Informal Writing Assignment #5

After reading and watching about the zoot suits, it reminded me of myself when I was a freshman in high school. 9 years ago, I was a rebel who wanted to do anything in my hand to go against what my parents and relatives told me to do. Because of that, I committed a crime knowing that I wasn't the typical asian that my families told me to be. Maybe it was because of where my high school was located. Maybe it was because of my insufficient funds. I just can't simply give an answer for the way I was dressing, but from what I could remember, I grew up with this fashion, and I went through many ups and downs because of it.

If I could say one thing that I learned in high school is to adapt to changes. From eighth grade to freshmen in high school, it self was a huge change. However, leaving all my middle school friends to go to a different high school is a bigger change. On top of that, when I found out that I was basically the only asian kid in school, besides the two math teachers Mr. Kim and Mrs. Kim, I knew I was in trouble. From Los Angeles, I moved to San Bernardino county due to my family issues. When I got to school, I quickly learned that I would have to get along with people at school or else, my high school life wouldn't be easy. My high school consisted about 75% Mexican, 20% African American, 4% Caucasian, and 1% Asian. This stat might be wrong however, my point is that the majority of people in San Bernardino were Mexicans and Blacks. Living and growing with Mexicans and Blacks, I grew up dressing like them, acting like them, and becoming like them unconsciously. My white tall t-shirts, baggy pants/jeans, basketball shoes, and baseball caps were my daily appearance in San Bernardino. Unusual for an asian to dress like that since our parents want us to look educated, wealthy, and normal in their eyes: a shirt that fits, pants that aren't too tight nor too loose, any cheap tennis shoes, and clean hair cuts. These are the typical asians' look when asked to other ethnicity other than asians. So when I started dressing like them, it was different in Mexicans and Blacks eyes. However, they accepted me and I quickly made friends. They even gave me a nickname that I still carry on, "Oh Chino (Oh's my last name and chino means chinese [although I'm not chinese but it didn't matter])".

With that said, I encountered with many problems due to the way I dressed. My family and relatives didn't like the clothes I was wearing because they thought I wasn't representing my family too well. There were many times they tried to buy me different clothes and shoes. But by then, it was too late. I felt that I needed to wear these clothes. For example, When we would have a holiday parties or family gatherings, we would have more than twenty people coming. With such a large crowd, it was matter of time for my mom to yell and scream at me, wanting for me to change my clothes. Of course, I refused. As a consequence, I would listen to all the elders talking about the way I dressed jokingly, which I knew it wasn't a joke, more like a sarcasm. Through that, they would treat me like I committed a crime. However I continued to keep my fashion. I felt that I had to keep my fashion alive order for me to stay alive. It was like Ramirez and their zoot suits. Those Mexicans who were rebellious, wore zoot suits. They were identified as people who were bad and obnoxious in their community. Not only those who wore the zoot suits, but even their families. Because that one individual wore a zoot suit, others assumed that even his or her family was the same. Thus, my family didn't want me to represent myself and my family through the way I dressed. In my mind, I didn't think that I was representing them any differently. If anything, I thought I was breaking the asian stereotypes: smart, nerdy, weak, and thick accent.

Family was just a small problem, when I would get stopped by cops on the way back from school. This happened so many times that it became a daily event. It was as if they assumed that I brought nothing but trouble upon them. When I started to drive in my junior year in high school, it was just matter of time for me to notice that my fashion had everything to do with my "Daily Pull Over". It was around 5pm when I was approached by a cop in his car. He pulled me over and raised his gun as he walked out of his car. He asked me to stay in the car with my hands on the steering wheel. He came next to me and first thing he said was, "What's up with the hat?" At that time, I was wearing a blue LA baseball cap, which was my favorite baseball team. He seemed to not care whether I was innocent or not, and he quickly asked me to come out of my car. As I stepped out, he asked if I had any drugs or weapons on me, as if I looked like someone who had them. When I told him no, he handcuffed me and told me to get inside of his car and wait. I waited and watched him search my car repeatedly. Of course, I had nothing on me but that only got the officer mad. He came back to his car and checked my background on his computer. With my record as clean as a brand new car, he pulled me out of the car and continue to ask me if I was in a gang or sold drugs. I remember looking at him so pissed off that he yanked against the car. I was able to tell that he was very frustrated because he knew he had the wrong guy. In the end, he lectured me not to wear my sunglasses and my blue baseball caps. After that night, my anger towards the cops grew much bigger, and I realized that it had everything to do with my appearance. My incident in the past is very similar to Ramirez's story with zoot suits. Cops seem to have a list of dress codes that they follow, to help them find criminals. I understand that, that could be helpful and all, however in this case, I was a victim. Like myself, there are many people who could only afford these clothes that are available in Swap Meets/Flee Markets. Like myself, there are many people who dress the way they do, not only because they want to but they have to. Yes, because people believed that all asians were all smart, innocent, and weak that, that could've helped me when I was in those incidents. However, it seems very unfair to know that cops generalized who's a criminal and who's not through their appearances. Back in the days, Mexicans in Los Angeles wore zoot suits to stand out and to gain respect from other ethnicity. Therefore, my intention of wearing the clothes that I wore were similar to the reason why Mexicans were zoot suits.

Some say that your appearance says who you are, but I disagree to the fullest. If we were to look at people the way they dress, then we have no idea what's behind its cover. Let's not judge a book by it's cover, but actually find out what's behind the cover.

Informative Writing Assignment #4

As part of my informal assignment, I chose the artist who is very unique in style and different when it comes to expressing her thoughts, Leslie Hall. She first caught my attention with her awkward image that includes herself wearing these very bright pink sweat suits. With her larger size, you wouldn’t expect her to wear some of the stuff that she had on, in front page of her website: Hairstyle that’s awkwardly slicked backed on top, but down on the side. Glasses that look like goggles that you would wear in a chemistry class, to protect your eyes. Lipstick color so bright, that it prominently shows her pale skin tone. Pink Sweat suits that fit awkwardly on a larger woman like herself. Also, so tight that her hands don’t even go inside of her pants. Lastly, a gold belt that would go well with a dress, instead of the pink sweat suits. Hilariously, this was my first image of Leslie Hall. As I went on a tour in her website to find out what she was all about, my perspective of her and her arts was highly interesting.

First art that I visited was her video called, “Tight Pants/Body Rolls”. The song itself was very catchy and fun to listen to. Music video was a little disruptive but funny as well. As I was watching the video, I was trying to find out what her perspective was for the assignment. With her tight yellow jump suits that awkwardly fitted her larger body, I tried to think if there’s any celebrity who’s similar to Leslie Hall. I couldn’t think of anyone. However, what I noticed was that her back dancers were small through using our latest technology. Therefore, I realized that she was trying to make herself much bigger than the dancers and her normal self. Through that, I think that her perspective was that, the music industry and the media don’t accept larger women. Not only music industry and the media, but also even those who religiously watch this so called television, don’t accept neither. With the help of her lyrics, I was able to fully believe that her perspective was what I believed to be. Her lyrics were mostly about her oversized body. For example, part of her lyrics she says, “My legs in those pants are dream, when I would move I scream, WATCH OUT FOR MY BODY ROLL, WATCH OUT FOR MY BODY ROLL, HIGH KICK, HIGH KICK, THIS IS HOW WE DO IT!” Another example, part of her lyrics she says, “When I place my legs in the cage of spandex, I dance like hell to release my madness…” Not only she physically gave the viewers clues of what her perspective was, she was stated them through her lyrics. Although it might sound as if she is just trying to be funny and resisting from our society, it is clear that her perspective is true. I believe that not only media but everywhere we go, we tend to identify those who are oversized as someone different or stay away from. Most of us watch televisions and computers and we believe what we see unconsciously. Therefore, when the media is neglecting oversized women, then it is possible that the viewers could learn to think the same. Overall, we shouldn’t be identifying larger women any different than skinnier women because in the end, we are all equal.

Second art that I visited was her video called, “Gravel in my shoes”. This song wasn’t as interesting as her previous video, “Tight Pants/Body Rolls”. However it had a different perspective to it. This video, she identified herself as a very poor countrywomen who lived with her husband, who treated her as if she was his slave. He was oversized and lazy who never got his own drinks. It was different than our normal views on our television. We never really watch an artist who likes to express their miserable life or how bad of a husband that they have. Instead, our media and society want to hear and see who has the most money, cars, drugs, and even girls, who they refer to as hoes. I believe that her perspective through this video is that our society/media want us to forget about the reality and struggles that many of us experience. As most of us know that what we see in the music videos and TV shows are as real as celebrities’ noses, jaws, and chins. But if we continue to believe what the media is trying to make us believe, then it’s almost sad to say that we’re simply ignorant and arrogant. Like I stated earlier based on Leslie Hall’s arts, we’re all equal and we should be accepting the reality instead of living in our dreams. We live when we wake up from our dream, but we don’t have to stop dreaming to live.

Informative Writing Assignment #3

When we went to Valley Fair to turn in our rough draft of our 14 days experiments, we were surprised with purple sheet of papers. We were told to walk around the mall on Thursday night to help us answer the questions that were given to us. First I thought it was going to be very simple and I would be able to answer it with no problem. I thought the questions would be about our favorite stores and we would be able to answer the questions as we shop. However everything changed as I took a tour. During the tour of the mall and looking through the questions, I realized it wasn't as simple as I thought it would be. We had to look deep into how the mall was built and what the mall creators' intentions were. To answer my questions, I simply walked around the second floor of the mall and was able to have a glimpse of who the creators' were aiming towards, as far as people who were shopping.

By looking around the loop structure and greek temple look alike mall, I realized that the first and second floors were very different. Although the second floor was bright and surrounded by marble walls in certain areas, I noticed the carpets. The stores in the second floor were affordable and there were more room to play in, since the food court was there.  It was a little unusual to see carpets in a public area because I only see carpets at people's houses. Therefore I thought the carpets were used to make people feel comfortable. However, I also noticed that the first floor didn't have any carpets. Instead, the first floor not only didn't have carpets, stores on the first floor were very nice and expensive. Also, it was much longer as far as the columns and when it was compared to the second floor. As far as where the stores were located and the surrounding of those stores, I realized that the mall was segregating the (low and middle) and (high) classes. Yes, it is a possibility that the mall didn't mean to segregate or isolate the consumers, but as I look at the statistics of San Jose, it is just matter of time to believe that segregation is visible in Valley Fair Mall. Although in San Jose, there are more Hispanics than any other race, Valley Fair didn't seemed to believe that hispanics were the ideal consumers. Instead, they seemed to focus more on Caucasians and Asians as far as what types of stores were in the mall. For example, more asians and caucasians tend to shop at expensive stores or even Abercrombie or Banana Republic. Yes, it could be because of their education or based on their income, but mostly, they're more materialistic when it comes to what they wear and what they buy. Although it is wrong to say that the hierarchy of the mall has their ideal consumer, it is easy to see around our society that we have our idealistic view. As we went over in class, Valley Fair mall's ideal consumer is rich white females. With continuous images of white females on the wall and advertisement, we could say that it is true. Also, by looking at the mall's map, we could say that the mall has more stores for females than males. Therefore, the mall's ideal consumers are very easy to detect and that itself could easily make minorities or other ethnicities feel segregated.

 Valley Fair clearly wanted the consumers to think that the mall was classy by placing the expensive stores on the first floor. If you were lost like I was, you would have to walk around all those stores to follow the arrow, which was guiding you to the top floor where the food court was located.
With that said, how the mall was structured and built is questionable. However Professor Berney, I disagree with how we are thinking that the mall creator did all that you said they did. Personally, it is too difficult to write any further about the mall because I don't see the same view as you and others see.  I believe that they placed the expensive stores in the first floor because those stores could afford to pay more to place themselves in the first floor. Everyone walks through the first floor, therefore, whether you are a low, middle, or high class, everyone would see the store and would be attempted to go in. With that said, those stores have higher chances of getting the shoppers to go into their store and wanting to buy. Whether, it is too expensive or cheap, their main goal is to make the consumers want to buy, higher the demand, so that people would want to save and come back to buy what they wanted. Let's say that they placed themselves in the second floor. They wouldn't have low and middle class people attempting to go to the second floor. Because they don't have the money to buy those expensive items, they would rather not walk up there and save their time, than to go up there and waste their energy and time. It's business. I don't think the creator of the mall was trying to be biased or segregate people who are shopping. I think the way I do because there's money involved between the store owners and the mall owner. If it was the mall owner who owns all the stores in the mall, then I would think differently.

I don't disagree with you fully because I do believe that in some way, the mall is doing what they can to increase their income. Using the San Jose population and the statistics of what class of people, ethnicity of people, and the income of those households, they modify the mall so that the consumers would feel comfortable. However sometimes we don't feel comfortable due to our appearances or stereotypes. For example, when I walked into Armani Xchange, the workers looked at me differently and gave me the vibe that I don't belong in the store. Yes, I felt discouraged and angry, but I don't think that it is the mall to blame, but the individual who made me feel that way.

Overall, this mall experience was something new. I never thought of the way I did before and I still believe that I don't need to feel that way. However, if the hierarchy of the mall structured the mall the way you said they did, then that's something I would take it personal. That's almost inhumane, just not physically. If they really were trying to place the low and mid class to the second floor with less decoration and place high class to the first floor with marble floor with better stores, then it's almost as disruptive as slavery. Whatever they were trying to do, we are sure that all they are aiming is to increase their income. And if having a segregated mall with a ideal consumer is helping that, then good for them. However where's their integrity and our freedom.

Informal Writing Assignment #2(The red or blue pill?)

Informal Writing Assignment #2 (The red or blue pill?)

With Morpheus offering red and blue pills to Neo, the scene had me nervous as if I was the one who's being asked. Although it was my 100th times watching the movie, I felt like I forgot the story and it was all came back as brand new. Back then, I had no clue whether neither pills meant anything. If I'm remembering correctly, I just thought that if Neo had the guts to go into the matrix, then red, but if he was a little pansy, then blue. Of course, Neo chose the red pill. Jokingly, the movie would've been in-existed if Neo chose the blue pill. With that said, my perspective of the underlined story and the movie itself made sense, when the movie is compared to our reality. Red pill could be described as if embracing the truth of reality whether it could be good or bad. However, the blue pill could be described as the illusion that we create when ignorant.

    
Hypothetically, if I was Neo or The One, and I was asked by Morpheus which pill would I take, my answer would be the red pill. First of all, if I was standing front of Morpheus, I would probably choose the red pill just because I wouldn't want any confrontation with the great Morpheus. Second, I would choose the red pill just because of peer pressure that Morpheus brings to the table. Third and last, because of my personality, I would choose the red pill. 

      Some people say that I'm very blunt when speaking in front of our friends. Some even recognize and tell me that it is something that not everyone's capable of. Although I take it as if I'm rude when someone tells me that I'm blunt, mostly people complimented me because I was true to myself. Through other people's opinions and thoughts, I was able to recognize some characteristics of my personality. With that said, the pill that matches my personality would most likely be the red pill. For example, when someone has Cheetos crumbs all over their face after swallowing the bag, what's the person next to him going to do? If he or she tells the friend with Cheetos crumbs around their mouth, he or she is probably going to make the moment awkward. However if he or she doesn't tell the friend, then the friend has to embarrass him or herself unconsciously. When these scenarios do occur in my life, I choose to tell my friends. Although it some how effects my time with my friend, I'd rather sacrifice that over my friend embarrassing him or herself without knowing. Also, what if your friend finds out that you didn't acknowledged them with Cheetos crumbs all over. Then the problem becomes bigger than what it could've been. 

The blue pill does sound secure and relax as Morpheus mentions that you could believe what you want to believe. However, I refuse to only believe in what I want to believe. Although I am pretty self-centered, I know through Christianity that what I know isn't right. Believing in what you want to believe would be brave as well as foolish. Also, there will be no guidance when you walk alone with your own beliefs. Just like when Morpheus said he would show how deep the rabbit hole is if you take the red pill. If you were to fall down the hole with uncertainty of the height of the hole, you would be scared. However, if you have faith and follow Morpheus' lead, not only you wouldn't feel scared but you'll also feel the comfort.  

     

Informal Writing Assignment #1

Informal Writing Assignment #1 (VIDEO: Zeitgeist)

Through Astra Taylor's Examined Life, the viewers had the chance to listen to eight different interesting philosophers, who had their own idealistic picture of life. As they placed themselves from a center of New York City, San Francisco Mission District, Airport, and even a sanitation landfill, they illustrated their philosophy as they talked about our everyday experiences. 

Although all the philosophers were very interesting and unique as they pictured the viewers with their visions of what's right or wrong, I found myself wondering how it differs from my perspectives. Peter Singer is one of the philosophers that caught my attention as he delivered his thoughts on how to spend our money. Singer mentioned that America is one of the world's richest countries and also, one of the world's expensive countries. As he walks down the street of New York City, he indicates that Americans, whether they are rich or poor, love spending money on big brand names such as, Gucci, Versace, and etc. He also gives an example of a kid who's drowning in a shallow pool, who needs your help. Coincidentally, you are near by, wearing a expensive pair of shoes and you have to make a decision whether you should save the child and ruin your shoes or walk away with your shoes. Most people's answers should be saving the child and ruining your shoes. However, Singer gave the viewers another picture. With the money you spent to buy the shoes that you ruined to save the child, you could've donated that money to an organization, to save a child or more than one child. So in the end, you should've donated that money in the first place. As I ask myself this question, my answer's very clear; save the child and ruin my shoes. Although realistically and hilariously, I would take off my shoes before saving the child, but as far as his underlined message, it is something that we, human beings, take advantage of.

I am from a family where we studied and believed in Christianity. Religious has always been part of my philosophy when it comes to my everyday experiences. I go to church every Wednesday and Sunday, twice a week, to knowledge myself with God's words to put it into practices. With that said, Singer's illustration commonly connects to my religion's belief. Christianity explains the importance of sharing money with those who need help. Matter of fact, not just with money, but anything in general as long as the help doesn't intend of disobeying God's rules. As I remember myself to put it in to practices, I try not to be too materialistic. Although driving a Lamborghini with a beautiful women sounds very cool and tempting, but I prefer to see people smile as I have an positive effect in their lives as they would for me. As I grew up with insufficient funds, I became independent and ambitious to get money. I falsely thought that my life would be better if I made couple more dollars hourly. However, I realized money isn't anything. Technically, money is man-made and it cycles more than bicycle wheels. Therefore, eventually my time will come as long as I work hard for it. Also, some people say that being independent is a positive action to better our future. However, when you're too independent, you don't get the needs that you get through family support and advices. Yes, you might find motivation through some other means, however love is natural and it is uncontrollable.

In conclusion, Singer's statement makes much more sense to me than as if I wasn't a christian. With that said, maybe Singer also follows the belief of Christianity. Although, Singer caught my attention out of all the philosophers, I think their messages were very similar. We, human beings, love to expect others to clean the mess. We like to close our eyes as we count to three, hoping that what we don't want could disappear. Most of our intentions aren't bad, we just want to satisfy our short-term wants and needs.But maybe or just maybe, we should think about in a long term. Ask ourselves, what could happen, what would happen, and what should happen. 

My First Blog

He's seen the Tron in 3D

He taught us how to Jerk!

Took a picture with a converse model.

Creative Minds Class Blog

We met President Brian Murphy @ 20:30 in the library

De Anza's the only college where they have Jamba Juice in the library.

He got caught sleeping!

Bus Stop

We found a duck in the library.

First day in Creative Minds class, we played a little game called, "Scavenger Hunt". It was around 19:50, when we were told by our professor, Apryl Berney, that we had to go out and take pictures of listed items with two other group members. At first, I wasn't too pleased. It was too cold and late to want to go outside to play Scavenger Hunt; plus, the game itself was a little too childish. However, our feelings changed once we found a better and easier way to find all the items. Once the handouts were given and clock had started, we headed straight to the library.

From the Library, we didn't have any trouble finding the listed items. We started off with a duck, which we found a picture online. Hilariously, we thought we were original and clever, but found everyone else in the library doing the same. From that point on, we looked for everything we could get online, so we could lessen the distance of walking. I think that our strategy worked, since that's what everyone else did too.  By the time we walked out the library, we had found 4 items on the list.

Before making a next move, we decided to go down the list and skip the ones that we didn't have any chance of finding. For example, it was too dark to take a picture with Euphrat Museum of Art, so we decided to ignore it. Because we were using our cellphone cameras, lighting was a bit problem. It was dark at the moment and plus, it was cold (reminder). However, it wasn't a big deal like the other ones we encountered.

"No Coke in the bookstore." Through our scavenger hunt, we found out that De Anza bookstore doesn't sell Coke. Yes, we could have used our cellphones and take a picture with a picture of coke on our cellphones. However at that moment, we were confident that a coke would be at a store. A little did we know, we walked out the store like we forgot our wallets.


Most of the time, our group was outgoing during the walk. We asked people if they seemed to have or look like they would have something on the list. Also, we didn't waste any time standing around, trying to find our next move. Instead, we walked first, then we continued to discuss. 

Through our scavenger hunt, I realized that we use our creativity to find the listed items faster and easier way. You could call it a cheating, but as long as you follow the rules, it's not. Also, through this exercise, I got to work and hang out with two individuals in our group. We interacted and got to know each other and got to learn how different their thoughts were, compared to mine. As far as a society, scavenger hunt helped me realize how everyone has their own thoughts whether they are the same or different. Just because they are different doesn't mean they are wrong. Thus, gathering everyone's thoughts and opinions would be more efficient than choosing just one's thought.