YAY! My Halloween pictures are finally online

Here are some of my Halloween pictures from this year, 2009, during the day. These pictures were taken right before it got dark. Probably around 4:30 in the afternoon. A lot of the inspiration is directly from the work of PumpkinRot at www.pumpkinrot.com with some help from other websites to help construct them, www.spookyblue.com and www.seasonsofshadows.com. Thank you guys so much.

Ian

Bust Magazine's solution to rape is in a 10 step process

I stumbled this article by Jamie Doak and I agree with her up until the possible solutions she provides. Unfortunately, I think I may have spammed her with my post at least 6 times because I am not sure if I typed in the security code correctly. I apologize about that.

Jamie, if you read this post it is in no way a bash to your column. I think your column is a good one because it sheds light on a negative and pervasive social problem.

Here's a reference to your column.
http://www.bust.com/blog/2010/03/20/its-spring-break-dont-get-yourself-raped.html

Ah heck...I just lost my response because I copied the URL before pasting my reply. Well, my reply went something like this:

I agree with the above column up until the potential solutions that are provided. Rape is a serious issue, no doubt, but the potential solutions to remedy this social problem need to be equally serious. The solutions outlined place too much emphasis on the man to reduce and solve the problem of rape. I am not saying women are to blame, but rather society needs to be held more accountable for the use of derogatory images of women that construct a social reality in which rape has become an "acceptable" practice. Rape may continue to occur because society ignores the causes and solutions to the problem. In other words, for the most, as a society, we share a similar lived reality that continues to objectify and marginalize women and because sex has become a commodity in our culture, sex no longer is taken seriously. Society needs to be held responsible for perpetuating this pervasive problem.

Perhaps a potential way in which we can begin to solve this social problem is for society to think critically (seriously) about the issue. Society may be able to apply Paulo Freire's concept of a critical pedagogy in which case society and it's members use the problem posing methodology to first name and acknowledge the problem exists; secondly to propose potential causes of the problem; thirdly to provide possible solutions to remedy the problem; and lastly to reflect on the entire process and start over if need be. The problem posing method has been successfully used by various marginalized and oppressed groups to challenge their social positions.

Symbolic Interactionism...Simply Put

So, it has been way too long since our last post. I'd like to blame it on school and work, but really there's more to it than that. That being said, let's kick things off again. This post will begin a series of related posts discussing Symbolic Interactionism (S.I). Defined simply, S.I. ideas propose that reality is continually constructed, shaped and redefined through the interactions that take place between people. In other words, there is no inherent meaning within symbols, but we all agree on and share an accepted way to interact and make sense of our surroundings.

What follows below is a short part of an essay that I wrote for class. This segment briefly looks at how clothes influence the perceptions of others and how that perception shapes an identity within us (or you).

We can apply a symbolic interactionist perspective to clothing. What symbols and meanings are attributed to specific styles of clothing? Why do students wear specific styles or brands of clothing? Is there any meaning attributed to different brand of clothing at all and if so, is this meaning consistent across the board? Everywhere we look on campus, students and teachers alike wear clothing that differs person to person. Clearly, we wear clothing beyond the reason because we have to. On some level, we pick clothes that represent who we are or at least give an impression to others of who we think we are. Our college image is important because we’re challenged to continue the pursuit to define who we are. As for clothing, I would like to think I dress entirely for myself (not the case), but in our society where fashion and appearance are held in high esteem we inherently dress to make an impression on the other. For instance, I wear many different brands of clothing; such as: Abercrombie and Fitch, American Eagle, Hollister and I also wear clothes from Zumiez and Pac Sun. Although the first three are very similar and project essentially the same image, the later are viewed differently. Maybe this is symbolic. Perhaps its suggests I can relate with two different “types” of people or maybe it means I don’t have a sense of who I really am because my clothes are inconsistent day to day. In High School, clothes segregate groups of people but clothing can also unite individuals. When students walk down the hall, your clothes are the first thing that they see and thus distinguish your identity as being different from others (negative) or distinguish your identity as being similar to theirs’ (positive). I noticed this in high school and it was a big deal (and clearly remains to be), but in college it isn’t as much, if at all. For example, yesterday I did a favor for a high school friend who is very kind, very intelligent and mature way beyond her age. Her clothing style is alternative (at least more so than mine) but is very appropriate and modest. She steps out of her car to give me a hug and thank me for the present. As she does so, she compliments me on my Abercrombie and Fitch shirt and says something along the line, I like how you wear Abercrombie and Fitch clothes and American Eagle jeans but remain so chill, so cool and kind. As if my clothes had anything to do with it, right!? I took the compliment in great spirits, understanding what she meant and what she was alluding to. But through her words, between our language, she is constructing a reality or a mindset that all people who wear these particular types of clothes are douche bags, assholes, or jerks and the list goes on an on. I try to be at least a little existential in my appearance and how others affect my image, but the truth of the matter is, we can never escape the perception of others. So, who are we really dressing for?

(Ph)fat

This is the image that sparked our first discussion. The debate in the comments is much too long to be copy/pasted here, so here's a link to the Facebook thread itself.

Read it, reflect, and tell us what you think.

We begin

Ian recently posted an image on Facebook which sparked a debate. Readers sounded off regarding advertising, influence, The Beauty Myth, culture and perception.

This is what we want. This is what we like.

Our first real blog post will be a copy/paste of that debate. Log in and weigh in in the comment section if you'd like, and keep the discussion going. Or check back regularly for new images, new thoughts and new discussions. Ian and I will be discussing advertising, feminism, art, society, anything that smokes and sparks and makes a flame. We'll be talking about the very little to the very big, and sometimes we'll even spell words correctly. But none of it matters without your input.

So please, speak. Shout. Spark.