Energy and Place project
Essential Questions
1. How does energy production impact* place?
2. How does your sense of place**, environmental ethic and understanding of our energy needs influence your
perception and decisions regarding energy production
1. How does energy production impact* place?
2. How does your sense of place**, environmental ethic and understanding of our energy needs influence your
perception and decisions regarding energy production
Sense of place song
Artist statement
This song is about my journey as a camper going to a summer camp named Winona located in Bridgeton, Maine. I chose to write about this for my sense of place essay since I started going there as a ten year old and have gone back every summer possible the first year. Winona makes you feel a strong sense of place because it has some long standing traditions that multiple generations can connect to. Since you spend 7 weeks out of your summer living with a couple other boys in your same age group you form a strong sense of connection to the place you live and the people you spend time with there that share common ideas and are all there to the same thing, enjoy camp. Bringing in the environmental ethic into this project, my camp has dozens of old pine trees that are over 100 years old in many cases and since I am the third generation to be living under the trees all summer I think that it is super important to preserve places like this and not develop them so that my grandchildren can go here just as I did and experience the same wonder and joy I did while coming of age here. Growing up here without TV and cellphones or even electricity for the most part, really put in perspective for me how little electric energy we need to survive and be happy and once these things are taken out of the equation, It becomes easier for us to let go of material things and form a strong sense of place and connection with the ground on which we stand. This song tells the story of arriving at camp describes the connections made and how the character in the song (me) really wants camp to continue on for generations.
This song is about my journey as a camper going to a summer camp named Winona located in Bridgeton, Maine. I chose to write about this for my sense of place essay since I started going there as a ten year old and have gone back every summer possible the first year. Winona makes you feel a strong sense of place because it has some long standing traditions that multiple generations can connect to. Since you spend 7 weeks out of your summer living with a couple other boys in your same age group you form a strong sense of connection to the place you live and the people you spend time with there that share common ideas and are all there to the same thing, enjoy camp. Bringing in the environmental ethic into this project, my camp has dozens of old pine trees that are over 100 years old in many cases and since I am the third generation to be living under the trees all summer I think that it is super important to preserve places like this and not develop them so that my grandchildren can go here just as I did and experience the same wonder and joy I did while coming of age here. Growing up here without TV and cellphones or even electricity for the most part, really put in perspective for me how little electric energy we need to survive and be happy and once these things are taken out of the equation, It becomes easier for us to let go of material things and form a strong sense of place and connection with the ground on which we stand. This song tells the story of arriving at camp describes the connections made and how the character in the song (me) really wants camp to continue on for generations.
Another home
Andrew Allsopp
Verse 1
I remember a time way back, when I was young.
I was entering the edge of the world not afraid of what would come.
Like mama and daddy said today I was going home.
As I drove for the first time down the camp road didn't know what I would see I had only been told.
The green trees, the lake and the uncles greeted me now here’s a place I can really be free.
Butterfly’s in my stomach and a pounding in my head I make my way home and make my bed
See later mama I’ll see you when I’m home there’s people like me with woods to roam
Color shimmers in the air carried in the breeze trees tall as a mountain and lower than your knees
Rocks scattered here there and all around never make a sound but when the rain comes down.
Dive for the first time see where you go the deep water beckons from the dock below.
The gold sand shifts across the brown lake floor when I jump right in couldn't ask for much more.
I feel that clear cool water cool cool water clear blue water
Bubbles jump up right beside me I go for air theirs someone behind
Scream and shout you got nothing to lose till it’s time to Buddy up its time for a snooze
Wake up every day to a brand new world with tall pine trees where the Oscar is hurled
Tradition is old here older than the men who come back over and over again
Chorus
I’m not the first to grow young roots here
I couldn't see the world if I was the last
As I look at my reflection in the early morning waters
Before I can blink another hundred years have passed
Verse 2
Fast forward now a couple years on my shoulders a might stronger and a might bit older.
I come back every year out and in to see those who are family and all of them friends
Sit on the T-dock watch the sun set, gold crimson cloud angels above my head.
As the sky grows darker and the stars come out things on the shore start settling down
A loon calls out from across the lake and a boy yells out when he shouldn't be awake
The pines whisper as we drift off to sleep telling of endless summers that could come to be.
Chorus
Verse 3
So much to do and so much to see all these boys want to in live harmony
We all got to work to be on the same level no phones or TV can you try and beat the devil.
Go out and do what makes your day and there’s always uncles wanting to play
What would we do without the trees so tall the lake so blue or Winonas call
it’s like a pick your own adventure book in real life but we couldn't do without a place to makes it come alive.
What would we do where would we go if the earth dried up and was rotten to core
They said to pack out what we brought with us the birds and the bees don’t need our business
Bridge
When I look out across the glassy water,
On a sunny windless day.
My mind goes numb release my inhibitions
Let this place take my breathe away
Chorus
Andrew Allsopp
Verse 1
I remember a time way back, when I was young.
I was entering the edge of the world not afraid of what would come.
Like mama and daddy said today I was going home.
As I drove for the first time down the camp road didn't know what I would see I had only been told.
The green trees, the lake and the uncles greeted me now here’s a place I can really be free.
Butterfly’s in my stomach and a pounding in my head I make my way home and make my bed
See later mama I’ll see you when I’m home there’s people like me with woods to roam
Color shimmers in the air carried in the breeze trees tall as a mountain and lower than your knees
Rocks scattered here there and all around never make a sound but when the rain comes down.
Dive for the first time see where you go the deep water beckons from the dock below.
The gold sand shifts across the brown lake floor when I jump right in couldn't ask for much more.
I feel that clear cool water cool cool water clear blue water
Bubbles jump up right beside me I go for air theirs someone behind
Scream and shout you got nothing to lose till it’s time to Buddy up its time for a snooze
Wake up every day to a brand new world with tall pine trees where the Oscar is hurled
Tradition is old here older than the men who come back over and over again
Chorus
I’m not the first to grow young roots here
I couldn't see the world if I was the last
As I look at my reflection in the early morning waters
Before I can blink another hundred years have passed
Verse 2
Fast forward now a couple years on my shoulders a might stronger and a might bit older.
I come back every year out and in to see those who are family and all of them friends
Sit on the T-dock watch the sun set, gold crimson cloud angels above my head.
As the sky grows darker and the stars come out things on the shore start settling down
A loon calls out from across the lake and a boy yells out when he shouldn't be awake
The pines whisper as we drift off to sleep telling of endless summers that could come to be.
Chorus
Verse 3
So much to do and so much to see all these boys want to in live harmony
We all got to work to be on the same level no phones or TV can you try and beat the devil.
Go out and do what makes your day and there’s always uncles wanting to play
What would we do without the trees so tall the lake so blue or Winonas call
it’s like a pick your own adventure book in real life but we couldn't do without a place to makes it come alive.
What would we do where would we go if the earth dried up and was rotten to core
They said to pack out what we brought with us the birds and the bees don’t need our business
Bridge
When I look out across the glassy water,
On a sunny windless day.
My mind goes numb release my inhibitions
Let this place take my breathe away
Chorus
Energy and place project Reflection
For this project we looked first at land ethics and how people perceive the land around us and how it is valued. We then began looking at energy production in the united states and globally and how people feel about the ways that energy is extracted and how people justify how we treat the planet. As wee did this we looked at elements of nature writing and began to form an opinion on how we form a connection with the place we are and our relationship with energy. As the project continued we looked at nuclear energy and how people feel about it. We did an in depth look at what makes us feel connection to a place and why care about a place and then why it is important for it to continue being the way it is.Once we had form an opinion on our sense of place and were able to take a stand on why it was important to us we were assigned a paper to write using nature writing and grand style writing to create a sense of place essay about a place we care about. For my project I took it upon myself to write a song using grand style and nature writing instead of writing an essay. For my sense of place I used my summer camp called Winona that is located in Bridgeton, Maine.
Writing a song about summer camp is a task that shouldn't be to challenging and for the most part it wasn't, When writing a song about a beautiful place in nature such as this it becomes easy to use nature writing and grand style. To write this song I had to think about places within camp and scenarios that I had been through or theoretical situations that could occur I had to think about the beauty that is camp and then come up with specific things that make up the scenery and find a way to fit it into my rhyme scheme. Having to write this song really made me think about what makes my camp so special to me and why I keep going back. It also made me think about how easy it would be to lose this camp if there were to be a fire that caught some of the hundred year old trees on fire it would be horrible, for this reason relating to the energy part of this project was easy because even though camp uses very little electricity if we run out of resources because we live on a unstable system it would be hard to keep camp going. The most challenging part of this whole song was to try and write a vivid description of a place that matters a lot to me but is 2000 miles away. I struggled to come up with exactly how it would feel to be in this place but I think in the end I pulled it off well.
I think that the most place I had during the project for personal growth was examining exactly how I connect with a place and what gives it relevancy to me. To successfully do this I had to be very self reflective and examine my experiences and why I felt connection to a place and the people there at a point in time. I would say that the biggest habit of heart and mind that came into play during this was perspective I had to use my perspective from past times that I have enjoyed and writing this song from the perspective of being in Durango while writing about a place in Maine. Overall this was an enjoyable project that made me think about the places like Durango and camp and why I value them and what my life would be like with out them and even how I can help to keep the places I love beautiful.
Writing a song about summer camp is a task that shouldn't be to challenging and for the most part it wasn't, When writing a song about a beautiful place in nature such as this it becomes easy to use nature writing and grand style. To write this song I had to think about places within camp and scenarios that I had been through or theoretical situations that could occur I had to think about the beauty that is camp and then come up with specific things that make up the scenery and find a way to fit it into my rhyme scheme. Having to write this song really made me think about what makes my camp so special to me and why I keep going back. It also made me think about how easy it would be to lose this camp if there were to be a fire that caught some of the hundred year old trees on fire it would be horrible, for this reason relating to the energy part of this project was easy because even though camp uses very little electricity if we run out of resources because we live on a unstable system it would be hard to keep camp going. The most challenging part of this whole song was to try and write a vivid description of a place that matters a lot to me but is 2000 miles away. I struggled to come up with exactly how it would feel to be in this place but I think in the end I pulled it off well.
I think that the most place I had during the project for personal growth was examining exactly how I connect with a place and what gives it relevancy to me. To successfully do this I had to be very self reflective and examine my experiences and why I felt connection to a place and the people there at a point in time. I would say that the biggest habit of heart and mind that came into play during this was perspective I had to use my perspective from past times that I have enjoyed and writing this song from the perspective of being in Durango while writing about a place in Maine. Overall this was an enjoyable project that made me think about the places like Durango and camp and why I value them and what my life would be like with out them and even how I can help to keep the places I love beautiful.
Take Action Project
Take action project and reflection
The take action project was an add on to the end of the energy and place project. Basically we needed to take action on the environmental ethics in a way that affects our sense of place and has a positive affect on our community since I was already writing a song about my sense of place at my summer camp in Maine it was easy to plan to take action there this summer. My project was to create an outline off a Sunday service that could be performed at camp along side my song. the message I wanted to send was about camp and how it is an important place and its very important to keep it beautiful. Sunday services are a none religious gathering of the camp to have skits about camp and learn life lesson as well as music and poem.. This is a great way to give campers a reason to think about their sense of place at camp and what it means to them when they share it with the people and around them which is the mission of my project.
This project mad me realize that although it is hard to make change we have to try and at least teach people to care about place they live because we live on a beautiful planet and it is worth keeping beautiful and when we go out to camp and live in the woods for a summer it is a relaxing thing and we don't actually need things like Cell phones or TV to have a good time, you don't even need a car to go places if you have a bike or canoe. Out in the real world it is hard to live low impact but in camp life can be simple, It really gives me an appreciation for living there by coming back to the real world.It also made me think about how if we keep using energy the way we do we that we wont have places like that to enjoy because even camp has to get its food carted in on an 18 wheeler.
In the long run the take action project wasn't my greatest project because I already like contributing to communities and I want to make the world a better place. This project did mean a lot to me however because I am about to join on the first year of being on staff and I want to give back to my camp already so going in with this project behind me I can create more validity out of it for myself. With the knowledge of how we use resources it will make me more appreciate of what I have and more reason to care for that place.This project hasn't affected me a whole lot yet but i feel it will become much more relevant as the summer continues.
This project mad me realize that although it is hard to make change we have to try and at least teach people to care about place they live because we live on a beautiful planet and it is worth keeping beautiful and when we go out to camp and live in the woods for a summer it is a relaxing thing and we don't actually need things like Cell phones or TV to have a good time, you don't even need a car to go places if you have a bike or canoe. Out in the real world it is hard to live low impact but in camp life can be simple, It really gives me an appreciation for living there by coming back to the real world.It also made me think about how if we keep using energy the way we do we that we wont have places like that to enjoy because even camp has to get its food carted in on an 18 wheeler.
In the long run the take action project wasn't my greatest project because I already like contributing to communities and I want to make the world a better place. This project did mean a lot to me however because I am about to join on the first year of being on staff and I want to give back to my camp already so going in with this project behind me I can create more validity out of it for myself. With the knowledge of how we use resources it will make me more appreciate of what I have and more reason to care for that place.This project hasn't affected me a whole lot yet but i feel it will become much more relevant as the summer continues.
Link to Chemistry energy and place :Here
Happiness and Meaning project
Essential Questions:
What is the purpose of your existence?
How do you define or find happiness?
How do you define or find meaning in life?
What is the purpose of your existence?
How do you define or find happiness?
How do you define or find meaning in life?
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5ktO3NLUDlcems1NU1kbjZudWM/view?usp=sharing
Philosophy Statement
What is the purpose of your existence? This is a question that I may not look at in the eye every
day, but the thought of how I will live my life, why I am on this earth and how will change the
world even if the change is on the smallest scale, even merely a friendly interaction with an
acquaintance on a street corner. I stand now, near a cross roads of life. I am through the large
part of high school and college and the adult world hangs in the distance as an inevitable change
that will happen. What to do after this change occurs? I still have no clue.
I am inherently a pleasure seeker. I spend my days looking for ways to make myself happy, take
myself out of negative situations and make the others around me happy as well. As I begin am
passing through this life I want to be conscious of those around me and bring out the best in
them. As someone who seeks to enjoy them and feel the good in the world, there will always be
some bad emotion, hard feeling and it’s how you deal with these that get you to a comfortable
place.
As I move towards the end of the 11th grade I feel so conflicted in my direction in life, this makes
it to define what your purpose for existence is. At this age we are pushed so many ways and told
to believe so many different morals. I feel a great love for the musical arts and want to follow
this passion, but I question why I play music some times, Other times I feel like music is the
reason I’m on the earth. I may not know where I’m going but I want follow whatever pursuit
makes me happy. High school is such a struggle because you are looking at who you’re going to
be and getting pushed in many directions. Undoubtedly the best the thing to do is what will make
me happy on a daily basis, do something to make others happy and make this the purpose of
existence.
Looking into the future is a scary thing; we create these majestic stories in our heads and these
versions of reality where the worst possible thing happens. We find it so hard to look to the
future, we see thing that couldn't happen and are just a product of not know what will truly
happen. This is why we search for the reason why we walk this earth not to search to hard
because more than likely it will fall into your lap you just have to recognize it.
Every day, I look subconsciously for the supposed purpose to my life. It becomes ever apparent
to me, what our purpose is in life is completely up to us. If we live to help ourselves and others
through whatever we do with it, we commit to our ideals while keeping an open mind, our
existence is something that is inherently looking for purpose and that purpose can be whatever
happens to catch ever happens to catch someone’s fancy.
day, but the thought of how I will live my life, why I am on this earth and how will change the
world even if the change is on the smallest scale, even merely a friendly interaction with an
acquaintance on a street corner. I stand now, near a cross roads of life. I am through the large
part of high school and college and the adult world hangs in the distance as an inevitable change
that will happen. What to do after this change occurs? I still have no clue.
I am inherently a pleasure seeker. I spend my days looking for ways to make myself happy, take
myself out of negative situations and make the others around me happy as well. As I begin am
passing through this life I want to be conscious of those around me and bring out the best in
them. As someone who seeks to enjoy them and feel the good in the world, there will always be
some bad emotion, hard feeling and it’s how you deal with these that get you to a comfortable
place.
As I move towards the end of the 11th grade I feel so conflicted in my direction in life, this makes
it to define what your purpose for existence is. At this age we are pushed so many ways and told
to believe so many different morals. I feel a great love for the musical arts and want to follow
this passion, but I question why I play music some times, Other times I feel like music is the
reason I’m on the earth. I may not know where I’m going but I want follow whatever pursuit
makes me happy. High school is such a struggle because you are looking at who you’re going to
be and getting pushed in many directions. Undoubtedly the best the thing to do is what will make
me happy on a daily basis, do something to make others happy and make this the purpose of
existence.
Looking into the future is a scary thing; we create these majestic stories in our heads and these
versions of reality where the worst possible thing happens. We find it so hard to look to the
future, we see thing that couldn't happen and are just a product of not know what will truly
happen. This is why we search for the reason why we walk this earth not to search to hard
because more than likely it will fall into your lap you just have to recognize it.
Every day, I look subconsciously for the supposed purpose to my life. It becomes ever apparent
to me, what our purpose is in life is completely up to us. If we live to help ourselves and others
through whatever we do with it, we commit to our ideals while keeping an open mind, our
existence is something that is inherently looking for purpose and that purpose can be whatever
happens to catch ever happens to catch someone’s fancy.
Art Piece: What is life?
Song
(Anish) Verse 1:
Well you see, we just want to live life,
Without all the things like the pain and the strife but we can’t,
Because we are moving too fast
You see our eyes are looking forward but our minds are looking back. So
Why can’t we just slow down,
And take a second to realize what’s around,
Don’t let the world get in your way cause
it’ll all be the same at the end of the day so,
Let’s all just remind each other,
To love everyone like sisters and brotha’s.
Were all actually the same on the inside,
Wanting good friends, family, and a good life
So don’t tell anybody what to do,
Because fo’ real nobody’s better at you than you
Well they ask, what’s the point of our existence,
And you say religion, love, maybe the difference,
But the point is you're just scared,
You don’t know so you act like you don’t care,
But they expect it so they look and stare,
And you just want to get the fuck outta here.
Chorus
Taking the first steps into the wild world all alone.
What wonders will you see when your 1000 miles from you home.
A hundred thousand souls pass in front of my eyes
It may not be the right fit don’t do what you despise
Losing a generation to the fad of being fly.
People working overtime making money to get by
Passion is the answer to a world full of lies
Sit back relax it’ll be alright
(Drew)Verse 2:
I’ll never pretend I’m not just like the next guy
I’m the don’t look in the mirror you always look best guy
If we don’t see eye to eye in the same picture frame
I Know I’ll be alright at the end of the day.
I got passion in my heart and strength in my hand
I don’t wanna pull my power from what god commands
It’s up to me to see what’s right and what’s wrong
If I stand still in time life’s long song moves on
Open up the glass door and walk right through
See the fucked up planet from another man’s shoes
the red white and blue they say were all equal
So go out lose your shoes cuz love is for the people
The people want what they can’t have
what’s put in front of them is too easy to grab
We just cling onto what’s thrown in our face
Material things cause we got no sense of place
If all the people left the world left us on our own
what would you do at night to make you feel home
its not the bought and sold things making life great
its the love in your life that keeps a steady heart rate.
Bridge
D.Its big world that we walk right through so find someone who shares your point of view
D.There’s so many beautiful ways to view the world just look at that stump that tree and that squirrel.
A.You don’t have to be Dr. Seuss to know, where all the beautiful trufula trees grow
A.If you find a place where you at peace with the world you don’t go no further you homeboys and girls.
D. At the end of the day were all still here we may of seen happiness we may of seen some fear
D.You do you best so keep on going never stop the creation the lovin and flowin
Outro
You have to work hard to make the world go your way
you got to work hard to smile at the end of the day
(Anish) Verse 1:
Well you see, we just want to live life,
Without all the things like the pain and the strife but we can’t,
Because we are moving too fast
You see our eyes are looking forward but our minds are looking back. So
Why can’t we just slow down,
And take a second to realize what’s around,
Don’t let the world get in your way cause
it’ll all be the same at the end of the day so,
Let’s all just remind each other,
To love everyone like sisters and brotha’s.
Were all actually the same on the inside,
Wanting good friends, family, and a good life
So don’t tell anybody what to do,
Because fo’ real nobody’s better at you than you
Well they ask, what’s the point of our existence,
And you say religion, love, maybe the difference,
But the point is you're just scared,
You don’t know so you act like you don’t care,
But they expect it so they look and stare,
And you just want to get the fuck outta here.
Chorus
Taking the first steps into the wild world all alone.
What wonders will you see when your 1000 miles from you home.
A hundred thousand souls pass in front of my eyes
It may not be the right fit don’t do what you despise
Losing a generation to the fad of being fly.
People working overtime making money to get by
Passion is the answer to a world full of lies
Sit back relax it’ll be alright
(Drew)Verse 2:
I’ll never pretend I’m not just like the next guy
I’m the don’t look in the mirror you always look best guy
If we don’t see eye to eye in the same picture frame
I Know I’ll be alright at the end of the day.
I got passion in my heart and strength in my hand
I don’t wanna pull my power from what god commands
It’s up to me to see what’s right and what’s wrong
If I stand still in time life’s long song moves on
Open up the glass door and walk right through
See the fucked up planet from another man’s shoes
the red white and blue they say were all equal
So go out lose your shoes cuz love is for the people
The people want what they can’t have
what’s put in front of them is too easy to grab
We just cling onto what’s thrown in our face
Material things cause we got no sense of place
If all the people left the world left us on our own
what would you do at night to make you feel home
its not the bought and sold things making life great
its the love in your life that keeps a steady heart rate.
Bridge
D.Its big world that we walk right through so find someone who shares your point of view
D.There’s so many beautiful ways to view the world just look at that stump that tree and that squirrel.
A.You don’t have to be Dr. Seuss to know, where all the beautiful trufula trees grow
A.If you find a place where you at peace with the world you don’t go no further you homeboys and girls.
D. At the end of the day were all still here we may of seen happiness we may of seen some fear
D.You do you best so keep on going never stop the creation the lovin and flowin
Outro
You have to work hard to make the world go your way
you got to work hard to smile at the end of the day
Native American Historical Inquiry
Project Essential Question: How can an examination of multiple sources and perspectives lead to a more enlightened understanding of history AND contemporary social, cultural and political realities?
Journals
Reaction to The real Injun Journal # 2
The most interesting thing to me about this film is how it portrays natives in different point throughout American history. In history when it is convenient the white people of our country either give natives a positive or negative lens. In the 1800s when Americans were expanding into the west, much of the time natives were portrayed as bad and were prosecuted for being native. Other times later on in time when movies were silent, natives were portrayed as wise people who were one with the land, all of them were good at riding horses and shooting a bow but they were portrayed as noble people. Not even twenty years later they were portrayed in a completely negative light. They were portrayed as “savages” who’s only purpose was to ride horses, scream loud war cries, and shoot arrows and be a threat to what is U.S. society.
Since the 1960’s when African Americans were fighting for their rights, the portrayal of native of in films have changed substantially. Natives used to be portrayed through their stereo types; people had biases that portrayed natives not as individuals but as a whole nation or race of people. Then something changed films were made that looked not so much at historical events and the story line of history, but films looked at individuals who were not the stereo typical Indian. Films examined who natives were with their hopes and dreams while remembering their ancestry but portraying them as real people and giving them a setting alongside white people that helped them blend and seem as if they were any other person, not an Indian.
The most interesting thing to me about this film is how it portrays natives in different point throughout American history. In history when it is convenient the white people of our country either give natives a positive or negative lens. In the 1800s when Americans were expanding into the west, much of the time natives were portrayed as bad and were prosecuted for being native. Other times later on in time when movies were silent, natives were portrayed as wise people who were one with the land, all of them were good at riding horses and shooting a bow but they were portrayed as noble people. Not even twenty years later they were portrayed in a completely negative light. They were portrayed as “savages” who’s only purpose was to ride horses, scream loud war cries, and shoot arrows and be a threat to what is U.S. society.
Since the 1960’s when African Americans were fighting for their rights, the portrayal of native of in films have changed substantially. Natives used to be portrayed through their stereo types; people had biases that portrayed natives not as individuals but as a whole nation or race of people. Then something changed films were made that looked not so much at historical events and the story line of history, but films looked at individuals who were not the stereo typical Indian. Films examined who natives were with their hopes and dreams while remembering their ancestry but portraying them as real people and giving them a setting alongside white people that helped them blend and seem as if they were any other person, not an Indian.
Journal #5
The Tradition of Storytelling in Native Cultures
By: Andrew Allsopp
For the last two weeks, we have studied Native American’s, how they are portrayed in film through their stereotypes and through what the life of native peoples is today. I noticed a trend in storytelling; the tradition of storytelling predates written history and is how history was communicated in native societies for hundreds of years. Although technology has now out dated traditional storytelling, Native American’s still value it because it is a way to pass history and culture between generations.
We now have many ways to learn new information, the problem this creates for native cultures is, much of their way of life and their tribes history has been passed down through generations by way of mouth. But as technology has risen and the need for this art has become less important, Natives have felt very disconnected from their culture and ancestors way of life. In a book called first person first peoples a collection of narrative from graduates of Dartmouth College, baseball player Bobby Bennett says in reference to his grandmother, “she always spoke English to me. All I knew was that they were speaking Indian and I spoke only English” (Bennett P.137 pp.2). His grandmother was afraid of how white people viewed Natives and so she and his mother didn’t teach him How to speak his native language. He later said, “Now I wish my upbringing had been as Indian as possible, I grew up solely as a Wasicu, and that angers me greatly” (Bennett P.152 pp.3). Not being taught his language and not hearing stories through a native lens cut him off from his ancestry and made him feel disconnected from his Indian culture and heritage. He grew up with the values of a white person but with the skin of a native.
Native’s cultures still value telling stories it is just no longer looked upon with such reverence even if it holds a very meaningful message. Sherman Alexie uses his character Thomas builds-the-fire to represent this in his book the lone ranger and tonto fist fight in heaven. “Thomas Builds-the-fire told his stories to all those who would stop and listen. He kept telling them long after people had stopped listening”. (Alexie P.73pp.2) Alexie is trying to get across how important story telling is to the culture, Thomas continues to hold to the stories even when the rest of his kin have turned away and stopped listening to the stories.
The tradition of storytelling and passing the culture extends to dance and the pow-wow. The dances and tradition of a tribe are passed down just like stories through generations. In another narrative out of one first person first peoples, a girl named Marianne chamberlain a girl who pow-wow danced competitively talks about using traditions that have not been paid attention to. “He spoke of how todays younger generations do not respect the old traditions, and he was proud to see one young person following in the footsteps of the elders before her. At that moment, I was so proud of what my family had taught me.”(Chambers P.161 pp.1) Just like story telling pow-wow dancing is a tradition that could only be passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth and example. When these traditions aren’t honored they lose some of their value.
As white European culture has evolved and expanded, Native American culture has fallen to the side lines. This is due to people not following tradition and not passing down the stories of their peoples. I learned about the importance of story and passing tradition on to future generations. I learned that every generation follows new paths with the knowledge passed on through elders.
The Tradition of Storytelling in Native Cultures
By: Andrew Allsopp
For the last two weeks, we have studied Native American’s, how they are portrayed in film through their stereotypes and through what the life of native peoples is today. I noticed a trend in storytelling; the tradition of storytelling predates written history and is how history was communicated in native societies for hundreds of years. Although technology has now out dated traditional storytelling, Native American’s still value it because it is a way to pass history and culture between generations.
We now have many ways to learn new information, the problem this creates for native cultures is, much of their way of life and their tribes history has been passed down through generations by way of mouth. But as technology has risen and the need for this art has become less important, Natives have felt very disconnected from their culture and ancestors way of life. In a book called first person first peoples a collection of narrative from graduates of Dartmouth College, baseball player Bobby Bennett says in reference to his grandmother, “she always spoke English to me. All I knew was that they were speaking Indian and I spoke only English” (Bennett P.137 pp.2). His grandmother was afraid of how white people viewed Natives and so she and his mother didn’t teach him How to speak his native language. He later said, “Now I wish my upbringing had been as Indian as possible, I grew up solely as a Wasicu, and that angers me greatly” (Bennett P.152 pp.3). Not being taught his language and not hearing stories through a native lens cut him off from his ancestry and made him feel disconnected from his Indian culture and heritage. He grew up with the values of a white person but with the skin of a native.
Native’s cultures still value telling stories it is just no longer looked upon with such reverence even if it holds a very meaningful message. Sherman Alexie uses his character Thomas builds-the-fire to represent this in his book the lone ranger and tonto fist fight in heaven. “Thomas Builds-the-fire told his stories to all those who would stop and listen. He kept telling them long after people had stopped listening”. (Alexie P.73pp.2) Alexie is trying to get across how important story telling is to the culture, Thomas continues to hold to the stories even when the rest of his kin have turned away and stopped listening to the stories.
The tradition of storytelling and passing the culture extends to dance and the pow-wow. The dances and tradition of a tribe are passed down just like stories through generations. In another narrative out of one first person first peoples, a girl named Marianne chamberlain a girl who pow-wow danced competitively talks about using traditions that have not been paid attention to. “He spoke of how todays younger generations do not respect the old traditions, and he was proud to see one young person following in the footsteps of the elders before her. At that moment, I was so proud of what my family had taught me.”(Chambers P.161 pp.1) Just like story telling pow-wow dancing is a tradition that could only be passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth and example. When these traditions aren’t honored they lose some of their value.
As white European culture has evolved and expanded, Native American culture has fallen to the side lines. This is due to people not following tradition and not passing down the stories of their peoples. I learned about the importance of story and passing tradition on to future generations. I learned that every generation follows new paths with the knowledge passed on through elders.
Seminar prep 11/18/14
1. If you were in the shoes of the settlers, would you forcefully take the land, or stand down?
2. Why couldn't the English coexist with the native American’s? What made them feel the need to conquer everything?
3. What is the responsibility of a scholar of history to accurately portray historical facts?
One of the biggest takeaways that I had from reading Howard zinn, was that history has many sides one may not particularly right or wrong. The difference is that usually only one side of history is documented and remembered, the side of the victors whether it has been a presidential election or a country being invaded the victors story had been heard more than the defeated. Zinn portrays this when talking about Christopher Columbus´s conquest of America. He says The treatment of heroes (Columbus) and their victims ( the Arawak’s) and the quite acceptance of conquest and murder in the name of progress- is only one aspect of a certain approach to history, in which the past is told from the point of view of governments, conquerors, diplomats, leaders”( Zinn P.9 pp.3).
· Take away two. Entire cultures have been pushed aside and demolished just for the expansion of imperialism and European culture. (Chapter 1 Page 18)
· Take away three. In history on two sides of a fight no one side is free of guilt for the crimes committed. ( Chapter 7 Page 128)
Native American’s have been negatively portrayed in media.
· The real injun/ Bugs Bunny/ Indian camp
· Reading the history of native peoples has given me more of an idea of how natives are treated today and how they may be treated in the future
· Why did the native people on campus so quickly put her out of their circles eventhough she was native.
· Why do you think America went from working with the Indians in some ways to totally opposing them and trying to exterminate.
1. Could there have been a better solution to the manifest destiny and the way they treated Native Americans?
2. How would our history have changed if we had instead embraced Native Americans instead of wiping their population out? What types of conflict and resolution would arise from it?
3. 2) Is there a way to make up for the wrongdoings of the past
1. If you were in the shoes of the settlers, would you forcefully take the land, or stand down?
2. Why couldn't the English coexist with the native American’s? What made them feel the need to conquer everything?
3. What is the responsibility of a scholar of history to accurately portray historical facts?
One of the biggest takeaways that I had from reading Howard zinn, was that history has many sides one may not particularly right or wrong. The difference is that usually only one side of history is documented and remembered, the side of the victors whether it has been a presidential election or a country being invaded the victors story had been heard more than the defeated. Zinn portrays this when talking about Christopher Columbus´s conquest of America. He says The treatment of heroes (Columbus) and their victims ( the Arawak’s) and the quite acceptance of conquest and murder in the name of progress- is only one aspect of a certain approach to history, in which the past is told from the point of view of governments, conquerors, diplomats, leaders”( Zinn P.9 pp.3).
· Take away two. Entire cultures have been pushed aside and demolished just for the expansion of imperialism and European culture. (Chapter 1 Page 18)
· Take away three. In history on two sides of a fight no one side is free of guilt for the crimes committed. ( Chapter 7 Page 128)
Native American’s have been negatively portrayed in media.
· The real injun/ Bugs Bunny/ Indian camp
· Reading the history of native peoples has given me more of an idea of how natives are treated today and how they may be treated in the future
· Why did the native people on campus so quickly put her out of their circles eventhough she was native.
· Why do you think America went from working with the Indians in some ways to totally opposing them and trying to exterminate.
1. Could there have been a better solution to the manifest destiny and the way they treated Native Americans?
2. How would our history have changed if we had instead embraced Native Americans instead of wiping their population out? What types of conflict and resolution would arise from it?
3. 2) Is there a way to make up for the wrongdoings of the past
Seminar Reflection
This project looked at the history of Native Americans, and how they were treated from the time of Columbus to our present modern day. We first looked at Howard Zinn’s book a people’s history of the United States, and how Columbus treated native peoples upon arrival in America; we then watched a movie in class called the reel Injun that ran through the history of how Native Americans have been portrayed in the media since films invention. We than looked at another chapter of Zinn, this chapter examined Native history from after the revolution and it detailed the natives push from east to west. We then looked at a book by Sherman Alexie called the lone ranger and tonto fist fight in heaven. This book gave metaphorical short stories that talked about different parts of a native’s life.
The most important thing that I was able to draw from this seminar was History is written by the victors the side that loses, has no credibility and therefore has no voice. When a group of people has been defeated and has no voice there is no way to speak up for their right as a human being. This is what happened to the Indians, after getting pushed west so much and treaty after treaty being broken on both sides they had no way to oppose the U.S. government. Before this seminar, I was under no illusion that America was not built at the cost of others freedom. But I began to see that it was not only openly built upon slaves but covertly we suppressed the natives in the name of good and made them sign treaty’s that would never be upheld is in modern terms suppressing a minority. Despite my great disliking of this happening many times throughout history it has been a reality.
This was a great seminar because after reading Sherman Alexie, Howard Zinn, and the Dartmouth graduate essays, it was interesting to talk about the history of Native’s move through the present day and then reflect some on how the native s may be treated in the future gave the seminar a long term look at native life in the Americas, that hadn’t been seen before in such retrospect. One subject I heard come up in both seminars was the concept that if Columbus hadn’t found America would it be any different. America had already been found when Columbus “discovered it and would have been again if Columbus hadn’t found it. If the Europeans had cohabitated more maybe but the fact remains that descendants of these native tribes do still live in strong in the Americas.
Looking at topics and source’s in multiple aspects that aren’t presented as a textbook history lesson. Looking that maybe socially awkward to people. These things bring about a disconnect from the topic, that is not bad but allows us to discuss it politically and in a non-scrutinizing way, we are given both sides of the events and we find that no one is the right side of history and no one is in the wrong completely in every conflict we have in history. Every side has flaws and maybe everyone has good intentions at heart but one side of history makes the history books and the beaten people struggle for a place in them. By looking at the history that has been over looked in the history books, find a way to create a cultural that does not fear the unspeakable but is able to stop the violence and suppression of minority’s through awareness.
The Morality and Politics of Justice
Artist statement
My Art piece is expressed through a Music medium. My topic was the morality behind why we should or should not censor music. I Believe that Music should not be censored, it is a free from of expression. This song demonstrates some of the characteristics that have been censored in the past by the radio and other organization. Sometimes lyrics are misinterpreted and have double meanings in them. The challenge was to create a song that challenges social norms and has borderline inappropriate themes but still sends a positive message. The song I wrote was a song about my childhood that attempted to send a positive message while having lyrics that challenge common ideas and could be censored. My song uses pathos quite well it employs talking about my childhood and makes you feel the happiness and the fun life I had as a child and draw you in to the message.
Here is the Link to My sound cloud which contains my song.
Here is the Link to My sound cloud which contains my song.
https://soundcloud.com/drummerdream/liberty-and-equality-take-whats-comin
Song lyrics
Take what’s coming
Verse 1
Every time I look back I remember the innocence of childhood days.
When a swearing tongue wasn’t allowed and people didn’t care what I had to say
Bluegrass music and lots of beer meant dad would be playin to the break of dawn
Mary Jane she danced around but who she was I didn’t know
Dancing to the end of the day under Colorado gold red skies
I may leave soon but what I’ve done here will last for a life time.
Chorus
If it weren’t for the music and the festival days who would I be?
If it weren’t for the laughter and the friends I’ve made where I would be
If I hadn’t sat underneath the stars and wondered where am I gonna go
I wouldn’t be standing here today so I guess I’ll take what’s coming and go
Verse 2
I’m growing up I’m living free seeing what the world really is
Ill push the limits and maybe I will find something I missed as a little kid.
Innocence e grows up and moves away just like I will to
But it’s all still back just around the bend sitting right out of view
So that I know when the going gets hard
I’ll have a beautiful place to come back to
Chorus
Take what’s coming
Verse 1
Every time I look back I remember the innocence of childhood days.
When a swearing tongue wasn’t allowed and people didn’t care what I had to say
Bluegrass music and lots of beer meant dad would be playin to the break of dawn
Mary Jane she danced around but who she was I didn’t know
Dancing to the end of the day under Colorado gold red skies
I may leave soon but what I’ve done here will last for a life time.
Chorus
If it weren’t for the music and the festival days who would I be?
If it weren’t for the laughter and the friends I’ve made where I would be
If I hadn’t sat underneath the stars and wondered where am I gonna go
I wouldn’t be standing here today so I guess I’ll take what’s coming and go
Verse 2
I’m growing up I’m living free seeing what the world really is
Ill push the limits and maybe I will find something I missed as a little kid.
Innocence e grows up and moves away just like I will to
But it’s all still back just around the bend sitting right out of view
So that I know when the going gets hard
I’ll have a beautiful place to come back to
Chorus
Reflection
For this project we look at philosophers and different political philosophies Such a libertarian-ism, utilitarianism, deontology equality. We then looked at rhetoric and looked at how it is used in writing, TV ads, political campaign posters and many other things to convince people of a certain point of view. We learned about ethos, pathos and logos which is the different types of rhetoric that use evidence such as personal connection, cold hard facts and reasoning. We then used this knowledge to research a controversial topic of our choice and create and Op-ed and art piece that represents our opinion based upon the moral philosophies and use rhetoric to persuade the audience of our opinion.
The habit of heart and mind that I had to use the most during this project was perseverance. I had trouble during this project staying with where I needed to be so I had to persevere and work a couple long nights and work through some confusion to get my project to where I wanted it to be when I was finished with it. The thing that was most interesting to me after this project is how I look at rhetoric. Before when I looked at a political poster I knew that it was somehow trying to manipulate me into agreeing with its perspective. Now that I know what I do I can see exactly how they are trying to appeal to us, By either giving us facts that seem credible,and by Appealing to our social and moral values. The thing that I learned most during this project is that we all have a valid opinion in our own eyes and so when peoples opinions conflict there has to be some way to solve the conflict that benefit everyone involved.
I think that one weak point was the moral Philosophy part of my project. I from the start didn't understand the moral philosophy's being presented so when it came to write about them I was ill prepared. I understood the most of what each philosophy was saying but applying them to my topic of music censorship. In the end I understood how John Stuart mill's idea on how the more we respect individuals the better of everyone else will be in the long run. My strong point in this project was the perspective of my song. I really liked how I related my song to me so well I created a nostalgic song about my childhood that communicated a wonderful happy childhood of love and innocence, while talking about things like alcohol and marijuana which are fairly controversial topics and have a reason to be censored.
If I had more time to work on this project the first thing I would work on would be my art piece. When I did my art piece I really liked how it went and I liked the content and perspective of the song but both could of been refined to be more clear. As I was working on the after effects I realized that my playing could of been tighter on the beat and when I did my singing I didn't have much time to practice it so the lyrics that came out of the process sounded good but in some places it sounded jumbled. I would refine the flow of the music and how it fits together with the lyrics.
The habit of heart and mind that I had to use the most during this project was perseverance. I had trouble during this project staying with where I needed to be so I had to persevere and work a couple long nights and work through some confusion to get my project to where I wanted it to be when I was finished with it. The thing that was most interesting to me after this project is how I look at rhetoric. Before when I looked at a political poster I knew that it was somehow trying to manipulate me into agreeing with its perspective. Now that I know what I do I can see exactly how they are trying to appeal to us, By either giving us facts that seem credible,and by Appealing to our social and moral values. The thing that I learned most during this project is that we all have a valid opinion in our own eyes and so when peoples opinions conflict there has to be some way to solve the conflict that benefit everyone involved.
I think that one weak point was the moral Philosophy part of my project. I from the start didn't understand the moral philosophy's being presented so when it came to write about them I was ill prepared. I understood the most of what each philosophy was saying but applying them to my topic of music censorship. In the end I understood how John Stuart mill's idea on how the more we respect individuals the better of everyone else will be in the long run. My strong point in this project was the perspective of my song. I really liked how I related my song to me so well I created a nostalgic song about my childhood that communicated a wonderful happy childhood of love and innocence, while talking about things like alcohol and marijuana which are fairly controversial topics and have a reason to be censored.
If I had more time to work on this project the first thing I would work on would be my art piece. When I did my art piece I really liked how it went and I liked the content and perspective of the song but both could of been refined to be more clear. As I was working on the after effects I realized that my playing could of been tighter on the beat and when I did my singing I didn't have much time to practice it so the lyrics that came out of the process sounded good but in some places it sounded jumbled. I would refine the flow of the music and how it fits together with the lyrics.