Whos in my group??????

Wasnt in class wednesday
woundering if anyone knows who is in my group

Stranger with a Camera

1. How did Hugh O'Connor's daughter find peace with her father's death? Wouldyou have felt the same?

She found peace with her fathers death because she learned more about his killer. She knew the man (i forgot his name) was from Kentucy and lived in a very poor part next to the mines. He felt that what her father and his crew were doing was wrong. he felt that they were making fun of him and his people and taking pictures to expoliate them. Realizing how this man felt when her father was on his land, she understood why he pulled the trigger. O'Connor's daughter learned more about the man and his background and i believe that is why she found peace with her fathers death.

2. Barret says that some filmmakers "wanted to show that contrast [between those who prospered from coal mining and those who didn't] to bring about socialchange. Others mined the images the way the companies had mined the coal."What does that say about the power of the visual image? What (if any)responsibility do filmmakers have toward their subjects?

The power of image can say a lot. A picture is worth a thousand words. people can take a picture of a scene and leave out certian parts to create a whole different meaning. One thing that the people didnt like was that the pictures made them look bad. They had taken pictures of kids bringing muddy water up to their face. it made the kids look like they were starving but really they were well feed. Film makers do have responsibility to what they capture on the camera, but they do not have responsibility of what people think about it. They have the choice to film what they want and how they want to. it is their responsibility to capture a certain image they are after, and make it look a certain way; althought they do not have any responsibility of how it is viewed by others.

3. Colin Low, director of the Canadian Film Board, said the camera is invasive,exploitive and like a gun because it's threatening (42:23). What does he mean bythat statement? What are some specific steps you can take as aphotographer/filmmaker when photographing a sensitive subject or social issueto make the camera less exploitive and invasive?

A camera is threatening because it captures things how they really are. it shows the public how things are. it can hurt someones reputation because it is a form of evidence. it is also threatening because it can capture moments that shouldnt be captured. For example capturing a celebrity at a bad moment or like the kids bringing the mud up to their face. its hard to control what people think about something. I guess just be careful what you shoot on film.

Artist Statement

This project is basically a series of sketches to help people understand what the teardrop tattoo really represents, and how people are miss interpriting it. What I did was made a sketch book. The first page is a series of teardrops explaining what the true meanings of the tattoos actually are. The second page shows two gang members with the tattoos. It then describes what the tattoo means to a gang, and how gangs can distinguish things about that person. The third page is the prison page. It explains the meaning of the tattoo in jail, and how jail birds get the tattoo to show other prisioners intimidation. The forth page shows a mallot and the American flag in the background. It then explains court cases that have gone wrong because the person being convicted had a teardrop tattoo. The court looked at the tattoo as evidence, in some cases, and judged that person because of it. Lastly, the fifth page has several drawings on it. on the top of the page shows a business man who got the tattoo because he thought it would look cool. A gang member came up to him and put a gun up to his face demanding what the man represented. The next picture shows a college mascot dressed up as a gangster with the tattoo. It then explains how the college had to publicly appologize for the mascot. The last picture is the album cover of Lil Wayne's cd. Its a picture of a baby tattooed with the teardrops. I explained how it is sending a negitive image to his fans and how they will see it as a cool thing instead of what it truely represents.

This was difficult for me at first, because my first idea was just to draw a person with a teardrop tattoo and explain it. I was told it wasn't enough. I had to think further. I was unsure of how to make it work until the teacher suggested writing along with the sketches. Thats when I decided that a series of drawings with writing next to them would be a better way to explain the negitivity of the tattoo, and how people are miss representing it. I decided to start the sketch book off with the meanings, starting off with the actual tattoo, then moving on to gangs, prisioners, and then wraping it up with how it has affected people in court, college, and how celeberties are representing it.

I chose teardrop tattoos because I myself was interested in it and wanted to learn a little more about it. I also knew that people were getting it for other reasons when it can hurt them in the long run. Gangs, prisoners, and the public all take offense to this tattoo. It can be very dangerous especially it someone is miss representing it.

I chose to draw sketches because I'm not that great of an artist and wanted some more practice. I guess I was in the mood to draw. I turned it into a sketch book because of the fact that I couldn't use just one picture to get my full message across. I think it worked out well for me in the end.

How do others see us? How do we see ourselves? How do we identify and think about ourselves? How do we compose our identity? How do others compose their identities?

These were the questions I decided to respond to. Others see us in many ways. Apperance is everything. People automatically make judgements about someone just by passing them in the street. What we wear and how our body language is makes a huge statement to the person that sees you. For this particular group, others see these people as dangerous and trouble. Because of the meanings of the tattoo, one will believe a series of things automatically such as they are members of a gang, they went to jail, and have murdered someone. That is not someone that one would just randomly approach.

We see ourselves as who we are. We know what we represent and what we believe in, but sometimes it's not clear to the population. We identify ourselves with tattoos, clothing, peircings, and the such. Individuals fit into subcultures and these subcultures have their own styles. For the teardrop tattoos these people know that they are representing something dangerous. They know what they have done and are purposly making it known. They want to come off as intimidating and dangerous. This is how people compose their identity. They wear things to represent or make a statement. The teardrop is a identity by itself becuase it is already assumed to be a gang member. But then there are also the people who have no clue as to what the tattoo stands for, and get it in spite of a loved one or a fashion statement.

The whole meaning of the piece is to just make others aware of the true meanings and to know how people miss represent it. It can be a very dangerous thing when approached by someone who actually represents it correctly. People have been murdered, court cases have lost due to the tattoo, and people have had the tattoos skinned from their bodies because they are claiming something their not.

This project doesnt relate to any of the ones that were shown in class by what the artist decided to do. Instead it relates to the topic of truely understanding a culture. Instead of fallowing someone, I sketched the culture.

I believe my strenghts are that I got the message out as good as I could with sketches. I believe people will understand what I am trying to explain. I also believe that people will be more aware of the decisions they decide to make, because this tattoo could be dangerous.

I believe my weaknesses are that explaining it verbally helps a little more, so when people don't hear my arguments they may not get the full picture. Also, some of my sketches are a little rough.

mon feb 16 homework

She challenged the myth by making the book to read like a story rather than a non fictional piece. The story wasn't all about the country but rather the girl's life and experiences. she explained how the things that were going on in her life were becuase of the country and its problems but she didnt linger on all the situations her country was going through. She showed that the people of the country are just like everyone else accept they are stuck in a bad era and have different day to day lifestyles because of it. There not all terrorists and most do have their own opinions and are trying to fight for their rights, but theres only so much that they can do. they have to somewhat deal with the fact that all these things are going on because they live there. I believe the people are good its the government that is evil. when the 911 thing occured, i figured they were all like that, terrorists and such that hated the united states, but now i realize that its their government and most want to escape and come to america. its not fair to judge a person from iran because of their governmental problems. i realize that the situation in iran is very tough and that it would be so hard to have to live like that. they must dress and listen tol what the government wants. its also a shame that it kinda reminds me of the era in which hitler ran because the governemnt is killing and punishng the innocent. i never really knew the problems iran had till i read this book.

Project Proposal

I plan to basically just draw a picture of a man whom has a teardrop tattoo under his eye. Its just a drawing and it represents the "Do you wear your heart on your sleve?" project. The teardrop indicates gang partnership and also represents the death of loved ones, and the murder of enemys.

The questions my project will adress are: What is the relationship between self and identity? How do others see us? How do we see ourselves? How do we identify and think about ourselves? How do we compose our identity? How do others compose their identities?

I want the audience to understand the symbol and what it means to the people who wear it. i want them to be able to understand why these people choose to get the tattoo under their eye, and what it represents. i want people to be able to identify how the things we do and wear and how we act can attribute to a culture. i want them to understand the culture of this tattoo and why its not a good idea to get one. i want people to see why these people feel the needs of getting this tattoo and basically just to understand the people who wear it and what it represents.

questions on persepolis

why did the author choose to write the book in the form of a comic?
why did she decide to not use any color?
why did she end the book so sudden?

homework for feb 2

what is your definition of identity?
how do you see yourself?
how do others see you?
I believe that identity is who someone truely is. Many factors come into play with a persons true identity. Gender, age, race, religion, etc. can all come into play when it contributes to someones true identity. Identity is how someone portrays themselves. It includes attitude and so much more. Identity is who someone is to society. It can be a fingerprint, an email adress, a residential adress, an id, a birth cirtificate, all of which can be traced back to a person. If someone comits a crime, they create a record which also plays a role in identity. When someone looks up ur record they are introuduced to all your information. Information on a person also plays a role in identity. where someone went to school, visited for vacation, what car they drove, what music they liked, it all plays a role in developing who that person really is. Identity is not just a document that proves who the person is, but its how they cary themselves in life.
i see myself as a smart young girl with a bright future. sometimes i do mess up in life, but i always get back on my feet. i see myself with great determination and a will power to learn, live, and love everything and everyone. i see myself in relationships as a person that is willing to do anything for the person i truely care about. money isnt an issue because somehow someway i always get my hands on more. even if its working three jobs busting my ass, i always find ways around things. i see myself as a great listener but sometimes i am stuck on how to make others feel better.
i believe others see me as a independent person. i dont fallow the crowd and i am who i am no matter who i am around. others see me as a very outgoing girl who loves to have fun and can party it up. they also see me as that girl who works her ass off all day then comes home and does homework all night. others see me as a responsible person with money... for the most part because when i dont have it, i wont go out. i have heard that i am very stubborn and always believe i am right, but hey, people do have their flaws.