Edge of Heaven

Edge of Heaven is definetly one of the best movies I have ever watched. What I liked most about it is how real it is. Nowadays when we think about movies and stories, we think of fairy tale endings.

One thing that I could never really understand is why movies never seem to be real, even though they are sometimes based on true events. The only reason I could come up with is because movies and in other forms of art we are able to control the outcome, we create a world in which we did live in.

I also liked how in your face the movie was. Nowadays we seem to find movies which are either too conservative or too out there. The In your face, this is really how it is, really stood out to me. I actually believed in what I was watching for the first time.

At the end of the movie I made a comment; I said "are you serious what a horrible ending," and I think it was julie who said "this is real life." It was real life.

Istanbul's Choice

At first, I will be completely honest, I was not look forward to reading this paper/article. See I'm not much a reader and the reading was a bit on the long side.

After procrastinating a bit, I got myself to start reading it and was not very pleased. I am not the most intellectual of the bunch if you get what I mean. I was sitting reading and wondering what am I supposed to be reflecting on. And then out of now where I was hit with a suprise.

This surprise was the last sentence of the reading. It goes "Above all, we have to hope for a new politics of openness."

Universal Words. Very applicable almost everywhere around the world. It made me wonder; we (The USA) are known for our democracy; our humainty; and our openness. But are those comparasions accurate.

If I turn on FOX NEWS right now I will see everything but fair and balanced journalism. I will see so called objective journalists talking down the President of the United States.

If I switch the channel to MSNBC I will see the very same thing; except the target of the talking down to are those who identify themselves with the right wing conservative America.

How can we in any way be considered mature, open, and democratic if we, as a country, not just just any country, but The Super Power, the "model nation" still do not have politics of openess of which we preach.

Its probably selfish of me to reflect upon our country when we are studying Germany but this article made me "hope for a new politics of openess."

Corpses Having Sex In Berlin Exhibition

May 7, 2009- Controversial German anatomy artist Gunther von Hagens is once again facing flak for unveiling a work showing two corpses having sexual intercourse.The artwork will be part of von Hagens' latest plastination exhibition 'Cycle of Life' in Berlin.

The artist defends the exhibit saying that it combines the two greatest taboos of sex and death and is a lesson in biology. He insists that it is "not meant to be sexually stimulating".

Politicians and church representatives are angry at the exhibit, and have called for it to be withdrawn. They have pronounced it pornographic and an insult to the dead.

"This couple is simply over the top, and it shouldn't be shown," the Guardian quoted Alice Strover, an MP for the Green party, as saying."Love and death are obvious topics for art, but I find it quite disgusting to use them in this way," said Fritz Felgentreu an MP for the Social Democrats.Von Hagens developed the plastination method several years ago after discovering a method for preserving bodies by replacing their fat and water deposits with injections of silicon, which then harden.

His exhibitions have travelled across the world.His most popular exhibits included corpses playing chess, high jumping, and horse riding. He has already shown a dead pregnant woman and foetuses at various stages of development earlier.

According to von Hagens, the man and woman consented to appear in a sexual pose.

-BigNewsNetwork

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

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 

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.