College: it don't matter much

When I started reading Gone With the Wind, I was shocked by how different the characters' values are from our own. The book opens with the Tarleton twins Brent and Stuart casually telling Scarlett (the main character) all about their latest expulsion from yet another university. The brothers almost brag about how they were kicked out of the University of Georgia, "...the fourth university that had thrown them out in two years..." (Mitchell 6) and treat it like a joke, as do most other people where they live. In fact, the majority of Clayton County describe the benefits of a classical education as being able to play poker, shoot straight, ride well, and hold down liquor "like a gentleman." My culture shock started here because most people in our time period put quite an emphasis on the importance of receiving a good education. I think the difference in our values lies in our lifestyles. Most 19th century Southerners worked on farms and rarely in factories, so I can understand that a college education wasn't as pressing as it is today, where work in any area could require a whole new set of skills. It felt silly to have to get over the culture shock I experienced during the first few pages reading, but I'm still surprised at how much life in the U.S. has changed.

Didn't you want the blue one?

Last Friday I volunteered at Indian Knoll's fun fair at a balloon sit game. The point of the game was to sit on a balloon until it popped (which was actually quite a struggle for a lot of the kids) to find the ticket inside that said what kind of prize was won. Other volunteers gave us erasers, rock star tattoos, and rings to give out as prizes to kids who popped their balloons (we gave out prizes to everyone who tried anyway). While I was handing out prizes to kids, I noticed that parents expected their children to prefer objects associated with their gender--for example, pink rings for girls and tattoos for boys. I was kind of shocked when one mom became upset with her son for choosing a pink eraser instead of the prizes the other boys tended to want. She put the eraser back, asking if he preferred something else, and picked out a more masculine prize. This situation and several others like it made me think of the different roles expected of people who have girl statuses and boy statuses. I've become so used to being around high school students who are more open-minded and accepting of different personalities. Watching children and parents interacting at the fun fair reminded me of how big of an impact roles like these have on people in society.

Discovering a folkway

I was waiting for my dad to pick me up at entrance A when... sociology broke into a battle cry around the corner! I didn't even notice I was in the same hallway as the freshman girl's soccer team until I heard them cheer "Wildcats!" The hallway outside the attendance office (which is normally a pretty bland location after school) was filled with an awesome kind of energy, and the girls weren't getting pumped up for a game--they were just cheering out of school spirit. It was awesome! The girls cheering in the hallway after practice made me think of norms we have at school. Cheering for one's team is an example of a folkway that we follow at school. I'm not a part of the sports scene at our school and have no clue (I kid you not, absolutely no clue) how people are expected to behave at practices. My knowledge of norms in sports at school is limited to cheering at games and pep assemblies. But my brother (a freshman in track--support track!) educated me that people usually end practices with a "break."

Only in America...

1. "All the day long whether rain or shine

She's a part of the assembly line
She's making history

Working for victory
Rosie the Riveter"

What started as a way to recruit women into the work force during WW2 turned into an icon for strength and women's rights in the U.S. After the war when women returned home to take care of their families, the we-can-do-it attitude stuck (the "it" being anything, not just defeating Hitler) and the belief that a woman's skills were limited to the kitchen was shattered. Rosie shows that American women--and American anyone for that matter--contribute to the country and are capable of doing anything with hard work.

2. America was built on principles of freedom and rights, and people in America have the freedom to live the way they believe is right (as long as they don't hurt anyone in the process). In terms of freedom, America offers a lot more than do other countries. I think the statue of liberty represents the core of what America stands for.

3. The Coke logo is recognized around the world as a symbol of economic success and good times (open happiness!). Americans value the wellbing of the economy and take pride in being one of the world's leaders in trade. We make a point of being involved in the economies of other countries and competing in a global market. Our emphasis on the economy as being good or bad is open for debate (I think it's definitely both), but the economy is definitely a big part of American life.

4. Media influence in America has no bounds. American society is bombarded with messages (both visual and auditory) from the media at every moment. Fashions and ideas that are acceptable one day could change in a matter of months or even weeks if culture decides they will. People are constantly perceiving and communicating ideas through tv, music, books, sports (the list goes on @_@). For Americans, the appearances and actions of the people are just as important in shaping values as family, religion and school.

5. What's more American than apple pie? McDonald's. xD I think McDonald's has recently become a symbol of the American lifestyle not just in America, but in other cultures as well. I feel like when people are asked to pick a symbol that represents America, fast food just happens to be the first one that comes to mind. We are very much a fast-paced people, so it makes sense for fast food to symbolize our current culture.

I was at art club when...

I thought of sociology! Today Tegan, who graduated last year, surprised us with a visit and brought along her niece Riley and nephew Gavin (who are really cutee!). Riley and Gavin are twins, and they have a special way of communicating. I remembered seeing them talk to each other while they were playing once at Tegan's house. I couldn't understand anything they were saying, but Tegan explained to me that their way of talking made perfect sense to them. I don't know why, but I guess twin babies sometimes have their own way of understanding each other even when everyone else can't. Anyway, it's pretty cool to always have someone who will understand you. Riley and Gavin's language reminded me of the simulation we did in class where we all had to find ways to communicate with each other while following our culture's rules. Riley and Gavin had their own rules about how to communicate, and like the Hokies' rules in the simulation in class, they remain a mystery to me!