Ethnic Hierarchy in Babel

A prime example of Ethnic Hierarchy in the film Babel begins shortly after the white American women is shot in Morocco. The tour bus is full of white American tourists. Each of these people believe that they should be taken care of before all the others, wether it is medical attention or transportation, they all have put them selves up on a pedestal over everyone else.

In America white people have always been the “dominant” group. As Fredrickson  wrote,

 

“The sharpest and most consequential distinction has always between "white" and "nonwhite." 

Another example of ethnic hierarchy is the interaction between the Mexican nannies’ nephew and the American border patrol. Though the white border patrol officer was doing his job, he would not hear out some one from an ethnicity lower than what he considers himself. Without understanding the situation the white man is immediately hostile towards the Mexican man. 

Ethnic Hierarchy can exist between to people who share the same ethnic background according to authority position. The Moroccan police consider them selves on a higher level than Moroccan civilians. They view them as terrorist immediately because of stereotypes. Babel was not the best example of ethnic hierarchy. The film Crash deals more with race and ethnicity and is a very similar movie on a different scale. 

Assisted Suicide

I'm doing this for a New Millennium Studies project, and I think it would be a good prompt here. What are your thoughts on assisted suicide? Is it wrong to knowingly end someone's life? Is it right? 

There is no clear cut decision

Eating meat has always been tradition, I think even though there are now healthier alternatives people will still eat meat. After all who can change such a long-standing tradition. Meat has also been people main source of protein; it has also been incorporated into many dishes. This is one of the reasons why it was so difficult back then to really be a vegetarian.
However with tofu becoming the new “meat”, it doesn’t mean that those who were always a meat eater will make a smooth transition. Tofu doesn’t have the same properties as meat, like taste. I actually had a veggie burger and preferred that taste than the actual meat. And that’s because I rarely eat meat like that, making that transition won’t be that hard to me.
Yet, there are those that only eat meat, heck they practically created the Angus burger for them. They are the type that is the meat expert, the can easily tell when the meat is medium rare or thoroughly cooked just by looking at them. Also they are the upper class (rich) they can just by trainers that can help them lose the weight they gain.
But even doctors agree meat is healthy, I watched a news report about how the cave man can outrun the fastest Olympic runner. Cavemen mainly ate meat, and they were healthier than we are today. Does this suggest that we have to give up our favorite meat? NO, it suggests that we should be careful in how we prepare our meals. Even with tofu there is always that person who wanted a little extra and add in the wrong thing (like a sauce whose calories is like 1000).
SO I go back to my title in saying there is no clear-cut answer, it’s all about how we as individuals prefer to eat. There are many good things about meat as there are bad, but it is not enough to throw it aside. Economically speaking this is how many countries even make money, is it right to simply have them lose their main source of income, because we just decided to all be “healthier” which I think will become a fad, heck even Olympic players love their meat.

"Thanksgiving" What does it mean to you?

Traditionally Thanksgiving is supposed to be a time where we give thanks for our harvest and in other ways express our upmost gratitude for anything or anyone. But now has become a day where people gather from everywhere to eat and discuss who will buy who gifts for the next big holiday. It seems like thanksgiving became the one excuse Americans had to eat like pigs and ignore the health hazards associated with them. It is usually celebrated with family and friends. But now you find every year your guest list might shrink due to clubs, sports bar or just people who rather eat and leave. The meaning itself is to be thankful which now replaced by sports, parades and unhealthy eating. Do you agree or disagree? Explain why. What is your meaning of thanksgiving? And what are ways you and others can better give thanks and express gratitude?

Influence from media

Everyone has an influence, but what media has given you a particular impact?  From a wide history of censorship and controversy, it's safe to assume things like movies, books, and music are definitely capable of giving us ideas.  This can be as simple as watching a movie and saying, "Hey, I want to do that."

Be sure to be specific in what influenced you and detailed in how it did so.

are you music?

So everyone must like some type of music in particular. Whether you don't want to admit or not, there should be a type of music (genre) that you choose over others. There are some people out there that judge people by the type of music people listen to. for example some people think that being a big fan of rap your quickly considered a rude, ignorant person. Do you think it's ok to right away place a label on someone as soon as you know what type of music they listen to? do you think that the music you specifically love makes you who you are today?

chicago's 2016 loss a win?

When all the hype of the 2016 Olympics coming to chicago was occuring earlier this year, i got pretty stoked for the bid. I was seeing advertisements everywhere for the games, from highways to tee shirts. I was proud that my city that i live in is great enough to be a finalist for the future Olympics. As the hype went on, i started noticing that there was also hype to NOT host the olympic games. Why would anyone not want chicago to host the Olympics?

I felt relived when mayor Daley made the announcement that no chicagoan will be picking up the tab, meaning he wont be raising taxes whatsoever. He flip-flopped on this idea and apologized saying that yes, he will be raising taxes. Chicago already has extremely high taxes with our apparel tax at about 10% and our cigarette tax the highest in the nation, taxes i perfer not to pay but dont mind paying. These taxes go toward enhancing this wonderful city. In what ways, im not sure but i do know that the city's cleanliness and overall visual appearance has significantly improved since the 80s and 90s. Chicago needs to increase taxes for the Olympics? So be it. Transportation will be made easier and the city will look ultra swank and dolled up for the eyes of the world in 2016. I have also heard that Olympics bring in money to the city as well. You have to spend money to make money.

Whenever i asked adults in the know about the Olympic bid as to why they or other people would want the olympics to be located somewhere else, they gave me the answer that they do not want to pay higher taxes and because history states that some cities have been destroyed by the Olympics. Atlanta being the core example. Searching the web i havent found any information supporting the fact that cities go to ruins after their olympics. I have only found sites that say that cities go down and dont have any support on their claim. One website actually stated that Atlanta became a more booming city after the Olympics saying that the population rose from 2m before the Olympics to 4m in modern day and that the Olympics helped put Atlanta on the map.

With those two answers that i received shot out, why else would people not want the olympics in chicago? One of the only two answers that i found reasonable enough is that a lot of people get displaced from their homes. Even in china, the government pushed people out of their homes for the olympic bids to build on their sites. In Atlanta, they were giving homeless people one way bus tickets out of the city. The other reason is that all this money from the Olympics could be going to our schools, homeless, and people and neighborhoods that are in need. Every other reason given doesnt have to do with the Olympics in my opinion. Websites stated cities that should get the bid, as long as chicago didnt, with no explination why. Some stated Daleys mistakes of him being un-lawful in un-related situations. Some stated the negative cliches about the Olympics such as the steroid scandals, underage participants, high crime (which is general crime, not during the Olympics), cities bribing judges, and even bringing up the unfortunate terrorist bombing that occurred in Atlanta in the 80s.

I have found no good reason why i feel that chicago shouldnt get the olympic bid. Turned out that the only reason why we shouldnt is because USA has already held the Olympics a few times and South America hasnt. We live in an amazing and gorgeous city and im glad that is the reason why chicago got booted out of the race first.

Should we eat meat?

Thanksgiving arrives every year with a heated debate over how to best cook that plump and juicy turkey. But the idea of a tofu turkey (also known as a “tofurkey”) has gone from a joke a couple years ago to a reality for many. While vegetarianism has been practiced for over a thousand years in some countries, it is a relatively new concept in the West. And so, with the question cropping up more and more often, should we eat meat?

Movies and Violence

Movies in now way impact or manipulate individuals to commit the acts they see on screen. It takes an individual who does not have the common sense or the basic reasoning skills to understand that a film is a piece of art work and is an interpretation of events. Most of all, a film is a story being told to entertain, it is not an informational video. 

Films are less influential than videogames when it comes to having violence be transferred into the real world. Videogames have so many problems with kids becoming violent and aggressive because they are in control of the character and therefore feel they can make the same decisions in real life after becoming emotionally numb to some of the activities taking place in the game. A film is a different medium where the audience observes from the outside the actions and decisions of the characters. It is easy to comment on how bad an individual is acting on screen because you get to see them make the choice. Videogame players are using their own thought processing to directly control their character's actions. 

Parents are not directly involved with this debate. You can have a strong foundation for your child, but any prolonged exposure to mediums that have negative aggressive and violent outcomes will effect anybody. But since the debate is about films and violence, I would have to say films have no impact on individuals desired to commit crimes and violence.

Drinking Age!!

I think the drinking age should be lowered to eighteen years of age. After all it seems kind of off the meter that we are able to legally vote for our president which is stated to be an very important election. Also we are able to buy cigarettes and play the freaking lottery, Cigarettes in my opinion are just as bad as alcohol and someone will always abuse it but yet it's fine for us to develop cancer but not destroy our liver. Seems odd to me. In my opinion I don't care if you are eighteen or twenty one, someone can always be immature and not responsible with the decision either way but then again we can go to war when we turn eighteen. If you ask me after you've seen the things they see overseas how in the world can you come home and not need to relax. They say because we aren't mature enough to handle the responsiblity of drinking. Then I lthought how are we mature enough to go fight for our country then? How can you send immature individuals over to other places to fight for our safety? You can't. The laws are backwards. They allow one thing and don't allow another. War and alcohol can go hand in hand. They both are dangerous and they both can be abused. You can fight for the hell of it and drink for the hell of it. So being eighteen going to war, buying cigarettes, and drinking should be just as accepted as over the counter Plan B pills and clinics giving away abortions to without the consent of an adult because the girl is legally eighteen. Maybe they should weight these things on a scale and she just how not balanced their laws are!

Successful

I think being successful is having a nice house, not having to live paycheck to paycheck, and being well liked with the people around you. One of the people I think is very successful is Steven Spielburg. He has so many movies and has such a creative mind. He is not just someone who is rich and successful but he has the ability of being a great visual storyteller. I admire his work very much from Jurassic Park to Indiana Jones, his work is one of the best in the industry. I feel that my friends and family are successful because they have what I think is successful which is listed on top. Even though what I stated above is my take on being successful, it doesn't hurt to strive for more. My morals and beliefs would still be with me because they are a part of who I am. I am aiming to have nice things and not worrying about money and having good relationships with people. I try not to think negative and be an optimistic because there is always a bright side to something. To me thinking bad only prevents us to becoming successful in our lives.

Drinking Age/Trends

The drinking age in the US should be lowered at 18. I agree with Justin Forcier that it should be lowered because so many people are doing it anyway. I think some people should know what their own limits are and be smart about it. If they want to be drunks then its their own choice. As he said before, people already do so many other things like smoking and voting, we might as well bring drinking with being 18 its just as bad as smoking is to your body. Some people might even say that having the age at 21 is having younger kids drink more because of their rebellious attitudes. If they do change the age, to me it would seem inevitable to what is already happening.
Trends are I think what makes people be social. My trends that I follow is being a casual fit guy. To me it gives the impression of a down to earth guy. Its not about being pressured. I think its a way to find who we are and what we want ourselves to look like. Other people that always follow trends are still trying to find themselves unless that is who they want to be. For those that set trends up either from shoes to music, they just give us options to choose that's all. No one has to be obliged by them. Trends in our own cultures also help shape us to find our identity. It can have us pass on these trends and teach it. It can also have people be extremists, misinterpreting the culture itself. That is why we must find who we are and choose what to do with ourselves.

Movies vs. Violence

Can movies influence some people into doing bad things? Films such as Scream gives us an extreme lens of how people might try to mimic a movie. If so, what do u think drives them to reenact a movie? Could being violent be blamed at parents or other kinds of figures?

The Drinking Age

My family and I would have to agree that the drinking age in the United States should be lowered from age twenty-one. Eighteen would be an appropriate age because teenagers at that age are already legally able to purchase cigarettes, vote, and in some instances gamble at casinos when they reach the age of eighteen. Having the age lowered will also remove much of the difficulties and legal troubles surrounding college students. No matter what people say, everybody knows underage drinking goes on at college, there is nothing that can really be done to prevent this fact. Getting the drinking age lowered is a good idea because there would be no more illegal drinking going on at colleges, if everyone is doing it we might as well make it ok. Many other countries have legal drinking ages lower than those in the United States. Many European countries and, closer to home, Mexico allow teenagers at the age of eighteen to drink alcohol legally. I think the age is good because we don’t hear many stories of people complaining in other countries about alcohol consumption. To be honest the stories we hear amongst each other as Americans are stories of our friends getting drunk legally on family of friend vacations to foreign countries. The largest question concerning having eighteen year olds drink legally is whether or not they are mature enough to have the age lowered. The question of maturation is relative because there are certainly immature twenty-one year olds running around making stupid decisions all of the time. I know more than a few eighteen year olds who make good choices and show common sense in situations regarding drinking and alcohol consumption. It doesn’t really matter if the age is dropped because it will be the same situation as it is now with the drinking age being twenty-one. 

Prompt...Success

What does being successful mean to you? Does the amount of money make you successful or the amount people you have influenced? Who do you feel is successful in your major and why do you feel that way?( dance, fashion, film, poetry, art etc.) Do you feel that your friends and family members are successful? Would you throw away all of your morals as well as beliefs to become successfully know?

Why the drinking age needs to be higher

The current legal drinking age of the US is apparently not doing well; I think that just because someone is 21, doesn’t necessarily make them mature enough to drink. In fact, there has to be a standard for drinking, because it is mainly the college students that are known for binge drinking. There has to be restrictions on who get to drink legally, based on accountability. Some people don’t take their responsibilities serious into later on in life.
I think that the drinking age should not be lowered to 18, because there was a trend in the past of high death rates amongst teenagers from underage drinking(taken from NHSTA http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/research/pub/age-of-drinking/pub2/discussion.htm ), by having the standard set at 21, teen deaths are decreased. Logically at 21 yrs. Old, they should know the importance of being responsible. But this is only for the US, because the age of maturity is different in other cultures. In the US, the age of maturity differs for everyone, so there has to be a standard that everyone can follow.
Compared to everyone else, we are one of the four countries that have the drinking age set four 21. Japan has the age set at 20, along with Iceland and Paraguay. From that the other ages are 16 to 19; however, there are countries with no real age for drinking. Yet, some cultures forbid drinking at any age. For more information about different countries legal age of drinking go to: http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/LegalDrinkingAge.html. This goes back to the fact that based on certain cultures; there are different traditions, which results in different ages of maturity. For the United States we are a mixed culture, not everyone has the same traditions or beliefs, causing everyone to mature at a different age.
I think that there are some 18 year olds that are responsible enough to drink alcohol. Yet, it is not enough to lower the legal age. It just goes back to the fact that not everyone is mature at the same age to drop the standard. Going back to my first paragraph, the ability to drink should be based on how accountable the person is.

Drinking Age

What do you think about the current legal drinking age in The United States? Do you feel that 21 is a logical age or do you think that it should be lowered to 18? What do you think about the drinking age as its compared to other countries? Do you think that an 18 year old is responsible enough to consume alcohol?

Prompt

How do you feel about trends? Would you consider yourself a trend follower and do you feel pressured to follow trends? What trend(s) do you follow and why did you like that(those) trends? What do you think about people who live to follow trends? How do you feel about those who are setting these trends? What positive and negative effects do you think trends have on culture? Reflect on your personal preferences on music, television, movies, books, and clothes while answering these questions.

Response to Sports vs. War

I will agree that sports are sold through violence - no equivocations. Which sports are the most popular? Is tennis the most popular sport, frisbee, swimming? No, the most popular sports are those that not only incorporate violence but promote it. Football, boxing, baseball, hockey, even NASCAR are followed with seemingly obsessive scrutiny. People are brought up thinking that such sports are the "manly" sports. I laugh when people say that and then mention wrestling . Not to offend anyone but can a sport appear more homosexual and less manly. Two sweaty guys in tights grabbing each other. I only mention it because sports that don’t require tights and man to man rubbing, such as tennis, are considered gay.

I don’t think sports have a direct correlation to war. The connection is violence, a subject that our culture could not thrive without. The question for this prompt is rather ironic because of the football game this weekend. So many people see football games, and the day that they occure, as holy days. Nothing can coincide or interfere with such imperative matters (other than alcohol and the occasional witty comment that is). Sports, followed as they are now, are rather ridiculous. I have nothing against sports. I have played on various teams in various sports since I was three. The lure of violence and manliness is enough to make me sick though. The only thing worse in this subject than peoples inability to live without it is their dependence on alcohol. Another point, adding to the violence, is the abuse of women in these sports. Women are used solely as soft-core porn to please the drooling drunks watching it. Even worse they'll most likely agree laughing and not see anything wrong with it. But hey, that is what being a man is all about right?

Response

I think for humans, and pretty much all animals, there is an instinct towards confrontation and violence. Humans, at this point seem to have come to understand that they can't just go around killing people randomly. In my opinion, sports seem to be a good way for people to let out their natural aggression. Not only that but sports is also about simply feeling that adrenaline, and power that goes along with physical activity and feeling successful at something.

I think that sports are a really good thing for society. It keeps are motivations high, gives some people something to look forward to and maybe something to feel passionate about. On the topic of sports promoting violence. I don't really feel like they promote violence more than anything you could possibly see on TV or even simply walking down the street.

Even though I myself, really don't have the motivation to do anything like sports, or something competitive, I can see how its totally beneficial to people. Especially in the United States right now things that involve physical activity need to be encouraged, as obesity becomes an increasingly bigger problem.

Response to the Post

Sports themselves are not a negative impact on our culture and do not promote violence through “war-like” activities. Sure, sports and war have two sides opposite each other battling for victory on a field or open space somewhere, but the winner of the Super Bowl never gets to occupy the state of the losing team. Sports are competitions, two opposite sides try to outperform each other and gain points based on their performance. They do not promote “war” in the sense that they are not trying to kill each other. After every game they shake hands and often meet with each other to talk about personal topics like old friends. If sports were in any way like a war I’m sure the winning side would be a little less sportsmanlike to the men who are still alive for the opposing army. These men are all in it for business too; they get paid and will gladly switch teams if a better opportunity arises.

 

I don’t think sports try and promote violence, in most sports the violence is against the rules and all leagues will suspend players for certain amounts of games for being violent with other players. There are sports such as the National Football League and the National Hockey League that have contact and would be considered “violent”, but they don’t include violence with the intent to injure and opponent. Both sports require the players to wear helmets and pads to prevent them from sustaining injuries.

 

Sports are a positive influence on our culture and our society. They are taught to our children at an early age and help them develop skills they need for the rest of their lives. Sports teach people how important it is to work as a team and to put one hundred percent into any activity they begin. Discipline is another aspect of being in a sport; you learn to mentally be prepared for challenges and to develop a positive attitude in handling adversity. Children also get to learn the values of not only losing gracefully but winning honorably through the influence of positive sportsmanship. 

Response to Sports-War

I do think that sports mimic war because the goal is to win. All of today's sports are determined by points whether it be touchdowns, goals or points made, they are striving for being the victor. War uses this with a number of ways such as number of soldiers or weapons. Whoever has more of either one will most likely be the victor as in sports. Sports today I think is a positive influence because it releases an inner rage when you play it. It is put on television for us to be entertained and stimulates that inner rage inside be let out within our thoughts without actually doing it unless you are. At least if you are doing a sport, you know what is at stake and whatever the rules are but in the streets it is more brutal/savage-like because its all out of rage, not from any meaning like sports has. Sports though does have more of a positive tone than war because at least it is aiming to win to feel the best at something not to gain more control over.
-Steven Gallardo

Response to Prompt 1

I would say it depends on what you're watching. When I watch basketball, golf or baseball with my fiance' I don't see violence as a factor of the sport itself. But when he turns to things like wrestling, hockey and even ufc I believe it's called that, then I see extreme violence. I mean wrestling and hockey have always been a violent sport but there were rules and when I saw the ufc sport on television, I had to turn my head. There are no rules! It seems like you beat the crap out of your opponent and get a title. I never even seen so much blood come from a single sport on a regualr basis. Then I look at fight I've seen in my school or around my old neighborhood basically doing the same thing to another person and they go to jail for it. It puzzles me how on televison it's like a sport and on the streets it is considered violence. I can;t see how blood shed from someone can ever be counted as a victory. It's not something to be excited over. It's something you should be ashamed of. My fiance' watches it and enjoys himself while I feel disgusted because to teens and even some ignorant adults it send the wrong message. Violence is no a sport nor is it a talent. That type of nonsense should be frowned upon!

My Prompt?

I can't remember if it was my week to post or not but I think it is so I will go ahead and do it.

Do you think that sports mimic war? What about the promotion of violence through sports? Do you think that sports are positive or negative in regards to how they influence us/culture? Think about it carefully and explain why you think the way you do.

I Am Steven

I am 18 going on 19 and it seems like i have a long journey to full fill. I just graduated from Curie high school and came here for film. It i not so far to commute since I already live in Archer Heights so its just one orange line train to school. I have always heard about how Columbia College was a great place for film so i set my goal to come here. I have always been so inspired by film it seems like the best way for me to learn is visually anyway. I am a very outgoing person who is up for almost anything. I also love music I am a DJ so currently my iPod holds over 3,600 songs and growing apparently. I am a huge White Sox fan so I love playing baseball. My current dream is to be a cinematographer and do hollywood movies. I love to relax and eat pizza with friends while we just watch a movie and talk about it after. Another interest is traveling because I have been to so many states passing through and just recently went to New York City to visit. I never take anything for granted and I only hope for the best.

Justin Forcier

Well, here we are. I've finally trudged through 4 years of high school and now find myself seven hours away from my hometown beginning my new life as a filmmaker. 

 

My name is Justin Forcier; I am 19 years old and am currently single. I am a friendly guy who loves making people laugh and is a fun person to be around. I enjoy playing video games and hanging out with friends doing whatever comes to our minds. I work at a movie theater back at my hometown and love to watch films in my spare time.

 

I began my journey as a sixth grader in Rosemount, Minnesota. Living in a suburb of the Twin Cities I always viewed the big city as a place to go for sports game and not much else. My old high school was middle-of-the-road when it comes to attendance, not too many students and not a one-room schoolhouse.

 

I made my first film, Dork Island, in the sixth grade for a reading project about pirates. It was a seven-minute film showcasing me and my friends running around in the woods with our shirts on our heads. I continued to make films for school projects all through middle school and in to high school. I wanted to become a director since I was six and I began to see the pieces beginning to fit together. I took film production classes my senior year and luckily was accepted to Columbia College Chicago majoring in film production with an emphasis on directing.

 

Through my high school experience I was never really surrounded by people who shared the same passion for filmmaking as I did. I am looking forward to Columbia providing me with the opportunity to work with peers as skilled and as passionate about film as I. I am looking to perfect my storytelling techniques and hoping to learn the most effective ways to get my ideas across on screen to my desired audience.

 

After Columbia I am looking to get involved in the film industry and hopefully find myself at the helm of a major motion picture. I know I will be successful because I am determined, creative, and surrounded by people who are willing to help make my dream of directing become a reality.

I Am Shalanda!

Hi. my name is Shalanda Pulliams. I'm eighteen soon to be nineteen in October. I am lucky Libra with an addiction to stars. I grew up on the Southside of Chicago but currently reside in Calumet City. For those who don't know it's the south suburbs, nothing special. I have three older sisters, Shteetiyah, Patricia, and Cheronder; one older brother Chris and one younger brother Aaron. The craziest thing about me that a lot of people find interesting is that I'm engaged to my boyfriend of only seven months. Long story, trust me it's not as crazy as it sounds. I spend majority of my time writing, whether it's poetry, short stories or many even song lyrics. But don't let that fool you because I can't sing for the life of me! I watch Phineas and Ferb on a need to watch basis along with Chelsea Lately. I have a one pet back home, a female pitbull named Diamond. Don't get discouraged by her breed because she is actually quite friendly. I love to skate, bowl, club, shop and eat. Matter of fact if eating was a major I would have my Master's already! But I came to Columbia based on my family history. I have two uncles as well as a sister who graduated from here. I researched and found that what i wanted to do was put on front street here at this school. I major in Journalism for News Reporting and Writing. A school like Columbia allows me to focus on that major as well as get skills in other majors who might collaborate with mine one day. Basically I like to be different. I don't think i ever set out to attend a college with many sports and useless clubs. i wanted to be at a college where everyone and everything is a different experience. Where fun had a completely different definition. I find in just my second week of school that Columbia is the place for me!

Who Am I ?

Well...I'm Chantal' Hill.
I am actually from Richton, Illinois. Its a South Suburb not to far from downtown about an 1 hour or so away. I grew up in a big family; both parents, 4 brothers and a sister with 2 cats, which am a allergic to. College/education is something that my family always push me towards. Which I must say that I am very serious about my education. I came to Columbia College because I just fell in love with the diversity and the arts. This College allows you to learn or network with your classmates who have different majors, that can help improve your very own major. I am a lovely Dance Major, who is very determined and focused on my career. Did I mention that I was very focus? I have so much passion for dance and I continue to grow and understand the art form. I actually also want to steer towards fashion/costume/jewelry design. I am a very creative person, I use my mind to add beauty to life. I also find a lot of beauty in nature, its an everlasting cycle of creativity. I'm not a one minded person, I am very open to new ideas and perspectives on life. I plan to come out of Columbia with a larger understanding of how art changes and affects life. I also plan to become a more skillful risk-taking dancer. I am ready for a new school year filled with many opportunity's and new desires!

Xochitl (So-chi)

Hello.. My name is Xochitl. u pronounce it like this - (so chi). I was born and raised on the SouthEast side of Chicago. i'm like 4 blocks away from the bridge where they filmed the scene in The Blues Brother and one block away from Hammond, Indiana. I love this city, hot or cold- its awesome. walking, cta, metra, etc. i love exploring it.
I am the first person in my family to graduate high school and attend college. i love my family and friends, they are always there to support me in everything i do (no matter how crazy). I know that my parents are very proud of me and i am very willing to keep that going.
Im a very outgoing person and love to make new friends, im very caring and helpful. I have a very good sense of humor. i love to laugh and make ppl laugh.
I decided to come to Columbia to major in Music business management. Music is something i always have time for and learning what really goes on behind it is somethin that im interested in. I want to keep focused and motivated so that i can become successful and really get something going for me :)

(w&r) ME.

okay, im camillelehanna (camille for short) im from chandler,az. i moved to chicago july 15th. i moved here for columbia, and to live in the city. i major in fashion retail/management. fashion has always been my life so it only makes since to live my life in it. it took alot for me to get myself out here,  i had no help with anyone other then my bestfriend maria macsay, who also goes to columbia. i want more then anything to be here and pursue my career in fashion. i am a motivated person and i usually dont stop till i get what i want so i know ill do everything in power to get where i want as far as fashion goes.

A bit more about me personally, im 19, 20 oct 10th. i love music. i love sushi. i am obsessed with the color pink. i love reading and writing. im outgoing and i love kids. 

Those are the basics :)

Intro

Well, My name is Jasmine...Jazz for short.
I was born and raised in the city, so I can proudly say I am a Chicagoan. I dealt with some of the bizarrest (a new word) weather. I love my family, especially my mom since she instilled a stong sense of self into me. My family is very unique, we're outspoken and has a stubborn streak, if things don't go our way then we try until it does. I come from a personal family, it's like if we don't know you we probably won't speak to you. We never gone to any family reunions and only attend funerals of close relatives.
I major in Graphic Design, some of my interest ranges from reading to drawing. But I pretty much attained those from watching television as a child. I think the first hobby I had was reading. I loved watching Barney was a child to the point where I started picking up picture books and asking my mom to read for me. After a while I just really wanted to read by myself following that I wanted to write stories and in some occassions I do start writing but in the end I really did not finish. And after that I think I wanted to learn how to draw after watching Sailormoon for the first time. But my most favorite/addiction is videogames starting with Altari, I think it was after that I always played videogames. I think it annoys my mom, because that is the only thing that I really want no clothes, no phones, only games.
I guess that one of my hopes by coming to Columbia is to learn about what I love, and I guess one of the important ones is to see if my dream job will change. If it does change I probably will end up in game design. Or in a rare event fictiom writing, because I know I have the talent, but it's not what I really want to do.I think that i was one of the reasons that I decided to come to Columbia for is to find what career is really for me. Yet one of the reasons I came here is because I have friends attending with me.
There really isn't anything more that there is know about me, and I hate really saying anything that is private. Uhhm I'm new here,but that is a given soo I'm done.

This will be where you, your classmates, and I will post prompts for blog entries and discussion over the course of the semester.  You will never post your actual entry here -- those will go on your own blog -- but any prompts, questions, concerns, etc. for the whole class can go on here.  You will also be able to check here anytime you need to know what the prompt for the upcoming week is going to be.

Additionally, once everyone has been added to the blog, the link to your and your classmates' blogs will be posted on the right.  This will make it easier for you to check and comment on your classmates' blogs throughout the semester.

Your first prompt for this week is to post a general personal intro.  Where are you from, what are your interests, your major, what do you hope to accomplish at Columbia?