Stand up and stand out!!

Growing up, I watched a lot of videos that had girls who looked like they were built to fit a six 6. So I figured, in order for me to make it as a singer or be in a movie, I had to stay skinny. I always wore a size, on bigger than a 5, and was afraid to gain wait. I always knew that I wanted to be famous, somehow whether it be singing, or acting. Watching videos by female artists such as, TLC, Monica, and Destiny’s Child, they inspired me to stay slim because they all had perfect shapes. As I got older, I came to realize that women came in all different shapes and sizes. In 2004, my family was all sitting around the TV watching the 3^rd season of American Idol and there was a contestant named Jennifer Hudson. She wasn’t what society would consider being a models size. She was, in fact, considered to be a full figured woman. At that moment, I started thinking that being different is good. Jennifer won that season of Idol. Nobody looked at her and said, “She’s not a size 6, so her career won’t go very far.” A lot of the media even praised her for standing out. Even though it was only after I had my daughter that I gained my weight, I’m not afraid to embrace it and still want to sing and act. 

Day 8 Pics: Matt Singleton

Day 8 New Response #6 Kevin Scott

Malcolm

jabo

Day #8 Response: Lola Ogbara

There are many stereotypes of African American women such as being Mammy, the Jezebel, or the Sapphire. The "Mammy" is the Aunt Jemima black woman. She is fat, almost a mother earth figure, but she has no sex appeal. She is happy with her life of faithful service to white people. She smiles and laughs. Maybe too much. She has a good heart but she is not particularly bright or even all that trustworthy. In the 1960s the matriarch stereotype took her place, which in turn gave rise to the welfare queen in the 1970s. The "Jezebel" is named after an evil queen in the Bible. She is the loose woman who wants sex all the time. She’s gotta have it but at the same time she uses sex to draw men in to get what she wants. Sometimes it is money. Sometimes it is to destroy them. The "Sapphire" named after a character in “Amos ‘n’ Andy”, always seems to have her hands on her hips while she is running her mouth – putting down her man, making everything into a fight, never taking anything lying down. She is an overbearing, hard and undesirable woman who drives men away – and so winds up alone. Think of Tichina Arnold’s character Pam in “Martin”.

The stereotype that my picture represents is the mad Black woman. I chose this picture because to me, it represents the stereotype of angry Black women. In this movie, "The Diary of a Mad Black Woman", a woman had gotten divorced after years of marriage. She was hurt and because of that, she was angry and skeptical about starting a new relationship with anyone after being committed to one person for so long. In my opinion, not ALL Black women are mad or angry. I myself can prove that stereotype wrong. I am not an angry person, a jezebel, a mammy, or a sapphire and there are plenty other women I know who are not that also. 

Response #6 Malcolm

Music sometimes draws me away from my family. I’m not drawn apart from my friends because most of my friends are usually with me doing music or working on there on projects. Sometimes it just requires you to be alone, time to think and compose work. There are numerous different sound and techniques, and programs to use; it requires a lot of focus can be confusing at times. What to record should here be effects, what style should it be. Then putting yourself into the song what images do you want to convey, what mood do is being set , what do you want the reader to be thinking about after it’s over. That’s what I think about when I do a song. It should be more than just guns drugs and money. That’s not life for everyone and even if it is your life, it’s something deeper always that can touch someone. My family says that when I go to the studio I always do good work but right after, I’m irritable, moody and just a mean person, if the visit was productive or not. I’m just angry after. The studio became an outlet for me; it brings back past emotions and allows me to reminisce on the past, a different me. That’s how I become drawn away from my family, there’s Malcolm the artist, the performer who experienced it all, and lived that life then there’s also the side of me that’s knows the result of that life style. Being in the studio talking about the past emotionally takes me back to where I was, when I was away from my family

day 4 Answer kwamian

I can recall a time someone was using a dishonest method during a test when I put tremendous time and effort in to studying .the teacher was offering a reward for the top five passing students. I study day and night but I still found myself getting frustrated this agitated me. When it came time to take the test I felt very confident in myself, I was sure to pass under any circumstance. When you in a class you may have those can take a test and pass just reading and reviewing their test once. Then you have those who can take a test and pass after reviewing more than once. Then you have those who can’t comprehend very whale and this causes them to cheat. Whale as tired as it sounds its true. I saw at least more than three students who took their notes being very quitly and alert. They were very good at it yes cheating. After the results were published and graded I just knew I had passed the test. As soon as I got that test I almost cried and I almost tore the paper. Because there I was having the confidence bold and strong. Then they drop quickly as a being bonging jumping. I felt a lack of confidence, sad, burden and defiantly disappointed. When I saw the passing grade of someone who hadn’t study putting the work effort in as I had done I knew that there was no way they could have passed. But they did only using the method of great deception which is cheating. I didn’t expose them because they needed it bad, it seem in order for them to cheat. Yes I was discourage but after while I got over it so.but the one who gotten the high score will have a hard time passing in life if they used this method to get by in life.

day 7 jabo

Something that draws me away from my family and friends but not all the time is music because for the last two years my family have went to wisconsin to this big water park and i did not go because i had an show i would like to go with my family but i can not miss an show because I can miss out on an big label my music is more important to having fun at and water i know my mom was mad but this is my life im working to build so i think if you love music you have to put your over fun missing one show you can miss your big break

Day #7 Response: Lola Ogbara

I love to engage in artistic activities such as painting, photography, drawing, etc. Although these activities are fun for me, they don’t have the same affect on my family. It seems to draw me away from my family. Being that I am an artistic individual and very interested in the arts, no one in my family engages in such activity. I feel like I’m alone in the activities that we participate in as a family because no one shares the same feelings as me about art. They would all think it is just nice or cute but that’s as far as it goes.

            As far as friends go, I pick them wisely. Because that, I feel as though my friends and I are on the same page as far as activities we engage in and what we like to do for fun. We are all on the same level, sort of like a “creative posse”. We all share the same artistic views and intellectual innovation. 

            Even though loving to engage in arts draws me away from family, I don’t see myself stopping. In fact, I would engage in these activities more and try to perfect my skill in the arts.  Hopefully in the future my family would be more interested in what I do. Even though they are not as interested in art like me, they still support me more than I can ever ask for. 

Walter Day 7: answer to Ashley's question

            Graffiti has always been a big part of my life next to photography. As a young kid growing up with people who spend there time destroying the city painting every wall, trains, tagging on billboards. Has build me up to a an artistic individual, knowing that painting on private property is against the law made a vandal ready to paint anything in my way. Ever since a youngster I have been fascinated by the color the style the paint creating something that I have never experience. Till this day it has the same impact as when I was a young kid, I have spend some days were all I do is walk around painting walls on scrapping on metal leaving only my name, letting the city know who I am and to show that I am here to cover the city in paint.

            This passion has drawn me away from my family. My parents know I do it and that I enjoy every moment of it. They know it’s a passion for me and that it means a lot as well. But for them knowing this has pushed me away from my family in that sense. They believe it’s a waste of time, that all I am doing is destroying my life doing non-sense. They fight and yell at me they tend to lock me in the house not letting me out, but for what if they know I am still going to be painting. It’s an addiction I tell them it’s a passion. I have spend some nights climbing water tower’s, running from cops, for what they tell me it’s the rush it’s the love its is what I do.  It has  been something that has taking me from society and the world it’s the illegal art that has brought me to be who I am.

Day 7 Answer: Matt Singleton

Something has indeed drawn me away from my family. It’s no longer an issue, but at a time it took over my life. It’s not as serious as what some people might put down, and it’s actually quite embarrassing, but what kept from my family mostly, was video games. I’d say it was probably around eighth grade or freshman year. I’ve had video games all my life, but that was around the time some of the newer systems came out, and the game were pretty intense. At a certain point, I want to say it became addictive, but I think that’s too serious a word for it. The main game that actually caused the damage though, was a PC game called, World of Warcraft. It’s an MMORPG, Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game, which means millions of people can play with each other in massive scale universes. My dad got it for me and my brother around my freshman year, and it started off as an every other day kind of thing. Eventually, as I started progressing through the game, it became more interesting, and much more fun. So then it changed to an everyday kind of thing. Things got progressively more “serious” and I was on about six to eight hours a day, pathetic I know. There were times when my family would want to go out to eat, or go see a movie, and I would say “I think I’m gonna stay here, I have a raid scheduled tonight”. It interfered with my outside life so much, and when I finally started to realize it, I thought “this is stupid, I’m done”. So I stopped for quite a while, and finally started going out and doing “real” teenage things. I eventually got back on the game, but eighty percent less serious about it than I was before. It’s always good to realize the things that take you away from your friends and family, even if it’s something as trivial as video games.

nelson answer day 7

Something that draws me away from my family is my usage of illegal substances.  Being a young teenager, I was peer pressured into trying marijuana. At first I really did not like it for the fact it was looked down upon by a higher, more upscale community.  After a while, I began looking at it as a part of me, which was around the time I finally began to accept it into my life. Since then, I have been a user for about 5 years. I myself see nothing wrong with that because it is almost as bad as a nicotine addiction but not as strong as something like a cocaine habit.  I am in control with the substance although; sometimes it draws me away from my family because I usually exclude them from my daily planner when it is on my schedule.  I usually use it in times of writing or hanging out with my friends.  We all feel very strong towards the substance turning legal one day and hope to be part of a movement, if one is proposed. My friend Anthony wrote a whole paper towards why it should be legal because in high school we had a class called legislation. We wrote laws and had to argue them in class like a debate and he actually had his bill passed to try to become a law (well in high school).  That was such an accomplishment due to the fact that bill had never been passed in the whole time of school. I feel that this substance draws me away from my family, but brings me closer to my friends and what I stand for in life.

I like japans cartoons an I have some friend who like it and some that don’t but I love them but when ever I go to the movie to see them most of the time I end up going alone its cool I guess but it kina hard when u wane talk about them an no one wane heir it but I still find some one to lessen an a lot of time I watch shows that the friends that do watch them have never even herd of like this show called s cty ed its a rely good show grate story line grate fight seines even head nice review but a lot of people never herd of it I like watching the under ground shows be 4 they get big like a show called elfin lead that is a show that I’m sure a lot of my friends wouldn’t watch be cues it a grim show but an a lot of shows I watch are they have the best stories some times some of my friends think I can be a nerd but hey it just me being me

Day 7 answer to Ashley E question kevin scott

When I was younger, around 6 yrs of age I have been with my family, playing, going to the movies, enjoying each others time, just doing what normal families do with each other. When i was 6 that's when i started listening to hip-hop. I grew up listening to rappers like: Nas, Cash money, DA brat and Eve. I never rapped in my life because I've always been singing in a choir at my church for 16 years of my life. listening to hip-hop as a teenager took a big effect on me. I was listening to what everybody else thought was cool. Every rapper that came on the radio was talking about the same thing: Drugs, Money, Cars, and Sex. At 20 i thought to myself why am i listening to this? The only reason i started to want to write music now at 20 is because i'm tired of listening to the same stuff over and over. This is a hobby that has taking me away from my family, for the good because now i can focus on me and thing since day one and that is music.

Day 7 Amanda's response

I consider myself a very helpful person, no matter who it is I try my best to give the best advice I have to offer to enable people to being successful. A very close friend of mine always doubted her instincts to exceeding beyond high school. Her name was Susana; we knew each other for quite some time throughout grammar and high school. I wasn’t until orientation for junior year, that I was informed she’d be in my division until graduation. Our schedules were very similar such as English, advanced algebra with trig and French. Since we knew many of the things we were learning was the exact same, we began to share thoughts and homework responses to each other. However it all changed, Susana and I had a trend to slack off at certain points throughout the year and relied on the other for the answers to our assignments. I stopped copying off of Susana’s work and preceded the assignments the way I thought would be the best way to complete it. During advisor, we would talk about how our day went and then the topic of homework came into tact, Susana stopped doing her homework for the classes we had and I couldn’t believe she was giving up. Instead of letting her figure out the things for herself by getting a failing grade and trying to improve upon her mistakes I made the mistake to let her copy off all my homework. The routine had not changed, she kept copying my work and I felt a sense of guilt every time I let her. Besides having a friend use me to her advantage to pass her classes I was struggling with issues I had with my other classes and it escalated to the point where I wasn’t doing my work. After some time, I stopped giving her work to copy and then focused on my scholastics that I needed improvement on. I realize that there’s so much a person can do to help a friend and it’s up to that person to take initiative to do things for themselves.

Taylor's Question day 7

Everything in life is a competition whether you are a musician, a business man, or an athlete. In Stranger than Fiction there is a section where he discusses the use of illegal substances to gain an advantage in body building competitions. Have you ever had to compete against or witness someone using dishonest method in order to gain an advantage in a competition? If so, what was you opinion of the person? How did it make you feel to know that someone may steal a victory or do better than you just because of dishonest methods?

Ashley Eiland Day 7 Question

In Our America, LeAlan interviews his family and asks them, how has being a reporter changed him. The feedback they give is that being a reporter drew him further away from his family. What is something that you love to do or like to do for fun that draws you away from your family and friends? 

day 6 answer kwamain

The sub culture I belong to is music artist culture,music artist such as performing,singing, producing , writing the following ;rnb,pop rock, aqusitic , hiphop,bluegrass inspirtional music. this broadend my field and extentionate my vocal abilty as well as writing and performing .Their are types of functions I like to do with a group of people when It comes to my subculture.Harmonizing with the people in my subclutre on the types f geners that I previously listed.I aslo love to perform with others in the same subculture as I which are making dance routines which is performing and having a combine writing seesion . I can recall a time when I sanged in my church choir and we all sanged a beatiful 4 part harmony song. the name of the song was called one of these mornings and the other song was called salvtion and glory. what was so sagnifansent about these piecses was the dynamics, range , power , and harmony of all blended voices mixed togther as one. It gave me chills tom the point it made me cry pieces like these are defintly medicine for my spirit.My passion is fullfilled every time I open my mouth singing with others.I also love the performing part bieng a music artist.Thier are the fancy well dressed cordinated apperance with a well put together choreogorphy. When the music sounds off every one is actively moving to the beat in a certain timing and giving speed.In the formations that wer e insturcted and put together ar e a sense of untiy and power .

Answer Day 6 Malcolm

The subculture I’m apart of is as of a skateboarding black kid. Not many African Americans skate board and I’m not looked down at anymore, but respected because I’m different. I not really into big cars and fancy rims, a lot of the thing stereotypically you would think I like. I’m into long boards, fat wheels and cool decks. This doesn’t mean that all my friends like skateboarding or can even skate, but I do it relaxes me, it’s something I wasn’t good at after my first try its something that doesn’t come naturally, to me. I’ve had to work and practice over and over again. As many times as I fell off and it hurt like hell I keep doing it. As many times as classmates laughed and made fun of me for not fitting in to the stereotypes of African American males I still rode it. I also belong to the subculture affectionately called a sneaker freak; I love shoes, different styles colors, brands, just not typical Air Forces and Jordan’s.

Day 6 Answer: Matt Singleton

I can’t recall ever wanting to express my voice through something. Nothing has ever felt that I had some kind of connection with any sort of object, whether it is something as big as a castle, or as small as a baseball. I feel like words get more done than objects. If I had something on my mind that needed getting out, I that I needed to express, to me, it feels much better to speak it. I can’t say I have ever tried to get a meaningful message out to society. I know society probably does need it, but I don’t think I have one, not yet anyways. As I grow older, and more experienced in the world, I believe I will have something to say. Perhaps it will be in some form other than words. Now that I think about it, I honestly hope I do. I think at some point my life will reach a point where I will looks at the deeper side of things, learn to care more about what is going on. I can honestly say that the difference between me now and just 9 months ago is of epic proportions. It was hard for me to care about much of anything that was going on in the outside world. I have learned today that I care much more, and I believe I will help, when the time comes. A message can only be heard if you your voice is loud enough, I literally just thought of that.

Answer Response Day 7-Ashley Eiland

A sub-culture I sort of belong to is Gramps Lil Champs home daycare, which is own by my mom. After school, everyday, I go home to do homework and afterwards I play games with the kids who attend the daycare. Sometimes I take them out to the park or we just walk to the store and talk about what they did while I was gone. I feel more comfortable around the kids, mainly because I have one of my own, which attends Gramps Lil Champs home daycare. Ever since I was little, I loved to be around kids. In April, every year, my family would take trips to Louisville, Mississippi for our annual family reunion. While my mom and aunts stayed over at hotels, I would stay at my aunts’ house with my younger cousins. We would stay up all hours of the night and talk about what has been going on with us throughout our separation from one another. Most of my little cousins look up to me in different ways. Some of them have even gone as far as to say that I’m their favorite. I have spent most of my time being around kids ever since I was young. Living in a house full of kids, everyday is a new surprise. My life never has a dull moment with the kids around. Kids are eye-openers of the world. They show us things that we wouldn’t see for ourselves by looking in the mirror or watching the news. 

Day 6, Amanda response

One of the things I feel is my sub-culture is sports. Swimming is my key to relieve all my stress and aggression that consumes most of my thoughts within my head. It takes a lot for me to lose control and not be able to maintain stability. At that moment I walk a nearby park districts within my neighborhood and swim. When I am extremely stressed out I begin to start swimming at a fast pace without stopping. As I swim I think of trying to run far away and walk through a place where I’ve never been to. Slowly I get at ease and then begin to rest. Swimming from breaststroke I reverse my position and simply lay flat on my back and float in the water. I think swimming is away I can realize everything that bothers me and it is a good tool to feel a sense of freedom from all my worries and feel refreshed.

Walter Day 6. answer to Amanda's question.

 

            Having the passion to do something brings a lot of tension and frustration to oneself. You get to the point were you have no idea if you can go on with it anymore or you begin to ask yourself if the passion you have is even worth it. Everyone has there own hobbies and enjoyments but only a few of these people stand out. These people that I refer to are those who want to make a change in their social life and others. These people are the ones who want to leave their mark in society, taking the risk of showing people who they are and what they want to show. Look at hip-hop who ever took out this culture or the people involved in this made a huge and I mean huge impact in everyone’s life from the breakers to the turntable’s and graffiti and don’t forget the Mc four elements creating something new.

            I myself have always wanted to establish the inner voice I have and show my passion to those who don’t know who I am. I have always wanted to show people my photography I have been on the journey for that one perfect image that will give girls that orgasm and the guys the DAMM SNAP! But what ever that passion is people wanting to leave their mark in the world takes time. At the moment I have nothing that will contribute leaving the world in amazed. For now I am in the journey to find that establishment of WOW!

i wanna be a writer Darius M

I have always wonder how will people remember I would like to be remember as a kind person smart am well rounded an I would riley love to be remembered for my work as a writer of poetry music an story so I got 2 thinking what if I use me imagination an it truly is a gift I have performed my poems in tow slams in two years an one poem at a consort I have performed raps as well its not was cool I have the energy for it just not the love but I love writing both so I have decided to just write them I get to make my mark an make money so that’s how I plan to leave my stake  

Taylor Cole: Answer to Matt

I really wouldn’t say I belong to any sub-culture, but if I had I would say I belong to a rock/sports sub-culture. I am always on the look for new rock talent or the “next big thing”. Also check Chicago sports on a day to day basis to see what’s going on and know if I should look forward to the next season. Recently in terms of music I went to see a relatively unknown band from Australia called Airbourne. Needless to say they will be huge in the near future, if you don’t know who they are look them up on YouTube I highly recommend them. I also have another somewhat unknown band I am going to see on August 15^th, they are from Ireland called The Answer. This will be the second time I see them. The first time was when they opened for ACDC back in October and I was amazed that a talent like them could go unnoticed for so long, again if you don’t know who they are YouTube them and you will not be disappointed. As far as my near religious Chicago sports monitoring the team I follow most is the Chicago Bears. I love football and everything about it, when I found out that the Bears had acquired all-pro quarterback Jay Cutler from Denver a couple months ago my excitement for this season jumped from about a 7 to off the charts. As far as baseball goes I like it until football season starts. to me baseball season ends when football season begins. 

Taylor Cole

Word Count:260

Aaron Patrick Flanagan

Day 6 Answer to Amanda Kevin Scott

We all have a passion for something in life that we want to achieve in our lives, and we want to talk about it but somewhere along the line we want to give up because someone around us or a love one tells us no or what should take place in our lives. I have been listening to hip-hop for years, around the age of 6 and the things that they talked about were drugs, cash, chains, and cars. I want to talk about the youth, family, finding that right person in your life, the things that matter and are the truth. I remember telling my cousins that I wanted to rap and I wrote a song and they laughed at me and said that I sucked. They are use to the street music, the usual. I think there is excuse me I know there is something new i can bring to the table that will speak a different message to our adults and the youth. For that stunt will bring press, critics and fans (whether they love me or not) I will be remembered.

Day 6 Question: Matt S.

one the certain activities this i like to do with a group of people is to be around an lot of people that all make music because i get to see music in another way by me being an rapper i love to hear other people rap you get to see how other person put he or she words together

Day 6 Question: Matt S.

nelson answer to matt day 7

My sub culture consists mostly of listening to different music like hip-hop to classical to emo.  My group have always been different, in my group it is one marine, a skateborder, a video-gamer, a writer, and a producer. The marine is my friend josh, he is very eager towards leaving to serve and is always the most courageous and brave person of the group. The skateboarder is my friend Anthony, one of the most unique yet influential people of the group because he always has different things to bring to the table of life that leads me to think differently.  The video-gamer is my friend Austin, he is the youngest but probably the one with the most potential to become smarter than all of us. He is a little lazy around the edges, but he is a quick learner and can be very clever at different instances.  The writer is myself, I see myself as more of the backbone of the group because I tend to push them to do what they feel is right. I also am the advice giver, and the ambitious one that came from nothing to something. The producer is my friend Anthony, but we refer to him as shorty on account of his lower advantage to growth.  He is probably the most ambitious out of all of us, he tends to focus on the larger objects and shoots straight to it.  He is the main aspect of how this group came to be since me and him were friends before I met the others and the others can say the same.  We all come together and have our own ways of enjoying the time spent together. Each of them make up our subculture and each of them has a big place in my heart, sometimes I tend to be a little more emotional than the others. I think it is because I come from a closer family where we always try to be involved in each others actions, but I equally love them all and I know they all love me as well.

when i younger i use to play the drums for my church . god i love it it was me my cousin james and my cousin mark . we were all around the same age and fight every day about who would play what .james being the oldest he would play the adult choir and mark would play the youth choir and me play the worship team which was kinda the worm up team god it was crazy . every sunday we talk about music all day every day . like the different models of drums , who could do what trick on the set who was the best who the fastest or worst . it was like a club . we always comparing each other work and thought about how we could get better we didnt even care about church.

Malcolm

Aaron Patrick Flanagan

Amanda's question

In the novel, Stranger than Fiction, three men have an ambition to build castles that would signify their legacy as a landmark in the world. Have you ever felt like you wanted to express your voice through something that can generate a message to society and have you remembered?

Kevin Scott day 6

nelson movie poster

Taylor Cole

Day 6 Question: Matt S.

Stranger than Fiction has many culture defining moments. A particular one I enjoyed reading was the Demolition Derby. A bunch of men who come together in costumes and supped up combines ready to destroy the other’s vehicle. It’s not out of anger or hate, but done completely for fun. The Demolition Derby can be defined as a sub-culture. Is there a sub-culture you belong to? Are there certain activities you like to do with a group of people? Whether it be skateboarder, sports jock, video gamer, or clubbing?

Walter Movie Poster

Day 5 response, amanda

I always felt like an outsider when it came to fitting in with a crowd. Many people would stare at me, giving me a certain look to notify their view of who I was. A specific teacher I had during my senior year in high school allowed me to realize my true potential. I have a passion for writing and photographing and she noticed through my daily assignments in her class. English was one of my favorite subjects because it allowed me to express my identity through the characters in every novel read. One day my teacher pulled me aside during class, she came to me asking if I was okay. I knew that I wasn’t but then she figured it out. She says, “I’m going to give you a special assignment, be as creative as can. Choose a topic that you are most interested in and expand your thoughts based on an experience that most defines what you’re passionate about. In addition to that, for every paragraph you write you take must take snap shots of everything that you feel would interpret your voice.” At first I had no what to write about at first, but then I put my hand to paper and everything came out. My essay was based dialogue of processing a good picture through a camera and the text originated a personal experience of mine that changed my way of thinking and changed me in so many ways. The next day I went to class I had a stack of pictures to show my teacher and was sequenced throughout the passage of my experience. I remember tears ran down her eyes because all along she knew what true potential I had. For the rest of the year I continued to take pictures for every assignment she requested and in addition I developed a great portfolio.