I interviewed my parents and my grandmother, along with the same questions I used for interviewing peers.
Q1. What are your intitial thoughts of the subject of Death?
Q2. Why do you think Death is feared by most people?
Q3. Do you believe in an afterlife?
My Dad
Q1. You're born, you go to school, go to work, get married and have kids, get older and die. Stepping back from it, life isn't that complicated.
Q2. Because they don't know what's out there after you die. Some people believe in heaven, some people believe its just like sleeping forever. You never know the truth until you die.
Q3. Nope, you just are fast asleep for all eternity.
My Mom
Q1. Its another part of life, the ending part. You go to heaven and reunite with all your loved ones that have passed before you.
Q2. Because people aren't sure what to expect. I was raised to believe that there is a heaven and there is a god, the same way you were raised. That's what church, and all religions for that matter are based around.
Q3. Absolutley, I believe there is a place where people go after they die. How would you explain the millons of sightings and ghosts and other paranomal events?
My grandmother
Q1. Death is a farewell on your life on earth. However, death doesn't necessarily mean the ending of all life. It just means the conclusion of one part of your life, and the beginning of another part.
Q2. People can be scared for many reasons. Mostly because death seperates you from your loved ones. Whether its you who is dying or the death of a loved one, death divides you from those you care for deeply. And although they are gone from your presence for the time being, you will reunite with them agin one day.
Q3. I definitly do. I believe there is such thing as heaven, a place where you fianlly rest in peace along with your family and friends. I imagine it as being the happiest place ever.
Thoughts on the Interviews:
The difference from this group of interviews from my interviews with peers my own age is that I feel the answers this time around were more deep and machore. I especially was touched by my grandmothers answers, especially when she mentioned how people are afraid not of death itslef, but of what death brings, which is the seperation of you from loved ones. I also liked how she said that death isn't the end of life altogether, but the end of one stage and onto another.
Friday, April 22, 2011
HW 47- Peer Perspectives on The Care Of The Dead
Questions I will be asking the interviewees:
Q1. What are you first thoughts when you think of the topic of death?
Q2. Why is death usually feared by the majority of people in general?
Q3. Do you believe in an afterlife?
Interviews:
My cousin
Q1. Its something very serious and something people definitly shouldn't take for granted. Death can change a lot of lives other than the person who actually dies. Its tough stuff.
Q2. I believe its feared because you never know when its gonna happen to you. Death happens everyday at random, it can happen to you any day, any week, any month, any year. Its the perfect reason to live everyday like its your last.
Q3. Yes and No. I would like to believe that there's a God and a Heaven, but who's to say that they know for sure that there is such thing? Only time will tell whether its true or not.
My cousin
Q1. Death is apart of life. People usually get spooked out by the thoughts of Death, but its something you can't change. You're born, you live, you die. Simple as that.
Q2. Like I just mentioned, people can't change Death, they can't control when it comes to them (except of course for suicide). But in a natural case, death can happen anytime, from sickness, to an auto accident, death is everywhere.
Q3. I deeply believe in an afterlife, although I don't know exactly what it looks and feels like. I believe life itself is only the first stage of our existence in the universe.
My uncle
Q1. Death is looked at from many different points of views. My personal view on death is that its from exhaustion of life. When you get old enough, most people have to work hard to make a living. Our bodies are machines, and those machines eventually have to stop working completly.
Q2. I don't know why people are so scared of death. Its gonna happen, period. There's nothing you can do to stop it. Just live life and die when you die.
Q3. I don't know that for a fact. All I know is, when you die, you can only experience death when you yourself are dying. You'll find out when you die I guess.
my friend
Q1. Death is the conclusion of your life on earth. You die, and then you go to heaven or whatever place there is to go after you die.
Q2. I don't know. Do people think it hurts or something? Well in some cases it does, like if you're hit by a car or something. Id like to die in my sleep, nice and peaceful, painless.
Q3. There's someplace out there in the universe. Call it heaven, call it anything you want. There just has to be a place after life.
Thoughts on Interviews:
Speaking only for the group of people I interviewed, here are just a couple of mashed points I got when talking about Death.
- Death for the most part is a subject that is understood by most people. The majority of our population understand the happenings. They accept death for whatever they see it as, although the actual universal meaning of Death isn't truly known by anyone walking this Earth.
- Death is often a topic that is feared by people. A lot of people often speak out against wanting to go through death as if there's a possibiltiy that they could avoid it. This is because nobody knows what death truly is. Its almost the same reason as why people were scared of the dark at one point in their lives. It because they don't know what is there. What's feared by people is that of the unknown.
- For the most part, people believe in some kind of afterlife. They believe Life is the first of a multiple stage process that exceeds greater happenings than life on earth, and instead looks at the bigger picture of existence in the universe.
Q1. What are you first thoughts when you think of the topic of death?
Q2. Why is death usually feared by the majority of people in general?
Q3. Do you believe in an afterlife?
Interviews:
My cousin
Q1. Its something very serious and something people definitly shouldn't take for granted. Death can change a lot of lives other than the person who actually dies. Its tough stuff.
Q2. I believe its feared because you never know when its gonna happen to you. Death happens everyday at random, it can happen to you any day, any week, any month, any year. Its the perfect reason to live everyday like its your last.
Q3. Yes and No. I would like to believe that there's a God and a Heaven, but who's to say that they know for sure that there is such thing? Only time will tell whether its true or not.
My cousin
Q1. Death is apart of life. People usually get spooked out by the thoughts of Death, but its something you can't change. You're born, you live, you die. Simple as that.
Q2. Like I just mentioned, people can't change Death, they can't control when it comes to them (except of course for suicide). But in a natural case, death can happen anytime, from sickness, to an auto accident, death is everywhere.
Q3. I deeply believe in an afterlife, although I don't know exactly what it looks and feels like. I believe life itself is only the first stage of our existence in the universe.
My uncle
Q1. Death is looked at from many different points of views. My personal view on death is that its from exhaustion of life. When you get old enough, most people have to work hard to make a living. Our bodies are machines, and those machines eventually have to stop working completly.
Q2. I don't know why people are so scared of death. Its gonna happen, period. There's nothing you can do to stop it. Just live life and die when you die.
Q3. I don't know that for a fact. All I know is, when you die, you can only experience death when you yourself are dying. You'll find out when you die I guess.
my friend
Q1. Death is the conclusion of your life on earth. You die, and then you go to heaven or whatever place there is to go after you die.
Q2. I don't know. Do people think it hurts or something? Well in some cases it does, like if you're hit by a car or something. Id like to die in my sleep, nice and peaceful, painless.
Q3. There's someplace out there in the universe. Call it heaven, call it anything you want. There just has to be a place after life.
Thoughts on Interviews:
Speaking only for the group of people I interviewed, here are just a couple of mashed points I got when talking about Death.
- Death for the most part is a subject that is understood by most people. The majority of our population understand the happenings. They accept death for whatever they see it as, although the actual universal meaning of Death isn't truly known by anyone walking this Earth.
- Death is often a topic that is feared by people. A lot of people often speak out against wanting to go through death as if there's a possibiltiy that they could avoid it. This is because nobody knows what death truly is. Its almost the same reason as why people were scared of the dark at one point in their lives. It because they don't know what is there. What's feared by people is that of the unknown.
- For the most part, people believe in some kind of afterlife. They believe Life is the first of a multiple stage process that exceeds greater happenings than life on earth, and instead looks at the bigger picture of existence in the universe.
Friday, April 15, 2011
HW 46 - Initial Thoughts on the Care of the Dead
My Life wasn't really exposed too much to the subject of death until i was more into my teenage years. I think death could be a very confusing topic for kids younger than that and therefore should wait until they're older to learn about all matters of Death.
My first Death experience happened when I was about 14 years old when my grandmother, my father's mother, passed away in her fight against cancer. It was really weird receiving the news from my father that she had died. It was the first time that someone who I knew actually passed, so it was definitely something surreal to take in. Being that I was family, I was around when my dad and uncles were setting everything up on the days leading up to the actual wake and funeral. When i first walked into the room and saw my grandmother in the open casket, i was in complete shock. It was a really sad, shocking, overall crazy moment. I felt my body pretty much freeze as I saw my grandmother lay there, lifeless.
After the whole experience with my grandmother, I pretty much got the hang of dealing with death. When other relatives or friends of mine eventually passed, I had an idea on what was to be expected. Since my grandmother, I attended 3 additional funerals. The experience of attending a funeral is pretty much the same for every one i went to. Its a sad, grieving day where people come together to pay tribute to the life of a loved one lost. First, they attend the wake, grieve and pray that their loved one is in a better place. Then the actual funeral happens, which is the final farewell to the loved one. The week after the funeral is more of the time for the mourners to try and accept the loss of their loved one.
While the actual word "Death" can be viewed as more of an action or a happening to a person, death is more of a process. Even after a person passes on, their memory stays alive within loved ones they have left behind. It juut proves the saying true, they may be "gone but not forgotten".
My first Death experience happened when I was about 14 years old when my grandmother, my father's mother, passed away in her fight against cancer. It was really weird receiving the news from my father that she had died. It was the first time that someone who I knew actually passed, so it was definitely something surreal to take in. Being that I was family, I was around when my dad and uncles were setting everything up on the days leading up to the actual wake and funeral. When i first walked into the room and saw my grandmother in the open casket, i was in complete shock. It was a really sad, shocking, overall crazy moment. I felt my body pretty much freeze as I saw my grandmother lay there, lifeless.
After the whole experience with my grandmother, I pretty much got the hang of dealing with death. When other relatives or friends of mine eventually passed, I had an idea on what was to be expected. Since my grandmother, I attended 3 additional funerals. The experience of attending a funeral is pretty much the same for every one i went to. Its a sad, grieving day where people come together to pay tribute to the life of a loved one lost. First, they attend the wake, grieve and pray that their loved one is in a better place. Then the actual funeral happens, which is the final farewell to the loved one. The week after the funeral is more of the time for the mourners to try and accept the loss of their loved one.
While the actual word "Death" can be viewed as more of an action or a happening to a person, death is more of a process. Even after a person passes on, their memory stays alive within loved ones they have left behind. It juut proves the saying true, they may be "gone but not forgotten".
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
HW 44 - Comments on Other People's Projects
Leah,
Apparently you did a project about the birthing rituals that happen in India. Not only do people in America alone have different opinions on how birth should happen, many different cultures around the world have a variety of traditions as well.
It looks like you did a great job but im unable to read it from the computer and give you any kind of positive feedback. Visually, it looks like you did a good job.
David,
You looked at the growing rate of C section procedures throughout the world, maily the U.S. and the largest C section rated country, China.
This topic is very important in terms of the subject of birth, as it is a now popular way of getting the baby out of the womb.
You seemed to have done good research and therefore were able to get really in depth with your topic. Good job!
Willie,
Your project was aimed at the after effect, known as Post Partum Depression, which happens after the physical and mental drainage that takes place throughout pregnancy and the final moments of birth. Giving birth is truly a struggle for a woman, and some take more time than others to fully recover after the baby is finally born.
This topic is extreamly important because it shows how the effects of pregnancy dont necessarily leave the body with the baby and can stay for a couple of days afterwards or even longer than that. PPD is something very serious and is found in many other cases, such as within war veterans who suffered scary situations overseas.
This was truly an interesting project for me to read. You seemed to be really interested yourself in your topic, Good Job!
Apparently you did a project about the birthing rituals that happen in India. Not only do people in America alone have different opinions on how birth should happen, many different cultures around the world have a variety of traditions as well.
It looks like you did a great job but im unable to read it from the computer and give you any kind of positive feedback. Visually, it looks like you did a good job.
David,
You looked at the growing rate of C section procedures throughout the world, maily the U.S. and the largest C section rated country, China.
This topic is very important in terms of the subject of birth, as it is a now popular way of getting the baby out of the womb.
You seemed to have done good research and therefore were able to get really in depth with your topic. Good job!
Willie,
Your project was aimed at the after effect, known as Post Partum Depression, which happens after the physical and mental drainage that takes place throughout pregnancy and the final moments of birth. Giving birth is truly a struggle for a woman, and some take more time than others to fully recover after the baby is finally born.
This topic is extreamly important because it shows how the effects of pregnancy dont necessarily leave the body with the baby and can stay for a couple of days afterwards or even longer than that. PPD is something very serious and is found in many other cases, such as within war veterans who suffered scary situations overseas.
This was truly an interesting project for me to read. You seemed to be really interested yourself in your topic, Good Job!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
HW 42 Pregnancy and Birth Culminating Project
For this project I was interested in exploring how becoming pregnant and eventually giving birth took a toll on the mother in both a physical and mental aspect. As a male, I could not begin to even imagine what the hardships of being pregnant are like and if I did, I'm sure I would be way off compared to the real thing. So in order to get somehwat of an accurate idea, I decided to ask mothers in my life about what they went through during their time being pregnant and giving birth and how much they went through physically and mentally. Below are the questions I asked each of my interviewees for the project.
1. What were some significant physical/mental changes you went through during pregnancy?
2. How did you feel knowing that your child was causing all of this?
3. What would you change about being pregnant in order for it to be easier on you?
4. Are all the physical/mental struggles worth it in the end when your child is born?
For the project, I interviewed 3 women in my life who have much experience when it comes to motherhood and who I felt would be the perfect candidates. Out of repect, they will remain anonymous.
Mother 1:
1. Physical changes were basic changes you'd expect from pregnany: big belly, mood swings, the whole 9. However, I viewed these changes as apart of the experience. Sure there was struggle, but it was all for a good cause.
2. I was actually amazed how a little baby could cause so much trouble! As much as I wanted it to stop at times, it wasn't too bad. I was too excited to be bothered.
3. Everyone has their opinions on how pregnancy should be different. For me, its worth it in order for my baby to have been born.
4. Its the most beautiful thing I can remember seeing and experiencing in my lifetime. At that moment, 9 months seemed to have shot right past me. I wouldn't change anything.
Mother 2:
1. I gained a lot of weight, definitly felt sick towards the middle of the pregnany. It was a lot to handle with my first baby. By the time each of my babies came to be, I was more aware of what I was gonna go through. But yeah, the first time was definitly the hardest for me.
2. I just wanted him to be out already! There were easy days and hard days that seemed like lifetimes.
3. Just for there to be not as much physical changes like weight gain and sickness. That would be the best!
4. Its a wonderful, beautiful experience that ill never forget.
Mother 3:
1. Besides gaining weight and getting sick here and there, nothing too bad.
2. It was bizarre, like knowing another human life was inside of me, definitly something special there.
3. Honestly, I don't think there could even be changes made to being pregnant. But if there is in the future, ill be mad.
4. The most amazing thing you'll experience in life is seeing another human being born. It was such an emotional moment, one I will hold onto forever.
After interviewing these 3 mothers, I definitly got a lot of insight into what went on during their time being pregnant and giving birth. Not only was I intrigued by what they said, but the way that they described it was also something interesting. It was a time period that deeply effected these women where it pretty much changed their lives for the better. Having an experience such as childbirth is something that definitly makes you think a lot about the meaning of life. While the way society deals with birth may fade out the real point, its something that hangs your inmagination out there.
1. What were some significant physical/mental changes you went through during pregnancy?
2. How did you feel knowing that your child was causing all of this?
3. What would you change about being pregnant in order for it to be easier on you?
4. Are all the physical/mental struggles worth it in the end when your child is born?
For the project, I interviewed 3 women in my life who have much experience when it comes to motherhood and who I felt would be the perfect candidates. Out of repect, they will remain anonymous.
Mother 1:
1. Physical changes were basic changes you'd expect from pregnany: big belly, mood swings, the whole 9. However, I viewed these changes as apart of the experience. Sure there was struggle, but it was all for a good cause.
2. I was actually amazed how a little baby could cause so much trouble! As much as I wanted it to stop at times, it wasn't too bad. I was too excited to be bothered.
3. Everyone has their opinions on how pregnancy should be different. For me, its worth it in order for my baby to have been born.
4. Its the most beautiful thing I can remember seeing and experiencing in my lifetime. At that moment, 9 months seemed to have shot right past me. I wouldn't change anything.
Mother 2:
1. I gained a lot of weight, definitly felt sick towards the middle of the pregnany. It was a lot to handle with my first baby. By the time each of my babies came to be, I was more aware of what I was gonna go through. But yeah, the first time was definitly the hardest for me.
2. I just wanted him to be out already! There were easy days and hard days that seemed like lifetimes.
3. Just for there to be not as much physical changes like weight gain and sickness. That would be the best!
4. Its a wonderful, beautiful experience that ill never forget.
Mother 3:
1. Besides gaining weight and getting sick here and there, nothing too bad.
2. It was bizarre, like knowing another human life was inside of me, definitly something special there.
3. Honestly, I don't think there could even be changes made to being pregnant. But if there is in the future, ill be mad.
4. The most amazing thing you'll experience in life is seeing another human being born. It was such an emotional moment, one I will hold onto forever.
After interviewing these 3 mothers, I definitly got a lot of insight into what went on during their time being pregnant and giving birth. Not only was I intrigued by what they said, but the way that they described it was also something interesting. It was a time period that deeply effected these women where it pretty much changed their lives for the better. Having an experience such as childbirth is something that definitly makes you think a lot about the meaning of life. While the way society deals with birth may fade out the real point, its something that hangs your inmagination out there.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
HW 41 Independent Research
For my project, I am interested in exploring the significant changes that go on when a woman becomes pregnant and within the months that follow. Its interesting to me because for 9 months of a womans lifetime, she is pretty much helpless when it comes to changes of her physical and mental being. To explore this, I will interview mothers that I know in my life, including my own of course, and really get inside their heads as to what was going on with their body and mind during the struggle towards the beautiful moment of childbirth. Below are a few basic examples to the kind of questions I will be asking to get the research I need.
What were some significant physical/mental changes you went through during pregnancy?
How did you feel knowing that your child was causing all of this?
What would you change about being pregnant in order for it to be easier on you?
Were there moments where you didn't want to be pregnant anymore, like it was a mistake?
In the end, how is seeing your child being born worth it?
These are basic, general questions that I plan to personalize based on the personal situation of the interviewees. I may also do some side research based off of answers that I receive if I see fit to explore a topic deeper for better understanding.
What were some significant physical/mental changes you went through during pregnancy?
How did you feel knowing that your child was causing all of this?
What would you change about being pregnant in order for it to be easier on you?
Were there moments where you didn't want to be pregnant anymore, like it was a mistake?
In the end, how is seeing your child being born worth it?
These are basic, general questions that I plan to personalize based on the personal situation of the interviewees. I may also do some side research based off of answers that I receive if I see fit to explore a topic deeper for better understanding.
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