Real Indentity of twentysomethings

The readings for the week have been about Reality TV and racial and stereotypical identities. The essay I'd like to focus on is Twentysomethings.

Walter Kirn must think he is the greatest thing since, as cliche as it sounds, sliced bread. It must be nice to have lived and have an established career especially in the '80's during the Reagen Era, where everyone was prospering economically. So, I guess this gives him a license to rip on the generation right after. It's great that he had it pretty easy in a time of economic wealth and then can turn around deem the next generation as slackers because the economy of their time isn't doing so great.

He starts his article by listing qualities that describe the "slacker" generation. One of these traits was "a distrust of authority." The authorities of the "slacker" generation basically suck, to put it mildly, at their jobs. The authorities were set up to help people, not to screw them over. Is it any wonder that the "slacker" generation distrusts authorities?

Another ridiculous statement his makes is: "A generation whose defining collective experience is its lack of defining collective experiences, whose Woodstock was watching The Partridge Family with a couple of friends and whose great moral dilemma is "paper or plastic?" is unlikely to produce a crop of quick-witted passionate radicals."

(Argh, this comments just makes my nerves on edge).

First of all, the twentysomething generation he wrote about was fighting for issues of their time. Their Woodstock wasn't one of sex, drugs, and rock n' roll. There Woodstock was fighting the Gulf War, dealing with President Clinton, the Oklahoma City bombing, the shootings of Columbine, and Grunge music. So, don't sit here and say that twentysomethings didn't have enough on their plate and call them "slackers."

Also, as a result of these things I would have to say twentysomethings are quick-witted passionate radicals. They have done a lot things to fix the problems of the generation before them in hopes of a better future than their parents had. It's just that when the generation before you messes things up so badly that your generation has to fix the problems and even hand over the work to the generation after them, then it's going to take a while to fix these problems. Also, since it takes so long, the results aren't going to be immediate, therefore, it may look like you are "slacking."

He then goes on to rip on the movie Singles. He says, "...the world having shrunk to the cramped dimensions of one's wacky, sad, starter apartment, with its sardonic, cheap, recycled furnishings."

What is he thinking? Did he have a wonderfully, brand-new furnished, home or apartment at twentysomething? Um, seriously, it takes a while for people to have things like that. My friends are all in their mid or late twenties, and only two of them, because they are married, have their own house. Everyone else lives in dumpy apartments with three other people. That's just what you do until you are more financially stable.

Kirn needs to stop blaming pop culture on the twentysomethings and attitude, and start blaming his own neglectful generation.

Real Reality TV

I have to say that it's sweet that in an English class we are learning about Reality TV. Ok, back to the blog.

Personally, I think the reading is getting much more interesting. I guess with the ad reading it was always the same kind of message that ads are bad and affect you negatively. However, with the Reality TV reading, it seems that there are different view points. It's nice to get a variety of opinions.

I think one of the essays that stood out most to me was by Justin T.P Ryan. He wrote about dating reality shows. I liked it because it reminded me of my English teacher in high school. He was a staunch Republican and (ahem) elderly, but he always spoke about how young men need to respect women when they are dating. I guess this just brought about nostalgic memories of his class.

Justin Ryan wrote in his essay the same thing. American culture is taking a decline and showing these people who are looking for "true love," but it's just a gross misrepresentation of what that really is.

I remember watching this show VH1 did one time like three years ago about reality TV. It interviewed some well-known people that were on reality TV like the guy from Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire? and asked them what really went on behind the scenes. The guy (I can't remember his name for life of me) from above mentioned show, was being interviewed for one of the segments, and he said something really interesting. He said that the majority of the time in dating shows all the participants are liquored up--a lot.

Final question: How can you find your "soul mate" being all liquored up? I seem to recall that alcohol has an affect on your judgment.

so stupid

I am starting to get really annoyed with this whole Luke, Lorelai, and Chris love triangle. Seriously, these writers first decide that Chris and Lorelai should get married. That decision caused a whole upheaval among fans because everyone wanted Luke and Lorelai to finally get married. Then they gave you basically the whole season to get used to the idea of them being married, and now, they drop another bomb.

Lorelai wants out of the marriage.

I guess I am just so sick of Lorelai always choosing Chris, then changing her mind because she doesn't want to be with, then going back to him, then dumping him. It's just a vicious cycle with her. Also, this cycle gets old really vast as an audience member. It was okay for say the first three seasons, but Gilmore Girls is in their seventh season, you'd think the new writers would have at least tried to make the show more interesting instead of playing off of an hold hit.

However, on Rory's side of things, it was bit more interesting.

Rory started to have a crush on one the T.A's at her school. However, she was really worried that Logan would get mad. Towards the end of the show, she sits down with Logan and tells him that she has a crush on this other guy. Surprisingly, he doesn't freak out. He actually tells Rory that it is okay because they both know they are in love with each other.

To me, that seemed like a very mature thing for Logan to say. The general view is that most guys would FREAK out on the girlfriend for even looking at another guy or commenting that he is attractive. However, Logan was mature enough to know that even though you are in a relationship, you are still human and still find other people attractive. You can't turn off your sexuality.

paper review

I have to say that this was one of the most fun papers to compose. I've had Advanced English in high school and took a few English courses at Macomb, but this paper doesn't even compare to the others I have had to write. The other papers were always so boring and "dry." Plus, it was always the same thing like write about what you read, or character analysis, or do an opinion essay BUT it has to be the way I (the teacher) tell you, you have to do it. So, it was really refreshing to finally do a paper that was creative and unique. I like that this essay was actually analytical, but FUN.

I visited my friend at her dorm earlier this week after class, and she had to the exact paper. However, her paper had to be about objects that describe her. So, I like how you (Ellen) made our paper actually tie in with what we have been learning and that is interesting to do.

The other thing that I liked about this paper and class is that it INTERESTING. This class and my communications class are the only ones I enjoy this semester. I'm going into journalism so I guess that explains it. I feel like this English class is my own personal pop culture gossip coulmn extravaganza. If I ever find myself working at People or US, I'll know what to do because of this class. : )

Well, I'm not going to lie to you, but the paper was actually hard to do. I seriously don't ever pay attention to ads, even on TV. I am an avid magazine reader, but I usually skip over the ads. On a side note, the worst magazine to read is Oprah's magazine O. Seriously, EVERY OTHER page is an AD! It's so annoying! Anyways, since I don't ever pay attention to ads, it was hard to find and analyze one that truly describe me, but doable.

Overall, I'm happy with this class and the assignments. I just hope I can keep up with everything.

New writers does NOT equal better episodes

I was watching a re-run of one of the episodes this week of Gilmore Girls from the new season. The more I watch the new episodes, the more I want to scream profanities (okay, that's a little harsh) more like write a strong letter to the writers telling them they are doing a horrible job.

The episode I caught this week was when Christopher and Lorelai go to Paris. Towards the end of the episode Chris and Lorelai decide to get married--without Rory there!

The main thing anyone knows about Gilmore Girls, even if they aren't fans, is that Rory and Lorelai go together like PB&J, like Burt and Earnie, like Bevis and Butthead, like...okay, I couldn't think of any good best friend analogies, but you get the point.

All hard-core Gilmore Girl fans know that Loreali would want her daughter and best friend to be in her wedding. The new writers just don't seem to understand and know the characters at all. Loreali and Rory are known for their witty banter and how easy it is for them to do this. However, the new writers make them sound stupid like teeny-boppers who are just rambling about the most pointless things. It makes their conversation seem akward, when it has always been easy-going.

Also, the characters seem more fake in the sense of them being unrealistic. Another huge problem is that Chris and Lorelai got married. EVERYONE who watches Gilmore Girls knew Luke and Loreali should have been together. It was until the new writers got brought in for the new season did everything start falling apart. The worst thing about this is that this is the last season of Gilmore Girls. Things can't get any worse...

Problem

I posted one entry about Cool Hunters and it's not here!

What do I do?

Stereotyping

So, this week in class, our reading focused on stereotyping in advertisements. And as it happened it got me thinking about stereotypes while I watched Gilmore Girls this week.

Every so often certain episodes will focus on Rory and Lane's friendship. Lane is Korean and sometimes this poses a problem in her. This week's episode was how Lane's mom was making Lane go on a chaperoned church outing with a boy because he was Koren, studying to be a doctor, and might marry if she would act like a "good" Korean girl.

Well, it got me to thinking if Gilmore Girls was stereotyping Asians. The stereotyping would mostly be about Lane's mom, Mrs. Kim. Some "typical" Asian things I noticed were, obviously, the name--Mrs. Kim. It seems like every show that has an Asian woman in it must be named Kim.

The most noticeable thing is that Mrs. Kim is portrayed as this little woman with a thick American accent who is a stingy business woman. She owns her own antique shop and is always trying to haggle with her customers so she can make the most profit. Plus, she is very traditionalistic and wants Lane to uphold Korean rituals.

For instance, in later episodes, Mrs. Kim wouldn't let Lane's boyfriend propose to her unless he made a hit single (he's in a band with Lane). Then Lane and Zach had to have TWO weddings because of her Korean heritage. The first wedding was everything Korean to make her grandma happy because her mom said, "You must respect your elders." Only then could they have the wedding they wanted.

Mrs. Kim was also really strict because she wanted everyone to think Lane was good a Korean girl. She wouldn't let Lane be alone with boys, listen to rock music (Lane hid rock CDs under a loose wood plank her room), and she made her go to a Korean church, and only date Korean boys.

Well, as we all know, you can't suffocate a person and try to make them to be something their not. As Lane got older, she began to be much more open with her mom. She joined a band at first secretly. Then she started dating Zach. Once her mom realized that Lane could still be a "good" Korean girl, she became okay with what she was doing.

I don't know this at all stereotyping since I don't know much Asian culture, but those were just some thoughts.