I actually chose not to participate in my senior prom. My deep reasoning for choosing not to go isn't all that complicated. I simply didn't feel the need to go to an event where I wouldn't enjoy myself. Not to say that prom itself isn't a fun night, I just felt like it wasn't right for me. Thinking about going, I don't think I would've felt right being there, I would've felt like a party outcast, if you will. In a way, I'm proud of myself that I didn't fall under the influence of the dominant social practice of prom in which it was an event that you HAD to attend. I was given the option to go, I chose not to go, simple as that.
While I didn't participate in going, that didn't stop for at least being visually exposed to preperation to the big night for my classmates. It was impossible to go on facebook the day of prom without seeing status' which were filled with anticipation of the big night ahead of them. Everybody was getting dressed up, excited as ever, and ready to tend their senior year of high school with a bang, good for them.
Down the road in my life, I don't think ill regret not going to my senior prom. Sure, there will probably be times I have those "what if" moments, but in the end, I'm more sure that I can go on with my life without attending my senior prom. I do however, hope that my classmates who did feel the need to go did in fact have an awesome time and create memories that will last for lifetimes.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
HW 58 - Prom Interviews
Interview with girl my age who went to prom:
"Prom was a very fun night. I got to spend it with my friends and we just let loose and had a fun time. The actual prom was a good time. Music, food, dancing a lot. We then went out and had a huge water fight, which was also fun. It was a night ill never forget".
Interview with guy who didn't go to prom
"Prom was never really an interest of mine. Its looked at as the biggest, best night of the year. I just didn't see it that way. I didn't really hang out too much with classmates of mine. I had a small group of friends, that's about it. Prom is more about bonding with those you've known for the past 4 years of high school. I simply felt that it wasn't my place to go. I'm sure it would've been fun, but I don't regret not going".
Interview with older relative who understand DSP of Prom
"Prom is that big night that all high school seniors look forward to the minute that first bell of senior year rings. A lot happens during that night, some good, some not so good. But in the end its all for a memory, a memory of good times with your friends and the highlight of your high school career".
Even though the majority of modern society views Prom as a must attend event, there are people out there who have different views. Some may not feel its their place to go, and that's fine. I personally will most likely not go to prom or any other events that night, pretty much for the same reasons as above. It all depends on how you feel about the whole ordeal. However, it is true that Prom will mostly forever be dominant as a social practice that is practiced by the older generation of high school. Its an "American rite of passage".
"Prom was a very fun night. I got to spend it with my friends and we just let loose and had a fun time. The actual prom was a good time. Music, food, dancing a lot. We then went out and had a huge water fight, which was also fun. It was a night ill never forget".
Interview with guy who didn't go to prom
"Prom was never really an interest of mine. Its looked at as the biggest, best night of the year. I just didn't see it that way. I didn't really hang out too much with classmates of mine. I had a small group of friends, that's about it. Prom is more about bonding with those you've known for the past 4 years of high school. I simply felt that it wasn't my place to go. I'm sure it would've been fun, but I don't regret not going".
Interview with older relative who understand DSP of Prom
"Prom is that big night that all high school seniors look forward to the minute that first bell of senior year rings. A lot happens during that night, some good, some not so good. But in the end its all for a memory, a memory of good times with your friends and the highlight of your high school career".
Even though the majority of modern society views Prom as a must attend event, there are people out there who have different views. Some may not feel its their place to go, and that's fine. I personally will most likely not go to prom or any other events that night, pretty much for the same reasons as above. It all depends on how you feel about the whole ordeal. However, it is true that Prom will mostly forever be dominant as a social practice that is practiced by the older generation of high school. Its an "American rite of passage".
Monday, May 23, 2011
HW 57 - Initial thoughts of Prom
Something I heard in class while disscussing prom was that it was pretty much a practice for a wedding. Dressing up, the party, the limos, both events pretty much are identical.
When I first arrived to high school, I expected that it would be what a stereotypical high school would be like. People within seperate cliques, sports teams, many classes to choose from, etc. Unfortunatly, when I arrived to my specific high school, it didn't pan out in that exact way. It was more work than anything else. However, one thing that remains stereotypical that I've always seen in those high school movies is prom.
Everyone dressing up, looking forward to the day months beforehand, after parties, people looking to have the craziest night ever, etc. For what prom really is, sone look at it as a reward for getting through high school. Some may see it as a way to relieve stress that was gained during high school. Some may even see it as the end of one time period and the beginning of another. Prom to me is the beginning of the end for high school, where people who wanted to leave high school so badly all of a sudden fear leaving the comfort of high school and taking that long awaited journey to college or anywhere else besdies where they've been for the past 4 years.
To me, its pretty amazing how a more than avaerage dance could mean so much more than dressing nice and dancing the night away. There's meaning to it, for each individual person it calls for a different point of view. The bottom line is that Prom means so much more than it initially looks to be
When I first arrived to high school, I expected that it would be what a stereotypical high school would be like. People within seperate cliques, sports teams, many classes to choose from, etc. Unfortunatly, when I arrived to my specific high school, it didn't pan out in that exact way. It was more work than anything else. However, one thing that remains stereotypical that I've always seen in those high school movies is prom.
Everyone dressing up, looking forward to the day months beforehand, after parties, people looking to have the craziest night ever, etc. For what prom really is, sone look at it as a reward for getting through high school. Some may see it as a way to relieve stress that was gained during high school. Some may even see it as the end of one time period and the beginning of another. Prom to me is the beginning of the end for high school, where people who wanted to leave high school so badly all of a sudden fear leaving the comfort of high school and taking that long awaited journey to college or anywhere else besdies where they've been for the past 4 years.
To me, its pretty amazing how a more than avaerage dance could mean so much more than dressing nice and dancing the night away. There's meaning to it, for each individual person it calls for a different point of view. The bottom line is that Prom means so much more than it initially looks to be
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Extra Credit COTD 1- Cemetary
Although I don't have a photo, I would like to share my experience in my yearly visit to my grandmothers grave that is located in Pennslyvania.
My fathers mother died from cancer in the middle of my final year of junior high. It was actually my first case of dealing with death from a relative that was so close to me. Although I haven't seen my grandmother in a few years, I still had clear, fond memories of her. After going through the whole process of attending her wake and funeral, it became a tradition for me to take a drive with my father to Pennslyvania to pay respects to her.
First off, the drive is very long, stretching between 2 and a half to 3 hours. The drive alone shows the dominant social practice of the living paying respects to the dead. Throughout many years, in many different social circles, there are many traditional rituals that are still in existence today that pay tribute to those who have died. For example, indian buriel ritual span to 13 days with much ritual involved. Although not as much as a 13 day celebration, to take a 3 hour drive to stand at a headstone for about 10 minutes to me is saying a lot.
Once we arrive in Pennslyvania, we usually pick up flowers and little ornaments to decorate my grandmothers grave and make it more nice looking. This to me represents showing how deafth doesn't always have to be scary and ugly, but it actually can be a beautiful thing.
Then we finally arrive at the cemetary, which I note contains graves that span throughout the early 1800s. To me, its almost as if that cemetary is like a freeze not just in time, but multiple time slots. Its pretty bizarre to be walking across the yard and seeing graves from the 1800s, 1900s, and eventually our current century of the 2000s. What's even more shcoking is that graves from the early 1800s belong to very young children that died from illness that might have been rare then but not now. Its really sad to see that.
And finally, after the long journey, we arrive at the gravestone of my grandmother. Her marble headstone is engraved with pretty white angels. There are dead flowers from someones last visit, most likely one of my uncles. My dad decorates with the new flowers to make it more nice looking. Words of respect are then said, followed by a moment of silence. Then we leave and wave our final goodbyes, until next time.
Its pretty weird thinking about this, but when somone dies, their life is over for them, but their life is not over for the loved ones still alive. Although people eventually grieve completly for a loved one lost, as long as they're remembered, they will always live on in some type of passion.
My fathers mother died from cancer in the middle of my final year of junior high. It was actually my first case of dealing with death from a relative that was so close to me. Although I haven't seen my grandmother in a few years, I still had clear, fond memories of her. After going through the whole process of attending her wake and funeral, it became a tradition for me to take a drive with my father to Pennslyvania to pay respects to her.
First off, the drive is very long, stretching between 2 and a half to 3 hours. The drive alone shows the dominant social practice of the living paying respects to the dead. Throughout many years, in many different social circles, there are many traditional rituals that are still in existence today that pay tribute to those who have died. For example, indian buriel ritual span to 13 days with much ritual involved. Although not as much as a 13 day celebration, to take a 3 hour drive to stand at a headstone for about 10 minutes to me is saying a lot.
Once we arrive in Pennslyvania, we usually pick up flowers and little ornaments to decorate my grandmothers grave and make it more nice looking. This to me represents showing how deafth doesn't always have to be scary and ugly, but it actually can be a beautiful thing.
Then we finally arrive at the cemetary, which I note contains graves that span throughout the early 1800s. To me, its almost as if that cemetary is like a freeze not just in time, but multiple time slots. Its pretty bizarre to be walking across the yard and seeing graves from the 1800s, 1900s, and eventually our current century of the 2000s. What's even more shcoking is that graves from the early 1800s belong to very young children that died from illness that might have been rare then but not now. Its really sad to see that.
And finally, after the long journey, we arrive at the gravestone of my grandmother. Her marble headstone is engraved with pretty white angels. There are dead flowers from someones last visit, most likely one of my uncles. My dad decorates with the new flowers to make it more nice looking. Words of respect are then said, followed by a moment of silence. Then we leave and wave our final goodbyes, until next time.
Its pretty weird thinking about this, but when somone dies, their life is over for them, but their life is not over for the loved ones still alive. Although people eventually grieve completly for a loved one lost, as long as they're remembered, they will always live on in some type of passion.
Extra Credit COTD 2- Harold and Maude
The movie "Harold and Maude" is a comedic film that came out in 1971 that centers around the mysteries of death. Before even watching it, I was puzzled as to why a topic such as death could possibly be the base topic of a comedy. In my mind, either this movie was simply using comedy as a way to make death seem less serious and scary, or it was literally mocking death as if it actually is no big deal. Either way, I was more than interested in finding out what different perspective views it provided.
This movie is based around a young boy named Harold, who is ultimatley obssessed with death. To be around death as much as he can, he stages numerous mock suicides, attends funerals of complete strangers, and even has a job driving a hearse. In my view, the character of Harold represents the curiosity of the younger generation who at most times are kept away from the society and dealings with death, as parents may feel its too big of a deal for children to be exposed to at a young age. I personally remember having my neighbor pass away when I was very young. She was a very nice woman who was a family friend for years. I would always spend time with her at her house and be spoiled with sweets. She was almost like an extra grandmother figure to me. When she died, I wasn't able to go to her funeral on the fact that I was too young. I remember asking my mother if I could go to a funeral but she said I had to go to school and it would be over by the time I got out. Although the movie character of Harold seems a lot more than curious about death, it definitly connects to the younger generation and their need to know about the mysteries of death.
Along the movie, Harold meets an old woman by the name of Muade. Like Harold, Maude shares his obsession of death and also has the unique hobby of attending funerals of strangers. Maude takes Harold under her wing and shows him out the live his life to his best in his time on earth living. This intrigues Harold, as he was never exposed to someone was was so full of life and loved it so much. He eventually falls in love with the much older woman and wants to marry her. The character of Maude represents mutiple social practices in dealing with death. Her character is appointed as somewhat of a mentor to Harold in the subject of not only life, but death as well. She is the type of older lady who feels the younger generation should indeed be exposed to the happening of death. But, she also is the type of character who believes death shouldn't necessarily stop people from living. At one point, she reveals to Harold she purposly took an overdose of sleeping pills and said she couldn't die in a better way (being that she too had fell in love wiith Harold). This also shows how death doesn't actually have to be a sad and scary thing and that dying could actually be done ahppily and in a beautiful way.
This movie definitly showed me a different side to thinking about death. I doubted why death would be looked at in a comedy film but after seeing what lessons it showed, I believe it can be beneficial to those who perhaps have a hard time in dealing with the thoughts of death and could possibly clear their head with a simply different point of view.
This movie is based around a young boy named Harold, who is ultimatley obssessed with death. To be around death as much as he can, he stages numerous mock suicides, attends funerals of complete strangers, and even has a job driving a hearse. In my view, the character of Harold represents the curiosity of the younger generation who at most times are kept away from the society and dealings with death, as parents may feel its too big of a deal for children to be exposed to at a young age. I personally remember having my neighbor pass away when I was very young. She was a very nice woman who was a family friend for years. I would always spend time with her at her house and be spoiled with sweets. She was almost like an extra grandmother figure to me. When she died, I wasn't able to go to her funeral on the fact that I was too young. I remember asking my mother if I could go to a funeral but she said I had to go to school and it would be over by the time I got out. Although the movie character of Harold seems a lot more than curious about death, it definitly connects to the younger generation and their need to know about the mysteries of death.
Along the movie, Harold meets an old woman by the name of Muade. Like Harold, Maude shares his obsession of death and also has the unique hobby of attending funerals of strangers. Maude takes Harold under her wing and shows him out the live his life to his best in his time on earth living. This intrigues Harold, as he was never exposed to someone was was so full of life and loved it so much. He eventually falls in love with the much older woman and wants to marry her. The character of Maude represents mutiple social practices in dealing with death. Her character is appointed as somewhat of a mentor to Harold in the subject of not only life, but death as well. She is the type of older lady who feels the younger generation should indeed be exposed to the happening of death. But, she also is the type of character who believes death shouldn't necessarily stop people from living. At one point, she reveals to Harold she purposly took an overdose of sleeping pills and said she couldn't die in a better way (being that she too had fell in love wiith Harold). This also shows how death doesn't actually have to be a sad and scary thing and that dying could actually be done ahppily and in a beautiful way.
This movie definitly showed me a different side to thinking about death. I doubted why death would be looked at in a comedy film but after seeing what lessons it showed, I believe it can be beneficial to those who perhaps have a hard time in dealing with the thoughts of death and could possibly clear their head with a simply different point of view.
Monday, May 16, 2011
HW 56- Culminating Project
For my culminating project in the care of the dead unit, I will be interviewing my family on what they would like done with their own bodies once they have passed away. Throughout this unit, I have learned about the down low controversy that exists within the death community in handling dead bodies and arranging/paying for funerals, caskets and embalming. Now that I'm somewhat more knowledgeable on the topic, at least more than before this unit, I'm interested in my immediate family's thoughts on this subject.
I didn't want to make this a strictly question and answer ordeal. What I did was inform my interviewees on what I have learned in the care of the dead unit. I informed them of the mutiple different ways a dead body can be put down to permanent rest, expensive costs of caskets and funerals and the multiple different ways bodies are taken care of in the meantime, like freezing and embalming. I then asked what each of my interviewees would like done with their bodies, why they want it done, and their overall take on death.
My Mothers Response
" I would like my body to be cremated. I wouldn't want to be buried and have complete strangers stepping all over me. I would feel better knowing I was in good hands. Either that, or maybe I would like my remains to be spinkled somewhere private, where only my family can go".
On a side note, my mom was talking to me about embalming and how its done because the fluids within a dead body would make the body stiffen up and even rise up out of a coffin, this is one of the reasons why embalming is done. I didn't catch that during the unit so I just found that interesting.
My Sister's Response
" I want to be buried. I would like to have a funeral and everything so that I can be remembered. I wouldn't want to be cremated. I know I'm dead and everything, but the thought of my body being burned freaks me out. So I would definitly want to be buried".
My Father's Response
" I definitly don't want to be buried underground. If I were to be buried, it would be in a mausoleum. And another thing, how do you know if you're dead forever when you die? What if you're done for 6 months and then you come back to life? If that's the case, you'll be tortured being buried 6 feet under. There have been actual cases where people who have been thought to have be dead were actually in comas. So you never know what death is or how long it is".
Its pretty amazing how three of my closest relatives have completly different preferences on what they want done their dead bodies. I was especially pretty intrigued by my fathers beliefs on death (he was actually pretty serious with his answer). But the point of that is that with death being only one thing, its also many different things in the eyes of many different people who have multiple thoughts and beliefs on what happens after you die, and that plays a role in what they want done physically with their bodies. I personally don't really think about my own body's process of being dead. I wouldn't mind being buried or cremated. I think more about what happens to your soul after you die, like what happens the moment you die? I always pictured seeing your whole life flash before your eyes from when you are born to the moments that you die. Then I believe that you go on some kind of journey and go to heaven. There's multiple pop culture references in relation to death. I personally enjoyed the movie "The Lovely Bones", a fictional movie about a 14 year old girl who is killed and tries to help her family solve her murder from the sprit world. It really makes death look like a unique, beautiful place and makes you think more about it. However, with all the thoughts and beliefs that exist, I also believe death will never truly be known until the day it actually happens to you.
I didn't want to make this a strictly question and answer ordeal. What I did was inform my interviewees on what I have learned in the care of the dead unit. I informed them of the mutiple different ways a dead body can be put down to permanent rest, expensive costs of caskets and funerals and the multiple different ways bodies are taken care of in the meantime, like freezing and embalming. I then asked what each of my interviewees would like done with their bodies, why they want it done, and their overall take on death.
My Mothers Response
" I would like my body to be cremated. I wouldn't want to be buried and have complete strangers stepping all over me. I would feel better knowing I was in good hands. Either that, or maybe I would like my remains to be spinkled somewhere private, where only my family can go".
On a side note, my mom was talking to me about embalming and how its done because the fluids within a dead body would make the body stiffen up and even rise up out of a coffin, this is one of the reasons why embalming is done. I didn't catch that during the unit so I just found that interesting.
My Sister's Response
" I want to be buried. I would like to have a funeral and everything so that I can be remembered. I wouldn't want to be cremated. I know I'm dead and everything, but the thought of my body being burned freaks me out. So I would definitly want to be buried".
My Father's Response
" I definitly don't want to be buried underground. If I were to be buried, it would be in a mausoleum. And another thing, how do you know if you're dead forever when you die? What if you're done for 6 months and then you come back to life? If that's the case, you'll be tortured being buried 6 feet under. There have been actual cases where people who have been thought to have be dead were actually in comas. So you never know what death is or how long it is".
Its pretty amazing how three of my closest relatives have completly different preferences on what they want done their dead bodies. I was especially pretty intrigued by my fathers beliefs on death (he was actually pretty serious with his answer). But the point of that is that with death being only one thing, its also many different things in the eyes of many different people who have multiple thoughts and beliefs on what happens after you die, and that plays a role in what they want done physically with their bodies. I personally don't really think about my own body's process of being dead. I wouldn't mind being buried or cremated. I think more about what happens to your soul after you die, like what happens the moment you die? I always pictured seeing your whole life flash before your eyes from when you are born to the moments that you die. Then I believe that you go on some kind of journey and go to heaven. There's multiple pop culture references in relation to death. I personally enjoyed the movie "The Lovely Bones", a fictional movie about a 14 year old girl who is killed and tries to help her family solve her murder from the sprit world. It really makes death look like a unique, beautiful place and makes you think more about it. However, with all the thoughts and beliefs that exist, I also believe death will never truly be known until the day it actually happens to you.
Monday, May 9, 2011
HW 52- Third third of Grave Matters
Precis
Traditional american buriels aren't all that they're cracked up to be. For them to be looked at as the right, mandatory way to lay a deceased loved one to rest is beyond ridiculous, just like the asking prices of funeral homes just to say that final farewell to a lost loved one. There are many other alternatives then the social practice of bringing a loved ones body to a funeral home and end up spending thousands of dollars, when there's other choices out there. A few choices include backyard buriel, buriel at sea. Other types of laying a person 6 feet under include getting a plain, pine box. Caring for the dead at home is even a hidden, popular way to lay loved ones down to rest.
Thoughts
Growing up, I personally learned about the caring of the dead in a way where when someone died, their relatives went to the funeral home, made plans, paid the fees, had the funeral, buried their loved ones, the end. But reading this book revealed that while this indeed is a dominant social practice idea, this is most definitly not the only way to go. I was very interested in my new discoveries involving different ways you are able to lay down loved ones instead of having to pay thousands of dollars for the occasion. I would be more than willing to have my personal remains be buried at sea or something along those lines rather than having my living loved ones paying all this money for something that in reality isn't all that necessary. Sure, the idea is good, but the way that the dominant social practice of caring of the dead is performed definitly has its other options.
Traditional american buriels aren't all that they're cracked up to be. For them to be looked at as the right, mandatory way to lay a deceased loved one to rest is beyond ridiculous, just like the asking prices of funeral homes just to say that final farewell to a lost loved one. There are many other alternatives then the social practice of bringing a loved ones body to a funeral home and end up spending thousands of dollars, when there's other choices out there. A few choices include backyard buriel, buriel at sea. Other types of laying a person 6 feet under include getting a plain, pine box. Caring for the dead at home is even a hidden, popular way to lay loved ones down to rest.
Thoughts
Growing up, I personally learned about the caring of the dead in a way where when someone died, their relatives went to the funeral home, made plans, paid the fees, had the funeral, buried their loved ones, the end. But reading this book revealed that while this indeed is a dominant social practice idea, this is most definitly not the only way to go. I was very interested in my new discoveries involving different ways you are able to lay down loved ones instead of having to pay thousands of dollars for the occasion. I would be more than willing to have my personal remains be buried at sea or something along those lines rather than having my living loved ones paying all this money for something that in reality isn't all that necessary. Sure, the idea is good, but the way that the dominant social practice of caring of the dead is performed definitly has its other options.
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