"I can live with doubt and uncertainty and not knowing. I think it is much more interesting to live not knowing than to have answers that might be wrong" (Richard Feynman)

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Rapping up on Gender: Group 5

One important aspect of gender is to note that it is socially constructed. It is not what was given to you at birth, that would be known as sex. Gender and sex are completely opposite things.

A lot of questions came up that we didn't get to address. For example if a woman had the courage to do "x" would that be considered to be manly? A few other questions came up asking what qualities should we assign to women and men. The simple answer is none, because if we do we are doing the exact thing society is doing. In our presentation our goal was to show the gender stereotypes and how to look beyond them.

The point we are trying to make is, whatever you consider yourself to be and whatever qualities you might have than that is what makes you a man or a woman. You can't let society define who you are otherwise you're not living for yourself.


Here's the video we showed during our presentation in case anyone wanted to watch it again!
Have a great summer!

Diet as a Social Construct

As the semester draws to a close, I've stumbled on an interesting speech by Michael Pollan, entitled "In Defense of Food." He speaks about how the nutritionist movement, which is defined by the quest to quantify the content of food, is a failed one, and how (past) culture is a more reliable indicator of whether or not something is healthy to eat. He touches on many different problems with the current American diet, but one rule, "don't eat anything your great grandmother wouldn't recognize as food," stands out. After hearing this speech, I'm convinced that I need to pick up a copy of his latest book.



Blog By Abe Hedeya

Monday, May 12, 2008

EXTRA CREDIT & FINAL DEADLINES for your work

Helmets on!

For extra credit review all the blog entries I posted since the beginning of the semester (Jan 08). Check out other topics in the LABEL CLOUD above as well.

Review them and write a one page paper (double-spaced) or simply comment below regarding this post.

Share what you got from reviewing all this material. What you can learn from blogging on cultural anthropology and/or what you've been missing from not reading the blog and/or commenting during the course? How does blogging contribute to the learning process in a cultural anthropology course?

This was due by the last day of class. I have extended the deadline to Friday May 16th.

What do you think the image of the cat with a fruity helmut has to do with extra credit? Nothing. But it got your attention! Right?

DEADLINES
  • Due Wed May 14th - 500 word essays (submit on Blackboard Discussion Board or paper copy to VC 4-280)
  • Due Fri May 16th - Extra credit on blog (post a comment below after reviewing semester's posts)
  • Due Tue May 20th - Final ethnography including consultant's editing and suggestions (submit as attachment on Blackboard Discussion Board)

Sunday, May 11, 2008

The Evolution of Race and Ethnicity in the US Census

For my group project we decided to show the evolution of race and ethnicity in the United States by asking the class to fill out a census from 1880 and a census from the year 2000. In doing so, students will be able to see how the United States takes into account race and ethnicity differently than it did in the past.
The first thing to take into account is the question that were asked.

In 1880 the census wanted to know
a. Your color: White, Black, Mulatto, chinese, or Indian
b. Nativity: place of birth of the person and parents

In 2000 the census wanted to know
a. Is this person Spanish/Hispanic/Latino?
(Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Other
b. What is this person's 1st race.
(White, Black, American Indian, Asian Indian, Japanese, Korean...)

The first interesting thing to note is the change from the emphasis on color to the emphasis on Race.

The second interesting thing to note is the change from the term nativity to specifying ethnicity.

The third interesting thing to note is that the US has not deterred itself away from race even though it is inappropriate. The US composition of people are not Black or White. They are part of a background, an ethnicity be it specific or just plain American.

Monday, May 5, 2008

Pangea Day - Baruch College

Pangea Day @ Baruch College May 10, 2008
2:00 – 6:00pm EDT
Newman Vertical Campus Rm 3-160

Click icon for more info>>>

Join us for Pangea Day at Baruch College hosted by Professor Kyra D. Gaunt, jointly appointed in Fine and Performing Arts, Sociology/Anthropology and Black and Hispanic Studies, as part of the Friends of Pangea Day programming. As one of the most diverse institutions in the U.S. it is perfect that Baruch host the global event known as Pangea Day (http://www.pangeaday.org) bringing the world together through film. In a world where people are often divided by borders, difference, and conflict, it's easy to lose sight of what we all have in common—what Professor Gaunt calls the "remarkable oneness of humanity".

In 2006, filmmaker Jehane Noujaim won the TED Prize (http://www.ted.com/index.php/pages/view/id/6), an annual award granted at the TED Conference (www.ted.com). She was granted $100,000, and more important, a wish for the world. Her wish was to create a day in which the world came together through film. Pangea Day grew out of that wish. Watch Jehane Noujaim’s 2006 acceptance speech now http://www.pangeaday.org/?vid=2.

Starting at 18:00 GMT (2:00pm EDT) on May 10, 2008, locations in Cairo, Kigali, London, Los Angeles, Mumbai, and Rio de Janeiro will be linked for a live program of powerful films, live music, and visionary speakers. The entire program will be broadcast – in seven languages – to millions of people worldwide through the Internet, television, and mobile phones. Some people will drive miles to watch, and others will just turn on their television sets. Some will wake up before the sun has risen, and others will stay up through the night.

The 24 short films to be featured have been selected from an international competition that generated more than 2,500 submissions from over one hundred countries. The films were chosen based on their ability to inspire, transform, and allow us see the world through another person's eyes. Details on the Pangea Day films can be viewed at
http://www.pangeaday.org/pangeadayFilms.php

The program will also include a number of exceptional speakers and musical performers. Queen Noor of Jordan, CNN's Christiane Amanpour, musician/activist Bob Geldof, and Iranian rock phenom Hypernova are among those taking part.

Pangea Day will be a moment in history. Join us and watch on May 10th.
Local day/time: May 10, 2008 2:00 – 6:00pm EDT
Location: Newman Vertical Campus Rm 3-160

This event is free and open to the Baruch College community and their families.

For more information: Kyra Gaunt (646) 312-4446 kyra_gaunt@baruch.cuny.edu

Sunday, May 4, 2008

The World System and Colonialism - Chapter 10

Following are the links, videos and images used to illustrate colonialism (and postcolonialism), and the world system today.

Link to the timeline of English rule and colonism in Ireland. http://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/SchoolofEnglish/imperial/ireland/timeline.htm

Northern Ireland Conflict (Postcolonialism).



Child Labour



The International Economy - Outsourcing



Blog by Group 1.