WEEK 3 CULTURAL OBJECTS

As described in my last post one index towards one's status of wealth was the cell phone. I believe the cell phone has developed into becoming one of the biggest cultural objects we have today in our society in the recent century. I remember when I was in elementary school and I already wanted a pager to carry around. It wasn't until my Senior year in highschool I finally got a cellular device, and even then I couldn't text or place many phone calls because the minutes were prepaid. When cellphones first came into development they were just a means of mobile communication. Now most cellphones have become a mini computer in our backpockets. They provide as a tool for a camera, the internet and a sense of entertainment with all the applications you can get. Even simple phones today disregarding smartphones such as iphones and blackberrys still provide more than what you need. And with the expansion of what a cellphone can do, there has become a whole cultural world surrounding it. There are certain texting behaviors and rules to follow, such as ending your sentences grammatically correct with periods display a sense of seriousness or anger in your conversation, while excessive "haha's" within your text display a lighthearted conversation. And with the developments of myspace and facebook applications if your social networking online has become even more mobile. Cellphones culturally define our generation as one that is becoming completely dependent on technology and always on the go.

WEEK 2 INDEXES

In Chapter three of TSEL, Schwalbe discusses the idea of indexes. Indexes are signs that point to, refer to, or represent something else. In our very consumer based society, people tend to walk wearing different indexes everyday on how they dress, how the behave, what they drive, the activities they do, and etc.

One major index that comes to my mind immediately are high end designer clothing brands. Brands like Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Gucci, and Chanel are notorious to have high priced functional clothing items such as a bag or coat. Seeing a woman walk down the street in furs, five inch heels and a bag stamped obnoxiously with designer logos, would immediately have me interpret the way she dresses as an index pointing towards her status of wealth. Because I know high designer brand purses usually go for more than three bills, I can also presume other indexes on her character such as her sense of value for money and attraction to materialistic things.

In contrast an index that points to poverty is also found in our everyday presence. People in our society who don't have cell phones or their own car points toward their status of wealth as well. One can presume that today in our society having a cell phone is absolute stable necessity now. To see someone who doesn't have a cellphone leads to assumptions that they cannot afford it even though this is entirely plausible. Other indexes such taking public means of transportation or biking their way around could also point to poor wealth because they can't afford to buy their own car. However being sociological mindful one can also presume some people choose to not own a cell phone or car because of their own personal interests in lifestyle.

WEEK 1 INTRO

Hello everyone! My name is Virginia Nguyen and I am 20 years old currently attending my second year at De Anza. After this quarter I will be done with G.E. requirements and apply to CSU's/UC's next November with a major in Business. This is my first time taking an Honors class at De Anza and I'm happy to have the opportunity to do so before the budget cuts. I'm also in Marc Cornado's EWRT 1B class so I'm excited to be working with T.O.U.C.H.H. this quarter as well as learning more about civic engagement. Looking forward to reading all the other blogs!