"The Uncommon Life of Common Objects" Journal (SEEING 1)

    In Akiko Busch's, The Uncommon Life of Common Objects, presents the idea of what value objects hold in one's life. Everyday, people around the world have connections to many different objects that hold some sort of influence over them. Many of these objects carry memories, and bring us joy, sadness, hope or whatever the context may be, many objects cannot be accounted for value because of the impressions it has left on the owner. Busch says, "we assign merit to things" (Busch 114) and these things can become priceless over the years as your connection to that object grows over time. However, assigning value to an object depends on the person. It could be valued in a certain amount of money from when you first get it (i.e. a long term investment) or it could grow to this priceless value that can never be met because it holds so much value in your life. Everyone views this differently, but everyone assigns some sort of value to objects, no matter how useless or useful they may be.

    Busch describes both sides of the coin when it comes to the value of objects. At first beginning with talking about the American collectibles market, which acquires over $10 billion annually (Busch 115). With a lot of these items being collectibles from well-known people, or something that is hard to acquire after a certain time and is now made available, they use these items to turn a profit––focusing less on sentimental value. Although they do consider how it became in possession of the owner, where it was found, what condition it is in and more, Busch seems to fixate more towards monetary value in these cases. In a lot of these cases though, they have to consider the family, and try to allow a comfortable retirement, or put someone through college if the object holds such value. All of these factors go into determining the value of the object, but only through monetary means. It does not completely stress all of the sentimental value is may hold for the owner, but again, it all depends on who and what it is.

    People even find monetary value in tragedy's such as debris from the World Trade Center, items from slavery and more, Busch brings this idea of "sensationalizing tragedy" (Busch 119). Objects do not only hold monetary value, but stories as well and these stories hold value within the object. People look to these objects for a sentimental value through memory, because as we view a certain object, we are really able to draw certain memories into our minds that bring a feeling that only the object can establish. Objects are a way of recording time and maintaining time. They hold a history within them, and it is within human nature to collect these things, because everyone is a part of this 'collectibles' market (Busch 120). Everyone has some object that tells a story, holds some type of sentimental value, and could very well become valuable in the future if history becomes a part of it.

Beyond the Photographs and Print (Magazine Exercise)

    Yesterday in class, we were to bring in magazines to share with people in our groups (I was unable to bring one since I did not have any magazines with me at the time). Two people (out of the four total) brought two different magazines expressing many different things through written articles and photographs. Our group was really interesting due to the fact that Viktoryia brought in the Russian magazined called Snob. Even though Snob is a Russian magazine, it was also very similar to The Rolling Stone magazine that Bobby brought in. Each both having many articles on many topics, many photographs that are both relevant and irrelevant to the magazine (advertisements) and expressing a lot upon art forms. The Rolling Stone magazine focuses a lot of its attention on music and the culture that surrounds it––this issue focusing most on Paul McCartney and the legacy he has brought to the music industry over the years. Through written text and photographs, these different aspects of the magazine touch upon a certain culture––the classic rock era––and reveals the history of classic rock and expresses Paul McCartney's role during this time period.
     In Snob, Viktoryia explained the magazine in a way that is relevant to herself. Not in a way where she grabbed the nearest magazine from her roommate or friend and brought it to class, but because it is a magazine meant for her. Since she is from Russia, Snob creates this magazine to allow people that are traveling overseas, to stay updated with events/issues around the world. This magazine was really interesting as it reminded me a lot of National Geographic in types and quality of photographs. Each article as well looked very informative from what I could see. Even though I do not speak Russian or anything, the magazine was well made, and really gave a background to Viktoryia and even the country itself. Viktoryia said that "It is meant for people that are well-educated." I really found this part of our discussion interesting as it really reveals how different the U.S. is from Russia and many other countries––but that also depends on what perspective you view the world in.
    Both magazines express many similar qualities, but many different as well. It is able to, in a way, tell a story about the reader, but also the writers, photographers, graphic designers and all the people that are involved in creating the magazine. Snob really stressed the importance of education, and what education means to Viktoryia and many other people that travel overseas for their education, or whatever they are pursuing. Then Bobby's Rolling Stones magazine (which I also read on occasion) also tells a lot about our culture in the U.S. and as people. The Rolling Stones is driven towards a musician-based audience and people that appreciate music. For both these magazines, they are directed towards certain aspects of the culture we come from, but they also all intertwine because music and world events involve everyone around the world. It is something that we all look towards for both entertainment and to become more knowledgeable. Beyond all the advertisements, articles, and photographs, magazines are able to tell use more about who we are as people in a world where we all share many aspects of life.

Writing and Rhetoric I Journal #2 (SEEING 1&2)

1.  "A Matter of Scale" addresses the way in which we perceive the world through a specific point of view––which is mainly our own. We tend to view the world in our perspective and we tend to push away how another person, an animal, or just about anything may perceive something in a much different way. This can be in either a minuscule scale or a much more substantial scale that our eyes can just not perceive in any way. We begin to view the world this way at a very young age––going off this idea in psychology called 'theory of mind.' When we are young, most children tend to be very 'selfish' in a way. To the point where they can never see what is almost beyond their vision. They cannot place themselves in another person's shoes and see what they see and this very much correlates to this idea that Cole writes about––that we cannot see things beyond our own scale.

      Cole's essay changed my view on the world in some ways. I always––especially after taking psychology in high school––have found myself putting myself in other people's shoes and seeing from their point of view. How they might feel about a certain topic, or just their field of vision in general. Paying attention to detail in both microscopic and maybe even astronomical ways is something that can be useful when it comes to writing, thinking, or just everyday life. It is something that everyone, every day, should stop for a second and take a look around to what is around them and how all of these living things can create a whole new perspective or thought-process towards certain things in your life. Like Cole's example of a fly becoming stuck to water (or any liquid). It is something that you learn in school at a younger age, but you do not always remember these facts. When you forget these facts, you forget that a lot of things cannot be helped because it is the way the world works. However, never submerge yourself in endless facts, because that is not the complete point of Cole's essay. Cole's essay draws on the whole purpose of our textbook "Writing and Seeing" and the importance of drawing inferences to be able to come to reasonable conclusions. These conclusions can lead to very specific ideas that are your own. It is what you think. It is what you see. It is everything that makes you into the person you are and being able to perceive and deduct, will allow you to have a much greater outlook on the way you see the world for what it is.

2.  When it comes to writing an essay, your own opinions may not be what is needed to make those opinions credible. Schrödinger, a physicist, who also wrote on philosophy is known all around the world for his strives in quantum physics and of course, 'Schrödinger's cat.' If Cole were to footnote Schrödinger, it would really weaken the essay as a whole since the majority of the essay consists of many paraphrased facts from many other people. Schrödinger, in comparison to Cole, has a much greater history in seeing how the world works and being a great thinker, because thought plays a huge role in quantum physics. Through the text, you can see Cole's tone change drastically after the introduction when she begins to paraphrase certain facts to prove her point of seeing beyond your own scale. Being knowledgeable of these facts of the world help pave a road to this journey of seeing on multiple scales whether it be 'big' or 'small.' Footnoting and paraphrasing these people that have contributed these facts to society, allows Cole to really strengthen her paper by using different literary techniques (i.e. metaphor, simile, imagery etc). As Cole is not an expert in all of these different fields, she uses her resources to bring this overarching idea of how the world–– matter, gravity and all of these things enable different people or things to view the world in a whole new way. 

Journal #1-Writing and Rhetoric I (SEEING #1 & 2)

1.      A simple thing as food is something that not many people are aware of in the world. Peter Menzel and Faith D'Aluisio are able to display the differences of this simplistic idea of food around the world through photographs and descriptions. Each photograph differs from the other. Showing more urban families from upper to middle-lower class and to the rural areas of Africa in a refugee camp. Seeing these photographs really opens your eyes to not only the world, but yourself. You really take a step back and look at what you have and begin to appreciate all the little things you have that make up your life. Yes, some of these things are known, but people still do not acknowledge these different situations around the world and begin to appreciate––it's a luxury we take for granted almost everyday.
       When I first look at Menzel's photographs, the first thing I notice is the background. Noticing where they are tells a lot about their culture and how they might live. The Mendoza family in Guatemala is outside, maybe in their backyard where their garden is where most of their food comes from. Then you have the modern American family with pre-packaged meat, frozen food, canned food and more––all this pre-prepared food shows the almost easy, but always on-the-go lifestyle that American's have. The same could also be said about the Ukita family in Japan, but not for the Aboubakar family of Chad. The Aboubakar family has a lot of starchy food that is easily to get a hold of and very little of fruits, vegetables, condiments etc... Even their water isn't used for just drinking, but for all purposes (washing hands and bathing for example). The way Menzel positions each family and many other aspects of the picture (background, food placement, facial expressions, and more) all come together to form this huge message. It's not just an image, but it tells a story of how they live every day of their life.
       The Aboubakar family really stands out the most to me because it's really a polar opposite of the life we have in the U.S. All the other families have their pictures inside or outside of their well-built house and provides them with shelter and a place where they can live together. Whereas the Aboubakar family is outside, surrounded by probably thousands of other people around them in the same living conditions (as seen in the photograph) and are sitting behind their rations of food that they stand in line for hours to gather and bring back to their home for the week. The amount of food the American family has, and even the Guatemalan and Japanese families, does not even compare to the amount that the Aboubakar family has to share with six different people for the entire week. You can see in their faces, their body language, weight and see how the food affects them in their everyday life. Surviving in that lifestyle seems so difficult when you have everything handed to you on a silver platter.

2.    I think comparing the Aboubakar family to the Fernandez family is the best comparison because it is the lifestyle I feel I live, and the other people that will read this blog. You see multiple items that the Fernandez family owns: water, frozen pizza, pre-packaged meat, yogurt, and canned food to name a few, and then the Aboubakar family which only has a lot of water used for all purposes besides drinking. If you think about it, a lot of the things the Fernandez family has is not even necessary, but that is the difference in lifestyle. In America, we are able to get more than we need, whereas in Africa in a refugee camp, you have to ration out the food to millions of people and expect those people to survive on those rations for the week. It seems unfair in the quality and quantity of food that resides in each country because it does affect the way you live.
      This idea of a 'full plate' though is where the difference between the Fernandez family and the Aboubakar family becomes apparent. With the Fernandez family, a full plate can be anything from some sort of starch, meat, some vegetables and maybe some desert for the end (considering this is dinner). Then in comparison, a full plate for the Aboubakar family could be the equivalent of maybe one or two plates of the Fernandez family with a lot less quality and variety in food, as well as splitting that food between six people. Even though the Fernandez family has five people, the quantity of food between each person is equally the same and much greater in comparison to the amount of food each person in the Aboubakar family would have. This is all due to the economical differences that both families come from, with the Aboubakar family being refugees from Darfur and the Fernandez family having working parent(s) that probably come home to a home-cooked meal by Alejandrina Cepeda. With each photograph, you can see the differences in lifestyle through the simplistic idea of food and how food can play such a critical role in how one lives in everyday life.