Individual Reflection 9-24

As I make my way through readings, I typically take more time to process the information just because of the way I read. Because of this, as I go through the readings I usually rely on underlining main points and terms for me to come back to and re-read. I then write side notes or items I notice and form my own thoughts about off to the side of the paper. I also form guiding questions for me to answer with these ideas. This is the angle I come at with a lot of my history readings that are primary documents, because it takes a moment and sometimes multiple reviews to fully understand the point being presented. These tools allow me to come back to the readings at a later time to cover the main ideas on multiple occasions.

3rd Reader's Blog

Summary:

In these readings, the idea of racial identity is focused on while each author takes different approaches towards the meanings of this subject. Cepeda attributes the rising use of the “N-word” (in hip-hop and Latino communities) to the fact that these communities still feel oppressed and that words like this are products of this inequality, especially among Latino communities themselves. Also pointing out that every expression has potential for ulterior meanings. On the other hand, Gladwell focuses on the idea of racial differences in athletics. He hits the point that generalizing one race into being “better” is simply not possible, there are too many variations and people are too complex to be generalized. He finds that often it is the personal desire and environment in which these athletes come from that influence them the most.

Comment:

The authors of both readings are writing of various firsthand accounts of what they’ve experienced in their lives. Cepeda mentions just walking through her neighborhood that the “N-word” can be heard thrown around multiple times. What I found very interesting was the fact they use it “with no meaning” but also use it against those of darker Latino origins. While both focus on the racial taboos, Gladwell attacks the widely viewed racial differences in sports. I found it interesting he starts off with the genetical variables but continues onto the fact of the environment in which these athletes originate from, with each geographic location instilling different qualities – mentally and physically – in their ways of life.

Questions:

Why does Gladwell include so many possible variables in his answer to the taboos of athletic racial differences? Is it to confuse the reader in a way to make us think, or is it an attempt to break the racial biases people are viewing within this anomaly?

For what reason does Gladwell say in the end of his writing “in some sense, its not a terribly interesting question” about the question of whether blacks are better than whites at sports? Does it discredit everything he wrote about, or does it expand on it that much more?

Individual Writing Activity 9-7

Interacting with others online often requires people to convey themselves and their ideas in ways that they know those who will see it will view it in the intended context. This is similar to writing a piece of literature, as the writer must think about how the reader will view the information being presented. It requires the writer to detach themselves and become their own reader. Similarly to a person presenting themselves online, they must think of how those who will come from different viewpoints and ideas will view the information and form their own thoughts and conclusions about what they read.

2nd Reader's Blog

Summary:

In both readings by Armstrong and Boyd, the main idea of finding a young person’s identity is presented. Armstrong focuses on how teenagers should be a “poser” in order to find out who you truly are. She points out that people are complex, and therefore should try everything, while stressing that you don’t have to belong to just one group. Boyd offers the treacherous struggles of how teenagers conduct themselves in situations, while pointing out the struggles of online networking. The current teenage culture is found to be filled with those who are struggling with self-presentation, and that their information being put forth is often taken out of context, leaving young people to navigate the social world with these added challenges (i.e. school scholarship, girl tagged with beer on social media).

Comment:

Although both readings deal with the idea of identity, they approach this subject with different ideas. Armstrong uses her own personal journal and experiences, along with the use of the second person pronoun, to connect with the readers. Her idea is much more aggressive, saying teenagers should try everything and be uncomfortable to find out who they truly are. Boyd takes a defensive position on the idea of self-presentation online, saying the collapsing of contexts obstructs a young person from presenting themselves in their preferred manner and how they articulate their intended impression (similar to “poser”).

Questions:

Why does Boyd bring to the forefront the idea that young people should not be held to the same standards as adults? In other words, for what reason does she feel so strongly that adults shouldn’t define the context with adult values? Should young people not be held to the same standards just because they are teenagers navigating a complex network?