Finals are upon us! Many students have pretty lousy study skills, particularly newer students. I think we need to talk with our classes about how to study. Not all studying is equally effective
The Harmful Stereotypes about Homeless People
Often people misinterpret and even forget about the homeless population of America. Throughout class we have talked about how archaeology and anthropology challenge stereotypical beliefs about homeless people. In all, archaeology can explain how homeless people are more significant and normal than people think.
In MTV’s documentary, “Inocente”, the main character does not give up to the helplessness of her surroundings and is persistent to become a world-class artist. When she was a child her Dad beat her and one day he beat her so hard her mother called the cops. The next day he was deported to Mexico. According to Inocente, this is when her homeless journey started.
It is not her fault that she is homeless and like many homeless people, she refuses to let society define her. In this case, archaeology can be used to examine Inocente’s experiences in order to realize how much she needs to move around and how she’s able to survive. The documentary reveals that Inocente’s dream to become an influential painter motivates her to live and migrate from homeless shelter to homeless.
The one thing that puzzles me is why do many Americans assume that homeless people don’t have any talent or intuition. In the documentary this wasn’t directly mentioned but Inocente’s story made me wonder why do many people believe that homeless people are worthless and loony. These certain stereotypes help destroy the identities of homeless people like Inocente.
An organization called Rethink Homelessness strives to challenge these negative stereotypes about homeless people just like the MTV documentary does. The campaign is centered on a documentary, which is about homeless people living in Florida. The campaign’s film emphasizes how homeless people can be very talented and unique. The film doesn’t tell the story of how these homeless people are homeless but instead shows the homeless people holding cardboard signs with facts written about themselves. The campaign uses these facts to destroy stereotypes that note homeless people as forlorn and proves that these people are talented and apt. Organizations like Rethink Homelessness and MTV are changing common misconceptions about homeless people and are further humanizing their identety in society (they are normal people!). So next time when you see the local hobo walking from street to street looking for shelter, don’t just assume that he or she is hopeless and nutty.
References
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/17/inocente-mtv-homeless-immigrant_n_1679454.html
The documentary: “Inocente”
Further Reading:
http://rethinkhomelessness.org/
Video: “Cardboard Stories | Homeless in Orlando” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THxtcWNw3QA
Photo 2: http://heavy.com/social/2014/07/rethink-homelessness-florida-cardboard-signs-pictures/16/
Photo 3: http://heavy.com/social/2014/07/rethink-homelessness-florida-cardboard-signs-pictures/18/
Immigration reform: Obama’s new executive order and its impact on archaeology
In class this week we learned about how immigration policy in the United States has made life hell for many of those attempting to cross the border into our nation. Most of the border is protected by security, while one stretch in the harsh and unforgiving Arizona desert is left unprotected as a “natural deterrent”. Thousands of immigrants have
died in that harsh environment just trying to make it across (lots due to lack of water), and many made it here just to get deported back to their home countries. That might change soon, thanks to some recent activity at the White House.
Just this past Thursday, President Obama signed an executive order aimed at giving more protection to undocumented immigrants. According to the order, undocumented migrants who have been in the
United States for at least five years will be able to apply for a government program that protects them from being deported and allows them to work legally in the US without facing potential criminal prosecution. In addition, more migrants will be protected from deportation through reforms to the United States’ immigration enforcement system.
What does this mean for immigration into the United States, and how do we apply archaeology to this question? Well, archaeological researchers have found that immigrants are perfectly willing to undergo the trek through the desert rather than immigrate through parts of the border a with less dangerous climate but more heavily guarded by the United States border patrol. Moreover, these immigrants often depart without the supplies they need to keep a lower profile. Examples of this are the imitation Nike sneakers worn instead of hiking boots (which are not as good at protecting the feet but make them look more like Americans) and the black plastic water jugs used by some (which heat up their water but are supposedly “less visible”). An executive order making it easier for immigrants who make it across the border to stay in the country will undoubtedly make immigration to the United States more enticing for those living in Latin American nations. In addition, since this order was not accompanied by a loosening of security on the parts of the border that do not lie along the Arizona desert, the increased number of immigrants trying to cross over will undoubtedly funnel through the Arizona/Mexico border and many will die. So, Obama’s new policy will lead to not only more immigrants (who might not have before wanted to cross over into the US due to fear of deportation but now feel that they will be safe) but to more deaths in the desert. A potential solution to this problem would be to set up water stations on the border.
Sources:
http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/soc/immigration/uploads/TestPagecrossingborder.jpg
Additional reading:
http://www.fronterasdesk.org/content/9772/movie-examines-illegal-immigration-arizona-border
http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/immigration-border-crisis/arizona-residents-protest-arrival-undocumented-immigrant-children-n155941
http://undocumentedmigrationproject.com
When Fashion Follows Fine Art
Today’s post comes from Samuel Blanchard, class of 2018 and Art Center Student Docent.
America’s commercial fashion industry is amidst a love affair with fine art
Grade Pressures
Do you feel the pressure of grades? I feel immense pressure to give grades that students can tolerate without crying or having anxiety attacks. I’m going to use this blog post to talk a little about this pressure. These are … Continue reading →