Friday, June 5, 2009
Thursday, June 4, 2009
And Good Night...Christi Has Left the Building
I wanted to conclude my e-portfolio with a thank you. I am happy to say I made it through this class with only a few scratches and bruises along the way. I enjoyed dialoging with many of you over the last three months. Many on-line classes leave the individual to express themselves any way they want to but I really felt this environment encompassed free thinking and I appreciate that the most.
Piece #2: Revision
The bar life in the early 1970’s was quite different than it is today. Back then you could be 18, 19, or 20 years of age and legally sit in a bar depending on which state you lived in. Today there is a standard age of 21 years. Back then it was not as common for females to be in the bars as is today. “Females were supposed to be at home not sitting at a bar…unless of course you were a cocktail server,” Claire explains when I asked her what the environment was like back then. There were not many female bartenders in this area until the 1980’s. Now this area is predominantly female bartenders. She also said regardless of anyone’s money situation or what was going on in the bar, people took care of their own. Meaning if Bob comes into the bar with only a couple of dollars to his name his “bar friends” will take care of him for the night because the assumption is that Bob will reciprocate the same for his “bar friends” on another night.
Back in the 1970’s many females were stay-at-home moms. Today there are more women in the work force and they are looking for the same bond that men are in respects to the bar. While I was not able to find a statistical ratio of the percentage of women that go to bars as opposed to men, through personal observation of today’s environment it’s about 60% men to 40% women. This would have been unheard of in the 1970’s. In the essay “’Blaxicans’ and Other Reinvented Americans” by Richard Rodriguez he describes his thoughts on assimilation which is directly related to culture, however, this also describes a community. “Culture is fluid. Culture is smoke. You breathe it. You eat it” (123). The bar is in itself is a culture as well as a community. With the addition of females to the mix, “Assimilation happens” (123) as Rodriguez exclaims.
"When the economy's great, people drink. When the economy sucks, people drink," says Donna Hood Crecca, the editorial director of nightclub.com, the trade show's publication. "This is America. People drank during Prohibition. You know? They're gonna drink." “You know what’s changed the most in the business over the last 30 years?” Claire asks me, “The crazy new drinks I can’t keep up with. In my day we would have never thought to call a drink a Crazy Mother*&%$#@. We used to have classy names for drinks like a Pink Lady or Mint Julep. What really has not changed are the people. You know Frank and all the boys? Now they’re sitting in your bar instead of mine, but the way of the world won’t change that. If every single one of them went broke today, they’d still find a way to come in because that’s where they get comfort and part of that comes from the bartender.” In the essay, “You Are Who You Know” by Andrew Leonard he says, “Particularly in the developed world, our atomized, alienated, transient lifestyles have resulted in our seeking community from those who share the same interests, or workplace, or some other kind of tribal loyalty” (155). This is indeed true of the bar community also. People are looking for a common bond regardless of what is going on in the country and world.
I work at a bar that has a group of nightly regulars with a main crowd of about 20 up to a larger crowd of about 40 people. Some of these people are prominent in the community and some are not. Some of these people have money to throw away and some are penny pinchers, yet when they’re all together at the bar they are equals. Most of these regulars were Claire’s customers back in the day; now they are mine. I will agree with Claire that the drinks have changed over the years as well as the clothing and hairstyles yet the camaraderie remains.
Regardless of the year or economic state of our country bars are a community that people use to get themselves through rough times, share special times, and build relationships. Unstable economic situations bring the bar community closer. You would think when money was tight that people would stay home to save money but really the opposite happens. People need people and this community gives certain people what they need.
~ REVISION ~
I asked Claire, a longtime family friend and bartender, about her perceptions on this topic. Claire has been in the business for 30 years and seen many economic struggles throughout this time. She said, “Regardless of anyone’s money situation or what was going on in the bar, people take care of their own.” This simply means, if Bob comes into the bar with only a couple of dollars to his name his “bar friends” will take care of him for the night because the assumption is that Bob will reciprocate the same for his “bar friends” on another night. "When the economy's great, people drink. When the economy sucks, people drink," says Donna Hood Crecca, the editorial director of nightclub.com, the trade show's publication. "This is America. People drank during Prohibition. You know? They're gonna drink." An economic downfall does not hinder this; in fact, it may promote more of a generous nature among friends. Bar people consider themselves family and they take care of each other regardless of the economic environment.
“You know what’s changed the most in the business over the last 30 years?” Claire asks me, “The crazy new drinks I can’t keep up with. In my day we would have never called a drink a Crazy Mother*&%$#@. We used to have classy names for drinks like a Pink Lady or Mint Julep. What really has not changed though are the people. You know Frank and all the boys? Now they’re sitting in your bar instead of mine, but the way of the world won’t change that. If every single one of them went broke today, they’d still find a way to come in because that’s where they get comfort.” Claire has known some of my current customers for 30 years and they continue to frequent the same establishments because of the camaraderie they receive. I work at a bar that has a main group of nightly regulars of about 20 people up to a larger crowd of about 40 people. Some of these people are prominent in the community and some are not. Some of these people have money to throw away and some are penny pinchers, yet when they’re all together at the bar they are equals. Most of these regulars were Claire’s customers back in the 80’s and 90’s; now they are mine. I will agree with Claire that the drinks have changed considerably over the years yet the camaraderie of the bar customers remains the same regardless of economic situation.
The bar is a place where people feel secure regardless of their economic environment. In Maya Angelou’s essay “Reclaiming Our Home Place” she states, “Wherever home is, the closer one gets to it, the more one relaxes. That’s even if you’re walking. If you’ve been on a trek, a few blocks or a few miles, you can almost spot your house. You start to breathe differently. I think this is true for all people” (136). While Angelou may in fact be talking about the home in which you live her statement also applies to bar customers. Once they arrive to their bar it’s like coming home. This is the place where they can unwind and be themselves, where they can let go of the pressure of the working world to bond with each other. This has not changed over the last 30 years regardless of the economic state of the country.
Regardless of the year or economic state of our country bars are a community of people that are dedicated to each other. This community sees its members through the rough times as well as the good times; it’s a place that is familiar for many, and is a place to build new relationships. Unstable economic situations bring the bar community closer. The assumption would be that when money is tight people stay home to save money, but really the opposite happens. People need people and this community gives certain people what they are looking for. Just like in the TV show Cheers, you wanna be where everybody knows, your name.
Introduction to Piece #2: Revision
Oh, the dreaded revision piece. This piece was very easy for me to choose as I really blew it on paper #2. I loved the thought behind the assignment, interviewing someone for a then vs. now theme, yet I very poorly worked through it. The professor started my critique with the word “Yikes”. That’s not a good sign! She went on to say, “There are a
Reflections of a Procrastinator
My name is Christi Burns and I am a procrastinator; isn’t there some kind of support group out there for me? This will be funny to the students that participated in the Fight Club film discussion – if not; you should really watch the movie. Even if there were a procrastinator support group I’d probably talk myself out of going to it. I saved English 101 until the very end of my time spent at EVCC because I was afraid of it. What I’ve learned is that I need to embrace things that I’m afraid of because prolonging the pain doesn’t actually do anything but prolong the pain. Seems pretty simple, right? I have learned so much in a short amount of time but it wasn’t easy. Before I took this course I would have said, “I hate English”. In fact, I complained about taking this course for a good few months before it started. “Hating English” seems like a pretty stupid exclamation as I speak the language. I now realize I was really just worried if I’d be able to keep up with all the youngsters after being out of school for so long. Fear can make you say some really stupid things. Don’t get me wrong this class has been tedious, hard on the brain, and time consuming but what I learned is that I can do it. This is my second to last course before I receive my AA in Human Services. Again, procrastination = bad! There were weeks, especially the first week of each Unit where I wanted to thrown in the towel and say forget it. The problem with that is when you’re a procrastinator and have waited until the last minute there is no more time if you ever want to accomplish anything. So, I hung in there, I’m proud of my accomplishments, and I got to dialog with some pretty cool people in the class.
This course focused on three main topics; identity, community, and tradition. I noticed in the beginning many of my classmates, myself included, looked at these three words in very vague definitions. Identity = who you are; Community = where you live; Tradition = a set of customs you learn from you family. I learned that there is much more meaning to each of these words. In the identity unit I was drawn to Emily White’s essay called “High School’s Secret Life”. I chose one of the di
scussion boards from this essay to submit as my “Writer’s Choice” posting because White just got it. There wasn’t any fluff; she didn’t try to make it pretty. High school is what it is and I could relate to that. I think I immersed myself in the community unit more so than the others because I got to write about my passion which is traveling. I chose to use this blog as my example of audience and voice. I hope by reading this that other people may look upon my community and want to become a member. Finally we have the tradition unit. I enjoyed this unit because there was a little bit of freedom in what we chose to read. One thing that I liked discussing the most is that traditions can be created; they don’t just have to be followed. Life is about making your own choices and making yourself happy. In many cases this may mean disappointing your family or loved ones. But does it really? It depends on the perception. If your family is asking you to follow a tradition that doesn’t make you happy or doesn’t fit into your lifestyle hopefully they will be able to accept you in your individualism. That’s where choices come into play. Maybe this class has made me a little more sassy…wait, I don’t think that is possible.
One thing I changed greatly is the way I look at or listen to other people’s opinions. And even more so, how you dig a little deeper to find out what people really mean. Something very important I’ve learned is that we are not all great communicators nor do we always ask the correct questions to get to people’s true meaning. Some think “Why should I bother?” or “It’s not my job to probe for further discussion!” but you surely lose out on something by not doing so. In an on-line environment you only get out of it what you put in. I found myself sometimes disappointed with the lack of posts and responses from some of my classmates, mostly because I’m interested in what they have to say. I’m the typical little kid who asks why to every answer. I know it’s irritating yet you find out that sometimes you have to dig to get real answers from people. It’s almost as if we’re programmed to be vague and not 
bother with a real answer until someone pesters you for it. The flip-side to this is that I got to dialog with some really cool people who have interesting thoughts and ideas.
In conclusion, if you asked me if I’d do it all over again my response would be, “Hell NO, because I’m now moving on to English 102”. However, as hard and challenging as this course was I appreciate it immensely. That is pretty significant coming from me. I have learned to look at things in a slightly different light to draw out a greater understanding. I have selected four writing pieces for your reading enjoyment that I believe demonstrate my skills at critical thinking, revising my work, awareness of audience, and my personal choice. I hope you enjoy these choices.
Piece #4: "Writer's Choice"
In many ways I can relate to Emily White’s observations at Calhoun High School in her essay “High School’s Secret Life”. “The cafeteria is high school’s proving ground” (15). Is that a profound statement or what? At Mount Vernon High School where I attended we had two lunches rather than three. I cannot forget the trepidation that came on the first day of school while walking to the lunchroom. Who would be there? Will I be all alone? You cautiously walk in and look around trying not to draw any unwanted attention to yourself but also hoping someone you know will hail you over to a table. Everyone wants to be accepted in some way. One obvious difference from White’s passage is that we didn’t have laptops like she describes or cell phones and game boys for that matter. Technology has come such a long way in the last 15 years and really all there was to do at lunch back then was sit and look at each other. Today there are so many distractions that it makes me wonder how different it would be.
“This girl hovers somewhere on the edge of a tribe; she’s not a complete outcast but she isn’t popular either” (16). That sentence pretty much describes my high school experience. We called them cliques rather than tribes but I think the meaning is very similar. The one difference is there were three tribes I was on the edge of rather than one. Even as a teen I couldn’t imagine being part of a group of people who didn’t value my opinions and allow me to be me. So, I found myself bouncing between the smart geeks, jocks, and the metal heads. It was quite interesting to intermingle with all these different people and personalities and that actually helped to form the person I am today. I was just talking with my best friend about the fact that we have many groups of friends who are all not themselves friends. This can be difficult sometimes as people are very wary, even at this age, of brining new people into “the group”.
When I think back about myself in those days I want to say, “Geez, what a geek!” I think I found myself, like many teens, in that peculiar place as a teenager where you’re trying to find yourself. We had all the classic offenders plus a few more than what White describes; cool kids, jocks, druggies – we called them stoners; band geeks, smart geeks, natural helpers, goths, metal heads, etc. I was never going to sit at the cool table. This was not a decision based on the prospect of being alienated or excluded from the group but each group was on just as much of a trial basis with me as I was with them. What I mean by this is I wasn’t willing to completely meld into one particular group. The cool kids irritated me and not really them individually but the whole group of them. My biggest issue with them was they allowed the bullies to be part of their group. I couldn’t tolerate bullies then and I still can’t. The bullies were only popular because they could make other people laugh at someone else's expense. As I’ve gotten older I’ve discovered that bullies act this way to cover up their own insecurities, whatever they may be. It almost felt like the cool kids were trying to keep their enemies close so as not to be picked on themselves. Back then it was all about conformity. No one wanted to rock the boat or be different as that in itself could make you an outsider. Most recently I have noticed a different type of conformity. I am a perpetual people watcher and lately I've found myself watching packs of teenage girls. They all look the same, have the same haircut, and wear the same clothes. Is it a crime to be an individual as a teenager? Are they so afraid that being different will exclude them from popularity? I try to remember if we did that same thing twenty years back and I’m sure we did, although it doesn’t seem like it. Hopefully this is just a stage that teenagers go through. I can’t imagine a world where it’s a crime to be an individual.
Introduction to Piece #4: "Writer's Choice"
For the “Writer's Choice” piece I have selected a discussion board from the Identity Unit called DB 2 – Who’s In, Who’s Out? This wasn’t by any means one of my strongest pieces. However, I chose it because it was one of our first assignments that I really “identified” (get it?) with. I could relate to the writers observations and realized that I experienced much of the same things that she described. I greatly enjoyed the identity unit because it’s such a complex yet simple topic. Think about the very simple task of describing who you are and then try to explain it – it’s difficult, right? I know for me personally who I am has changed drastically over the years. Another essay that I really enjoyed in this unit was “Dude looks Like a Lady” by Kathy Wilson. There is one quote from
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Piece #3: Awareness of Audience and Voice
Traveling is a Community. Traveling is a passion of the adventurous folks who have a burning desire to experience new places and cultures. This is what makes us travelers – hear us roar. Sitting on the AirPorter and looking at your watch wondering if you’ve packed everything, or in my case, too much; trying to let go of the stress from work and start enjoying yourself; hoping there won’t be a huge line at immigration so you can just get started on your latest adventure. These are all pieces of the anticipation that go along with travel. What each traveler chooses to do with their adventure is up to them. Some choose to explore every corner within this
Introduction to Piece #3: Awareness of Audience and Voice
So with all that said, what I really want to relay is - when tasked with picking a writing piece that illustrates audience and voice this blog on my community was an easy target. I did not have to struggle to choose a topic as it had already chosen me. What I learned from this assignment is that I was taking my community for granted and not giving it the proper credit that it deserves. If you have never experienced travel, maybe my essay may persuade you that it’s something you may enjoy, if not become addicted to. Have fun…
Piece #1: Critical Thinking
The Film Freedom Writers is based on the principal of insiders vs. outsiders, racial segregation, anger and a group of teenagers who in the end are saved from themselves. Each character in this film represents a different type of outsider, yet they all unite as a group to change the only life they've been taught by family, gangs, and friends.
Ben, the only white kid in the class, is the most obvious outsider. When we first see Ben there is an assumption that because Mrs. Gruwell is white the two of them will have some kind of bond but that is not correct. Ben is scared to death to be in this class and some of the other students take advantage of that. There is a defining moment when Eva tells Mrs. Gruwell that she hates white people. Mrs. Gruwell in turns asks Ben if he'd like to respond to that. He says something like, "Can I please get out of here". He not only doesn't want to participate in the discussion, but he doesn't want the rest of the class to associate him and Mrs. Gruwell together. The first day of sophomore year when Ben and Marcus run into each other in the hallway, they shake hands and Marcus says, "Still white I see," because Ben doesn't have the handshake down exactly. This however, was taken as a friendly jab and not aggression. The change in attitude over one year’s time is miraculous. Ben goes from being afraid of his own shadow to relying on his classmates as friends. Ben narrates a documentary he made based on the Freedom Riders and talks about how afraid he was of being in the class. He talks about how he could have lied to get out of the class but he stayed. He was looking for a reason to belong and be a part of something.
Andre is portrayed as another type of outsider. His mom no longer sees him because he looks too much like his father who left them and his brother is awaiting conviction for a crime. He is torn between doing the right thing or being pulled back into the drug dealing lifestyle that he is accustom to. Andre is an outsider to his family, he is an outsider to some of the black gang members at the beginning of the movie, and he's an outsider to respect. He makes a statement to Mrs. Gruwell saying, "Why should I give my respect to you, because you're a teacher?" Andre doesn't trust anyone especially Mrs. Gruwell. There is a scene where Andre has missed school for a few a days and Mrs. Gruwell catches him in the hallway. He had given himself an "F" on self evaluation and Mrs. Gruwell says this is a slap in the face to her. During this conversation she says, "I am not letting you fail. I see who you are and you are not a failure". This seemed to come as a surprise to Andre because it appears that no one has ever made an attempt to care about him before. All he needed was someone to show him respect for it to change his life.
In my own personal experiences I have never gone through anything similar to what takes place in this film. I always thought I had an open mind and could get along with anyone no matter their color. I've never made decisions about people because of the tribe they're with. However, I was not raised in a war zone. My life, while still full of struggles, compared to some of these kids’ lives is very privileged to say the least. I try to put myself in Eva's situation where her family expects her to protect her own and send an innocent man to prison because, "You got to take your victories when you can". I like to think that I'd have the courage to do what she did but faced with that situation of family disownment and possible death, I only hope that I'd be that strong. Her actions were very courageous and I respect her for that. This changed my outlook on doing the right thing and not taking the easy way out.
There are many examples throughout this movie that demonstrate what it is to be an outsider. The most important message this movie portrays is that you can overcome anything regardless of where you come from or what color your skin is. A lot of these kids needed someone to believe in them first for them to know they were worth anything. However, the real morale of the story is you have to believe in yourself. When most of the kids entered their freshman year of high school they did not think they'd even graduate much less live to see eighteen years of life. At the end of this story it says that many of these kids went on to college as the first in their families. This is an epic ending to a very sad beginning.
Introduction to Piece #1: Critical Thinking
To demonstrate my critical thinking skills I have chosen to showcase a timed writing assignment for the film Freedom Writers. Initially, I was going to use the same assignment for the film Fight Club but once I reread it, it didn’t really captivate me like I had hoped it would. Although I received a higher grade on the Fight Club assignment, I decided to use the Freedom Writers piece because I liked the flow of it better.
This film was very moving to me and tells a story of the hardships of growing up in what appears to be a war zone. Some of the movie was hard to relate to as I’ve never experienced anything like what these characters have gone through. However, there was also a mix of typical teenage angst which we all have experienced and this evened out the movie to some degree. The basis of the assignment was to not only demonstrate how the film defines what it is to be an outsider but also how this definition challenges our own understanding of what it is to be an outsider. I gave two examples from the film that I thought best showed this. The two examples did not include main characters as I wanted to get a different feel for all of the outsiders. One of the easiest examples is about Ben, the only white kid in the class, and how there is an assumption that he and the teacher will bond because they are both white. I also gave a personal example that shows maybe not that I’m an outsider in my current environment but what an outsider I am to this group as I’ve never personally experienced anything like what they’ve gone through. I hope by reading this piece you will want to see the movie, it is well worth your time.
