Entry #3- last but not least!

This is the last entry for this comm theory blog and also marks the end of the semester. This semester is filled with every Tuesday and Thursday mornings trying our very best to not be late for class, and also looking forward to the entertaining videos shown every class. I can say that it was a very enjoyable class overall.

In the last part of comm theory class, though we had a tad more assignments to complete in a shorter amount of time, it was equally as pleasant. I actually enjoyed doing class assignments the most because they implore us to apply what we had learnt into them. Probably the one that the most time was spent on and that needed the most planning was the one in which we had to observe another culture and present our findings on it. It was the one which I liked best too. I was part of the culture that we had chosen (Yamaha Music School), and I realize that it was not easy for me to look at them as an outsider. I constantly have to remind myself that I have to view this objectively and make sure my evaluations are not clouded with what I had already know from working there. Listening to the other groups presenting on the different cultures further provide an insight to how culture can differ even when we are all living within the same country. It was a noval experience because I had not expected that we will get a chance to be ethnographers.

I noticed that all our written assignments require us to make use of what we have learned in each chapter. Rather then coughing up all those terms or explanations that had been taught in class, I find that most of time they got me thinking about the topics and how much we understand it, and they somehow seem to relate to our everyday lives. They also prompted me to do a little more research so that I am sure of what I am doing. These assignments did help me a lot in gaining a better understanding of the respective chapters. Compared to other classes that I took for this semester, comm theory class is the one with one of the mist assignments, and I am aware of the rationale behind it. Indeed these assignments and movie reviews proved to be helpful. It was great that the assignments were distributed equally throughout the semester. It beats having to rush all assignments at once at the end.

The blog entries that we had to do did allow us to reflect on what we had learned thus far as well. This blog though only include what we write only about class and comm theory related posts but it is something different for us to do. Actually, blogging is actually something which I won't mind doing for a class. To me, less informal. Being able to add pictures, or links to other related issues make it more interesting.

Initially, my first impression of this class was one that requires a lot of studying. Just by the mere word “theory” reminds me of different kinds of never-heard-before terms and a bunch of explanations to remember. Yes indeed, now I know that I was only half right. Of course, there is no escape from studying. But what is different is that we need to actually understand what the chapter is talking about to be able to apply in any situation. And I believe this is how Professor Armstrong would want us to learn. Personally, I think that learning is not learning when all you do is memorize, regurgitate and return what you remember in the exams.

All in all, we had come across lots of different theories in this class, whether is it theories about feminism, culture, or people dynamics. I believe this will be a stepping-stone and preparatory stage for us to take on more “adverse” modules in the future. I really had a great time taking your class Professor Armstrong! Thanks for everything! :)

Julie and Julia

In this entry, I would be blogging about the movie that we watched, Julie and Julia.

This story is about Julia Child, who took up cooking at the age of 37 for wanting to cook for her husband, Paul, and only knowing her passion for cooking then. She managed to publish her first book on French cooking which earn her, her fame. Julie on the other hand, is a call operator in the modern world. She has always been a fan of Julia Child and it sparked her to start what she calls the Julie/Julia Project. In 365 days, she will strive to try out 536 recipes in Julia’s Book. Throughout the whole movie, we see scenes moving through the different errs that they were in. how Julia struggles to write and publish her first book with her friends, Louisette Berthole and Simone Beck, and how Julie tries very hard to complete her challenge, risking her marriage and job in the process.

Initially, I had no idea what this move was about, or who Julie and Julia was. But after watching it, it proved to be something worth watching. I remember watching this movie together with Andrea, Eunice and Zhi Hua, and was on a Tuesday right after Comm Theory class. While waiting for the movie to start, all of us had a fulfilling lunch and being so early in the morning, we all thought we will lose watching the movie to the sleep monster. But, all turned all well. The movie was captivating enough and we stayed awake throughout the whole movie.

Talking about the main point of the entry, blogging. Blogging has somewhat become the most popular thing, especially for the teenagers. I had a blog too in the past, though now I rarely write anymore. And I remember the reason why I started one in the first place was because most of my classmates had one. I feel that blogging is gaining more and more attention, and now even people can gain fame just by blogging. Take for example, our very own Singapore famous blogger, Xiaxue (a nickname which means snowing in Chinese), and her blog address, www.xiaxue.blogspot.com.

Yes, from the movie, blogging was very prominent. Julie first got to start the challenge after she was introduced into the blogging world. Furthermore, though she met some setbacks at first when she started the project, she slowly gained her fame from her blog too. She started off as a nobody, but the blogging sphere made her somebody in the end. Other than fans who encourage and see her through her project she also mange to gain the media’s attention. And because of that, a much older Julia child in the modern era got to know who she is too. However, it seems that Julia does not understand why Julie is doing this and dislike her.

The only way she records her success, failures and even her life is through the blog she had. As we all know, blogs are not for private disclosures. And I guess that Julie understands, that is why she thinks twice about blogging about her fight with her husband. Being committed to update viewers about her progress using her blog, Julie becomes so preoccupied with the challenge feeling that she is accountable for this, she soon forgets to enjoy the feeling of cooking.

This blog that Julie has served a purpose. Not only did she gain recognition for herself in the academic world, by publishing 2 books, she also did introduce the art of French cooking and not forgetting Julia Child to the world. Without her blog, no one would know who Julia Child was, much less a movie made based on the true stories on both of them. Blogging has indeed played a major part in Julie’s life.

Overall, this is a very heart warming movie indeed. As someone who is more into action and comedies, I would have never chose to watch this on my own. I do recommend others to watch it if they haven’t done so. Before I end this blog entry, I would like to share Julie Powell’s blog, which I found online.

http://blogs.salon.com/0001399/2002/08/25.html

Julia in the movie and the real Julia.

The real Julie.

Entry #2

Having the skit assignment was really enjoyable and it adds an interesting touch to the normal lecture-liked classes.

In the case for our group, coming up with the script and characters took some time, we tried our best to not overdo the skit and be straight to the point. Deciding how to present to the audience our front and back stage was also one of the points we need to consider.
After the entire skit performance by the class, it was interesting and surprising to see the many variations each group had come up with to present the front and back stage. Some used flashlights and big cards, all used differently but effectively too.

Overall, the skits do enhance my understanding theories in performance and definitely, it relate to each and every one of us. We all do self-talk with ourselves, and this thinking let us make decisions, affecting what we do in the front stage. Everyone needs to have their backstage to vent their feelings.
Working part time as a customer service officer, it is not surprising that everyone always talk or gossip about any difficult or weird customers. I believe that if we were to keep our feelings to ourselves, sooner or later, we might feel that we cannot continue our job anymore. In other words, in order to maintain our front stage performances, we cannot live without our back stage.
Personally, I am someone who can embrace and reject change depending on what needs the change. In fact, I like to have a routine for certain things that I do. Take for example, the standard procedure that I have to do when I wake up every morning. Even when doing simple housework, like vacuuming the floor, I had to start with the kitchen first, always. I have this feeling that things will go wrong if I do not follow my routine.

However, sometimes I do like changes too. When it comes to working, I know that I am not able to stand doing office hours. Every Monday to Friday, 9-5pm, just gives me the impression of how bored it will be. Instead, I would prefer jobs that are always dealing with different people and maybe one that does shift work. I find that this way can actually make me stay in a job long enough. This is way i still enjoy working as a customer service officer, I always do get to meet different people, whether they are friendly or not. It gives a sense of novelty as compared to sitting in your own cubicle and keeping to yourself.I personally feel that couples in a relationship are more likely to experience relational dialectics. Normally, when things become too predictable, too routine or boring in a relationship, they start to crave novelty. Once in a while, normally the girls, would want a surprise from the guy. And if no surprises were given, one of them (normally the girls too), would start to rant how the relationship is a standstill etc. This is an example of how people want stability and also change at the same time.

Entry #1

Every individual is being 'thrown' into different conditions that we can not control. Indeed, we can not choose to whom we are born or when we are born. And I believe it is these conditions that we grew up in, that each of us holds different beliefs.

Take for instance, my grandparents' marriage was arranged. During the era which they grew up in, women by the age of 16 had to get married and if still single in their twenties, they were labeled as being 'left on the shelf'. They had no say on who they want to spend the rest of their life with as it was the norm for women to get married that way. We can see that, in these social conditions, a woman's free will was constrained.

And now, the younger generation, some called it the Generation Y, are caught in this phenomena called the 'paper chase'. In this society, qualifications become the utmost importance of most students. Students' lives are so caught up with studies, examinations and aiming for the best college or university to get into. These people are being 'thrown' into the world we live in, having the belief that getting a degree is a one-way ticket to a better life in the future.
Even I for example, make choices differently when I'm at work and when I'm not. My job scope involves customer service and inevitably, there are always difficult customers. When these people ask me the most atrocious requests, I can not tell them I have no idea what they are talking about. Being in my work environment, I have to abide by the rules that customers are always right, and I am there to help them. I do not have a choice of telling customers "I don't know".

I do support the concept of thrownness; that people are restricted by the society they live in to freely make whatever decisions they want. Somehow or other, they are still being bound by the culture and norms that make them unable to make a choice freely. I believe every one of us experienced this before. How we tend to act and make choices differently depends on the environment we are in. It is very interesting how each different place have their unique culture and rules that one follow without any doubt. When you are at work, you behave professionally and do things that are culturally accepted in your office. When you are at school, your actions and choices are made based on what the school expects from you.

Although I’m a student of Communication, I am still awed by the fact that advertising plays such an important role in our daily lives and even I am still susceptible to it. I suppose this is one example in which people assign meanings to symbols too. Logos are just pictorial expressions that every company has but we are able to associate it with each company if we are exposed to them often.

The Formula 1 fever is here over the weekend and Channel 5 has an exclusive coverage on the event. The first thing I noticed on TV was the huge amount of advertising effort put into this. Everywhere, I see logos of various companies. If they can afford more money, they get bigger spaces and bigger logos. Race cars are painted or pasted with the logo of companies they represent and not to mention the helmets of racers (which I heard is one of the most expensive advertising spaces), and on the thick astronaut-like uniform that they wear.

During an interview with Lewis Hamilton, he was seen wearing a red 'Vodafone' cap. How he continuously tried to wipe off his perspiration and still, with the obligations of his sponsors, have to keep the cap and suit on, showed just how much advertisers want their logos to be seen with him.

As learnt, symbols are arbitrary, they hold no relationship to what they stand for but whenever we see a familiar one, we are still able to link it to what we thought it represent. In Singapore, some symbols are so common that we use it to replace the actual name for things we use. Colgate is a well-known brand for toothpaste here, and someone looking for it would say 'Colgate' instead of toothpaste. Same goes for 'Maggie Mee', which actually meant instant noodles. Symbols are interesting, and what's even more interesting is how we attach meanings to them.