5c

In the beginning of the class, we all came together and shared out philosophical ideas about Mr. Freire, and that led us into other discussions and ideas about how he would have done things, or at least would have liked to have seen them done. Now with the two books that we have read, and the amount of Critical reflection that has gone on with blogging about each others learning’s, I feel confident in saying that I have learned a lot from this class; Not only about Mr. Freire and the books that we’ve read, but about how to observe and reflect on a classmates work to add to their ideas, and make it my own.

Like I mentioned above, reading my classmates work, and their reflection makes me think deeper, and harder about what I had read, and make me see it in a different light. Most times I find that I have missed numerous things, both big and small that I would have never know had I not read their ideas, and comments.

Group learning is so much better than individual busy book work,. Its real world, progressive, and you actually learn something rather than just go through the motions. I think Mr. Freire would have thoroughly enjoyed this course, and its special style, not to mention all the information it had to offer.

This is my first semester with online classes. It has been a surprisingly pleasant experience. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading all my peers’ work and thoughts and connecting with them on a deeper leave, getting into their heads if you will, and I hope to have these same experiences this summer. I have enrolled in two more online classes for summer semester, to help further myself along for transfer.

5B

I chose to read Elisabeth's, Maria's, and Alfredos' Blogs.


Whils reading Elisabeth's blog, I learned that Leah Cohen, A woman that secretly wants to fit in with other deaf people, forms a romantic relationship with her deaf tutor, after a session of private ASL lessons.


From Marina i learned that the Deaf community kept a close eye on James Taylor. They watched over him. Even going as far as checking up on him one day when he missed school.

From Alfredo, I gained the knowledge of looking at the title differently. he states in his essay. "Train go sorry is like missed opportunity or missed connections with another individual. " I never thought of it that way. It totally makes sense. He also says that "Deaf people are no different than anybody else" I both agree and disagree with this statement. Yes they are no different, and should not be looked down upon by the society for having a disability that they couldn't control, but that's not said to go without saying that they are not the same as we are. They have a life changing disability that is a constant struggle to cope with everyday. We know nothing of whats that's like.

Assignment 4c

Who is your classmate, what is the component category, what is the name of the choice?

My Classmate is Jennifer, and I’m comparing Beaches (Assignment 3B)
She wrote about the beaches in Malibu, CA, and I wrote about Johnsons beach in Guerneville, CA.

2. What is something similar this classmate said about the choice?
We both said that our choice was beautiful, and that they had their own special qualities about them.

3. What is something different this classmate said about the choice?
The major difference in our postings is the size, and popularity of the beaches. One (Johnsons) is nestled in a small town, and Malibu, has its own major city and year round visitors and tourists come from all around to sit on its white sand.

4. How would you relate this to Freire's ideas regarding dialogue? For example, you went in thinking one idea, your classmate had a different idea. What new idea emerged from this process?

One idea that I think I came to the conclusion of is that no matter where a beach is, as long as there’s sand, and water the people will come. I think we are both in agreeance of that. If there a sunny day, the beach just start calling your name no matter how big or small. I always thought if it was a beach no one knew about or had never heard of before they wouldn’t bother trying it. I was wrong.

Assignment 4B

1)As for someone who did the same reading group as myself, I started to read Megan K Mullen's blog from last week, and i realized how similar our views were. We got a lot of them same ideas from the readings. One of the main differences that i noticed, was that the only thing that we greatly differed on was at the last section, where we had to share what we had learned.

2) One person that wasn't in my group was Jennifer Sylvester, and i chose to read her blog.
She read the authors Dumas, Major, Chabon, Kamen Goldmark.
After reading the summaries of the stories I learned the following about the following authors

Dumas: I learned that there are actually rules that go along with a home owners association. Also that if you break the rules a hefty fine is mandatory. also, just because you can afford to live in a nice neighbor hood, doesn't mean you will like it.

Major: I learned that kids value their summer vacation A Lot more than I thought they did.

Chabon: I learned that Berkley is proud to be its self, and different than the rest.

Kamen: I actually read this essay before. It is wonderful. Its main point is that there are NO RULES when it comes to music, and self expression.

3) Another person that i learned from that was in the third unique group was Frank Dragun.
He read the authors Arax, Liu, Jefferson Parker, Mackey
After reading the summaries of the stories I learned the following about the following authors

Arax: I Learned that Tulare, California, was home to the biggest farm equipment show in the world.

Liu: I wasn't aware that poverty, and homelessness was such a problem in Beverly Hills. This was astonishing to me.

Jefferson Parker: ?Kind of confusing?

Mackey: I learned about the gigantic Russian population in Yolo county, and the surrounding areas, and I wasn't aware of that.

4a Group #2

Ode To Caltrans
By: Hector Tobar

This essay is about fond memories of the LA freeway. At first he talks about how the whole freeway is going backwards, and i didn't quite get a meaning, but after a closer reading i got that this piece was a piece of great reflection, and thought about the change in time of something so massive and great as the freeway system in Los Angeles.

"the suburbans race in the direction of their tail-lights" (pg 51)
The reason I chose this quote, was I thought it was a GREAT metaphor for going back in time, and showing the fast, yet subtle regression of time.

Honestly reading this piece made me remember how much I love Southern California, and how much I miss the hustle and bustle of life in the big city.

I didn't know that the LA freeway used to be so small.

Montalvo, Myths, and Dreams of Home
By: Thomas Stienbeck

The way that I interpreted this piece, may differ from the rest. I believe that this is a creative piece. It portrays California as a Mythical Utopian land, that is everything anyone could ever want, because it is what you make it. There are such big things going on here, and its just how you choose to interpret them and how you choose to use them to your benefit. This essay is about a man describing his dream land, and to me from the way he describes it; It can meet any ones ideals of a home.

"What remains so remarkable about the origin myth of California is that, for a great many people at home and abroad, this romantic indulgence still holds water."(pg 64)

This essay opened my eyes. It really teaches you that everything is what it is, only in the way that you perceive it.

The Last Little Beach Town
By: Edward Humes
This is a story about Seal Beach. I would say it is one of the most interesting pieces I have read thus far in this assignment. It has a sort of draw to it, it just makes you want to read more about it. It is about a beach town that has things going on all around it. New things construction, things that aren't good for a beach, or the beach goers. While the beach failed to become a tourist attraction, it still flourished today with it's bungalows all the way up to it's million dollar mansions.

"Confusion about Seal Beach's identity, and location, is key to its survival" (pg 71)

Reading this makes me want to go to a certain spot on the Russian River up in Healdsburg, and just relax in the sun. I miss small beaches. they are becoming fewer, and further between these days. I'm glad to read about one that is still keeping its "small town charm", if you will.

I didnt know Seal Beach Existed.

Surfacing
By: Matt Warshaw

This piece is about a small group of determined surfers from Santa Cruz that surf pillars point, or Mavericks in Half moon Bay. It's a story about a kid, Jay, of 16, who tells his story about almost dying at Mavericks when the surf pulls him under, and his board snaps, And his level of determination to get right back up grab another board and go right back out surfing the waves.

"Moriarity watched the first wake track across the distant part of the reed, which swerved as a kind of anteroom from maverick's-bound swells" (pg 81)

It's kind of funny that I am reading an essay about mavericks when only this week the official maverick surf contest was called off due to not big enough swells. I think the writer was trying to demonstrate Jay's boundless courage by getting right back up and going right back out to surf, after he almost drowned in the very waters he was just having fun in.

I didnt know that mavericks had such big waves.

3c Inland Areas

Contains an explanation regarding how this component (any aspect of it; eg content of videos, content of websites) connects to your study of humanities. .25 point

1. The comparison of inland cities, pertains to the study of humanities in the way of showing the researcher how and what goes around inland areas, compared to what’s happening in the costal regions.

What are some assumptions/stereotypes you think people have of each location: 1 point
When I think of Fresno, I think of a big city, almost San Francisco, and when I think of Bakersfield, I think of hick people in big trucks that think global warming is a crock of bull.
List 3 things that make each location similar: 1 point

1. Fresno is the largest city in the U.S. that is not directly linked to an Interstate highway
2. Bakersfield is the second-largest city in the U.S. that is not directly linked to an Interstate highway.
3. Residents, and tourist’s both agree that both towns have a “small” town feel.

List 3 things that make each location so different: 1 point

1. While Fresno, has a small town feel, it has it’s neighborhoods that mimic a big city feel.
2. Bakersfield is a mainly a farming, and livestock community.
3. Bakersfield, has the lowest average of adults with out a college education, even though both towns boast California State University’s within their city limits.

Questioning: What else would you like to know about these places? When completing the question section, lead your audience into the question by stating a fact you do know, yet you still have the related question. This way, both your audience and you will have an educational experience. .5 point

1. I would like to get more information about the statistic that Bakersfield has the lowest average of college educated adults in and city in California.

5. Using your classmates work from last week, tell us one thing you learned from 1 student. Is this one thing some common experience you share or some experience that is completely different than what you experienced? Is this one thing related to our class theoretical foundation and if so, how? Is that one thing related to historical or cultural context of this country or a different one? Link that persons blog to this entry (eg cut paste that blog entry here) . .5 point

1. I learned from Lindsey A Logan that there are no more seals at seal beach, and that there isn’t really a reason for them to leave.

Sources:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresno,_California
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakersfield,_California#High_Schools
• http://lindsey-lindseylogan.blogspot.com/2009/03/3b-beaches-seal-beach-mavericks.html

3B Beaches

3. Studying beaches pertains to the humanities in the way that it, confirms and elaborates on the gereralized stereotype that California has a lot of beaches. Not just surfing beaches, but attractions and historical landmarks that are key to the overall mantra of California.

Johnsons Beach-
One big stereo type that I have heard time after time about Johnsons beach is that because the beach is in Gureneville, it would be predominately occupied and frequented by gay people, and also that it was a nude beach. Upon arriving to the beach for the first time I realized that that stereotype was completely false, and it was inhabited by all types of people, all with their bathing suits on (haha).

Santa Cruz-
I have been the Santa Cruz many times. A good majority of my family lives there, so I have frequented the beaches since I was a tot. One assumption that I hear all the time from fellow Californian's and people from other parts is that all people frm Santa Cruz are beach bum hippies that just smoke pot, and surf all day. I have been to Santa Cruz at least 5 dozen times, and I have never witnessed a hippie on the beach smoking pot, or really anyone actually honest to goodness surfing. Everyone tries, but the waves in most parts aren't big enough.

2. List 3 things that make each location similar: 1 point

1. They both cater to a qide virety of tourists, and locals alike.
2. They both are conveniently located in small towns with friendly locals.
3. They both require some sort of bathing suit.

3. List 3 things that make each location so different: 1 point

1. Johnson's beach has considerably colder water than the beaches in Santa Cruz.
2. Santa Cruz, is more of a tourist attraction for someone who wants a theme park along with their beach vacation.
3. Santa Cruz has a lot more tourist accommodation's, and hotels centrally located and within only a small walk from the beach.

4. Questioning:
1. I know the historical background of the Santa Cruz beach boardwalk, but what other attractions or beaches are around. Or since the boardwalk, have they all basically melded together to form "Santa Cruz" as one big beach.

2. I know that the bridge in Guerneville is recognized as a nationally historic monument, but what I would like to know is who built it, and who was it named after?


5. While searching blog, I came across Lindsey A Logan's blog. She compared San Francisco to Boston. One thing that I learned, and was really surprising to me was that Boston has become a majority minority city, with blacks, Hispanics and Asians making up 50.5 percent of the city's 600,000 people.

~Sources~
http://www.beachcalifornia.com/johnsons-beach.html
http://www.beachcalifornia.com/scruz.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guerneville,_California
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Cruz_Beach_Boardwalk

3a World Cities

Los Angeles is the biggest city in California, and the second largest city in the US. Los Angeles has a huge variety of diverse cultures and people. It has a desirable nightlife, and it is home to countless famous people. LA is home to many prestigious colleges, and much much more. Walking through one of LA's many museums, can teach you so much about its richly diverse culture.

The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city in California and the 13th most populous city in the United States, with a 2007 estimated population of 799,183.The second most densely populated major city in the U.S., it is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the larger San Francisco Bay Area, a region of more than 7 million people. The city is located at the northern end of the San Francisco Peninsula, with the Pacific Ocean to the west and San Francisco Bay to the east. Much like LA, San Francisco also has an extremely diverse culture, and much can be learned through it’s numerous museums, and information centers.

When people think of LA, they think of gangs, and a bad area. When I think of LA, I think of Disneyland, and a richly diverse population of people who all come together and make a great successful melting pot that is LA.

San Francisco is typically stereotyped as an extremely liberal progressive, forward thinking city. Some people think that these are bad stereo types, but I think of them more as compliments. It like LA is also culturally and sexually diverse.

The similarities between the two cities, for me at least, are obvious. They are both diverse, and cater to all needs. They both have numerous museum’s and are melting pots. They both have their Rich parts, and their slums.

The differences are subtle. Los Angeles is a little more for industry, and San Francisco is a little more for small business. Los Angeles is more star studded, and more commercialized for tourists, While people go to San Francisco for the culture that is already established, and not commercialized.

I would like to know what measures both cities are taking to lower spending, and how the spending on “well fare” programs for people compared.

2C, Luther Burbank Home & Gardens

2C, Luther Burbank Home & Gardens

Studying LBH&G is important, because without the discoveries that Mr. Burbank discovered, modern-day agriculture as we know it would be completely different.

Luther Burbank H&G plays a crucial role in the agriculture in California, and in turn has played a huge role in creating, and forming the county that we live in. At Mr. Burbanks home he created over 100+ unique plants, shrubs, and fruits/vegetables. These are still found today, not only in the county, and state, but in quite a few places in the United States, and maybe even around the world.

Whilst taking a tour of the home, and garden I saw many unique things. A spine-less cactus, the Santa Rosa Plum, maybe different types of shrubs and trees that were created on the property numerous years before that were still flourishing. The colors were amazing, and the smell was overwhelming (in a good way). All you could hear was the birds among the trees, and the water running from numerous fountains strategically placed around the property.

My choice is about the man that undisputedly and single handedly changed how people perceived agriculture in California and numerous other parts of the USA.

What led me to my choice was pure curiosity. My grandfather was Deputy Agriculture Commissioner in Sonoma County for 30+ years and he, before his passing, taught me numerous things about agriculture, and now I thrive to learn more.

I would like to know where Luther Burbank is buried.

While reading blogs, I ran across Anthony's blog (http://tfrye.blogspot.com/)
He researched Oakland Museum. I was not aware that Oakland had a museum. He was aware that not a lot of people knew that Oakland had a museum, because in his writing he said "Many probably do not even realize Oakland has a museum. "

I learned that Oakland has a Museum, and I would like to Visit it. It sounds extremely interesting.

http://www.parks.sonoma.net/burbank.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luther_Burbank

2B, SFMOMA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_Museum_of_Modern_Art
http://www.sfmoma.org/pages/about_sfmoma
twitter.com/SFMOMA

Without are what would we have. Art in one of the cornerstones for all thing great. No matter what form of art you choose whether it be painting, abstract, words, music, anything and everything can be turned into art. Art is in the eye of the beholder, is something that I constantly have to reassure myself of sometimes. Especially with modern art, Viewing what I saw inside the museum brought me to challenge what I thought of as art, and got me to change my views, and that to me is a finite definition on humanities.

What did you choose?
I choose the SFMOMA, because I have never been there and I thought it would be interesting to see something out of the norm.

What do you see or hear or feel or think of in the choice you made?
I heard a lot of people conversing and trying to find meaning, I smelt canvas, and various other smells of construction materials whether they be paint, glue, or tar. I think that the choice was interesting, and I learned a lot.

What is the subject of the work?
Modern, Abstract, and an eclectic array of different forms of “Artwork”

What is your choice about?
My choice represents the different between what is considered art, and what is art. Anything can be art, but in society only some things are called art.

What led you to your choice?
Honestly, curiosity, and a general yearning to know more about modern art.

What do you think or feel about this choice?
I feel that everyone should test their limits and take the plunge into the SFMOMA, it was extremely eye opening to see all the differences in what was considered art; From a single piece of duct tape strewn on a blank canvas, to a beautiful painting that must have taken months.

Why do you feel this way?
Because I have spent quite a while examining the art, and these are the conclusions that I have drawn.

What else would you like to know about this choice?
I would like to know what inspired a lot of the artists. Drugs? Love? Boredom?

While reading blogs, I stumbled across Granville R Morris’s blog,.
( http://arsenal-clockendgooner.blogspot.com ) and read his assignment 2A all about Fort Ross, and I astonished at the stories, and all the history that is held there. I would one day LOVE to visit Fort Ross.

2a, USC

The main reason that USC pertains to the study of humanities is, the school is a great part of our history as a state, and it has educated some great minds that are now living throughout the world educating others, and developing, and or creating and implementing tangible items, or ideas.

What did you choose?
I chose USC, because I think that school has an interesting history, and I like to watch the Trojans play football.

What do you see or hear or feel or think of in the choice you made?
I think I would like to learn more about the history of USC

What is the subject of the work?
I see the early 1900’s architecture, I see college student strewn among the grass, and reading under trees. I hear the roaring of the USC crowd on Friday nights and the smell of the sultry Southern California air.

What is your choice about?
My choice is about a historical school that offers many different things to many different people. It is founded on a legacy of excellency in education, as well as social economics.

What led you to your choice?
What led me to choose UCS was just the fact that I wanted to learn more about the campus, and the people who attend/have attended.

What do you think or feel about this choice?
I have learned a lot about my choice. One main thing that I have learned is that the school has definitely strived to make some big changes in the last 20 years, both in the way students live, and learn.

Why do you feel this way?
I have done an extensive amount of research on this subject, and I am projecting my findings.

What else would you like to know about this choice?
The last an final thing that I would like to know about this choice, is I would like to take a tour of the college, 50, or even 30 years ago, just to see how they have grown, and changed.

While browsing through the blogs for our class, I ran across Dana’s blog. In her 1C post she was talking about how she thought Paulo’s work related to our humanities studies, and I fully agree with her.

Sources
usc.edu/isd
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Southern_California
www.usc.edu/about/

1C

1. Tell us their name and something about them.
2. Tell us 2 things from each person you learned regarding Paulo Freire.
3. Tell us how this information will relate to our study of humanities

1. I stumbled across Alfredo, and Lori's blogs.
I learned that Alfredo is taking this class as a GE requirement, and he is unsure of where he wants to transfer after the JC, and that Lori is taking the class to get her AA. They both live about 20 miles from the JC.

2. Alfredo taught me that Paulo lived a lie of poverty and exile, and also that he didn't start writing books until he was released from jail.
Lori taught me that two of Paulo's main ideals were that It is just as important for the teacher to have the desire to teach as it is for the student to desire to learn, and that teaching flows both ways.

3.After reading just two other peoples work, it made me realize how much I didn't learn by just researching it by myself. The information that I gained whilst reading other peoples blogs helped me gain a better understanding of the subject. I will make it a point to read other peoples work every time before I submit my own to make sure I didn't miss any crucial points.

1B

Paulo Freire was born in Recife, Brazil in 1921 to middle class parents. He and his family suffered great hardships during the depression of the 1930’s. Paulo took all the hardships that he endured during the depression, and learned from them. He then made it his personal crusade to help improve the welfare of as many people as he could worldwide. He particularly cared for the people that were poor and illiterate, or going through hard times, because he could empathize with them, and didn’t believe anyone deserved to live like that.

Paulo Freire was a highly educated man, and he thought everyone should be able to read and write. After he got married to Elza Maia, he was appointed Director of the Department of Education and Culture of the Social Service in the State of Pernambuco, the Brazilian state of which Recife is the capital. He worked mostly with the poor and literate, and since literacy was a requirement to vote in presidential elections, he made it his personal crusade to “embrace a non-orthodox form of what could be considered liberation theology” and teach everyone he could how to read, write, and how to look at things differently.

Another thing that I don’t think Paulo wouldn’t have been the same without is his brief stint in law school. If he hadn’t attended Law school, he wouldn’t have also studied philosophy, and then, maybe everything he has done for so many people would have never been. This also gave him a new teaching styles, and ideas on how to manipulate the brain to think in different ways. He also would have never had met his wife, who was on of his biggest influences and companions.

sources:

http://www3.nl.edu/academics/cas/ace/resources/paulofreire.cfm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVz_AOFuZ_E

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulo_Freire#Recognition

1a

1. What is your first name only (NOT last name)
*Anthony

2. Why are you taking this class and what do you hope to learn
Humanities 7 sounded like an interesting class, and my Girlfriend suggested that I take it with you.

3. How far do you live from SRJC main campus
* I Live exactly 9.6 Miles from the JC

4. What do you think of when you think "California"? Does this differ from what non-Californians think and if so, how?
*As a Californian, When I think of California, the first thing that I think of is a vastly diverse climate, also a place filled with beautiful landscapes where the people are Open Minded, Progressive, Forward thinking individuals that strive to exist ahead of the curve, and that are out to make the world a better place to live.
*Non Californians on the other hand think all Californians are party animals that hang out at the beach all day in our Woody's and Volkswagen Buses and that no matter where you are in California you can see a beach.

5. Have you created a blog or webpage in the past?
* Yes, I have a blog that I update almost daily

6. Regarding computers, are you on a mac or a pc?
*I am on a PC (Not By Choice)

7. What was your January 20th, 2009 like, or what do you remember of this day?
*Massive Crowds, Crying, Hugging, Rejoicing. An enormous transformation in the demeanor of the American people that couldn't have come soon enough.