There has been many books I have ready through my college experience that... I guess you could say influenced me, but in a way that made me look at things in a different light. A lot of the books I have read are Chicano lit, which I have grown to love, and other books that I have read outside of school assignments.
One book I reads just for the heck of it was a book called "Why Men Love Bitches." This book was what my sister called "the women bible." This book basically tells you how to act in certain situations when it comes to men. Before reading this book, all I would hear is my sister go on about how great this book is, so I took matters into my own hands, and wanted to see what this book was all about for myself. After reading it I couldn't help, but analyze situations between couples. Another thing this book influenced was the empowerment of women. Stereotypically, Men are only after one thing, and will whatever it takes to get it. This book helps women realize that, and make them feel like they too can empower their men.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_8?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=why%20men%20love%20bithces&sprefix=why+men+%2Caps%2C273&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Awhy%20men%20love%20bithces
Another book that opened my eyes, and gave me a good sense of reality was a memoir by author Lac Su: I Love You's Are For White People. This book tells about Lac, and his life leaving a war-zoned Vietnam, and growing up in a racial clashing lifestyle, and trying to understand, and better his relationship with his old-fashioned father. This story made my heart stop. It made me realize that this does happen in life. People illegally leave their countries, they do get physically disciplined by their parents, they live in poor conditions. That's a huge part of life. I finished this book in two days, ive never done that with any other book that I have read.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_13?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=i+love+yous+are+for+white+people&sprefix=i+love+yous+a%2Caps%2C128&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Ai+love+yous+are+for+white+people
Another book that had influenced was a book called ZigZagger, by Manuel Munoz. ZigZagger is a novel that consists of short novels inspired by his life. Most of these book entail different heart tugging stories of relationships between a father, and son, confusion of sexual orientation, and so much more. What really inspired me about this book was, it made me proud that I am a Chicana myself. Manuel Munoz's work has been banned from Tucson Arizona, like many other authors. Which made me cherish this book from here on.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=ZigZagger&sprefix=i+love+yous+a%2Caps%2C128&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3AZigZagger
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Media Impact
We as a society are helplessly blinded by the media. Whether it be through the news, commercials, or even reality TV shows; we unintentionally believe the media influences our actions, and even our thoughts/ impressions of how things "should be." One of the biggest issues that has effected our society is how video games influence violence through out the community; specifically the video game Grand Theft Auto. Researchers, and even video game producers have argued that this is not true, while others disagree. However, video games, and GTA are not the only things that media has been blamed for that has impacted our society in a negative way.
Another real life issue that media has been blamed for is eating disorders. Commercials, and magazines have made us believe that we have to look a certain way to be considered beautiful/attractive. Tall, skinny, flawless, beautiful, and typically blonde models are being exposed on the cover of a magazine, and even on the commercials, getting young women to open their eyes, and say to themselves "I wanna look like that." With that said, some will stop at nothing to look like that even if it means not eating, or even throwing up what you eat; it's not worth it.
I used to be obsessed with watching the TV show America's Next Top Model. I've seen seasons 1-13, and to be honest, there has been some situations where eating issues have come up. In cycle three of America's Next Top Model, there was one woman who would eat very little to where other fellow contestants started to notice. Later, main judge of the competition, Tyra Banks brought in a nutritionist not to specifically address that problem, but to help all the models in the competition to diet themselves in a nice, healthy way, but then that is when Tyra became aware of the situation, and the woman refused to admit she has an eating problem:
Another real life issue that media has been blamed for is eating disorders. Commercials, and magazines have made us believe that we have to look a certain way to be considered beautiful/attractive. Tall, skinny, flawless, beautiful, and typically blonde models are being exposed on the cover of a magazine, and even on the commercials, getting young women to open their eyes, and say to themselves "I wanna look like that." With that said, some will stop at nothing to look like that even if it means not eating, or even throwing up what you eat; it's not worth it.
I used to be obsessed with watching the TV show America's Next Top Model. I've seen seasons 1-13, and to be honest, there has been some situations where eating issues have come up. In cycle three of America's Next Top Model, there was one woman who would eat very little to where other fellow contestants started to notice. Later, main judge of the competition, Tyra Banks brought in a nutritionist not to specifically address that problem, but to help all the models in the competition to diet themselves in a nice, healthy way, but then that is when Tyra became aware of the situation, and the woman refused to admit she has an eating problem:
Monday, April 15, 2013
Media Autobiography
I can honestly say that I have been unintentionally exposed to different aspects of the media whether I like it or not. However, it is better to be exposed rather than unexposed. If you're exposed to the media, you have a better sense of what is going on not just around you, but around the world.
I was never really a fan of reading books, but once I started college, that completely changed. In all my English classes I've taken at De Anza, they were primarily Chicano Literature based novels. In my EWRT1B class, the focus of the class was based on the Arizona ban in Tucson. Some people argued that Chicano studies programs in high schools should be banned because people thought they Latinos in the programmed were being educated to discriminate the white race when it was really educating Latinos in a different, non-racial way, but political heads didn't see it that way, and managed to end the program, but that didn't stop students, and even teachers to protest. Now, I enjoy reading Chicano lit books, for I find them interesting.
I've never really been a fan of reading newspapers either, but after this whole conspiracy of North Korea trying to start a war with the United States, I can't help but grab a newspaper during my breaks at work and read an article about it.
Who doesn't love movies? Its said to say I hardly ever go to the movies now, thanks to Netflix, but it doesn't hurt to go see a movie with the smell of popcorn around you once in a while. I'm into most movies, except scary/horror, but aside from that, I pretty am willing to anything. My absolute love is movies that have an oldie type of feel like A Bronx Tale, or Gangster Squad. Overall, I'm a 30's-60's type of girl.
Music. Literally, if I like a song, I'll buy it the next day on iTunes pretty much, no matter who it is, I don't judge. However, as mentioned before, I'm really into oldies (including music). I've grown up listening to 60's music from my dad, but now I have expanded into older generations of music, but don't get me wrong I listen to everyday stuff as well. A lot of people are surprised when they ride in my car seeing me play some Dee Dee Sharp on my radio. I mean people may judge, but if you really think about it, that type of music was a hit at one time in our history. Why can't it be now?
I hardly EVER listen to the radio now. Now these days we got Bluetooth, cassette adapters, anything to avoid listen to all that mainstream music, and those songs that get out-played.
TV. The only shows I watch are probably the most common TV shows people watch. ONE. Criminal Minds. I was never really into that show, but after watching a couple episodes with my sister who happens to be a wannabe FBI major/junkie I've gotten hooked on the show, and not only that, but some of my friends watch it too, and that's all we splurge about. The other happens to be Pretty Little Liars, another popular/addicting show. If I told someone that I watched that show I can guarantee they would say "ME TOO!" Aside from those two shows I don't try and watch a lot of TV.
I use the internet primarily on my phone probably like most people: checking emails, online shopping, facebook, and even instagram. That's it. I'm a typical iPhone user.
Looking back the media has a huge influence on m even if its for the most subtlest thing, but we all get influenced in different ways, which makes us unique.
I was never really a fan of reading books, but once I started college, that completely changed. In all my English classes I've taken at De Anza, they were primarily Chicano Literature based novels. In my EWRT1B class, the focus of the class was based on the Arizona ban in Tucson. Some people argued that Chicano studies programs in high schools should be banned because people thought they Latinos in the programmed were being educated to discriminate the white race when it was really educating Latinos in a different, non-racial way, but political heads didn't see it that way, and managed to end the program, but that didn't stop students, and even teachers to protest. Now, I enjoy reading Chicano lit books, for I find them interesting.
I've never really been a fan of reading newspapers either, but after this whole conspiracy of North Korea trying to start a war with the United States, I can't help but grab a newspaper during my breaks at work and read an article about it.
Who doesn't love movies? Its said to say I hardly ever go to the movies now, thanks to Netflix, but it doesn't hurt to go see a movie with the smell of popcorn around you once in a while. I'm into most movies, except scary/horror, but aside from that, I pretty am willing to anything. My absolute love is movies that have an oldie type of feel like A Bronx Tale, or Gangster Squad. Overall, I'm a 30's-60's type of girl.
Music. Literally, if I like a song, I'll buy it the next day on iTunes pretty much, no matter who it is, I don't judge. However, as mentioned before, I'm really into oldies (including music). I've grown up listening to 60's music from my dad, but now I have expanded into older generations of music, but don't get me wrong I listen to everyday stuff as well. A lot of people are surprised when they ride in my car seeing me play some Dee Dee Sharp on my radio. I mean people may judge, but if you really think about it, that type of music was a hit at one time in our history. Why can't it be now?
I hardly EVER listen to the radio now. Now these days we got Bluetooth, cassette adapters, anything to avoid listen to all that mainstream music, and those songs that get out-played.
TV. The only shows I watch are probably the most common TV shows people watch. ONE. Criminal Minds. I was never really into that show, but after watching a couple episodes with my sister who happens to be a wannabe FBI major/junkie I've gotten hooked on the show, and not only that, but some of my friends watch it too, and that's all we splurge about. The other happens to be Pretty Little Liars, another popular/addicting show. If I told someone that I watched that show I can guarantee they would say "ME TOO!" Aside from those two shows I don't try and watch a lot of TV.
I use the internet primarily on my phone probably like most people: checking emails, online shopping, facebook, and even instagram. That's it. I'm a typical iPhone user.
Looking back the media has a huge influence on m even if its for the most subtlest thing, but we all get influenced in different ways, which makes us unique.
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