English 101

WordPress. Lip Plates. Digital image. WordPress.com. WordPress. Web. 5 May 2012. <http://mabelcro.wordpress.com/2011/12/09/body-modification-3/>.

The definition of body modification is the deliberate altering of the human body for any non-medical reason. These reasons include aesthetics, sexual enhancement, a rite of passage, religious reasons, to create body art, and self-expression. As an example the picture above is of a young African woman. She stretched her lip with that plate in order to make herself appear more beautiful to attract a suitable husband. In her culture the bigger the lip plate, the more attractive you are. Another example of cultural body modifications is the circumcision of religious men. Many men from different religions become circumcised as babies or young children. The Jewish faith for example, modify their bodies in such a way because in the book of Genesis, Abraham and his descendants did it as a covenant with God. All of these reasons help make people individuals and unique.  In some way, everyone who modifies their bodies do it for a positive reason in their lives. Whether a newly married couple is getting matching tattoos or a teen is trying to find out who they are, body modification is very important to many people. (The Body Project)

Weheartit. Body Modification Parents. Digital image. Weheartit.com. Weheartit. Web. 5 May 2012. <http://weheartit.com/kirascrm>.

Sadly, many people who modify their bodies in such a way are discriminated by people every day. Rude stares, comments, snickers, are much too common in their everyday lives.  Modified people with tattoos or piercings are judged before they even get to be known. People assuming they are delinquents or troubled people.  In all actuality however, many modified people are open minded, interestingly friendly people who aren’t given a chance. Tattooed people often can’t get jobs, because they cause problems for their customers. Even if the present tattoos aren’t gang related or racist, they still aren’t accepted. Under law and order, an employer legally has the right to ask their tattooed employee to cover their tattoos or receive a pink slip.  But is it fair to discriminate tattooed people and not people with nose jobs, breast implants, or the overly tanned? (Hudson)

ABC News. Church of Body Modification. Digital image. Abcnews.com. ABC News. Web. 5 May 2012. <Weheartit. Body Modification Parents. Digital image. Weheartit.com. Weheartit. Web. 5 May 2012. .>.

Even in the school systems, teens are discriminated against when it comes to piercings, tattoos, or other types of modifications. Some schools will even go as far as to expelling their students for having modifications. For example, the picture above is of a teen with a simple nose piercing who stirred up a lot of trouble. Her high school did not allow body modifications unless they were for religious or cultural reasons. She claimed it was a religious reason, she was a member of the Church of Body Modification and was allowed to express herself with a nose stud. Her school board did not accept her religious view, claiming it was a fake religion and proceeded to suspend her until further notice. Not only was she in trouble with the school board, but her peers harassed her and criticized her for all she had been through. The life of many teens are effected in similar ways, all over the world. (Netter)

Betweenthehorns. New York’s Dr. Dave Ores. Digital image. Betweenthehorns.ca. Betweenthehorns. Web. 5 May 2012. <http://www.betweenthehorns.ca/index.php?pagecur=2>.

Not only do teens get discriminated at school, but adults can also be discriminated in the work place. Most work places do not allow visible tattoos, piercings, or other body modifications of the sort. These same work establishments could get a wonderful resume, call that person in for an interview excited to hire them, then once they see them in person don’t hire them because of their tattoos or ect. However if a woman with breast implants applies for the job she may not be discriminated against for her modifications. What’s so fair about that? There are many different establishments that do not allow their staff to have tattoos, or allow them to be showing. Almost all public and civil service jobs, retail stores, and professional jobs such as teaching or medicine do not allow tattoos. Not only do many work places have out right policies against tattoos and piercings, but they can also make regulations as needed. (Fox News)

Larratt, Shannon. Cultural Revolutionary. Digital image. Zentastic.com. Zentastic, 28 Aug. 2001. Web. 5 May 2012. <http://www.zentastic.com/blog/2001/08/page/4/>.

Modifications are harmless to other people. Like the color of one’s hair or the choice their wardrobe, people have the right to choose what to do to their bodies. 60% of women in the United States are pierced and 42% of men are too. While 10% of the American  population are tattooed. So why is their still discrimination? (Bmezine)

Bmezine. “Thesis on Body Modification Discrimination.” Thesis on Body Modification Discrimination. Bmezine.com. Web. 07 May 2012. <http://news.bmezine.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/pubring/edit/A20517/artthesi.html>.

Bradley University. “What Is the Body Project?” The Body Project. Bradley University, 2009. Web. 07 May 2012. <http://thebodyproject.bradley.edu/>.

Fox News. “Body Art and Tattoos in the Workplace | Fox News.” Fox News. FOX News Network, 21 Oct. 2006. Web. 07 May 2012. <http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,223178,00.html>.

Hudson, Karen L. “Body Mods and Job Discrimination Issues.” About.com Tattoos / Body Piercings. About.com, 2012. Web. 07 May 2012. <http://tattoo.about.com/od/tattoosgeneralinfo/f/findingwork.htm>.

Netter, Sarah. “Student’s Body Modification Religion Questioned After Nose Piercing Controversy.” ABC News. ABC News Network, 16 Sept. 2010. Web. 07 May 2012. <http://abcnews.go.com/US/students-body-modification-religion-questioned-nose-piercing-controversy/story?id=11645847>.

Body Modification Discrimination

Modification Discrimination- Why body modification can be good, the reasons people get mods, how everyone modifies their bodies, what modified people have to deal with from people who discriminate them.

Thesis on Body Modification Discrimination- Why people are discriminated, who gets mods, histories, the moral views on body mods, body mod in the workplace. (The legal views)

Body Art and Tattoos in the Workplace-  Discrimination of mod people. (People with mods can be successful and normal people too)

Church of Body Modification – Why body modification can be controversial. (In school and general)

The Body Project- The history of body mod, different types of mod, areas around the world using body mod. (Talks about tanning, surgery and circumcision too)

Tattoos Conquer Modern Art as Needles and Ink Replace Brushes written by Paul Harris was a piece that could really open someones eyes. To a person who thinks people with tattoos are bad people, this might be something that could help them understand the other side things. The main point of this article was to explain that tattooing is actually a major form of art. This article helps one to peek through the key hole, into the world of real tattooing. Harris interviewed a few tattoo artists to get their opinion on the subject. All of them expressed they tattoo because they are artists and tattooing is their favorite way to express themselves. This article also describes that mostly all tattoo artists have actually went to school for the arts and just like doctors, have covet initials after their names, MFA (Master of Fine Arts).

One thing that caught my attention in this article was the fact that the tattoo artist Thomas Hooper has a six month waiting list for his clients. I have been hearing of Hoopers work for years now and have grown to respect him as an artist. I had no idea however that people lined up for over six months to get in one session from him. This fact just gives me more respect for him.

Like I said before, this article was an eye opener and I really enjoyed it. I would love for people who don’t agree with tattoos to stumble upon this article and broaden their horizons. People who like tattoos would also like this article because it is full of information they can relate too and they might even see another side of tattooing they didn’t know about before.

In the most recent article I’ve read, I stumbled upon David Wiegand’s review about the comedic styles of the Whitest Kids U’ Know. This article is a summary of this sketch comedies raw attitude and hilarious shenanigans. Wiegand helps the reader pain a picture of this edgy comedy group with colorful descriptions of everything from their live shows, to their television series.

One thing that surprised me about this article was that the Whitest kids U’ Know really do put on shows. From what I knew about the group, being a huge fan of theirs for years, they were suppose to have stopped shows to slow things down. It was surprising to me because I thought I wasn’t going to get a chance to see them preform, now I can!

I really enjoyed reading this article because of David Wiegand’s writing style. He kept me awake and interested in what he was talking about. I also really enjoyed his comedic touch while talking about the groups shows. Wiegand  explained one of their skits by saying, “Oh, but the one they did about … with the thing … and then that one guy simulated … and it all …”. I like that kind of humor. Also, I appreciate the way he describes the groups humor and their risky performances.

Overall this wasn’t a bad article. It was a tad brief and it wasn’t very personal, but I still enjoyed reading about the Whitest Kids U’ Know. I would suggest this article to an open minded reader.

The New Rave Generation by Philip Sherburne was hands down, one amazing article. I really enjoy his writing style and his uniqueness. He even adds a bit of his own humor, which adds a touch of personality to his writing. Pretty much the main point of this article is to describe a new generation of dance music, specifically the musical style of Skrillex. Sherburne describes everything from Skrillex’s own shows, to his own fans dancing in the crowd. He elaborates on the subject of how Skrillex’s music has been a huge milestone for the new dance music scene. Also he writes about this genre of music has developed over the past 30 years.

One thing that surprised me in this article was when Sherburne states that Deadmau5 (one of this genres most recognizable artists.) first helped Skrillex get his name out. Deadmau5 released Skrillex’s first EP out on his own label, Mau5trap. That was something that definitely caught my attention because that was how this big name in music got started out, from the help of a friend.

Like I said, this was one fantastic article. It describes the history of this genre, and it’s main kings in the industry. It’s an interesting read, and can be appreciated by anyone who comes across it. I would for sure refer this article to anyone who is interested in the new music scene or even someone who enjoys a different perspective on music.

A Day to Remember, written by Jonah Bayer, was a great atricle. Bayer seems to be a good writer, he is detailed, gets personal, and makes things interesting.

The main purpose of this article is to describe the bands uniqueness and reveal its innerworkings. From getting information right from the mouths of the band members, to explaining the bands history, this article is worth reading.

There were even things in this acticle I didn’t know for myself. Bayer tells the reader that one of the bands members, Neil Wastfall was tattood by the one and only Oliver Peck. Oliver Peck is a well known, one of a kind tattoo artist. Neil was looking to get a tattoo, but Oliver is always so busy he never accepts clients if they don’t make an appointment. Neil was lucky however and Oliver agreed to give him a tattoo. I didn’t know this, and it’s an interesting piece of information because Niel is apart of one of my favorite bands and Oliver is one of my favorite tattoo artists.

I really enjoy the way this article is ended. Bayer squeezes this last quote in from the bands guitarists, “If you don’t keep up you’re going to get left behind because the world’s not going to wait for you.” It’s a powerful message and it really stands out being the last thing that the reader sees. It kind of makes you think.

All in all I’d give this article a thumbs up. This would be a good article for someone who is interested in really getting to know the the real members of this band and their feelings.

I believe that everyone should play an musical instrument. Playing music can open new doors, express how you feel, and it’s stimulating to the mind. Not everyone really realizes that music makes you think. It takes some level of skill to count and read the music all while playing an instrument.Music can change peoples lives.

Ever since fourth grade music has had a special place in my heart. I learned how to play my first instrument that year, the recorder. I learned how to play my first song, and from then on I was hooked. I see now that that year my life had changed forever. The very next year I picked up my main instrument, the flute. From fifth grade up to my sophomore year in high school, I was in band.  After band I ended up working at a music store. I remember during my interview for the job they kept asking me questions about genres of music, different styles of music, and other questions about music and pop culture. I was told that the other associates were all into art in their own way. One was a dancer/painter, another had his own clothing design company, and someone else was in a band. I was asked what I could bring to the table. I said I was in band for six years and I had a deep love for classical music and wrote some of my own pieces. For that reason, I got the job. It was something different and meaningful and they saw that right away. I loved working there, it was always interesting and I spent all day talking about music. There wasn’t a day when I didn’t want to go to work. If I didn’t first pick up the recorder back in fourth grade, I wouldn’t have helped myself out in the future. Not only did it get me a job, but as a person I feel that I see things differently than other people. I’ve learned to appreciate all the little things, because the little things are the most important. This different outlook has helped me to meet new people, people like me. My closest friends now love art and music as much as I do. We can have stimulating conversations that no one else really seems to understand. That’s the beauty of music, it has effected even my personal life. Without it I wouldn’t have shared the same interests as my friends and I would be lost. Not only has music given me great friends, but it has taught me how to be different. Music can come from huge, complicated instruments, or something as simple as a couple of spoons, and that’s taught me something. It’s taught me that sometimes the things that are different can be the most intriguing. That’s how I see myself, different. Thanks to music I have learned how to be a unique individual and march to the beat of my own drum (pun intended). All music is beautiful to me and that helped me realize that everything has its own beauty in it if you just look for it. In a sense it’s helped me to “stop and smell the flowers”. When life gets me ripping my hair out, music is like my own personal stress ball. Just sitting down and listening to something, anything, clears my head and definitely relaxes me. Not everyone is like this, and if I never got my handle on music I wouldn’t have that to stop me from loosing my mind.

Playing an instrument changed my life. It’s very powerful and not everyone realizes it. If everyone at least tried to play some kind of music, in a way I feel that they would change somehow. Either respecting music more, or having something drastic happen to them because of it. They don’t know if it could effect them in the future like it did to me, so why not try?

The creator of this advertisement, in my opinion, did a groovy job. He made an ad that was eye catching, exciting, and interesting. Even the way he placed the different parts of the ad created a nice flow and is appealing to the eyes. Probably one of the first things that one notices when they first look at the poster is the large words, ” The Beatles A Hard Day’s Night”. Back in the 1960′s, everyone knew what that was; the amazing album, song, and new film all created by the beloved Beatles. Just by seeing those words would entice the reader into looking at the rest of the advertisement.

Then when one glances slightly to the right, they see the four individual pictures of the Beatles. Even the pictures he chose to put on it made the poster stand out. The individual pictures of the band members are cropped pictures of their upper faces. That there describes the Beatles quirkiness and silly personalities. At the bottom of the page there is a long list of some amazing hits by the band. Not only does it have a list of their great songs, but it describes that they have six new songs out! That would draw the people in even more.

The very top of the page has something else that would lure the reader in, and that is the notion that the Beatles have created a film. If you saw a poster of your favorite band that said they made a film, wouldn’t you want to see it? Exactly. That’s another reason why this ad does a far out job at getting ones attention. Beneath the song lists, there is another list and that shows all the places the reader could see the film. That’s the kicker, the purpose of this ad has been served once the reader sees this. Now every funky flower child around will be attending this radical event.

This ad isn’t meant for one type of person, it’s meant for anyone to see. The Beatles, back in the day, were huge. Hands down they were not only one of the best bands of the 60′s, but they were also one of the most influential, life changing bands who most everyone could relate too. They were very sharp, hunky men with psychedelic music. Since they were so well known, all the chicks swooned over them and all the dudes wanted to be like them. There are two cartoon women on the poster, and they both seem to be carefree, excited, and happy, which does a pretty good job at describing the Beatles.

So all in all this ad seems to be advertising the Beatles new film and where all their rad fans could go to see it. I feel that this ad is perfect. It does a killer job at getting ones attention, it’s easy on the eyes, and its full of information for such a small ad. In all honesty, I don’t think I would or could change anything about this advertisement.

Forget Goofing Around; Recess Has a New Boss

This article was an interesting read. It described Broadway Elementary Schools new recess policy. They wanted to try something new, to promote healthy living, foster social skills, and tackle childhood obscenity. Since their children weren’t using their recess time to do so, they brought someone in to help them with that, Ms. Parker. Ms. Parker was hired to organize recess to be constructive to the students and make sure they were staying active and having a good time.

Out of all of the themes to choose from, I chose the arts. For two years I worked in a music store and was required to be up on the latest music and pop culture.  This category is always one that stands out to me compared to the rest.  There are many different essay topics I could come up with for the arts, since the arts can cover many different categories. Topics such as how does art effect ones everyday life? why does having art in schools beneficial to children? why are the arts important? what if there was no art?. Not only are there many different topics to choose from, but if you think about it, the arts are everywhere. Art can be found anywhere one looks and is actually in everyone’s lives, and that’s the beauty of it. Art was also another huge thing in my life as a high school student. I went to England with my schools theater group in which I participated greatly in. Not only was I a part of theater, I was also in band for five years of my life. So, out of all of the categories I would find art to be something that would catch my attention the entire semester and I would love to write about. The only other themes I would be interested in doing would be education or family and relationships. I find education to be something that catches my attention because I do want to be a teacher once I finish school, and I feel it would be a breeze to blog about. Family and relationships is something else I am very passionate about. In high school I was in a Child Care class that took up about 70% of my time from all my four years, and it really stuck with me. Not only is it something I am passionate about but I find it to be interesting thing to learn and teach others about. So, given the option I would love to write about the arts above all else, but I also wouldn’t mind writing about family and relationships or education.