Challenge Check-In #1

I plan on completing Challenge #2: Hip-Hop Spaces. I plan on writing about the basketball team's training facility, specifically the weight room. The women's tennis team, which includes myself, have strength conditioning there three times a week, and I feel that this location can easily be viewed as having elements of hip-hop. I chose this challenge because it would be easy to write about, as I am at this location frequently, and the hip-hop elements there are easy for me to see. Hip-hop music is constantly blaring, and I feel a sense of pride and strength when I am there. Hip-hop is more than just music, it is overcoming difficulties and taking pride in yourself. Strength training is the hardest thing thing for me out of all the difficulties college leaves me faced with, and overcoming it provides me with a strength and sense of pride that I feel is similar to the feelings hip-hop music is meant to express and inspire.

Homework 10.27

It may be argued that losing control of the privacy of your personal life comes with the territory of being a public figure, or that Jennifer Lawrence should never have had these nude photos to start with. It could be said that spreading of her photos across the Internet was not a physical assault, and therefore not a sex crime. However, the claim that Jennifer Lawrence’s status as a celebrity invalidates her right to feel violated and wronged by people looking at her naked body is in itself wrong. Viewing her as only a celebrity and not a human being is inherently wrong, as it dehumanizes her. Celebrities are people too. Simply because Jennifer Lawrence and other female celebrities allow people to look at them clothed through their movies and public appearances, does not mean that they have allowed anybody to look at their naked body. As to the argument that Jennifer Lawrence should never have had those photos, it is her business alone as to what she does with her body, who she shows it to, and by what means she shows them. These photos were private and intimate, and they were stolen from her and wrongfully displayed to the world. By definition, a sex crime is a crime involving sexual assault or having a sexual motive. The robbery of private photos with the motive of using Jennifer Lawrence's sexuality against her will to make a profit  without a doubt meet the criteria of this definition. Jennifer Lawrence, and many other female celebrities, are frequently dehumanized and turned into a sexual object, with little to no objection from society. This is not in the fault of these celebrities, it is in the fault of society.

10.15 Homework

• In your own words, explain what evaluative writing is. 
• Why is establishing criteria important for an evaluative essay?
• At the end of the short essay (#2), there is a list of 5 questions. Choose one of the five questions and answer it on your blog. 

Evaluative writing is writing that analyzes and offers an opinion on a particular subject based on a set of criteria. When evaluating something through writing, it is important to define the particular set of criteria the subject is being evaluated on, because without doing this, the audience of the essay would have no way of knowing why the subject is good, bad, or whatever else is said about it in the essay. The essay would have no real substance or credibility. 

3) What is to be gained from seeing this issue from the point of view of a music executive? 

By seeing this issue from the point of view of a music executive, readers are granted the ability to see what efforts the industry already makes to ensure that music is appropriate for the people listening to it, and the reasoning behind these efforts. The author's point of view enabled me to see that music can be beneficial, and form a bridge between generations, so it shouldn't be blamed for violence. It also enabled me to see that despite the music industry's standpoint on music, music may still be deemed inappropriate for specific audiences.

Family Discourse (B)

B. Think back on a decision you made as a young adult with or without the help of your family. As you describe this moment of decision making, think about the mood of the moment. Find a series of images or a YouTube video that evoke that mood and briefly explain why you choose that image/video.

My junior year of high school, I made a decision that would define the rest of my life, and I made it entirely without the help of friends or family. I chose to attend the University of Florida and compete for the tennis team there. My mother and father were both pushing for me to select one of the more academic options available, such as Stanford or Duke, but I knew that tennis was my passion. I wouldn't be happy anywhere that wasn't constantly pushing me to the limits of my game, and honing my skills as an athlete. It took me about a month to make this life-altering decision, and it was an emotional and stressful time. Options were rolling around in my mind and coaches were trying to sway me one way and then the other. However, during this time, I was competing in professional tournaments. I was doing well and wanted to win more desperately each day. I was in competition mode, and the only thing on my mind was getting better and reaching the top. This video is an appropriate representation of my mood and focus during my decision-making process. This clip shows not only the focus of the players, but also the passion that all players share for the sport. I chose the University of Florida because of my desire to be the best tennis player that I could be. My passion and drive were deciding factors, and my faith in the program here sealed the deal.