Far More Behind the Camera Lens

Through the advancement of technology and new inventions, the camera was introduced. With it came a new method to savor memories and freeze moments in time. Through the photographs, a moment was captured and preserved forever. The camera works as a time capsule, pulling us back through time to those memories and happier times. Photographs and pictures convey things that cannot be said in words. How can we describe a beaming smile in words? Or try to put a good memory into words? Photos serve as a pathway to those memories we may have forgotten about.

However, it cannot be ignored that in today's world, photographs can often be distorted and warped. These pictures end up conveying a different message from the reality. In social media especially, there is a tendency to edit photos and make them better than reality. Too much time is spent choosing filters and picking which photo is best out of hundreds to actually appreciate the photo itself. We often only take pictures of the happy moments and learn to sugarcoat the rest of our memories. Our lives shown through photos are ultimately fake, as we only learn to post our best versions of ourselves and create unrealistic expectations. Photos often fail to capture entire story. A photo of a smiling woman may not show the pain behind her smile and it effort it takes to smile. Although photographs are great for capturing memories, they often fail to encapsulate the whole story and create an illusion of a perfect, beautiful and ultimately fake and unrealistic world.

Political Correctness: Is it really Correct?

In the current world, the idea of political correctness has spread further and further as the awareness of different backgrounds, ethnicities, and gender among others has developed and grown. However, there is an ongoing debate about the benefits and detriments of political correctness. Some argue that political correctness raises awareness and equality for the neglected minorities and other unfairly treated groups. Some ideas behind political correctness include changing "testimony" to "ovarimony" and the word "womyn" to "women." On the other side of the spectrum, opponents of political correctness argue that the changing of the English language would not solve the issue of discrimination and micro aggressions within society.

Personally, I have seen this idea of what is acceptable in society or environment fluctuating based on age. In kindergarten for example, the word "stupid" was called "the forbidden word" and the one time a kid said it, rumors and gossip about this incident spread and became a hot topic of kindergarten talk. The word "forbidden" or "inappropriate" is defined by the context of the situation and also the people involved. For kindergarteners, the word "stupid" was considered inappropriate while for most other peopl, the word "stupid" is very mild compared to what we hear today. What one person may consider appropriate or fine may be offensive or hurtful to others. Political correctness can be very subjective and can depend on the situation and context. The problem of racial, gender or other types of discrimination or bias cannot only be solved through the changing of the language we use but rather a change in mindset.

The Destructive Atomic Bomb

In Terry Williams's piece The Clan of One-Breasted Women, she illustrates the harmful effects of the atomic bomb testing on her family and the many other people that were present during the testings. The scale of the testings is enormous as it ultimately takes the lives of many of the "virtual uninhabitants" and ends up "contaminat[ing]" the surrounding area, people, and animals. The area north of the Nevada Test Site was chosen because it was "virtually uninhabited" and deemed as a safe area for testing.

Through Williams's piece, she demonstrates her own personal family history and experiences as well as her own personal growth as a woman. Growing up as a Mormon, Williams was restricted to the limits put upon "a young girl... in Mormon culture": she was told to be obedient and respect authority and "not to 'make waves' or 'rock the boat.'" But through her constant painful experiences and eventual memories, she develops a new viewpoint. The girl who once unwaveringly "listened, observed, and quietly formed her own opinion and rarely asked questions" became a powerful demonstrator in the demand for rights. By becoming "a midwife to the rebirth of [her family's] souls," she suffers the pain and ultimate price of their deaths. These painful memories serve as a transforming factor in Williams's own personal journey from a "tolerat[or] of blind obedience" to a strong, clearheaded demonstrator. The atomic bomb not only blew apart people's families and lives but also blew life into Williams's personal journey and transformation.

Marked or Unmarked

In Tanner's piece, There is No Unmarked Woman, she discusses the marked nature of a woman and how there is no set norm for the appearance of a woman. She discusses the issue by introducing the topic through a visual of a conference table and the people seated around it. All the females were dressed very differently and the way they depicted themselves through hair, makeup, and posture were all very different, making them marked and unique. On the other hand, the males all dressed similarly showing little to no variance in their appearance and clothing. They appeared to be unmarked.

Yet I have to wonder, is being marked a negative thing? It simply means we are different and that there is no set norm. In the case of women though, it can be negative at times when women are objectified or looked at in a sexual manner. Also, Tanner claims that speaking out about feminism or even the marked nature of women can garner criticism and inappropriate remarks. For a lot of people, it seems that it is natural for them to prefer the unmarked side. For example, as Tanner states, "the unmarked form of most English words also claim 'male.'" The base form of a lot of things are male whether we notice it or not. It is in this society that a woman cannot be perceived as unmarked and does not have a norm to belong to.

Boy or Girl: Does it Really Matter?

In today's society, the world we experience is split in many places into male and female. Gender plays a big role in what we are allowed to do and what society deems is unacceptable. For young girls growing up, the Barbie doll is our holy grail and Legos and action figurines were essential for young boys. As we grew older, society pushed teenage girls toward makeup while urging boys to play video games. Society enforces harsh boundaries upon gender and their roles.

A gendered space that we often don't realize is for example, a clothing store. When we walk into the store, we are automatically sectioned off to female and male sections, as if the male and female gender cannot possibly share any characteristics in common. As a girl, I often see displays of flowery dresses and colors such as pink, purple and red. On the male side, colors such as blue and black are evident. Just like this, we are corralled and limited to just what one side of society has to offer.  What exactly determines if an article of clothing is for a girl or for a boy? The colors? The style? Or maybe just society's harsh viewpoints. There is nothing wrong with a girl wearing a tie, or even a guy wearing a skirt. Society has just forced these viewpoints upon us and we are forced to swallow them.

Las Vegas and America's Obsession with Speed

The nature of the Las Vegas wedding is one that emphasizes convenience and speed. To many, Las Vegas acts like a magical destination: it's an "extraordinary and interesting place in the eye of the beholder". From its numerous hotels to its grand casinos, Las Vegas is an oasis in the desert and as a result has become a popular tourist location.

In Marrying Absurd, Didion subtly mocks the essence of the Las Vegas wedding. She describes as insincere and sometimes even as a harsh joke. Joke or not, the Las Vegas shotgun marriage is a very popular option among those who cannot afford a large or flamboyant wedding. Las Vegas is a simple solution, offering fifteen of the world's twenty-five largest hotels. Also, the marriage could cost less than a simple couch, with some weddings under a hundred dollars. No time? You might want to head to the drive-thru wedding. It's fast and simple just like America's consumerist culture.

With many things in America being recreated around the ideal of speed and convenience, the genuineness and original intent are lost. With the creation of fast food restaurant and the drive-thru, Americans lost the time spent eating out with family and friends and the conversation at the dinner table. With the creation of video games where the player must think fast or die, Americans lost the deep thought process before making each decision. The obsession with speed is fast taking over America and with it the loss of genuineness.

America: A Dreamland for My Parents

America is a nation built off of immigrants. Its roots were built off the travels and hard work of the many immigrants within its history and its borders. My parents are part of the group of such immigrants. My dad was born as a mere farm boy in China tending peacefully to his flocks of sheep and many chicken and ducks before he made the hard transition to a life in America as a young college student. But the prosperity and success that America promised made the movement less harsh and my parents learned to adapt to what they experienced and what they saw.

For my dad, the farm boy who had to give up tending to his many animal friends on the farm and frolicking by the riverside, life in Detroit "where it's tough" was definitely a major change in his life. However, the opportunities for growth demonstrated the splendor of the American appeal and the promise that it held for its immigrants: success and happiness.

For my mom, she was awed by the spacious nature of America and the beautiful scenes of nature it had to offer. The vibrant blue sky and tall, grand trees were something that she couldn't begin to imagine in China. Her love for national parks blossomed and she loved taking the whole with her to see them. As her passion for nature grew daily, my annoyance with national parks grew along with it. I guess when you see the same scene of trees, water, and mountain it kind of gets repetitive. But for my mom, every single scene was lovely and different to her. American promised the both of them many opportunities and it did not fail to deliver upon its promise.

Banff National Park. We flew all the way to Canada for this last summer.