"Prom is the day. the day ill remember for the rest of my life. I just cant wait to go dress shopping", stated my friends sister. she talked with such a excitment and content for a day where she was promised the time of a lifetime. after the intial question of, what comes to mind when you think of prom? i asked her why is prom so special? she went on to say that it was a celebration that tops off your 4 years of high school. than i went on to ask, than why is prom so unique? she told me with a distinct facial expression(are you serious?), and said the preperation is what makes it so significant. the dress shoppin which she was so enthused about and the scenes and talk shes heard of prom day and its festivities. she was ready to just have fun and that was what most mattered to her. but she did not think that prom was anything less than memorable.
I confronted my friend who graduated from stuyvesant two years ago. we sat down and he asked what for. " i need to interview you about prom, just a couple questions, no biggie right?". " weird, but no problem man" he stated. i asked him, how was your prom in high school? " it wasnt all that like people put it to seem, it was ok. i just got pretty messed up haha. and i got the girl ive always wanted. i laughed at his response because it was a stereotypical one. Sex and alcohol are all components of prom. he didnt have a great prom but he got what he wanted(sex and alcohol) which he was most proud of.he still remembers the day clearly even if it was washed down.
The last person i interviewed was my mother. before i even tried asking her questions, she told me with a demanding voice that i better have everything situated for prom becuase it was 2 days away. i sad who cares, to test her buttons and see what kind of response i would hear back. like a i predicted, she went on to say how stupid i would look if i didnt. alll thats heard, experienced and seen about Prom day has my own mother worried about my own and me looking stupid. she didnt want her son having a bad time or maybe even a laughing stock which was funny to me. this itnerview pretty much went from me wanting to interview my mother to her taking control and interviewing me. she didnt have a prom herself because she was pregnant with my oldest brother and felt the need to make sure i had a great one.
These interviews all gave stereotypical answers and views about prom. the things you hear about prom like sexy, drugs, dances, limos, and casual wear. is what many have been following and look to continue to do so. i really think its overwhelming for many teenagers, even their parents who are the bread winners and providers for a pricy night.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
HW 57 - Initial Thoughts on Prom
Prom is seen as a significant social event that is a stepping stone for a high school student. From younger, youth have viewed prom through the imaginative eye. thinking of the typical Cinderella type story's that are presented to us in countless movies. Horse and carriage relating to the pricey limousine that many buy on such event. the casual attire that high schools make sure they look different and better than others. the pressure or want in having to have a memorable prom night is really just provoked. what happens before the prom like awkward photos, mother crying as she sees her seed grown up she says. Than theirs prom where people make entrances, slow dance, drink punch and wait for something spectacular to happen.
Prom is coming close and i see the pressure people have to want to be prepared and "great" for the event. an event which last only a night, where teenagers kids feel their leash come off from their parents and everything before them. personally Ive always had solid communication with my mother when it comes to being with friends or having a social life. because i proved to her that im able to be independent with all that i do and knows im with the same friends since 6th grade. prom night will be the same. even though the typical prom festivities and attributes are present for my prom day, something i dont quite mind, its really just having a good time with good friends. thinking that the night will be like one in the movies is uneccessary because that is rare.
Than again, we all want things to happen to us as they do in fair tales. Especially as Americans glamor and riches are something we want in life. Rather than just success, many just want riches. Prom is a day where your able to flaunt your parents riches and present yourself in a matter like they do in rap videos( like andy stated). i agree with the statement because you dont see any individuals who are rich significantly successful(hard working) flaunting everything they have because that would be considered stubborn and unnecessary. but for rap artists its what there order to do. But prom day is a night where your able to flaunt your success, finishing high school on a high note and moving on to college.
Questions
Is it really a pivotal moment?
How has prom become a typical cinderalla story rather than just a regular celebration?
whats a school staff's responsibilities or plans for the event?
how was or is your prom going to be different?
Prom is coming close and i see the pressure people have to want to be prepared and "great" for the event. an event which last only a night, where teenagers kids feel their leash come off from their parents and everything before them. personally Ive always had solid communication with my mother when it comes to being with friends or having a social life. because i proved to her that im able to be independent with all that i do and knows im with the same friends since 6th grade. prom night will be the same. even though the typical prom festivities and attributes are present for my prom day, something i dont quite mind, its really just having a good time with good friends. thinking that the night will be like one in the movies is uneccessary because that is rare.
Than again, we all want things to happen to us as they do in fair tales. Especially as Americans glamor and riches are something we want in life. Rather than just success, many just want riches. Prom is a day where your able to flaunt your parents riches and present yourself in a matter like they do in rap videos( like andy stated). i agree with the statement because you dont see any individuals who are rich significantly successful(hard working) flaunting everything they have because that would be considered stubborn and unnecessary. but for rap artists its what there order to do. But prom day is a night where your able to flaunt your success, finishing high school on a high note and moving on to college.
Questions
Is it really a pivotal moment?
How has prom become a typical cinderalla story rather than just a regular celebration?
whats a school staff's responsibilities or plans for the event?
how was or is your prom going to be different?
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
xc - COTD2
Harold & Maude
In the film Harold and Maude, Harold finds himself being taught a different way to live his life when he meets Maude. Harold i might add a confused young man with countless questions on death and a life that has been controlled by his mother soon changed. Maude, an eighteen year old woman who aims above morality a more joyful and justified life, she slowly becomes his mentor. Harold's single mom raised her only child to be prone to following society and its dominant social practices. Being an emotionless dictator like mother who makes sure her son does what she wants and desires. because she is the "only one in his life". But Maude changes that and is the vocal point/ rebellion against funerals and manipulations.
Due to Harold Mothers possessiveness, he tries to commit suicide several times. His obsession with death links to him wanting to separate from his mom, die and get away from want he doesnt want. even though he is emotionally attached to his mom, to me death to me seems that is his only gateway of making his own decision. Purposely trying to kill himself by driving off a cliff of car but than being strange that he actually wasnt even in the car. presence of his relationship and joy in-cooperated in imaginative music and movement appearing out of the mist shows his change. his mentor, Maude than commits suicide. making death much more significant in the film as well as love.
Characters consist of a spoiled kid, like some say " a silver spoon fed" 20 year old man and his rich and snobbish mother are encounter by the most important character. Maura, a sympathetic life force both gives different, sort of comical and realistic ways dieing and caring. Like those who push for alternatives ways of practice and going against society dominant social practices, Maura and him planted a tree that signified growth and naturalness. Naturalness that many of us do not come to realize because its so detached from us. different circumstances like the one Harold was other detaches us. i enjoy this film very much. well made and directed film where the things that occur are left answered by the audience
In the film Harold and Maude, Harold finds himself being taught a different way to live his life when he meets Maude. Harold i might add a confused young man with countless questions on death and a life that has been controlled by his mother soon changed. Maude, an eighteen year old woman who aims above morality a more joyful and justified life, she slowly becomes his mentor. Harold's single mom raised her only child to be prone to following society and its dominant social practices. Being an emotionless dictator like mother who makes sure her son does what she wants and desires. because she is the "only one in his life". But Maude changes that and is the vocal point/ rebellion against funerals and manipulations.
Due to Harold Mothers possessiveness, he tries to commit suicide several times. His obsession with death links to him wanting to separate from his mom, die and get away from want he doesnt want. even though he is emotionally attached to his mom, to me death to me seems that is his only gateway of making his own decision. Purposely trying to kill himself by driving off a cliff of car but than being strange that he actually wasnt even in the car. presence of his relationship and joy in-cooperated in imaginative music and movement appearing out of the mist shows his change. his mentor, Maude than commits suicide. making death much more significant in the film as well as love.
Characters consist of a spoiled kid, like some say " a silver spoon fed" 20 year old man and his rich and snobbish mother are encounter by the most important character. Maura, a sympathetic life force both gives different, sort of comical and realistic ways dieing and caring. Like those who push for alternatives ways of practice and going against society dominant social practices, Maura and him planted a tree that signified growth and naturalness. Naturalness that many of us do not come to realize because its so detached from us. different circumstances like the one Harold was other detaches us. i enjoy this film very much. well made and directed film where the things that occur are left answered by the audience
HW 55 - Culminating Project - Care of the Dead
For my project i decided to interview two people who i previously felt a little hesitant to interview on there perspectives on death when we were assigned to interview those around us. My mother being one of them, this is because with touchy topics or subjects we don't always see eye to eye, at least some of the time. but mostly because till this day me and my family mourn over the death of my beloved Grandmother. Second interviewee was my boss, who i didnt want to interview because of the fact he was my bos/owner of my job. before i held these interviews i gave them a quick overview of the sort of things we are covering in our care of the dead unit and what was the purpose of these interviews.
Interviewee #1: Mother
How should someone be cared for after their dead?
Its hard for me to say. i remember worrying so much about how someone should be where there dead. now that we as a family have dealt with the death of wela(grandmother), i know now its better to think before you plan. what you want, who and where. people shouldnt worry and think that having a big fancy funeral is the best thing because it is not. I realize that now.
Did caring for my dead family members make you think differently?
yes it really did. Caring for my mother was one of the hardest things i have ever done. luckly with the hlep of your big brother, we made the best decisions that were possible. when my father died he was cremated but his funeral process was more quick. during that time were dealing with a lot, wrong timing i can say. because of low fund i wasnt able to provide him with that much to remember him. i regret somethings i did but the love have for him is more than what i could've provided. For my mother i wanted to do things differently and more precise but i also wanted to fix previous efforts with my father. me and you brother cremated Wela(grandmother) and had her placed next to her husband in place next to the big funeral of saintMerrys. where those who are cremated are inside in a sanctuary. at peace
I love you mom(i added)...
What happen with the funeral service?
the typical things. Making arrangements for the funeral and open casket. what should she wear, look like, be buried with and how everything will look. also the guest list(interruptted her)
Before you go on, why did it feel like the guest list was so big?
i invited friends and family. A lot of people from my workplace came and supported me and it felt very good. but what i was disappointed at was the fact that certain family's did not attend, which they should be ashamed about.
I added: i think many of the funeral arrangements or how it went about was stupid. not to be rude. i saw people who i barely see and people who my grandmother never even saw but maybe heard about. these people werent important to be at my grandmothers funeral. it was nice to see them supporting you, but that wasnt the time. i treasured the fact i got to speak to my grandmother even if she was embalmed(didnt go in dept even though i wanted to). i rather the close knitted family that we have to stay with her and send her off.
Funerals made us think that having these arrangements, extra lighting, bunch of chairs, cloths and all were perfect for my grandmother or someone who is dead. but it wasnt. they manipulate us mom, with money and death on our minds we arent really thinking right.
I only recorded the first half of our interview because we really had a strong and emotional conversation. when i told her what i thought about the funeral service a lot of things stuck out to her and she started to learn what i initially learned.she said the fact that money has always been a issue, the industry and peoples exploitation seems pretty obvious. i was able to give praise to what shes done to her parents when caring for them and told her she did a phenomenal job.
Interviewee #2: Boss
how do you want to be cared for when your dead?
i want to be buried. everyone in my family has a reserved spot next to each other in a funeral home. we usually have a wake and open casket and than the body gets buried. its pretty nice to know that your next to those you love when your dead. dieing isnt a big deal, your simply dieing. cremated your being burned, so i rather be buried.
Why is everything a tradition?
To many is the best waty is tradition. exspecially with something like death, religion is pretty important. everything associated with the funeral and how you care for the dead is circled around that familys religion preference. people do everything they think is neccessary toget into heaven and we as family members to make sure they get thier.
Manager intruded: if we were able to do something different than go to funeral home than we would do so. but its hard to appropriatley do something. Just as giving natural taste and food to people is healthy it isnt talked about as much as fast food(talked of alternatives as i did in begginging with boss reuben)... our society is complex as it gets. it isnt as easy as pointing things out, but that is where it starts from. we need more funeral homes aswell as many other things to provide those alternatives you and others talk about.
The cremation rate now is about 1 out of every 3 people choose cremation. i know as time goes on this statistic will go up due to our economy. but i wonder about the other alternatives? i wonder about many alternatives ways of doing things and living? is it possible to make a a major change, a tleast in my lifetime? i see it as a simple no, but "lets work on it". its important to do what you want, what you beileve in, kudos to me and our classmates who have a head start in making justified decisions.
Interviewee #1: Mother
How should someone be cared for after their dead?
Its hard for me to say. i remember worrying so much about how someone should be where there dead. now that we as a family have dealt with the death of wela(grandmother), i know now its better to think before you plan. what you want, who and where. people shouldnt worry and think that having a big fancy funeral is the best thing because it is not. I realize that now.
Did caring for my dead family members make you think differently?
yes it really did. Caring for my mother was one of the hardest things i have ever done. luckly with the hlep of your big brother, we made the best decisions that were possible. when my father died he was cremated but his funeral process was more quick. during that time were dealing with a lot, wrong timing i can say. because of low fund i wasnt able to provide him with that much to remember him. i regret somethings i did but the love have for him is more than what i could've provided. For my mother i wanted to do things differently and more precise but i also wanted to fix previous efforts with my father. me and you brother cremated Wela(grandmother) and had her placed next to her husband in place next to the big funeral of saintMerrys. where those who are cremated are inside in a sanctuary. at peace
I love you mom(i added)...
What happen with the funeral service?
the typical things. Making arrangements for the funeral and open casket. what should she wear, look like, be buried with and how everything will look. also the guest list(interruptted her)
Before you go on, why did it feel like the guest list was so big?
i invited friends and family. A lot of people from my workplace came and supported me and it felt very good. but what i was disappointed at was the fact that certain family's did not attend, which they should be ashamed about.
I added: i think many of the funeral arrangements or how it went about was stupid. not to be rude. i saw people who i barely see and people who my grandmother never even saw but maybe heard about. these people werent important to be at my grandmothers funeral. it was nice to see them supporting you, but that wasnt the time. i treasured the fact i got to speak to my grandmother even if she was embalmed(didnt go in dept even though i wanted to). i rather the close knitted family that we have to stay with her and send her off.
Funerals made us think that having these arrangements, extra lighting, bunch of chairs, cloths and all were perfect for my grandmother or someone who is dead. but it wasnt. they manipulate us mom, with money and death on our minds we arent really thinking right.
I only recorded the first half of our interview because we really had a strong and emotional conversation. when i told her what i thought about the funeral service a lot of things stuck out to her and she started to learn what i initially learned.she said the fact that money has always been a issue, the industry and peoples exploitation seems pretty obvious. i was able to give praise to what shes done to her parents when caring for them and told her she did a phenomenal job.
Interviewee #2: Boss
how do you want to be cared for when your dead?
i want to be buried. everyone in my family has a reserved spot next to each other in a funeral home. we usually have a wake and open casket and than the body gets buried. its pretty nice to know that your next to those you love when your dead. dieing isnt a big deal, your simply dieing. cremated your being burned, so i rather be buried.
Why is everything a tradition?
To many is the best waty is tradition. exspecially with something like death, religion is pretty important. everything associated with the funeral and how you care for the dead is circled around that familys religion preference. people do everything they think is neccessary toget into heaven and we as family members to make sure they get thier.
Manager intruded: if we were able to do something different than go to funeral home than we would do so. but its hard to appropriatley do something. Just as giving natural taste and food to people is healthy it isnt talked about as much as fast food(talked of alternatives as i did in begginging with boss reuben)... our society is complex as it gets. it isnt as easy as pointing things out, but that is where it starts from. we need more funeral homes aswell as many other things to provide those alternatives you and others talk about.
The cremation rate now is about 1 out of every 3 people choose cremation. i know as time goes on this statistic will go up due to our economy. but i wonder about the other alternatives? i wonder about many alternatives ways of doing things and living? is it possible to make a a major change, a tleast in my lifetime? i see it as a simple no, but "lets work on it". its important to do what you want, what you beileve in, kudos to me and our classmates who have a head start in making justified decisions.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
HW 54 - Independent Research B
The amount of practices and religious freaks i see on a daily basis is remarkable. Growing up i came to realize that many things or those who are worshiped were fake. Mom writing Santa's name on a present under the tree as i stood behind the wall steadily watching. saw a lie right before my eyes. after years of misconception. After knowing that the tooth fairy and now Santa wasn't real, it was hard to know what was true or real and that was at a very young age. As i grew up God became much more closer to Santa and the tooth fairy because there was no evidence that he his truly exist. I am Atheist, and deny the existence of god but understand his presence.
Atheism serves as way for people to wonder into their own independent beliefs rather than follow the typical ones around them. Dan Barker, Author of "Losing Faith in Faith" states, "I have something to say to the religionist who feels atheists never say anything positive: You are an intelligent human being. Your life is valuable for its own sake. You are not second-class in the universe, deriving meaning and purpose from some other mind. You are not inherently evil -- you are inherently human, possessing the positive rational potential to help make this a world of morality, peace and joy. Trust yourself." Dan Barker says that people usually do not follow their own instinct or have a value in their life. because they worship and cram themselves into believing something. from personal experience Ive seen many say the words, "why would god do this to me?. that brings many to question, as i did myself. Rationalizing things and being an Atheist isn't evil.
We might consider to be an adequate concept of God, whether or not we wish to argue for the existence of such a being. Remarks were made by J.N Findlay in his article (‘Can God's Existence be Disproved?’ (Findlay 1949). More and more adequate conceptions of God still portray God as limited in various respects."Now logic, he held, is tautologous and without ontological commitment. So God's necessary existence would have to be something different from logical necessity. The trouble is how to see what this could be." god necessary in many ways. people are in of a leader at many times, even if his physical existence was ever true, he serves as a spoke person tom many. Due to logic, he is limited in various aspects.
You choose whether you believe or don't believe. Atheism as well as others, gives pride to those who give invididual thought. When it comes to caring for the dead, me being an Atheist and all, i dont see the typical funeral practice as my own. Religions like Jewish, Christianity and others are bound top have a funeral service. I rather Flexibility with how i want to be treated seems right to me, since im also not even religous
Resources
http://www.religioustolerance.org/atheist.htm
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/atheism-agnosticism/
Atheism serves as way for people to wonder into their own independent beliefs rather than follow the typical ones around them. Dan Barker, Author of "Losing Faith in Faith" states, "I have something to say to the religionist who feels atheists never say anything positive: You are an intelligent human being. Your life is valuable for its own sake. You are not second-class in the universe, deriving meaning and purpose from some other mind. You are not inherently evil -- you are inherently human, possessing the positive rational potential to help make this a world of morality, peace and joy. Trust yourself." Dan Barker says that people usually do not follow their own instinct or have a value in their life. because they worship and cram themselves into believing something. from personal experience Ive seen many say the words, "why would god do this to me?. that brings many to question, as i did myself. Rationalizing things and being an Atheist isn't evil.
We might consider to be an adequate concept of God, whether or not we wish to argue for the existence of such a being. Remarks were made by J.N Findlay in his article (‘Can God's Existence be Disproved?’ (Findlay 1949). More and more adequate conceptions of God still portray God as limited in various respects."Now logic, he held, is tautologous and without ontological commitment. So God's necessary existence would have to be something different from logical necessity. The trouble is how to see what this could be." god necessary in many ways. people are in of a leader at many times, even if his physical existence was ever true, he serves as a spoke person tom many. Due to logic, he is limited in various aspects.
You choose whether you believe or don't believe. Atheism as well as others, gives pride to those who give invididual thought. When it comes to caring for the dead, me being an Atheist and all, i dont see the typical funeral practice as my own. Religions like Jewish, Christianity and others are bound top have a funeral service. I rather Flexibility with how i want to be treated seems right to me, since im also not even religous
Resources
http://www.religioustolerance.org/atheist.htm
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/atheism-agnosticism/
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
HW 53 - Independent Research A
This article summed of the fact that funerals homes are " big business conglomerates". Who rely on making profit and money and are not family owned like they would have you believe. The manipulation that occurs and the scare tactics that are used to. Convince you to buy something. And inflate the already high priced cost. There prices do not increase in any circumstances unlike regular funeral homes. Average cost of a popular casket a funeral home is 3000. But at this alternative and a more economically beneficial place of "caring for the dead". There price is at $825.00 which includes free delivery locally.
Gordon Lyken worked as an engineer and later felt the urge to carry on his grandfathers business later on in life, and part take in the funeral industry. There were no funeral parlours in the early 1900's and the funeral businesses were all called livery stables because the service offered were horse drawn vehicles, carriages and Landaus, and the coachmen were even dressed in top hats or beavers and frock coats and gloves. Gordon Lyken now today reads about those things and maintains a business that hinged on what was.
I decided to interview a Funeral Director of Metropolitan Funeral Services downtown on Avenue A. I was pretty enthused to see how a touchy subject and controversy of "caring for the dead" will carry on with someone are in that particular career. Also by me just stopping by an asking questions. as i walked into the Funeral Home, i saw the funeral director. i approached his small desk where he was standing and i asked him if he had 2 minutes of his spare time. i was rushed and so was he. but surprisingly the interview was great. he answered my questions very nonchalant yet, simple worded and strong. 2 things that stood out for me in my quick notes were.
- Many people dont come in an ask questions like a "learner" he said, not even the loved ones of arranging a funeral.
- Alternatives aren't pointed out very often or isnt initiated but should be. Cause is the urban lifestyle and economy.
Many people do not ask questions. many do not seek to learn something else. as i begin to grow as a learner and a person is that we choose to follow rather than lead. Funeral Services as well as other things are commercialized. i look at it as a way to promote both sides. but there isn't enough of it. me coming in the interview and seeing how the funeral director himself wanted to talk more to me, yet didn't have the time because he was busy with work. Shows the clash between someones profession and personal views.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
HW 52 - Third Third of the COTD Book
Precis:
In the last third of Grave Matters, Mark Harris introduce the readers to more natural ways of caring for the dead. "Natural" in the sense that, its low cost, better for environment and the dead becoming one with the earth. He elaborates on Plain Pine boxes which have the ability for the deceased to deteriorate into the soil and atmosphere. backyard burials and lastly Natural Cemetary's which give off a much more philosophical and spiritual feeling compared to our society's normal rituals.
Quotes:
" With its straightforward arrangement, family focus, low cost, and basic, handmade casket at the center, that prairie burial of old "seemed to me just a natural way to do it," says Ed".
(pg.126)
"Recounting that emotional and physical marathon years later, Loren describes it as a labor of love that proved both satisfying and ultimately therapeutic". (pg.132)
"You'll come across no upright headstone or monument to the dead, no burial plot marked off with stone edging or linked chain. Nowhere will you find vases of perfect plastic flowers, live plants blooming in cellophane-wrapped pottery". (pg.159)
Analysis:
In many ways it seems like the natural ways of caring for the dead, is actual "caring". Our dominant social practices possess no thought or effort for the dead. we throw money around as if its the only thing that can be done. As i seen through out this last third of the book, there can be many things done for the dead, like a home made casket and burial, rather than a typical money oriented funeral.
In the last third of Grave Matters, Mark Harris introduce the readers to more natural ways of caring for the dead. "Natural" in the sense that, its low cost, better for environment and the dead becoming one with the earth. He elaborates on Plain Pine boxes which have the ability for the deceased to deteriorate into the soil and atmosphere. backyard burials and lastly Natural Cemetary's which give off a much more philosophical and spiritual feeling compared to our society's normal rituals.
Quotes:
" With its straightforward arrangement, family focus, low cost, and basic, handmade casket at the center, that prairie burial of old "seemed to me just a natural way to do it," says Ed".
(pg.126)
"Recounting that emotional and physical marathon years later, Loren describes it as a labor of love that proved both satisfying and ultimately therapeutic". (pg.132)
"You'll come across no upright headstone or monument to the dead, no burial plot marked off with stone edging or linked chain. Nowhere will you find vases of perfect plastic flowers, live plants blooming in cellophane-wrapped pottery". (pg.159)
Analysis:
In many ways it seems like the natural ways of caring for the dead, is actual "caring". Our dominant social practices possess no thought or effort for the dead. we throw money around as if its the only thing that can be done. As i seen through out this last third of the book, there can be many things done for the dead, like a home made casket and burial, rather than a typical money oriented funeral.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
HW 51 - Second Third of COTD Book
Grave Matters
Precis
In the second third of the book Mark Harris introduces other alternatives when caring for the dead. Typical cremations that frequently see in the U.S. Also sea burials where the ashes of the diseased will be spread across the peaceful sea or placing bodies into artificial coral reefs. Much more pleasant and beautiful ways of caring for the dead than the usual dominant social practices we see in this day in age.
Quotes
"Today, some thirty percent of all Americans are cremated. by 2025, the percentage will jump to forty-five percent..." In most countries where cremation has been introduced and taken hold, cremations eventually surrpass burials", says Jack Spring."(pg.55)
"Ken's spiritual uplift at sea contrasted markedly with the dejection he had experienced after leaving regular funerals back on land, whose mournful ceremonies put families into what he dubs a "corridor of sorrow."
(pg.72)
" Ken and his staff will help families conduct a committal ceremony, but it offers no preset version of its own." People have different values and beliefs about what that should be... we let them do what they want, as long as its legal".(pg.80)
Analysis
Quite surprising to see such natural and beautiful alternatives when it comes to caring for the dead. the usual dreadful sadness of typical funerals, burials give the death and even the dead such an awful taste. in earlier post i specified that i wanted my ashes spread out into a body of water, this second third of the book shows that imagination is present when caring for a loved one and the dead.
Precis
In the second third of the book Mark Harris introduces other alternatives when caring for the dead. Typical cremations that frequently see in the U.S. Also sea burials where the ashes of the diseased will be spread across the peaceful sea or placing bodies into artificial coral reefs. Much more pleasant and beautiful ways of caring for the dead than the usual dominant social practices we see in this day in age.
Quotes
"Today, some thirty percent of all Americans are cremated. by 2025, the percentage will jump to forty-five percent..." In most countries where cremation has been introduced and taken hold, cremations eventually surrpass burials", says Jack Spring."(pg.55)
"Ken's spiritual uplift at sea contrasted markedly with the dejection he had experienced after leaving regular funerals back on land, whose mournful ceremonies put families into what he dubs a "corridor of sorrow."
(pg.72)
" Ken and his staff will help families conduct a committal ceremony, but it offers no preset version of its own." People have different values and beliefs about what that should be... we let them do what they want, as long as its legal".(pg.80)
Analysis
Quite surprising to see such natural and beautiful alternatives when it comes to caring for the dead. the usual dreadful sadness of typical funerals, burials give the death and even the dead such an awful taste. in earlier post i specified that i wanted my ashes spread out into a body of water, this second third of the book shows that imagination is present when caring for a loved one and the dead.
Monday, May 2, 2011
HW 49 - Comments on Best of Your Break HW
TO
Dean,
Your preparation for your interviews truly made your experience as well as mine an uplifting one. your wonderings and questions brought about great topics and got out great answers from your interviewees. i thought it was great how you pointed out the statistics on cremation in the U.S and how that's truly significant.
Harry,
What i liked most about your blogs is that you gave me and the audience different religious perspectives on caring for the dead. a christian and Jewish one. i thought i was very interesting how you pointed out that religion gives individuals some sort of agenda or objective when there dealt with death of a loved one. people usually do not go against there typical and dominant practices. this makes me wonder how different cultures and country's handle death?
Omar,
"But does funneling money into a funeral or burial or whatever it may be make much of a difference?". This line stuck out to m. you made your point of view on caring for dead noticed, yet very significant. were now seeing that the funeral system and the actual tendencies and rituals of our culture when it comes to caring for the dead are all industrialized. many things in our structured society are pointless, and its crazy to see that funerals and burials are apart of it.
FROM
Dean,
I thought that it was a great idea to purposely interview people with that you knew would each probably have different opinions on the care of the dead. When I did my interviews I was not sure what their opinions would be or if their opinions would be similar or different from each other. I also really liked how instead of copying and pasting three interviews in your blog, you decided to write out the interviews as a "story" with narration and quotes!
Chris Calan,
I thought it was interesting how you pointed out how death can distract people from life. It's a difficult topic for somepeople because it may hit close to home however you managed to analyze the people in the interviews idealogy and relate to their POV despite if it was similar to yours or not.
Cristine Foger,
This was a great post Tamiko. your preparation and interest in the topic of caring for dead really shows through your writing. The quotes from those you interviewed and your analysis gave nice insights. your connection between the rich and the poor and the costliness of the typical burials and funerals were very significant and engaging. keep up the good work Tamiko.
Harry,
I like the way you compared and contrasted your younger brothers thoughts with your older brothers thoughts and saw that in the end both of their view points helped you question the dominant social practices involved in funerals. How we often use funerals as a way for feeling bad for the dead (sort of moarning the dead rather than celebrating the life they once lived). Most people never really question how we can treat death other than to hold a funeral.
Dean,
Your preparation for your interviews truly made your experience as well as mine an uplifting one. your wonderings and questions brought about great topics and got out great answers from your interviewees. i thought it was great how you pointed out the statistics on cremation in the U.S and how that's truly significant.
Harry,
What i liked most about your blogs is that you gave me and the audience different religious perspectives on caring for the dead. a christian and Jewish one. i thought i was very interesting how you pointed out that religion gives individuals some sort of agenda or objective when there dealt with death of a loved one. people usually do not go against there typical and dominant practices. this makes me wonder how different cultures and country's handle death?
Omar,
"But does funneling money into a funeral or burial or whatever it may be make much of a difference?". This line stuck out to m. you made your point of view on caring for dead noticed, yet very significant. were now seeing that the funeral system and the actual tendencies and rituals of our culture when it comes to caring for the dead are all industrialized. many things in our structured society are pointless, and its crazy to see that funerals and burials are apart of it.
FROM
Dean,
I thought that it was a great idea to purposely interview people with that you knew would each probably have different opinions on the care of the dead. When I did my interviews I was not sure what their opinions would be or if their opinions would be similar or different from each other. I also really liked how instead of copying and pasting three interviews in your blog, you decided to write out the interviews as a "story" with narration and quotes!
Chris Calan,
I thought it was interesting how you pointed out how death can distract people from life. It's a difficult topic for somepeople because it may hit close to home however you managed to analyze the people in the interviews idealogy and relate to their POV despite if it was similar to yours or not.
Cristine Foger,
This was a great post Tamiko. your preparation and interest in the topic of caring for dead really shows through your writing. The quotes from those you interviewed and your analysis gave nice insights. your connection between the rich and the poor and the costliness of the typical burials and funerals were very significant and engaging. keep up the good work Tamiko.
Harry,
I like the way you compared and contrasted your younger brothers thoughts with your older brothers thoughts and saw that in the end both of their view points helped you question the dominant social practices involved in funerals. How we often use funerals as a way for feeling bad for the dead (sort of moarning the dead rather than celebrating the life they once lived). Most people never really question how we can treat death other than to hold a funeral.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
HW 50 - First Third of Care-of-the-Dead Book Post
Grave Matters: A journey through the modern funeral industry to a natural way of burial
Author: Mark Harris
Precis: The Johnson's are now having to deal with the death of there daughter Jenny. In order to honor there daughter after her death, the choose to make arrangement's at the Fielding Funeral Home. With help from the funeral director, Tom Feilding. during there time of planning there catholic funeral and burial for their daughter, they come to realize that planning for there daughters death has only become about money and business. rather than remembrance.
Quotes:
"In an effort to further legitimize its profession in the eyes of the public, the funeral industry sometimes refers to embalmers as "derma"- or skin- "surgeons". (pg.15)
"The industrial engine beginning to drive the economy made it possible, mass-producing the trappings of the tasteful funeral that could increasingly be had in the growing marketplace of goods and on a workingman's wages. When it came to elaborating on the simple funeral, capitalism and gentility proved a winning combination."(pg.43)
"For almost a hundred years Americans have been handling the dead over to the care of an industry thats turned the funeral into a too standard, expensive, resource-intensive, and, to many families, sterile act." (pg.47)
"The modern funeral has become so entrenched, so routinized, in fact, that most families believe its all but required when death comes calling. its not."(pg.47)
Analysis:
Mark Harris approaches his readers with a reality check when it comes to caring for the dead. With the story of a family dealing with the grief and process of having to care for their daughter after she dies. Through the funeral director and the family, the author justify that Death is a industrial business. Through the so called uncaring funeral director, "surgeons" fixing up the body, the costly box(casket) and even the waste produced
Author: Mark Harris
Precis: The Johnson's are now having to deal with the death of there daughter Jenny. In order to honor there daughter after her death, the choose to make arrangement's at the Fielding Funeral Home. With help from the funeral director, Tom Feilding. during there time of planning there catholic funeral and burial for their daughter, they come to realize that planning for there daughters death has only become about money and business. rather than remembrance.
Quotes:
"In an effort to further legitimize its profession in the eyes of the public, the funeral industry sometimes refers to embalmers as "derma"- or skin- "surgeons". (pg.15)
"The industrial engine beginning to drive the economy made it possible, mass-producing the trappings of the tasteful funeral that could increasingly be had in the growing marketplace of goods and on a workingman's wages. When it came to elaborating on the simple funeral, capitalism and gentility proved a winning combination."(pg.43)
"For almost a hundred years Americans have been handling the dead over to the care of an industry thats turned the funeral into a too standard, expensive, resource-intensive, and, to many families, sterile act." (pg.47)
"The modern funeral has become so entrenched, so routinized, in fact, that most families believe its all but required when death comes calling. its not."(pg.47)
Analysis:
Mark Harris approaches his readers with a reality check when it comes to caring for the dead. With the story of a family dealing with the grief and process of having to care for their daughter after she dies. Through the funeral director and the family, the author justify that Death is a industrial business. Through the so called uncaring funeral director, "surgeons" fixing up the body, the costly box(casket) and even the waste produced
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
HW 48 - Family Perspectives on the Care of the Dead
Interview #1
The first interview i decided to have was with my brother. throughout the interview i got a strong sense of where his views and thoughts originated from, what i got was the consumption of media and experiences with death. one question that i had asked him was, " why dont you see burial as a good thing?". he stated, its pretty nice to know that your being buried in a nice "box", but in that box your body deteriorates. Thats just disgusting when you come to think about it." he talked on about how much people look to a funeral and someone being buried as the right way to care for the dead. this showed that my brother in some way thought differently from the dominant social practice of caring for the dead. he didnt like the fact of someone being buried and living in the ground after death like many in our society do. he saw being buried as just a scape goat to hide the fact that individual is now dead.
Interview #2
The second interview that i held, was with my oldest brother. a person who i strongly admire and has definitely dealt with the death of many at a young and late age. ascwell as caring for them. a question i asked him was, " how do you feel about our society and how they typically care for the dead?". he said, that so much is required of the people surrounding the dead, to care or make them look great. that a funeral home's job is to make it the scenery, the casket and even the dead to look presentable and nice. as if they weren't death after all. what stuck out to me in this interview is that my brother had a similar view as my other the brother. that all of these things is just a way to shy away fro the fact that the person is dead. he pointed out that these things are consciously set up so we can feel bad for the dead. as well as not make ourselves look bad when doing so. if we don't do these things were seen as the devil or something of that sort. overall, all these dominant social practices and rituals when it comes to caring for the dead is a set up for us to look justified, things we dont have to follow, but we know it is "right".
The first interview i decided to have was with my brother. throughout the interview i got a strong sense of where his views and thoughts originated from, what i got was the consumption of media and experiences with death. one question that i had asked him was, " why dont you see burial as a good thing?". he stated, its pretty nice to know that your being buried in a nice "box", but in that box your body deteriorates. Thats just disgusting when you come to think about it." he talked on about how much people look to a funeral and someone being buried as the right way to care for the dead. this showed that my brother in some way thought differently from the dominant social practice of caring for the dead. he didnt like the fact of someone being buried and living in the ground after death like many in our society do. he saw being buried as just a scape goat to hide the fact that individual is now dead.
Interview #2
The second interview that i held, was with my oldest brother. a person who i strongly admire and has definitely dealt with the death of many at a young and late age. ascwell as caring for them. a question i asked him was, " how do you feel about our society and how they typically care for the dead?". he said, that so much is required of the people surrounding the dead, to care or make them look great. that a funeral home's job is to make it the scenery, the casket and even the dead to look presentable and nice. as if they weren't death after all. what stuck out to me in this interview is that my brother had a similar view as my other the brother. that all of these things is just a way to shy away fro the fact that the person is dead. he pointed out that these things are consciously set up so we can feel bad for the dead. as well as not make ourselves look bad when doing so. if we don't do these things were seen as the devil or something of that sort. overall, all these dominant social practices and rituals when it comes to caring for the dead is a set up for us to look justified, things we dont have to follow, but we know it is "right".
Saturday, April 23, 2011
PEERS REGARDING CARE OF DEAD
Death has been a tragic event that I've always found myself deeply interested in or wondering about. Either witnessing death of a family member or friend, the emotional and physical despair of people during that time. All makes me want to unravel my curiosity and questions about the topic. in order to further do so, i decided to interview three peers who were of the same background as i and others who differ from me. over the break i held these interviewees on the spot, a moment in time where three peers who fit my criteria of an interviewees. lucky me. 1 by 1 interviewing my selected peers and rewarding manipulate them them with thought filled questions on death that distracted them from social activity.
My first interview was of similar background as i. he was 17 and had particular views on death that somewhat mirrored mine. the first question i asked was, "what are the initial thoughts that come to your mind when you hear, death?" he responded, " its a sad thing that life has in store for all of us. people usually dont think about until it happens. i asked him if he could please try and elaborate. he elaborated, " people find themselves weeping and overly emotional towards those who die. that is normal, but you also have another side of death that is rarely looked at. which is the controversy of money between, a burial or a cremation of another?" this asnwer stood out to me, specifically the controversy of money when one dies.this is because people have to choose how to care for the death depending on their financial capability? why isnt caring for dead free? this is because in our society nothing is free. theirs a distinction between the rich and the poor. and how they care for the dead. those who have money choose a burial, and those who do not have a cremation.
My second interview, was with someone who was of different backround. He was a 19 year old who was of jewish backround. i knew this was a great oppurtunity to catch his insights on death and how his jewish heritae impacts it. the one and only prepared qustion i needed to ask was, how do jewish people care for the dead? he responded that, " unlike many people we see today jewish people take pride in not protesting death, but demonstrate the great value Judaism places ad the role in plays in life in general and the life of each indivudal person". i than asked him, what do they do, whats their "normal" practice? he stated, " the jewish do not beileve in cremation due to thier sufferings in their cultures and peoples past. Open caskets are forbidden by Jewish law, would be disrespectful to allow enemies of the dead to view them when thier in a helpless state. Bodies are buried in a simple linen shroud, so the poor will not receive less honor than the rich". this answer rally stook out to me because i was given an overview on how the jewish care for the dead. when it comes to those who are religiously oriented, it is certian that they care for dead much more than those who dont. jewish laws and no gap between how the poor and rich are treated are significant. particularly because it truly differ how an American cares for the dead, more money the more care. like i stated in my previous interview.
my third interview went fairly quick. since it was easy notice that the topic of death was uneasy for her. i tried to relieve the emotional distress of the topic but it wasnt possible. so i asked her a simple question, "what troubles you about it? she was alittle hesititant but she responded, " when death occurs expectedly, it hurts much more". she stopped at that. i than asked, "what do you mean? and whats the difference?". she elaborated, "usually people are ready for the death of another. some are sick and doctors put months on how long they have to lie. its said to out a date on someones life. because thier time is ticking. " good thing about dieing expectededly?" she told, " now that i think about it, it is, they get to choose how they leave". her last words truly stook out to me because she noticed that people who die expectedly go out in a much more hnorable but very bad way. "Bad", due to the emotional and physial components of dieing. but having your own idea on how you want to be treated after death is sometimes rare. others pick for you, choosing our self i a much more honorbale way of leaving the earth.
these interviews really shook me up. meaning it gave me other perspectives on caring for the dead other than my own. sometimes with controversial topics like death, im so closed minded with my point of view. but with this i was inspired and took acknowledgment in all their thoughts. having three peers that were close to my age, similar and different to my background gave me great insight. money being a main component in how the dead are cared for is essential and should be changed. Jewish heritage having laws, and particular things that must be followed when someone dies and after. lastly the choices that are made, either the death prepared it themselves or another took it upon themselves to choose for them. all great things, three points that i choose to look further into.
My first interview was of similar background as i. he was 17 and had particular views on death that somewhat mirrored mine. the first question i asked was, "what are the initial thoughts that come to your mind when you hear, death?" he responded, " its a sad thing that life has in store for all of us. people usually dont think about until it happens. i asked him if he could please try and elaborate. he elaborated, " people find themselves weeping and overly emotional towards those who die. that is normal, but you also have another side of death that is rarely looked at. which is the controversy of money between, a burial or a cremation of another?" this asnwer stood out to me, specifically the controversy of money when one dies.this is because people have to choose how to care for the death depending on their financial capability? why isnt caring for dead free? this is because in our society nothing is free. theirs a distinction between the rich and the poor. and how they care for the dead. those who have money choose a burial, and those who do not have a cremation.
My second interview, was with someone who was of different backround. He was a 19 year old who was of jewish backround. i knew this was a great oppurtunity to catch his insights on death and how his jewish heritae impacts it. the one and only prepared qustion i needed to ask was, how do jewish people care for the dead? he responded that, " unlike many people we see today jewish people take pride in not protesting death, but demonstrate the great value Judaism places ad the role in plays in life in general and the life of each indivudal person". i than asked him, what do they do, whats their "normal" practice? he stated, " the jewish do not beileve in cremation due to thier sufferings in their cultures and peoples past. Open caskets are forbidden by Jewish law, would be disrespectful to allow enemies of the dead to view them when thier in a helpless state. Bodies are buried in a simple linen shroud, so the poor will not receive less honor than the rich". this answer rally stook out to me because i was given an overview on how the jewish care for the dead. when it comes to those who are religiously oriented, it is certian that they care for dead much more than those who dont. jewish laws and no gap between how the poor and rich are treated are significant. particularly because it truly differ how an American cares for the dead, more money the more care. like i stated in my previous interview.
my third interview went fairly quick. since it was easy notice that the topic of death was uneasy for her. i tried to relieve the emotional distress of the topic but it wasnt possible. so i asked her a simple question, "what troubles you about it? she was alittle hesititant but she responded, " when death occurs expectedly, it hurts much more". she stopped at that. i than asked, "what do you mean? and whats the difference?". she elaborated, "usually people are ready for the death of another. some are sick and doctors put months on how long they have to lie. its said to out a date on someones life. because thier time is ticking. " good thing about dieing expectededly?" she told, " now that i think about it, it is, they get to choose how they leave". her last words truly stook out to me because she noticed that people who die expectedly go out in a much more hnorable but very bad way. "Bad", due to the emotional and physial components of dieing. but having your own idea on how you want to be treated after death is sometimes rare. others pick for you, choosing our self i a much more honorbale way of leaving the earth.
these interviews really shook me up. meaning it gave me other perspectives on caring for the dead other than my own. sometimes with controversial topics like death, im so closed minded with my point of view. but with this i was inspired and took acknowledgment in all their thoughts. having three peers that were close to my age, similar and different to my background gave me great insight. money being a main component in how the dead are cared for is essential and should be changed. Jewish heritage having laws, and particular things that must be followed when someone dies and after. lastly the choices that are made, either the death prepared it themselves or another took it upon themselves to choose for them. all great things, three points that i choose to look further into.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
HW 46 - Initial Thoughts on the Care of the Dead
BUDDHA- Even death is not to be feared by one who has lived wisely.
What comes to mind when I think of caring for the dead. I think of my own personal idea of how I want to be leaving this world and be "taken care of". Its all about how your going to be perceived after you physically left the earth. Some decide for the deceased while others plan it for themselves. The typical norms in our present day culture is having a emotion filled funeral services, burials and cremations. Their are other alternatives but at this moment I'm unaware of them. So as of now, how I see my things and due to personal experiences. I find myself wanting to be cremated, placed in little sanctuary's such as chains for those I love and the remains be swept away by the ocean during a ceremony.
Psychologically an individual can not do nothing to forget about ones they love. We always hear these words when death strolls around or even the movies we see on television. " I didn't even get to say goodbye". Funeral's or ceremonies are a way to do so. to me, i don't see funerals as being so great.
Not too long ago by grandmother passed. A ceremony that many of us like to call a funeral was held in remembrance of her. Sadness flowed through the whole room. Tears, scream, and at time pure silence packed the room of sounds. Why is sadness at a funeral a repeated thing? Why a funeral? It was hard for those who spoke in remembrance of her to even speak because the fact of death spread udder negativity around the room. After witnessing exactly what a funeral is like. I see myself wanting something different. Something that isn't so drenched in sadness. I would like my service or time in remembrance to be pleasant. No need for obsessive black clothing, no need for loss of words. Speak of memory's. Laugh and cry. Give acknowledgment to the past, live with my memory. lastly being let loose, let free into the sunset aside with the ocean. cremated.
The commotion of a family of whether or not their loved one should be cremated or buried brings commotion and unneeded stress at a very emotional time. people force these norms just to really get it out of the way. i saw it with my own eyes. money, this and that, what we need, what needs to be done. its all unnecessary to me. to me i feel being buried in the ground isn't a good thing, being placed far from your loved ones isn't a good thing. being placed in the ground with insects who can possibly harm your body is another one. being cremated now i feel is personally better for me. because i want each person to hold something they can remember me by, not travel to come say hello. my remains being put in a shrine to be let loose in ocean. floating away, saying a pleasant goodbye. RATHER THAN A SAD ONE. Thats how i see it happening, imaginative but still realistic.
What comes to mind when I think of caring for the dead. I think of my own personal idea of how I want to be leaving this world and be "taken care of". Its all about how your going to be perceived after you physically left the earth. Some decide for the deceased while others plan it for themselves. The typical norms in our present day culture is having a emotion filled funeral services, burials and cremations. Their are other alternatives but at this moment I'm unaware of them. So as of now, how I see my things and due to personal experiences. I find myself wanting to be cremated, placed in little sanctuary's such as chains for those I love and the remains be swept away by the ocean during a ceremony.
Psychologically an individual can not do nothing to forget about ones they love. We always hear these words when death strolls around or even the movies we see on television. " I didn't even get to say goodbye". Funeral's or ceremonies are a way to do so. to me, i don't see funerals as being so great.
Not too long ago by grandmother passed. A ceremony that many of us like to call a funeral was held in remembrance of her. Sadness flowed through the whole room. Tears, scream, and at time pure silence packed the room of sounds. Why is sadness at a funeral a repeated thing? Why a funeral? It was hard for those who spoke in remembrance of her to even speak because the fact of death spread udder negativity around the room. After witnessing exactly what a funeral is like. I see myself wanting something different. Something that isn't so drenched in sadness. I would like my service or time in remembrance to be pleasant. No need for obsessive black clothing, no need for loss of words. Speak of memory's. Laugh and cry. Give acknowledgment to the past, live with my memory. lastly being let loose, let free into the sunset aside with the ocean. cremated.
The commotion of a family of whether or not their loved one should be cremated or buried brings commotion and unneeded stress at a very emotional time. people force these norms just to really get it out of the way. i saw it with my own eyes. money, this and that, what we need, what needs to be done. its all unnecessary to me. to me i feel being buried in the ground isn't a good thing, being placed far from your loved ones isn't a good thing. being placed in the ground with insects who can possibly harm your body is another one. being cremated now i feel is personally better for me. because i want each person to hold something they can remember me by, not travel to come say hello. my remains being put in a shrine to be let loose in ocean. floating away, saying a pleasant goodbye. RATHER THAN A SAD ONE. Thats how i see it happening, imaginative but still realistic.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
HW 45 - Reply to Other Peoples' Comments
From Cristine Foger:
Hello Tamiko,
I loved the fact that your class is looking at the matter of birth the way it is. Many people don't see these Americanized acts that are corrupt or just plain not right until they reach college.
Now to your project, i really like the idea of trying to compare the United States maternal care system to England's. Trying to show how our usual hospitalized birth system isnt more beneficial than a natural one.which is properly held in England. you had a great start, but its sad to say you lacked effort and fell of topic. you really lacked effort in this project and it shows. your a really bright kid, ive seen your work before. Use more time to set up your research and arguments and you have yourself a great paper or project. hope to see more of your work.
sincerely,
Cristine
Response:
My initial idea was to focus on how the European Maternal care system is better than the United States, and how we could eventually mirror theirs. With certain solutions. And yes, i definitely didn't carry out my idea with efficiency due to time because i rushed. now that i look back i know i could've even showed how the systems and cultures of these country's are the root of their maternal care system problems and advancement.thank you for the criticism Cristine, and i look forward to your comments on my future blogs. have a wonderful day.
From Chris Calnan:
I found this informitive as well as appalling. I think that how hospitals and doctors mistreat their patients is outrageous. It is horrible that physicians would prioritize anything but the well being of their patients and whats worse is how common it is. It hurts to think how hospitals abuse new mothers in such an unnecessary and reckless fashion. I thought the strongest point this piece made was how the media can encourage home birth. You also structured your evidence well and i would just add a short concession about how doctors encourage hospital birth.
Response:
Thank you for commenting my blog at such short notice. i really appreciate it. this unit we tried to focus on the nightmarish acts of a hospitalized birth, and how this issue isn't hidden from us. i tried to give background on the Americanized birth system and than some on England's. which i didn't do. my ideas really were everywhere. however, media was something i feel our cultures prides itself with, but it don't really bring beneficial information to us. so i felt natural birth should be televised. you should definitely take Andy's class junior or senior year. you seem very enlightened by what we talk about, what many history's classes don't address. thanks
Hello Tamiko,
I loved the fact that your class is looking at the matter of birth the way it is. Many people don't see these Americanized acts that are corrupt or just plain not right until they reach college.
Now to your project, i really like the idea of trying to compare the United States maternal care system to England's. Trying to show how our usual hospitalized birth system isnt more beneficial than a natural one.which is properly held in England. you had a great start, but its sad to say you lacked effort and fell of topic. you really lacked effort in this project and it shows. your a really bright kid, ive seen your work before. Use more time to set up your research and arguments and you have yourself a great paper or project. hope to see more of your work.
sincerely,
Cristine
Response:
My initial idea was to focus on how the European Maternal care system is better than the United States, and how we could eventually mirror theirs. With certain solutions. And yes, i definitely didn't carry out my idea with efficiency due to time because i rushed. now that i look back i know i could've even showed how the systems and cultures of these country's are the root of their maternal care system problems and advancement.thank you for the criticism Cristine, and i look forward to your comments on my future blogs. have a wonderful day.
From Chris Calnan:
I found this informitive as well as appalling. I think that how hospitals and doctors mistreat their patients is outrageous. It is horrible that physicians would prioritize anything but the well being of their patients and whats worse is how common it is. It hurts to think how hospitals abuse new mothers in such an unnecessary and reckless fashion. I thought the strongest point this piece made was how the media can encourage home birth. You also structured your evidence well and i would just add a short concession about how doctors encourage hospital birth.
Response:
Thank you for commenting my blog at such short notice. i really appreciate it. this unit we tried to focus on the nightmarish acts of a hospitalized birth, and how this issue isn't hidden from us. i tried to give background on the Americanized birth system and than some on England's. which i didn't do. my ideas really were everywhere. however, media was something i feel our cultures prides itself with, but it don't really bring beneficial information to us. so i felt natural birth should be televised. you should definitely take Andy's class junior or senior year. you seem very enlightened by what we talk about, what many history's classes don't address. thanks
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
HW 44 - Comments on Other People's Projects
To Javon:
Javon Lloyd Perry, i really enjoyed reading your choice of project. your interest in abortions and the role in plays in women's lives in the United State truly shows. since abortions wasnt a topic that was really touched upon during class. i valued your research because you looked at an experts point of view of abortion, and tuned in to the emotional toll it had on her. by initally doing research on the topic and interview someone who experienced it. your project engaged me because abortions is something that is pretty common to my ear, and it is a touchy and great debatable action. i think you couldve furthered your project by maybe interviewing another individual, maybe even a male figure. see how the two differ
Overall great job,
Tamiko
To Devin: Devin, what a creative way to go about researching pregnancy. Giving a medical procedure of cutting the umbilical cord during pregnancy much more significant and something that causes concern. Not only that you researched the topic and provided advocacy to the community by making a flyer/ pamphlet. this project and topic gives great interest to me because i wouldn't look so closely at the quick and timely procedure of cutting the umbilical cord. that the time it is done shows nightmarish acts of a hospital birth.
To Abdoul: your project really picked at the key reason why many do not know of the alternative of home births. our country, the United States, do not provide the community with enough information to know of a hospitals birth's faults.connecting to the United States healthcare system was also very clever and essential to birth unit. your project stands out to me because me because you touch upon little bit of everything. to make your project better i feel you have many clever ideas but you must intertwine them together. something i didnt look to do myself. good job abdoul
Thursday, April 7, 2011
HW 42 - Pregnancy & birth culminating project
POOR EFFORT(Thumb down)
Hospital births have been the only option that women have known of and stooped to in the 21 century. the alternative of giving birth at a alternative birth center or with a mid-wive instead of a obstetrician is rare. "Approximately 1% of American women give birth at home and face substantial obstacles when they make this choice"(www.medscape.com). in many other places, home births are given much more of a praise and much more acknowledgment. Through previous research in our social studies class, I've seen our country's capitalist tendencies have connection to health care system and now maternal care system. the debate of whether or not giving birth in a hospital or through the more "organic" way of mid-wifery is safer. what causes concern is that only 1% have even considered this alternative. we've all seen unnecessary OB/GYN interventions, but yet hospitals are still the only option. natural births are left out of the media and left out of our culture i believe to keep the incentive of money running. their's so much our country must do to increase the option of home births, because its just alternative and not an obligation.Through my project i will examine how England, a highly positive conducted maternal care system differs from the United States maternal Care system. Secondly how England's maternal care system intertwined with their culture can engage our society into improving our own system for the better of its women and children.
Hospital births have been the only option that women have known of and stooped to in the 21 century. the alternative of giving birth at a alternative birth center or with a mid-wive instead of a obstetrician is rare. "Approximately 1% of American women give birth at home and face substantial obstacles when they make this choice"(www.medscape.com). in many other places, home births are given much more of a praise and much more acknowledgment. Through previous research in our social studies class, I've seen our country's capitalist tendencies have connection to health care system and now maternal care system. the debate of whether or not giving birth in a hospital or through the more "organic" way of mid-wifery is safer. what causes concern is that only 1% have even considered this alternative. we've all seen unnecessary OB/GYN interventions, but yet hospitals are still the only option. natural births are left out of the media and left out of our culture i believe to keep the incentive of money running. their's so much our country must do to increase the option of home births, because its just alternative and not an obligation.Through my project i will examine how England, a highly positive conducted maternal care system differs from the United States maternal Care system. Secondly how England's maternal care system intertwined with their culture can engage our society into improving our own system for the better of its women and children.
When giving birth hospital, the birth is in the hands of the doctor. which is something that people must consider as a bad thing. the usual, " its for the good of the baby", is just a overly used comment to the women during birth. not knowing that this doctor's plan is to deliver the baby as quick as possible. theres plenty other births occurring at the same time, its sad to say. but women are stripped of their rights during labor. "A New Jersey woman with PTSD and depression in her past was deprived of custody of her child at birth because she refused to sign a blanket consent at hospital admission for cesarean surgery, an act cited as proof she was too mentally ill to be a fit mother"(www.doublex.com). Its considered cruelty when you force a women into a decision of having unnecessary surgery's such as c-sections. giving them countless drugs to induce a natural process that is birth. giving the women the idea that theres nothing they can do to deliver there own baby, and up to the doctor.
Newborns being delivered has risen over the years. which gives clear evidence that theres something wrong with how a hospital handles women's birth. "Roughly 1.4 million newborns were delivered surgically in 2007 -- a 53% increase from the mid-1990s, when rates started to climb after remaining steady for several years"(www.webmd.com). when statistics like these begin to rise and cause concern there must be more done to prevent this.
In England, the government has praised women's rights and there birth process by aiming to reach out provide advocacy to them. advocacy and education is great tactic used by the England government, that should be used in the U.S. "Not all women are able to make the choice of where they would like to give birth. This limitation is, in part, due to the small number of midwife-led units. By the end of 2009 the government is aiming for all women to have the choice of where they wish to give birth. Although 80% of the women surveyed reported that they had been given the choice of where they wished to deliver their baby, only 50% of these women said that they were given sufficient information to make this decision. Two-thirds of trusts are obstetric-led while only two of the trusts identified were midwife-led" In a study conducted in England, 50% of women were given sufficient information to make a wise decision on where and how to give birth. If more women were to be informed of alternatives of giving birth, not assuming that the hospitals is the only way, more than 1% of women would give birth in their homes. the more people reached, the more effective.
It shouldn't just be professor o through education that one has to learn of the pros and cons of hospital births and home births. each alternative should be acknowledged. the debate will never stop but in the United State obstetrician's have had the upper hand. "It contains all you need to know to have a healthy and happy pregnancy, and to make sure you get the care that's right for you. It has over 250 pages of NHS-accredited information, including videos and interactive planning tools. You'll also find all the facts you need to choose the best maternity services in your area. Every pregnancy is different. Get involved in the decisions that affect you and your baby. Start planning your pregnancy care now." through media, the UK have been increasingly reaching there peers. with countless information.
In our society media is the perfect way to manipulate and attract individuals. media has promoted government officials, food industry's, clothing and this list can go on. theres many actions that our media is lacking. People come across so much while watching TV, TV can be a positive and negative." Number of TV commercials seen by the average person by age 65: 2 million"(www.csun.edu). if our media possessed more incite into things that actually help individuals and prevent against diseases such as obesity. TV shows and movies can introduce more home births. random advertisments promoting good healthy eating and good healthy choices.
Citations
http://www.csun.edu/science/health/docs/tv&health.html
http://www.webmd.com/baby/news/20100323/c-section-rates-are-at-all-time-high
http://www.nhs.uk/aboutNHSChoices/aboutnhschoices/termsandconditions/Pages/termsandconditions.aspx
Monday, March 28, 2011
HW 40 - Insights from Book - Part 3
Dea Mr. Wagner,
I truly appreciate your efforts in writing Born In The USA. Your idea on the American Healthcare System that have put women in a hypnotizing, and cultural trend that is corrupt.giving women the inability to see their alternatives and make their own choices on when, who or where they have birth. what your adressing in your book really moved me, and this is because something that might seem so little like a child being born in a hospital is shown to be a bad thing. you put the normal tendencies of our society, and in this case birth in a hospital off a pedestal and present its falts.
1. Educating the public about the abuses of our maternity care system. we are not informed and their for shying away from humanizing our birth.(pg.220)
2. lastly, tackling the importance of taking political action. Against insurance companies who are rather against us than for us. their greediness and incentive for money over powering their actual care and worry's of patient.(pg.228)
The main purpose of your book was to inform the public of the faults of our maternity care system. when it comes to making your book better, it doesn't really tackle the physiological battle that women face. their=r own voice and experiences can make this book very strong than it already is. Let it be clear - your text used a lot of stories and statistical data the empowers each of your arguments. Given that aim, and your book, the best advice I would give for a 2nd edition of the text would be, more emotion. even though the stories of the women are their, their voice should be included. maybe they can even give a positive experience of giving birth in the hospital.But I don't want you to feel like I'm criticizing. I appreciate the immense amount of labor you dedicated to this important issue and particularly for making me think about our society and how we go about birth not looking into our alternatives and letting a natural experience be in the hands of doctors and a inhumane hospitals. In fact, I'm likely to do a little advocacy myself when others are not aware of mid-wives and birth centers, things of that nature. i come to look at the birth and the way people go about it differently, and how this decision can really impact, even alter someones life. its important to have knowledge on this subject because at one point, birth will come around.Thanks! Talking to you gives me hope about our future as a society!
Sincerely,
Tamiko Orasio
I truly appreciate your efforts in writing Born In The USA. Your idea on the American Healthcare System that have put women in a hypnotizing, and cultural trend that is corrupt.giving women the inability to see their alternatives and make their own choices on when, who or where they have birth. what your adressing in your book really moved me, and this is because something that might seem so little like a child being born in a hospital is shown to be a bad thing. you put the normal tendencies of our society, and in this case birth in a hospital off a pedestal and present its falts.
in the last third of your book, i feel you recapped and effectively presented the reader with solutions to their broken maternity system. you covered a ten step process that in fixing this hospital birth trend, for instance using advocacy to aware the public and science to prove the effectiveness of home births. this part was very effective and really made what was read before much more powerful. giving a solution to the number of problems, not vaguely but specifically.
But let me be more specific. these were the three main ideas that really caught my attention in the final third of the book.
1. Educating the public about the abuses of our maternity care system. we are not informed and their for shying away from humanizing our birth.(pg.220)
2. lastly, tackling the importance of taking political action. Against insurance companies who are rather against us than for us. their greediness and incentive for money over powering their actual care and worry's of patient.(pg.228)
3.Your budget breakdown of the spending on American healthcare, spending on obstetrician which is double compared to a mid-wive. the main incentive is profit and its easily seen in how obstetrician and hospitals take care of things. whats more important, money or the health of a women and her baby? answer is quite obvious(pg.243,244)
The main purpose of your book was to inform the public of the faults of our maternity care system. when it comes to making your book better, it doesn't really tackle the physiological battle that women face. their=r own voice and experiences can make this book very strong than it already is. Let it be clear - your text used a lot of stories and statistical data the empowers each of your arguments. Given that aim, and your book, the best advice I would give for a 2nd edition of the text would be, more emotion. even though the stories of the women are their, their voice should be included. maybe they can even give a positive experience of giving birth in the hospital.But I don't want you to feel like I'm criticizing. I appreciate the immense amount of labor you dedicated to this important issue and particularly for making me think about our society and how we go about birth not looking into our alternatives and letting a natural experience be in the hands of doctors and a inhumane hospitals. In fact, I'm likely to do a little advocacy myself when others are not aware of mid-wives and birth centers, things of that nature. i come to look at the birth and the way people go about it differently, and how this decision can really impact, even alter someones life. its important to have knowledge on this subject because at one point, birth will come around.Thanks! Talking to you gives me hope about our future as a society!
Sincerely,
Tamiko Orasio
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
HW 39 - Insights from Book - Part 2
My initial prediction to how Born In The USA by Marsden Wagner, would be structured to initially elaborate on the dominant social practice of conceiving a baby in a hospital vs. an organic birth process that occurs in the home with a midwife. Through the first 100 pages Marsden Wagner tackled the nightmarish acts of obstetricians, their selfish tendencies, convenience, unnecessary surgeries, medication and lastly lack of communication between the patients. After reading up to 200 page, the author looks to acknowledge the fact that a home birth that is under supervision of a mid-wife is much safer than if it were under a doctor. This type of birth process is less common because many women aren’t notified of their options, especially in our present American Society. Through these second 100 pages I was able to learn much more of what a midwife actually does, their procedures and alternative birth centers (ABC). The author makes sure to make distinct distinction between having your birth monitored and controlled by an obstetrician and one by a mid-wife. By referring back to a hospital birth as much as possible. On page 151 it states, " Meanwhile, woman are telling another story, as e-mail messages fly among mid-wives, women’s groups, and consumer groups exposing the ways the medical world is trying to limit a woman's legitimate choice of place of birth and birth attendant". The author try’s to convey to the reader that women have a choice, the right, to do what they want to have the most beautiful birth process that they believe is personally and physically most right.
Not knowing much about alternative birth centers, I took it upon myself to further my research on the topic. "A birthing center allows you to plan for your baby's birth and delivery environment - for example, who you want to be present, whether you wish to walk around during labor, what positions you prefer for giving birth, and even the small things that can sometimes be important at times of stress such as what you wear and eat can be at your discretion. Birthing centers usually welcome mothers who want to have natural child birth, and those who choose to breast feed and are experienced to help you if this is the kind of birth you desire" (http://www.parentprofiles.com/pregnancy-articles/birthing-centers-an-alternative-to-hospital-deliveries). An alternative birth center gives the women the opportunity to have full control of their birth. Implementing and furthering the fact that giving birth to another human is a beautiful process. Offering women a much more comfortable environment than that of the hospital, who you wish to be present and overall just a strong bond of communication between the midwife and the patient.
Monday, March 14, 2011
HW 38 - Insights from pregnancy & birth book - part 1
First 100 Pages
Author of Born in the USA Marden Wagner, organizes the book in a strategic way to get his point across to an audience that isn’t that knowledgeable about the maternity care system. At the very beginning of the book he provides the readers with a preface, explaining his background, experiences and motives in the book. Than furthering it with birth stories that show exactly what point he is trying to give off. Marden Wagner tries to "blow" the caution whistle as he says to answer and show,
How an American Maternity Care System that is putting woman and babies, the most vulnerable members of society, at risk?
From the first pages of the text i found myself engaged, the author placing me the reader as an observer in maternity stories. He shows the injustices in the way nurses and doctors treat the patients when their giving birth. Not giving them the constitutional rights, by asserting and giving them what they ask for but instead inducing them with numerous medications that puts them at risk. A maternity care system that rushes a beautiful experience and makes it a painful and unjust one. when reading this i find myself nodding "yes", because i myself see the way doctors and nurses go about their jobs as if their working for the MTA. Doctors have the most important jobs, that is why their paid so much, but they follow a procedure for their patient who is giving birth as if it were their own. Giving unnecessary drugs and surgery’s such as Episiotomy, Vacuum to suck a baby out of the women. Rushing the birth and its contractions. Lastly giving C-sections that also have seen to me beneficial to the doctor more than the patient. The procedure statistically increasing over the years which statistically have been rising over the years.
Important issues that must be taken into consideration when two life’s are in jeopardy are an agreement before the whole process of childbearing occurs. The medication that is provided. Consent with their family members. Procedures that are agreed upon by patient and family but also one that isn’t induced with inappropriate medications and drugs. Also, how great is it to have a man tell you exactly how things are going to go? A woman who possesses knowledge and confidence in the filed should be talked about. Men can never be feminist and not know exactly what it takes to give birth to another human being.
I find the Marsden Wagner’s arguments very valid and reliable because there is no difficulty in me reading this. I mean that this isn’t a fictional book from an English class; it’s a book on birth. Birth comes with many matters, medication which includes drugs that he clearly explains why their used or shouldn’t be used. Clearly provides the reader with little notes that won’t have them left behind because of the lack of knowledge that he himself has gained because of years as a medical student, public health specialist and work in a hospital. To tackle something as controversial and complicated as birth, especially with a book, Marsden Wagner does a great job because of his previous work.
Book Idea
If i were to make my own book it would have a layout that is similar to Marsden Wagner’s Born In the USA. I would start the book off with a couple pages on why i chose to write this book and my background on the topic of birth. I would first bring about a story of a natural birth, than a non- organic birth process that occurs in the hospital. But i would put forward a birth story that occurred in the hospital that the mother felt was unpleasant and one that another felt satisfied.
EQ: What is the happiest, personal and independent way you would want to give birth in the United States?
“Generally speaking, most of us would prefer not to have a surgeon taking charge during a normal life event"(pg.21)
Thesis: A birth that is under the control of the individual giving birth rather than the doctor, who isn’t for being a nurturer but a professional "helper", is a birth that is much more independent and pleasant in the United States.
"Hospitals have their own brand of omerta"(pg.23)
“Although many women might be willing to take risks with their own bodies for pain relief, very few women are willing to put their babies at risk"(pg.55)
Points: Medical, natural, physical, psychological and laws that come with an organic or fixed birth process. These points would be explained through anecdotal, statistical and logical evidence. With doctors, nurses, patients and family’s members point of view. Also an alternative point of view coming from someone who gave birth out of the United States.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
HW 36 - Pregnancy & Birth Stories
Interview 1
My first interviewee let me know that her first two births were "normal". Hearing from previous birth stories that she had heard herself and what she saw in the media surrounding birth she felt that was the only way. She said had an epidural and received a bunch of medication to hurry her contractions and hurry the process of her birth. I asked her, "how the birth would have went if a doctor assistance wasn’t involved?” she said she wouldnt know a better way of giving birth without a doctors asstistance. She said she focused on relaxation and all the instructions, still receiving a painful birth, which was what she expected.
This birth story i felt was one that is timeless. Many people in our society do not understand the culture that the American society and the hospitals have inflicted. The fact that she didn’t know an alternative to giving birth. So it was in the hospitals hands. She didn’t know that those drugs and instructions she was given was unnecessary but instead felt it was needed. It was what ALWAYS happens.
Interview 2
Unlike interviewee 1, interviewee 2 had a relatively easy birth. Even though she gave birth to her only child in a hospital in New York City. She said she wasn’t really a person who relied on other help with many things, so she wanted the same for her birth. She used the same usual meditation practices that she uses at home on a daily basis as in the hospital bed. She understood the effects of the drugs that doctors give patients and wanted to feel and know everything that was being done. She asked as much questions as possible, refused epidural and systematic medications. She felt overall proud of her experience because she felt it wasn’t fully natural but satisfying and more independent than others.
This interview stood out than the other because unlike many she felt the need to question what the doctor did. She came into the hospital where she knew it wouldn’t be the exact birth she would have hoped for, but the only thing she felt she had any knowledge on. But with that knowledge she obtained she knew how to make her birth process more hers, and more independent.
Interview 3
Just as the previous two interviewee's, interviewee # 3 had given birth in the hospital 3 times. This one apart from the other though was not surprising but very insightful and saddening. This is because she said her first birth was the worse of them all. She said she’d tried to refrain from getting an epidural to relieve her pain but shed given into it because of her doctor’s words. "It will really help". The doctor also told her that a spinal block would be the best thing to do as well because it would reduce pain rapidly and help epidural. She was conscious throughout her birth but she felt beat. The drugs had gotten to her but she didn’t care much about herself. More the baby. She wanted the baby to have the best birth possible.
Interviewee 3 gave the answers and point of view of the common American. Unlike the others she gave me much more of societal views on birth and major perspective that a women has when giving birth. Just like interviewee 3 she didn’t care about anything that was being done to her body, but more of the baby's successful birth. Like many people, the doctors words are what are followed because their kind state is impaired and their unconscious worries about their baby come into play was they lay in their hospital bed.
What are the worries before birth and during a birth in the hospital? How do they change, were they what that individual expected?
Thursday, February 17, 2011
HW 35 - Other Peoples' Perspectives 1
“So what comes to mind when you think of birth"? This was the first and initial question I asked for every interview. It gave me the ability to feed off the interviewee and expand off their bubbles. no simple question that brought some sort of dry conversation what so ever The 3 people who I asked were all 17-19 years of age. One being a guy and 2 being a girl. The immediate response from the 18 year old girl was her thoughts on the grueling 9 month process of giving birth. "What happens in those 9 months?" She said that during those 9 months it’s a must to follow instructions. Knowledge gained from family members being pregnant and knowing what the right thing to do is. “Are you up for the part? Are you ready for something like birth? To my surprise, this question needed to be asked and secondly it didn't have hesitant response. She simply said I'm not ready not, but when time comes. I will or will prepare myself to be. "
I wasn't startled from the rushed and "Americanized" thinking of my male interviewee’s answers. He was hesitant unlike the others and he was cluttered with bubbles. You could see this topic wasn’t he would regularly talk about. He couldn't contemplate whether or not he can deal with the immediate maturity that comes with birth. I wondered why he seemed so afraid. "Why does maturity scare you"? He said he's not scared of maturity in general but another life, most of all a baby. Is hard "god dam' work. It was the hard work that frightened him.
When you stop and listen. And articulate whatever you’re told and taught about. You learn more, you’re engaged so you observe and admire. Through these interviews birth seemed as a natural thing in life that you must "put up and shut up" in the females eyes. But not the male. Male are usually references as the stronger ones in society but when it comes to birth. Something with a physiological and physical affect women have the upper hand. Which brings me to my last question. Who is stronger overall or when it comes to birth? Men or female.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
HW 34 - Some Initial Thoughts On Birth
The idea of birth is seen as a beautiful and naturally occurring thing in the human life. Birth is the beginning of someones life story and death is the end of it. When you come to think about, is death the only moment in life that brings fear? As we seem to come up with things like the ipad to make "life easier", similar how we've been advancing with medication to refrain from birth and lessen its physical affect. So is birth so beautiful? I still believe it is, but we provide contraceptives like the morning after pill(e.c), the condom, the ring, the shot and more to sugar code and cover up birth. Makes me think of makeup and how sometimes its used to bring out the beautiful its also a way to hide.
Fear is something everyone faces in life. Birth and its process is scary by itself, but the pysological affect it has on an individual is scary. The way fear can grab a hold of someone who isn't ready for what comes before and after birth. Sad to say but its hard not to notices a number of single mothers walking down the street on a daily basis.
Questions:
- u.s pregnancy rate vs. other countrys
- how does social class play a role in ones views on birth?
- why such a painful process?
- what are the responsibilites of both genders before and after birth?
- why is it such a contraversial and sensitive topic?
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