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Friday, March 11, 2011
Table of Contents
My Reflective Thoughts
Hello, and welcome to my e-portfolio. My name is Kathleen Wahl, but most people call me Kathy. I was married for 19 years and have one beautiful daughter. I have a small but close knit family that I live near and see often. There are times when a little less closeness would be nice, but I wouldn’t trade my family for anything! I was born and raised in Marysville Washington
I am back in school after almost 30 years, and although I’m doing okay, I’m definitely using parts of my brain that haven’t been used for quite some time! When I signed up for English 101D, I thought “I love writing! This will be a snap!” That thought lasted for about a day once the quarter began. I love to write, that’s true, but I quickly learned that analyzing others’ writings was not so easy. I struggled with pretty much all of the writing assignments and did not get the grades I was hoping for. Had I received the grades I thought my first essays were worthy of, I would not have put nearly as much effort into the essays that followed. I now believe the grades I received were high enough to make me not give up, but low enough to make me try a little harder on the next one. So now I’m forced to admit that there just may be a method to my Professors’ madness!
The major themes of this class: Identity, Community, and Tradition, have been somewhat eye-opening for me. I thought I had a pretty good idea of their definitions prior to this course, but I soon learned that the meanings in my head were quite narrow. Identity is who we are; I never really gave it much more thought than that. I never thought about how identities are formed and how everything affects that identity. It made me think about my own heritage, background and history, and how all of that has affected my identity throughout my life. When I read “The cafeteria is high school’s proving ground” (15) in Emily White’s “High School’s Secret Life,” it brought back memories of high school, and what a profound affect that period of my life had on my identity. I am who I am due to a variety of people and situations, and I would not be the same person without them. Community is where we live; our neighborhood, city or town, but where we live geographically is only part of the picture. Work, school, church, and online networking sites are all types of community as well. Anywhere that people form groups and have things in common are communities. Tradition is how we celebrate or don’t celebrate holidays; it never occurred to me that how we communicate, act and treat others are also traditions. Traditions are passed down from generation to generation, and although they are adjusted occasionally to meet current needs, they never go away; they just grow with us over time.
As a final project we’ve been given the task of creating an e-portfolio to highlight our achievements and growth throughout the course. Choosing four pieces to represent my best writing and thinking skills has been very difficult for me, but I think I’ve finally made my decisions. To represent my critical thinking I’ve chosen my final essay, “The Impact of Modern Technology on Communication”. Because I have learned so much since the beginning of class, it only made sense that my final essay would best demonstrate my critical thinking skills. My revision piece is my timed write on the movie “District 9”. I have known from the beginning that I pretty much fold under pressure; I need time to collect my thoughts, and an hour just didn’t do it for me! This piece can definitely benefit from a re-write. The voice and audience piece I’ve chosen is my blog post, “What’s Your Community?” I feel this piece clearly shows my voice on workplaces being communities. And for my writer’s choice piece, I chose my blog post, “You Are What You Eat”. This piece was fun to write, had meaning for me, and I think it does a good job representing my abilities.
Critical Thinking Piece - Introduction
For my Critical Thinking piece I chose my final essay, “The Impact of Modern Technology on Communication,” because it is the final formal essay of the class and I feel it best represents my critical thinking skills.
My goal in this essay was to show how modern technology has taken the “person” out of personal communication. People don’t interact face-to-face as much as they used to, and they rarely write hand-written letters or notes anymore. These courtesies used to be commonplace, but not in today’s society. Communication technology is leading us towards less and less human interaction. I also tried to describe the lack of personal interaction between strangers; where it used to be common to say “hi” to someone when you passed them on the street, nowadays so many people are on their cellphones or listening to some other sort of electronic gadget that they have no idea what’s going on around them. My best example of this was from Gene Weingarten’s “Pearls before Breakfast: Joshua Bell on the Subway.” Even though Bell, a world class violinist, was performing for free in L’Enfant Plaza during rush hour, Weingarten notes that most people didn’t even seem to hear him: “Some who were on cellphones spoke louder as they passed [him], to compete with that infernal racket” (486). To call a classical piece of music performed by a world renowned violinist “infernal racket” proves that people just aren’t hearing each other anymore.
The Impact of Modern Technology on Communication
Communicating with friends and family is easier now than it has ever been. With the invention of the Internet and cellphones there are very few reasons for being out of touch. Cellphones make it possible to simply push a button or speak instructions to send a message or make a phone call. The internet allows instant communication in a number of ways, such as email and instant messaging. Modern technology has made staying in touch easier than ever, but the tradition of personalized contact has gone by the wayside.
Nowadays most people either have or know someone who has a computer and/or cellphone. It was not so many years ago that in order to write to someone, paper, a pen, an envelope and a postage stamp were needed, then it took several days for the recipient to receive the letter; today’s communication is instantaneous, but lacks the warmth of an old fashioned hand written note. In “Class Matters,” Janny Scott and David Leonhardt say that “Americans of all sorts are awash in luxuries that would have dazzled their grandparents” (246). This is true, but it’s also likely that it would have dismayed them as well, since a personal, hand written note or a face-to-face thank you was considered common courtesy back then, but are hardly ever heard of today. In this day and age, although the old lines of communication are still available, such as land line telephones and the United States Postal Service, most people prefer to use the new technology so they can communicate instantly with people across the country or across the world. As Ellen DeGeneres puts it in her essay “This is How We Live,” “Phones have gone through such an evolution. Now we have this wireless technology that lets us talk to anybody, anywhere, anytime” (642). This style of communication is fast, but it is very impersonal, especially considering the fact that phones aren’t only for talking anymore; many people prefer to send a quick text. At least with traditional telephones the people talking could hear each other’s voices. With today’s telephones having texting capabilities there is no need to even listen to the other person; only to read the typed note.
Messages and letters can be sent and received in mere seconds, but they are faceless and cold. Receiving an electronic note or letter that has been typed rather than handwritten is impersonal. When someone handwrites a letter or note it feels as if they’ve put more of themselves in the process, making it feel warmer and more personal. Today’s communication technology makes it possible to communicate at lightening speed, but people never even have to meet in person. While it used to be that people had to go to a phone to make a call, most people now have a phone with them and can make calls without even thinking, without hearing or seeing what’s happening around them. Not only are people missing out on face-to-face interaction with the person on the other end of the phone line, they are missing out on interaction with the people that are around them. In “Pearls before Breakfast: Joshua Bell on the Subway”, Gene Weingarten notes that although one of the best musicians in the world was playing violin for free from the Metro at the L’Enfant Plaza station, most people didn’t notice him because they were preoccupied and had other things on their minds: “Some who were on cellphones spoke louder as they passed [him], to compete with that infernal racket” (486). People can’t interact with others around them if they don’t see them or hear them. Some may argue that talking to another human being on a telephone is interacting, but it’s not face-to-face, and when talking on a phone while walking through a public place, it interferes with face-to-face contact.
Without face-to-face communication, people become dehumanized. It is easier to be impolite, or to say mean things when the affect on the other person can’t be seen. In “Stalking Celebrities,” Heather Havrilesky tells about how “celebrities were cornered and tagged by surveillance cameras, digital cameras, cellphones, voice mails, e-mails, downloaded files, and anonymous posts in comment sections” (446). People see superstars as something other than human because there is no personal connection or interaction, if knowing them on a personal level were easier it would be more difficult psychologically to take advantage of them. The same thing holds true for average people. When face-to-face interaction is necessary, people treat each other with more respect; take the personal interaction out of the picture and it is much easier to be impolite or mean. People are more polite in person because they have to witness the other person’s feelings and responses.
Not all aspects of modern communication technology are negative. Since so many people own cellphones, the likelihood of having one available when an emergency arises is good. If an invoice or document is needed immediately, chances are it can be emailed. If a loved one needs to be contacted quickly, a phone isn’t necessary; they can be contacted by email or instant messaging. This technology has its place, but it should not replace personalized contact.
Revision Piece - Introduction
I chose this timed writing assignment as my “Revision and Reseeing” piece because I was not happy with it when I completed it and it has gnawed at me ever since. The original assignment was “Using the discussion and your viewing notes, develop a thesis-driven essay of 3-5 paragraphs that demonstrates HOW the film defines what it is to be an outsider (avoiding unnecessary plot summary). In the second part of your essay, discuss how the film challenged or affirmed your own perceptions of what it is to be an insider or outsider”.
As I said before, this was a timed write; we were given 60 minutes to complete it. It did not come as a surprise to me; I do not do well under time constraints! When I hit the “submit” button, I knew it was not up to par. It took me about 20 minutes just to come up with what I thought was a thesis, only to find that the Professor grading it found my thesis in the second paragraph (funny, I put MY thesis in the first paragraph!) And when all was said and done, all I’d really done was to summarize the movie, not analyze it, and I completely forgot to discuss how the film challenged or affirmed my own perceptions.
District 9
Original:
How District 9 Defines What it is to be an Outsider
Being part of a community creates a feeling of camaraderie; members stick up for each other. If it is a large community, members rarely have to fight battles alone, unless they choose to. The closeness of those who belong to communities is created from commonalities. When someone is isolated, and not a part of a community, that feeling of closeness and camaraderie does not exist. Being an outsider means having few true friends.
In District 9, becoming an outsider is demonstrated expertly when Wikus van der Merwe is exposed to the chemical that begins transforming him into an alien. Wikus returns to a fast food restaurant just hours after he'd already been there, but as he enters the establishment a news report comes on the television accusing him of having sexual relations with the aliens. Once the other customers see that, they immediately turn on him. He has suddenly become an outsider and those that he thought were his friends are no longer.
When Wikus is taken into custody by the munitions corporation, Multi-National United, they begin running tests on him against his will. Rather than conversing and running psychological tests to see that he is still the same person on the inside, these people that he thought were his friends begin forcing him to do things that he doesn't want to do, including killing an innocent alien just to prove that he can now operate the alien weapons. The alienation he feels is so strong that he decides to cut off his own arm, the arm that has already turned into alien form, in order to become an insider again. Since Wikus is now neither entirely human nor alien, he is an outsider to both communities; alien and human. He cannot go to his human "friends" for help, they now think of him as an alien. Yet to the aliens, he is still a human.
Eventually Wikus meets Christopher, an alien who befriends him. He went from being an insider with many friends, to being an outsider with one friend. Christopher can help him but needs to help his fellow aliens first, proving that Wikus is still an outsider to him as well. Now that he has found an ally however, his priorities change, and he begins fighting for the aliens rather than against them.
Having a strong sense of self-identity and being part of a community provides strength. When members become outsiders, rather than insiders, they no longer have the strength of all those friends that were once there. Being an outsider means having few true friends.
Revised:
How District 9 Defines What it is to be an Outsider
Being part of a community lends itself to safety. Community members watch out for each other and help other community members when the need arises; there is a feeling of camaraderie and friendship. When someone is an outsider, that safety isn’t there. The outsider has no one to depend on but himself. In “District 9,” becoming an outsider is demonstrated expertly when Wikus van der Merwe is exposed to a chemical that begins transforming him into an alien.
This film demonstrates being an outsider as being alone and having no one else to depend on. It portrays an outsider as being different from everyone else, even if just in appearance. When van der Merwe is taken into custody by the munitions corporation that he was once considered part of, he is no longer treated as human, but as an alien, even though the transformation has barely even begun. No one will listen to him when he tries to explain what’s happening. Tests are performed on him that would likely not have been allowed on a fellow human, but since he is now considered an alien, an outsider, they think nothing of it. After escaping captivity, van der Merwe is forced to hide; he can trust no one. Since he is now neither human nor alien, he has no one to turn to; he is an outsider to all. Being an outsider is portrayed as so unthinkable that van der Merwe actually attempts to cut off his own arm because it is beginning to take on the alien form.
Although still thought of as an outsider by fellow humans, he eventually befriends an alien who confesses to knowing a way to help stop van der Merwe’s transformation into an alien. The alien won’t help him until he is able to help his fellow aliens though, so even though he has begun accepting van der Merwe as less of an outsider, he still doesn’t think of him as a true insider.
Deciding whether this film affirms or challenges my perceptions of what it means to be an outsider is difficult for me. I have always perceived being an outsider as being a loner, whether by choice or circumstance. Some people may choose to be an outsider simply by being themselves and not conforming to other ways of life, while others become outsiders because of their circumstances. It challenges my perceptions in some ways, mostly because of how extreme this movie is. Yes, being an outsider means not having many, if any, friends, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that everyone is out to get you. In this movie once van der Merwe begins his transition into an alien, not only do his friends and family refuse to help him, but other humans begin hunting him. In real life, unless being an outsider means that you are a criminal, you probably aren’t going to be hunted down and taken captive, at least in most cases.
On the other hand, the feeling of loneliness and isolation confirms my perceptions. Even when someone chooses to be an outsider, there are likely times when they would like to be on the inside, and to feel part of a community. When someone is an outsider because of their circumstances, the feeling of isolation is forced upon them just like in the movie.
Voice and Audience Piece - Introduction
For my “Voice and Audience” piece, I chose my blog post “Working is a Community.” In it I tried to bring together the likenesses and differences of why people work. No matter what the reasons, most of us find it necessary to have a job; this commonality brings us together and forms a bond, a type of community.
This type of public writing is my favorite way to write because it’s all about trying to connect with the person reading it, so writing as if I’m actually talking to the reader helps. I am used to picking my own subject though, so having the subject “assigned” was challenging. When I decide I want to write about something, the words tend to just flow from my fingertips, but when I am required to write about a subject that was chosen for me, I have a more difficult time.
Working is a Community
Working is a community. Everyday we come together to do a job; if we don’t, we don’t get paid. If we don’t get paid, we don’t eat and we don’t have a home. Not to mention that if we don’t work we don’t get to play; we wouldn’t be able to afford it. It’s kind of like good versus evil; without one, the other doesn’t exist. Without work, we can’t play. We have bosses and other types of leaders that keep us going. They give us projects to work on and goals to reach for. They lead us and keep us together, keep us focused on the same long term goals: sell more products, produce less scrap, have another clean audit, whatever your circumstance, their job is to help you get there.
We often have similar interests with the people we work with. Different industries attract different sorts of people, so the likelihood of having common interests is good. If you work in a service industry, such as food service, you likely enjoy being around large groups of people; if you work in the manufacturing industry, you may prefer activities involving smaller groups of people. The people I work with care about others. They value family and friendship, and go out of their way to help when someone is in need.
There are occasional tensions; someone thinks they shouldn’t have to do something because it’s “not in their job description,” or they “don’t get paid enough to do that.” There are also times when we are all busy beyond belief, and then someone calls in sick and the rest of us have to pick up the slack when we barely have time to do our own jobs. Times like these are trying, but we get through it. We pull together and get the job done, no matter how big or small.
Writer's Choice - Introduction
My reason for choosing this post as my “Writer’s Choice” piece is because I feel the reader can tell that I had fun writing it! In “You Are What You Eat?” I was able to instill a little bit of humor. Talking about my family makes me smile, and since just about every get together with them centers on food, this was an easy and enjoyable post to write. The easier it is for me to relate to a subject, the easier it is to write about it. Thinking back to holiday mishaps always brings a smile to my face; as long as no one got hurt, it’s fun to look back on them and laugh. I suspect just about every family has some sort of humorous memory that centered on food. I hope this piece helps bring back some of those memories.
You Are What You Eat?
In my family almost everything centers on food; so much so that I find it hard to go to my parents’ house without going through the fridge, or looking through the cupboards for snacks. When someone’s birthday rolls around my Mom wants to know “What do you want me to cook?” and “What kind of cake do you want?” Not that this is a bad thing, unless you’re on a diet!
Some of my fondest and most vivid childhood memories are of meals at my Grandparent’s house. We’d have homemade fish and chip dinners, or homemade wontons, or just a good old fashioned barbeque. This tradition stuck with me; anytime someone walks into my house I feel the need to feed them! I get anxious if I can’t think of at least a snack to put out. “Do you want coffee? Are you hungry? Umm, I have yogurt…or chips….how about a banana? No? Are you sure? I can make muffins or something!” I know now how my Grandparents felt if a guest refused their offer of food; as if you’ve somehow failed them!
And then there are the memories of food related mishaps, like the time my Mom almost electrocuted herself by cutting the cord of the electric knife she was using to cut the Christmas ham. Nope, she’ll never live that one down! Then there was the Thanksgiving Day storm of 1983, when the power went out and we had to pack all of the partially cooked food up and take it to my Grandparents’ house to finish cooking it so we could eat. And although it’s not actually food, the memory of bottles of homemade wine exploding at my other Grandparents’ house always makes me smile. Red and purple stains on the walls and ceiling of their enclosed porch from wine bottles popping their corks; can’t help but giggle at the memory.
In Closing
Thank you for taking this brief tour of my English 101D experience. Even with the challenges I have enjoyed myself, and am especially grateful for all the help I received from my Professors and classmates. What a terrific bunch of people to work with! I’ve enjoyed meeting all of you in our virtual classroom and I wish you all the best of luck with your future goals. Maybe we’ll meet again somewhere down the line. ~ Kathy
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