Hello Class,
Welcome to our class blog. We are going to spend time discussing the
book, talking about our lives, and voicing our ideas here in written
form.
For your first blog post, I want you to think about what culture you
belong to, and describe your connection to it, focusing on how you
participate in this culture. In A Long Way Gone Ismael Beah
talks about his experience in Sierra Leone growing up there, and then
later in the book, he details his experience within its military
culture. Is
culture something that you are born into, choose, or in some cases
forced into? We may be part of
many different cultures. Do you feel connected with the student
culture here at Columbia? A certain art culture? Hip-hop culture?
Skateboarding culture? Yoga culture?
How do you know you are part of this culture? How ingrained, important,
or influential is this one culture to you?
Take some time to share what one culture you find yourself playing a role
in most. Describe it fully, with as many details as possible. Remember that many of your classmates may not
know what this culture is like. Show them. Explain about it from your
own prospective.
Your entry should be three or more paragraphs.
To post, you should select "post a comment" and then copy and paste your text from a Word document.
ReplyDeleteI feel that I am connected to the poetry culture. Words can be simply a thought that has meaning or no meaning. But poetry speaks to every individual being there crutch or that leap of faith they need. Words may hurt you or can make you feel like you have what it takes. Poetry can paint pictures only the mind can see. I can connect my emotions through every memory or quote I live. Some may wake up and just hear or see birds chirping. I wake up and see birds chirping the words of their lives, souls, music, love, and their hate. Maybe to you their color of their feathers may be blue or black. But to me there painted the color of their spirit. Flapping wings creating a symphony of sounds like wedding bells at a wedding or at a pond you may see them bathing but I see them removing the stress opening their souls for peace. Poetry creates that beautiful music and harmony. Each line defines the strings of your heartbeat. Maybe you won the lottery or your partner has died. That is the painting you paint with poetry.
ReplyDeleteThose memories describes my poetry only speaks to your heart. Only to play the strings your heart and mind feels. My favorite poet is Jackie hill. She writes poems only for your heart and mind to feel. My passion for what I need to express. Spoken word is something I need to improve on. Sometimes I don’t have the right thought process to speak what I fell that’s when I turn too poetry. It is my inside and outside outlet. But so far it has helped me out. In many situations poetry is where I can speak what I feel, speak too many people I would normally avoid, create positive dreams for myself, and give me hope when I cannot reach it for myself.
So I feel I am apart of the poetry culture. Everybody behind poetry has some form of belief of words that express him or her. It’s not the words you speak but the image each person can create and poetry portrays that hidden illusion regardless if it is perfect or terrible. If I can have a person that can relate to me, that is when I know have accomplished something to those reading or listening to my poems.
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ReplyDeleteP U N K
ReplyDeletePunk is a culture I identify with because; there is so much to this sub culture for only being around for the past 40 years. I relate to the communal feeling that punk rockers have for one another, there’s a mutual respect for freedom and Identity. Although it is very cliché and Teen to like punk I believe there is a deeper message of intellect to be spread. The American punks had more have a DIY and work through it attitude (what I agree with) the UK punks believed in just destroying everything and leave nothing for anyone, complete anarchy. This culture it self has changed ways of thought just as much as it challenged nations around the world to question their government leaders.
I identify with this group not because I am an outcast or unwanted, but rather because punk stands for change and freedom. When I was thirteen my sister showed me Black Flag from then on out Punk was apart of me. I have made some incredible friends through punk. From going to shows to just meeting people in the streets, punk is so subjective as a culture and a genre. It’s very exciting to meet another person who agrees with Punk ethics.
In all I just view myself as a speaker of Punk, rather than a spiky leather jacket wearing teen with a shaved head. I looked up to the founders of punk because they went into this scene knowing what they were getting into. Like most new things that incept culture no one like or understands it. There was no money, no fame, no public interest what so ever and yet these people still worked through it and spread their message of interest and defiance
Art culture has shown itself to me in various amounts of ways. I would say that all my life i've been surrounded by the art culture. My father is a carpenter, my mom is a painter, my grandmother is a chef, and even music shows up all around. I guess you could say that i was born into the art culture but I chose myself to drown myself into it. All my life i've introduced myself to many mediums of art. The only ones that I've chosen to pursue is filmmaking and metal sculpting on the side.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the art culture isn't something that only contains visual aspects. I believe that culinary arts plays a role in the art community, and as well as musical talent. Art is something that someone uses as an outlet to express themselves. I have friends that skateboard and for them that is their way of expressing themselves to the community, and I consider that an art form.
I use photography, and film as an outlet for me to express what I feel to the world. I feel like inside I can't communicate in words to the people around me about how my heart, and mind feels. But through photography, and film it's almost like a whole other language that I've learned that I can use to show everyone how I feel.
I am feeling connected with the culture with Africa because there are peoples have hard life. There are people they have hard time going through so many dramas they can’t even solve. I know most of the feeling is different because there are thing has change so many major different reason. In my side of the feeling to be connected to culture life are people don’t get along enough each other. They don’t have close family someone that has their back whenever it is up or down.
ReplyDeleteThe thing that has effect me from my culture to Africa there are people has been harm and getting hurt from gun-violence is going on around us. To me there is something making everything more effecting is to have hatred and trust issue. There is no much love can’t be given to other. My culture is same from North America there always the problems. There are so many reasons our culture so much problem they don’t understand major an effect.
Finally, I know Africa and North America are same because there is interest culture taking place so many places used art culture. Also, Africa have there owe hip-hop culture. They made there owe culture beats. One thing is different in my cultures, we don’t have good financial moneys, we can’t able to handle. Other reason is to have taken responsible is to take Childs support is very hard go through adult life.
Some people in this world have been forced into certain cultures. Like growing up with artist all around you and getting a paintbrush forced into your hand. Or growing up with brainiacs all around you, forced to study all day and get good grades being told you won’t make it in life. Or growing up with your whole family being sports freaks. These are the people who are being forced into a certain type of culture.
ReplyDeleteI unfortunately haven’t been able to connect with anyone here at Columbia. I have been open as hell to meeting new people; I just haven’t connected with anyone. I moved here from California only knowing my roommate and someone I met at an open house here but he doesn’t even go to Columbia. I am holding on knowing that meeting and connecting with people will only take time. But if I had to choose I am mostly connected to the photography culture here. I think my teacher is awesome and I get along with him perfectly and I really enjoy his views on photography. Which is very rare with me because I barley have the same view with anyone on anything, Especially with photography.
I know I am apart of this culture because I can connect with the other people at Columbia who are photography majors as well. When you meet another person who is into photography you can seriously talk to them for hours about it. Photographers can literally have never ending conversation. Photography is extremely important to me I have built my whole life around it and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Something that affects me daily is my race. I' am African American and because race has so much value I take pride and have a big connection with being black. although most cultures you can choose, race are not one of them. I was born African American.
ReplyDeleteIn the African American culture there is history, soul food, living in low come which leads to bad behavioral characteristic, social class, poor education, poor housing, poverty and gentrification.
I have personally been through gentrification and being raised in low income. Although I'm saying that I have been raised in low income housing, I'm not saying that all black African American people are poor, but the majority are.
Our food for the most part is unhealthy, but also full of love. our cooking is called soul food. This meal is prepared for the family to come together and share love through food. What most people don't know is that during slavery the Caucasian man would feed his slaves left overs like pigs feet, and other animal intestines. These are not to be eating and our eating habits has been affecting the African American people and because they didn't have any money. These unhealthy foods that is considered apart our culture is something that is symbolizing the crap that we can only afford.
I find my culture very influential because statistically I wasn't suppose to make it. I grew up in the ghetto, I was apart of gentrification, I live in low income housing, I'm surrounded by gang members and not only am I a black male, but a gay back male. so that is now that is three strikes against me. and throughout y hard life and struggles I went through I beet the system and I bet statistics.
I know my culture is looked upon on. I know that I' am apart of the African American culture because of how people treat me, how society views me, and the lack of resources and education I have plus my social class. and I think because of that and have a social justice education just made me see the world differently which in a way let me see the U.S for what it is. my culture is something powerful, and important to me because it feels good to break stereotypes for my people. to show that my culture and race has power, because I feel connected and proud of my skin.
My made and favorite culture is Mexican. I was born and raised in chicago but to a mexican family. Spanish was my first language and I'm grateful it was. Spanish to me is a beautiful language that has a lot of benefits. I can understand different languages a little easier because it has some type of spanish in it like: italian, french, and tagalo.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was 2 I went to mexico for the first time and I remember some parts. The made thing I remember is my grandfathers house as well as my uncles. I can remember everything about each out. Even the colors. Another reason I love mexico is because their houses are different colors. I kepted that part with me as well. I painted my room many colors and convinced my parents to paint the inside of our house as if we lived in mexico.
My mom loves to cook and it's tradition that the girl learns to clean and cook instead of going school. Obviously that wasn't the case for me because i'm here but I did learn that at a very young age. Everyday I would help my mom whether it was by setting the table or making the water. I always made agua de limon. It was healthy and tasty.
Combat Sports is a very specific culture that demands a very specific personality and gains a lot of respect even among other athletes. Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts both require a long commitment and lots of pain before you are any good at them. I before picking up these sports was not a violent person, I had never really been in an angry confrontation, and then I found this sport and have spent 4 years as well as countless hours and have thrown at thousands of punches and mitts, heavy bags, and other people. It all started one night after a terrible break up and after a few weeks of me being depressed and moping around work a coworker asked me if I wanted to come over after work for a workout, needing a distraction I agreed. Shortly after work I followed him out to his house and walked into his garage and when he turned on the lights I realized how big his home gym was, he and a few of his friends had built a ring in his home, he had three heavy bags standing up, as well as a couple speed bags and one double ended bag. He told me to get dressed, after getting changed and walking out feeling a little awkward and he tossed me a jump rope and said “alright let’s get started” as he plugged in a small black box with a red, yellow, and green light on the top the bell then rang as I was standing there he turned around and said “you gonna start jumping?” so I started jumping rope (something that I still am not good at) and after tripping over a jump rope for three minutes the black box beeped and he told me to stop, after a bell rang I started jumping again (what is referred to as a round) and repeated this process four more times. Afterward he showed me how to stand in stance properly and throw punches and had me throwing punches at the air for three more rounds, then had me put on gloves and then was the moment of truth. I walk up to the bag covered in sweat and exhausted with a pound of padding on each hand being told to stick my hands up infront of my face the bell rings and I hit the heavy bag sweat flies off my brow as the bag moves and the adrenaline starts pumping, I keep punching and the bag swings more and more as I dance around the bag sliding in and punching and sliding back outside of a person’s punching range. I later found out that my coworker was a golden glove boxer in Saint Louis which is a yearly competition to find the best amateur boxer in every city, he had been offered a pro contract and had a 12-0 record with 5 knock outs, he quickly became my first coach and I have not looked back since then.
ReplyDeleteI am African American/ black. My culture is pretty interesting I was raised in Memphis, TN. In my small community in Memphis: church, food, family, and long hours of prayer were important, anything beyond that was secondary. What was more interesting was my 2 brothers and me were raised by my grandmother. I lived with her from the time I was born until I was 15 years old. At family reunions we would do "Roasting Sessions" meaning we would tell the most embarrassing funniest stories of each other publicly to all of the family....hilarious......We were not trying to hurtful to one another its just apart of our culture.
ReplyDeleteArt culture has shown me many varieties of ways of how to be inspired by art. Because creating art has always been my passion I love attending art galleries with friends and family; I feel more connected to them. Talking and laughing about the art, brings a festive atmosphere. The critiques roaring in your ears of friends and family. "Wow look at that". said my friend. The different mediums: paintings, drawing, sculptures, and photography have varieties of colors and vibes to the viewers eyes. When I started going to art galleries was in high school, and ever since I enjoyed every bite of it.
ReplyDeleteThis weekend I attended the National Museum of Mexican Art, it was the opening exhibit of the day of the dead celebration. At the event I was surrounded by many people that were excited and yet intrigued about seeing and being apart of the Day of the Dead celebration. It was inspired by a famous Mexican artist Guadalupe Posada. Some of the people were even dressed up as the art themselves.
I use art and drawing to express the world around me. It helps me explore my mind's inner voices, images, and thoughts.