2. Contains the sources you used with links to these sources .25 points
Source: Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Palace_of_the_Legion_of_Honor
3. Contains a brief paragraph how it connects to your study of humanities. 1 point
My choice relates to the study of humanities because it focuses on a collection of fine arts. Not only does the Legion of Honor contain artwork from great American artists, but it also holds pieces of great world artists. The arts are an important part in the study of humanities because it focuses on another form of multi-cultural communication and celebrates a form of expression. Each piece is a part of human thought and creativity, and in one way or another engages the senses of individuals.
a. Observation
As I approach the Legion’s entrance, the large, circular fountain that stands outside the museums’ doors captivates me. Its water dances with the reflection of the museum’s amazing façade. The portico is enormous with tall, white pillars, resembling a sophisticated Parisian structure. Its green lawns create a wonderful contrast of the building’s white elegance. Not only is the architecture spectacular, but also the view. The surrounding scenery allows for an overlooking view of the Golden Gate Bridge. Entering the museum, I am greeted by hundreds of paintings. Each collection is an amazing display of European paintings, all of which contain the names of recognizable artists. Red crushed velvet ropes protect each collection of artwork, and strategically placed studio lights illuminate the pieces for an ethereal effect. The place is relatively quiet so people can take in the brilliant surroundings, with the exception of headset audio tours. Overall, I have come to the conclusion that the Legion of Honor is not only an architectural gem, but also one of San Francisco’s finest art museums.
b. Interpretation
My choice is one of San Francisco’s finest art museums that display’s an impressive collection of 4,000 years of ancient and European art. The museum is dedicated to the 3,600 California men who lost their lives on the battlefields of France during World War I; an attempt to replace memories of bloodshed with beauty and preserve the brilliant French culture of the early 19th century.
c. Judgment
About two years ago I visited the Legion with my mom, my best friend, and my best friend’s mom. There was a Monet exhibit showing at the time so we all were interested in going. I can remember seeing the same paintings that I had looked at so many times in textbooks in their authentic form and I was amazed. There was no comparison of the worn photographs to the real pieces. Ever since then I have felt that art museums are so important to a state’s culture. I felt extremely fortunate to be able to see such amazing artwork in a city so close to home. I did not have to travel to Europe just to experience a fine collection. I feel that everyone should have the chance to encounter great artist’s work, no matter where they live.
d. Questioning
I know that the Legion has showcased some amazing exhibits of great artists, however, I would like to know how often they allow these displays to come to San Francisco?
5. Using your classmates work from last week, tell us one thing you learned from 1 student.
Last week, I learned a little about UC Berkley from Jennifer. I discovered that Berkley is the alma mater to over 60 Nobel Prize winners. Berkley is also home to one of the best business schools in California. Like me, Jennifer is planning to transfer to UC, and is exploring all of her options. This is related to a historical and cultural context of this country because it is an institute of higher education that has produced some of the most brilliant minds the United States has ever seen. UC Berkley has also aided in several significant medical and scientific contributions throughout its existence.
Link: http://jennifer-humanities7.blogspot.com/
Friday, February 20, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
2a: Hollywood
2. Contains the sources you used with links to these sources .25 points
Source: Wikipedia-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollywood
3. Contains a brief paragraph how it connects to your study of humanities. 1 point
This online fieldtrip connects to my study of humanities by examining not only the cultural aspects of a popular California town, but the influence it has on non-Californian’s perception of the state. Hollywood is a place of entertainment and media, two things that are a huge part of American culture. By learning more about the “heart” of this industry and the town that is so often praised, I can closely relate and understand the importance that entertainment has on a technologically progressive world.
4. Contains the following "analytical elements":
a.) Observation: What did you choose? What do you see or hear or feel or think of in the choice you made? What is the subject of the work? If you chose a 'thing' what is the work made of and what techniques (colors, lines, shapes, textures)does the creator use? Be specific in your description. If you chose a place, be specific in your description of what you see or hear. Talk to your reader as though they cannot see the item but somehow must draw a painting of what you see or hear. 1 point
I chose Hollywood, California as the location for my online fieldtrip. If I look around towering buildings surround me, each with their own distinct industrial design. The sound of tires screeching, horns honking, and street vendors floods my senses. To the left of me is the infamous Kodak Theater, and to the right of me is a man desperately attempting to sell a map of movie star’s homes. Farther on down Hollywood Boulevard, mannequins stand stylishly in store windows and compete with one another for the people’s attention outside. Each hopes their lavish display and trendy attire will be enough to invite the public into their clothing store. I try my best not to fall victim of the statues’ merchandise ploy, and avert my eyes from the tempting storefronts. Instead, another Hollywood aspect catches my eye. They are the stars that litter the stretch of sidewalk ahead of me. Each star has the name of a famous entertainer, and tourists all around are taking pictures with the names of their favorite celebrities. Looking up, a giant strand of letters stands erect among the brown hills. It spells out HOLLYWOOD, informing anyone and everyone of their current location. The atmosphere is both chaotic and eccentric, showing no sign of stopping its busy pace.
b.) Interpretation: What is your choice about? Give specific examples to support this statement in 2 sentences; do so in a way that teaches us something about your choice. Make Paulo Freire proud! .75 point
My choice is about the atmosphere that Hollywood brings to the perception of California. On TV, many people who have not experienced this part of California believe it to be glamorous and flooded with celebrities. However, Tinsletown’s movie industry has dispersed to other surrounding areas, leaving behind a quirky blend of tourists and vendors.
c.) Judgment: What led you to your choice? What do you think or feel about this choice? Why do you feel this way? Support your thoughts with specific observations. .5 point
Pop culture has painted an exaggerated picture of the Los Angeles area. I wanted to research and reveal the realistic surroundings of Hollywood. I feel that Hollywood is not a true representation of California culture. There is so much diversity in the state itself, yet this town fails to capture all of California’s different features. Hollywood has entertainment and shopping, but it lacks any natural beauty. All the man-made structures, like the Hollywood Walk of Fame, have lost their old charm and now focus on their target audience: tourists. This aspect means that California is not seen in its organic habitat, but rather in the midst of artificial surroundings. From stores to celebrity home tours to gift shops, I feel like the “tinsel” no longer sparkles in this town.
d.) Questioning: What else would you like to know about this choice? When completing the question section, lead your audience into the question by stating a fact you do know, yet you still have the related question. This way, both your audience and you will have an educational experience. Example: I learned that John Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath was based on his personal experience working with farm workers. I would like to know if the characters he used in that book are fictitious or are they people he met? .5 point
I learned that the Kodak Theater in Hollywood is the home of the Oscars and was recently built in 2001. I would like to know if the theater is used for any other big events and if so, is it used often?
5. Using your classmates work from last week, tell us one thing you learned from 1 student. Is this one thing some common experience you share or some experience that is completely different than what you experienced? Is this one thing related to our class theoretical foundation and if so, how? Is that one thing related to historical or cultural context of this country or a different one? Link that persons blog to this entry (eg cut paste that blog entry here) . .5 point
I learned from Anthony that we both discovered that learning and reading from other people’s blogs, helps me understand a simple subject on a much more broader level. I find that researching a subject this way helps me learn more than I would if I only used a textbook. I believe that this method of learning relates to the class because we are learning not only as individuals but learning as a student community. By exploring the views and knowledge of others, I can approach a subject much more openly and honestly.
http://amusettihuman7.blogspot.com/2009/02/1c.html
Source: Wikipedia-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollywood
3. Contains a brief paragraph how it connects to your study of humanities. 1 point
This online fieldtrip connects to my study of humanities by examining not only the cultural aspects of a popular California town, but the influence it has on non-Californian’s perception of the state. Hollywood is a place of entertainment and media, two things that are a huge part of American culture. By learning more about the “heart” of this industry and the town that is so often praised, I can closely relate and understand the importance that entertainment has on a technologically progressive world.
4. Contains the following "analytical elements":
a.) Observation: What did you choose? What do you see or hear or feel or think of in the choice you made? What is the subject of the work? If you chose a 'thing' what is the work made of and what techniques (colors, lines, shapes, textures)does the creator use? Be specific in your description. If you chose a place, be specific in your description of what you see or hear. Talk to your reader as though they cannot see the item but somehow must draw a painting of what you see or hear. 1 point
I chose Hollywood, California as the location for my online fieldtrip. If I look around towering buildings surround me, each with their own distinct industrial design. The sound of tires screeching, horns honking, and street vendors floods my senses. To the left of me is the infamous Kodak Theater, and to the right of me is a man desperately attempting to sell a map of movie star’s homes. Farther on down Hollywood Boulevard, mannequins stand stylishly in store windows and compete with one another for the people’s attention outside. Each hopes their lavish display and trendy attire will be enough to invite the public into their clothing store. I try my best not to fall victim of the statues’ merchandise ploy, and avert my eyes from the tempting storefronts. Instead, another Hollywood aspect catches my eye. They are the stars that litter the stretch of sidewalk ahead of me. Each star has the name of a famous entertainer, and tourists all around are taking pictures with the names of their favorite celebrities. Looking up, a giant strand of letters stands erect among the brown hills. It spells out HOLLYWOOD, informing anyone and everyone of their current location. The atmosphere is both chaotic and eccentric, showing no sign of stopping its busy pace.
b.) Interpretation: What is your choice about? Give specific examples to support this statement in 2 sentences; do so in a way that teaches us something about your choice. Make Paulo Freire proud! .75 point
My choice is about the atmosphere that Hollywood brings to the perception of California. On TV, many people who have not experienced this part of California believe it to be glamorous and flooded with celebrities. However, Tinsletown’s movie industry has dispersed to other surrounding areas, leaving behind a quirky blend of tourists and vendors.
c.) Judgment: What led you to your choice? What do you think or feel about this choice? Why do you feel this way? Support your thoughts with specific observations. .5 point
Pop culture has painted an exaggerated picture of the Los Angeles area. I wanted to research and reveal the realistic surroundings of Hollywood. I feel that Hollywood is not a true representation of California culture. There is so much diversity in the state itself, yet this town fails to capture all of California’s different features. Hollywood has entertainment and shopping, but it lacks any natural beauty. All the man-made structures, like the Hollywood Walk of Fame, have lost their old charm and now focus on their target audience: tourists. This aspect means that California is not seen in its organic habitat, but rather in the midst of artificial surroundings. From stores to celebrity home tours to gift shops, I feel like the “tinsel” no longer sparkles in this town.
d.) Questioning: What else would you like to know about this choice? When completing the question section, lead your audience into the question by stating a fact you do know, yet you still have the related question. This way, both your audience and you will have an educational experience. Example: I learned that John Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath was based on his personal experience working with farm workers. I would like to know if the characters he used in that book are fictitious or are they people he met? .5 point
I learned that the Kodak Theater in Hollywood is the home of the Oscars and was recently built in 2001. I would like to know if the theater is used for any other big events and if so, is it used often?
5. Using your classmates work from last week, tell us one thing you learned from 1 student. Is this one thing some common experience you share or some experience that is completely different than what you experienced? Is this one thing related to our class theoretical foundation and if so, how? Is that one thing related to historical or cultural context of this country or a different one? Link that persons blog to this entry (eg cut paste that blog entry here) . .5 point
I learned from Anthony that we both discovered that learning and reading from other people’s blogs, helps me understand a simple subject on a much more broader level. I find that researching a subject this way helps me learn more than I would if I only used a textbook. I believe that this method of learning relates to the class because we are learning not only as individuals but learning as a student community. By exploring the views and knowledge of others, I can approach a subject much more openly and honestly.
http://amusettihuman7.blogspot.com/2009/02/1c.html
Monday, February 9, 2009
Assignment 1c
1.) The first classmate I decided to learn about for our assignment is Thida. Thida likes to long board and her family owns a large chain of Thai restaurants.
The second classmate’s blog I looked at was Miranda. This will be the second humanities class that she has taken.
2.) I learned from Thida that Paulo Freire decided to forgo his formal education as a lawyer and teach Portuguese to secondary schools. I also discovered that his literacy efforts earned him the position as President of the National Commission on Popular Culture in 1963.
Miranda informed me that despite Freire’s passion for education, he ultimately believed that the public education system was both corrupt and impractical. She also explained how Freire did his best to prevent a “culture of silence”. This is where dominated individuals lose the means by which they critically respond to the culture that is forced on them by a dominant culture. Freire made a point to help out these individuals who were “silenced” and made sure their opinions were voiced and heard by others.
3.) This information will relate to our study of humanities because Freire’s selflessness and literacy campaign is an example of civic engagement and social responsibility. In our class we will be learning about how different ideas have the power to affect the world around us and Freire has done this with his theories of education. His ideas have generated new knowledge about global issues, and this is yet another one of the main goals of humanities.
The second classmate’s blog I looked at was Miranda. This will be the second humanities class that she has taken.
2.) I learned from Thida that Paulo Freire decided to forgo his formal education as a lawyer and teach Portuguese to secondary schools. I also discovered that his literacy efforts earned him the position as President of the National Commission on Popular Culture in 1963.
Miranda informed me that despite Freire’s passion for education, he ultimately believed that the public education system was both corrupt and impractical. She also explained how Freire did his best to prevent a “culture of silence”. This is where dominated individuals lose the means by which they critically respond to the culture that is forced on them by a dominant culture. Freire made a point to help out these individuals who were “silenced” and made sure their opinions were voiced and heard by others.
3.) This information will relate to our study of humanities because Freire’s selflessness and literacy campaign is an example of civic engagement and social responsibility. In our class we will be learning about how different ideas have the power to affect the world around us and Freire has done this with his theories of education. His ideas have generated new knowledge about global issues, and this is yet another one of the main goals of humanities.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Assignment 1b
One of Freire’s educational objectives is “Theory of Value”. This theory raises questions like what knowledge and skills are worthwhile learning and what are the goals of education? Feire believes that education should raise the awareness of the students so that they become subjects of the world rather than objects of the world. This attitude can be acquired by teaching students to think democratically and to repeatedly question and create meaning from everything they learn. Freire believes that respect should not only come from the students, but should be practiced by the teachers as well. Teachers must be considerate and aware of the demands and pressures that children face, as well as the social conditions that shape them. Without this understanding, there is no access to the way a child thinks, and ultimately how they learn. Freire also believes that every student should be free to talk about anything in the classroom. This encourages an open and welcoming atmosphere, which is key to a comfortable learning environment.
Source: http://www.newfoundations.com/GALLERY/Freire.html
Another one of Freire’s principles is “Theory of Consensus”. This theory often raises questions such as Why do people disagree, how is consensus achieved, and whose opinion takes precedence? Paulo Freire states that disagreement is normal and something to expect. Disagreement can be a motivation for reflection and a source of growth. However, the problem with disagreements is when those opinions and discrepancies are suppressed in the name of control and authority. Freire believes that without conflict or struggle that there is no human existence. Because conflict is a part of our conscience, denying it will prevent us from our essential social experiences.
Source: http://www.newfoundations.com/GALLERY/Freire.html
While researching Freire's accomplishments, I found his determination and compassion to be inspiring. The one event that really stood out was in 1963. During this year Friere taught more that three hundred sugarcane sharecroppers of the village of Angicos to read. His national literacy campaign caused uproar however, among the wealthy residents of Brazil. The program was intended to make five million adults literate within the first year. According to the national law at the time, adults could only vote if they were functionally literate to some degree. Because this law limited the Brazilian Electoral College, the current oligarchy continued to be politically dominant. The large illiterate population worked in favor of the few wealthy and educated individuals. Now landowners were threatened by the possibility that the peasants would organize into leagues, become literate, and dominate the polls. This fear caused Freire to be arrested twice and imprisoned for over two months. Despite these huge setbacks, Freire continued on his educational revival for the underprivileged.
Source: http://dmnierweber.iweb.bsu.edu/teachingguide/Freire%20bio.html
Source: http://www.newfoundations.com/GALLERY/Freire.html
Another one of Freire’s principles is “Theory of Consensus”. This theory often raises questions such as Why do people disagree, how is consensus achieved, and whose opinion takes precedence? Paulo Freire states that disagreement is normal and something to expect. Disagreement can be a motivation for reflection and a source of growth. However, the problem with disagreements is when those opinions and discrepancies are suppressed in the name of control and authority. Freire believes that without conflict or struggle that there is no human existence. Because conflict is a part of our conscience, denying it will prevent us from our essential social experiences.
Source: http://www.newfoundations.com/GALLERY/Freire.html
While researching Freire's accomplishments, I found his determination and compassion to be inspiring. The one event that really stood out was in 1963. During this year Friere taught more that three hundred sugarcane sharecroppers of the village of Angicos to read. His national literacy campaign caused uproar however, among the wealthy residents of Brazil. The program was intended to make five million adults literate within the first year. According to the national law at the time, adults could only vote if they were functionally literate to some degree. Because this law limited the Brazilian Electoral College, the current oligarchy continued to be politically dominant. The large illiterate population worked in favor of the few wealthy and educated individuals. Now landowners were threatened by the possibility that the peasants would organize into leagues, become literate, and dominate the polls. This fear caused Freire to be arrested twice and imprisoned for over two months. Despite these huge setbacks, Freire continued on his educational revival for the underprivileged.
Source: http://dmnierweber.iweb.bsu.edu/teachingguide/Freire%20bio.html
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