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