Given that I asked Professor Williams, "So what?" I think that we should have an in class writing exercise where we reflect on the "so what" aspect of what we have learned through this semester.
Such as, what has affected us the most, how it has changed us, and where will this change take us?
I believe this would be a great reflection of what this class is truly about and can lead us to gain greater insight in our own lives.
Cinderella is Quite Skinny
While reading over the whole Cinderella chapter in the Classic Fairytales, one aspect stood out to me. The idea of beauty.
In almost all of the fairytales there is some reference to Cinderella's tiny waist, dainty stature and golden blonde hair. I thought about how as we have stated in class many times that we are socially constructed creatures, thus our idea of beauty is socially constructed.
Are there little girls around the world reading the story of Cinderella unconsciously thinking, "I wish I was blonde," or " I hope I have the tiniest waist."?
I reflected back on my childhood. I was pale freckled and dark almost black hair. Not the idea of beauty. No movie I saw or story I read ever depicted a freckled, pale, dark haired girl as the heroine. Did this affect me? When I was younger I would say so. But just as we have stated our society has evolved into accepting more ideas of beauty but one factor stays the same. The tiny waist.
In the world of evolutionary psychology it is proven that the waist hip ratio of .70 is considered to be the most attractive on women. And this has been proven through time. Therefore is everything socially constructed? Or do we have some innate attractiveness that drives us towards looking a certain way or being attracted to a certain person.
I believe that regardless of the era you grow up, the stories you read and the people you see in advertisement, every women strives to have an hourglass figure.The hour glass figure is the most easily predictable way for men and women to see if a women is able to bear children. And every person is born with some drive to pass on their own genes, no matter if you are Hispanic, White, heterosexual or homosexual.
This is the only time I really believe that social construction is not applicable to everything in your life.
In almost all of the fairytales there is some reference to Cinderella's tiny waist, dainty stature and golden blonde hair. I thought about how as we have stated in class many times that we are socially constructed creatures, thus our idea of beauty is socially constructed.
Are there little girls around the world reading the story of Cinderella unconsciously thinking, "I wish I was blonde," or " I hope I have the tiniest waist."?
I reflected back on my childhood. I was pale freckled and dark almost black hair. Not the idea of beauty. No movie I saw or story I read ever depicted a freckled, pale, dark haired girl as the heroine. Did this affect me? When I was younger I would say so. But just as we have stated our society has evolved into accepting more ideas of beauty but one factor stays the same. The tiny waist.
In the world of evolutionary psychology it is proven that the waist hip ratio of .70 is considered to be the most attractive on women. And this has been proven through time. Therefore is everything socially constructed? Or do we have some innate attractiveness that drives us towards looking a certain way or being attracted to a certain person.
I believe that regardless of the era you grow up, the stories you read and the people you see in advertisement, every women strives to have an hourglass figure.The hour glass figure is the most easily predictable way for men and women to see if a women is able to bear children. And every person is born with some drive to pass on their own genes, no matter if you are Hispanic, White, heterosexual or homosexual.
This is the only time I really believe that social construction is not applicable to everything in your life.
Marxist Schmarxists
Who actually likes marxism?
As a political standpoint, I completely and utterly disagree with Marxism. As the text stated, " the aim of Marxism is to bring about a classless society". I am so sick of the notion these days that everyone deserves to have what everyone else has. It is a slap in the face to those that work hard to get things that they want. Everyone does not have the same mental capacity that is why we continually throughout life stages assess intelligence, an IQ test, IRBs, ACT and so on. Therefore a highly intellectualized person cannot and should not have the same job as someone without the same intellect. The job should fit the person. And yes you are not always going to be able to get your dream job right off the bat, but you have to start somewhere.
Although I completely disagree with Marxism, the literary theory side of it is much more comparable to my thoughts. Social context and in what class an author is raised in, indeed affect the outcome of their writing genius. I agree with this yet for much of my time in this class I have been forgetting that just because you are in the moment in your certain reality does not mean that you do not have an imagination that can be so far fetched from your current state that one's reality and social upbringing may not directly affect your writing. Now, obviously someone with zero education will not have the same writing style and someone with a great education but their ideas could be developed into something quite similar.
5 Things to Change the World
1. Not allow everyone to be parents, make up some prescreen before just anybody has the privilege of raising children.
2. Mandatory chemical castration of repeat sex offenders as a condition of parole.
3. Eliminate all atomic weapons.
4. Place a salary cap on all reality stars/ movie/ TV/ and artists in the entertainment industry.
5. Raise teachers salaries across the board.
2. Mandatory chemical castration of repeat sex offenders as a condition of parole.
3. Eliminate all atomic weapons.
4. Place a salary cap on all reality stars/ movie/ TV/ and artists in the entertainment industry.
5. Raise teachers salaries across the board.
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