ethnography

I chose my work as the location for my ethnography. I currently work at Pinecrest School in Van Nuys. 
This is a school that ranges from grade levels kindergarten to eighth grade. Some may wonder why a school such as this can we "LA". I believe this is a perfect example of LA because first off education is an important factor anywhere and everywhere but also the affects of children in a school environment can tell us a lot about spaces and its affect on others.

On March 15th I went to work with a whole new goal and attitude. My job, as the after school yard supervisor, I am to look after all the children and occasionally help them here and there or just keep them entertained. But today, I went into work as a stranger, with no expectations. The outcome of my observation was quite interesting and amusing. I realized that since I was no linger playing with the kids they were more cautious with their every move. Groups of children, that were up to no good were anxiety and always looking back at me every time they had something scheming planned. I could not help but laugh at this idea because now, I was seen as a higher power rather than a "friend" who was there to help and have fun.   This is a great example of space and how it affects ones attitude and actions. Once the children knew that I was quiet and observing, they began to also take note and adjust to my behaviors.

In that same day, at about 5 o'clock pm, the students that are still at school were brought into the day care room to be watched as they wait for their parents to arrive. A great amount of student had high energies and were loud and disruptive. But not soon later the principal walks into the room and a quick layer of silence and perfection filled the room. Here we can see the power of one person affecting a space. This is also commonly seen throughout our daily routine whether we realize it or not.

This would be considered "LA" because I believe that everywhere we go, there is an expectation already set for each and everyone of us. Whether we walk into a mall or into a classroom, there are different behaviors that are expected and practiced. The affect of the children being in school are examples of how space affects a persons behavior in a particular space and the affect that the principal or any other authority figure have on the children is an example of how one can affect the space they present themselves in.

Public Space Cluster

This section on Public Space shows the impact on emotions depending on ones surroundings. People, things, and events are all defined in a particular way because of where they are from held. Public space defines the people within the space but also the people can be the impact of a space.



The airport scene is a very common public space that many have experiences. From the picture in our text, it shows an empty, dull setting of an airport. It does not give a joyous or a hectic vibe. This setting on a seating section can imply many different emotions. For those who are departing from an airport, this setting may bring them nervousness, anxiety, or maybe even fear. But for those who are arriving into an airport, their minds may be full of joy and satisfaction knowing that they will either be united with friends and loved ones or even just having a safe landing.

In particular, this image of an airport bring fear and anxiety to me. Ive been on many flights before and the usual scenes are no where close to this image. I usually see crowds of people scurrying to find their terminals and families rushing down the halls. But this image in a way brings fear. The dull light setting and emptiness can suggest abandonment or confinement. If this were the typical airport scenario I would be frightened to ever enter an airport alone. I believe that since I have had many flight experience that this fear has been belittled, but if I were a first time fligher and the only picture of an airport that i have ever seen was this dull, dark, and empty scene, i would enter the airport with burdens of fear and uneasiness.

Project Text: Possible Essay Topics

1. The impact of how Marjane's family shares every detail of every event. She is not sheltered from true reality which allows Marjane to mature faster than children at her age.

• Story of tortures in jail
• Uncle Anoosh's story
• Bombing of the neighbors
• first hand seeing violence as she hands out flyers (76)

2. Marjane has become a prophet to all of us readers

• God at one point was her strength and guidance. "I felt safe in the arms of my friend"(53)
• Her loss of faith greatly declined after losing loved ones. (16-17) "where are you"
• She realizes she cannot depend on God to do everything for her, she ultimately has to do it herself.
• "i will always be true to myself."(151)

3. With all her experiences and family impact, Marjane matured much quicker than any other child at her age.

• As she explains her Uncle's story to her friends they are overwhelmed. "too much!"(54)
• "I'm going to my room" (82)
• "And so another dream went up in smokes" (73)

Persepolis Study Guide

Study Guide for In-class Essay on Persepolis

Genre: Comic/ Graphic/ Sequencial Art.
*Words *Images *Layouts = All have an impact.
Panels- Boxes of pictures
Guttering- Spaces between panels.
Lettering- Caption/ Narration.
Word balloons- speaking
thought balloons- thinking
emotions- facial expressions
Iconology- Flags/ Swastika
Perception- being aware of something via sense.
Perspective- the appearance of things relative to one another as determined by their distance from the viewer.
Title= Typed- Italicized Written- Underline
Chapter Title= Quotation Marks.

1)      In many ways Persepolis is both telling a story and commenting on the importance of stories in our lives. What do you think the book suggests about how stories shape and give meaning to Satrapi’s experience or to our experience? Consider referencing some of the stories in Persepolis—Uncle Anoosh’s story (“Moscow” and “The Sheep”), her grandfather’s story (“The Water Cell”), Niloufar’s story (“The Passport”)—to support your argument.

a.       Stories that were told during Satrapi’s childhood helped her create a confidence in herself that she can one day become a prophet. She begins to fight for what she believes is right and all this, together shapes her into a well educated young lady.

                                                              i.      The letter. Her experience with her maid and losing her love.

                                                            ii.      Uncle that she bragged about. She was proud to be a part of a family so brave.

1.      "i was 18 years old when my uncle Fereydoon and his friends proclaimed the independence of the Iranian province of Azerbaijan."(55)
"....So i decided to go into exhale."" (56)

                                                          iii.      She understand that she is not the only one suffering, but other families are too.

1.      " Later on we learned  they crossed the boarder hidden among a flock of sheep."(66)
"The stress i get from every gunshot i heat is much worse for me than the cigarettes." (118)
when she heard Niloufar's story
"They've been searching the houses of everyone. This is the only place she is safe."(123)

2)      A reviewer in the L.A.Times wrote, “Although she may not have intended it, Satrapi has grown into her youthful dream of prophethood. She is a voice calling out to the rest of us, reminding us to embrace this child's fervent desire that human dignity reign supreme." Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Why? (Consider what caused Satrapi to lose her faith and how her desire to be a prophet might, or might not, have continued after her faith had eroded.)

a.       Yes I agree that Satrapi has become a prophet to all us use readers.

                                                              i.      God at one point was he strength and guidance.

1.      " The only place i felt safe was in the arm of my friend. "(53)
"yes, you are celestial light, your are my choice, my last and my best choice." (8)

                                                            ii.      Her loss of faith greatly declined was after losing loved ones.

1.      "where are you?" ( 16) " God where are you?" (17) " Shut up you! get out of my life! i never want to see you again!" (70)

                                                          iii.      She realizes that she cannot depend on God to do everything for her and she would have to find the strength in herself to stand up for what she believed.

1.      Speak for all of those who lost their lives fighting for what they believed in.
" I will always be true to myself." (151) " 'To die a martyr is to inject blood into the veins of society....."( 146)

3)      What do you think the book suggests about social class in Iranian culture during this time period? Consider the stories of the maid’s forbidden love for the neighbor (“The Letter”) or in the distribution of plastic keys painted gold to the boys recruited into the army (“The Key”).   

a.       Social class was very important during this time period. It was almost a shame to be seen around other social class members.

b.      The lower you were located on the scale, the tougher your life.

                                                              i.      Satrapi's maid was rejected from the man that she loved because he was in a higher social class than her.
" like most peasants she did not know how to read and write."(35)
"So i wrote the letters for her one each week for six months." (35)
"Do you want to continue seeing her?" "Ehh...." (37)
"because in this country you must stay within your own social class." (37)

                                                            ii.      the poor people would do anything to gain wealth because it would be an honor for them to be in a higher social class.
"it's a plastic key painted gold." (99)
"they told him that in paradise there will be plenty of food, women and houses made of gold and diamonds." (100)
"listen instead of stuffing your face." ( 100)

                                                          iii.      A. Satrapi read stories about lower class people and saw how hard their lives were.
" Leila wove carpets at age five." (33)
"Hassan, three years old, cleaned car windows. (33)
" I finally understood why i felt ashamed to sit in my father's Cadillac." (33)

HIDE AND SEEK

HIDE AND SEEK

By IMOGEN HEAP

where are we? what the hell is going on? 
the dust has only just begun to form crop circles in the carpet, sinking feeling

spin me round again and rub my eyes, this can't be happening
when busy streets a mess with people would stop to hold their heads heavy

hide and seek; trains and sewing machines
all those years,they were here first

oily marks appear on walls, where pleasure moments hung before the takeover,
the sweeping insensitivity of this still life

hide and seek trains and sewing machines (oh, you won't catch me around here)
blood and tears (hearts) they were here first

Mmmm whatcha say, Mmm that you only meant well? well of course you did
Mmmm whatcha say, Mmmm that it's all for the best? of course it is
Mmmm whatcha say? Mmmm that it's just what we need you decided this whatcha say?
Mmmm what did she say?

ransom notes keep falling out your mouth mid-sweet talk, newspaper word cut outs
speak no feeling no I don't believe you,you don't care a bit, you don't care a bit

(hide and seek)
ransom notes keep falling out your mouth, mid-sweet talk, newspaper word cut outs

(hide and seek)
speak no feeling no i don't believe you you don't care a bit, you don't care a (you don't care a) bit

(hide and seek)
oh no, you don't care a bit,oh no, you don't care a bit (2x)

Dear Dean Gaddi

Throughout the past two week, I’ve been reading, analyzing, and trying to understand every little detail in Eavan Boland’s poem, “It’s a Woman’s World.” Before even reading the poem, I automatically assumed that its main topic was about a woman’s world and her role within it. But as I began reading and understanding stanza by stanza, I noticed that this is no ordinary poem. It’s not about how woman are the caretakers of the family and how she enjoys living her life freely and pleased, it is actually a stance against the stereotypical views of woman and what we do.

Boland begins the entirety of the poem with “Our way of life/has hardly changes” (1-2). Such a bold statement to begin a poem which I thought was a simple characterization of woman and their qualities. But how true this was, maybe not on a complete and literal translation but it does bring a great point, that many aspects of woman and their role in society has not changed. Similar to this idea, Boland continues her poem with many examples, enclosed in similes and metaphors, of how woman have been neglected and defined. She states that “we are defined/by what we forget” (19-20), “we” referring to maybe woman alone or both men and woman. Either way, believe she is saying that throughout history and the accomplishments that we have succeeded in will one day be forgotten and the definition of who we are still remain as who we were before all of our successes.

I understand that this journey of a woman has evolved throughout the poem. Toward the beginning, I feel like there was a sense of struggle but motivation and once ending the poem, the mood shifts complete. The woman does not feel like the stereotypical views of her is a huge trouble. She seems to accept the fact that she will always be characterized in group which society places her. I agree, to an extent, with the whole journey of this poem. Yes we, as woman, have been defined, and sometimes still are, in society as the housekeeper and caretaker, and today in society we tend to just accept the fact that we will always be seen as “just a woman.” I feel like the motivation of woman, to be different and equal, has decrease. The struggle to be equal with man has taken a great toll on the woman of the world. We have succeeded in many different ways where men wants said we could not. Evolving little by little, I believe a woman’s world will no longer be belittled and placed under a man’s world. Eavan Boland has taught me to be extremely proud for being a woman and therefore I will always take advantage of any opportunities I receive to strive for that equality.

Sincerely,

Carol Nguyen

Dear Eavan Boland

First I would like to say that greatly enjoyed reading your poem, “It’s a Woman’s World.” It shows a great journey from where woman began and where they are now. I was able to make many different connections throughout the poem to my life as it is today. Yes, I had to read and reread this poem over and over again to realize its true means and message, but in the end I am proud to say that your message really inspired me.

The structures of the overall poem was very well put together and clearly portrayed a journey to me. You began with “Our way of life has hardly changed” (1-2) which instantly lead me to think about how my culture and its morals have influenced me. There are so many aspects in my Vietnamese culture that “has hardly changed” (2) in centuries. Especially how I, as a young Vietnamese girl, was expected to only go to school and once home, provide help to our mothers with her task around the house. At the moment of realizing how much I had in common with just reading the first stanza of the poem, I was excited to find something relatable to and continued on.

As I processed in reading, I came across the tenth stanza which strongly portrayed the definition of my family. I have always seen my parents as the uptight, overly protective and hovering parents. “Our windows moth our children to the flame” (39-40) made me picture a family huddling around a nice warm fireplace telling, sharing stories. I connected to this very well because as the younger of two daughters, raised in a strict Catholic, Vietnamese family, I have always been sheltered and kept away from many influences of society. Rules are rules and as the youngest, I dared not to even try to bend one.

Overall there are many little details that you have includes throughout this poem that I can really relate to, as a woman, or just as a young teenager growing up. I believe that there is more to this poem than just the views on woman, but also how woman strive to change as the years go by. Our strength and enduring characteristics, truly defines a woman. Thank you for your time and inspiring work of art.

Sincerely.

       Carol Nguyen