Individuals Together

Recently, I was talking about cultural views with an acquaintance and listened as he spoke about the german language as if it was an angry, hate filled language. A language is as much of a tool for communication, just as any object used for symbolism can be representative for a different cause no matter what angle it's portrayed. Judgemental words spread like the fondant on a six tiered cake and people still eat it! People are what make a culture and judging those people can delute the befit. To me the chair in this picture is made by the many layers of people bound together to make a society. It's up to people to make it good or not. Sensativity to the world around us is getting lost in a selfconciousness developed by our peers and continued by them. People seem to care more about what the colors of each layer are, rather than the realization that they're still the same components as every other layer in the chair.

Picture+Sex=Customer?

This is the most recent form of idolization and objectivity that I've come acrossed. I wanted to highlight the idea that every culture, even those within other cultures struggle against a bias steriotype even if they're not much different from the ones who are forming the judgement. I'm posting this picture because though it's easy find beauty in everything, it's just as easy to find the unpalatable aspects. There's nothing wrong with celebrating the feminine traits of a male, or masculin traits of a female. However media has power-driven the bizzare hump fest that is modern advertisement. Now sex is a bartering tool. Those finding themselves not equating with the masses are left self-concious and confused by their rejection. If they simply buy some make up, strap on a wonderbra, and puke their lunch, they might be attractive once more. In every picture I see like this, I learn to respect the natural human body more.

Hot celebrity gossip! Who cares about Msn's "Wonder Wall,"and our stars famous failures? Who's here to point out when the paparazzi messes up? Who's here to interupt their work? Is our culture really contempt in hearing who slept with whom, to make their lives feel alittle less miserable? If it's really needed to feel better about one's own self, do something to make it worth it and make it last. Celeb. gossip wont save anyone from self pitty. For that matter when was interest in other cultures so jaded? The only time I ever see other countries, lives, and cultures outside of the "American dream," is when violence occurres or that area suddenly becomes so repulsive Americans must fix it with a heavy dose of care (bullets,) affection (guerilla warfare) and love (the atom bomb.)...That is equivalent to some form of help? We can't talk you into being our way, so we''ll kill your people till you can't disagree with our overzealous accusations. I heard brief news about the crowded streets infront of a college in Teran, shouting for pollitical justice for their votes. Kabul's new and highly sexist laws, the protest of which lead to innocent women getting hit with rocks. Why is the good so overshadowed by the bad, what countries see ours, the way we see theirs?

Ashley here! I wanted to start off letting people know where my views are coming from. As an obese child in a small town with the most bizzare combination of half-fro and orange locks for hair, I wasn't the most socially accepted student. So? I accept myself and enjoy what I have now, and what I will later. I always try and think positive and still somehow manage to only find myself interested in what's wrong with society, why money even exists and even why women wear dresses and men wear tuxes (If dresses are so wonderful on women, why not on men? Why don't women wear suits more. Since when did it become important that cloths do more then protect?) I like to question everything, and form an answer to solve a problem, not fix a person. Generally these topics get me excited because I like to be creative and expressive.