Brent Staples, Just Walk On By

When I first opened this article, I had no idea what to expect. The title brought on visuals of multiple people ignoring another, but realistically I had no idea what it was about. As I began, the intro talked about the author writing a book using the people he has interacted with in his lifetime. The first sentence uses the word victim and I assumed he meant it in a comical tone, I was dead wrong. Staples wrote throughout this article on his personal experiences simply walking down the street. When he spoke of a woman running away, it was his first experience with a woman frightened only by the color of his skin. The words, “she was soon running in earnest” stood out to me and reminded me how much times have changed. I couldn’t imagine being in his position, an innocent bystander knowingly intimidating people around him without doing anything to deserve that racism, that absolute insolence.

 

I was really interested in Staples account throughout. He spoke of the changes he made in his own lifestyle to make complete strangers comfortable; those same strangers that judged him without regard. He knew that there was a reason people were of afraid of him, however, but the reasons were none he could do a thing about. Literature had a way of placing a label on him, but mostly it was the vast number of crime committing black men. He spoke of friends and family who decided, against their best interest, to get involved in crime because of the sheer excitement and even ease in which people would hand over their belongings out of fear.

 

One sentence seemed to sum up the sentiment within the making of a criminal and a major part of what goes into it, “the consummation the male romance with the power to intimidate”. Imagine that, a guy falling in love with power, where have we heard this one before? This theme is central to the majority of males within the population. There is something so oddly romantic about power to them that some are willing to take every opportunity around them to gain that strength. They are so deeply and uncontrollable attracted to this power that even gang warfare sounds intriguing. I got so caught up on that quote simply because of how men never cease to amaze me in their never-ending search for glory, or whatever it is they really want.

 

I think the aspect of this article that was most surprising, and even saddening, to me, was the fact that this innocent man was forced to make so many different changes within his own life to accommodate others. He would stand further away from the uncomfortable people, get used to (but never comfortable with) those people who insisted on crossing the street rather than walk right by him. Ugh, to feel as though people are intimidated by you and even scared. I could not imagine living in his shoes, being judged without being known. To be in his situation would drive me absolutely crazy, so I guess in some ways I can begin to view the crimes as acts of revenge in a way.

 

The second version of Staples work was powerful, yet disappointing. He changed too much about himself in the second whereas I had hoped he could hold onto his true identity. He gave it up to become some sort of character, playing games with people and beginning to appear intimidating, giving them a reason to be frightened. It was all the more powerful, however, because his viewpoint changed. He did something about the treatment, although this time he wasn’t accommodating.

 

In the second version he spoke briefly of his transition to this new person, out to find victims instead of let the people create victims of themselves. He became overwhelmed by the same response from countless people, those trying to pretend he was invisible when, at 6 foot some odd inches tall, there was no way in heck they could not see him. It is possible that the second version was actually the true Staples, and he did say himself that “the more I thought about how I moved, the less my body belonged to me; I became a false character riding along inside of it”. This statement makes me believe that he knew he was changing, but unfortunately, the change was to the nicer guy who tried not to scare people. He would whistle and stand back, but this is not who he truly was. It is very possible that the next modification left him in the version of himself that was closest to the truth.

 

In the second version, Staples would harass people for his own pleasure and then stop creepily ahead to laugh violently at his actions. He changed into the stereotype, and that’s exactly why I felt disappointed. He actually went down the sketchier alleyways in order to scare people at a greater capacity with less effort. He even walked into someone’s townhouse, too! They were terrified, and who wouldn’t be?? He stalked them from the car to their home, any reasonable person would be frightened as well, yet he just howled out laughing and went on his way. He says at the end that the people themselves made him terrifying, so he was going to show just how terrifying he could be. This was quite the goal for someone who was so compassionate and kind in the previous account. It was scary how much someone can change due to the pressures of society. I was a bit ashamed of society as well by the end of this account. Staples is not entirely to blame for his actions, yet he needs to take the responsibility for them and stop with the madness!

 

 

 

Concerns:

I’m concerned my revision does not take one side or the other as far as knowing for sure which character he is. I’m also concerned I spent too much time talking about the way the article made me feel.

Sommers, Between the Drafts

       In this article, Nancy Sommers discusses her life and what personality traits the people around her exemplified. She spoke of her childhood and the authority that came with it, her passion for drafting, and how her work as a teacher helps her to grow. There was one specific sentence which stood out to me, “it is deeply satisfying to believe that we are not locked into our original statements, that we might start and stop, erase, use the delete key in life, and be saved from the roughness of our early drafts”. This statement stood out to me because of how she relates a task that I always viewed as tedious and uninspiring towards everyone’s life, but not in the boring sense. She simply says that it is possible to find inspiration within editing because it reminds her that things can always improve. There is a starting point in life, and from that point, things don’t have to be permanent. They begin as rough drafts and are slowly drafted into exactly what we’re looking for; exactly who we are. Unfortunately for Sommers, she had been spending the whole time revising simply hiding behind the guide books. She had been lost within the translations, while she should have been discovered.

            As we read further into the article, we discover more about Sommers’ life. We find out her insecurities and she reveals her actions between the drafts and how things change as life continues forward. She is a woman of regrets and at certain points, lives in the past. It was good to read her transition from insecurity to realizing the power of her authority. She knows that her own life experiences give her the right to speak out about revision and other such topics, and she regrets the previous need to mention other writers in her attempt to promote herself.

            It becomes more interesting as she brings up the topic of authority in academic papers. She has the stance of taking control and writing confidently in academic matters while other teachers believe the mixture of these as well as personal writing may cause an end of the world. I think mixture is important to the well rounded writer, so long as the writing is relevant and credible.

            In conclusion, I think it’s incredible how this idea of “authority” can pass down so similarly throughout generations. Sommers’ article was interesting and I’d read another piece by her any day.

Barack Obama Comes to JMU

Today was a day filled with anticipation that could only be met by the appearance of Senator Barack Obama, the Presidential candidate of the United States. I had been looking forward to today for an incredible two days for no one was informed of this event until that time. When I awoke this morning I had the intention of seeing Senator Obama speak, he could be our next President so why wouldn’t I want to take advantage of this opportunity? By the time I was prepared to go, I called a friend who said the line was unbelievably long and not to waste my time. I sadly took their advice and waited anxiously for him to appear on the television in my room.

When I turned on my TV right around 5 PM he had already begun to speak. He spoke about a plethora of subjects including the economy, McCain’s campaign, the introduction of millions of new jobs, tax cuts, and hope. He mentioned that we are in the middle of the worst economic crisis and that our generation is willing to sacrifice for future generations. He spoke about the increase in food and college costs while recieving a roaring AMEN from the responsive crowd. He quickly moved on to McCain’s habits, including his tendency to follow Bush throughout every economic plan without divergence. He ended his attacks on McCain by explaining how his healthcare plan is radical and unaffordable.

He did bring up one interesting plan which I was both impressed and pleased with: the introduction of five million new jobs in upcoming years. Obama intends to create the jobs through efforts to create a better environment and taking advantage of renewable resources. They will be well paying and cannot be outsourced. The jobs will range from creating solar panels to inventing new ways of being environmentally friendly. These jobs will all be domestic, which is exactly what we need. To be honest, when he brought up this plan I was suddenly reminded of FDR’s New Deal and I was inspired. He has found a minor solution to the major problem, but this is only the beginning. It actually gave me faith in his advisor’s to come up with more ideas like this one for the future.

 

To continue the inspiring moments of the speech, he spoke of seeing the best of America. He’s seen it in workers willing to cut hours rather than see their friends lose their jobs and especially in the soldiers who reenlist after the loss of a limb. He has been inspired by Americans and through this he is out to inspire others.

To end his speech he said “hold onto hope; tomorrow will be brighter. That’s what this election is about”. He is an incredibly good speaker and I honestly almost reconsidered my vote for McCain, especially when the news continued to show an interview between McCain and a correspondent from Harrisonburg’s own local news station. In this interview McCain said a lot of ridiculous things including saying he would lower the cost of colleges without a plan of how to do it or even speaking confidently when he said these things. He also said we need to continue drilling for oil overseas, when in reality we need to end our dependence on foreign oil. Overall, Obama’s compelling speech far outshined McCain’s interview and I wish I had been able to get into the convo center today of all days.

Urban Warfare

This article was actually really interesting and sparked ideas in my head of other unusual marketing techniques, that is, until the last two paragraphs. I thought the man in charge, Mr. Jackson, bore a sense of power that was not his to behold. He felt as though he was doing everyone a favor, but knew that when he was out on the streets marketing he had to cover that up so that the people would accept the products without pride getting in the way. He honestly believed that everyone he talked to needed him to be there for them and he even felt it was his duty to make the kids say please and thank you, all in a sense of training. Training. Seriously? The only things that are trained are animals (maybe the occasional black belt martial artist, but that’s another context altogether). He looks down upon the people he visits in these neighborhoods and instead of some sort of an idea showing that he is doing his job to better the lives of the underprivileged; he instead proves that he wants to sell coke.

            Selling the product isn’t such a bad fate, although marketing techniques can get to people’s heads. At some point it takes control of all actions and instills a motivation to basically do whatever it takes to make money. It was interesting how he mentioned the fact that all the people who go out to the deprived areas must be taught how to hold themselves and how the simplest thing can be offensive. The mentioning of the destroyed car was quite intimidating and makes me wonder what type of person could go into these areas completely fearless? If you make the customer believe you are doing a favor, or even so much as wear “a pants leg rolled up a certain way”, you could face dire consequences. Talk about an intimidating job!

            Overall, the attitude is what made me dislike the intentions of Coca-Cola. What they’re doing actually does get free soda and entertainment into the hands of disadvantaged people. If this article wasn’t written to convey emotions of dislike towards Coke, then I could be viewing this in another light. What’s said is said, however, and I have very little respect for Mr. Jackson.

Tsui: Philip Morris Coverup

Those crafty marketers are at it again. Philip Morris is now advertising to kids, through an effort to keep them away from smoking. While reading this piece, I had to ask myself why in the world would a cigarette company want to attempt to turn people away from smoking? Because they’ve realized how very affective subtle advertising can be. The tiny imprint of the PM name upon the cover of a book can forever be embossed in the mind of an 18 year old. So maybe these efforts will keep the youth away from smoking for a time, but one day down the road, when that now 18 year old wants to buy their first pack, which name do you think will pop out at them for familiarities sake?

For some odd reason this whole controversy suddenly reminds me of the alcohol companies that were sued for allegedly advertising to people under 21. Hmm. Could they have wanted to influence those who were not yet legally able to drink? It’s all beginning to come together. Companies will do whatever it takes to create some sort of a relationship with the customer, the earlier the age the relationship is developed, the more years of loyalty that company receives.

As the piece continues, it speaks of additional companies influence on kids. Along with the negative messages being sent, other companies, such as Ralph Lauren Kids and Estee Lauder, grabbed a hold of the opportunity to advertise their name as well. The grades range from K-12, so the companies are attempting to advertise to the parents at the youngest age and directly to the high schoolers for make-up products. They are taking every opportunity to get these covers to the schools and who could blame them? It’s a possible 9 months of advertising done for them. They may gain the one customer who owns the book with the cover or maybe even many classmates who see the cover everyday in the same class. What a great win-win situation.

I thought it was incredibly interesting that not a single school refused the offer for free book covers, even with the advertisements. There’s nothing necessarily wrong with the principal accepting the material, but its funny how they’re the only ones who can stop this advertising and they find it more important to receive the free merchandise than to block the kids from buying things they don’t need. The companies couldn’t care less, it’s all an investment to them. They put in 14.5 cents now and receive hundreds of dollars in the future. Sounds like a pretty promising deal if you ask me.

The Man Behind Abercrombie & Fitch

Here’s the flat out truth: As I began reading this article where the details were given about the “campus” for Abercrombie, I was picturing the location and longed of working there. As soon as they got to the detail about the cafeteria, I went to Abercrombie.com and began listening to the new age- techno mix they sport in every store. There’s something so addicting about their music. It’s exclusive to the Abercrombie line and as I continued reading I actually got excited to read about their workplace and was reminded of the photos within the stores. I’ve heard fantastic things about their photo shoots and how each model feels as though they’ve known the other models forever, thus why the photos are so genuine. The chemistry is real and everyone in them has a great time. I will always be a huge supporter of Abercrombie, probably mostly because I grew up with it. Through the controversy in London when they showed a butt crack in one of the photos propped up against the wall and through the high prices, I love the clothes and lifestyle they sell.

I’m not going to lie saying that I agree with all of Abercrombie’s marketing tactics over the years, but I will admit to absolutely loving Abercrombie & Fitch overall. From the moment you walk into an Abercrombie store, you smell the strongest scent of cologne you’ll probably ever experience in your life (aside from those crazy freshman boys in high school who just don’t know when enough is enough). The dim lighting of the Hollister and A&F stores confuses the hell out of the customer because you can’t even tell the true color of the clothes. You know what, though, it all adds to the atmosphere of the store. To top it all off, the people who work there all do look pretty attractive. Just an extra bonus for stopping in, I suppose. Their marketing goes well beyond the typical store that uses commercials to bring in new customers. Abercrombie relies on attractive people bringing in their attractive friends for the “experience” of the store. The one thing that’s annoying about Abercrombie is their choice to not supply any clothes that are bigger than a 140 lb girl could wear. They are extremely exclusive as the article stated and somehow this actually adds to their customer value.

I loved seeing the man behind the clothes and hearing all about what he’s been through to be where he is today. His passion that ran so deep as to making him change his entire appearance. The fact that he’s as driven as he is shows why the company is as successful as it is. He definitely succeeded in selling a lifestyle and changing the way American teenagers in the 21st century dress.

Overall, Abercrombie and I have a strong relationship that will not be ending anytime soon.

Tommy, Follow The Flock

In Adbusters “Tommy, follow the flock” a joke of an advertisement depicted fashion trends in the sense of a herd of sheep following one another and being identical in their fashion choices. It showed how influential Tommy Hilfiger has been to create trends that consumers will follow without question. This brings up the point of why people decide to follow these fashion trends.  People will do whatever it takes to fit in although everyone says they want to be unique. There will always be the “cool” way of dressing, and yeah, maybe it will look good for a time, but the important thing is to not fall for the trend because it will pass soon enough, they all do (need I remind you of the allure of the crocs?).

It is best not to get dragged into the fads because it always, and I mean always, ends in a loss of money and even identity. By following a trend, you may sign away your personal style and individuality. Clothes are a huge part of everyone’s life, whether or not they’d like to admit to it. What you wear says a great deal about who you are and what you’re about. Each individual chooses clothing that best exemplifies their personality. By giving in to the trends of society, we’re giving up that choice and settling on what others have already decided is in style.

            I have been one to fall for some of the trends in high school. I went to private school so the only choice we had in fashion for the majority of the year were hair accessories and shoes. I fell under the influence of others in both categories. I felt confident, I knew I looked good with the pink polka dotted ribbon flying carelessly through my hair, but I looked like everyone else. My shoes matched well over 90% of everyone else at my school. I decided not to take a chance. To fit in and be overlooked.

            I have to admit though, since I’ve arrived at JMU I have noticed every fashion trend sported throughout the university and I’ve been tempted. From the fashionable rain boots to those bags with the leather straps, to the Sperry’s and well beyond, I have longed for them all at first. History does repeat itself, however, and I know that if I just keep away from these temporary trends, I can continue buying unique pieces that no one else has and therefore that only go out of style when I get sick of them. I’ve realized that as long as I am comfortable in what I am wearing, everyone around me will be, too.

Studies In Art History: GenEd Conference 2008

 

The lecture I attended examined the works of three separate paintings presented by three different speakers, yet only one lecture really stood out to me.

A History Painted: The Execution of Lady Jane Grey.

I came into this presentation expecting a somewhat interesting examination of art and the opportunity to see through the eyes of another art enthusiast. I did find a small amount of that within two of the presentations, but the first blew me away. What I got, instead of a boring history lesson, was the personal account of a woman finding her way around the National Gallery in London, England. She walked around for hours before incidentally being drawn in towards the woman in white. The painting was longer than her arms could stretch and taller than she could reach. This still woman, bothered by the knowledge of her fate: execution. The speaker saw her image from a distance and slowly progressed towards the image of this helpless woman. As she sat upon the bench, she would see some people come and offer only a glance to this woman, not noticing the fine details, the fear, the brushstrokes, the lighting, nothing.

What did this woman do to deserve such a horrid death? As it turns out, Mary had her executed for fear that she would try and take back the throne. Jane Grey, the woman in white, was not the only compelling character within the painting by Delaroche. The executioner standing on the far right of the painting has the posture of a compassionate man, still fully human instead of the typical emotionally detached character of an executioner. He sees this teenage girl and knows what he must do, but wishes he didn’t. The artist emphasizes color in his paintings to make the paintings come alive. The bright white depicts the purity of the nine day queen and makes her the center of the painting. Her positioning within the art work also brings her into the main focus of the observer. The mound of hay awaits the 16 year old to soak up her blood. To be faced with such a fate at such a young age is terrifying. She appears to be so scared that she can barely move; stunned by fear and helplessness.

Hearing about this young woman scared me for what she had to go through was terrifying. The personal account from the presenter grabbed my attention from the beginning and didn’t let go until it was over. I’m really glad I attended the conference just so I could hear about this incredible depiction. I actually do recall seeing the painting when I was in London last summer, but I will be completely honest and admit that I gave it a minute or two of my time before moving along. If only I had known.

Said’s “States”

Depressing. This is the best word I can use to describe Said’s “States”. The way he describes the state of Palestinians is absolutely horrifying. The people have been exiled and are expected to find a new home in which they should adjust and try to act as though everything is going to be alright. Alright? Who in their right mind could be alright after being kicked out of their homeland and thrown into an unknown world filled with strangers who mistreat and disrespect you on a daily basis. To be treated as a terrorist with no identity. Identity. Huge concept.  Identity is who you are, how you expect others to see you, where you come from, what you’re all about: from values to bad habits. Identity is character. Character is human. Palestinians are being treated as less than human. The people are no longer individuals, instead they are judged as a group; suffering together through the embarrassment, shame, and troubles. The author speaks directly from his personal experiences. The overall struggle of losing his identity along with all other Palestinians goes well beyond not having a home to live in. It transcends to losing communication, community, respect, freedom, and everything in between.

 

    Somehow, he is still connected to his country. The reader can tell because of his constant use of the word “we” when referring to his country’s trials and mishaps.

 

            The quote that struck me the strongest was “the colors of the Palestinian flag are outlawed by Israeli military law”. Artists were arrested for their use of the colors. This is beyond command economy. The government even regulates what the people produce and must know every new plant that is integrated. They will put people in jail for almost anything and even their history is forbidden. How are the parents supposed to teach their children their history if it is illegal? What about when it becomes nonexistent? Can history ever truly be forgotten? I’d be willing to say an affirmative “yes” because of all the added pressure from the government, but at the same time I want to be an optimist and hope that the history and past of the people will live on in their hearts and in tradition, just maybe now in a different setting.

Palestine itself is being lost in translation. They are immersed in so many other cultures that their identity is again lost. The author knows they can’t exist forever. How would it feel to know your culture is dissolving in front of you and there’s nothing you can do about it? I’d feel lost and terrified. I wouldn’t want to be forced to immerse myself in another culture and lose a piece of who I am, my cultural awareness. The struggle the Palestinians are currently facing is what to do. If they stay silent, they will be forgotten; overlooked. If they speak out, as few have attempted to do in the past, nothing seems to happen. They need to resolve this issue here and now but each day takes away a small amount of motivation and patience they need to fix the problems. Only time will tell, but nothing will be achieved until the people are shown compassion and connectivity with those in their new “homes” instead of the current discrimination and humiliation.

Gay Men’s Revenge By Susan Bordo

This article speaks truths about the depiction of men in society. The author used examples of the differences between models of the opposite sex’s body language. In the past straight men have always been depicted as the strong, overpowering leader in the relationship dynamic, but this is all beginning to change. Nowadays, the representation of straight men is changing to one shared with the stereotypical gay man. Guys are now body conscious and lack the confidence they once held secure. They are leaving behind the careless beauty facade and entering into a realistic role. These changes are not without gains, however. The advertising companies behind this new revolution are finding that the less confident someone is, the more they will buy to perfect themselves. More men are purchasing cosmetic surgeries to improve their flaws and marketing schemes directed at men are being modified across the board.

            This article really stood out to me because of my love for marketing. I am intrigued by how companies shift their advertising to convince consumers their product is necessary for the everyday lifestyle. To be completely honest, I hadn’t really thought about the changing view of men through the media until I read this. Once I read the aspect about men portraying the “take me” attitude, I immediately thought about Abercrombie & Fitch’s campaigns. They put up pictures of models in their clothes throughout the store and I realized this sentiment is completely real. I walked in there this summer and immediately noticed the sexiness of the models placed in that new persona. All I have to say is that I’ve got absolutely no problem with the changes. It’s about time women had the opportunity to see men in the position we’ve been in for decades. It’s not about getting back at men for putting women down; it’s about making the playing field even, if that makes any sense. Women have been falsely portrayed by the media since the beginning; it’s now starting to look like men may have been, too.

            Unfortunately for consumers, the only thing we can do is stand on the outside looking in at the media destroying stereotypes, and then coming back to create their own. The only time, it seems, that people have a say in the appropriateness of an ad is when it is completely vulgar or inappropriate, or when everyone stops buying the product because of the appalling advertising.