Campaining for Democracy Abroad

This article was for my Popular Culture class, but he concludes with an interesting and insightful thought. 

"It has been a chronic symptom of an inward-looking political culture, where campaigns to defend democracy and morality abroad serve as little more than extensions or projections of the struggle to define these values at home."

MacDougall's "Red, Brown, and Yellow Perils: Images of the American Enemy in the 1940s and 1950s" 

So... I'd like to extrapolate on inward-looking political culture, but I have no time for anything but one question for a later day. This struggle to define democracy and morality in the United States is easy to see in the past decade. Could it have contributed to our involvement in the Middle East?

Barbarian!

Belatedly catching up on articles for Popular Culture. I just finished an interesting one by MacDougal discussing images of American enemies in WWII and the Cold War. Barbarianism is the term of the week.

In museum studies, we're started asking "What is culture? What is civilization?" It fascinates me that these questions are so integral to the events of the 18/19th centuries in the conflict with the Native Americans. Somehow, Technology, Progress, Culture... these ideas give people a sense of superiority. I know I enjoy this civilization, but I can't justify it. It's a still a mystery. MacDougal's argument discussed how the Japanese were depicted as inhuman and barbaric during WWII, but while geography is important, he contends that racial prejudice is the culprit. At one point he draws a direct line between Pearl Harbor and Custer's Last Stand. That idea, that not only certain people or groups can be uncivilaized, and thus inferior, but also an entire race.... it's crazy, but we have seen it. MacDougal explains why the Japanese-Americans were the only ones deprived of their homes, their lives, and their pride. I think he could have expounded on the pragmatic, political reasons why they were the only ones, but he makes a sound argument on racial predjudice being the catalyst.

We've been over images of America's enemies in length in class. Dr. Dorsey makes me smile. He gave us 6 terms with which to identify war posters and is so flummoxed when we don't speak up and guess what we think they are. His face and is tone say "this is ridiculously easy. Come on guys." We've identified so many examples, I don't know how anyone could miss those questions on the test. It has become ridiculously easy.

Reading these popular culture articles instills this desire to catch up, but what an impossible task that would be. Hours of movies, comic books, video games, web surfing... a century of popular culture for a girl who still dislikes it? I took this class in hopes that it would redeem itself, and I could drop my prejudice of all things "popular." How much like a snob do I sound?  Especially after saying I don't understand what makes civilization the best form of society. However, if anything this class is re-emphasizing the power and ubiquity of these popular culture manifestations. As I learn more, I'm becoming almost fearful of this creature that somehow seems in influence every nuance of my life.

Pandemonium

September is almost over and all I see myself doing is lamenting about the quick pace and wishing for a quick end. What happened to my optimism? What happened to "this whole world is new world, a bold world, and I'm feeling good"? Why has it become a struggle to get to class or do my homework? Don't I enjoy learning?

Over the past few days, I've decided something was definitely wrong (first step is always the hardest). I'm portraying Slacker Sara from previous semesters, but that's not who I am or who I want to be. Let's welcome back Studious Sara. I believe I can begin to make sense of this semester by organizing my mind. I've revamped my efforts in my calender, have created a visual task list, and the next step is to start writing more.

My first writings shall be in the journal required for my museum studies class, but after I have some work put into that I hope to start writing about the articles were reading either here or in my moleskin.

I do have to remember that the dealing with this chaos does not preclude the long-term goals of grad school. Get your act together Sara!

First Day of School!

I'd just like to document how much I really love the first day of school. I'm so exhausted though. I may not move for a week after this rush at the bookstore is over.

Confirmation bias. I've realized that no matter how open-minded I'd like to believe I am, I will never completely escape it.

The past few weeks I've been trying to puzzle out my mother. She listens to Rush, but I've never heard her dicuss polictics (just make a few snide remarks about Obama). She's extremely conservative in the way she runs the household and the rules she implements, but she's addicted to soap operas where the people behave amorally. She can be so very nice, but she so tense all the time it doesn't always translate well when living under shawdow. She loves us, of that I've never had any doubt. The biggest puzzle, is that she's big into alternative medicine, de-toxing, and the green movement; but doesn't buy into the politics that I think are associated with all those movements. How can you listen to Rush and still be so hypercritical of the pharmacutical companies? She will disregard anything a commercial tells her is 'good for you' or will 'cure' this or than, but she doesn't question the veracity of random studies that claim some random Brazilian nut will stave off cancer. Of course, this is all me, trying to put my mother and the rest of the world in a nice little box with organized labels. So much for an open mind.

Then, I was making coffee a moment ago and stumpled upon a realization.

Cultural Hiearchy

Just began a new book! It was written about a decade ago by Dubin, and I've found it quite interesting. Actually, when I enjoy a book this much and can understand it without my dictionary (or without my phone on dictionary.com at least), I'm pleasantly surprised. I think I've been reading too many dull text books because this summer I've come across some great writers who can get their point across eloquently but without pleonasm (yes, I did look that one up). Dr. Dubin is one of these, and a fine storyteller.

Each chapter of this book highlights an instance where a museum has become a contested sight. I've only read the introduction and the first piece on the Harlem exhibit at the Met back in 1969. He's already brought up many interesting issues which aren't exclusive to this situation. The one that has caught my mind is using the audience as a creative force in museum exhibits. Whether the viewer part of art, is a different question. It seems that this is when multimedia began infiltrating the exhibits. In my own experience with History and Science museums, at least, I know that this has become widespread. It seems the same 'tricks' used by advertisers to catch and hold our attention are used in museums as well.

As a product of this generation, I rather enjoy a multimedia experience. Thinking of the most memorable museums I've visited: The Spy Museum in D.C., the Imperial War Museum in London, and even a little Etruscan museum in Cortona, Italy, these not only used lighting, audio, and visual effects, but used them well. So, it seems that since the 60's, many people have changed their point of view, but my question is- has the argument ended? Do critics still believe that there is a "right" presentation of history, science, or art?

Of course, the Met is an Art museum and that changes the argument landscape. Should multimedia be used (or even can it be used effectively) to display art? In the more contemporary art museums I've visited, multimedia is an art. Is there still a firm segregation of quality between the older and newer forms of art? Do people bother arguing about this still?

Questions I feel everyone else has figured out, and the more I read the more that seems true. I'm working hard to remind myself that curiosity is a gift and there's nothing wrong with not having the answers. I'll figure it out eventually... or forget the question; in any case, it's the questioning that's important. Don't let my parents hear me say that though. That's my education coming through; it's turning me into one of those people who dare question what they've been taught all their lives.

Random side note: I've purchased a slew of my favorite pens in different colors and have used them quite a bit... my notebook is looking fantastic. I'm leaving it open on my desk so I can look over and smile at how neat and pretty it is!

Referenced:
Displays of Power: Memory and Amnesia in the American Museum by Steven C. Dubin

Museums and Communication

After a month of traveling and helping out at my home church, I'm back in College Station for the rest of the summer. The new peace and quiet (and unlimited access to my favorite coffee house) mean that a renewed effort is going into my reading.

My goal for July is to research in more depth the rhetorical modes of studying museums, so I more firmly connect the two disciplines in my mind before I have to write my personal letter for the grad school apps. This is the first time I've really read anything in museum studies and I'm quite amazed at how much writing is out there. This should be a very interesting month!

Questions to ponder:

• Exactly what role do museums play in constituting culture? Is this role as valid as it was in the past? Will it be in the future?
  
• Will the goals of museums remain the same? Will the be valued in our future society?
• What rhetorical methods (or frames?) are being used museum's today?How does the public respond to these tropes?
• Exactly what ways does a museum function as a public space and what are the implications of these methods?
• How is the museum used as a rhetorical space?
• What future studies could be done to illuminate the connection between museums and the rhetoric?
• Or HOW CAN MUSEUMS BE STUDIED WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE COMMUNICATION FIELD?
  

Missing Motivation

There are sometimes in life, many times in fact I think one should
laugh at oneself. For example, I firmly belive that most people who
are unable to achieve their goals or fufill others expectations merely
suffer from a lack of self efficacy. However, I feel guilty for
abandoning my blogging efforts, which I have done in fine form.

Summer is halfway over and proven me a hypocrite in another way.
Currently, I'm in Conneticut- supporting my mother and saying goodbye
to my GG. When I return, I must find a job. Thanks to my family, the
important bills are getting paid, but I'm putting myself into debt
buying books. Of course, it didn't help that I paid for my class ring
with my credit card and can't pay it back until finaid kicks in
september. According to my own theory, all I lack is the belief that I
can find and perform in a position. So, by changing my paradigm, the
job hunt should be less intimdating, right? So easy that if I had done
this mental reworking earlier I would have already been working.

The long road trip has provided me with plenty of time to read. I'm
trying to make my first foray into museum studies by wading through a
textbook with that title. At home I have Kylie Message's book, 'New
Museums'. I might spend my first days home reading it instead of
looking for that part-time position.

Framing, with no construction or art works necessary

In my current journey through visual communication, No Caption Needed (which is quite interesting, by the way), I've stumbled across a brief mention of one the concepts that I have wondered about- framing.

The idea that this was more than a department at my grandmother's favorite craft store came up in a classroom discussion led by an architecture professor. I was surprised, but not unpleasantly so, that 'art history' class I registered to take in Italy focused much more on the history and philosophy of architecture than any of the other arts. Our professor, an aging but still limber Florentine native, had such stories to tell, such wisdom to impart. Yet for the sake of honesty, I must admit that I listened to only a small portion of his lectures and remember even less. However, one day I happened to be taking notes and happened to take down something to this effect, "The building acts as a frame, a way to see reality. The museum, it is the same way. You take the art outside of the museum and it is different" During this time, My communication professor and I were in the midst of our ongoing conversation about the rhetoric of museums and this idea of framing caught in my mind.

This is one of the topics that I feel a great many scholars have a good understanding of, but that I, as a baby scholar, don't and would like to explore further. So, onto our discovery in Hariman's work in which he focuses on iconic pieces of photojournalism and in this part, what makes them iconic:

"Photography is grounded in phenomenological devices crucial to establishing the performative experience. Framing, for example, whether by the theatrical stage or the rectangular boundaries of any photo, marks the work as a special selection of reality that acquires great intensity than the flow of experience before and after it. As they are framed, photos become marked as special acts of display."

Still mulling this over in my mind... and trying to figure out how exactly the devices are phenomenological, but wanted to get this down before I forgot. I shall return to the topic, and with a greater understanding (for in the notes, the authors point us towards further reading, yea!).

On another , the second biggest issue on my mind is what exactly I'm doing studying and reading through my spring break. Not that I'm not enjoying it immensely, especially since yesterday I didn't do much more than sleep in the sunshine and read romance novels, but perhaps next year I should put some more effort into being more adventurous for break.

Referenced:

No Caption Needed: Iconic Photographs, Public Culture, and Liberal Democracy (2007) by Robert Hariman and John Louis Lucaites

Take a deep breath.

Curiosity being the wonderful motivator that it is, I utilized our wonderful library and picked up three books for spring break. On the way home after class, I stepped into what looks to be the most interesting- Robert Hariman's No Caption Needed: Iconic Photographs, Public Culture, and Liberal Democracy. I'm looking forward to diving in for the idea really intrigues me; however, those first few pages caused a bit of a panic.

The introduction is written in a very approachable, almost conversational tone, which I adore and hope continues through the rest of the book. Despite this, I still feel more than a little out of my element. This is no longer reading a text book to highlight key points for a test or scanning an article for a intelligent quote for a research paper, this is self-motivated study of a subject that I know very little about. It's that learning curve, if you will, that scares me the most. I understand the fact that I will never know everything but I was tempted (and probably will end up returning to the text to do so) to pull out a piece of paper and write out every sentence with the many, many terms that I don't fully understand highlighted so I could do further in depth study.

Oh, but I'm so excited- and my enthusiasm perpetuates my self-image of youth and naivety. However, I'm okay with that. I'm a newborn... or not even, I'm still developing in the womb. I'm allowed to be a little excited about getting out and participating in life.

Whoop for reading over spring break!

And the award for dedication goes to...

Would you believe it? I actually forgot about creating this blog. I've been avoiding the one that I began for my trip (and never really finished... this is not looking good, is it?), so blogger obviously hasn't been frequented by myself these past few months.

However, now that I've found it, I think it's a brilliant idea. What better way to expound on my writing skills and perhaps keep better record of all this fun reading than the blog format?

This week, I'm through adjusting to classes and for the most part my life as a whole, and I've begun to search for some more reading material, mainly academic. I haven't started yet, but I've stumbled up on several scholars who look extremely interesting. Really looking into visual communication, museum rhetoric, and public memory; as much of a broad tangled web this will make in my mind, I've been quite pleased by the results of each and foresee me weaving threads between each topic for future research.

Now that Curious and Curiouser has been rediscovered, updates will follow soon.