Smart not Nerdy
Dominate corporate culture wants us to be smart but not nerdy. Its contradictory because we are told to "be ourselves" but we are also expected to conform with society's standards. Socially it wants us to dress like everyone else.
Step 1:
Wear clothes that compliment you. If you're in the "nerdy" clique, then try to discuss with your friends about trying to change your look.
You have to change to look so its more acceptable to how other people view it. It suggests that being nerdy is bad, its good to smart, but not like that.
Step 3:
Try to not be so eager to answer a question. If you don't answer it right, don't have a meltdown.
Folk culture wants us to be eager to learn, but not overeager, because you seem like a "brownnoser" and a "nerd". You should answer questions but not seem "eager" to. It also suggests though that we shouldn't get too caught up in getting things right. This message tells us to let ourselves have room for failure, so it doesn't effect us so strongly.
Step 5:
Try not act like a total dumb blond. This is over-doing it and people will think you are a poser.
Don't act smart but don't act "totally" dumb either. Don't seem like a poser though following these steps suggest that you are trying to be one.
Warning:
This may make your nerd friends upset. If so, apologize and say that you got caught up in things.
Its funny how they refer to the people as "nerd friends" not just "friends". Folk culture (and Corporate)praises the individual but shuns them too. One of the many present contraditions in our culture.
Dominate Folk Message- Be smart in a way that is acceptable to everyone else
"Why do we go on and on about individuality being the very essence of who we are and then accept a degrading level of conformity in virtually every facet of out lives?"
-Bradley Trevor Greive
How to Develop Good Study Habits for College
This is the Folk value of an education as a facet of what helps you have a good and meaningful life. This one tells you not only that but how to make the most of what you've learn. It implies that we should go to college since it is an article about how to build good skills and habits for College but some of the tips can also be applied outside of school. It prioritizes school but also absorbing what you have learned from it.
During all nighters you'll lose as much information from sleepiness as you'll learn from the extra time spent. Stay up late, but make sure you're budgeting at least 6 hours for sleep, even on your night before the big exam. Your brain processes what you've learned in your sleep.
Do not cram; there is no point in trying to, because you will only remember very little and it won't help your future career because you'll have rotten recall.
It doesn't mention grading, though its probably implied that if you get the information it'll help you do better on a test/school and get a good grade. It does show that it believes retaining the knowledge is very important and not just the grade, because while cramming may help you for a test, its most likely anything crammed will be forgotten and won't be of any help afterwards.
You remember things better in short amounts of time - DON'T study for 4 hours; you will only forget half the things you read. Study for an hour, then take a 5 - 10 minute break to walk around, and study for another hour. Be committeed to making the break work for you too- don't get distracted for an hour, make sure you get back within the time you've set for yourself.
Listening to calming classical music and chewing gum while you study are helpful items that can help you remember things better.
They have alot of tips on studying to retain your information. Showing knowledge is a value of Folk Culture and the good and meaningful life.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Inauguration Day
What aspects of our lives were emphasized by the speeches, ceremony, music, song, spectacle? What image of "the good and meaningful life" was strengthened and what sorts of lives were implicitly or explicitly critiqued?
The Inauguration started off slow. The songs and music created by famous singers and musicians helped create a mood of patriotism. They sung about america, and this celebration of America and its ideals were implicit in the flag background that appeared next to the singer's head. This was also created by the cello, violin, and other orchestra instruments. During the inauguration reactions of the audience was also shown. People who appeared onscreen appeared struck and awed by this moment in history. Some were crying, others just stared as if mesmerized by what was happening. "On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord." Striving to be a better country and being realistic of what can be accomplished is alot of what he talks about in his inauguration speech. Though there is also a tone of optimism and that this country will endure. Faith and hope that strives to instill in americans. Unity. The folk culture value shown is patriotism, and unity as a people.
"But those values upon which our success depends - honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true."
Hard work makes an appearence as well as a folk culture value towards living a good and meaningful life. "Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame." Leisure is critiqued as something not conducive towards living a good and meaningful life, as well as seeking external things such as riches and fame. The journey he is talking about requires that people decide to work hard.
The Inauguration started off slow. The songs and music created by famous singers and musicians helped create a mood of patriotism. They sung about america, and this celebration of America and its ideals were implicit in the flag background that appeared next to the singer's head. This was also created by the cello, violin, and other orchestra instruments. During the inauguration reactions of the audience was also shown. People who appeared onscreen appeared struck and awed by this moment in history. Some were crying, others just stared as if mesmerized by what was happening. "On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord." Striving to be a better country and being realistic of what can be accomplished is alot of what he talks about in his inauguration speech. Though there is also a tone of optimism and that this country will endure. Faith and hope that strives to instill in americans. Unity. The folk culture value shown is patriotism, and unity as a people.
"But those values upon which our success depends - honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true."
Hard work makes an appearence as well as a folk culture value towards living a good and meaningful life. "Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame." Leisure is critiqued as something not conducive towards living a good and meaningful life, as well as seeking external things such as riches and fame. The journey he is talking about requires that people decide to work hard.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Where do we go from here? - Martin Luther King
The "Where do we go from here?" speech made me think about alot of things. About our capitalist system and how effect it is and how it impacts us and also questioning the necessity of alot of things we do. In his speech, King proposes a social democracy, in which every person would have a guaranteed income which at the time would require 20 billion dollars to cover every citizen. At that time 35 billion had been spent on the Vietnam War and 20 billion to put a man to the moon. In retrospect, it confirms that our nation can afford to use money on its people. We can do it, but why don't we? It seems change is only brung about, when people create a new system that makes the old one obsolete. But also when their desire to change is greater than their fear of change and allegiance to their old system. Our current system turns our focus into making money and benefits only a certain percentage of people. That's okay, as long as you are part of this percentage. I'm not really sure where people's values are because in this system people are willing to do a job they hate that makes lots of money than taking a job they love that makes less. Maybe social democracy might free them to do what they love. Maybe it won't. But whether or not it will happen in the near future is up to the people because that is how change is brought about.
Obama is likened to King and seen as a source of change to many people. I think he will do that and what he can in his presidency to bring reform, albeit not as much as people may have assumed in the time he is in office. He'll plan another bailout plan will be put in effect which will cost about $700 billion, some which is part of a stimulus package to accomplish the domestic agenda set out in his campaign: energy independence, reducing health care costs, improving education and helping low-wage and middle-income workers. Economists say the plan will create/hold 3 to 4 billion jobs for people, in a time when many are being let go of. Even with such a large stimulus package, some liberals and conservative economists fear the package will not be enough. In our current state, "Where do we go from here?"
Obama is likened to King and seen as a source of change to many people. I think he will do that and what he can in his presidency to bring reform, albeit not as much as people may have assumed in the time he is in office. He'll plan another bailout plan will be put in effect which will cost about $700 billion, some which is part of a stimulus package to accomplish the domestic agenda set out in his campaign: energy independence, reducing health care costs, improving education and helping low-wage and middle-income workers. Economists say the plan will create/hold 3 to 4 billion jobs for people, in a time when many are being let go of. Even with such a large stimulus package, some liberals and conservative economists fear the package will not be enough. In our current state, "Where do we go from here?"
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Christmas
"Dashing through the snow
On a one-horse open sleigh,
Over the fields we go,
Laughing all the way;
Bells on bob-tail ring,
making spirits bright,
What fun it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight
Jingle bells, jingle bells,
jingle all the way!
O what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh"
-Jingle Bells, Michael W. Smith
The holidays are full of contradictions, as I see it, that's because people are filled with contradictions themselves. Christmas is no exception. Christmas is an alright holiday in itself. The point is holiday spirit, "good cheer", the time of giving, innit. Just around this time, the air is filled with Christmas carols, singing about love, family, reindeers, and a fat man in a red suit. People dress up as elves and have their kids sit on a person dressed as Santa. People drink eggnog, apple cider, gather together with family and friends. Just brings this feeling of "togetherness". All the movies and songs on air blatantly state that this is a time to "be together". All the while shoving at each other in such a "together way" to grab at potential presents on sale. Christmas, in our commericalized culture means giving, buying stuff and giving what you bought.
For some people it brings out a different side of them. Ever seen "A Christmas Carol" where the old Scrooge, learns his lesson and becomes a better person by learning to be kind. He decides to care bout the people he had known instead of going "bah humbug" as he had been doing in the past when someone asked for a day off on Christmas. Ebenezeer helps Tiny Tim, and even gives a turkey away and gets invited to dinner on Christmas. Well that's pretty much the lesson of Christmas "in a nutshell" give and spend time with your loved ones. People do tend to feel more generous around Christmas time, they donate to charities, sing carols, and are a pretty social bunch. Many people want to "give" back just as Ebeneezer Scrooge had done. We spend time with our family and friends during that day too. People get time off from work to spend Christmas with the people they care about. Be together, is the message that it is trying to send. I suppose gift giving and charity work is all a way to show you care.
On a one-horse open sleigh,
Over the fields we go,
Laughing all the way;
Bells on bob-tail ring,
making spirits bright,
What fun it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight
Jingle bells, jingle bells,
jingle all the way!
O what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh"
-Jingle Bells, Michael W. Smith
The holidays are full of contradictions, as I see it, that's because people are filled with contradictions themselves. Christmas is no exception. Christmas is an alright holiday in itself. The point is holiday spirit, "good cheer", the time of giving, innit. Just around this time, the air is filled with Christmas carols, singing about love, family, reindeers, and a fat man in a red suit. People dress up as elves and have their kids sit on a person dressed as Santa. People drink eggnog, apple cider, gather together with family and friends. Just brings this feeling of "togetherness". All the movies and songs on air blatantly state that this is a time to "be together". All the while shoving at each other in such a "together way" to grab at potential presents on sale. Christmas, in our commericalized culture means giving, buying stuff and giving what you bought.
For some people it brings out a different side of them. Ever seen "A Christmas Carol" where the old Scrooge, learns his lesson and becomes a better person by learning to be kind. He decides to care bout the people he had known instead of going "bah humbug" as he had been doing in the past when someone asked for a day off on Christmas. Ebenezeer helps Tiny Tim, and even gives a turkey away and gets invited to dinner on Christmas. Well that's pretty much the lesson of Christmas "in a nutshell" give and spend time with your loved ones. People do tend to feel more generous around Christmas time, they donate to charities, sing carols, and are a pretty social bunch. Many people want to "give" back just as Ebeneezer Scrooge had done. We spend time with our family and friends during that day too. People get time off from work to spend Christmas with the people they care about. Be together, is the message that it is trying to send. I suppose gift giving and charity work is all a way to show you care.
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