Teaching gay

"Teaching Gay”

by

Jarvis Emery

Reading the peer reviewed journal “Recognizing and Utilizing Queer Pedagogy” (Smith. J, and Smit. G, 2010) It talked about how teaching sexual orientation to kids in education programs was something teachers need to consider. The only issue I think would be the immaturity from the students, who are rather insecure in themselves and their own sexuality. They would see it as a perfect opportunity to make more jokes at another student, or even a teacher. While reading this article I notice that it was missing a few things on what and how they would teach the program.

From what I read it seems as though it was going to focus on teaching the class only to stop the hate crimes, and bulling, which in itself could possibly lessen the hate crimes, and suicides. That’s great, but such a program should not be wasted on just kids, but should be used as a tool to educate parents, and adults. It is very important to teach why and where this hate, dislike, or uncomfortably comes from. (Personally I think it’s because of the bible) “Man shall not lay with man as he does with woman. It is an abomination to the lord, and they shall be put to death” Leviticus 18:22.

If people are so quick to use the bible as a tool in today’s society to hate, or kill, then why just that one, why not the others such has: Exodus 35:2 “For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a Sabbath of rest to the LORD. Whoever does any work on it must be put to death.” Or Leviticus 11:10"And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you:”

A perfect example to tell them that what’s in the bible is/was for that time period would be the story of Onan. He was killed because he did not want to get his brother’s wife pregnant. Back then it was a family duty that when a man died and left no children, the next of kin was sometimes obligated to produce children with the widow, but the children would be considered the descendents of the late husband’s and would be raised as such. For Onan not wanting to do that the lord took his life. (Genesis 38:9)

Now in today’s society, you would be considered “scum of the earth” for even making out with your brother’s ex girlfriend, so just imagine what would happen if he was dead and you slept with her, and or got her pregnant. But for people trying to hear things, that could show the bible as being remotely hypocritical or just not making much sense at times would be a task itself. But I strongly feel that doing that would really help people think twice before they try to use the bible as a weapon.

When it comes to sexual orientation on its on it is important to discuss why it may be a “choice”, or NOT BE A CHOICE. How can that be done? Simple!

For starters, they would, or should start at the beginning like if they were learning for the first time. Describe what sexual orientation really is, and not just focusing on the gayness, or the hate crimes. For example, define what sexual orientation really is, and break down the categories. There are at least five. (For those who are wondering I fit into two of them.)

1. Asexual: Is a person who does not care for sexual activity. That doesn’t mean they don’t have sex, it’s just not at the top of their list like most people. That’s not saying asexual don’t get aroused they do, they just prefer having sex by themselves more so than with a partner. In spite of what some people might say, or think nothing traumatic has to happen to a person for them to be asexual. It is somewhat important to know that there is a difference in being asexual, celibate, and abstinent. (Celibacy is usually and religious type ordeal and abstinence is usually to prevent STD’s, and unwanted pregnancy). (American heritage dictionary, 1992)

The X on the Kinsey scale are the 2% males that are asexual (Kinsey, 1948) There was also a second book called “Sexual behavior in the human female” that broke down the X even further. (Kinsey, 1953)

2. Heterosexual: They take up more of the space in the world. They are the “normal” people, they way god intended us to be, and the whole reason the world is populated. Heterosexuals are two people of the opposite sex who have romantic and sexual feelings toward one another.
3. Bisexual: These are the group of people that have more of an “open mind” when it comes to have sexual feelings, and attractions to people. They prefer both sexes. They also sadly get a bad reputation, for being greedy, sneaky, down low, confused and unfaithful just to name a few. I’ve notice a few things when it came to teenagers that claimed to be bisexual. With girls it’s usually for attention they still end up with a man when it’s all said and done. With boys it’s not so much for attention, but expectance. They feel that if people think they are bi then all they will hear is he still likes girls, so it’s just a phase. But at the end of the day his true affections are for other males.

Every time I hear a male kid say he’s bisexual I just remember a student of mine named Jordan.

Jordan was the boy who didn’t really associate with the other boys. You always saw him around with girls, and I knew why. For some reason on the last day of school completely out of the blue he says to me “you know I’m bisexual right” I said “Jordan no you’re not”, he said “yes I am”, I said “no you’re not, you’re gay. You’re just saying that you are bi because you think that people won’t look at you as weird, or you feel that it will be easier for people to except you if your bi, than if your just gay, trust me I’ve been there before” after a few moments of awkward silence( on his part, I was fine) he gave me the usual “my family is really religious” I said “to hell with them. You need to be you; you need to be who you really are inside. If they truly care for you that shouldn’t matter, and if they cast you aside for something that you can’t control, then you go out and be the best at what it is you want to do, and when they come to you wanting to be in your life you tell them whatever is truly on your mind, without holding back…. Unless you want to cry and tell them how much you missed them, don’t do that, that would be letting them off the hook”

4. Transgendered: They are a group of people who are born one sex, but inside feel they should have been born the other sex. I would say it is pretty hard to “class” transgender fall under (gay, straight, bi) If you are born with the gentile of a male, but you feel you should’ve been born a female you aren’t really attracted to guy that identify themselves as gay. That’s why many transgender people are disliked, or beaten to death. (Venus Xtravaganza, Brandon Teena, and Sanesha Stewart) They go after straight men/women who believe them to be an actual women/man without telling them the truth before any type of activity happens. The most important thing to know and understand about transgender people that they are not drag queens there is such a big difference. You want to see a drag queen you watch “Jerry Springer” they are the gay men who are making a fool of themselves, and furthering a negative stereotype on the gay community. A transgender is doing what he/she can to look more like the sex they feel they should have been born as. That includes having whatever necessary surgery they can have, and afford. Notable transgender’s are. Alexis Arquette (formally known as Alex) and Chaz Bono (formally known as Chastity)
5. Homosexuality: This is probably one of the most controversial topics in the world, and defiantly the longest. Homosexuality is when a person of a sex has a strong attraction, and or sexual feeling towards someone of the same sex.

Breaking everything down like that would give such a better understand of a person’s sexual orientation. If you just focus on the “hate crimes” then all they are hearing is “don’t do this” and “don’t do that” Which means it’s going in one ear, and out their ass.

A very important aspect of this class should focus on how kids and adults who are comfortable with their sexuality are not in any way forcing others to take such a leap. They need to know and understand that a person “coming out” on there own time, in there own way is more important than them thinking it’s a good idea, and that it’s a must.

As I said before an Educational program for sexual orientation is great, but why does it have to be a “program”. A program is optional unless its court ordered. This is something that could be taught in school. Considering all the violence that is surrounding the LGBT community I would think this is a bit more important than learning about a form of math you won’t really use after you graduate high school, or any history topic.

Please notice that I said LGBT community, and not LGBTQ. That is because I personally take offense to that “Q” The Q stands for questioning. It was added as away to say it’s a choice. Even though it’s not part of the normal acronym, it was added in the late 90’s, and it’s used in the article I read. To say that your sexual orientation is a choice is to say that being straight is a choice. It’s saying that all the kids and adults who have been beaten up, killed, kicked out of the house, ostracized by their families, had their parenting skills questioned, or had their kids taken from them, or killed themselves. That Q says they all chose that.

Based on what I’ve seen, read, heard, and experienced. The only choice you have in your sexual orientation is the choice not to be ashamed.

: References:

Jeffrey D. Zacko-Smith & G. Pritchy Smit “Recognizing and Utilizing Queer Pedagogy” MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION 09/01/2010.

The American heritage dictionary of the English Language (3d ed. 1992), entries for celibacy thence abstinence.

Kinsey, Alfred c. (1948). Sexual behavior in the humane male. W.B. Saunders.

Kinsey, Alfred c. (1953). Sexual behavior in the humane female. W.B. Saunders.

Blog 25 ( Refelctions of the way....)

Me being dyslexic, and ADHA, I found it rather hard for me to learn, and grasp certain things. Because of that I half assed everything just to get by. In high school it got worst, mainly because I had two kids, and working, and my grades suffered. I was happy when I got the D, because it was passing and that’s all I cared about. Ten years later I decided to finally attend college, but because of my grades in high school I had to start with remedial classes. I received my first B+ last year and I was surprised. Now this year that is not good enough. I’ve constantly have questioned my professor about the 87,, or 89 that I received for an assignment that I feel it should have been higher or making sure they didn‘t leave something out. I never have done that. I just always accepted the grades for what they were. Taking Louie’s class was an amazing experience. It was like an open forum class and I think (at least for me) it’s a lot easier to learn, and pick-up information. In Smith’s class it was a little more of a standard type class, in the way that we always had papers, and using the blogs was such a great idea. It was like you had to come up with your own homework, it all came from your opinion on whatever topic we had to write about, and it was a great feeling. In professor Reuben’s class I wanted to feel the same way, but I couldn’t. I enjoy movies but not in the way she would like a person to. I care about the acting, and the story. I do not, and will not analyze everything in a movie. I personally feel that, that would ruin the movie for me, and I am not that pretentious. Professor Reuben is a fair, and open-minded professor, and she knows her stuff, but her class was just not for me. So in her class I’m happy to get no lower than a C.

In all, this was a good academic year for me and because of that I am proud of myself.

Blog 24 ( Race)

Jarvis Emery
Professor Smith
Eng: 101

Influenced by The Matrix is a stretch outside of the plugs in their bodies I really didn‘t see the connection. I did research the film a little before I wrote this and found nothing on how it was influenced by The Matrix. In an interview I found with the Director Alex Rivera ( http://www.sf360.org/features/qa-alex-rivera-sleep-dealer) he says Star Wars, and El Morte were the influences, while other people say Blade Runner, The 1982 film starring Harrison ford. That‘s like saying, The Matrix was influenced by Total Recall, or Showgirls was influenced by A Chorus Line There might be some similarities, but it’s more coincidence than planned.
For starters The Matrix is more about a revaluation. Its man verses machine, when they’re in the Matrix they are fighting and working for freedom, the world as we know it does not truly exist, as for Sleep Dealers it is how it is. When they go in to “The Matrix” there not fighting for anything, there working. You’re living in Mexico, and working in New York all at the same time. There is no fight for freedom, or the truth.
Race in this movie is not an issue. It is a Latino/Mexican film because it takes place in Mexico with migrant workers, and ninety seven percent of the film is in Spanish. There is no type of race issues or racism going on. Just a big American company went there and took over their main water supply, but I don’t feel that had anything to do with them being Mexican, and it was a tiny fraction that had little to do with the story.
Urban life is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it, and rural life are large and isolated areas of a country, often with low population density. I think the movie just showed that, which made it a little more important in understand why so many people go to urban areas to get jobs, to help their family back home. It’s a lot easier to make money in a place where there’s actual people, and actual jobs and that’s what the film was pointing out.
Considering it’s a low budget sci-fi film, for what it’s worth. Overall it was a good film (aside from having to read it) I didn’t care for it, but I liked it because it stayed true to how the future could be with technology progressing in the way that it is, without being so over the top, like most sci-fi futuristic films are like, Terminator, Back to the future, Total Recall, Johnny Mnemonic, Minority Report, I Robot. Just to name a few.

Blog 23 (ummm I don't get it)

I believe that they were saying you shouldn’t take things for face value….I agree with them for the most part, but sometimes you have to take it as you see it. One the examples that they used was when the character “Cypher” played by long time actor Joe Patanolin, when he and the agents were in the resturant and he was eating the steak he said…”I know this steak doesn’t exist. I know that when I put it in my mouth the matrix is telling my brain that it is juicy and delicious. After nine years I realized ignorance is bliss”
He hasd know choice to not take that experience, and the other for what they weren’t because he already knew that it wasn’t true, but for the rest of the people in the film who were still in the matrix they knew nothing of life outside of what they were living, and that‘s fine for most because the people in the Matrix had the better deal. To question whether or not should we take things for face value? I feel there is no right or wrong answer, it’s what you yourself feel. Who’s to say that the people on the street spreading the word on the end of the world are crazy. We label people crazy who are not religious when they say they have a relationship with god, but ignore the priest who molest little boys. Nothing really happens to them when they are caught, sure we say that’s so wrong and unfair but in the end(no pun intended) we just take it for what it is.

Blog 22 (story v special effects)

First I have to say I agree with her whole-heartedly, and if you check my previous blogs you will see we where on the same wave link of thinking. The Matrix is vastly overrated and childlike because of it special effects.

The Matrix is very stereotypical film that is very appeasing to the male fantasy. With the ground breaking special effects, attractive leading characters, martial arts and lots of sleek black leather, or latex. It also has the standard boy meets girl, and falls in love plot. Now eXtistenZ had its stereotypical moments, but because there were very little special effects it as a more honest, and intriguing vision of pleasure of “connected” minds and bodies.

I saw eXtistenZ in 2000 or 2001, and I personal saw it has another version of the movie “Total Recall” it was at times a rather confusing movie but It had a story that you could see because there were no cinematic effects to take away from it. I think that the Matrix was all the rage over eXtistenZ was because of its bigger budget, and special effects. But I feel as trying to find a story to be able to teach in a class is I feel both are valued, but a big stretch.


Both movies it there own right will make any feminist proud, because the female characters are not the normal female characters you see in film…You know the one’s “o look at me I’m a weak girl who can’t stand up for myself, I need a man in my life to function, he hits me and I don’t know how to hit back type” When first see the character Trinity from the Matrix she is a bad ass, sexy, and in black Latex fighting with and over powering the men, so you pretty much get the idea she is the one to look out for and no one can stop her. Then she meets the male character Neo and still she is rather overpowering, knowing more than him, forcing him down when they are trying to get the tracking device out of him, and being rather aloof when telling him he can get out the care if he wants to, not showing any signs of weakness or catering to him in anyway. But then as the film progresses she still is a badass when it comes to fighting, but she reverts more into the female stereotype character, calling Morpheus “big daddy”, bringing Neo food in away that is more of a subordinate than an equal. Then of course you can’t have a movie unless the to leads make out, and then towards the end she is kneeling by Neo’s side crying and confession that she loves him. Now I’m not saying that because of the stereotypical that is bestowed on to Trinity it takes away from the actually film because that is a small part of it I just feel it is inconsistent. Now in eXtistenZ the female character is the man, and the male character is the woman through out the whole film. The female character is smarter, braver, and has a dominating personality, and where the male character is not as smart, and when he is “himself” he is very submissive. One of the first times you see this in him is when they are in the hotel, and she just with no warning lifts up his shirt to see if he has a port (a hole that is placed into you lower back to play the game) he jumps up and ask her what are you doing? As he is explaining why he does not have a port she is trying to talk him into getting a port so she can plug in her
Game system into him, she is speaking softly and being very sympathetic to his feelings about how it would make him uncomfortable. The whole scene plays out like a man who is trying to have sex with a girl for the first time. There is really nothing that takes away from the film like how the Matrix does. In my opinion the films are more different than alike. The Matrix is more reality in the sense that that is how the world is, where as eXtistenZ is reality, but they are playing a game. If you want more of an actually “story” you watch eXtistenZ, if you want action you watch The Matrix. I think that the Matrix was a more popular film because as I said before it played more for a males psyche, with the glitz and glamour, and the male hero, but because eXtistenZ had a smaller budget, and a female heroin a lot of people don’t know of it. Which shows that the world is not and may never be ready for action, sci-fi movies with female heroin’s.
word count: 809

blog 21 (Before and After)

Today I'm starting with my final, typing up a draft, and if there is time work on my oral prsentation for Joyce.

I've found more info on my final, but still not clear on making a presentation, or video. When I was done I went on and work on my presentation for Joyce, and decided what scene I was going to do and what I was going to talk about.

Blog 20 ( M v E)

First I have to say I agree with her whole-heartedly, and if you check my previous blogs you will see we where on the same wave link of thinking. The Matrix is vastly overrated and childlike because of it special effects.


The Matrix is very stereotypical film that is very appeasing to the male fantasy. With the ground breaking special effects, attractive leading characters, martial arts and lots of sleek black leather, or latex. It also has the standard boy meets girl, and falls in love plot. Now eXtistenZ had its stereotypical moments, but because there was very little special effects it as a more honest, and intriguing vision of pleasure of “connected” minds and bodies.


I saw eXtistenZ in 2000 or 2001, and I personal saw it has another version of the movie “Total Recall” it was at times a rather confusing movie but It had a story that you could see because there were no cinematic effects to take away from it. I think that the Matrix was all the rage over eXtistenZ was because of its bigger budget, and special effects. But I feel as trying to find a story to be able to teach in a class is I feel both are valued, but a big stretch.

Blog 19 (Jarvis...All by myself)

:Line:

With Line you can try your hand at rewriting the first lines of literary classics, movies, and songs and let your friends be the judge. One player reads the title, author and synopsis of a real-life book, movie or song. The other players must then each write and present their best attempt at a first line for the book, movie or song. The first player reads all the entries, including the real first line of the book, movie or song, and then the other players each try to pick out the real one. Players get points for choosing the real first line, getting other players to select their submission, and possibly knowing the real first line (verbatim) before it is revealed…..Now here is the catch.

You have to perform your line or song in the intended way it was written and portrayed. For example: if you were doing something from gone with the wind, you would have to speak in a southern accent, same with the song you would have to sing it in the form in which it was originally sung in, so if you picked the song “Harper Valley PTA“ you have to sing it as if you were a middle aged single mother. Same for books. If you get stuck you can call out “Line” it may be the correct one or it may not be. If you call out “Line you have to try and complete as best you can the dialogue, song, or story. If the judges agree you did a good job, then you get those points.

The games comes with, One card catalog of One Thousand book cards in the categories of Classics, Children's, Fiction, Non-Fiction, Romance, and Mystery, Sci-Fi, Horror. One card catalog of One-Thousand song cards in the categories of Classical (yes get your high C’s ready) Children’s, Country, Jazz, Pop/Rock, Pop standards, Show tunes, and R&B, answer sheet pads, six pencils, and a One 2-minute glass timer.



I’ve been to the Performing arts Library several times for sheet music, CD’s Movies, I’ve even watched a few Broadway shows there. So I was quit familiar with it before today. One of the best thing about it, is that they have Theatre shows on video that you can watch for free, although some of them you have to get premission from the Lawyer of the Director if he is dead, or the person member if they left the rights to them.

The one thing I don’t like about that Library is that when you try to ask the people who are just seating down behind the desk for help they just tell you can look it up on the computers.

Blog # 18 (Religion)

Today I'm going to narrow down what aspect of religion I want to focus on, and then find video to help. I've found all that I need. I think my final will be on the over looked abomanation in the bible, To show that religion is not something people care about untill it is time to care.

Blog 17 (Let he who is without sin cast the first stone???)

A religion is a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a supernatural agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
That’s the basis of my project. To show that people aren’t really religious, at least not how they should be. I feel that people use their Religious beliefs to act out on people who are different from them, and in doing so not carrying out their moral duties the they supposedly trust, and live by.
I’m going to use actual scripter, and events the co-insight with one another, and to use actual people from class for examples.

Blog 16 ( Possiable, not Probable)

Do I agree with Nixon’s claim or position about us possible living in the Matrix. In the since of the movie? No. Now in the since of the definition the true definition of the Matrix which is “Something that constitutes the place or point from which something else originates, takes form, or develops.” Yes I agree. I feel that we are controlled by are machines even though we made them. To wake up I would say that a vast majority of people in the world uses some form of an alarm, whether it be an actually alarm clock, or phone, or ipod. As we are driving are cars, we stop because the stop light is red, we slow down because it turns yellow, and we go because it turns green. A few things I have to agree and disagree with are on page 33 to 34. He gives a small list of rules of thumb about interpreting one’s own experience that would have to be thrown out if neo accepts the Matrix story: He wrote: The noise that people’s shoes make as they walk is not a part of the sounds they use to communicate with you, so there is no point in trying to interpret those shoe sounds” I feel that’s not nessacierly true. The sounds your shoes would make are inadvertently communicating with you. For example; when neo, Trinity, and Morpheus are hiding from the agents in the bathroom the footsteps of the agents are inadvertently telling them when it is ok to move, and to be quite. The other quote he says is “When an object seems to be getting bigger it often means that it is actually coming closer to you and similarly with seeming to get smaller and going away from you” I feel that is common knowledge in a computer program or not. That’s like say up is down and down is up. I think it would have made more sense if he said North is South, and east is West. Now I did agree when he said “Thing exist even when you are not looking at them” That is true in so many ways. The one most famous of a example is “if a tree falls and no one is around to see it, does it still make a sound?”
The answer would be yes, because if you’re blind folded or your back is turned you would hear it, its heavy wood hitting the ground.

Blog 15 ( going to totally change)

What they want is a scapegoat, and that is just what Rock n roll, Marilyn Manson, American Idol, Survivor, Horror, Science Fiction and Action Adventure movies have done. I would like to go a little bit further and point out that I have notice that blaming the media for the action of others is just a “White thang” that apparently only children and ‘young adults” can use. People are quick to blame violence in our society on television, movies or video games because they are simple believable targets. We have to look beyond this disinformation and attack the real causes for the violence in our society. Violence in television programs, movies, or video games will not make a person kill someone else. People watch violent images all the time, and only a very small percent of them actually commit violent crimes. Research on the subject does not necessarily support the argument, but they do not counteract it either. The research is too often inconclusive and to base our opinions on this matter without concrete evidence is foolish. Violence on television, movies and video games is not the problem. The problem is that we wrongfully blame these media sources for violent crimes, rather than put the blame where it rightfully belongs, and if we can do away with all the disinformation on this topic, if people can stop fooling themselves into thinking that, “by cleansing the media we can also cleanse the society”, we can then start to solve the real issues in our society, but the concerned citizens that cry out for government regulation will not admit that the source for society's ills may be their own. When I was growing up all I knew was television, I watched it from sun up to sun down. I was able to watch whatever I wanted know matter theme of the film, or show, just as long as there was no sex, or frontal nudity. The only negative thing that came from me watching too much television was that when I was younger I thought I had the ability to cancel shows if I did not watch them for awhile. As I got into my teens I still was heavily into television so much so that when I got into trouble I had to go outside and play. Now that I’m an adult my I scheduling everything I do around what shows are coming on….(Thank goodness for recordable technology) Now I’m just not basing my “White Thang” theory on just my experience. There are articles that help me with my theories. Blaming TV, film, and music is not a new thing. Let start with Music.

It all started with the Blues, The Blues was blamed for bad behavior mainly because of its roots. Blues refers to "blue devils", meaning melancholy and sadness Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre created primarily within the African-American communities in the Deep South of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads. (David Evans, in Nothing but the blues, pg. 33)
Elvis Presley sped up blues and danced provocatively causing a uproar. On June 5, 1956, on the Milton Berle Show. He performed his song “Hound Dog,” with all the pelvis shaking intensity he could, his fans went wild. Television critics across the country slam the performance for its appalling lack of musicality for its vulgarity and animalism. The Catholic Church takes up the criticism in its weekly organ in a piece headlined “Beware Elvis Presley.” Concerns about juvenile delinquency and the changing moral values. He was criticized for influencing young people to engage in anti-social behavior and sex.(pbs.org/wgbh/cultureshock/flashpoints/musi/elvis.html)
In the 80’s Heavy Metal became the new form of “devil music” In 1985 the band Judas Priest became the victims of a lawsuit. The mother of a Nevada teenager who killed himself claimed that this music contained subliminal messages that compelled him to commit suicide. The case caused a great deal of controversy, but was eventually dismissed. Prosecutors in the case clamied this contained the message “Do It over and over” The

In the 80’s Heavy Metal became the new form of “devil music” The band Judas Preist on 1985 became the Victims of a lawsuit. The mother of a Nevada teenager who killed himself in 1985 sued Judas Priest, claiming that this contained subliminal messages which compelled him to commit suicide. The case caused a great deal of controversy, but was eventually dismissed.
Prosecutors in the case claimed this contained the message "Do It" over and over. The judge ruled that any underlying messages were not put there intentionally.

The mother of a Nevada teenager who killed himself in 1985 sued Judas Priest, claiming that this contained subliminal messages which compelled him to commit suicide. The case caused a great deal of controversy, but was eventually dismissed.
Prosecutors in the case claimed this contained the message "Do It" over and over. The judge ruled that any underlying messages were not put there intentionally.
The teenager who killed himself did so as part of a suicide pact with his friend. The other boy shot himself in the head, but lived. His testimony was the basis for the lawsuit against the band.


In the 1980's and early 90's, lawsuits were filed against some metal bands. They were accused of purposely encouraging suicide in their lyrics and with subliminal messages. A teen killed himself and another attempted to while listening to a song that Judas Priest covered titled "Better by You, Better than Me."According to an article from Rolling Stone magazine titled "Judas Priest: Defenders of the Faith," the case was dropped for lack of evidence.
Ozzy Osbourne found himself in court on a few occasions for similar accusations. His song "Suicide Solution" was said to glorify suicide. Ozzy insisted that the lyrics and song title was misinterpreted. He said that the word "solution" in the title was in reference to a mixture of alcohol, not the other meaning which is an answer to a problem. He claimed the song was in dedication to the original front man of AC/DC, Bon Scott, who died of alcohol consumption. He was also accused of putting subliminal messages on his albums encouraging suicide. All his cases were dropped.

Blog 14 (here I go again on my own)

I'm done with the sunrise paper, and turned everything in yesterday, so today in the library I'm going to just work on Louie's paper, and finally pick a topic out of my three (Is it only white kids that use the media for the wrong that they do, is it only kids that use the media as an scapegoat and not adults, or does the media show that more white people cause more violence in America than any other race)

Blog 13 (sunrise)

Jarvis Emery
American Film
HUC 270 Die Reise nach Tilsit
Dr. Joyce Rheuban
Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans is a 1927 American film directed by German film director F. W. Murnau. The story was adapted by Carl Mayer
from the short story “Die Reise nach Tilsit” ( In English means “The Trip after Tilsit”)
by Hermann Sudermann.
Sunrise won an Academy Award for Unique and Artistic Production at the first Academy Awards Ceremony in 1929. In 1937 Sunrise's original film was destroyed. A new film was created from a surviving print. In 1989, the film was deemed culturally, historically, significant by the United States Library of Congress and selected for preservation in their National Film Registry. In a 2002
critics poll for the British Film Institute. The movie was named the seventh best film
in the history of motion pictures.
In 2007 the film was chosen #82 on the 10th anniversary update of the American Film Institute's 100 Movies of great films. Sunrise is one of the first films with a soundtrack
of music and sound effects recorded in the then new Fox Movie tone sound on film system. With all that is said about this film, and all the awards it was rightfully so nominated, and won, I want to discuss what was not nominated that should have
been, starting with the Director.

Director F.W. Murnau know for films such as Faust, Phantom, and Nousferatu directed this film.
The director in a movie plays the biggest and one of the most important parts in a film. The director is responsible for overseeing creative aspects of a film. They develop the vision for a film and carry the vision out, deciding how the film should look. They also direct what tone it should have and what an audience should gain from the cinematic experience. directors are responsible for approvin camera angles, lens effects, lighting, and set design. They coordinate the actors movement.
The director works closely with the cast and crew to shape the film and may often take suggestions on pertinent issues. The director also advises on color grading of the final images, adding warmth or frigidity to the composition of the shots to reflect the
emotional subtext of the character or environment. They also participate in the sound mix and musical composition of the film. The film won the Academy Award for Best Picture, Unique, and artistic production, and Cinematography, which to me is all because of the director. It was his vision, his idea for the whole process. From the first flashback of him playing with his family, and then seeing he was falling on hard times the directors use of light and camera techniques was flawless. The effect when the couple was walking in the street and it was like the were walking right through the cars into the fantasy as if they were walking in a field of flowers into a beautiful sunset coming back to reality to show that people stop short and crashing into each other was all from the director, so for a film to be partially praised those reason and the director not be nominated is a slap in the face. For the way the film is seen, the style, and the overall tone is what get a film nominated, so if you nominate the film for Best Picture, you have to nominate the director as well.

Next is the Husband played by actor George O’Brien. The fact that this man was not recognized the Academy Award committee was an absolute disgrace. I’m not a big
fan of silent films in anyway, and when I hear and read about great actors in the silent film area I’ve always question how can that be when they weren’t speaking, all of it
has to go together, from there movement, reaction, and how the deliver their lines.
After watching the film I was proving wrong. George O’Brien’s acting techniques where amazing.
Starting with the first time we see him. When we see him he is at the dinner table looking rather sad, and miserable, when he hears the whistling of his mistress he slowly looks around to make sure his wife does not see him. When film goes into the flashback of him and his waif with there child he is such a proud, happy, and carefree husband and father.
The we see him having to sell some of his live stock because of the bad choice he made
For his girlfriend. The expression on his face is not over the top depressed like I’ve seen in other silent films, but more of a it’s my own fault for being in this mess. When the film comes back to present day when he sees his girlfriend his face lights up like a little kid on Christmas morning. When the girlfriend suggest he kills his wife he emotions shows that he is in love with his wife and this is just a thing that the two of them have, he then pushes her away from him. I felt the way he was able to jump back and fourth from relaxed in his girlfriend’s embrace to being so upset with her with such timing was amazing. The top scenes that did it for me was when him and his wife went to the church and watch the strangers getting married. When the priest said…” God is giving you in the holy bound of matrimony a trust. She is young and inexperienced. Guide her and love her, keep and protect her from all harm.. Wilt thou love her?” I’m was so glad that by the year this film came out they new how to use close ups. The expression on his
face and the emotion that he showed was priceless. Just by he reaction alone you can
tell that he was probably thinking that those word were said to him and he made the
same promise, and from this day forward that’s actually what he was going to do,
he’s not going to get rid off his wife, child, and farm for his girlfriend, he’s going to
give up his girlfriend for his wife, and braking down in tears in his wife lap showed
that he was sorry for not only having a girlfriend, but for ever contemplating the
thought of killing her. For that entire seen alone should have got him a nomination.
When he is in the solon getting groomed there is a woman who looks exactly like his mistress. When she grabs his had he shows that he is uncomfortable in the most humorous way. The way he approaches the man who is sees flirting with his wife was timeless. As he is strongly gazing at the man he lowly goes into his pocket and pulls
out a blade, slowly he goes toward the man with the knife and quickly jabs it to the
mans lapel the man grabs his throat as if the husband just get it, when in fact he just
cut the flower that the man took from his wife. That made me jump because I was thinking he was actually going to cut him, or at the very least point it and threaten him.
George O’Brien show the character’s playful side when he his chasing down the piggy at the carnival into the elegant party, and then dances for the crowd of people with what is know as the “Peasant dance” Another climax scene for O’Brien was when he actually lost his wife in the very unexpected storm. He was so struck with grief , you could tell from the close up on his face when he calls for her to the extreme longshot when he is walking back into the room without her, the director stays in that shot and shows him fall to his knees onto the bed. The best lighting and camera angle came from when the mistress comes to the door the director goes for another extreme longshot to show the husband in the doorway looking at the mistress all you really see is the shadow of the man looking down at the mistress, and without him moving you can tell not only does he blame her
but he wants to kill her. When they find his wife and he looks as if he is saying “take me instead” was such a moment. With all that I describe on both the talents of F.W. Murnau, and George O’Brien, I wonder how the Academy Awards Committee didn’t see it.

Blog#12 (Aww is me)

What problems are you having? What do you need to do between today and the next class....The only problem I'm really running into is what i want to do as far as a paper. I've wrote 3 pages of something already but for some reason I keep wanting to change it. When I was looking up different sources in class today for my current paper I kept coming up with other ideas. Hopefully I will have it down just exactly want i want my paper to say by next class.

Blog 11 (only i could make it so difficult for myself )

I started written my paper on how it seems blaming the media on violence is only limited to a certain category of people(white kids and teens.)
During class I thought about changing it to comparing American media violence to other counties and seeing if they blame TV, video games and music, or is that just American thing. While i was in the library i googled, binged, and facebooked friends i know in the U.K., and Africa. difficult

Blog 10 (not really my place)

Hanifah, was my first student. I felt she had a good paper with minor grammar, and punctuation issues, but noting that was severe enough to where she wouldn’t pass. She was rather vivid with her details, but gave little to no proper examples, which I realized after my 15 minutes was that I didn’t mention that to her.


Ariel, was my second student. It seemed like Professor X said “you have 2 hours to write 250 words and then you can go“, and that’s exactly what he or she did. He or she gave 300 words and left after 45 minutes to an hour. It was apparent that he or she did not review their paper at all before they turned it in.

Blog 9

1.Thesis / Thesis Statement (Merrian-Webster Pocket Dictionary): A proposition to be argued for, essay embodying results of original research.

In my own words: I always thought that a Thesis was a twenty plus paper you wrote your fourth year in college to graduate (In other words a big waste of time and pointless if you’re going into a field where you would never have to actually write said type of reports) After taking ENG 99 I learned the definition, but I would not have been so technical in my answer. I just would have said it is a statement that can be debated/argued.

2.Research (Merrian-Webster Pocket Dictionary): Careful or diligent search especially for new knowledge.

In my own words: Finding out information any way you can to prove what you think, or just to know. (I.E. looking up information to written my midterm paper.)

3.Argument (Merrian-Webster Pocket Dictionary): Reasons given to persuade, or dispute with words.

In my own words: An argument is a heated disagreement between two or more people. (I.E. when a debate gets your adrenaline pumped up)

4.Claim (Merrian-Webster Pocket Dictionary): Demand or take as the rightful owner.

In my own words: A claim is when you made an assumption about something, or a person that you thought to be true or just your opinion. (I.E. He took my pen, or this is my coat)

5.Reasons (Merrian-Webster Pocket Dictionary): Explanation or justification for an action or belief.

In my own words: the cause of doing something, or thinking the way you do. (I.E. I work to sleep in a bed)


6.Evidence (Merrian-Webster Pocket Dictionary): Outward sign, proof or testimony.

In my own words: I would just say proof. Prove either with visibility, or statement that cannot be argued with what you assume or know is fact. … (I.E. another word for humans is Homosapians.)

7.MLA Citation Style (http://www.library.cornell.edu/resrch/citmanage/mla): MLA citation style refers to the rules and conventions established by the Modern Language Association for acknowledging sources used in a research paper.

In my own words: Before ENA 99 I never knew there was such a thing as MLA Citation. If I remember correctly it is giving the source of the information. When we read Stepford Wives in ENA 99 we had to write about the book with examples so when we find an example at the end of it we had to write in parenthesis the authors last name and the page number(s)

Blog 8( Hunt this)

By: Kristopher Rodiguez
Jarvis Emery
Ray Cahas
Thein Moe
Jose Pena

1. “I am not an elephant! I AM NOT AN ANIMAL! I AM A HUMAN BEING! I...AM...A MAN! “
2. Not only a popular kids character in the united states, characters, in Monty Python’s Flying Circus, but a well known hair style amongst African Americans in the late 80’s to early 90’s.
3. “When you’re good to mama, mama’s good to you!”
4. “The name on every bodies lips is going to be ROXY” (not Roxie)
5. You can play the 1982 film on the arcade, that now 28 years later has a sequel.
6. Go into the 1:30 showing of the red balloon, and find the “rebel without a cause”
7. Watch your step…before you seat down to watch TV.
8. Hear her famous words…”fasten your seatbelt it’s going to be a bumpy night!”
9. “9-10 never sleep again”….guess they were right I haven’t slept in 26 years.
10. We looked like this before plasma, LCD, and LED took over.
11. “Set all the phasers to stun”
12. Can you find the running man on the 3rd floor.
13. Save Princess Peach Toadstool from King Koopa.
14. 1978 video game with vector graphics.
15. Where is the picture of the star who starred in It happened one night.
16. Watch Karen Allen in a scene from this popular movie franchise that started in 1981.
17. It never spoke English, but everyone could always understand is gargled sounding speech.
18. She turned around and through her hat up in the air for the LAST time in 1977.
19. Watch past presidents in the living room.
20. Model number H-24-37-E
21. Locate the great train robbery.
22. “Mirror Mirror on the wall”.
23. “Luke I am your father”
24. Your right arm will definitely get tired at this peep show.
25. Didn't like the lines or voices in these movies?, no problem change them.
26. Mitchell Vista Vision?
27. “why so serious” Chuck Taylor?
28. There’s a Snow White board game? Prove it.
29. Ah, damn you!, God damn you all to hell!
30. Prevent Dr. Robotnik from collecting the six Chaos Emeralds in an attempt to rule South Island.
31. Epileptics not allowed…Sorry
32. Take a picture of "your mother sucking cocks in hell"
33. Visit the Tyrell Buliding.
34. Find out when the Akeley Tripod made.
35. Listen to the first cartoon with sound.
36. A magazine that says they got Monroe's picture taking with a hidden camera
    

Blog 7 ( It's me not you )

I didn't learned anything about literature I didn't already know, guessed, or cared about . Not in anyway saying that's a bad thing, and I'm not say I know alot about the subject it's just always been hard for me to get excited a subject I'm not interested in. It was rather interesting to find out that there are different religious, and philosophical ways to interpret the Movie The matrix, but I'm not that "pretentious" so i could have done without that bit of knowledge. I will say the most important thing I liked, and learned is that you can have a class like this were your not interested in the subject and not find it boring. I feel the way I feel when I'm in my American film class all bored and tired and just want to shoot someone just to get out of there (that's not because of the teacher, I'm just not interested silent films or in the technical styles of how a film is made) should be like my English class, and in my English I’m actually wanting to be there, and not be late and interested in what is being said….. So good job Professor Smith