what is normal?

so, what exactly is "normal"? i honestly don't have an answer to this question, but intend on writing my second essay about this question specifically due to body image.  it amazes me how easily the media can have such a pull on the american public, impacting the way people (especially women) view themselves every day.  televisions shows place people into such a funk about the way that they look and are viewed by others, thinking that its a huge deal to be such a small size when it comes to clothes because this is one of the pressures that the media places on us.  

Freaks, continued

In class today, we discussed a particular passage from the piece "Cultural Fixations of the Freak body: Coney Island and the Postmodern Sideshow" by Elizabeth Stephens.  our group's specific passage focused on Eak the Geed, a sideshow performer.  we discussed how Eak the Geed talks about the fact that the act that these people are performing can only be seen on the sideshow stage; the way that these performers perform is usually due to audience participation, because the audience will usually egg these performers on to prove that they really are "freaks".  outside of the sideshow, the term "freak" should not be used. these people act like freaks for the sole purpose of entertainment.  there is a lot of history behind the word "freak" and the ideas it brings about.  

the passage that we read relates to the film "Freaks", especially the ending, when the "freaks" are viewed as "normal" people, rather than the opposite as they are in the beginning.  also, it is made clear that you never see outside of the backstage area of the sideshow, as the term "freak" isn't to be used outside of a sideshow setting

Freaks

The movie "Freaks" is bizarre and unordinary and insanely weird.  Everything about it is weird.  Especially the fact that it was supposed to be a horror movie.  It is actually interesting to watch because there are absolutely no special effects, which was eye opening for me....that people who actually had these problems and insecurities could play themselves in a movie.  But then again, this goes back to the fact that when someone has an extreme difference, the plot is always focused around that difference or disability, as it is in this movie.  there are little people, hermaphrodites, siamese twins, and those who just arent physically "beautiful" in most people's eyes.  though this movie is extremely ridiculous and cheesy, it does bring about many topics and issues that the world of the media today are still facing.

welcome to cancerland

The piece "welcome to cancerland" by barbara ehrenreich was extremely powerful. i can't imagine the angst and concern the author goes through while waiting to get her mammogram; it must be an amazingly stressful experience, one which i hope and pray i will never have to go through with.  the experience of the mammogram overall seems very uncomfortable.  

i really can't imagine what the author feels like as she goes through countless surgeries and check ups, wondering if she will survive or the disease will take over her.  this piece made me realize that i do not take into consideration how short life really is, and how one thing can change the course i have been going down for good or for a long time.  

skivvies and stuff

i thought the pieces we read for class today, "when did skivvies get rated nc-17?" and "those unnerving ads using 'real' women", were extremely true.  i never noticed the points that these two authors made. its true, everywhere you turn your head there are sexual ads and people on display.  the company 2xist, a line of underwear, does a very good job at showing male models on their wrappings and enhancing their features, as well as muscles.  i never noticed how much underwear modeling has changed since when i was little; it is much more sexual and revealing, making you feel like if you buy this product you will look like the people on the packaging.

segregation

the two stories we read before class today were very different but very powerful.  i love the way that zora neale hurston writes, and this piece proved her talent.  she is careless and free, but in a good way, not caring that she is a color in a massive group of white.  this relates to my favorite musical "hairspray", where the main character, pleasantly plump teenager Tracy Turnblad, doesn't care that she is the only white girl supporting a group of african american teens, trying to get the tv station that she dances on a tv show for to segregate their show, allowing the african american teens to dance with her.  these two stories show a struggle between right and reality, as Kit said today in class; should you do what you know is right, or what you know you will need to do in reality to help yourself in the long run?  

rushing through life

In response to Danielle's latest blog post, I would like to point out that i too have been noticing how quickly my life has been flying by.  its amazing to me that we are in our 2nd semester of freshmen year, pretty much at the point of spring break. it feels like yesterday that i began my freshmen year of high school. though i'm enjoying every moment of college and loving it to the fullest, i wish time would slow down sometimes! i dont want to miss out on anything, but time is flying faster than i can think.