Intersection

After watching the video on Sal's page and talking about norms in class, I feel I have found an answer to many of the questions posed. In the video, in which people are crossing the street in India, the cars do have the right away. They are entitled to drive at the allowed speed, without being punished. The pedestrian that want to walk have to maneuver their way in order to get to the other side. I do agree that the driver know what they are doing, but it comes down to weather the walker knows the correct way to approach the situation. Although this is true, I feel American would do exactly what they are used to, and try to just run across the street, weaving in between cars. As the driver try to find your pace and time their speed, the usual American would find it very hard to cross.
One norm that I have experienced while traveling around the world, is that Americans think that when they are talking to individuals of another rave, they feel compelled to speak very slow and loud. Even though this would make sense, most of the people understand what you are saying and don't need the "special" treatment. I have also experience while in Europe that when the people that you "disrespect" by treating different, can turn on you and not respond, even if they do understand. I had went through all of my vacation, in Europe, with people understand mostly everything I said, but then the people started ignoring what I was saying at other places because they were sick of hearing from the "snobby" Americans.

Bronx Tale

In the movie, The Bronx Tale, the main character, Collogero, stretches his boundaries and becomes part of many groups that most children his age, would never dare to join/be a part of. I would place Collogero and Sonny in separate groups. I think Collogero belongs in a protege/fellow role, where Sonny deserves the identity of a role model. The groups that I feel Collogero belongs to are, son, friend, and protege. All of these groups help describe Collogero as a person and how his childhood is effected.
Collogero belongs to the group of son because he is the son of his father and mother.
Collogero belongs to the group of friend because he is a friend of all his "club" members.
But, the most important and influential group Collogero belongs to and I feel is his "master identity," is as a protege to Sonny. Collogero takes Sonny words and actions and imitates them. Sonny takes Collogero under his wings and teaches him right from wrong. Due to this relationship, and his advice, Sonny ends of saving the life of Collogero.
Although at the end of the movie, Collogero is definitely know as a protege, throughout the movie, his master status does change. In the beginning, when we are first getting to know Collogero, his master status is as a son. When ever there is something problematic, Robert De Niro, who plays Collogero's father, is always the one to reprimand his son and place a punishment on him. As the movie rolls along, Collogero become more of a friend. He becomes active with guys around his neighborhood and is friendly with a girl. Although these status occur throughout the movie, he eventually falls into the status of protege.
I really did enjoy the movie and I think I would enjoy the one-man play as well.

Selective Groups

In class, we did an activity that allows each individual to selective decide how they would label themselves based on their environment, community and family. Many students chose to label themselves with some kind of tie to family. I feel this has come to be the most important thing in today's society because family and moral support affects most people during their high school years. Most students feel proud and strong about their connections and relationships with other siblings or even parents. There were some students that chose to place the label of friends as their master label. These students seemed to be ones that spent most of their time hanging with friends and were somewhat distance from their families. I chose to place my master label as a brother. I feel good when I can say that my brother and my sister are my best friends and always there for me. Whenever I do something at home, I always decided to include my brother. This situation is present because we have created a strong bond between brothers and we both enjoy each others company. Also, when our family eats dinner, most of the time it is a sit-down dinner where everyone in he family is present and eating at one time.
I believe people in today's society need to take a step back and decide how they would label themselves and how people perceive them. This activity made me think of ways I connect with the outside world and where I stand within each group I represent.

F & G

After watching a few episodes of Freak and Greeks, I really saw how image and people's perception of people can be affected by many factors. In the show, the main character, a girl, wear a army jacket everywhere. This simple piece of clothing affects the way people treat her. People see this as a representation of strong willed and tough. This character also talks with a lot of emotion and purpose. During one of the episodes, a kid that is "special" is being made fun of for asking come girls, who are standing in the hall, to the homecoming dance. When the main character sees this, she quickly approaches the instigators and makes her statement with extreme force. I quote her saying, "Why is that so funny, huh." She then takes it upon herself her ask this boy to the dance, he accepts, and tell him to not talk to this people. Another way the writer uses image in his show is that one of the main kids, how is easily bullied, is very short and weak. He uses the height and weight aspects of this kid to show the stereotype that all short kids are bullied and disliked. On the other hand, the author uses the parent sin the show to portray another message to its watching audience. The parents are quoted saying, "School is not only for work, but a way to socialize." The parents are telling the listeners that school is a good resource to meet new people and to socially become active.

Would You Execute?

Before reading the Milgram article for homework, I would admit that I thought negatively toward Germans for what they did to the Jews during the Holocaust. After reading this article, it opened my eyes to the other side and gave me a different perspective on the situation. Milgram did a study that showed me that no matter what gender, ethnicity or age, if you are told to, or pressured by someone with authority, you might do anything, even if in your own mind, you knew it was wrong. IF you were asked right now, if you would execute a stranger, most people would take it very personally, and say with great emphasis, "Why would I do that" or "Absolutely not." But Milgram did his experiment, and showed all those people, that even if you think that way, given the circumstances that the Holocaust brought, most people did execute the stranger, while being pressured and pushed by a strong, authoritative dictator.