individual, the combination creating a unique being.  But the truth is without other people influencing me a lot of these traits would not be true to myself.  For example without the influence of my friends and celebrities on twitter I myself never would have gotten one.  Without the influence of my mom being stylish and smart I would not be a philosophical shopaholic.  Without the influence of the schools I went to growing up I would not be determined.  And finally, without the influences of my parents their jobs, my town, etc. I might not consider myself lucky.  Individuality is a wonderful thing, but without sharing a bit of yourself with others and in turn receiving from them we wouldn’t have any individuality at all!

Growing Up

In the Richard Rodriguez article assigned this week we were exposed to a different style of writing.  Instead of an essay format we were given an in depth view of Rodriguez’s life and childhood.  I preferred this piece to the others as I found the autobiographical style more personal and interesting to read.  I could also relate to this piece for the fact that my mother is Spanish, from Peru, and although my feelings were never as intense as Rodriguez’s, I too understand where he is coming from when it comes to things such as a word pronounced incorrectly and how something so small can really irritate you.  My mother however has made a wonderful life for herself and is very successful much like Rodriguez himself,  driven and intelligent.  Rodriguez faced much aversion, not only did he feel his parents were inadequate when it came to understanding his desire to learn and read and excel, but his peers he also felt did not want him to succeed.  As a result he felt alienated both at home and in the classroom leaving him sad and frustrated.  What Rodriguez lacked in self-confidence he gained by mimicking his teachers.  This is a good example of the banking concept of education, he was very much an empty vessel waiting and eager to be filled with knowledge as a student.  Although this way of learning is looked down upon in some eyes, clearly it can be successful for Rodriguez is an example of how learning from others can cause you to develop intelligently.  Rodriguez says himself that he doesn’t think imitation will always work in becoming successful but it was one of his keys to success.  After effectively completing college and spending time abroad Rodriguez felt he had completed himself academically but somehow something was still missing.  With this realization he came to the conclusion that his family was not something he should run from or be ashamed of.  He regained the appreciation of family and this for him was the most important thing he had learned.  The Rodriguez article was one that hit close to home for me and I enjoyed very much.  Rodriguez demonstrates how anyone with drive and a desire to succeed, can.  

Picking Apart Education

The readings from this week played very nicely off of each other.  It was interesting to see how they both made similar points while at the same time in some ways had very different ideas, almost contrasting each other completely.  “The Banking Concept” by Paulo Freire introduced an interesting way of looking at and criticizing education today.  I found it interesting and partially agreed with his argument that classroom learning has become very monotonous in some places of learning and less interactive.  It is true that often time’s classes are taught where students are looked at as empty vessels where it is the teacher’s job to fill their minds with facts.  The argument he makes, saying that when this is taking place students are not truly learning but just remembering is a valid one in my mind.  There are many instances where students can score well on a test because they have memorized the material, but do they actually understand it?  It is a difficult question to answer.  Giroux’s reading, “Higher Education Under Siege”, overlaps with Freire’s ideas in this light.  He argues that the only purpose teachers have these days is to get kids into a small percentage of the job market.  Teachers are now only creating students for the corporate world.  The problem is that there is only space for so many people to operate at the high level jobs that they are being prepared for leaving public service jobs unfulfilled.  The fact of the matter is that only 30% of jobs require a college degree, leaving many students over qualified and out of work.  Giroux uses the term public intellectual, defined often as a college professor of some sort well educated in a certain topic that gives speeches and presentations.  He makes the argument that not all teachers must fit this mold and that there is a need for a different kind of educator.  Giroux believes that our countries practice of democracy is one that needs to be changed.  Instead of resting solely on a few people when it comes to decision-making, the population as a whole needs to have more say and be more involved.  The articles that we read for class this week bring up interesting points, although I do not completely agree with them both all the way, they make valid points and interesting suggestions as to how we could change our education system.