Hello folks.
For anyone who knows or doesn't know Dar Williams, she is an incredible songwriter and hits on all of the topics that people don't want to talk about!
I had my iTunes playing and this song came on. I have heard it plenty of times, but I payed much more attention to it this time and it's a really great song.
Thought I'd share!....
When I grew up, well it felt great
I watched how others took their fate
Some felt afraid and undefended, so they got mean
And they pretended what they knew made them belong more than you.
I'm sure you know there's lots to learn
But that's not your fault, that's just your turn, yeah, yeah
Teenagers, kick our butts, tell us what the future will bring
Teenagers look at us, we have not solved everything
We drink and smoke to numb our pain
We read junk novels on the plane
We use authority for show so we can be a little smarter
We still can grow, and many do
It's when we stop we can't reach you
We feel the loss, you feel the blame
We're scared to lose, don't be the same, hey hey
Teenagers, kick our butts, tell us what the future will bring
Teenagers look at us, we have not solved everything
The hometown brought its hero in
To speak at the high school gym
He took a breath, he took a chance
He strode up in his leather pants
And said, "Gee, thanks... but
I'm here today because I fought for what I felt and what I thought
They put me down they, were just wrong
And now it's they who don't belong, oh, oh
Teenagers, kick our butts, tell us what the future will bring
Teenagers look at us, we have not solved everything
And when the media tries to act your age
Don't be seduced, they're full of rage
Find your voice, do what it takes
Make sure you make lots of mistakes
And find the future that redeems
Give us hell, give us dreams
And grow and grow and grow
And someday when some teenagers come to kick your butts
Well then like I do try to
Love
Kick our butts
Love
Kick our butts
Oh I love
Kick our butts
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Fast.Forward.
Laura Greenfield's photos very much impressed me. Her photos were very powerful. What struck me is to us, some of these photos such as the thirteen year old weighing herself with her family looking on and the other 13 year olds who were all dressed up and had their hair all done. To us, this may seem crazy and disturbing, but it shines light on the fact that this is reality to many people. Greenfield says in her artist statement, "They are disturbed by what is exotic and what is familiar. They recognize themselves or their children and at the same time insist that their lives and values are not like those represented in the book." This statement did not shock me at all. It actually made me laugh because I think that is exactly how this world works. People are more than willing to point fingers and throw stones, but when it comes to their own lives, they don't want to hear it. They don't want to believe it.
"In recent years, I photographed “Fast Forward” youth in Milan and Shanghai. The young and privileged in Shanghai don’t care about politics or communism but are obsessed with MTV, Fashion TV, Gucci, and L.V. (Louis Vuitton). Milanese youth don cutting edge hip-hop fashion originated by the inner city and perfected by haute couture designers. Fourteen-year old Italian girls wear thongs deliberately hiked up over their low-riding pants and rip revealing holes in their jeans. They go out to discos on school nights and dance to American hip-hop and electronica until dawn." I particularly enjoyed this part of her artist statement because we as Americans know what the norms are for the most part throughout our country, but it is interesting to hear about what teenagers are doing and are like in other parts of the world. I am spending some time in Italy and Switzerland this summer and am very interested in seeing the teenagers there and how they are similar and/or differ from our teens here.
"In recent years, I photographed “Fast Forward” youth in Milan and Shanghai. The young and privileged in Shanghai don’t care about politics or communism but are obsessed with MTV, Fashion TV, Gucci, and L.V. (Louis Vuitton). Milanese youth don cutting edge hip-hop fashion originated by the inner city and perfected by haute couture designers. Fourteen-year old Italian girls wear thongs deliberately hiked up over their low-riding pants and rip revealing holes in their jeans. They go out to discos on school nights and dance to American hip-hop and electronica until dawn." I particularly enjoyed this part of her artist statement because we as Americans know what the norms are for the most part throughout our country, but it is interesting to hear about what teenagers are doing and are like in other parts of the world. I am spending some time in Italy and Switzerland this summer and am very interested in seeing the teenagers there and how they are similar and/or differ from our teens here.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Seeing Social Class
It took me a bit to get into it, but eventually I was indeed sucked into the life of Lee and the story of "Prep." What I enjoyed and appreciated was that I think whoever is reading this, can relate to in one scenario or another. It opens with Lee running out of her class after having presented on a topic that the person before her had just done. We all have felt that embarassment and panic mode that she went into.
This story also touches on economic, social, and cultural capital. Economic capital is touched upon in one area of the school itself costs $20,000. This also could be considered social capital, as well. Social capital is based on who you know, your class and status, the family you come from, etc. With tuition for this private high school being $20,000, one may assume that the families of these students are wealthy and in high places in our society and how we judge class. Cultural capital also plays a part--and an important one at that. Cultural capital is about the dominant culture and access to that. Social skills, knowledge, rules of power, etc..all of these things are central to the idea and practice of cultural capital. It appears as though Lee has not been "educated" so to speak, on cultural capital. She is an outsider and awkward. She doesn't fit in with the other students and can't seem to find her nitch/place in the not only the school, but the world. It almost puts into perspective how important cultural capital is to our society, no matter what age you are.
This story also touches on economic, social, and cultural capital. Economic capital is touched upon in one area of the school itself costs $20,000. This also could be considered social capital, as well. Social capital is based on who you know, your class and status, the family you come from, etc. With tuition for this private high school being $20,000, one may assume that the families of these students are wealthy and in high places in our society and how we judge class. Cultural capital also plays a part--and an important one at that. Cultural capital is about the dominant culture and access to that. Social skills, knowledge, rules of power, etc..all of these things are central to the idea and practice of cultural capital. It appears as though Lee has not been "educated" so to speak, on cultural capital. She is an outsider and awkward. She doesn't fit in with the other students and can't seem to find her nitch/place in the not only the school, but the world. It almost puts into perspective how important cultural capital is to our society, no matter what age you are.
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