I guess Im a "Digital Native"?

After reading Prensky, "Digital Natives". I'm not sure on what Prensky was trying to convey exactly. Granted we are in the digital age and yes younger generations, as young as 7 are become more and more familiar with things such as emails, webpages, texting, My Space. But I don't thinks the digital revolution is advancing so rapidly that it threatens the Academic Establishments of yester year. I think these advancements are beneficial to everyone and anyone willing to adapt to such changes and embraces them. Sure your grandmother is more accustomed to an old fashion phone conversation and a letter in the mail rather than texting, chatting on messenger or emailing. But how is this any different from the transitions we face from A-tracks cassettes to the cassette to CDs and now maps. Its just apart of the times. A large portion of this class is dedicated toward online interaction and multimedia and other avenues of teaching. Educational Institutions have been founded for so long on "old fashion teaching", lectures and note taking which is boring and mundane. I'm glad there's a little more variety. I never did like taking notes or hearing someone lecture for hours its boring quite franking I like a more intimate interactive experience. I learn more from this History Channel in a year versus all the history classes that I've taken throughout my academic career. But that doesn't mean I'm dependent on technology. In fact i don't own a video game console, or do I have a Myspace account. Of course I have an email account but who doesn't? Its just something you need now because everyone else has it. Its apart of our society now, people no longer ask for numbers they want to know your screen name or email address. You could blame it on capitalism being that this is a consumer driven economy and we as consumer set the standard. But let me not stray too far from the subject. I don't know, I don't believe its that grave of an issue change happens and the digital era is apart of change and besides look at all the trees we'll be saving lol :)

Hispanic Women In the Media

Taking this class has made me more critical of the films and programs I watch. Recently I watched the film " We Own the Night" if your not familiar with the movie I posted the link to the official site. My dispute with this movie is the portrayal that Eva Mendez gives to hispanic women. With the first 3 seconds of the movie starting the character she plays is involved in a sexual act and through out to movie she continues to either be film doing some type of recreational drug, in bed, or partying at a club. In the more serious of scenes she's portrayed as being defenseless and dependent on her counterpart. Not only doesn't she perpetuate the stigma of latin and hispanic women in the media the movie makes light of it as other actors during the movie make "suggestive comments" and Eva Mendez's character. By the end of the movie well let me not ruin it for those who haven't seen it Similar to most films hispanic/latin women are given the reputation of sexual beings and nothing more. Since the era of "J Lo" the fascinating for latino women has grown which has pawn the careers of such actors like Penelope Cruz, Salma Hayek and Eva Mendez. It's evident that in many of the roles these females star in they are nothing more than are candy for there staring actors who are always men. The image perpetuated by society and now widely accept that women of this cultural and ethnic back ground are uneducated, impoverished, sex crazed, gossiping, drama queens is a widely accepted belief. We think of a Puerto rican female as single who is probably on welfare with children living in a urban community working a minimal job. and the only positive imagine we do accept is of her being a sexual object. I encourage you all to view this film and if you could type in some of your thoughts about this movie. Thanks http://www.sonypictures.com/homevideo/weownthenight/

"Juno"

Juno was a beautiful movie. It showed that teenagers , at least some have the capability to be smart and have the aware to make the right choices despite their circumstances. . It was fortune that her parents came to an understanding and quickly excepted the situation and support Juno. A teen pregnancy carries a negative stigma which was clearly portrayed throughout the movie. This movie could be set as a positive example for many young female teens who get themselves in this situation Take the proper steps to prevent conception by using proper contraception & what you deem as a "curse" sometime may be a "blessing" for another individual. Unfornately things happen in life that are often unexpected but that's life, you have to learned to adapt quickly and come to the realization this isn't the end.

When I was 13....

When I was 13.... to be honest with you I dont remember much of my 13th year. I guess that would be the period when I was going through puberty and still in middle school. Nothing too exciting, I guess I was doing the same thing that most 13 year olds were doing at the time. Trying to fit in make friends hang out and be "Cool". I look back at that time and smile, what seems so important then seem so trivial now. I guess thats a part of life, if you had a more impression 13th year feel free to post.