Be yourself; Everyone else is already taken.
— Oscar Wilde.
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How the Rich Stay Rich and the Poor Stay Poor
By Anna Caraveo
From the beginning of the creation of the city of Los Angeles, as individuals were migrating west for more jobs it attracted many. There are many things that played a part in the quick rise and growth of Los Angeles. For example, with the help of the rise in film in the 1920s, Los Angeles became glamorized. Since most movies were filmed locally at this time of technology, and people saw celebrities, the beach, the tabloids, and the movie premieres. Additionally, the music industry and the culture that was brought here helped illustrate this glorified city. In actuality, this was nowhere near the case. Other factors include the arrival of the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1957 and Disneyland in Orange County. Does America continue to advertise this city as an oasis through media in 2023 or do they do a good job at providing the facts and reality of the city?
In the book, “Hollywood Cinema and the Real Los Angeles” the author Mark Shiel explores the relationship between the two. Shiel argues that our depiction of Los Angeles in Hollywood films has ultimately shaped our perceptions of the city and has contributed to the creation of a distinct “Hollywood” aesthetic. He further elaborates on issues of race, class, and urban development that have shaped the city’s physical and social landscape, and how Hollywood films reinforced or challenged these dominant narratives. The author mentions several times that these narratives were certainly not the actual reality of Los Angeles. Sheil states that “Los Angeles in Hollywood cinema is a constructed and abstracted space, a city of dreams and illusions, of glamour and violence, of hope and despair. It is a city that is at once familiar and alien, that we recognize and yet do not fully understand. It is a city that has been shaped and defined by Hollywood cinema, even as Hollywood cinema has been shaped and defined by it.” (Shiel). Mark Sheil emphasizes the diversity and complexity of Los Angeles and not just the distorted representations of the city in Hollywood cinema. In Hollywood films and popular culture, there was no light shed on LA’s social, economic, and cultural dynamics and Sheil argues this should not be the case.
Not only were the films depicting a hindered perspective of the city, but in reality, Los Angeles was becoming one of the most diverse cities of its’ time. The author Eric Avila wrote an essay that appears in the book titled, “Popular Culture in the Age of White Flight: Fear and Fantasy in Suburban Los Angeles”. The essay is titled “The Nations ‘White Spot’: Racializing Postwar Los Angeles”. Avila elaborates on ways in which race and racism shaped the development of postwar Los Angeles, particularly in relation to the city’s suburbanization and the emergence of white flight. He argues that LA was constructed as a “white spot” in the national imagination. It seemed as though whiteness was the norm and non-white populations were marginalized or excluded. He states, “Against this backdrop, a suburban popular culture materialized, positing a racialized vision of the city as “the nation’s white spot” and as the very image of “whiteness, flatness, and spread”. The author continues to elaborate on how we eventually learn this was not the case. Similarly to the previous author Mark Sheil, Avila shows how this idea was formed and reinforced through film, television, and other advertisements. Avila also adds that “The arrival of the Brooklyn Dodgers in Los Angeles in 1957 marked the incorporation of Los Angeles into the big league of American cities, and while that move signaled the public’s expanding and enduring fascination with the national pastime, it also illuminated the shifting paradigms of popular culture in the age of white flight”. However, Avila’s main argument is how people of color in LA challenged this racialized narrative and fought for greater inclusion in the city. The author mentions the broader topics we discussed in this section. He dives into the role of civil rights organizations, community activists, and cultural producers in challenging the illustration Los Angeles held. Avila indulges in these groups that played a key role in creating spaces of resistance and empowerment within the city. These groups such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Congress of Racial Equity (CORE), which worked to challenge discriminatory practices in housing, education, and employment and played a key role in urban development. The author further elaborates and brings up the Chicano Moratorium which is a cultural and political movement that emerged in response to the Vietnam War and the disproportionate impact of the draft on Chicano communities. The author cites, “The creation of these cultural spaces was critical in the formation of new identities that challenged the dominant order of racialized power in Los Angeles. These new identities, in turn, helped to forge new modes of resistance and protest that engaged a wide range of social actors and cultural producers”(Avila). These efforts were often met with resistance and repression from the city’s political and institutional powers, but they ultimately contributed to a more diverse and dynamic urban landscape in Los Angeles.
In the course, reading Jack Schneider’s “Escape from Los Angeles: White Flight from Los Angeles and Its Schools” explores the history of white flight from Los Angeles and its public schools during the 1950s post-World War II era and on. It traces the phenomenon being driven by racial anxiety, political conservatism, and the idea of educational quality plummeting in public schools. He adds that throughout the postwar period, white families in LA, “began to see the public schools as increasingly fraught. They worried that their children would be exposed to poor academic standards and be harmed by integration, and they believed that the schools would not provide the preparation their children needed for the rapidly changing economy”(Schneider). He argues that this is what led many white families to abandon the public school system and seek alternative options like private institutions in suburban school districts. Throughout the chapter we read and the additional research I conducted, I found that he continued to base this and argue that migration contributed to the fragmentation of the city which led to the continuous segregation in schools and neighborhoods. He states that “The middle-class exodus from Los Angeles was fueled in large part by a fear of crime, a sense of disorder, and a deepening concern over the quality of public education.” (Schneider). While citizens across the country believed this city to be the best place to start their life, it is important to recognize that parents did not even want their children to get an education here. It raises important questions about the ongoing struggle for educational equity and the role of race and class in shaping educational opportunities in America’s cities.
Adding to the broad perception of this glamorized city, the author Tom Sitton wrote a book called “Metropolis in the Making: Los Angeles in the 1920s” where he shares his opinions and knowledge on the topic. He begins by mentioning the very small original population of citizens in LA, however, how the 1920s played a part in transforming it into a modern metropolis. In this reading, the author takes his time to examine the business practices of early movie studios, the emergence of major stars, and the impact this all had. However, what struck me the most in this work is the emphasis on women’s roles in society and the ways women challenged gender roles. The film industry played a role in continuing the “housewife” character role. However, in LA things were rapidly changing due to the growth and migration. Fashion trends were conforming to the flapper style, in which the author emphasizes shorter hemlines and looser, more comfortable clothing. This new fashion was seen as a symbol of women’s liberation and rejection of these “traditional roles”. It is important to recognize that although this town’s perception has been created by directors and producers, all men, were also creating a perception of the perfect wife that cooks and cleans and talks only when talked to. Los Angeles was slowly turning into a city that provided opportunities for change but, along with segregation and racism, LA was also plagued with sexism.
In the course reading, “City of Inmates: Conquest, Rebellion, and the Rise of Human Caging in Los Angeles” by Kelly Lytle Hernández the author indulges in showing the reality of the city. Hernández argues that the prison system in Los Angeles was designed to control and punish racial and ethnic minorities such as African Americans and Mexicans. The specific point of the book that I want to mention is a street called Central Avenue which is a historically African American neighborhood. Hernández describes this street to be a cultural and economic hub for African American individuals. However, as the city’s population grew, its prison systems expanded and Central Avenue became a target for policing which led to further repression. It is important to note the white individuals were coming over to utilize this hub for fun and then would return back to their suburbs. They would utilize it for their leisure and pleasure and reap the benefits without being affected by repression and surveillance. The targeted policing poisoned this hub and mentions how movies and other media depicted prisoners and prisons in a way that reinforced racial stereotypes and negative perceptions of minorities. Prisons, as a tool for social control, continued to marginalize the community and continued to keep a racially motivated perspective on Los Angeles.
Ultimately it is clear that Los Angeles is not this “city of Angels ” as they make it out to be. Los Angeles has faced and continues to face segregation and repression and poverty. The film industry’s rise in the 1920s played a huge role in illustrating a picture-perfect city. When we dive deeper into the history of the city we find that this is absolutely not the case. Whether it be social and racial movements or in more current times we see similar issues involving race and imprisonment and new issues such as homelessness. During the peak of the global pandemic of coronavirus, The Black Lives Matter movement created a place for individuals to continue to fight for equality. Movement leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were heavily quoted during this movement and it distinctively shows this continuous fight for equality that we have been fighting for since even before the post World War II and the rise of filmmaking in Hollywood. We can also recognize the prison system still being a huge ethical problem in Los Angeles. It is clear that the United States has been criticized for disproportionately incarcerating people of color, including Los Angeles. Studies have shown that people of color are overrepresented in the Los Angeles County Jail. According to the data from the Vera Institute of Justice, in 2019, Black people made up only 9% of the Los Angeles County population but accounted for 30% of the county jail population. Similarly, Latinx people made up 49% of the country’s population but accounted for 43% of the jail population. One huge contributing factor, similar to the issues on Central Avenue, is racial bias in policing. This is a slippery slope because the prison systems continue to promote this racial segregation. The Los Angeles County jail has a history of separating inmates by race which has led to tensions and violence between different racial groups. The practice of racial segregation has been officially banned by the jail’s policy, but still occurs informally, especially in the housing units where inmates are allowed to choose their cellmates. A classmate of mine shared his personal story of working with a DA in Los Angeles. He mentioned that it’s a known thing that correctional officers will participate in and enable this racial segregation. He mentioned that once you enter prison you don’t leave prison without being in a gang. These disparities have had a slow progression and many advocates still push to continue for more comprehensive reforms to address this issue.
In 2023 we see a rise in homelessness in the city of Los Angeles. LA is one of the largest homeless populations in the United States. According to a 2021 report by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), there were an estimated 41,290 people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County on a given night in January 2020. The causes of homelessness in Los Angeles are combined with economic, social, and political factors that are also contributing to this problem. The high cost of housing in the city has led to a shortage of affordable housing and leaves many with nowhere to turn to. On the rise of the global pandemic, it also created a significant impact on homelessness in Los Angeles. it created the problem by causing job losses and economic instability.
Call Los Angeles continues to grow its popularity and population. According to the US Census Bureau, the population of Los Angeles was estimated to be over 3.9 million people in 2020, making it the second most populous city in the United States after New York City. With that being said, as far as my question goes, on America’s advertisement of this city openly and honestly, I would argue no. I do not think that this city does a good job of accurately depicting the true realities of being a native of Los Angeles. This project showed me the extreme parallels between this course’s themes. The city uses the idea of celebrities, musicians, sports teams, food and art scenes, and job opportunities to bring in tourists and new residents. However, what they aren’t seeing is the reality of this impoverished city. It is a money-hungry city that is designed to keep the rich, rich and the poor, poor.
Works Cited
2020 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count Results. Go to main LAHSA website. (n.d.). Retrieved April 15, 2023, from https://www.lahsa.org/news?article=726-2020-greater-los-angeles-homeless-count-results
AVILA, ERIC. “The Nation’s ‘White Spot’: Racializing Postwar Los Angeles.” Popular Culture in the Age of White Flight: Fear and Fantasy in Suburban Los Angeles, 1st ed., University of California Press, 2004, pp. 20–64. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/j.ctt1pntsk.7. Accessed 15 Apr. 2023.
Awards of Merit for NAACP Members, photograph
California: The State of Incarceration. California: The State of Incarceration | Vera Institute of Justice. (n.d.). Retrieved April 22, 2023, from https://www.vera.org/california-state-of-incarceration/county/Los%20Angeles
Dick Whittington Photography Collection, 1924-1987 (collection),
Hernández, K. L. (2020). City of inmates: Conquest, rebellion, and the rise of human caging in Los Angeles, 17711965. UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA PR.
Pictures: LOS ANGELES AREA FILM STARTS RISE; 59 AS OF JULY 1. (1976, Sep 29). Variety (Archive: 1905-2000), 284, 6. Retrieved from http://libproxy.usc.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/magazines/pictures-los-angeles-area-film-starts-rise-59-as/docview/1401296748/se-2
Schneider, J. (n.d.). Escape from Los Angeles: White flight from Los Angeles and its schools … Retrieved April 11, 2023, from https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0096144208317600
Shiel, M. (2012). Hollywood cinema and the real Los Angeles. Amazon. Retrieved April 11, 2023, from https://www.amazon.com/Hollywood-Cinema-Real-Los-Angeles/dp/1861899025
PSA: Women Are Not Your Barbie Dolls
For years, individuals have felt they have the right to dictate what we women should look and act like. As we have allowed this norm to be implemented throughout society, women’s insecurities and mental health have descended rapidly. The media is often to blame for the new evolving ‘fads’ that determine what is considered attractive. For example, right now the look is to have a very curvy and busty body with a small waist, similar to Amber Rose or Khloe Kardashian. Versus in 2013 when “Thigh-Gaps” and in the 90s when angular bone structure, looking emaciated, and super skinny was a necessity and what was dominating the runways and the magazine covers.
However, the point portrayed in my PSA is that society is never going to be satisfied especially at the rate everyone is changing their opinions about attractiveness. “Don’t be too fat, Don’t be too thin”, “Order a salad, No Carbs, No Dessert” but then “God! You look like a skeleton, why don’t you just eat?”. Women do not realize that this is a constant cycle that is never-ending and the sooner they realize that it is not them that is the problem the better. Women should not listen and follow these fads that are unrealistic and untrue to your personality. Along with this women need to understand that they are half the problem. If getting plastic surgery or participating in a diet is something you want to do then have at it. However, we should not be shaming other women who do not choose to do this. Either way, all women are beautiful in their own way. Womanhood enough makes you beautiful.
Generations of these constant damaging trends were maintained through the media that further allowed these crazed ideals of women into societal norms. Since the media has constantly judged/favored women based on their physical appearance it suggests to the audience that it is ok to do in our everyday life. Judging a woman because she is not equipped with your ideal female features is unethical and has taken a toll on women around the world. According to a study by Daniel Freeman, a professor of clinical psychology at Oxford University, he found that “women are approximately 75% more likely than men to report having recently suffered from depression, and around 60% more likely to report an anxiety disorder”(Ball, par. 3) compared to men. Women of all ages develop harsh and judgemental thoughts about themselves during their lifetime.
According to Jaimee Swift and Hannah Gould in the article “Not an Object: On Sexualization and Exploitation of Women and Girls” they state that “81 percent of 10-year old girls in the U.S. say they are afraid of being fat” and that “only 11 percent of girls worldwide would call themselves beautiful and six in ten girls avoid participating in life activities because of concerns about the way they look”. Lastly, another study performed by Dove, a personal care brand, back in 2004 uncovered the difficulty women and girls have in recognizing their real beauty. They found that “Only 4% of women around the world consider themselves beautiful” and that “6 out of 10 girls are so concerned with the way they look that they opt out of important activities […] from playing sports and swimming to visiting the doctor, going to school or just offering an opinion, anxiety about their looks can keep girls from living life to the full”. This is because the option of having an opinion on women has been enforced and witnessed throughout magazines, billboards, movies, and all other platforms.
Due to society and all the pressures that come with it, women have adapted to becoming insecure and are unfortunately staying that way for the remainder of their lives. It is extremely unfair and we as humans should show decency and respect by not tolerating this anymore. Putting a stop to and raising awareness about self-esteem issues and the main causes of it can prevent the next generation, your daughters, nieces, goddaughters, sisters and cousins, from feeling this way. Womanhood itself is strong, beautiful, and intelligent we do not need to follow the new physical appearance trend in order to “fit in” and be accepted.
https://vimeo.com/user114601434/review/414658057/2e11cc5df6
Ball, James. “Women 40% More Likely than Men to Develop Mental Illness, Study Finds.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 22 May 2013, www.theguardian.com/society/2013/may/22/women-men-mental-illness-study.
“Not An Object: On Sexualization and Exploitation of Women and Girls.” UNICEF USA, 15 Jan. 2020, www.unicefusa.org/stories/not-object-sexualization-and-exploitation-women-and-girls/30366.
“Our Research.” Dove US, http://www.dove.com/us/en/stories/about-dove/our-research.html.
Surveillance On Our Every Move
After reviewing everything Facebook, Instagram, and Google knew about me I was in shock that for this long I had no idea that I had the rights to see what they were tracking from my account with my own eyes. I decided to stick with Instagram since this app, especially now, is something I use way more frequently. To start, the part I enjoyed was getting to see my prior “bio” posts and prior usernames. It was fun to think back and remember the time when I used a different username other than just my name. Now I think that probably is not the most practical way for people to look me up and find me. However, did get me thinking, maybe this is a good thing? No future employers, professors, or relationship partners can use your account and your basic freedom in this country against you, that is in my case.
When diving a little deeper into this “Account Data” I was also able to see the users I have blocked, Instagram polls I have participated in, and even my Ad Interests. The ‘Ad Interests’ is what stood out to me the most and that had me the most shocked. Instagram has a list of hundreds of different companies and/or specific people’s brands that I have an interest in. This had me the most interested mainly because I had no idea we were able to see what Instagram thinks we would like. Things like fragrances, jewelry, shoes, hip hop music, Rihanna, and even comedy movies were a few that were listed on my interests. After I found this out, I went straight to google. According to Rachel Kaser who wrote the article titled “How to see what ads Instagram thinks you’ll care about” states, “These interests are pulled from accounts you follow, pictures you’ve liked, and other ads with which you’ve interacted”. Which reminded me of a certain algorithm in which Facebook originally started out with.
I began to think about the broader economic incentive throughout these ads and people marketing certain products. For Instagram, they profit off of the businesses or companies who want to advertise themselves by selling an advertisement slot. For example, the company EZ-Grow’s purpose is to help you gain followers and likes to essentially create more visibility for their clients, which according to Instagram guidelines is not allowed. However, Instagram has not followed its guidelines because EZ-Grow still spends about $500 per day for ads on its app in hopes to receive new customers. (Constine). According to the article “Instagram caught selling ads to follower-buying services it banned“ by Josh Constine, he states that these associated accounts state things like “get more followers”, “get verified”, and/or “engagement automation” all of which are against Instagram’s guidelines and tightly linked to their policy-violating services. Constine then states that
“That casts doubt on just how hard Instagram was working on this problem. It may have simply relied on cheap and scalable technical approaches to catching services with spambots or fake accounts instead of properly screening ads or employing sufficient numbers of human moderators to police the network”.
After considering this it brought me back to their broader economic incentive and how Instagram is using me and my account to store all of my interests to then put it on my feed get me to purchase these specific items. I also realized they are using my account and millions of others, to produce and provide more ads which is an ongoing, continuous, and never-ending way to make money. Since Instagram has over a billion mobile phone users accounted for 88% of its ad revenues in 2017. Whether I am just scrolling passed an ad or it is something I am interested enough to click on, regardless, I know now that I am technically helping Instagram pay their bills.
Constine, Josh. “Instagram Caught Selling Ads to Follower-Buying Services It Banned.” TechCrunch, TechCrunch, 15 Jan. 2019, techcrunch.com/2019/01/15/dont-buy-instagram-followers/.
Kaser, Rachel. “How to See What Ads Instagram Thinks You’ll Care About.” The Next Web, 30 Aug. 2019, thenextweb.com/basics/2019/08/30/instagram-ads-list-interests/.
Police Brutality and Racial Inequality: a continuous problem in America
I chose to create an eye-opening infographic enriched with facts about Police Brutality in America today. For years cops have been seen abusing their power and seeking to an agenda of their own opinions and stereotypes. As you see in the chart, that nine in ten police officers say and believe that the country has made the needed changes to achieve racial equality. However, we are nowhere near equality. Many people think that after the Rodney King trials with LAPD back in 1992 and Martin Luther King Jr. peaceful riots that the inequality has gotten and remained better. However, that is most certainly not the case. People who already have hate and prejudice in their values and agenda who then become cops are the problem. They then believe that the ‘power’ they entail as an officer of the law is almost superhero-like. Some police genuinely believe they shot that person dead, whom of which had their back to them while running away, to protect themselves! The ego some officers can develop along with the badge can be very dangerous and detrimental to society. With ego comes self-glory which can potentially lead to a personal feeling of extreme self-importance. They feel that their life is more important than others, that they are on a higher pedestal and that’s why they can’t relate to the families who are losing their son(s)/father(s)/nephew(s)/cousin(s)/uncle(s).
For example, according to an article published by CNN and written by Amir Vera, on October twelfth of 2019 in Forth Worth, Texas a concerned neighbor of, Atatiana Jefferson, called to police because he noticed Jefferson’s front door open at 2:23 a.m. When police arrived at 2:28 a.m. they began to walk around the house towards the back yard, Officer Aaron Dean then approached a back window to get himself a better view of what was going on inside. All while doing so, police also tell CNN that officer Dean, according to his body cam, did not call out and identify himself as an officer. The only thing that was called out was “Put your hands up! Show me your hands!” as Atatiana Jefferson became in view through the window of her own home. Immediately after calling this out, Officer Dean began to shoot through the window at Jefferson. She was pronounced dead at her home at 2:30 a.m. The pre-Med graduate was actually entertaining and playing video games with her 8-year-old nephew who was also in the room when shots were fired and witnessed his aunt die with his own eyes. Officers like this, who do not follow the laws that are put in place (for good reason) need to leave whatever planet they are on and come right back down to Earth. Officers who think they do not have to follow these laws and make decisions and actions according to their own personal agenda is inhumane and unconstitutional .
That being said, I do not think that all officers of the law are like this. Many actually are upset with their colleagues and the decisions made by them. However, this handful of bad cops are ruining for the rest. Many officers are trying to change the status quo of police and their department and work really hard to do so. This frustrates me, even more, when an officer like Aaron Dean comes in and wipes away all credibility from good officers along with everything they have done and worked for in order to do and be better. After such a drastic and cruel occurrence like this case in Texas, all police now look like racist scum who believe their power overrides actual laws put in place. When we consider this, we realize that not all cops are harmful and unacceptable, but the ones who are- are ruining the hard work other officers are trying to implement; equality. We need to stop these “bad cops” who are racist and/or sexist in their tracks. By doing this, we will be helping these officers who are here to help us, in the correct way, get the recognition they deserve.
Works Cited:
“Fatal Force: 2019 Police Shootings Database.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 2 Jan. 2018, www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/national/police-shootings-2019/.
“Getting Killed by Police Is a Leading Cause of Death for Young Black Men in America.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2019, http://www.latimes.com/science/story/2019-08-15/police-shootings-are-a-leading-cause-of-death-for-black-men.
Morin, Rich, et al. “Comparing Police Views and Public Views.” Pew Research Center’s Social & Demographic Trends Project, 31 Dec. 2019, http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2017/01/11/police-views-public-views/.
Vera, Amir. “Here’s What We Know About the Fort Worth Police Shooting.” CNN, Cable News Network, 17 Oct. 2019, http://www.cnn.com/2019/10/13/us/fort-worth-shooting-what-we-know/index.html.
Anxiety from COVID19
The virus that is plaguing all continents around the globe is known as the Corona Virus or COVID19. It has been the ultimate reason that essentially has paused the whole world all at once. According to all news outlets, our President, and state Governor of California declare that social distancing and remaining away from friends, family, and others in the community are ways in which we can slow down the rate at which people are dying. At the same time, it allows us more time to find a way to heal the patients being diagnosed with this virus. A specific piece of media that has stood out to me on the social platform Instagram was about individuals with birthdays during this time of lockdown and quarantine.
This meme, in particular, stood out to me because everyone that is in my grade class now, graduating from high school in 2017, is turning twenty-one this year, 2020. All of my friends and individuals who have had birthdays this past month and until this lockdown is all over get to finally celebrate the day they thought would never come at home with just their parents and siblings. These individuals could potentially even be alone by themselves like dozens of my neighbors are at The Lorenzo who are not even allowed to fly home. Personally, I have been thinking about my 21st for years and how I am going to choose to celebrate it with my family and my friends. This night is supposed to be nostalgic, important, and something to remember for the rest of our lives and now could has just turned into a massive pit of anxiety, fear, and loneliness. However, what has helped my friends, mutual accounts on social media, and myself is realizing we have to do this. Not only our elders and children but ourselves!
When people understand that they are just helping and benefiting everyone in the long run by staying home we find comfort in knowing that there will be a time to celebrate this day we have been waiting so patiently for. But, as a nation, during this time, all we can do is do our part by staying home and remaining as sanitary as possible. And how many people get to tell their kids that for their 21st birthday they were on a nationwide lockdown because of a deadly virus?
One specific piece of news that stood out to me, in particular, was an article published by The New York Times titled “The U.S. Now Leads the World in Confirmed Coronavirus Cases” by Donald G. McNeil Jr. This article is enriched with facts and research regarding death tolls from COVID19 from all over the world. As you can see in the title, this piece of news in particular really stood out to me because it involves the county I live in, along with everyone I know and love. It created more anxiety for me in that article alone than from any information from any other news outlet.
I personally feel that I am very up-to-date with a lot of the facts that are being informed through the media. I know how to properly fact check and find if an article or a post and/or the person who posted it is credible or not. This then usually ends up in long and strenuous talks with my mom about how and why things are happening the way they are and if said information is true or not. This entire process has been very eye-opening I would say. As this very scary thing is erupting all over the world I can’t help but also notice the unity our nation has all participated in throughout this lockdown. People staying inside their homes and restricting themselves from their daily necessary routines like school or work to keep the spread of this virus from happening as best as possible, although sad and financially frightening, is extremely comforting. However, what leaves me angrier than anything are the people that are not taking this as seriously as everyone else is and remains to participate in group-like settings. I am very stressed and anxious when I remember that I am basically stuck inside my house and potentially could be for many more months to come.
Mcneil, Donald G. “The U.S. Now Leads the World in Confirmed Coronavirus Cases.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 26 Mar. 2020, http://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/26/health/usa-coronavirus-cases.html.
“City of Angels”
When I was thinking of a concept for this project, many ideas clouded through my mind. However, one concept, in particular, remained constant thought throughout my deciding process. It is a concept that I have always felt an intense passion for, especially now that I go to school in Los Angeles.
I created this postcard of the well-known Los Angeles greeting card and the monumental “Hollywood” sign as a visual of what people are being shown about our “amazing” home versus what a vast majority of our lands entails; poverty and garbage.
I created this postcard of the well-known Los Angeles greeting card and the monumental “Hollywood” sign as a visual of what people are being shown about our “amazing” home versus what a vast majority of our lands entails; poverty and garbage.
Los Angeles is expressed on the tabloids as the “place-to-be” or the place you “can’t afford” or one of the “most rich cities/counties in the country” and although these may be true, they still fail to mention to homeless and drug epidemic happening right here in our backyard. It seems as if the only ‘angels’ of Los Angeles are the ones who can afford it, which is ironic because the upper-class only account for 5% of Los Angeles’ total population.
It is important for me to visually express this oxymoron. Although photoshop can be used negatively and wrongfully, I find it a strong tool to provoke sympathy and understanding from others. Normally, people believe that the homeless problem only stands on skid row and places that ‘will never hit too close to my home’. This representation stands as a wake-up call for our fellow ‘angels’ and tourists that neglect to understand the validity of the homeless crisis here in Los Angeles.
Can You Smell That? NFL Journalists: Producing Quality or Quantity?
According to his LinkedIn, the author Grant Gordon is portrayed as a very credible and reliable source. Currently, his occupation is a digital online producer for the NFL.com. He also is the former sports editor for Times Community Newspapers North, A trio of subsidiaries for the Los Angeles times. Although Gordon has had a lot of background and practice in his profession, one thing I noticed that sparked controversy with that Gordon made a large error throughout his article. Although Gordon claims the Super Bowl was in ‘94, in which even his title even claims “These Niners look a lot like ‘94 Super Bowl Champs”, according to several online sources such as ESPN.com, state that the game Gordon is talking about did not occur until 1995; a whole year later. In 1994 the Dallas Cowboys played the Buffalo Bills at The Georgia Dome in Atlanta where Dallas took the win but unfortunately did not make it to the championship game year later. Everything Gordon claimed about the ‘94 game really did happen, the San Francisco 49ers played the San Diego Chargers where the 49ers took the win 49 to 26.
This is also where I find a large majority of the purpose of this message lays in. I believe this article‘s purpose was to shed light on the many comparisons that the San Francisco 49ers have today versus back in 1995 to give hope to many people. Whether you’re fans, just passionate about the game of football, or come from a strong family background despite really stands out leaving the reader excited and refreshed.
By attaching quotes from his professional athletes it tries to reach her hours a.m.. It makes all the facts more personable. The other exudes emotion through pathos and through credibility of his sources and quotes, logos. However, depending on who you ask, might feel his credibility was shot at the end of the title. Gordon also uses emotion by talking about the “Father-Son-Duos“ that have taken place throughout the league. Mike Shanahan Who used to be a national football league coach watches his son take a team to the Super Bowl, how full circle and rewarding is that!
Many people don’t believe in “coincidence”. I can already come up with a few ways people could attack Gordon’s argument and provide proper reasoning for. The main different team’s fans. This article means something more for San Francisco fans, faith and excitement for the future game ahead. Whereas if you are a Kansas City Chiefs fan this article means nothing to you, it might even offend you. Chiefs fans can possibly become skeptical of the national football process. People can instead of being happy for the son of Mike Shanahan, Kyle, you can hold judgment and say he got where he was because it was handed to him on a Silver Platter. They might also say that he didn’t even have to work hard enough at all and might even question his skills towards his craft. Other football team fans can just see it for its facts with not as much emotion as a 49ers fan would have. Lastly, other fans but for different reasons. The “blast from the past“ could possibly fill your mind from memories from that year back in Miami. Even if you were rooting for the losing team, to be put back into that mindset your life can be emotional for anyone.
The lifestyle and values that are presented throughout this article are hard work and determination, dedication, and family. Majority of this article is enriched with statistics as well. It shows an eager and excited point of view. It also shows a belief in miracles which is very exciting and a mindset that many NFL fans could and should use as well.
My Biased Virtual Consumption
After my day of overviewing my media consumption, I noticed that I was not properly being informed of certain things correctly. I found that it was because of the source. I realized that the only reason I properly and correctly know about things is because of my mother. She is full of political knowledge and is always up to date. I find myself interested in finding out the correct information in the first place not just trust the first source I see, regardless if they are verified or not. Fake news is something that I have to admit have trusted and listened to and I hate that.
In order to fulfill how I want to see and interpret the correct media, I have to switch up my own habits by changing the sources I read and pay attention to, along with daily conversations with my mother to bounce ideas back on to establish my improved political standings based off of the truth and not fake news. I need to stop getting information and opinions off social media and start reading articles from more accredited sources. That way, I can trust what I am reading or listening to is the truth and leaves out as much possible bias as possible. I noticed that when I was receiving many of my news and notifications I was quick to judgment and aggression when I know I did not know the whole story.
I saw a brief tweet and was immediately upset and frustrated with the President when in reality I just did not know the full and correct story. I plan to pursue accounts and subscriptions to newspapers online and follow news accounts on twitter to receive my daily news and politics that way. I also had a conversation with my friends about how many things we are taught everyday that are actually wrong and how extremely frustrating that is.
Introduce Yourself (Example Post)
This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.
You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the “New Post” button, and tell us why you’re here.
Why do this?
- Because it gives new readers context. What are you about? Why should they read your blog?
- Because it will help you focus you own ideas about your blog and what you’d like to do with it.
The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.
To help you get started, here are a few questions:
- Why are you blogging publicly, rather than keeping a personal journal?
- What topics do you think you’ll write about?
- Who would you love to connect with via your blog?
- If you blog successfully throughout the next year, what would you hope to have accomplished?
You’re not locked into any of this; one of the wonderful things about blogs is how they constantly evolve as we learn, grow, and interact with one another — but it’s good to know where and why you started, and articulating your goals may just give you a few other post ideas.
Can’t think how to get started? Just write the first thing that pops into your head. Anne Lamott, author of a book on writing we love, says that you need to give yourself permission to write a “crappy first draft”. Anne makes a great point — just start writing, and worry about editing it later.
When you’re ready to publish, give your post three to five tags that describe your blog’s focus — writing, photography, fiction, parenting, food, cars, movies, sports, whatever. These tags will help others who care about your topics find you in the Reader. Make sure one of the tags is “zerotohero,” so other new bloggers can find you, too.
Anna’s Blog 