Mexican White Boy Seminar
Seminar pre write
1.What mask`s do Danny and Uno have to wear?
In the book Mexican WhiteBoy two boys have been socialized by peer, family members and there social class to wear identity mask. The two boys, Danny and Uno, are both Mexican except Danny has vary light colored skin and can`t speak Spanish, which set him apart from the other Mexicans in National city where he lives. They also come from two vary different social groups. Danny goes to a prestige's high school and has remarkable skills as a baseball player but can`t get the ball ware he wants it. Uno is a boy who is on parol and gets in trouble. For Danny to move from his prestige`s high school to a place where everyone speaks spanish and live in a place of poverty then he is accustomed to, so for him he hides behind of mask solitude and tried to do his best with getting to know his uncle and his family. Uno has a wears a street mask, lives in a poor family,uses slang words and most of the time hangs out with his friends. But near the middle and end of the book there mask change both boys need money, Danny needs money for a flight to Mexico to see his dad and Uno needs the money so he can move in with his dad, and both boys in up working together. Danny using his skills at baseball and Uno`s street smarts to hustle people out of money by getting them into a pitching contest. wile reading this book it gave me a new insight into how everyone hides behind there own mask. In my opinion Danny and Uno were good influences on each other, Danny leaned come out from behind his mask and Danny got Uno on a better path then the one he was on.
2, Use the concepts of socialization to explain the book ‘‘Mexican Whiteboy’’
In the book it shows the differentness between races. throughout the book there are references to colored and non colored people, it attempts to explain the differentness of race with the drama of Danny`s mom`s white boyfriend and there relationship and all the white kids from Danny`s high school baseball team. The book also explain social class, because the boys on Danny`s high school team were fairly wealthy and because the boyfriend was vary rich. This is also influenced Danny`s mask.
3.What new insights did you gain about race and Economic class in reading this book?
I gained a lot of insight into how others of different race and social class are distinguished in society, like how the high school team didn't think that Danny and Uno can`t beat them because of there color and because they are poor. I also learned more about the extant of the dividing line of class and race with the poor area that Danny and Uno lived in. Here in Durango it`s not the same as in a city like National city where
Mexican Whiteboy Seminar Reflection
Reaction:
For me my reaction to the comments made by my class mates was good they, all made good, stimulating questions and equally stimulating responses. I really agree and tried to add to the comments about economic class and race when involving Danny`s life in the book. For me that was a vary strong part for me to reference from the book.
Connections:
For me i made the connection between the Story of Danny and Uno in Mexican Whiteboy and the movie i watched in Physics, October Sky. During the seminar the topic of why people of color are driven towards more sport then academes because it was one of the few ways to have a successful career i said what i thought about the likeness of the the two situation. In Mexican Whiteboy you have a culture in which people of color are steered towards sports like Baseball and football to have a ok career while in the movie October sky any one in that town had to either get a football scholarship or work in the coal mine to have a enough money to survive, so in both times the common denominator was that to have a decent life you had to get in an sports career to do ok.
Self evaluation:
I think what i did well in the seminar was adding to the question posed by finding a new perspective on each topic and expanding on it. to me this is what i feel i am good at but i really need to work on is finding topics to bring up during the seminar and expanding on them.
Most beautiful line:
The most beautiful line in my opinion was a quote from the book ‘‘Danny`s family is as black as the coffee his grandma and he is as white as the cream she mixes in’’. To me this is a profound statement of how Danny feels separated from his family.
Reaction:
For me my reaction to the comments made by my class mates was good they, all made good, stimulating questions and equally stimulating responses. I really agree and tried to add to the comments about economic class and race when involving Danny`s life in the book. For me that was a vary strong part for me to reference from the book.
Connections:
For me i made the connection between the Story of Danny and Uno in Mexican Whiteboy and the movie i watched in Physics, October Sky. During the seminar the topic of why people of color are driven towards more sport then academes because it was one of the few ways to have a successful career i said what i thought about the likeness of the the two situation. In Mexican Whiteboy you have a culture in which people of color are steered towards sports like Baseball and football to have a ok career while in the movie October sky any one in that town had to either get a football scholarship or work in the coal mine to have a enough money to survive, so in both times the common denominator was that to have a decent life you had to get in an sports career to do ok.
Self evaluation:
I think what i did well in the seminar was adding to the question posed by finding a new perspective on each topic and expanding on it. to me this is what i feel i am good at but i really need to work on is finding topics to bring up during the seminar and expanding on them.
Most beautiful line:
The most beautiful line in my opinion was a quote from the book ‘‘Danny`s family is as black as the coffee his grandma and he is as white as the cream she mixes in’’. To me this is a profound statement of how Danny feels separated from his family.
Brave New World Seminar
Socratic Seminar Questions
Austin Munroe
The overall message of Brave New World involves many things. To start, it mostly has to do with the following, production, efficiency, consumerism and how it is involved in our society. When the book first starts by introducing the the Bokanvsky process into the story and how it is a major part of social stability in the society. After introducing this concept it becomes more relevant to the message of Brave New World. The Bokanvsky process allow the government to create identical twins in any way they want, be it smart, dumb, tall, short, black or white, in thousands at a time and in the process conditioning them to behave in the manor that there caste dictates. So in the end you get entire world populated with people that all look, think, act, behave and work in the same way. In some ways this is ok, I mean if you like no creativity or imagination then this is a dream come true. But in others it`s not, there is no identity, there is little or no difference between anyone. This may be seen as a bad thing from our point of view, but all of it plays a crucial part to the society and how it functions.
2. In what ways has Brave New world made you think about the concept of happiness?
The society of Brave New World is vary interesting, there concept of happiness mostly involves two things. Sex and drugs. These are two things help keep the population from revolting against the government and maintain social stability. In the book, the use of soma is used to make people feel no emotion and not care about anything that they find disturbing or unpleasant. Also everyone is conditioned as a small child to enjoy the opposite sex and in brace it in every way. While all these thing are not social norms for our society they do happen, and its up to you to decide if they are bad or good.
3. What does John mean by saying nothing in the civilized world costs enough?
From my point of view, I believe that John says this because he finds that everything is mostly given to everyone, they don`t have to pay much or work hard to receive it. As a man that has worked hard and lives in a society that is “uncivilized” compared to the rest of the world he sees it as a world where everyone is lazy and doesn`t have to work to meet any goals or to even just have food on the table. All they have to do is do as there told by the government and they get there drugs and whatever else they want. But think about from the perspective of John. A man who works hard, but now lives in a world where everything is given to him. wouldn`t that just not seam right? If you can`t imagine it from his persecutive then imagine it from your own. The last time you did a hard job or task for someone else, didn't it feel good to be rewarded for doing it. This is what I think John is trying to relay when he says this.
4. How much of our society do you think is focused on comfort and how much do you think is focused on truth and beauty?
How much of our society do you think is focused on comfort and how much do you think is focused on truth and beauty? The fact is that I have lived in a small town for a good part of my life and have not been exposed to a big part of society. But through the limited perspective I have, I have still have been exposed to T.V. advertisement for cars that glamorize the comfort and luxury of owning a new sports car. As well as beauty product advertisement that people use to make them selves more beautiful. So for me I can see that there is a good balance This is my perspective on the topic which doesn`t mean it`s without flaws. But when it comes to truth, I am kind of still deciding. In a small town like Durango mostly everyone is truthful but that is in a small town. I don't know about the rest of the world. I would hope that everyone is mostly truthful but I guess that I will have to find out on my own.
Austin Munroe
- What is the overall message of Brave New World?
The overall message of Brave New World involves many things. To start, it mostly has to do with the following, production, efficiency, consumerism and how it is involved in our society. When the book first starts by introducing the the Bokanvsky process into the story and how it is a major part of social stability in the society. After introducing this concept it becomes more relevant to the message of Brave New World. The Bokanvsky process allow the government to create identical twins in any way they want, be it smart, dumb, tall, short, black or white, in thousands at a time and in the process conditioning them to behave in the manor that there caste dictates. So in the end you get entire world populated with people that all look, think, act, behave and work in the same way. In some ways this is ok, I mean if you like no creativity or imagination then this is a dream come true. But in others it`s not, there is no identity, there is little or no difference between anyone. This may be seen as a bad thing from our point of view, but all of it plays a crucial part to the society and how it functions.
2. In what ways has Brave New world made you think about the concept of happiness?
The society of Brave New World is vary interesting, there concept of happiness mostly involves two things. Sex and drugs. These are two things help keep the population from revolting against the government and maintain social stability. In the book, the use of soma is used to make people feel no emotion and not care about anything that they find disturbing or unpleasant. Also everyone is conditioned as a small child to enjoy the opposite sex and in brace it in every way. While all these thing are not social norms for our society they do happen, and its up to you to decide if they are bad or good.
3. What does John mean by saying nothing in the civilized world costs enough?
From my point of view, I believe that John says this because he finds that everything is mostly given to everyone, they don`t have to pay much or work hard to receive it. As a man that has worked hard and lives in a society that is “uncivilized” compared to the rest of the world he sees it as a world where everyone is lazy and doesn`t have to work to meet any goals or to even just have food on the table. All they have to do is do as there told by the government and they get there drugs and whatever else they want. But think about from the perspective of John. A man who works hard, but now lives in a world where everything is given to him. wouldn`t that just not seam right? If you can`t imagine it from his persecutive then imagine it from your own. The last time you did a hard job or task for someone else, didn't it feel good to be rewarded for doing it. This is what I think John is trying to relay when he says this.
4. How much of our society do you think is focused on comfort and how much do you think is focused on truth and beauty?
How much of our society do you think is focused on comfort and how much do you think is focused on truth and beauty? The fact is that I have lived in a small town for a good part of my life and have not been exposed to a big part of society. But through the limited perspective I have, I have still have been exposed to T.V. advertisement for cars that glamorize the comfort and luxury of owning a new sports car. As well as beauty product advertisement that people use to make them selves more beautiful. So for me I can see that there is a good balance This is my perspective on the topic which doesn`t mean it`s without flaws. But when it comes to truth, I am kind of still deciding. In a small town like Durango mostly everyone is truthful but that is in a small town. I don't know about the rest of the world. I would hope that everyone is mostly truthful but I guess that I will have to find out on my own.
Happiness and Meaning Project Reflection
Happiness and meaning has been the topic for the past week and I can only assume that I learned about it for two reasons. One to helping me understand happiness and meaning in my life as well as how others experience happiness I there life and two, too advise someone on how to find happiness in there life. And sense I don`t want to talk about my happiness I will start by telling you about how I would advise someone. To began I would review the week of studying that happened during the creation of my essay and how each paragraph focused on a different part of happiness, for example how getting into the “zone” can make you happy or how having a community to live in can also make you happy. But that can only do so much, I can`t just tell them how to be happy or how to find happiness in there life, I however can tell them to use the information that I explained earlier to judge if there happy and how to find some way to be happy.
Thinking over what I have learned and how I will incorporate it into my life as made me think about how I will incorporate happiness into my summer. My plan for incorporating happiness and meaning into my summer is going to involve two parts of what I learned. To start I will plan to spend as much time ether riding my bike or getting outside into nature as much as humanly possible while keep trying to find a community that I can find friends to talk to or hang out with during my off time. Unfortunately I can`t plan out my entire summer day by day but I can plan to try to make my days much happier and enjoyable by planing rides or meeting friends to do something. Not just siting alone at home on the couch.
After reading the article, Why People Who Use Their Phone Too Much Can Become Unhappy, I considered how much time I spent on social media web sights and games on my phone. I realized that I am spending most of my off time on a computer or phone and not even considering going outside. I found this very surprising and enlightening to how I spend my time. I didn`t realize that I has so drawn to my phone, but now this summer I plan to limit my use of my phone and spend my time doing something that I enjoy doing. I have also realized that by spending time on my phone has limited my imagination and kept me from engaging with my family.
This project has had the biggest impact on compared to the rest of the projects, not because the were uninteresting but because this one centered around something that I have always had the hardest time with, happiness. During the process of this project I learned a lot about my self and how I can be happy. This all accumulated into one question that I am still finishing up, are you happy? I still after all this research, studying and days of classes am still answering this question. Not because I don`t have all the information but because I am still sorting my past and trying to gauge how happy I am. I don`t feel that this is a bad thing and each day I come closer to on unwinding the truth about how happy i am.
Happiness and meaning has been the topic for the past week and I can only assume that I learned about it for two reasons. One to helping me understand happiness and meaning in my life as well as how others experience happiness I there life and two, too advise someone on how to find happiness in there life. And sense I don`t want to talk about my happiness I will start by telling you about how I would advise someone. To began I would review the week of studying that happened during the creation of my essay and how each paragraph focused on a different part of happiness, for example how getting into the “zone” can make you happy or how having a community to live in can also make you happy. But that can only do so much, I can`t just tell them how to be happy or how to find happiness in there life, I however can tell them to use the information that I explained earlier to judge if there happy and how to find some way to be happy.
Thinking over what I have learned and how I will incorporate it into my life as made me think about how I will incorporate happiness into my summer. My plan for incorporating happiness and meaning into my summer is going to involve two parts of what I learned. To start I will plan to spend as much time ether riding my bike or getting outside into nature as much as humanly possible while keep trying to find a community that I can find friends to talk to or hang out with during my off time. Unfortunately I can`t plan out my entire summer day by day but I can plan to try to make my days much happier and enjoyable by planing rides or meeting friends to do something. Not just siting alone at home on the couch.
After reading the article, Why People Who Use Their Phone Too Much Can Become Unhappy, I considered how much time I spent on social media web sights and games on my phone. I realized that I am spending most of my off time on a computer or phone and not even considering going outside. I found this very surprising and enlightening to how I spend my time. I didn`t realize that I has so drawn to my phone, but now this summer I plan to limit my use of my phone and spend my time doing something that I enjoy doing. I have also realized that by spending time on my phone has limited my imagination and kept me from engaging with my family.
This project has had the biggest impact on compared to the rest of the projects, not because the were uninteresting but because this one centered around something that I have always had the hardest time with, happiness. During the process of this project I learned a lot about my self and how I can be happy. This all accumulated into one question that I am still finishing up, are you happy? I still after all this research, studying and days of classes am still answering this question. Not because I don`t have all the information but because I am still sorting my past and trying to gauge how happy I am. I don`t feel that this is a bad thing and each day I come closer to on unwinding the truth about how happy i am.
