MAP IT1!!!

Well I was very surprised when I read this article especially when it was telling me that every maker is socially influenced. I did not understand that at all. All my life I thought maps were concrete evidence of geography. Then the point was brought up that even thought the evidence presented is in fact real the way it is presented can influence the "reader" of the map. For example many map makers or "authors" cannot create maps without a budget or some outside source funding them. Therefore, it is almost impossible to really not be influenced in the making of the map and what will be shown. That is why many historical maps show many certain parts of an empire or it showed who the power was during that time. I thought that was so interesting especially when he got into the details about how even fact is up for interpretation because everything is socially influenced and therefore cannot be all together. My mind at this time was completely boggled and could not seem to wrap my head around this theory. If everything was influenced did that mean that nothing was really true?? I felt like was becoming one of the inane people who find themselves deep by declaring general and hideously, annoying statements about life that nothing to do with anything. But in a way that's a point that this article raised. I may not be able to disprove the theory right now but for the sake of my sanity I shall have to choose to believe that facts are facts... and are therefore concrete!

Advising Module 3

Consider how you handle stress, particularly when it is compounded by exhaustion and health issues. Do you go for a walk? Take a tv break? Read a poem? Call a friend? Hit the treadmill? Take a nap? Why??

I always seem to take a nap which is not a good idea but I get so tired and sometimes just fall asleep on my work. It is very annoying while other times I say I will take just a twenty minute power nap and then not have the willpower to wake up for another hour. So I try not to take naps anymore and when I really need a break I surf the web to get my mind on something else. But I also think that is not the greatest idea because I get sidetracked and it is hard to get me back on track.

Can you give an example of a come-back from an academic problem or disappointment?

When I was in high school I was in honors chemistry my sophomore year and tried so hard in that class. I stayed after school went to review sessions asked questions in class and studied so long for tests. But I still seemed to be getting a C+ which for me was horrible. So finally I asked the teacher for more one on one help an extra problems to practice and pulled my grade to a B+ which I was very excited about for an average Joe like myself!

Are there areas of study you've become interested in that you won't have time to major in at SMC?

I am very much interested in Women's Studies but I do not think I would want to have a double major and a minor especially if I plan to study abroad for a year. But I am in love with the class and the texts we get to read!!

Are there films you'd like to see? When might you have time to see them? (start keeping a list)

I really like films from sundance and just small budgeted films that you really have to find. I do not know when I will have time I feel as though I never watch t.v. at school or movies. I really want to see The Tree of LIfe, Another Earth, The Beaver, and The Cove. I also have others that I want to look for and find as well!

One Story

Girl walks into a concert wearing a Bob Marley t shirt, short cut off jeans, dread locks all the way down to her hips, and a tie dye bandanna. Man walks up to girl and asks if she would like a joint. Woman replies curtly, clearly outraged, "no I would not what do I look like to you, a woman who likes a pot?" Now many would probably laugh at the the woman in this story thinking well clearly she deserved this approach because of what she was wearing. We saw the woman's clothes and immediately made her into one type of person. She immediately participated in illegal endeavors. I think the woman's speech in the video was very profound when she brought up the one story mindset most people have of other ethnicities as well as in social circumstances. When she brought up how everyone has a story I immediate thought of the song by Brandi Carlile called "The Story". Too perfect right?

All of these lines across my face
Tell you the story of who I am
So many stories of where I've been
And how I got to where I am

These lyrics were perfect to me in representing that we do not see what everyone goes through.

We do not know others struggles and to label unjustly is not the right thing to do. The talk opened my eyes to that even more profoundly!

Momma didn't faint this time!!!

So Persepolis 2 "ends" in its sad yet not as sad as last time way. Tearful goodbyes seem very common in Persepolis' life. I, personally do not think I would be able to do that all the time. She has to uproot her life so much but the fact that her last goodbye she is sad, yes, but also excited for the future. Seh is more confident because she is older. She has grown up and therefore is able to stand on her own two feet alone. I find it incredible that her parents are so progressive considering the climate of oppression that permeates in the air there. One cannot even speak their mind without fear of execution or beatings. So the fact that her parents promoted her having a boyfriend was very progressive indeed. I always wonder how people like that came to be when their culture and society is that of oppression. It really astounds me the differences in Perspeolis' parents to the rest of the culture. Of course, they were not alone in their views but it is refreshing to see people speak out in their own way!

Persepolis, THOU ART SO OPINIONATED... I LIKE!

If I were to write the young Persepolis a letter it would probably most consist of questions. I find other cultures so interesting and that the fact that hers is so utterly different from Western culture makes me all the more curious. She probably would probably be in my shoes where I can wear shorts and a t-shirt and not be considered a harlot by people I have never met and be verbally and physically assaulted. I really liked how Persepolis, the author, made the book into a comic book. With the pictures I got a better visual (literally) of what life was like for her. The changes in power and the way she interpreted it as a young girl/ preteen. But what I loved most about her book was the depiction of God. God was her friend and held her and soothed her but was also there as the sort of punching bag when she was mad at the world for what every new leader seemed to do wrong with her country. I thought it interesting how her family were activists against the regime and how Persepolis right off the bat had views on political issues. Although most of the time they were the view of her parents because all little children are guilty of spouting the views of their parents. I did the same thing when defending my parents presidential candidate at the ripe old age of 10 years old. I thought their opinion was always right and any other person that said otherwise would feel the backlash of my tongue verbally assaulting them for daring to disagree with them. That was when I thought I was intimidating...(never caught on). But what I thought was the most thrilling part of the book was when Persepolis' mother agreed for Persepolis to come to a protest. The parents usually go without her because she is too young. But later on in the book the issues that are presented especially toward women concerning for example, the veil, are directly affecting Persepolis' life style. Therefore her mother sees it as her right to also take part in these protests. This, I think, develops Persepolis' voice further by being able to develop her own opinions on the matter and to express them publicly with others that agree with her!