Unit 2 Reflection.

1.      CRITICAL INSIGHT.

In this second unit I explored the world of the pop culture. If I define pop culture I will says that is a collection of objects, people, places and events that represent our popular society.  PC is compound by thoughts, ideas, attitudes, perspectives preferred by the mainstream population; A sort of common denominator. You can find PC in everywhere, since the PSY video until the grumpy cat on internet. This is something that goes viral. At first look the words popular and culture looks apposite, but if you connects those words as a concept will become the “fabric of our lives”.

Also, in this unit I made a pop star presentation. Steve Jobs, it was fun and recreational made this homework because in the past I knew who Jobs was, but I didn’t know all the potentially that he had. He changes the computer world, and evolved the technology in 1000%. His philosophy is a great role model.  

Then, we made the decade presentation; in my case was the 2000’s decade. It was the first time that we work in teams. In my opinion was a challenging and interesting exposition. I think I enjoyed making it and learning something new.

In addition we made a fads research. I got a lot of new knowledge about the olds fads. It was fun.

2.      AHA MOMENT.

My aha moment was when comprehend that Pop Culture is more than just a college class. Pop culture is “the fabric of our lives”. This is the mirror of our mainstream society. In that moment I understood that everything around us is culture; even the silly cartoon of the Simpsons; all the people, places, objects and events that are influencing in good or bad way our society.   

3.      BUMPER STICKER.

4.      I DID NOT KNOW THAT.

Pop culture is fun, fascinating and is at the center of our lives. Even you can obtain an MBA in a good university.  Pop culture brings us together. The last time that you spoke with your best friend, wasn't pop culture part of that conversation?

2000 's Museum (Team Project)

Full version:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1espcY1S8hNDr9LN0b1gvlLwDWDJHXHzyZtUTQuSmTdg/edit?usp=sharing

 

1960' Fad.

 

Rickie Tickie Stickers:

These were colorful flower stickers. People were sticking these rickie tickie stickers on everything from automobiles, waste baskets, walls, windows, and more.

Smiley faces:

The smiley faces started in 1963. The creator was H.R. Ball. He was working in Massachusetts for an agency when one of his clientele asked him to come up with a way to soothe employees. He was only paid $45 for the drawing, which he never trademarked. The Smiley Face has appeared on millions of items since, including a United States postage stamp.

Pop Star - Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs:

Was an American information technology entrepreneur and inventor. 

He was:

• Co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Apple Inc. 
• CEO and largest shareholder of Pixar Animation Studios.
• Member of The Walt Disney Company's board of directors following its acquisition of Pixar. 
• Founder, chairman, and CEO of NeXT Inc. 

Jobs is widely recognized as a pioneer of the microcomputer revolution.

 

CULTURAL IDENTITY-DIVERSITY MOVIE PROJECT.

CULTURAL IDENTITY-DIVERSITY MOVIE PROJECT.

 “BEND IT LIKE A BECKHAM”.  

  This great multicultural diversity film is about an Indian teenage girl, living in modern-day in London. She is passionate about soccer, but her immigrant parents who follow the Sikh religion and culture, ban her from playing it.

  One of the scenes that caught my attention was the wedding issues; what a wonderful party, looks like an official holiday, and if I be honest I like that tradition, so different at my culture. There is a lot of rituals and steps for the “perfect wedding” (give money to the new husband, house decorates, couple days of party, family authority, tattoos, etc) a huge tradition and really important in their culture.

Unit 1 Reflection

REFLECTION

1. CRITICAL INSIGHT. 

At the beginning I was so concern about this class, I didn’t know what was about. When we start to explore the basic culture terms I learn that I leaved in the mainstream and I didn’t know, and that almost everybody experience the culture shock phenomenon, I learn too that the subculture it’s not something bad or erratic they only are a small groups that have a different behavior from the main groups, and the ethnocentrism doesn’t means the same that the racism, we only need to be able to view and understand the other culture on its own terms and actually this means the cultural relativism.

And if I want live plenty my new adoptative culture I need to understand that the culture is determined for different behaviors; for example in the government, education, business areas, everybody knows that exist rules and we know the reasons of the rules so this is the technical culture, but then we can found the formal culture in the different traditions, arts, rituals that eventually exists rules but we don’t know why; and the last one the informal culture the one that is below the water, no because is bad just because is 99% imitation, no rules no reason just like the friendship or the prays to god. 

It is fun to think that USA is a salad bowl, a lot of cultures, ethnicities in just one country, blending their own culture and the new adoptive culture; I think the huge cultural diversity makes America a great place not only for live also economically, opinion that I share with the writer Richard Blanco in the poem One day, in this beautiful poem we can appreciate the sacrifices, hopes, and feelings that many people have, looking the same objective under one sky, our American sky.     

2. AHA.

My aha moment was when I was reading the articles regarding “Culture Shock”, in all the links explain the concept of culture, the stages and the different feelings that can happen; I remember that I was reading and thinking how the people can feel those all things, and if I’m be honest I can’t believe it; and then I read: …..another feeling can be Anxiety for cleanest, that means the intense desire to have everything clean at home, car etc.…. OMG!! I start to laughing and in that moment I understood why when I came to Chicago (the first months) all the day I just wanted to clean my home, nobody believes me, mi mom was concern about that, even me; I cannot understand was going on, because at my country I hate the cleanup time. So, yes I had culture shock symptoms, but this one was my aha moment. 

3. I DIDN’T KNOW THAT.

How big is the ‘culture shock phenomenon’ which involves an entire science, I mean is a complete and specifically assignment to study. Symptoms, stages and processes that affect a lot of people even to generations and the funny thing is that most people don't even know that it exists and unless is happening to you.

My cultural identity

My Cultural Identity Poster

Full version: http://taniavalle.edu.glogster.com/my-cultural-identity-mexico/

Preview:

CULTURAL IDENTITY POSTER.

(Written explanation)

• 1.      My flag:

Was adopted on September 16 1968, is a vertical tricolor of green, white, and red with the national coat of arms charged in the center of the white stripe.

• 2.      Mexican handcrafts (artesania) and folk art.

Is valued part of Mexico’s national identity. Mexico’s artesanía tradition is a blend of indigenous designs some of the items produced by hand in this country include ceramics, wall hangings, vases, furniture, textiles and much more depending the state of the country.

Two of Mexico's most famous artists are Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. Their paintings include vibrant colors and depictions of life in Mexico.

• 3.      Music.

My country is closely associated with the Mariachi style of folk music. Originated in the state of Jalisco sometime in the 19th century, it involves a group of musicians playing violins, guitars, basses, vihuelas (a five-string guitar) and trumpets and wearing silver-studded charro suits and elaborate hats.

• 4.      Cuisine.

Mexican cuisine is a Unesco world heritage; The variety of food is huge, it depends of the state of the country, but the most popular diet includes corn tortillas, beans, rice, chili peppers and chorizo, a type of pork sausage.  Many Mexicans love spicy food. 

TEQUILA, is a regional specific name for a distilled beverage made from the blue agave plant, made at a 38–40% alcohol content. Mexican laws state that tequila can only be produced in just a couple of Mexico states. Tequila is recognized as a Mexican designation of origin product in more than 40 countries. It is protected through NAFTA in Canada and the United States.

• 5.        Religions of Mexico.

Much of Mexican culture revolves around religious values and the church; around 90 percent of Mexicans identify themselves as Catholic. The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which is celebrated on Dec. 12, is a major Mexican holiday celebrating the appearance of the Virgin Mary to an Indian man in the first year.