Solar Mamas (Sumblog 11)

Casey French

 

 

 

This week, we discussed about three theories and applied it to the documentary "Solar Mamas". Modernization Theory is a unidirectional approach to become Western. Dependency Theory refers to a capitalist world where there is winners and loser. World-systems Theory categorizes the world into three zones: core, semi-periphery, and periphery. All of these theories relate to the documentary, because education of Jordan women in India is linked to these perspectives. The Dependency Theory contradicts the Modernization Theory, because it explains that there are multiple directions that a nation can take to become Western. I argue that the women of Jordan are bringing back the knowledge of solar energy to better their situation. It is a step toward modernity, but it is not an absolute. The World-Systems Theory also relates to the documentary because the core, "Western" countries supply the resources to countries in the semi-periphery. By doing so, India was able to educate many Jordan women, who live in the periphery. They are all interconnected. Inequality is a clear theme in "Solar Mamas". Men have control of all facets of Jordan's society. They can make decisions, act independently, have multiple spouses, and dictate their women. It was interesting how she transformed from a submissive wife to one that acted confidently and defied her husband, despite threats of divorce. The only theory I have difficulty with is Modernization Theory...mostly because it's very narrow-minded. Of course, there are multiple ways to reach "civilized" or "developed". I guess it depends on what criteria each nation considers to be "Western". Maybe the "Western" route to modernity is flawed. We all live different realities.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJMiKAPKfOY

 

Here is a short clip of the film directors explaining how addressing these issues promotes global awareness. Getting the message of sustainability out to the world ties with the concept of interconnectiveness.

The Concept of Power (Sumblog 10)

Casey French

 

 

 

In class, we discussed the concept of authority and the three dimensions of power. The Ukraine conflict was my example of how the media perpetuates fear to boost ratings. It is more profitable to create a desired reaction from the viewers. There is a definite disconnect between factual knowledge and the interpretation of a certain topic. Professor Barry showed a chart of where Americans believe Ukraine is located on the map. For me, this was scary. I feel that those that were outside of the "red zone" are uninformed and that the media feeds from this fear. Fear from this conflict contributes to the idea of nationalism, justifying our domination of being a world order. In a sense, the media provides us with information that deliberately targets Russia in a negative light. Granted, there is aggression on both sides, but fear can also be a tool for unity. We discussed how the "American Dream" is a concept that is losing its luster. What unifying force do we have that brings Americans together? We all come from different backgrounds and economic situations. If the "American Dream" becomes the "Denmark Dream" as mentioned in class, what are we left with as a nation? I feel that our country lacks that unifying component that most other autonomous regions have like those in Europe. Our "salad" or "stew" (as Barry would say) would become cold and the nation would fragment. In other words, the media likes the idea of "good" vs. "bad", and having Russia dehumanized is a way for politicians and specific groups to gain leverage to make decisions. Basically, the idea of our country's legitimate domination over the world strives on unification within our borders and the media is very important in distributing knowledge to the masses.

 

 

So I totally stumbled upon this lecture and I know that my Sumblog turned very political, but this short clip demonstrates how power of the United States maintains its domination over other cultures. This lecturer discusses how "power is chaotically distributed" and requires cooperation in order to maintain that authority.

 



Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis (Sumblog 9)

Casey French

 

 

According to the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, "people perceive the world through the cultural lens of language". This semester I am taking a cultural linguistics class and we watched a BBC documentary about how color and space is constructed by language. The way we perceive color and space is based on how we interact and is different from one society to the other. For instance, Russian speakers have two words for blue. They differentiate the two based on dark and light blue. When asked to differentiate two shades of blue, they could easily pick out the odd one. However, our American perception of blue is limited and therefore, it is more difficult for us to distinguish between the two. Based on the experiment, the tribe had difficulty with blues and greens. In a way, language changes the way we see reality. Watch this clip of the experiment being conducted, because it is difficult for me to explain. It's quite fascinating how language may affect how we perceive color.

 

http://vimeo.com/33471433



 

We also discussed about technology and how it creates inequality. An example from the readings is how libraries are tailoring to fit the demand for technological resources. The old and the homeless do not always know how to access information efficiently. In modern society, the demand for technology abilities is a must...Microsoft Word, Email, Adobe Photoshop, etc. I can't tell you how many times teachers stress to put down these abilities in our resumes. Employers look for these skills in order to decide if you are fit for the position. People without that knowledge sets themselves apart from those who do, creating a clear divide to privileges. For some reason, in class I wrote in my notebook "Ron Swanson" and I wanted to show you this clip. This shows how the media benefits from the two-way flow of information from its audience.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1Vc6oJ2qOM

Illegal Immigration (Sumblog 8)

Casey French

 

 

 

On Wednesday, Professor Barry told the class to put a word or phrase that comes to mind in reference to "immigration". This activity was very interesting for me. Many of the words and phrases had a negative connotation attached to "immigration" while others were more sympathetic and historically based. "Ellis Island", "Illegal", "Opportunity", and "Foreign" depict conflicting viewpoints. I found that some of the connotations dehumanized the issue of illegal immigration, making people from Mexico especially feel that their presence in the United States is unwanted. This topic hits me personally, because earlier in the semester, I wrote a personal narrative on my friend who is an illegal immigrant. Throughout his life, he's struggled in so many ways...things many of us take for granted. He couldn't get a job without admitting of his legal status. He can't apply for a drivers license, so he is constantly paranoid that if he gets pulled over, he could face criminal charges. However, it was not his choice to come to the United States. His family moved here when he was young. His childhood is my hometown, not Mexico. If you want to read my personal narrative, here is a link to my friend's story.

 

http://cfren629.blogspot.com/2014/02/illegal-immigration-oppression.html

 

Immigration is a natural right for those looking for better opportunities in the United States. As a country, we should create a fair immigration reform.

 

 

Please watch this video. It will give you a wonderful perspective on how illegal immigration hurts younger generations that live with the stigma of being undocumented.