Exit Through the Gift Shop

I enjoyed watching “Exit Through the Gift Shop.”  Before watching the movie, I knew nothing about street art and actually often wondered how street artists do it.  I found it very interesting to see how they make their art and actually go about putting it out there.  I liked all of Banky’s art shown; I found it very cool to look at and interesting.  All of his art is very different and if I was walking down the street and saw it, I would definitely stop and take a closer look.

            In my opinion, Thierry Guetta is someone who pretty much got famous by luck.  He is not an artist.  All the other artists shown in the film are actually able to draw and create their own ideas and images.  Thierry had to enlist the help of real life sculptors, painters, and artists.  Thierry just had a vision in his head for a split second and told someone else to execute his idea.  I do believe Thierry is very smart though.  He knows how to make money by ripping people off and has made his entire living off doing this.  I do not know if the whole documentary was made as a joke to just make fun of Thierry.  I think Banksy created it partially to make fun of Guetta, because his art is pretty much a joke and a lot of people wasted money on what they thought was amazing art. But to also show people about street art and how it is done which is what the first half of the film was about.     

Horseback Riding

My sister, Savannah, rides horses in her free time.  She has only been riding a year and is very amazing at what she does.  Savannah participates in shows about once a month and has placed in every show.  I have only attended one of my sister’s shows because I am terrified of horses and even get nervous when I have to take her to her lesson and those beastly creatures are near my car.  Even though she has been riding for less than a year, Savannah has qualified for districts in a scholarship competition and also qualified for the state show.  For the state show I will be facing my fear and attending the show to support my sister.  I know she is often disappointed I don’t attend her shows because she is always upset when I say I’m not going.  I plan to attend more shows in the future.  I am very proud of my sister and how well she rides.  I wish I had the courage, passion, and drive to do something of that nature.   

If I Were A Boy

            The music video I chose to analyze is Beyoncé’s “If I Were a Boy.”  This video depicts the cultural argument of double standards between men and women.  In the first half of the video, Beyoncé acts as a police officer, while her husband works in an office.  While Beyoncé is out with male friends from work having a blast, her husband is steady working and thinking about her all day.  He actually refuses to go out with some female friends from work because he knows she would not like that.  Beyoncé and her husband get into an argument about how much she is hanging out with her male coworkers.  Then the roles switch and Beyoncé is the office worker while her husband is the police officer, which is their “real life” in the video.  Beyoncé wants to switch roles with her husband to show him how the way she is being treated feels.  It is a double standard because when she is the one out having all the fun it is a problem, but when it’s him it is ok.  The main point of the video is pretty saying treat me how you want to be treated.  This video uses characters, irony, and plot to help get its point across and does so effectively.  This song and video can bring many emotions about.  It can bring out hurt, anger, and pain.  The tone in Beyonce’s voice when singing the song helps to bring the emotions and helps listeners to realize her feeling when they hear it.  The plot of the video also helps Beyonce make her point.

"Slave Math"

            Being a future educator myself I feel the “slave math” could be seen as racially insensitive.  When the teacher made this worksheet she did not take into account how the students or their families may feel about using slavery in math problems.  There is a place for history and a there is a place for math, the two subject do not need to be combined.  Rather than asking “Each tree had 56 oranges.  If 8 slaves pick them equally, then how much would each slave pick?”  The question should have just said people.  Using slaves in examples can be seen as degrading to many individuals.  I do not believe the teacher who made the worksheet and the three other teachers that used the worksheet should be fired.  I feel this incident should be used as a learning experience instead.

            Comparing this teaching method to the students reading the fake letter about polygamy and Sharia law does not make sense.  The slave math was seen by many as insensitive and degrading.  The letter was more so used to inform the students of a different culture and lifestyle and have them express how they feel.  In my opinion it should not be seen as degrading.  The “slave math” problems should not have been made up and slavery should have been kept in the history lesson.

Introduce Yourself

My name is Emily Black and I was born and raised in Marietta, Ga.  I have actually lived in the same house since I was three.  My mother raised my sister and I by herself and spent most of her time working to support us which often resulted in me taking care of my younger sister.  In my spare time, I love to go shopping, spend time with my family, watch movies, and relax.  Education and doing well in school has always been a big part of my life.  My mother taught me the more education you have the farther you will be able to go in life.  I am going to school for early childhood education because one day I would love to be an elementary school teacher. 

            My past and upbringing have influenced the way I see things and look at the world.  Being raised by a single mother has made me very hesitant to trust people outside my family.  It has also made me very independent and strong minded.  My hometown has also affected my view of things.  I was born and raised in Marietta, Georgia which is a fairly safe town.  So after moving to Atlanta I had to be very cautious of my surroundings and whereabouts.  I believe wherever a person is raised and how they are brought up affects the way their outlook on the world. 

            To be objective is to be impartial and unbiased.  I do not believe it is possible for a person to be completely objective.  Every experience a person has effects them and how they view or feel about things.  This leads people to be partially biased without even thinking about it.