http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2011/09/29/140915714/congratulations-television-you-are-even-worse-at-masculinity-than-femininity

"It really takes some effort to match television's historically disastrous relationship with femininity, but at this point, I'm prepared to say it: Right at this moment, I'm more comfortable with what scripted television thinks being a woman means than I am with what scripted television thinks being a man means.

I'm fascinated with media/television portrayal of gender and sexuality. But I'm not familiar with any of these shows - have you guys seen them? What do you think?

In thinking about what I hope to learn from the students of the high school, my gut answer is "everything".  I hope to learn what their lives are like, how they see education fitting into those lives, what they hope to gain from their education, and how they'd like to see their education change or grow.

In terms of what I'd like to take to them, I'm even less certain.  Looking back on myself at their age, one of the things that no one ever told me is that there is no single way to have a successful and happy future and what works for one person may be fundamentaly impossible for another.  I was also never told that one misstep, or even many, doesn't mean that one is doomed or that all possible doors to a fulfilling future are closed.

I was doing reading for another class of mine, Body Politics with Professor of Hist. of Art Lisa Saltzman, and I noticed an incredible amount of references to utopias etc etc.

This piece is by Maud Lavin on Dada Arist Hannah Hoch and her conception of Weimar Germany's, "New Woman" through her photocollages. Starting on page 338 at the top and continuing onto the next page where the article ends the text is ripe with entagled gen/sex themes from our course.

I attached the pdf. below in case some of you were interested. But to start you off here a Lavin quote from the article...

pg 338 "Hoch created alienating effects by using the practice of photomontage to juxtapose the beautiful and the ugle, the feminine and the masculine, the witty and violent. Hers was a disquieting mix of utopianism and anxiety."

So after today's class I went to lunch and began to think what direction I want to go in for this week's paper. I think I have formed two thoughts on how to level the education's playing field. 

My first idea. 

In order to level the playing field of education the Community and School CANNOT be two separate entities they must become one.

I believe this because schools try to create their own culture without factoring in all of the cultures they're trying to assimilate. Communites begin to become distant from the schools and as their own educational tool. Most people like Ricardo Rodriquez had to choose between the two. If they because one big unit each one can work off from each other collaborating to create an even more broader well-rounded education for their students.

But this is not the only thing needed which leads me to my second idea.

While society has become more preoccupied with individual needs and wants such as customized cars, houses,  ideas, cable packages..etc. the istitutions of this society such as health, education, etc. remain generalized.

Hey everyone, 

I heard some thoughts today about working with high school seniors.  Just to clarify when we go to the high school we'll be with juniors and sophomores! Idk if that makes a difference, but just thought I would clarify :).

-Sarah

We have talked a lot in class about education , access, and so on. I wonder how going to the high school will change our thinking. So far in class all of our experiences so far have been based on either our own individual experiences or those we have found in the reading. Going to the high school is essentially the first educational experience that we are sharing together. I wonder if this communal experience will give us new or contrasting views and insights into education. I am really looking forward to the experince and having the chance to confer with everyone about the things we noticed and how they deeper (or in some cases confuse) what we know or should I say what we think we know about standard American education.

She visits

The door is open to the warm fall night.
A figure comes in, on little cat feet.
Whoosh-- and up the stairs.
We laugh.

She returns, circles.
We reach out, pet her.
The classroom: home.

A chance to hear other scholars discuss the intra-actions among gender, sexuality, and other fields.  This Friday, September 30, at UPenn 1:30-6:30 in the Benjamin Franklin Room of Houston Hall. 

From their website:  The Symposium will examine the fields of feminist and queer studies and their intersections with each other and with topics in race, nationalism, empire, and class. The afternoon will begin with a conversation between Professor Heather Love, University of Pennsylvania, and Professor Ann Cvetkovich, University of Texas at Austin. Ann is the author of Mixed Feelings: Feminism, Mass Culture and Victorian Sensationalism (Rutgers, 1992) and An Archive of Feelings: Trauma, Sexuality, and Lesbian Public Culture (Duke, 2003).  

October 2-8 is Mental Health Awareness Week.  For more info on events and programs, check out their website  http://www.nami.org/template.cfm?section=mental_illness_awareness_week