Thursday, April 30, 2009

Preferred Topics & Alter Assignment

Preferred Topics: 1) Urban Culture, 2)Fashion, 3) Graffiti Art

Alter Assignment (Urban Culture):
  1. Raves
  2. Music
  3. Clothes
  4. Advertisements
  5. Graffiti
  6. Youth
  7. Clubs
  8. Shoes
  9. Piercing
  10. Drinks
  11. Popular Brands

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Seward Park

Seattle is known as a metropolitan haven filled with art, diversity, and acceptance. When the word Seattle is spoken people think of the bustling business, innovation, and social interactions that Seattle has become known for. But people don’t know about a park on its south side.

 Seward Park like other parks is a place of social interaction and recreation. It boasts 300 acres of beautiful forest land, a home to eagles’ nests, old growth forest, a 2.4 mile bike and walking path, an amphitheater, a native plant garden, miles of hiking trails and much more.  One of Seattle’s most cherished areas would never be seen as a barrier, a barricade.

 Although not intended for the purpose of serving as a boarder, Seward Park in South Seattle divides the prospering Seattle from the ghetto Seattle. Many people do not think about it but such beautiful land does serve as a physical representation of poverty gap in Seattle.

 Looking across the park people are segregated by race, culture, and even social standing. The Caucasian population takes part in picnics, hiking, and even bike riding, while the colored population either plays in or watches the street basket games.

 Getting around or through the boarder is not very difficult. Just walk straight on through from one side to the other. Although it seems so simple to me, as I looked harder into the park I noticed people of certain ethnicities walking on certain paths and avoiding others.

 Seward park does represent the best of Seattle; diversity, art, innovation, but at the very same time it keeps Seattle’s population on their “own side of the tracks”. It’s scary to think that something so beautiful can serve as an obstacle in such a beautiful city but I guess if we look hard enough we can find manifestations of boarders and segregations everywhere 

Thursday, April 2, 2009

The Walls in my Life

Today in class as an ice breaker exercise and we from what I remember we had to identify personal walls in our lives. Well here is mine:

I was born in California, and where I grew up everyone the community was very accepting, open, and embracive. A couple years back I moved to Washington State; specifically Bellevue. In Bellevue, there are not very many people who looked like me; dressed like me; talked like me. What I realized is that in Bellevue a lot of people built up these metaphoric walls around themselves, allowing only people who were like them in.

In California I not only knew all my neighbors, but interacted with them daily. In Bellevue I barely know my neighbors let alone see them. When I walk down the street or in a mall I can actually feel people getting uncomfortable. At first I asked myself why? What made me so intimidating? I mean if you know me I am 5'4, skinny, and always smiling. I always thought myself as being very warm not intimidating.

Don't get me wrong. It was not their fault. They didn't know anyone like me. What they knew were people who looked like me on their televisions on shows like cops and Jerry Springer. I don't blame them because they were not arrogant, they were ignorant, they just didn't know.

What I soon realized was the metaphoric wall built between us, two different types of people, in the name of safety. Like many I got used to it. Like all teenagers I changed to fit my surroundings.

I changed the way I talked.
I changed the way I walked.
I changed the way I dressed.

I did not change because I wanted to fit in. I changed because I was tired of being shut out. Changing allowed me a chance for people to actually get to know me for who I am. Although I changed the way I talked amongst other things, I have still maintained my identity; where I came from; what I believe in; my values; who I really am.

And those who actually know me, know that I am just as real, as loving, as caring, always thinking, as American as they are.

That is one of the many walls of my life. Hopefully this trip will help my realize and understand more about the walls in not only my life, but our cultures, societies, and lives.