Homework for 3/24

The Green Book

January 2nd, 2012

Hello Class!

I am emailing you today because I am so excited about a new project that I am apart of!  I am working with the Black and Latino Filmmaker's Coalition on a documentary entitled "Black Is Beautiful."  This documentary is the culmination of 100 Black and Latina women verbally celebrating the strength, power and beauty of being a person of color.  From their hair, to their features to their varied tones, these ladies will be expressing why "Black Is Beautiful" to them.

My excitement about this project is mostly due to its timeliness.  In today's society our young people are often made to feel the very things that showcase their ethnicity are what makes them inferior to other cultures; and so begins the cycle of low self-esteem, self-deprecation and so on.  Think back to when you were younger, or even at times today, where you may have felt less-than, or not as beautiful due to your skin tone, hair texture or physical features.  And to my men, think about that woman you know is beautiful, but she doesn't see it.  Well this documentary has the power to be the first aid kit to that sickness.  And though it won't be a cure-all, it will empower, encourage and initiate positive dialogue.

However, we need YOUR help! I'm asking you to please follow us on Twitter (@blacklatinofilm) and please use the hash tag #BlackisBeautiful when discussing the project.  Also, be sure to visit our site at http://blackandlatinofilm.com/ and our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/groups/blackisbeautifuldoc/. You can leave a comment, become a member or browse the site to get more information on this amazing production.  From there you will be directed to our fundraising campaign on  http://www.indiegogo.com/Black-is-Beautiful-Documentary-and-PSA-1 where you can make a donation that will help this project come to fruition.  We are asking for donations of at least $5.00.  Think about it...a donation that is less than the cost of lunch will help feed our viewers for years to come with pride and power.  And as you donate, please copy and paste this letter into an email and send it to all of your family and friends and ask them to donate to this historical cause as well.

Lastly, if you, or someone you know, want the opportunity to express an opinion on camera and be a part of this documentary, please send a headshot, short bio and paragraph on what "Black is Beautiful" means to you, to casting@blackandlatinofilm.com or mchlllnhrrs@aol.com with a cc: to okematmbiz@yahoo.com .

Thank you!  And remember, Black Is Beautiful!

Cast Member Links

http://www.indiegogo.com/Black-is-Beautiful-Documentary-and-PSA-1#team

https://twitter.com/#!/BlackLatinoFilm

http://www.facebook.com/groups/blackisbeautifuldoc/

http://www.blackandlatinofilm.com/cms/

Marilyn Louis

Cast Member

Black and Latino Filmmaker’s Coalition

Marilynl992002@yahoo.com

This link discusses a teachers approach to gender within her her classroom. It truly amazed me and inspires me to continue to work for change.

http://togetherforjacksoncountykids.tumblr.com/post/14314184651/one-teachers-approach-to-preventing-gender-bullying-in

I dont see the button to embed the link, if you cant see it let me know and I would be glad to share it with you personally! =D

Women and Media 384 final Project

Women and Pornography:





How Porn affects and influences young girls and women

When you think about Pornography, people often associated it with humiliation, rape, violence, pleasure, entertainment, and of course, Jenna Jameson. The porn industry revenue over a billion dollars annually, and is possibly the only profession, where the star protagonist is always female, and receive a higher pay check than her male co-star. Pornography can be a positive and negative influence towards young girls and women because it can empower or in most cases degrade them. I conducted my own research on how young girls and women are easily persuaded through Pornography and how some women are liberated through porn.

Pornography is a controversial subject among people because it often makes people feel uncomfortable and has been accepted in American culture as an actual business since all actor/actress must be the legal age of 18 and older. Although, most women and young girls don’t have a long career in this industry, only a handful had made it big and crossover to non-adult feature films. Jenna Jameson is the perfect example of how Pornography had made her a successful figure toward women. Jenna is the most famous adult film star of all time that turned herself into a billion dollar corporation. Jenna Jameson is the most recognize porn star in the world and has even become an important pop icon in our culture. Like most girls who joined the porn industry, Jenna started out as a stripper then crossover into pornography films, when she was only 19 years old. Most porn stars start out young, because the youthful/fresh new face, represent new talent, and more money for the adult industry.

Link to document online

Patriarchal Conditioning and Religion

“Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” - Genesis 2. This was the excerpt from the bible, describing the creation of women from a Christian perspective. The Bibles interpretation on the creation of women is clearly that of a patriarchal nature, as it implies that a woman was made in the image of a man. Although it is not only Christianity that nurtures this type of view on women, Islam also shares the same fundamental deprecation. I plan on bringing awareness to how these two religions greatly influenced the world’s general understanding on women as subjective to men.

Throughout history society was spoon-fed religion, its influence is can be tremendous, and many times society blindly accepts the social norms conventional to ones spiritual views. Christianity and Islam are the two major religions in the world today, the two religions account for approximately a little over 30% and 20% of the worlds population respectively. Therefore its authority spans over more then half of the worlds population making these institutions the two most influential religions in the world. Like most religions, each has a book of teachings that its followers adhere to, for Christianity it is the Bible and Islam the Quran, in each the role of women is widely understood to be submissive to a man therefore fostering a patriarchal religious institution.

I myself grew up in a Christian home, thus I understand the nature of patriarchy in Christianity. Yet I have always believed that all, regardless of social class, race, or in this case gender should share equality. I believe that the best way to combat such old fashioned schools of thought toward women is by simply bringing awareness through education and application of knowledge gained. I plan on bringing awareness to such structural deprecation toward women by writing a research paper and providing power point slides to support my thesis.

link to paper

Patriarchal agenda

View more presentations from Owen Bartolome.

Women journalist in Bangladesh

I am often asked “ you have no fear?” “No” she said, "I believe the pen of journalist is stronger than weapon."

Journalist in Bangladesh have little to no safety at all. The choice of reporting, and educating people about the truth has become a tough and dangerous position for many. Some escape the country in hope of receiving safety and freedom. While others take the threats and violence as a challenge and continue to perform their role as a journalist.


Presentation

Media vs. Women: Who Defines Beauty?

Some things to think about:

Who defines beauty?

What is beauty?

Is everyone's perception of beauty the same?

Who gave the media the right to depict beauty a certain way?

I wanted to touch on the subject of beauty, and how women have to continuously look at different exposures in the media, and question their own.

Who Defines Beauty?

The Perfect Lie
The Pressure!
Wobbly Wobbly Wob Wobble Wobble

Skin Deep

For my final project I decided to create a documentary- type video on beauty pageants. I compared pageantry with body building contest, showing the pros and cons of each. I soon discovered that both competitions are more similar than anyone could ever imagine. Further examining the similarities it brought upon a bigger issue. This issue would be how women have evolved throughout the years in comparison to men. Women haven’t always been taken seriously, and seen to be lower than men because they’re unable to do what men could do. However, while creating my project I realized that women are most definitely capable of doing the things that men do. For example, with both extremes of competition spectrum beauty pageants and body building contest you see both men and women compete in each. If this is possible then this could open up a whole opportunity to prove that women are just as strong and powerful as men, and hopefully one day can be seen as equals with men.

This link directs you to my final video as well