Peter Markano
Responding to Bordo
When reading Bordo's essay I had a variety of reactions to her material. At fist I thought it was pretty vulgar and weird to be discussing penises and whatnot, but as I continued to read it turn out to be quite informing on the way men are perceived and perceive themselves. I didn’t mind Bordo's tone too much because I admired her honesty about her personal desires and experiences. I think Bordo was straightforward and had a lot of good points to back up her theories about male identity. I think she was correct about how males are always being portrayed as "nonchalantly looking good", because it does always appear that in ads men are always working or not trying to look attractive at all. Somehow in these ads when the men are "working" women seem to find them very attractive. It may just be the simple fact that women enjoy to view men as being hardworking and masculine and able to handle whatever gets thrown at them, including women. I also enjoyed the timeline of fashion that Bordo put together how men's fashion went from very flashy in the old times to progressively more and more bland. I would like to inquire more information as to why that is the case, what could be the catalyst that made men become more and more plain in their attire?
When it comes to the media, I believe that pretty much all the youth are influenced by the biased impressions. I think that the "leaners" and "rocks" that the media creates out of models is just a way to emphasize sexuality. I believe and have believed for a long time that we are a very sexual based society with shows like, Sex In the City, and Desperate Housewives it seems like all the programs are about is who is sleeping with who, and I truly think people enjoy this and the media knows it. In my life, the media is hardly a factor; I tend to stray away from magazines full of perfume ads and all those bogus MTV shows. I like talking about sex with my friends and how smoking a girl is, but it’s a little weird when people put their bodies on display in front of people that could be perverts or stalkers.
The clips from Saturday Night Fever I thought were hilarious. The line Bordo uses about his hair made me laugh really hard. I definitely get her point when she talks about how Travolta, like other men, seem to care about nothing but how they look and how sexy they are. I honestly favor natural beauty over everything else I hate it when people cake on makeup and perfume. I think its up to you to decide how you look, but to make a point, babies don’t wear perfume and makeup, but people still think they are cute! Its just one of my beliefs and natural beauty is true beauty in my opinion.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Friday, October 16, 2009
First 8 Weeks of College
Now that I am halfway through the semester, my overall college experience has been very good so far. I have been able to have the opportunity to engage and be involved in many of the different organizations and programs JMU has to offer. For example, I am now pledging for Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, and it's been great. It’s a lot managing my time between fraternity activities, and schoolwork but I am somehow finding a way to do it. I am doing pretty well in most of my classes with the exception of a particular business that which is very difficult and demanding, but I must put in more hours if I want to succeed in it. I really enjoy my English class; its probably top on my list, then comes my geography and health classes. I thought coming into college I would be a business major, but it turns out that I am enjoying writing a lot, and I think next year I am going to try and take some journalism classes.
The transition of home life to college life is a significant one. Its so much different being on my own because my time management skills are up to me. I don’t have my mom around to cook me dinner or do my laundry its different. I must say I like being on my own, but with being on my own comes great responsibility. It’s a crazy feeling knowing that my parents aren’t a stairwell away. I must say that I miss home cooking and sleeping in my own bed, however, its for the better, I am growing up and its time for me to step up to the challenge of life. Responsibility and being on time is now crucial to my success here at JMU. I truly cannot believe how much I have learned about myself since I have been at college, its enlightening. I look forward to thanksgiving and seeing my friends, but I know that once I am home ill want to be back at school very soon. Indeed I miss my friends from home, but we are all out at different colleges and universities gaining various experiences, its crazy. I love it here, and being in a fraternity gives me a true sense of belonging I wouldn’t have otherwise. I have made good friends here who are always looking out for me and vice versa. Its fun, its really fun I just need to study more!
The transition of home life to college life is a significant one. Its so much different being on my own because my time management skills are up to me. I don’t have my mom around to cook me dinner or do my laundry its different. I must say I like being on my own, but with being on my own comes great responsibility. It’s a crazy feeling knowing that my parents aren’t a stairwell away. I must say that I miss home cooking and sleeping in my own bed, however, its for the better, I am growing up and its time for me to step up to the challenge of life. Responsibility and being on time is now crucial to my success here at JMU. I truly cannot believe how much I have learned about myself since I have been at college, its enlightening. I look forward to thanksgiving and seeing my friends, but I know that once I am home ill want to be back at school very soon. Indeed I miss my friends from home, but we are all out at different colleges and universities gaining various experiences, its crazy. I love it here, and being in a fraternity gives me a true sense of belonging I wouldn’t have otherwise. I have made good friends here who are always looking out for me and vice versa. Its fun, its really fun I just need to study more!
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Blog #4 Favorite Band or Song
Blog #4: Favorite Band or song
When the question is asked of me, "What is your favorite band or song" into my head pops thousands of ideas. I have a list of band whose discography I know like the back of my hand, such as The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Slightly Stoopid, Tea Leaf Green, and a really cool electronic artist innovator by the name of Pretty Lights. I feel that all of these bands inspire me depending on my mood; there is a time and a place for all of these bands. There are, however, few songs that I can truly listen to at any point and time in my life where it will be appropriate.
This band for me is Perpetual Groove, a jam band based out of Athens, Georgia and one song in particular if I hear it has the ability to soothe my mind and open up my soul. The name of this song hints at its ability, "Sweet Oblivious Antidote" it’s a beautiful yet inspiring name with the ability to calm one down. Its truly amazing how much power this song has on me I love it. I first discovered this song when I was a sophomore in high school, it’s a song that I would say binds my friends and I together on one common cause of feeling good. There are only 8 lines of lyrics to "Sweet Oblivious Antidote", but its obvious that the instrumentals speak more than the words do. The guitar, base, and drum combination for me is like listening to angels give a speech (if that makes any sense). I truly do love this song.
The basis of this song in my mind is relaxation and feeling good over any feeling of melancholy. This song reminds me of my home on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, a beautiful place I have so much more appreciation for after being away from home for almost two months. Its amazing how much a song can remind you of you friends, your hometown, your roots, and everything that defines you. I listen to this song every time a yearn to be back on the shore out on a boat with my friends just cruising around wasting the summer away, without a care in the world. The beauty and landscape of the shore pops into my head every time I listen to this song as well. There is a much deeper meaning to "Sweet Oblivious Antidote" than most would think, because it truly is my sweet oblivious antidote whenever I am in need of an antidote to cleanse my soul and refresh what gives me solace and makes me feel good. This song basically defines who I am in a way…….The lyrics to the song are as follows:
I said let it ride then
Burn up so bright that no one can see
Maybe just hide then
A good place could be right in front of me
Cause I'm busy searching
Searchin' for what...I'm not really sure
Maybe an answer
Maybe some sweet oblivious cure
When the question is asked of me, "What is your favorite band or song" into my head pops thousands of ideas. I have a list of band whose discography I know like the back of my hand, such as The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Slightly Stoopid, Tea Leaf Green, and a really cool electronic artist innovator by the name of Pretty Lights. I feel that all of these bands inspire me depending on my mood; there is a time and a place for all of these bands. There are, however, few songs that I can truly listen to at any point and time in my life where it will be appropriate.
This band for me is Perpetual Groove, a jam band based out of Athens, Georgia and one song in particular if I hear it has the ability to soothe my mind and open up my soul. The name of this song hints at its ability, "Sweet Oblivious Antidote" it’s a beautiful yet inspiring name with the ability to calm one down. Its truly amazing how much power this song has on me I love it. I first discovered this song when I was a sophomore in high school, it’s a song that I would say binds my friends and I together on one common cause of feeling good. There are only 8 lines of lyrics to "Sweet Oblivious Antidote", but its obvious that the instrumentals speak more than the words do. The guitar, base, and drum combination for me is like listening to angels give a speech (if that makes any sense). I truly do love this song.
The basis of this song in my mind is relaxation and feeling good over any feeling of melancholy. This song reminds me of my home on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, a beautiful place I have so much more appreciation for after being away from home for almost two months. Its amazing how much a song can remind you of you friends, your hometown, your roots, and everything that defines you. I listen to this song every time a yearn to be back on the shore out on a boat with my friends just cruising around wasting the summer away, without a care in the world. The beauty and landscape of the shore pops into my head every time I listen to this song as well. There is a much deeper meaning to "Sweet Oblivious Antidote" than most would think, because it truly is my sweet oblivious antidote whenever I am in need of an antidote to cleanse my soul and refresh what gives me solace and makes me feel good. This song basically defines who I am in a way…….The lyrics to the song are as follows:
I said let it ride then
Burn up so bright that no one can see
Maybe just hide then
A good place could be right in front of me
Cause I'm busy searching
Searchin' for what...I'm not really sure
Maybe an answer
Maybe some sweet oblivious cure
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Rodriguez Blog
Peter Markano
Rodriguez Blog
When personally relating to Rodriguez, I found it extremely difficult to find certain levels where I can recount instances that pertain to me. I think Rodriguez was closed minded and spoiled, and didn’t appreciate his parent's sacrifices for him. If I was to pick a favorite quotation it would be the following, "the scholarship boy must move between environments, his home and the classroom, which are at cultural extremes, opposed" (Rodriguez 3). This quotation accurately describes a scholarship boy, someone who has parental neglect when it comes to scholastic effort, but somehow succeeds academically. I think that Rodriguez exaggerates, however, when he calls the home and classroom cultural extremes, because with me there was an integration of my parents and my school. My general response to Rodriguez is that he needs to sack up a little bit and get over himself; I am not a big fan of his. I disagree with Rodriguez, and I don’t like his position on education. In no way can I relate to Rodriguez, and I believe that if I had foreign parents I wouldn’t consider them stupid or try to hurt them. I don’t think that Rodriguez takes into account the sacrifices his parents made for him especially financially. I think that some people are just not grateful, and think they are underprivileged for no reason. I cant relate, and I will in no way attempt to try because I feel as though we are opposites.
Rodriguez Blog
When personally relating to Rodriguez, I found it extremely difficult to find certain levels where I can recount instances that pertain to me. I think Rodriguez was closed minded and spoiled, and didn’t appreciate his parent's sacrifices for him. If I was to pick a favorite quotation it would be the following, "the scholarship boy must move between environments, his home and the classroom, which are at cultural extremes, opposed" (Rodriguez 3). This quotation accurately describes a scholarship boy, someone who has parental neglect when it comes to scholastic effort, but somehow succeeds academically. I think that Rodriguez exaggerates, however, when he calls the home and classroom cultural extremes, because with me there was an integration of my parents and my school. My general response to Rodriguez is that he needs to sack up a little bit and get over himself; I am not a big fan of his. I disagree with Rodriguez, and I don’t like his position on education. In no way can I relate to Rodriguez, and I believe that if I had foreign parents I wouldn’t consider them stupid or try to hurt them. I don’t think that Rodriguez takes into account the sacrifices his parents made for him especially financially. I think that some people are just not grateful, and think they are underprivileged for no reason. I cant relate, and I will in no way attempt to try because I feel as though we are opposites.
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