The second quote is really not a quote, but a Venn Diagram found on (page 109).
I like visual prompts that can offer good details to assessing a contrast and compare style data set. In this case Mrs. Jenkins was using the Venn diagram as tool to help student's with an essay writing activity. The reason I chose the Venn diagram was not because I like Venn diagrams, but rather the content of the diagram and why that content might have been chosen for this publication. The follow-up on the following page (110) offers explicit instructions for the activity that students in a pair-share group needed in order to complete the process. It starts with 2 famous people, which takes me back to why the author might have chosen the US President and Tiger Woods. What the men share is very small compared to differences, yet on some levels they fit very nicely when trying to get students to think, analyze, and write critically.The third quote comes as I was having a surprisingly timely conversation with a hand full of my students this past Friday. The conversation with like this after I over heard some students sharing a comedic video clip that seemingly perpetuates stereotypes (what it was exactly is not relevant) which prompted my question, "in the name of comedy... what crosses the line?" I had to further clarify my question by offering pop culture examples like "South Park", "SNL" and others as to what crosses the line from being funny to being racially hurtful. What a great opportunity I had to have a "real" discussion with these students about culturally accepted media crossing the line and the idea of creative freedom. This led me to this excerpt from the reading, "Media companies are in the business of selling human attention, ..., and other characteristics of the audience," which completely aligns with what the general consensus of the students, as to what crosses the line... "if you are watching a comedy show then everything within that show is comedy and should only be seen as comedy and very little crosses the line." When I offered an example about an event that portrayed West Virginians has dumb hicks during halftime at a football game, they were incensed and angry. The quote I chose really emphasizes the need for strong critical media skills to be taught to all students, especially at a very early age.
Citations:
Dweck, C. (2012). Mindset. London: Robinson.
Hobbs, R. (2011). Research as Authentic Inquiry. In Digital and media literacy: Connecting culture and classroom. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Corwin Press.
Cameron Russell: Published on Jan 16, 2013
Cameron Russell admits she won "a genetic lottery": she's tall, pretty and an underwear model. But don't judge her by her looks. In this fearless talk, she takes a wry look at the industry that had her looking highly seductive at barely 16-years-old. (Filmed at TEDxMidAtlantic.) Cameron on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CameronCRussell
5 comments:
Rafe, the first quote/comment you placed in your blog is a topic I'm extremely interested in. Why do girls feel the need to fall behind to meet social norms. I remember sitting in the locker room many moons ago when a female classmate revealed, "My grades aren't that low. I actually have a 4.0 but I don't want anyone to know." I asked, "Why?" She replied, "Because then the boys won't like me. They don't like smart girls." I was left dumbfounded. Why wouldn't they like a smart girl? This wasn't something I was used to hearing. In Jr. High I had no concept of this thought. Maybe it was a difference in the way we were raised.
I do think the dynamic you'll see in an all girls math class is - competition. I think not only will you see the girls succeed but I think you'll see them try to outcompete each other for the top grade. I like seeing all girl teams. I've been working hard on this in the robotics realm for a couple of reasons. 1st girls disappear when they are around boys - they "can't" do the mechanical/technical stuff and the "can't" do the math stuff. They are willing to write the papers and do the public relations end but that's it. 2nd girls will compete with each other, become "catty". We (girls) need to learn to work with each other. Be able to sustain all-girl teams in the work force, especially the STEM work force. There is no reason why we can't.
Your first quote was interesting, and not surprising to me. I see it all the time in middle school where these bright girls who could stomp a boy's ego into the ground, choose to hide their intelligence traded off for flirtatious flicks of the hair and simple twitterings of conversation with frequent bats of their lashes. I want to drag them kicking and screaming from those knucklehead boys (not stating all boys are knuckleheads), and express to them the importance of their personal achievements, intelligence and self worth and how they need to be shouting their attributes off the rooftops, not hiding behind feeble feminine mannerisms and surface deep-interests. I try to show them independent, intelligent women are the trending breed, but it is tough with all of the anti-feminist garb that is on TV today. It is hard to compete with twerking adolescents like Miley Cyrus and booty-licous Nikki Minaj. These icons are really obscuring the desired female image in my opinion, but these kids are too impressionable for their own good. They can't see through what is right in front of them sometimes and that is super concerning. This was a great discussion prompt and I enjoyed the questions you forced in your dialogue. Well done!
Rafe the information you found about middle school students separation of gender impacting their scores I found so interesting. It is crazy how the people around you can influence how you chance yourself especially during the rough years of middle school. Thanks for sharing you got me thinking this morning about this concept now!
Rafe, I was shocked by all the information pertaining to the sexualization of adolescent girls too. I am just stunned that females seem to be maturing in that way younger and younger these days. I found your quote about what is comedy to be relevant as well, especially after reading the assignment for this week (chapter 7) about the "crush" and "scary maze" videos. What an odd day we live in . . .
Rafe, your postings are always so interesting! First of all, I'm glad you shared the Venn diagram. I also think this is a great way to engage students because it creates a very visual depiction of a topic.
I also chose to discuss the quote about human attention, and I enjoyed reading about your interaction with your class. I feel like I would be challenged to bring up such a discussion in my classroom, since I have very little experience. Not only does it take good critical thinking skills on the student end, but it takes a solid and knowledgeable educator to help the students reach new conclusions about what they see, read or hear in the media. Thanks for sharing!
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