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[the-goblin-speaks]

Reflection Journal #5

I’m a sophomore, so this is my 3rd pandemic semester of college. It may sound weird, but I don’t think COVID has really impacted my college experience very much, the only difference is that I have to wear masks, which I don’t really care about. I guess it sounds apathetic to talk about a deadly pandemic so casually, but its been going on for so long. Life goes on, I guess.

My Gen-eds have been kind of stressful since theres so many assignments to do, but all the work has made me build up a good work/study schedule, something I could never get myself to do in the past. I don’t really know how FSC could make changes that would help me in academics, but I do wish they would provide better food options and get rid of all the black mold in the dorms. I can’t say those changes would help my grades, but they would probably help the students maintain good health. 

Mentally, I’m doing okay (a lot better than last semester) so I’m grateful for that. I changed my major to art so I’m having fun in my drawing class even though its pretty difficult and time-consuming. I think my improved mental health is also partly due to the fact that my professors are all very understanding and kind this semester. No deadline is immovable, and no absence is detrimental to my grade. It’s nice, and lets me relax a little. I usually don’t turn things in late or skip class, but knowing that a small slip up won’t be the death of me is nice. 

[the-goblin-speaks]

Journal #4

What aspects of the course are working? What do you enjoy so far?

So far I’ve enjoyed many of the articles we’ve had to read since they’re very insightful and helpful for understanding the course content. I also enjoy listening to our class discussions since we’ve created a bit of a no-judgement zone where people can freely express their ideas.

Do you have a better understanding about assignments (reading and writing) now that I have opened the "Assignments" tab? What else can I do to help you in this area?

I much prefer this method of organization to the previous one. I like how I can see the readings right on the calendar, making it easier for me to keep track of. It’s easier for me to remember that something is due on Friday than trying to remember a specific date.

What aspects of the course would you like to change and why? Offer specific suggestions for improvement. (I'm especially interested in other discussion strategies and in-class writing help for all of you.)

I think that focusing a bit more on lecture rather than discussion could be helpful. Although I love the discussions and think they’re working well, sometimes I feel as though many students don’t feel confident enough with the subject matter to comment. I think that in-class lecture rather than readings would help this a bit.

[the-goblin-speaks]

Journal #3

When I read Siobhan Hegarty’s “When the lines between offensive comedy and off-limits jokes are blurred,” I found the comparison of comedy to nuclear power very interesting. The article quotes Jessica Milner Davis, the coordinator of the Australasian Humour Studies Network and an honorary associate at the University of Sydney, who makes this comparison. "You can use it for good or you can use it aggressively to hurt people," she points out. I’ve noticed the positive and harmful uses of comedy before, but the specific comparison to nuclear power was new to me. However, Davis goes on to describe a facet of the discussion I had never considered. She believes the latter category — humour that hurts people — can actually yield a positive effect. "Within a small group, joking about people outside that group actually has a very bonding effect, [it] brings people together," she says. It kind of makes sense to me, but at the same time I fear that the quote could be easily taken out of context to excuse bigotry. I thought about this concept quite bit, trying to think of examples for when this could apply. It was challenging, but I feel like it mostly applies to minority communities. I would be lying if I said I’ve never bonded with fellow people of color while making fun of white people. However, when you’re “punching up” in this sense I’m not sure if it actually is hurting anyone. It’s tricky. I’d like to discuss this topic in class and learn more about it from different points of view. 

The transition from discussing concepts (i.e. white privilege, systemic racism, microaggressions) to application of them by viewing comedy has helped me understand these concepts because by the time we started watching the skits, I knew what to look for. Before being introduced to the concepts, I would usually see something distasteful but lack the vocabulary or background knowledge to verbalize why the content made me uncomfortable. Now, I have a good enough understanding to discuss the topics in the comedy specials with people. 

[the-goblin-speaks]

Intersectionality and the Model Minority Myth

Have you ever heard of the term "intersectionality"? What might be useful about this concept in helping you understand the topics we're discussing in this class? How might it help you understand the complexity of racism? Do you have any reservations about this concept? Does it seem confusing to you? Be specific.

Before today’s class, I had heard of the term “intersectionality” thrown around quite a few times in progressive spaces, but I never fully understood what it meant. Now that I’ve been made aware of it’s true definition, I can start to grasp why it is so useful in helping us understand the complex topics we’re discussing in class. When talking about systems of oppression, we cannot treat every experience as a one-size-fits-all kind of deal, broadly generalizing a marginalized group’s experiences as one and the same. The reality of the matter is that people are often disadvantaged by multiple sources of oppression, and the nuances of these interlocking identities need to be addressed in conversations regarding social justice. 

What is the Model Minority Myth? In what ways is it harmful to Asian American people? Were you aware of this myth? Is it one you believe(d) in and weren't aware of it? How do you respond to Canwen Xu's TED Talk?

The Model Minority Myth is the idea that Asian Americans are free from concerns that plague other minorities (e.g., employment) and have all succeeded through hard work, determination, and commitment to education. The idea has been perpetuated not only to serve the concept of the “American Dream,” but also to pit marginalized groups against each other. A common argument is that because Asian Americans have seen success in their careers, black and hispanic people must not be working hard enough in comparison. This notion not only greatly harms people in the black and hispanic communities, but also harms the asian community as well. Because of their assumed academic aptitude, asian people face harsher standards when it comes to education and test scores, causing them to receive less aid throughout their academic endeavors. The myth also perpetuates racism. Asian Americans are viewed as perpetual foreigners who came to the U.S. to live out the American dream, keeping them from ever becoming "true" Americans. It also prevents allyship with other communities of color who do not have the same privileges Asian Americans are perceived to possess due to this myth. Canwen Xu’s TED Talk was very interesting to me because of the way she started her speech, describing herself using various stereotypes and then asking how long it took the audience to realize she was joking. It made me realize that these stereotypes are so covertly ingrained into the minds of Americans, more hidden than those of other racial groups, that many people don’t even realize the prejudices they have.

[the-goblin-speaks]

First Post!! :)

Hello blog! I’m Sarah Conte from Sarasota, Florida and I’m a Studio Art major. Of course, I thoroughly enjoy drawing in general, but more specifically I’m into making comics and short animations. I recently switched into the Art Major from Musical Theatre, so I love performing onstage as well. This semester, I’m mostly looking forward to exploring more complex and heavy topics in my Writing About Race & Pop Culture class, not only because it will broaden my horizons in regards to the experiences of people in marginalized groups other than the small communities I take part in, but also because having this more educated view on human relations may help influence and better my art. When writing a story, I like to prioritize creating a diverse cast of characters, but find it difficult to portray experiences that differ too greatly from my own. My favorite show of all time is Avatar: The Last Airbender because of its masterful worldbuilding and loveable cast of characters, and I hope to create something like it someday. I’m pretty decently active on social media, since I post some of my art on Tik Tok and Instagram, but my personal accounts are a bit inactive because I hate taking pictures of myself. Besides all of this, my main two personality traits are watching anime and liking the color green. I actually dyed my hair red because I wanted to look like my favorite anime character.