http://hayleyschanback3.weebly.com
I think that I have grown as a writer this year. The main projects have given me time to learn about and focus on specific topics and really learn a lot about each one. For example with our first hyperessay I was able to focus on the digital divide and how the Internet has affected Native American tribes. Also for our autoethnography documentaries I was able to go out into the Emory community and interview girls who write for a fashion blog. This activity was extremely personal and was a great hands-on learning experience for me. My interviews with these girls also prompted me to inquire more about fashion media and how it affects our society as a whole. After much research, I decided to construct my activism website around fashion media and how our society is combating its negative effects. We have also been able to make our work approachable by many different types of people. By posting writing to our blogs or on our websites we know that there are so many people who are able to access it. Furthermore, our writing is not just seen by our professor but by a wide array of people who access the Internet. I have also been able to use different formats for my writing. For example the way I constructed my first hyperessay website took a completely different type of technique than the one I used to construct my autoethnogrpahy documentary. Our class has also been able to write on many different levels of formality. We have written blogpost, constructed websites, as well as have created film documentaries. For the most part, our blog posts are less formal than our websites and our websites have less formality than a typical research paper. Furthermore, with the wide range of writing we have done in our class we have been exposed to different styles of formality with our writing. I personally have also learned how writing is a multi-step process, that will take more than one day. By posting all of my work electronically I feel that I have been given the opportunity and freedom to go back and edit my work until I feel that it is completely finished. All in all I feel that the work I have done in this class has provided me with a beneficial and effective learning experience in the art of writing.
I believe that activism is centered around a motivation for change and fighting for what you think is right. In activism there is no action too small because whether you are marching in the streets or blogging about the issues, you are still trying to make a change.
I think that some good protocols for making a website would be to have an easy way to get back to the home screen. I also think it should be easy to get from one page to the next which I think can be best done by putting links or buttons on the bottom of each page which should include one link or button to get to the previous page, one link or button to get to the next page and one link or button to get back to the home page. I also think that including each page on the navigation bar because it allows people to get to whichever page they would like without having to keep going back to the home page.
Additionally, I think that using stimulating visual images that connects with the websites contents is necessary because it tends to engage the reader a lot more than it would if these images were not included. I also think the text should be organized in a way that is easy to read and that looks clean and neat. With the very first breath taken upon entering this world, we as humans are immediately affected by our surroundings. Therefore these surroundings prove to influence and determine who we are destined to become. As we mature within our environments we learn what is expected of us and mold ourselves in order to meet those expectations. This process is also known as socialization. Among the many things influenced by socialization our understanding of gender roles is one of the most predominant. However, there are many different agents that urge us to park-take in the specific gender roles, set up by society, that depend on our biological sex. One of the most of prevalent agents of socialization today includes media advertisements such as pictures in magazines as well as commercials and even television shows. As we go about our daily lives we are bombarded not only by ads that endorse different products but also by ads that endorse society’s ideals of gender roles. Furthermore, these media images act as symbols that project a certain cultural expectation. Through the social interpretation of these different types of media and advertisements as well as through our interactions with the world around us, we are able to distinguish who people are and what behavior society demands of them. These demands, also known as norms, govern our roles in day-to-day life and especially guide roles associated with what it means to be “male” or “female”. However, media, created by the fashion industry in particular, has become extremely controversial in recent years, especially in the way that women are represented. Since the portrayal of women in fashion media has become so endemic, its cultural significance and the ideas this type of media portrays unequivocally impacts not only how a woman is viewed by society by also how she comes to view herself.
The fashion industry, with most of its media featuring female models, has undoubtedly come to create a widely acknowledged yet unrealistic idea of how the perfect woman should look and act; this archetype created by the fashion world implies that a woman should be tall, thin, beautiful and flawless. Since these messages are so prevalent, not only females but also males have generalized this image of women made by the fashion industry to represent woman in society as a whole. The “female fashion icon” has now come to epitomize the idea of a perfect woman to females in regards to what they should strive to look like as well as to males in regards to what is considered an attractive and appealing woman. However, this has created a widespread problem. Because this image of woman is so unrealistic, it has created all sorts of problems for women, including low self-esteem, eating disorders, depression and so many more. Furthermore, no one is perfect and beauty comes in all different shapes and sizes. the average woman in society has come to However, no woman is perfect not even the models seen on the covers of magazines. This idea is no better explained than by the film entitled Killing Us Softly, produced by Jean Kilbourne as well as by the scholarly article written by Donna Eder entitled On Becoming Female: Lessons Learned in School. These two resources delineate and criticize the ways in which fashion media has had a negative affect on the women of our society. Eder, in her article, points out how today girls are “continually faced with media messages that emphasize the importance of using makeup and fashionable attire to enhance their attractiveness and sexuality” (Eder p.178). For my final project I want to further explore the ways in which the fashion industry has had a negative effect upon society. Throughout history, a pattern of male dominance in the working world has been a prevalent issue in western society. Traditionally in regards to gender, females have continually received the short end of the stick when it comes to occupying jobs. The work force in many ways has come to be considered a type of patriarchal society, in which men have come to dominate the most powerful and affluent positions. When it comes to the top positions at the country’s largest corporations, the presence of women is virtually non-existent. However, there is one industry in particular that has not put men in positions of authority. This unconventional field of business is better known as the Fashion industry. Powerful women have come to stand as an icon for the fashion industry. Women undoubtedly represent the leaders of the fashion world in today’s society.
Within the fashion industry, modeling has developed as a specific line of work in which women are superior to men. Usually it is the case that men hold higher positions than women and even when they hold the same position the men end up getting paid more than their female counterparts. Although this is the case more often than not, in modeling the opposite is true. In the article entitled “Gender Imbalance” from the University Observer, Alexander Andrew observes the differences between the roles of males and females in the fashion. Andrew elaborates on this point in his article when he mentions: “By solely inspecting the modeling aspect of fashion, one can see that male and female models contribute equally, and yet women are more highly revered and thus better paid. According to Forbes Magazine, “A top male model may take home anywhere from $200,000 to $500,000 annually, but most make a less glamorous living from catalog [sic] work.” This sounds like an impressive figure until you consider the fact that the top-earning female models are making millions. Gisele Bündchen earned an estimated $45 million last year alone – a startling statistic for a generation that has been raised to accept and push for equality.” This statistic manifests how significant this gender inequality is in the realms of fashion. This simple fact calls into question many other aspects of gender equality within the fashion industry. Unequivocally there is a significant equality problem prevalent in the world of fashion. Although, the stereotypical leader of an industry is male, this is not the case when it comes to fashion. From models to editor in chiefs of the largest magazines, women have become superior to men. Not only do women dominate in this particular industry but they also have come to represent fashion in our modern day culture. Although, there are many people who criticize this gender inequality, there are also people who encourage it, holding the opinion that since men dominate almost every other industry, there should at least be one where women can be dominant. So who is right? In the article entitled Social Media in the Egyptian Revolution:Reconsidering Resource Mobilization Theory, Nahed Eltantawy and Julie B. Weist manifest the many obstacles faced when organizing a social movement. Social change does not occur over night and takes a countless number of effort, time and dedication to a certain cause. In the article Eltantawy and Weist explain, in great detail, how the resource mobilization theory plays key role in achieving social change. Using the Egyptian Revolution as an example, Nahed Eltantawy and Julie B. Weist prove how social media and the Internet have acted as the resource through which the Egyptian revolution was able to occur.
In order to understand how social media and the Internet have influenced the protests in Egypt one must first understand the Resource Mobilization Theory. According to Eltantawy and Weist the Resource Mobilization Theory is one that “is based on the notion that resources—such as time, money, organizational skills, and certain social or political opportunities—are critical to the success of social movements. At its inception, resource mobilization theory was unlike earlier theories of collective action in its treatment of social movements as normal, rational, institutionally rooted activities that are structured and patterned, thus allowing for analysis in terms of organizational dynamics,” (Social Media in the Egyptian Revolution 1209). Organizing is always a difficult task. Whether its planning a best friends birthday party or holding a school field trip, there are always so many details that must receive attention. On the other hand, now imagine, instead of rounding up a group of friends for a birthday party or a classroom of kids for a field trip, you are in charge of rounding up a whole city or town for an organized protest. Although this may seem like it would be impossible, the Egyptian people were able to do it. However without social media and the Internet none of the social movements would have been possible. Undoubtably, social movements did occur without the use of social media and the Internet. However, in today’s day and age the Internet has come to play a huge part in today’s society. As Eltantawy and Weist point out “Resource mobilization theory makes clear that both the availability of resources and actors’ efficacy in using them effectively are essential. In addition to resources like a motivated citizenry and the availability of transportation to gather in mass, a significant resource for the Egyptian revolution that was utilized effectively was social media,” (Social Media in the Egyptian Revolution 1210). Since the Internet has become so dominant in our every day lives it has become an effective way to connect with others. Furthermore, the people involved in the Egyptian revolution saw the potential that social media had to organize a group of people. As more people began to use social media as a way to bring people together social movements started to reach new levels of effectiveness. In the opinions of Elantawy and Weist, the most significant thing “about the use of social media in the Egyptian revolution is how it changed the dynamics of social mobilization. Social media introduced speed and interactivity that were lacking in the traditional mobilization techniques, which generally include the use of leaflets, posters, and faxes. For instance, social media enabled domestic and international Egyptian activists to follow events in Egypt, join social-networking groups, and engage in discussions,” (Social Media in the Egyptian Revolution 1213). Unequivocally, the usage of social media and the Internet, for the purpose of reaching a large amount of people is a process that has been developing for several years. However, as demonstrated by the Egyptian people, social media encompasses the potential for social change. Making my ethnography movie has so far been going really well. I have already conducted two of the interviews and only have one left to tape. In regards to the interviews I have a good amount of material to work with. I really have enjoyed getting this type of hands on experience by interviewing the female fashion bloggers at Emory. I think that making this movie has actually been a very fun learning experience for me, especially because I feel that I can relate to the people I am interviewing. I think they all are very talented fashion bloggers and I am really interested in learning about their opinions; and I especially want to find out what their views on the ways women are portrayed by both the fashion industry and the media. I plan to ask what type of message they think this sends to all women of society.
I have also done some research about some of the gender inequality in the fashion industry, which is what one of my critical mini-essays is about. So far in my research I have learned about how much women have come to dominate the fashion world, especially in modeling. Furthermore, my research has focused on how male models are extremely underrepresented and sometimes even discriminated against in the realms of fashion. For the other one of my critical mini essays I have decided to research and write about how fashion affects a persons’ gender identity. We live in a society in which our clothing can say a lot about who we are, especially when it comes to gender. Almost all of clothing, shoes and accessories are either designed to be gender specific. Articles of clothing are made distinctly for men or distinctly for women. Therefore, clothing has come to influence the way a person defines him or herself. This, many times, causes a problem for people who do not fit a certain gender definition or know what exactly their gender identity is. These are the people who are discriminated against by the fashion industry. People who consider themselves transgender or gay fall victim to who they want to be and who society wants them to be. I have asked the two people I have interviewed about this and I am extremely excited to share their points of view. So far, I have gotten a good sense of what direction I want to go with my ethnography about Communities making media. Female fashion bloggers at Emory University is the “community” I have chosen to write about. So far I have three interviews lined up and I have prepared different questions for each individual girl and interview. All of the girls I intend to meet with write for the fashion blog called hercampus.com. During our interviews I plan to ask the girls questions about the fashion website and their experience with blogging as well as questions such as what type of person is part of their blogging “community” and what type of audience do they try to reach with their blog. Additionally, I plan to ask the girls about their opinions about the ways in which women are portrayed by the media, especially in the fashion industry. I would like to find out what each of girl thinks about the types of messages these types of portrayals send. Furthermore, I would like to know if the Emory fashion bloggers see the fashion industry’s presentation of women as a negative or positive thing and their reasoning behind it. Not only would I like to know if their opinions about this matter but, I would also like to ask the girls to talk about how hercampus.com portrays women and how they feel they portray women in each of their blog posts’.
I have also been researching the fashion industry and the ways in which they present women to the general public. So far my research has shown that the fashion industry has greatly influenced the way in which women are seen by society as well as the way in which they see themselves. The fashion industry undoubtedly has created this unrealistic image of what they think women should look like. However, this image is unattainable. Although super models do not look like the average person, the fashion industry has made them into icons representing what all women should look like: tall, thin and flawless. Evidently, nobody is flawless, including super models, but since the fashion industry has made these images so prevalent in society, people have come to acknowledge and validate the images and what they stand for. Unequivocally this is a very pressing issue in our culture and society. Therefore, with my ethnography I intend to compare the ways in which hercampus.com fashion blog portrays women through media with the ways in which the general fashion industry portrays women through media today. Throughout history, technology and media become increasingly more significant in our everyday lives. With its endless possibilities, technology has given so many people the opportunity to make a difference in the world. Two of the readings for this weeks blog post focus on and delineate how media making has not only been shaped by popular culture but has also affected popular culture as a whole. Furthermore, both readings reference specific cases in which technology and media making has impacted greater society. In the first few paragraphs of Confronting the Challenges of Participatory Culture: Media Education for the 21st Century, Henry Jenkins writes of several individuals who have not only used technology and media in novel ways but have also used it to make a difference. One individual Jenkins writes about is Heather Lawver. Lawver is an early teen who created a computer program, through a fictional online world, that has helped young kids better their reading and writing skills and has been adopted by many school teachers across the globe. Other children that Jenkins mentions who have influenced society through technology and media are Blake Ross and Josh Meeter. Blake Ross, as a teenager had developed one of the most widely used Internet browsers that is still used today called Firefox. Similarly, Josh Meeter who, before even graduating high school, created a clay animation for Awards showdown that was hosted on Stephen Speilbergs website; Josh today has even begun to work on making his very own film. All of these kids and their use of media, as Jenkins tries to display, have made contributions to our culture and our world. Jenkins proposes that: “Lawver, Ross, and Meeter are the future politicians, activists, educators, writers, entrepreneurs, and media makers. The skills they acquired–learning how to campaign and govern; how to read, write, edit, and defend civil liberties; how to program computers and run a business; how to make a movie and get it distributed-are the kinds of skills we might hope our best schools would teach.” Further elaborating on this idea that media influences society, Jenkins points out that through technology a type of “Participatory Culture,” has developed and flourished, especially amongst today’s youth. This culture is defined as one that encourages creativity, innovation and exploration through the media and has proven to impact our society in so many ways. Jenkins claims that: "Media systems consist of communication technologies and the social, cultural, legal, political, and economic institutions, practices, and protocols that shape and surround them. [Therefore] participation is a property of culture. Participatory culture is emerging as the culture absorbs and responds to the explosion of new media technologies…[and] our goals [as a society] should be to encourage youth to develop the skills, knowledge, ethical frameworks, and self-confidence needed to be full participants in contemporary culture." Similarly, in the chapter “Cesar Chavez, the UFW and Star wars” in the book Race After the Internet, Curtis Marez talks about how George Lucas created films that greatly impacted and reflected the cultural chaos going on in California during the 1940s until the 1970s. As Cesar Chavez protested the dangers of pesticides used on fruits as well as the unfair treatment of labor unions by large farming industries, Lucas created movies and films that told stories about the hardships faced by people, that closely resembled Chavez and other activists. Through media and film making, Lucas was able to educate the rest of the world about the horrifying events going on in California. Not only did the success of Lucas’ films educate people but they also paved the way for Lucas’ efforts in building the School of Cinematic Arts at USC, dedicated to Cesar Chavez. This program will help open many doors and opportunities for students to create media in ways that,have impacted our society and culture just as Lucas had done.
Unequivocally, both Jenkins and Marez manifest the ways in which media and technology has and will to continue to, pave the way for kids to influence the world with innovation and creativity. |