Missing Post on Kowalke

I really enjoyed reading the article about Kowalke because he truly valued human life, no matter what happened in the persons life. I really liked his statement about what war is, "War is young men killing other young men they do not know on the orders of old men who know one another too well." This is too true. Look at the Vietnam war, look at the war in Iraq. These wars are perfect examples of the agenda of old men who believe they are right being played out violently by young men who have their whole life ahead of them. These young men's lives are cut short by the blind desires of these old men who are in power because they compromised their own ethics - if they were even there to begin with. Kowalke makes the statement that war is wrong by taking no side - which is the essence of war - and instead respecting all. He is a truly peaceful man.

Savarkar Reading

The aspect of Savarkar's writing that I found most interesting is all the different interpretations of the relationship of Swaraj and Swadharma. It is clear that Swaraj and Swadharma have a different literal meaning but they are being used to achieve the same "end." During our class discussion, we came up with several different interpretations of the "means and the end." I began to wonder which interpretation Savarkar would agree with. For example, on page 210 he states: "Rise for Swadharma and acquire Swaraj." Literally this means that Swadharma is the means and Swaraj is the end. However, in other places in the passage it indicates the opposite. Another interpretation is that Swaraj and Swadharma are both means that lead to a successful Revolution, the end. The one that I agree with most is the last one. On page 208, Savarkar states that the principles for the Revolution are Swadharma and Swaraj. One source that he uses is a statement made by Emperor of Delhi who said that they must protect their religion (Swadharma) and the country (Swaraj). He says that these rights, Swaraj and Swadharma, are give to man by God and man should protect these at any cost. These rights must be returned to the people of Hindustan under any circumstances. These strong believes is what leads Savarkar to taking a violent approach. Contrary to Gandhi, Savarkar believes that passive resistance is not sufficient enough to achieve the end.

Missing Antigone Post

The most striking element of the story of Antigone is Antigone's fervor. In relation to Joseph's article about relevancy, this part of the story is the most irrelevant to today's young culture. I could never imagine standing up for something like that and sacrificing my life. Perhaps this is because I am an only child, though. But I do believe that the values of this western world we live in are differently aligned now than they were in Antigone's time. I believe our world impresses a much more rational, or what could be called selfish, reaction to standing up for what we believe in. In comparison with the extremist Muslim values that the suicide bombers claim, our values do not include self-sacrifice. It is interesting to look at that culture in comparison with Antigone as well. It seems that they are quite similar when it comes to standing up for what is "right;" both value that higher cause much more than human or their own life.

Breakfast at Tiffany's and Fashion

I have decided to change my topic, once again, to researching movies, specifically Breakfast at Tiffany's, and how they have affected fashion and culture.

claim: This movie shows that fashion is a big part of American culture and people enjoy living lavishly. I will show how this movie in particular has affected fashion throughout the decades and possibly created a big advertisement for the jewelry company, Tiffany & Co.

evidence: Throughout the movie, the main character, played by Audrey Hepburn, is dressed in clothes that have a "classic" look, which has inspired a lot of the designs and styles of fashion even after the movie. From her jewelry to her shoes, these pieces can be seen in many of today's stores and high fashion magazines. Another piece of evidence to look at in this movie is the significance of the store Tiffany & Co. It gives the store romantic appeal, which is possibly why people like to give Tiffany's jewelry to their loved ones as gifts.

purpose: The purpose of this movie is to show that people can change from their materialistic lives to falling in love with someone who doesn't have much. In the movie, Audrey Hepburn is basically a gold digger, and in the end, she falls in love with her neighbor who is just a struggling writer and doesn't have much money. But it also shows the significance of material things at the same time because of the store Tiffany's and how that brought them together.

audience: This movie was made in 1961 and was based on a novel by Truman Capote. The audience back then was probably people in their 20s and what not. But today, people of all ages have seen this movie. People see it as a "chick flick" so probably more females watch it. People who are interested in fashion are also a big part of the audience.

I don't know if I did this AB right. =/ I'm hoping I did, since this is my 3rd one. Basically, I want to look at this classic movie having an impact on fashion and make a connection between fashion influencing movies, or movies influencing fashion.

Michael Moore and Politics: Is he saying the truth?

Michael Moore's Films

Claim: Michael Moore's films Fahrenheit 9/11, Sicko, and have exposed people to the problems involved in politics, the health care industry, and gun control. I am going to explore whether his individual claims are true or not/ are found to be valid in each of his movies.

Evidence:
My primary source will be the films. My secondary sources will be critic's receptions and scholarly articles related to the movie. i will also use news stories/events of that time for historical background and to find what event each movie is primarily aiming at.

Purpose:
to find the legitimacy of Moore's claims in his films.
to find if he may have manipulated his claims to rile the public with anger or distrust towards the government
to find the effect of moore's films on the public.

Audience:
Students interested in modern politics and the problems with it
Humanities Core students looking to see a connection between the art of film and actions/movements.
anybody interested in american politics and anybody looking to find ways to improve it.


NOTE: i may choose only one of the films Moore has produced.

Savarkar's Point that Past is Prologue

While reading Savarkar, I thought it was interesting that he emphasizes the importance of knowing history as a means to mediate the future. It reminded me of Shakespeare’s quote, “What’s past is prologue” and its relevancy and universality in application. By understanding the past, it not only decreases the chances of repeating past mistakes, but it also gives a person insight into the importance of the future. If an individual were to learn about his/her family’s past, it would make participation in certain rituals worthwhile. For example, the Jewish tradition of a bar or bat mitzvah is only important if that individual takes the time learn Hebrew and understand the meaning behind the Torah. This mirrors Savarkar’s declaration that, “But without an exposition of the hidden causes and the mysterious forces that worked beneath, the essence of a revolution can never be made plain. And therefore it is that history attaches more importance to the exposition of principles than to mere narrative” (205). Understanding the past is an enabler of action: with that knowledge of history, a defined will and concrete motivation can be used to achieve a particular outcome. Without knowing the history of a nation, wanting change from that former way of life would be insignificant; revolution is only meaningful if people understand the negatives of the past. By knowing the facts of the past, it makes change more significant and worthwhile.

Savarkar Response

I found Savarkar’s writings to be quite interesting compared to that of Ghandi’s. He seems to have the complete opposite views. One of his beliefs that seemed to differ the most is his take on history. Ghandi warned that we focus too much on history and wars instead of peace and passive resistance. Savarkar, on the other hand, advocates the learning of history. He describes the Indian War of Independence as “one of the most neglected corners of our history…” He argues that what English and some Indian historians described as the “Mutiny” was really the beginnings of the War for Indian Independence. He wants the public to be aware of their nations past in order to push towards a future. By creating a common past, Savarkar attempts to unite Indians in a revolutionary future. He states that a “nation should be the master and not the slave of its history.” Savarkar’s views on history seem to be synonymous to the views of today’s historians. They recount history to learn from it for future society. So, whose view is right? Gandhi or Savarkar? That’s something open to debate.

White Noise by Don DeLillo (Consumerism Edited)

Claim: The novel White Noise by Don DeLillo is a revolutionary work that was clearly ahead of its time. My objective is to explore the prevalent themes in the novel including: excessive consumerism, a fear/fascination of death, and the universal obsession with technology.

Evidence: The primary evidence would come from the novel, but secondary sources including scholarly articles and contemporary reviews of the novel could also be useful. My research will also draw connections from other works that we've studied this quarter and throughout the year. Some historical background pinpointing the status of technology in the 1980s might also prove necessary.

Purpose: To closely analyze the significant themes within the novel and connect them to modern society and other novels and plays we have studied. Also, to illustrate the pervasiveness of consumerism and technology and to show the universality and modern relevance the novel still has to this day.

Audience: Those interested in post-modern literature, students of Humanities Core, the average American consumer.

Savarkar

Savarkar's views on history and the Revolution itself are interesting parts to note. For him, it was important to point out that the Revolutionary of 1857 was not an unplanned mutiny of criminals against the British empire, but a movement of nationals fighting for a cause. Savarkar argues that English authors who are writing about these events are "wicked", "partial", and "prejudiced". It is true that English writers would try to not pit blame against their own country, but instead the "rebellious" India that their British empire supposedly has control over. With the articles about India and the rebellion that were written in British newspapers, surely the emphasis was the disobedience of the Indian people. In history, Savarkar believes that the events of the rebellion are not properly stated, and the information is skewed. And in order to fix this delusion, one must speak to those who were actually involved, and state the truth of history and the events as they actually occurred.

Oftentimes people mix up words or statements in order to benefit themselves. They believe that lying would be better than just coming out with the truth. In the case of the Rebellion of 1857, British writers or authority figures probably thought it better to taint the name of the Indian people, and not of their own. I guess I am trying to point out that by hiding your mistakes, you are only bringing about more negativity. With the British Empire's inability to even properly describe the events of the 1857 Rebellion, it would only lead to more and more debate about their rule in India. Those like Gandhi and V.D. Savarkar would not remain silenced, and in fact, would speak out more against the British and India's inability to attain freedom from them.

The Indian War of Independence

I was quite intrigued by the current text that we were assigned to read, as it seems to greatly differ in the approach of a revolution in Indian from the previous text we have read from Gandhi. Both Savarkar and Gandhi wanted to stir up a revolution in India, however Gandhi's whole approach was more peaceful as he practiced passive resistance, while Savarkar's approach seems to be more violent. Savarkar however almost justifies his more aggressive and violent actions by stating that it is a matter of how one views the terminology of those involved in the revolution, such as the mutinees (revolutionaries) and criminals (nationalists), by replacing these terms with more positive and admirable titles, it changes the perspective and meaning of the reading. Savarkar also wanted his writings to be more private while Gandhi wanted his writings to be accessible to all. Savarkar also wanted the public to be knowledgeable in history while Gandhi was not too concerned with such things. I am curious as to which approach to revolution is most effective in accomplishing said goals; essentially violence or non-violence?

Swadharma & Swaraj

Reading the first chapter of The Volcano: Chapter 1, provides much insight into the thought processes put behind the ideas of the Indian Revolution. The main thought that seems to be emphasized is the idea that History, is a rich and important part of the future. Swaraj itself, has the importance of meaning the self and the country. The idea behind this is that you should have pride and love of your own country. This is important because it strengthens your identity and the relationship to your roots. You will be able to find out who you are through loving your country more. The bad idea behind this, however, is that it almost appears to emphasize the sense of extreme nationalism. Usually this is not something to be worried about, but if you look at The Nazis and their nationalism, you see that too much nationalism leads to very negative things. The sense of pride for your own homeland is natural though. Swadharma is more about the self and religion. This is basically the love of your own religion. Spirituality is never a bad thing, it strengthens your identity as well. When you are spiritual, you are connected to the world and have a purpose in life. This purpose ultimately leads to success and growth from within.

The Beatles and Civil Rights (edited)

Claim: For years the Beatles have been seen as revolutionary in their music and actions, and not only have they been popular in their time, but are popular today. I plan to explore the purpose of the Beatles. The Beatles were a symbol of peace ,that had the ability to persuade the public to advocate civil rights through their music.

Evidence: The primary focus will be based upon the songs themselves in both the lyrics themselves and the melody of the songs, specifically speaking for the moment: “Blackbird” (Significance of African American oppression), Revolution (revolutions and their consequences). Other evidence will include books that provide commentary on the Beatles, and their critique of the Beatle’s music. I will also provide historical background from various websites and books, explaining the situation of civil rights as well as interviewing people that lived through this movement.

Purpose: To show how powerful music can be, and the message it conveys to others. Music is simply one way of rebellion, that is non violent but powerful. Lastly to show how much people may rely on iconic figures for guidance, in this case civil rights.

Audience: Those interested in music history, the general public, people interested in the civil right’s moment.

Swadharma and Swaraj

The Volcano, Chapter 1: Swadharma and Swaraj deals with a very true and interesting concept, that of getting your facts straight and staying true to the source. Behind every event, there is an outcome and events leading up to the outcome. Like the Revolutionary War Swadharma and Swaraj speaks of, the outcome of the war is known, but the events leading up to the conclusion are often skewed, biased, or even untold. Therefore the cause of such a Revolution is not fully appreciated or understood unless the events leading up to the conclusion is clearly defined and known. Although some events may have been by accident, they were instrumental for the outcome. Oftentimes, many scenes in movies are created by accident and are unscripted. Oftentimes, the best acting takes place when you wing it or are spontaneous. Directors and filmmakers do not fail to acknowledge this accident, for it worked in their favor. If it did not work in their favor, they may simple redo the scene. This is not the case with a Revolution, you can not simply redo something, therefore all events leading up to the conclusion made an impact on the outcome. Therefore, all events leading up to the Revolution is a part of the Revolution, not just the final outcome.

Swadharma and Swaraj

This article was very interesting because it pointed out the idea that you cannot understand or completely comprehend a subject unless you find its root cause. It parallels itself with the situation of the babies floating down the river in baskets into another village. The village can solve the problem by taking the babies out of the river, or they can see the root cause and travel up the river to the source of the problem.

The first line of the article reads, "It is a simple truism patent even to the uneducated that the most tiny house cannot be built without a foundation strong enough to support its weight". The article is about the real cause of the Revolution. They say it started with the rumor that the soldiers put "pig grease and fat" into their cartridges. It even states, "Did anyone even inquire to see if it was true?" This idea goes with everything in life. If something even on a smaller scale, such as a fight with a friend, starts because of a rumor, then there is no content or stability to base your assumptions on. The fight is therefore meaningless if the truth is not known. Relating to a larger scale, if a war was based on the annexation of Oudh and fat inserted cartridges, but those reasons might not be true, it means that an entire Revolution was based on false assumptions.

I really enjoyed reading this article because it relates to whats happening right now with the Iraq War. People question daily the reasons to why the war started and why we are still in it. To answer this question, we must find a stable foundation to base our assumptions on. We also must look for the root cause of the War, which might even be impossible.

Jay-Z & the "Evils" [edited]

I'm planning on doing my research paper about the possibility that Jay-Z is a Freemason and that he is a "devil worshiper" and what not, as some people like to believe. I really don't believe this myself, but I find it very interesting that people make connections between the symbols and lyrics he uses throughout his career and the symbols that are associated with the Freemason society.

Claim: Jay-Z uses subliminal messages in his music and other aspects of his life and career to "corrupt"? his audience. He is heavily influenced by the Freemason society and the Illuminati. Besides his music, people have made claims that in his clothing line, Roc-a-Wear, there are designs and resemblances to the symbols of the Freemason society. This all leads to the idea of him being "evil." But I will try to prove that it is possibly just a coincidence or that people are basically making things up.

Evidence: One of my sources is the song "D'Evils" off of his first album, aka the best album he's ever made, Reasonable Doubt. =] And other songs like "Lucifer". There are other songs that can also be used to either support or counterargue my claim. I can also use material on the Freemason society itself and compare the two. Along with his music, there are also designs from his clothing line that can be used as evidence.

Purpose: To see if this all makes sense and to possibly prove that it is not true?? To show that Jay-Z is not a devil worshiper. There are some people who were Jay-Z fans before hearing about all this and after watching videos on youtube about his corruption, they have stopped listening to him. Then there are those who either don't believe in it or just don't let it affect what they think about his music and continue to listen to it.

Audience: Hip Hop and Jay-Z fans, listeners of good music. For people who don't know anything about Jay-Z or hip hop, it might be interesting for them to see how different things influence artists' music and how that is taken by fans.

Hip Hop is Dead

Thesis: Hip Hop is Dead has been said by many old school rappers who feel that today's hip hop has been cheapened and defaced. Nas' 2006 Album titled "Hip Hop is Dead" caused a huge controversy in the the Hip Hop community, especially some negativity from the up an coming artists such as Young Jeezy. Many claim that Nas' album was targeted primarily at the Southern rap sound that is becoming a fad in today's musical society. I will mostly focus on this controversy of is Hip Hop dead? I personally believe that Hip Hop is a movement, therefore it is not right to say that it is dead, but rather that it is evolving.

Evidence: Nas' 2006 Album Hip Hop is Dead. Documentary by Russell Simmons titled "And You Don't Stop". The documentary features a very thorough timeline of the start of the Hip Hop movement, to the new sounds that are being made in the contemporary. I will also try to use lyrics and example from other musical artists in the Rap, Hip Hop, and R&B genres.

Purpose: The purpose of researching the phrase "Hip Hop is Dead" is to show how that phrase is completely false. It is also a way to show how Hip Hop in general has made such an impact on a young audience. Also, knowing that different generations think of Hip Hop in a different sense is really interesting as well. It is really cool to see how Hip Hop has evolved, and the lyrics that were used back in the day seems so much different than the lyrics society hears today.

Audience: The younger generation would definitely be more attuned to hearing the phrase Hip Hop is Dead. However, it is the older generation that began using this phrase. Therefore, it is a very wide range of audience age. Also, it should be aimed towards those who have a love of Hip Hop.

Freedom of Religion?

One of the things that I truly am grateful for in the U.S. is my freedom to choose or not choose my religion. As I was reading "The Volcano, Chapter 1: Swadharma and Swaraj," I was struck by this quote, "Swaraj without Swadharma is despicable and Swadharma without Swaraj is powerless." From Gandhi's writings, we already understand Swaraj, but Swadharma we have not addressed. Swadharma can be split into two words; swa-, meaning self, and -dharma, meaning religion (more specifically the Indian religion). Veer Savarkar, the writer of this selection, stated that the ultimate motives and causes for the Indian war of independence in 1957 were swaraj and swadharma, the freedom to rule themselves and the right to protect their religion. At first, the quote seemed understandable, but just because it sounded that way does not mean that what it is saying is correct. In thinking about what it is proposing, I realized that the Indians in the time of British rule were all of the same religion (essentially). I realized that perhaps if Dharma was protected according to the Indian desire, Judaism or Christianity and especially Atheism would not be.

One of the grievances of the early settlers in America was that the Church/religion was heavily involved in the actions of the State/government; they wanted separation of these two entities. The quote from Veer Savarkar's book is exactly opposite of this separation; Savarkar states that the two- religion and government- must exist simultaneously or the situation is all together "despicable" or "powerless." Perhaps if the countries, states, provinces, cities, or any region under any type of government were composed of a single religion then religion could be a part of that government, but this is not the case. Our population is made up of so many religions with blatantly conflicting beliefs that if religion ruled government, there would be either no progress in the gridlock of so many ideas or there would be a law created by one religion that was unfair to another.

From the Author's Introduction of "Selections from The Indian War of Independence 1857," Savarkar states that it is absolutely unwise to try to do certain things now irrespective of special considerations, simply because they had been once acted in the past." I wonder if Savarkar would agree now that, because India and other places are now made up of various different religions, religion cannot play a role in government. It seems according to this previous statement about acting "irrespective of special considerations," that he would agree. But as I think more about it, (I am ASSUMING here) Veer Savarkar like Gandhi most likely believed that Dharma was the only way and so, I think he would say that swaraj and swadharma must still exist together for even another purpose: to enlighten those who do not believe.

Week Six:Assignments

Tuesday May 6
Reading: Read "Lightly Annotated Lists" (see links on blog)--prepare by ranking 1-5 the 5 websites on the sample, according to authority, currency, relevance, and comprehensiveness (+ "smarts"?); "Swadharma and Swaraj" in Humanities Course Reader (205-211); "Audience and Purpose" in Writer's Guide
Writing: Reading Response Blog (Savarkar, Vira, Vinyak); Begin Lightly Annotated Lists: bring in 3 sites you have found (in format of sample LAL); MUST have posted AB primary source blog (i.e. topic decided) by today.

Thursday May 8
Reading: Ranchod Vira Letter in Humanities Course Reader (212); "Electronic Research Methods" in Writer's Guide
Writing: Lightly Annotated Lists (inkl. 5 lists)

Invisible Children

Description and Purpose: The goal of this organization is to generate awareness about the events and people in Northern Uganda. Northern Uganda is in the middle of a civil war between the government and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). The LRA is a group that kidnaps children and then trains them into soldiers. They have put together several movements in order to let the people in the US know what is happening in Northern Uganda. Their first activity was called the Global Night Commute and now they are starting an event called Displace Me. The main goal of these different events is to raise awareness and educate the people about what is going on outside our country.

Evidence: The organization has a main website: http://www.invisiblechildren.com/home.php and they have created a movie about their first trip to Uganda.

Claim: The claim of this movie is that there is a crisis going on outside our country and we need to become more aware of it. The children of Uganda are going through something horrible and we should notice and take as much action as we can in order to assist them. It is not easy, and won’t happen in a matter of days. The creators of the documentary believe it is possible with time and dedication.

Audience: The audience is anyone. They have created websites and several different movies. The circumstances that are shown in the movie are really shocking. By creating this documentary, they did not have a specific audience in mind. They just wanted the word about Uganda to reach people.

The Peace Symbol

Gerald Holtom, a professional designer and artist and a graduate of the Royal College of Arts, first designed the Peace symbol in 1958 for the Direct Action Committee Against Nuclear War (CND). Though it is primarily known as the symbol for nuclear disarmament in Britain, in the US and around the world it is generally known as the peace symbol. A few people are said to have introduced the symbol to the US: Bayard Rustin, a close associate of Martin Luther King Jr., brought it over to the US, on his return from participating in the first Aldermaston March; Albert Bigelow, a pacifist protester, sailed his small boat outfitted with the CND banner into the vicinity of a nuclear test in 1958; and also Philip Altbach, a freshman at the University of Chicago, who traveled to England to meet with British peace groups as a delegate from the Student Peace Union (SPU) purchased a bag of the peace symbol buttons while he was in England and brought them back to Chicago where he convinced SPU to reprint the button and adopt it as its symbol. Nevertheless, it became widely used in civil rights marches, it appeared on anti-Vietnam War demonstrations, and was even seen painted in protest on American GI helmets. It appeared on the walls of Prague when the Soviet tanks invaded in 1968, on the Berlin Wall, in Sarajevo and Belgrade, on the graves of the victims of military dictators from the Greek Colonels to the Argentinean junta, and most recently in East Timor. The symbol, initially created to protest violence, remains for the same purpose; it continues to represent peace in this world and is directed and worn for anyone who will look or listen to its simple message.

Jay-Z & the "Evils"

I'm planning on doing my research paper about the possibility that Jay-Z is a Freemason and that he is a "devil worshiper" and what not, as some people like to believe. I really don't believe this myself, but I find it very interesting that people make connections between the symbols and lyrics he uses throughout his career and the symbols that are associated with the Freemason society.

Claim: Jay-Z uses subliminal messages in his music and other aspects of his life and career to "corrupt"? his audience. He is heavily influenced by the Freemason society and the Illuminati.

Evidence: One of my sources is the song "D'Evils" off of his first album, aka the best album he's ever made, Reasonable Doubt. =] And other songs like "Lucifer". I can also use material on the Freemason society itself and compare the two.

Purpose: To see if this all makes sense and to possibly prove that it is not true?? To show that Jay-Z is not a devil worshiper =]

Audience: Hip Hop and Jay-Z fans, listeners of good music.

Research Post: Hannah Hoch

Okay so for now I am quite interested in researching Hannah Hoch's involvement with photography as well as how she used her art as a means of advocating homosexuality. It may be a fleeting interest but regardless.....

CLAIM: Hannah Hoch's art aided in a revolutionary art movement (Dadaism) and also simultaneously can be viewed as advocating feminism and providing the stepping stones for the acceptance of homosexuality.

EVIDENCE: "Tamar" a photomontage that illustrates the idea of judging on the basis on gender.


PURPOSE: This photomontage circles around the issue of gender and also like her other works she touches base on the issues of homosexuality, feminism, and a lot with women's role in society and how they are viewed.

AUDIENCE: Hoch's audience would be first the german people as this is where a majority of her work was created and so viewed, but on a grandeur scale it appeals to the mass of woman and men as it empowers women and enlightens men of the injustices of the female gender.


http://www.yellowbellywebdesign.com/hoch/gallery.html

Research Blog

(a work in progress at the moment)

Claim: Chain stores, such as Wal-Mart, detail the homogeneity of the American market and the difficulty that "mom and pop" stores face when trying to survive.

Evidence: Marketing campaigns of these companies that divulge the number of consumers (200 million, apparently) the effect these customers can have. Also, I could include background about the rise in franchises in recent history. Furthermore, statistics and other relevant information should speak for itself.

Purpose: The purpose is to showcase the prevalence capitalism in our modern society and how the CEOs of large companies reap the benefits of a populace willing to settle with little diversity in their consumption.

Audience: The audience could include a very wide range of people, but this research paper would probably appeal to the American consumer; also, it would appeal to those who are anti-consumerism.

The Beatles and Civil Rights

1. Claims:

- Beatles songs inspired a generation of civil rights activists to believe and fight for their cause.

- These songs not only inspired a generation, but also gave soldiers another type of response.

2. Evidence:

- The primary focus will be based upon the songs themselves in both the lyrics themselves and the melody of the songs, specifically speaking for the moment: “Blackbird” (Significance of African American oppression), Revolution (revolutions and their consequences)

- Other evidence could be from people that were activists in the war that are still living.

- Historical background in order to give the proper context of the situation.

3. Purpose:

- Show the power of music (as cheesy as it sounds).

- There are many other forms of rebellion other than physical violence.

- Importance of some pop culture figures, and the role that they can play on society

4. Audience:

- Those interested in music history, the general public, people interested in the civil right’s moment.

Research Blog [edited]

The Craft Revival and Etsy.com

Description: I wanted to focus on the DIY (do-it-yourself) revolution that has revived handmade crafts and how this translates as art/action and counter-publics in today's culture. I also want to explore what affect it has had on the views of women in this era, especially views generated relating to the website Etsy.com. 

Main Claim: The notion of DIY has brought on a revolution of arts and crafts that counters our capitalist-consumer society. The website Etsy.com (since 2005) features the buying and selling of handmade items, with over 70,000 sellers, has become a virtual version of the craft fair or art show and is key in the movement. The site has proved to be very successful for being only two years old for not being funded by advertisements, and has been funded by Union Square Ventures and founders of Flickr. Buying and selling of craft products is a form of action against the problems of global warming caused by mass-production and mistreatment of laborers in sweatshops because the items are mostly made of recycled materials and are always produced by its seller. 

Evidence: Websites like Etsy perpetuate the ideas of anti-consumerism and originality that diverts from mainstream and mass-produced products by fostering the selling and buying of handmade products. It takes part in the Handmade Consortium, which is a pledge to buy handmade items (especially during holiday seasons). Participating in this movement is seen as a protest against chain stores that are making the nation mass-produced. Etsy.com also fosters the idea of a craft community, where crafters all over the world can connect in their revolution in the virtual world that knits craft and the Web 2.0 era together.

Purpose: A website the allows users to post, sell, and buy DIY products like jewelry, clothing, accessories, etc. A major example of growing popularity of an underground culture. This craft revival has also influenced the view of the 21st century woman as being resourceful, skillful, and independent. The craft movements knits together previously mundane hobbies like sewing and knitting and fuses it with the need to create a counterculture or counterpublic, forming something new.

Audience: The general public. However, this DIY revolution tends to be more involved with females. The revival can be related to embracing feminism. The idea is to influence as many members as possible to join this craft revival. The site itself attempts to be more visible and accessible in the public, although it does not use conventional advertisements, but word-of-mouth instead.