Tough Guise

Figure 1. Dodge Ram, (2008). Note: Copyright Caveman 92223 (made available under a Creative Commons licence)

Tough Guise was an interesting document. It rubs in some examples which we cannot notice during the daily life but which we live with.

One of the shocking scene for me was the Superman part. At first, they showed us the first Superman in 1950's. He was a pretty normal type, more precisely, he didn't have giantic muscles. After that, other Supermen were shown througout the next 50 years. Everytime the "new" Superman was more pretentious than the former one. Quite true!

I agree with one point in the documentary: A girl crime comes up in news with more sensation than a boy's crime. Actually, when a boy commits crime and that is pressed in the media, it sounds quite normal to us. However, when a girl does the same, we react as if this is the last day of the universe. Totally true, we got used to boy's crime; boys are likely to cause harm and this seems to be their right.

One more point: In the documentary, it says that men's sexual abuse to women mostly seems to be a joke. A man in a film, for example, shouts insulting words at a woman. Although it is rude of him, the man is supported by his masculin watchers because what he did was a joke and a man could absolutely make such jokes in society. Whereas men's sexual abuse to women began to seem normal, women's also seems to be normal, which wasn't stated or shown in the documentary. Lets say: in a film a woman tries to seduce his boss (what a familiar case) and then he sleeps with her and the film goes on somehow... In this scene, this woman's trial to attract him is also normal for us, don't you think?


p.s. Dodge Ram is a car (truck) brand

Whiptail Lizard

Figure 1. Texas spotted whiptail lizard 4, (2009). Note: Copyright gurdonark (made available under a Creative Commons licence)

My presentation group is supposed to read the "Marked Women" by Deborah Tannen. The text handles with gender and women. It supports the idea that women are marked all the time and everywhere unlike men.

Anyway..

In the text, it says that there are species which generate only females. One of them is Whiptail Lizard. I wondered what kind of creature this is and googled it. (Isn't is an isteresting animal?)
Meanwhile, I also got the opportunity to use Creative Commons in this post. What I have learned about them:

This species is mostly common in the west of the USA. Whiptail lizards are asexual (Most of the lizards which habit in the west of the USA are asexual..) There are only female parents and their offsprings are also female and they are genetically the same as their parents. They reproduce through unfertilized eggs. Since they have no genetic variation, they do not evolve.. Even science keeps carrying out research on them and yet it has no much information about them. What a mystery!

ENG 101

Time goes by so quickly! Unbelievable..

This year is my first year at Sabancı University, so I was wondering how the English lessons would be at Sabancı. Now, I can say something about our English lessons:) When I look back upon what we have done, I can say:

We haven't done something much to prove our English. I mean, we have read some stories, yes, but what about the vocabulary? I am of the opinion that someone who is learning a language should learn vocabulary permanently. It does not matter how good their English is, a learner always continues learning something and learning vocabulary never stops. And in order to express our thoughts properly in English, we should have an extensive vocabulary.

I don't say that we should write down all the words from the text like in the prep class, but we should do for example such a thing. Let's suppose we have a lesson about Reality TV. It would be very great and useful, if we notice some important and key words of the theme. I dont know, I think so..

Secondly, ENG 101 have teached me how to write an academic essay and how to cite, refer etc. I have learned about plagiarism here. It is very important because we will write essays constantly during our university life. As a conclusion, I can say that ENG 101 has taught and showed me techniqual issues.

And finally, I insist that we should do some pronunciation practise. Everyone could write or read something in English one way or another; however everyone cannot pronunciate(or even speak) well and properly. Speaking differs from reading and writing. So Sonja hear me about that!!!! :)

Blood Diamond

I have recently watched the film "Blood Diamond". This film deals with the issue of diamond trade and producing in Africa. To produce or mine diamonds there, many African, even children, are abused. The film also shows many scenes from rebels and dreadful conditions on the continent. The girl on the picture is a journalist who intends and tries to reveal these conditions to the public. The three people go by a refugee camp in Africa. And a conversation between the journalist girl and Leonardo Dicaprio is held:

L.D: (staring towards the camp) This is what a million looks like.
Jour: At the moment, the second refugee camp in Africa. ... then she adds ... Might catch a minute of this on CNN, somewhere between Sports and Weather.

I loved that irony. She obviously critisizes here the media. Even a worldwide TV channel does not show any interest in such events or issues. Even the biggest one fails in taking any part in it. Although this is not directly about photojournalism, it has something to do with journalism. And again from the scene of this movie, we can also say much about ethiques and responsibilities in media.