living news paper proposal

For our living newspaper final project, we talked about doing the woman's rights movement and their struggle towards equality. I think we should do this for our final project. Not only would it be interesting to research but, it would really capture our audiences attention. I feel that this is a topic most of us are interested in and it also affects most of us. Our group could teach the class something that don't know about this topic and possibly even open their eyes to the topic even more. We could do this through song, poems, and narratives.

continuing the living newspaper discussion

Previously we had talked about women's right and movements towards equality. I think this could be an interesting topic for our final project. We could look at issues of today and what seems to be an up and coming equal world and what differences and difficulties women still face as part of equality. An interesting media addition to our Living News Paper would be to add a song by a strong woman of our time, I believe someone else in our group had suggested that but I can't remember who. Those are just a few ideas!

Spiritually Connected

When listening to the pod cast, "Little War on the Prairie", it was very shocking to me how little information people know about the Dakota people in Mankato. It almost seems like the past is kept very secretive and hardly ever talked about. It also seems like the younger generations of tribes really do not know the past and significance of the town. I really enjoyed and appreciated hearing Gwen speak during the podcast. She is a part of the Dakota tribe and hearing what she had to say about Mankato and her connection to the town you get a better understanding of what her people and her ancestors went through. One part of the of the podcast that really stood out to me is when she took the job at MSU and her father and uncle said "We will see how long you last there" without elaborating on there response. She then figures out her connection to the town when her friend, Kimberly, asked her to go to a ceremony in the Mankato town square with her. They knew nothing of what the ceremony was about and got there late but when the ceremony was over Gwen says that she broke down, not knowing what  was wrong. She then goes on to say the she later called her uncle and his words were "Well my girl, you are connected to that place. You are physically and spiritually connected to that place." This was a very surprising and unsettling comment for me just because of the awful hanging that took place of her people in that town square. It is a sad realization to think that the town has such an awful past and history that is buried and not really spoken about.

While I was listening to the podcast I was struck by the obliviousness of the people who lived there towards their past.  At the very beginning of the podcast they said something about "nothing ever happening there" and goes on to reveal what has actually happened there, and how nobody knows about it.  John says he can walk down the street to the mall and ride past the Pizza Hut where these important historical places were and didn't know a thing about them.  Nobody talked about it, nobody taught it in schools, and it was the most significant event in the state's history.  It's bizarre that these people will not recognize history, just because they were the oppressors.  The numbers of Native casualties suffered during the founding of the New World is often glossed over in history, rarely is history with Native Americans involved rarely just ignored as is the case here.  They talk about the monument that was created for five white settlers that were killed by Native Americans that begun the whole war.  There was a monument to the white settlers that were killed, but the narrator seems to question the legitimacy of this story.  Target shooting between friends turns to gunning down men in cold blood?  I found it odd how there was a monument for the five dead white men, yet the biggest battle in the history of the state, even bigger than the Little Big Horn, they said, was an unknown to half of the city in which it happened.  It shows you how history is written by the winners, and the New World being founded is a prime example of that.  According to history, we were fulfilling our destined-by-God manifest destiny and creating the greatest nation on Earth. That might not be too accurate, again glossing over the gore and the horror that we also created.

Little War on the Prairie

While listening to this pod cast, “Little War on the Prairie” I was shocked that such a big part of the town’s history was kept from the people who live there. It is crazy to me to think that John Biewen could be riding downtown where someone was hung, and have no idea about it happening. I admire his quest to find out. I enjoyed act one when he met up with Gwen Westermen. You can tell by her raw emotion what kind of impact that this hidden past had on the people of the town. I was surprised that you had to drive into someone’s driveway to find the historic site.  John states that it its hard for him to picture the story that the plaque tells about how the war started and, it makes me wonder how I would feel if something like this was kept from me in my town. It is unbelievable when he is describing the museum that just sits on the side of the highway. How can something so important in history be treated like this? I was relieved to find out that they now put it apart of the curriculum in schools. Something so big should be taught in schools everywhere, especially in the area it took place in. 

little war on the prairie

I find it interesting the the history of the state is told in a light way, when the history is not light at all. The fact that Indians were there first comes as an after thought isn't so much a shock as it is painful to hear that people leave pieces of history out to sugar coat it almost. As a society the history of Native Americans is glossed over and untouched when they were and are such a huge part of this country. People don't even know the history of their own town because it is left untouched. The monuments and tributes to the Native Americans are hidden as though they are ashamed of the history of their state. Even this plaques and signs leave out the whole story leaving the Native Americans to look like the bad guy.

"Little War on the Prairie" Response

            I feel that what happened to the Native Americans at Mankato was very unfair and unjust. By staying almost completely silent about the history of the town, people only added insult to injury concerning this great injustice. After studying Pine Ridge, I know that the way in which white Americans, as well as the American government, have turned a blind eye to what happened is not a solitary occurrence. It seems to happen quite often that the true history of the Native Americans is simply ignored and falls away from mainstream history education. The events at Mankato and those that are taking place are Pine Ridge are just a couple of entries on the long list of injustices enacted upon the Native Americans by the US government.

            Some things that I enjoy about the manner in which the story is told about Mankato are the usage of background music at key points throughout the stories and also the way in which scene and summary are both used throughout the story. By using summary, the storyteller is able to convey a lot of information in a relatively short amount of time and by using various scenes, he is able to capture the emotions and various viewpoints and opinions surrounding the events at Mankato. Unfortunately, I found the primary storyteller’s voice to be somewhat dry and monotone. Because of this, the story becomes sort of dull and seems to drone on.

            I believe that when creating the “Living Newspaper” it would be wonderful to emulate the storyteller’s use of scene and summary. Cleverly placed background music could also be used in the “Living Newspaper” to emphasize certain points and add emotion. I also think it would be a good idea to speak with more emotion and excitement in the “Living Newspaper” so that people find it to be more evocative.

Living Newspaper Pitch

I think that an interesting idea for the Living Newspaper project would be Race and Citizenship such as racial segregation from the 1950’s until now. Not only could we explore the struggle it racial segregation had in the community back then but, we could prove the presence it still has in society, today.  Besides the obvious cultural events to take place in the 1950’s we could explore poetry and different writings from that era. We could relate these different writings with today’s society. One thing that we could explore to use in our project is the different types of music and documentaries today that talk about their hardships because of race and citizenship. Although poetry and lyrics are basically the same thing, I feel as if that music lyrics can speak to the audience much more than a poem can. . Luckily, there are plenty of songs that explain how prominent racial segregation is in today’s world.  We can incorporate these things into our Living Newspaper project to prove that racial segregation does still exist today. Since many people listen to this music, I think that our audience will find it relevant to their lives. I also think that this would interest our audience because it would get them thinking about this serious topic. Many people think that the issue of race and citizenship was only important in the 1950’s era however, it still happens today. Although many other things cover up racism today, emphasizing that it is not would be very beneficial to our audience. 

Living Newspaper

I believe the idea of doing the women's movement as our topic for the Living Newspaper project in class is something to think about. There is some major points that we could cover while also comparing and contrasting women from todays society and women from the past. We could further explore sexisim and economical issues that pertain to women. For example if a man and a woman are competing for the same job and have the same qualities and skills, and the man gets hired over the woman. Would that be considered favoritism or sexisim?

We can also incorporate music by strong, independent female artists into our Living Newspaper project, as long with media clips, pictures from the past and present, and feminist artwork that truly relates to the issue at hand. This was a strong issue in the past and is also a current issue as well so finding resources and information to go along with this topic should not be that challenging. This is definitely a topic that should be considered when choosing our final project topic.

Living Newspaper Pitch

I think an interesting topic for the Living Newspaper Project would be the contemporary women’s movement and the struggle against sexism and a male-dominated society. I think this topic is important because it is something that affects not only women, but also any man who has women in his life that are important to him. Sexism is far-reaching and has social, economic, and political effects. It can affect the way that women are treated in their everyday life, be a factor on whether or not they are hired for a particular position and how much they are paid, and influence legislative decisions such as those concerning reproductive rights. It is for these reasons that I believe that this is an important topic deserving of consideration.

For possible media we could use a vast variety of possible sources. These could include songs, poetry, and art that carry feminist messages. The Kate Nash song “Rap for Rejection” immediately comes to mind with the lyrics “You’re tryna tell me sexism doesn't exist?/ If it doesn't exist, then what the fuck is this?” There are countless other female musical artists whose songs include feminist messages that demonstrate the fervor of the contemporary women’s movement. The Brooklyn Museum website has an entire section dedicated to feminist art that we could utilize. Another media source we could utilize because this is a contemporary issue is social networking sites, as well as blogs. One possibility is the feminist blog Modern Feminist which displays writing and other media forms that illustrate the struggle against sexism in today’s society.

All in all, I think the modern women’s movement would make a fantastic topic for our Living Newspaper Project. It is something that affects a large amount of people, is current and relevant, and there are countless sources that we could utilize. I believe that these factors make this topic something that we should most definitely consider doing.

Living Newspaper Proposal

A Living Newspaper on climate change could be an interesting subject to research and also present. It's a relatively broad concept, but we could focus on specific issues that effect the people of the world which could make it more relevant to class... Climate change has many layers to it. Economical: as in what we believe (materially) is necessary... coal, oil, cars, factories, etc. How businesses mindlessly produce and consume... Environmental issues: the gradual heating up of the planet, the impact on living creatures, including the human race. But also, the perks of recognizing this potential catastrophe and attempting to remedy it through mindfulness and unity with self and world, people, and the people with the world, by consuming less and returning to more self-sufficient means of survival, ie. gardening, farming, sewing, etc. Fairly large project to pursue, but could be interesting and gratifying to know more about this subject.

LNP Pitch

I think it would be interesting to do a living news paper on the Native Americans. We haven't covered this topic yet in class but it's coming up and I think it could be something to look into. We could definitely use artwork and poems as our form of media. Poems, songs, and chants could be useful since we know from learning about Native Americans in middle school and high school that those were things they wrote a lot. Possible topics could be adversities that they faced, their way of living and working, and hardships that they faced. There is certainly a lot to chose from when it comes to media for this topic and I think it is something to be considered.

Camera Eye

This was not what was expected to happen. This is not what we stayed up dreaming for every night. This was never supposed to be the plan. So why is this happening to me at this very moment?

 As the sticky humid air created some sort of dry breeze thoughts in my head were screaming negatives so loud that the birds singing in the trees could hear them roar.

“Why do this to yourself?” “This is going to be a disappointment!” “You’re going to be a disappointment!” “Is this really worth all the time that you have?”

All the conversations remained the same. Nothing changed. Every second of every hour of ever day it was the same questions… “What is your major?” As if they actually cared… “What is your favorite hobby?” As if they were actually interested… “What is your favorite thing to do?” As if they were not listening to the question before. Was the problem not they, but I? Which one of us had the power to fix it?

This was the last stop for the day. Everything else was done and over with. Making it through this house would be an unspoken accomplishment in the eyes of a weak, terrified, young freshman. As the first terrifying monster stepped up, a friendly “Hello” escaped from her lips with ease and pride. She was prideful of who she was. She was at ease taking to newbies. Is it possible... She actually could be nice?

Being made to feel at home is precious and courteous gesture that no one has to ever extend. Knowing you are at home when leaving a place that is a special feeling that you very rarely every experience…And in that moment I knew where my new home would be. It would be with my new-formed sisters.

AOII till we die!

Camera Eye (1)

get out of the rental car.                  this is it. the license plate says Florida, but we aren’t in Florida. the Kentucky wind blows through my hair. Its hot in august here. I’m from where the heat f o r e v e r flourishes, this setting was nothing new. right? it was new, new like the latest apple product, or BMW. so exciting and unexplored.

registration. man, i hate this. never had to deal with being unfamiliar to so many people. it was new. opened my mouth only to find words just wouldn’t come out. SPEAK!

LOUDER!

my name came out, in a mousy voice but, it came out. W E L C O M E! greetings came out, in a southern twang but, it came out. look over at my parents, this a big step. would i disappoint them? i wouldn’t dream of it.

heavy luggage being pulled around by parents frantic, calm, happy, and sad about sending their once little girls and boys in diapers and watching sesame street off to a foreign place. it was time for some, it was not time for others. was it time for me?

BING! the sound of the elevator as the doors swung open. sweat dribbled down our backs as we were cooling down from the blistering sun. moving also took a toll on us physically. barge in the room, throw my clothes everywhere. it was only right that i treated my new room as my own at home. after all, this was my new home.

lights? picture frames? pictures of people I used to know to go in those frames? Where would they hang on the wall? Oh, I would just forget about them months down the road. it was a harsh truth i failed to realize. i would not be the same, i would be new. in a good way? maybe. in a bad way? most likely.

Freedom

we had nowhere to go but anywhere we wanted to and nobody to stop us but ourselves we were finally on our own

(how do i cope how do i get by what am i supposed to do)

this world is my oyster and i can take it in my hands and do with it what i please

maybe ill be a doctor or a lawyer or a chef or a banker or a construction worker or a professional athlete or a goddamn two-headed dragon if i want to

(im scared im lost im confused where do i go)

maybe ill move to china to teach english or maybe ill move to the middle east and strike oil and hey i heard its a great time to invest in apple

im tired though i just need sleep

(drink some coffee maybe an energy drink youll sleep when youre dead)

this space we occupy is so mundane that maybe ill just slip off the face of consciousness

(this world we live in is so intricate i cannot help but to lose myself in all of it)

to be something or to be nothing at all is being decided

i want to be something, i just cant decide between a knight in shining armor or the first man to walk on the face of the sun

(or maybe i want to be nothing and slip into a profound state of indifference)

heads or tails

(ill decide tomorrow)

isnt there somebody i can call who will tell me

is there an answer or a reason

(i am the answer i am the reason)

this world is my oyster, remember 

i think being a doctor sounds nice

or maybe a lawyer

being a chef would be fun

nothing would be better than being a dragon though

i think ill decide tomorrow

This pretty much just describes my general sense of confusion about life right now.

Camera Eye

Walk
     down
            the
              stairs
You can hear the roar of the crowd as you enter the double door. It has never been this crowded before. Need to stay close so we don't lose each other. The line snakes through the building. Finally get to the box, hand over the cash in exchange for a hand stamp and a good time.

Another set of double doors. Pull them open and the sound EXPLODES! Yelling and chanting mixed with the indescribable scent of excitement, sweat, and feet.

Time to push your way to the front, get as close as you can without actually stepping onto the ice yourself even though you wish you could. Watching in amazement as the players skate around doing drills effortlessly. They line up and call seniors, its their time to shine as the receive roses and take pictures with families who have bravely stepped onto the ice followed by the National Anthem, all stand, remove their hats and join in together before we start the game of the year.

Cute stuff is over, now its game time! 20:00 on the clock for the first period and the puck is dropped. Hitting, checking, tripping. Always fair when penalties are called on the opponent, never fair when its called on your own team, but we're winning anyway. Every time we score we cheer in unison to let the opponent know who the better team is. The clock is winding down and two players clad in BLUE are thrown out. They walk back out of the locker room. I am standing so close to them I can feel the steam coming off of their skin. Clearly angry at the refs call they stand there and watch the remaining 5:00 of the game and you can see on their face that what ever happens they are proud of their boys.

It's over, 5-2! Time for the other team to HANG THEIR HEADS.Time to warm up the bus and go back to Louisville boys.

We were at the Louisville vs UK hockey games this weekend. It was the last home game of the season and it was crazy.

Camera Eye

Moving on and forgetting letting go of what I thought I truly wanted realizing that happiness is more important than the unlikely fulfillment of false hopes never was worth it to wait and hope never was worth it to deal with all the heartache hard to see at first so clear now easier to see

fog lifted

no smog

poisonous fumes in the air clouding mind obfuscating heart foolishness should have known before no good could come from that from insecurity from distrust from lies and deception never believing not knowing how long my name would even be remembered kept going back still don’t know why never wanted always returned pestering gadfly lonely moon

confess heart broke once

forgive heart broke twice

again heart broke thrice

hot chocolate heart broke the last time

recovery must be chosen but it’s a difficult choice to make to say that I never want this no matter what to fall back blindly into the unknown abyss that is a hopeless future in a hopeless world full of helpless souls who cry out for help from one another and often those calls go unanswered

no Sex and the City dreams just cold harsh reality that sometime things don’t work out what you want there is no storybook ending maybe not even a beginning never took off four books only twelve pages among them shared no plot only pathetic

time to keep moving

don’t look back

fullsteamahead

choice is made have to follow through find the light find the help find what is needed not what is wanted hopefully the same thing but who knows happiness have to have it happiness for once happiness and joy trump card to lonely nights and crying fits trading known for unknown when known is a lost cause is a never-ending cycle of hope and hopelessness

mountains and chasms climbing only to fall to emotional death bleeding heart poisonous touch poisonous plants poisonous people all the same stare at from afar never touch or consume fated to wilt and wither away to dirt once more enticing deadly

let the nightshade die

be happy tonight

Explanation: This camera eye describes making the conscious decision to move on from someone who I had mad multiple attempts to pursue a relationship. Although it was something I originally wanted the endless ups and down did nothing but fill my life with sadness and insecurity. It was hard to accept that sometimes things just don't work out like we want, but once I finally decided to give up on the possibility of anything existing there, my life became much more enjoyable. 

The Camera Eye (1)

(gaze turns outward) shadows shift, planet rotates, while all
v i b ra tes to that eternal song:
(the flies eyes don't lie, my eyes don't lie)
the dancing branches, the rocks infinitely BIG & small,
the coasting bird sailing in all directions known

the     s   p   a  c  e         vacant
of matter,
              matter vacant of $ymbol and title
ALL GOD, all mysteriously near
(but far from comprehension)
penning the last word in place; emotions soar
((quietly)) above and beyond anything tangible.

i love love.

walking slowly, composed and compiled
from the same stuff around me,
playing mind games
for the same sake kids play; excitement, adventure
is what the young know.

curiously feeling for the first time, making new from same;
what same? boredom and lack of imagination creates the same,
isolating intervals (to reach a goal, to solve puzzles, to reduce
conduce, contrive) no time...
"i've been here before."
i say false, "here" is a concept of specific focuses in a relative location;
no moment the same, (no moment) constant flux, gradual decay,
coming, going, everything a little less or a little more here than before.
             nothing repeats
             nothing repeats
             no-thing repeats

meditation takes over,
eyes OPEN glossed over by the infinite;
(time isn't here)
come to, only moments passed in eternity.
(deep) in the sense of unrecognizable,
ALL leaves titles behind, declaration of specifics
creates inevitable bias-ness by the subject,

when i meditate...

i return with a smile, seeing things for the first time     again,
rejuvenation of senses, a point of departure, a feeling of stillness, (time-less)
(to meditate long isn't the goal, but to see GOD in ALL.

mind                       quiet
eyes       piercing                 forward   (through eye-lids)
spine straight, belly breathing  D
                                                eep
nostrils flare, belly e  x  p  a  n  d  ssss
(seeking a forever point just above my being).                 STILLNESS
diaphragm retracts, nostrils slow ly
re leasing warm life into the everything,
body sinks down-
                          ward  into (its self), soil, oneness
repeat: until
ALL IS.
forgotten

Explanation: This is a moment I had while I was sitting and walking at the Henry Clay Estate. The significance is relayed in the piece by revealing the extraordinary in the ordinary day to day activity of walking and being outside.

The Struggles at Life

This is a biography poem on rapper T.I. that shows his bravery and strength.

Clifford Joseph Harris, Jr.

Tip

Alter ego T.I.P

T.I

Hip Hop Recording Artist

Record producer

Actor

Film producer

Published author

Fashion designer

Diseased Father

Rapper at 8

Drug dealer

Atlanta, Georgia

RUBBER BAND MAN

TRAP MUZIK

Grand Hustle Records

Probation violation

Drug conviction

Firearm possession

U.S. federal weapon charges

Threats

Prison

Urban Legend

“Bring Em Out”

Whatever You Like

Dead and Gone

Castle Walls

No Matter What

Mixed Blessings

One of the mixed
blessings 
of being
twenty and twenty-one and even twenty-three 
is the conviction
that nothing like this
all evidence to the contrary notwithstanding
has ever happened
to anyone before.

A passage from Joan Didion's collection of essays Slouching Towards Bethlehem, with a feeling that I can relate to.

Proper Breakdown

A biography about singer Kate Nash following the idea that if someone doesn't believe you can do something, you should show them that you can.


Nash was born, was raised, learned to play the piano; was also taught guitar.
She auditioned, but was rejected.

f ell
d o wn
a  f l i ght
o f  s t a i r s.

Write Some New Songs.
Book A Gig.
UPloaded.

Made of Bricks (2007-2009) was leaked, received mixed reviews; in “pole position for
worst album of the year.”
Made of Bricks (2007-2009) reached Number 1, certified Gold.

Inspire.
Spread The Word.
Collect Donations.

proper breakdown.
isn’t good enough, is it?

Best Female Artist.

Not Afraid

A biography on Eminem who represents courage

one of the best-selling artists in the world
My Dad's Gone Crazy
father abandoned the family

high school
escape
freestyle battles
approval of underground hip-hop audiences
 minimum-wage job
growing stage

personal struggles
abuse of drugs and alcohol
struggles with raising his newborn daughter Hailie Jade Mathers
musical ambitions were the only way
escape
unhappy life

breaking records
10x platinum
rise to fame
Relapse
Refill
RECOVERY
Not Afraid

What then is truth?

Biography on Frederick Nietzsche: this is a passage from "On truth and lie in an extra-moral sense" which i feel encompasses his overall philosophy/person.

what then is truth... 

a mobile army of metaphors?

a SUM of HUMAN RELATIONS, 

which have been enhanced, transposed and embellished 

poetically and rhetorically

and which after long use seem FirM,

canonical, obligatory to a people

:truths are illusions 

about which one has     forgotten

that is what they are;

((metaphors)) 

which are worn out 

& without sensuous power

we do not kNOw 

where the urge 

     for truth     comes from;

for as yet, we have heard

only    of the obligation

imposed by society

that it should exist.

to be truthful: means

"using the customary metaphors"

in moral terms: the obligation

to lie

according to fixed convention,

to lie     herd-like

ina style 

obligatory for all

Portrait of Ella Watson

Here we see a portrait of Ella Watson. Ms. Watson worked on the cleaning crew of the FSA building, solemnly standing in front of an American flag hanging on the wall, a broom in one hand and a mop in the background. Parks had been inspired to create the image after encountering racism repeatedly in restaurants and shops in the segregated Washington D.C. This photo is one of Parks first majorly publicized photos and received much recognition as a true portrayal of a black working woman in the 1940's. She became a focal point in many of his photos in his series of bringing light to the reality racism.
The placement of Ella in front of the flag with obvious distance between her and the flag portrays a sense of isolation from this iconic symbol. The "American dream" of freedom and equality is demonstrated as just that, a dream. Ella is represented as unhappy and stiff, the cleaning tools surrounding her, almost hiding her, or better yet, allowing her to appear as just another object to be used as a means to some other end symbolizes the reality of a black woman in the 40's. At first glance, the subject almost appears to be fading into the flag being lost between the lines. Ella worked nights, which could be speculated that the employers may not have wanted her seen in a public space during business hours. Overall this photo captures a dichotomy of both the victim and survivor of racism and segregation, showing the strength of perseverance to overcome and work with the given in order to sustain life.