Readings On Public Space

In the reading Public Space, it talked about how public space is used and how people interpret it. It also told about the conflicts over many public spaces such as the debate on what to do at the site where the World Trade Centers were. It also told how every building looks like the next and every grocery store is like the others, and how Americans must not like change. It is true that something that is built different or painted a different color or looks weird is when people actually notice it.
More than half of Americans now own a cell phone. Cell phones are “like the cigarettes of our day” (316): they are everywhere. You walk into a classroom and many of the students are texting or their phones ring during class. Many people get mad and find it very rude when they have to overhear conversations such as an argument. Personally, when I worked at Kroger as a cashier I hated when a customer talked on their phone while I was checking them out. Also, when I sold shoes at Dick’s Sporting Goods and I was asking customers many questions to try to get them the right shoe it was such a hassle if they were talking or texting on their phone. I will be the first to admit that I always have my phone with me wherever I go and I’m always texting someone even during classes, but if I receive a call I will step out of the room so no one has to overhear my conversation. Sprint did a survey and 80% of the people said they felt that people were less courteous on their phones today than that of five years ago. I agree with this and I agree that people need to try to be alone if they are going to have a long conversation and not bring everyone around you into the conversation.

reading of White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack

White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack

When reading White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack, it really became clear to me how many privileges whites have. In the United States white is the dominate race. So many other races are talked about in a bad manner or looked down upon. Whites always seem to have the upper hand in society. The writer has listed so many points that she says whites have as privileges and they are so true. It is awful to think that the white people, mainly white men, have so many privileges in our society. People try to say they are not racist but I think it is pretty clear that many still are. It is very unfair to the other races and ethnic groups and cultures. We are in 2009 and people still look down on African Americans, Hispanics, Chinese, and other immigrants coming to the United States. The thing is it is not going to change so they might as well get used to it.

The Iron Maiden: How Advertising Portrays Women

Advertising often portrays women as beautiful, flawless, tall, and thin. This could be described as ‘perfect’ by some. When reading this selection I realized that most of these pictures are retouched. Each image is painstakingly worked over: teeth are brightened, wrinkles are taken away, stretch marks and cellulite are removed. These women are not perfect, but their pictures present them that way. Some pictures even use certain body parts from different women to create a ‘perfect’ model.
Many women are getting plastic surgery and facelifts so they can look younger and feel better about themselves and a lot of this is brought on by the advertisements we see every day on TV commercials, magazines, and even billboards. Even young girls worry about their looks which is crazy. Marketers are targeting towards teens with beauty product ads. Girls are wearing make up at younger ages and worrying about their weight when it is unnecessary to worry about. Women are even following celebrity diets so they will be thinner. Women are even taking diet pills, using liquid diet drinks, diuretics, fasting, using laxatives, starving themselves, and even turning to purging to be a few pounds lighter. What kind of message is this sending to younger girls?
One comment made about these advertisements stated that ads that are effective make the viewer self-conscious. Some advertisers do everything they can to create images that discontent customers. Why? For money. Every advertisement has some kind of message to women that they have to be perfect and flawless to be beautiful, which is so not true.
Men are even feeling that pressure from advertisements. Men have to be muscular and sexy to get the girl. Also, men sometimes judge their wife or girlfriend based on ads of women who seem perfect.

Reading of "Let Teenagers Try Adulthood"

When I read “Let Teenagers Try Adulthood” I found many different things I agreed with, but also some I disagreed with. The writer states his thesis as the American high school is obsolete and should be abolished. I do not agree with this statement. In my opinion, high school is where you start to mature and grow as a person. Yes there are cliques and people are judged, but seeing how people acted when I was in high school made me realize I did not want to be like that. I wanted to be nice and friendly with everyone. You never know one day you may work for that guy or girl you made fun of or you made need their help one day. I also do not agree with the idea he has about the schools. He says elementary school should begin at age four and end with sixth grade and high school would start with seventh grade and end at sixteen years old. Then he says those sixteen year olds need to go out into the real world. I know when I was sixteen I was immature and had no idea what things were like. I got my first job at sixteen, yes, but not a “real” job. At the age of sixteen no one is mature. I know many adults who are still very immature.
One thing I do agree with is when the writer says many opportunities have been lost by the time graduates realize what is at stake. I know many people who just got by in high school and now cannot get any scholarships so they decide they are not going to college and now regret that decision and who are starting later than their friends. Then they realize without that college degree there are not many jobs out there that pay well.

Welcome :)

Hey guys my name is Ashley Pennycuff. I am from Mt. Juliet which is about 30 minute from Nashville. I graduated from Wilson Central in Lebanon where I cheered freshman through senior year fro basketball and football. I was involved in helping with CDC students and the special olympics. I am a nursing major and I am interested in working in pediatrics because I love kids.