Digital Story

Link to Presentation

Digital story StoryBoard

Link to Powerpoint.

Annotated Bibliography

Dockterman, Eliana. "Felicia Day Writes About #Gamergate, Gets Information Hacked." Time.Com (2014): 1. Business Source Complete. Web. 29 Nov. 2014.

This article outlines the treatment of women by gamers and how those that step out of line are treated. It talks about how information is published in order to harm women and the lengths that people go to hurt those women who stand up against the mainstream. It also shows the steps that people will go to protect these women. Football players, other gamers, they all will stand up for those pointed out. It will serve to be a good article providing information on both sides. This will allow me to make a more educated narrative and guess about how a female gamer or designer could be treated by both sides. It also serves to prove that not all people are against this open market. 

Peckham, Matt. "Fixing What's Wrong With Gamergate Starts With You." Time.Com (2014): 1. Business Source Complete. Web. 29 Nov. 2014.

This article outlines some similarities between religion and the situation surrounding this recent Gamergate problem. It will allow me to make comparisons in my narrative and, again, create a more informed situation for my character. It also highlights some of the sources of the hatred of women in this area of culture, granting me something to home in on in future research, if needed. It is also a negative response to Gamergate, showing how others outside this community view the issue and women, showing that there is a wider range to social media. The issue of women and their portrayal in video games is definitely toxic, and this article has some information that shows this fact. It can be brought up as a source or quote within the narrative, or simply some of the ideas can be shown in the final product. 

Poniewozik, James. "Misogynist Online Abuse Is Everyone's Problem-Men Included." Time.Com (2014): 1. Business Source Complete. Web. 29 Nov. 2014.

This article takes the Gamergate issue and shows trends across the spectrum in other areas of social media and electronic life. It shows that women are scared, not only in video games, but everywhere, and that when ever they respond or complain, this is the reaction. It identifies that women experience this everywhere, not just in the video game world. This will allow me to include reactions from people about more than one issue and possibly show the causes of them. Essentially, the existence of this article provides me with some information about origins of female exclusion across the electronic planet. I can use it to make further inferences about how people may react in these forums as well as the reasons women may have for not getting involved. I can also use the excuses provided with in the article in the creation of the responses of other characters in the narratives.

Feeney, Nolan. "Sweden Considers Special Labels For Sexist Video Games." Time.Com (2014): N.PAG. Business Source Complete. Web. 29 Nov. 2014.

This small article has within it some statistics about the number of women who work in the Video game industry in the US as well as some ideas for the roles of video games in culture. It mentions how they are a form of "cultural expression" and how they can be used to change the perceptions of certain groups.

Edmonds, Lisa. "A Joy Stick Of One's Own." Herizons 12.2 (1998): 20-23. Women's Studies International. Web. 29 Nov. 2014.

This article reviews how women are portrayed within video games, commenting on clothing style and attitude, and what this means for women. It will provide me with some information on how women are portrayed so, if I enter that realm, I do have something to work off of and use. It also compares the type of games girls and boys usually like, giving a baseline to work off of. In terms of a baseline, it can allow me to create realistic responses to the main character of my story who may be "breaking" these norms. Over all, this will give me a very nice basis to work off when it comes down to the content of the games girls are told to play.

Article assignment

Post a significant article (not from the Guardian) with a full reference to your blog based on your Snowden research.

Hayden, Michael V. "Beyond Snowden." World Affairs 176.5 (2014): 13-23. Political Science Complete. Web. 23 Nov.                      2014. <http://0-search.ebscohost.com.library.jcu.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=poh&AN=93548310&site=eds-                live>.

Digital Story Proposal

Proposal

Within many forms of digital media, societal norms are expressed and impressed upon us. From an early age, children are constantly bombarded with messages about Gender Roles on television shows and advertisements. As they grow up, and begin to use digital media more often, these earlier teachings are reinforced in movies, video games, internet sites, advertisements, more mature TV shows, and other forms of digital media. These forms of "mass media" disseminate large amounts of information across a wide area and populace, socializing many different people at the same time, feeding them the same message. With this, the societal norms inside of these different forms become reinforced and more present in society.

My digital story will be a fictional story highlighting this phenomenon. It will highlight the experiences of a "queer" person who doesn't follow the normal binary and what they experience as they go through their life. It will take the form of a "video game" using a website as a way to jump from phase to phase. It will try to meld education and elements from a "Choose your own adventure" story, taking some inspiration from the works of Merritt Kopas.

The efforts, up to this point, have mainly been around trying to find programs that would be able to do such an endeavor. It was originally thought that a PowerPoint would suffice, as it carries with it the ability to link slides and create a video game-esque idea. However, it was pointed out early on that it would be impossible to embed it into my blog or publish it for others to use. After this, the idea of transforming a website was brought up, and it is one I am currently considering and thinking about. Another idea is taking Google Slides and seeing if it could work.

The pros to using a website are that it is less work on the person to use the website and easier to find. You will always be taken to the home page and it would be easier to just go through it. It however, might prove awkward and hard to use. Google slides, on the other hand, is pretty much a Microsoft Powerpoint like program that would allow me to create something accessible by a wide audience, have the look of a video game, but however not have the capability to embed sound or a video link, if desired.  There are pros and cons in both programs and ways, and these will have to be considered as the date of reckoning approaches (the due date). The website may prove more moldable and flexible, but the Google slides idea is easier and less of a headache to use.

Annotated Bibliography

Kopas, Merritt. "What are Games Good For? Videogame Creation as Social, Artistic, and Investigative Practice." Online posting. MerrittKopas.net. n.p., 18 Sept. 2013. Web. 20 Nov. 2014. <http://mkopas.net/files/talks/UVic2013Talk-WhatAreGamesGoodFor.pdf>.

Merrit Kopas, here, gives a synopsis on a talk she did a good while about Video Games and what they can do and be used for. At one point, she mentions that "making a game to model a system can be one way of learning something about that system – and the things we learn from doing so may be different from the things we’d learn in more traditional investigative modes." Essentially, it means that I will learn more about creating a video game placing myself in the shoes of the person I am discussing than I ever would if I just simply tried to research it.

Bailey, Jane, et al. "Negotiating With Gender Stereotypes on Social Networking Sites: From “Bicycle Face” to Facebook." Journal of Communication Inquiry37.2 (2013): 91-112. Web. 20 Nov. 2014. <http://digitalmediafys.pbworks.com/w/file/fetch/69691259/Bailey_Jane2013GenderStereotypes.pdf>.

In this rundown on a experiment about Digital media and how it affects our interpretations, many different ideas and conclusions are brought up in the introduction. Connections to past events are made and these can be used to make inferences about the future. We can see how we are affected by these experiences and make an educated guess from this information. It simply will allow me to speculate the effects and reactions of others to what they see as well, as the experiment had a lot to do with how women see other women.

Dockterman, Eliana. "What Is #Gamergate And Why Are Women Being Threatened About Video Games?." Time.Com (2014): N.PAG. Business Source Complete. Web. 20 Nov. 2014.

In this article discussing the recent "Gamergate" movement, the author speaks about just the history of the movement, which is tied very closely to how video games represent Women. This article will be helpful because it will provide me with insight into how gamers view and treat women who are different from themselves and hold different opinions. One example of this sort of hatred is actually making threats against these women who speak out or even enter this area of the workforce.

Afterthought: It would appear the story I am considering may lean towards a woman gamer and game developer.

Codes of Gender Digital Story

Link to Prezi.

Social Media and Gender

Effects of Societal pressures and Video Games

I do my thing, and you do yours thing.

I am not in this world to live up to your expectations

And you are not in this world to live up to mine. 

You are you and I am I,

And if by chance we find each other, it's beautiful.

if not, it can't be helped.

-Frederick Perls, Gestalt Therapy Verbatim

In the introduction to his book, Dr. Perls includes this little gem commonly called the Gestalt Prayer. It calls the patient to drop the outside influences of the world and to be simply themselves. This though is hard to do as Perls even remarks that "To suffer one's death and to be reborn is not easy." 

We are continually invited by society to enter into stereotypes, what Perls is calling for his patients to forget. We are socialized and trained how to act and see the world. As was seen in the movie "the Codes of Gender," this is especially true in advertisement, which positions and poses men and women in ways that fit into stereotypes. These ads, commonly viewed in ads, are an example of one way we are socialized. Video games offer a similar outlook though, usually picturing men as tough and independent, people who make things happen and cause change. Call of Duty, Battlefield, Halo, popular titles that always show men as this strong force, as the changers and betters of the world.

Even advertisements for video games have this effect. Women shown in these ads tend to be shown or drawn exactly as is shown in "the Codes of Gender." In game, they are also made to be "the perfect woman." The ideal woman all men want. They reflect how women should act or behave, and how they should show themselves off. 

One can see what has been presented in everything else from movies to music videos, TV shows to sports games, women are shown as passive, submissive, open figures, and this portrayal invites people into the culture, to play with it, to join it. When everyone in the world believes one thing, it is easy to see why it is hard "to suffer one's death" and be reborn anew. The culture doesn't let you be an individual, as they tend to be crushed and destroyed through oppressive forces in the media and real world. 

It is no wonder that Perls says this causes psychological problems. Being suppressed by society and shoved into a box you may not agree with should and does have many negative and adverse effects on a person's psyche. 

SAP Problem Statement

Part A

On June 17, 2013, Edward Snowden alerted the world to what the United States organization known as the NSA was perpetrating; the simultaneous surveillance of multiple entities across the world in search for a terrorist threat. The reading of emails, texts, posts, Facebook updates, phone calls, everything, all done for the purpose of national security. The defilement of the Fourth Amendment, created for the defense of one's privacy and the inability for the government to gain evidence illegally, while the Supreme Court proceeded to call the act constitutional because of a ruling in 1979.

To some, this is acceptable. National security should be a nation's prime focus, and the Supreme Court did declare this acceptable. This is a price we must pay for our safety and our protection.

To others, it is a breach of freedom and must be destroyed. To forsake the Constitution and ignore those laws put in place by our founding fathers is an action considered dishonorable and wrong. Groups such as the ACLU and millions of independent Americans protest these actions, pushing for Congressional laws and restrictions, urging presidential action. They attempt to keep the fight precipitated by Snowden's betrayal going, reminding people of this problem.

As with any political issues, the main problem is the short term memory of the public. People forget great problems rather quickly and, unless continually reminded by the media, cease to pursue the completion of the original goal. With the case of this serious breach of our human rights, we need to keep the knowledge and movement alive because if this heinous crime falls into anonymity, or rights as a whole will remain in a state of peril.

Part B

In our social action project my group is discussing the issue of government surveillance and the abuse of their power provided. Our ethical goal would be to raise the public’s awareness so they can monitor what information they provide of themselves. The significance of doing this will limit the availability of the governments access to the person lives of the individuals and keep their private life private. Making people aware of the government surveillance will cause them to get involved and possibly starting a change reaction letting the awareness to rise quicker. We would like to reach the political goal of restricting the access of the government to their citizen’s personal life. If possible we could limit the access of personal information of the government by passing a potential law making it illegal for the government to access certain information. The significance of this would be that of allowing citizens to live a private lifestyle keeping personal things personal. 

Part C

The practical questions about our project are who, what, where, when, and how. The first one who, is all five of us. We will be the ones responsible for the project and making it happen. Connor, James, Ethan, Mason, and myself will be accomplishing the what, which is creating a cross between guerilla art and culture jamming. We will be crafting and putting up posters with fake personal information on them, such as usernames and passwords to social media sites and other private material. Since our issue is NSA surveillance, our aim is to show the general public private information and emphasize to them that privacy is important by forcing them to ask themselves the question “What if this were my information? Would I permit it to be accessible?” We chose the Lombardo Student Center atrium as the location of the posters. We chose that site because a great deal of students pass through it multiple times a day, whether they are going to lunch, or going anywhere in the LSC. Also, the Atrium always has posters and such covering the walls, and thus it is the ideal place for our project to take place in. Ideally, the project will be on the Monday November 24, which is the Monday before Thanksgiving Break. This is a suitable time to do it, because our project is due soon after that. And as for how, we will be asking permission for the use of the Lombardo Student Center from the Office of Student Activities.

Group Literature Review

Our choice for the social action project is a combination of elements from guerilla art and culture jamming with the goal of making the community at John Carroll University more conscious about surveillance, privacy, and government boundaries. Both guerilla art and culture jamming are alternative forms of art used to provoke thought, discussion, and, usually, controversy. Almost always coming with political undertones, they provide a voice and a mode of social commentary for those who want to spread a message in a unique, effective way. Though they are mostly underground movements where the identities of those involved are left secret, the messages left by those involved can be far reaching and influential.

On the University of Washington’s website, they provide information about culture jamming, stating that it is “an intriguing form of political communication that has emerged in response to the commercial isolation of public life.” It goes on to give several links to articles containing different perspectives and useful information on culture jamming. Some of the articles, such as those written by Sven Woodside and David Cox look at culture jamming from a more humorous standpoint, talking about how the humor of culture jamming is often what provokes thought and attention from the public. Others look at it from a more serious standpoint, discussing the social implications of the messages left by culture jammers. Both viewpoints provide a better understanding of culture jamming and the different ways it can be utilized. The page on the University of Washington also provides links to organizations, such as Adbusters Magazine, who are dedicated to street art and culture jamming.

In his article about subvertisements, Scott Tsuchitani gives a specific example of a culture jamming/guerilla art piece where an advertisement for an “hyper-sexualized Orientalist fantasy” being shown at the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco was subverted and put on a billboard in protest. The author then gives a detailed list of objectives to have when making guerilla art/participating in culture jamming.

Another article that caught our attention is contained information about using culture jamming to inspire student activism. In the article by Marilyn Frankenstein, the author writes about different forms of culture jamming (visual and written text, visual and oral text, sound), The Yes Men (a famous, movie making culture jamming duo) and how to inspire students to seriously consider social issues. The author states that, in her experience, if you can connect students to social issues in unconventional ways, they will retain and ponder the issues more.

Similar to this, an article by Steven Ciampaglia describes a class that he and a colleague created to get students to create art that would reach the attention of people outside of their classroom and provoke thought on a social issue, much like our session of FYS. Both of these articles reaffirm our belief that these alternative methods of art can be used effectively in the JCU community.

A Summary of the issue of Surveillance

“I took an oath to support and defend the Constitution, and I saw that the Constitution was being violated on a massive scale” - Edward Snowden

These words come from a newspaper article about a teleconference with the man who started the whole issue, Edward Snowden. In 2013, the "whistle blower" told the world about the actions of the US Government and specifically, the NSA. He told us that they are taking away our freedoms through the surveillance of innocent people's digital lives and supplied us with many files and papers to read, proving his claim. 

The issue is surveillance and the monitoring of our digital and internet based lives, and it is something that most Americans disapprove of. Some claim that this surveillance is needed because it could catch potential terrorists. They also claim that if companies have our private information, there is no reason the government shouldn't, as was supported by the Supreme Court in the case Smith v Maryland in 1979. With few options about how to control and regulate the internet, there is not much the government can do but break into our private lives (Cole).

On the other side, the protesters, mainly groups such as the ACLU and the Electronic Privacy Information Center, claim that the government can't violate our privacy and rights guaranteed in the 4th Amendment of the Constitution. They say it is a breach of power and it needs to be rectified. People are also pushing Congress to rein in the NSA through the enactment of laws and the White House to help tie down the programs. Everyone ultimately wants the government to help out and everyone wants the government to put a stop to this. The only way this can be done though, is if everyone stays together and keeps pushing. If we give up the fight for an instant, we will lose the "right to right to have a status update free from surveillance" (Renderos).

Hattem, Julian. "Snowden: NSA is 'setting fire' to Internet's future." Hill 11 Mar. 2014:                                     4. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 2 Nov. 2014.

COLE, DAVID. "Real NSA Reform Still Needed." Nation 298.6 (2014): 3-4. Legal Collection. Web.               2 Nov. 2014

Renderos, Steven. "They'll Be Watching You." Extra! 27.5 (2014): 11. Supplemental Index. Web. 2                 Nov. 2014.

Big Brother and Surveillance

In 1984, the Thought Police analyzed the lives of people. They looked at their daily actions, whether or not they went to work, what they did at work, what they did at home, whether or not they showed up to mandatory meetings, and whether or not they led a private life. They also sought to get into the minds of the citizens and make sure that the government even controlled their lives. Ultimately, the Thought Police were looking for any form of dissent or any thing that didn't follow the laws and rules of the ruling Party. Anything that could destroy their world. Sexual pleasure, writing, reading, alone time, history, all of it was regulated by the government. Language was changed from old English to newspeak.

Big Brother and the Party ran life even in a land without laws. History was controlled by the party. If you were killed, your name was erased from the records, essentially making you an "unperson." You never existed. Even those who knew you, forgot about you after a while because there was no reinforcement of your existence.

The privacy of your own home was also destroyed. Through the telescreen, you could be watched by the thought police, examined for any unorthodox behaviors and destroyed. Children aided in this practice by being trained to and utilized to spy on their parents and look for anything that was not acceptable in the eyes of the party. It was hard for parents to stay alive because of this, and it resulted in a lot of families being destroyed very early on.

Modern day, America faces a similar problem. Edward Snowden has been revealing the extent of NSA's actions in terms of Surveillance. Facebook lets the government access old messages on a whim. The Patriot Act allows the government to monitor your online interactions at a whim, without notifying you.

Brought to you from Airstrip 37, previously known as Cleveland.

Discussion Questions 10/22/14

Have social media sites really helped reinforce and develop stereotypes? 

Does the phenomenon described in the article have the ability to create further divisions in our society? 

Where is the line that defines when a life has become "too public?" Does that line exist? What are the consequences of crossing that line? 

Is there anything we can do on our own to change this mentality or at least not feed into it?

War and Social Media

Military, War, and Social Media

(America's Army 3 Trailer)

Notice something about this Video Game trailer for America's Army III? Well, firstly, there are no women (which are allowed in the military currently and soon will be allowed into Infantry units) present as a character at all. It isn't alone. Call of Duty, Battlefield, they all feature a distinct lack of women.

In fact they all feature a distinct lack of what the military is like at all. For the most part, they seem to romanticize war. They portray it as this giant theatrical production with music playing, heroic speeches, Ramboesque gameplay, they make it seem like a cakewalk. The cut scene to the right comes from a game I enjoyed greatly; Halo: Reach, and it features an example of`this theatrical representation. This picturesque attack with heroic music playing in the background is an example of the theatrical nature of some video games. It trivializes the nature of war, makes it seem beautiful when in actuality, it is a serious matter in which real people lose their lives or are scarred forever. 

Look at games like Call of Duty again, What else do they show? Well, they make it seem like the military is a place of constant action where you go all over the world to these war zones and do these amazing things. You eliminate hundreds of enemies, destroy installations and secret projects, and do amazing things, all without any Psychological effect on the character. It says "there is no side effect to war, don't worry." 

The worst part of all of this, is it sends this message that killing is fun and enjoyable. My eighth grade year, a Marine came to my school to talk to us. He had been through Iraq and seen combat. This caused one student to ask him if he was proud of killing people to the point that he marked his kills somewhere. What type of message are we sending when children think this way? I am not saying Video Games are bad, I am just saying proper education is required so children understand what it is really like to be in a combat situation, or how serious the act is.

Once again, the problem is not Video Games, but education. Children must know the truth behind war and conflict, that way they can develop the respect that these subjects deserve. 

SAP Proposal II

Gender and Digital Media

Think back to some of your favorite movies, TV Shows, Video Games, and pictures. Who are the characters? Usually men and women doing normal things. They follow their stereotypical roles and do what we as an audience would expect. Men are the tough ones while women are shown as the sensitive, thinking types. Male characters in Video Games are the norm, and they normally are the player, especially in first person shooters. They wear functional clothing and are almost always the hero. Women, if they are in these games or movies, tend to be more revealing and open, eager to shown their form to the world. They also tend to be the "Damsel in distress" who require a tough male to save them. 

Facebook's policies for name require that you use your "authentic name" meaning that you must have a name you actually use in your life, something you are actually called. Say there is a person who's name is Richard, for example, and he is always called that. If he created a Facebook account, would that affect him in any way? Well, that depends. 

What if he is called Richard by everyone by everyone but really feels like being a male feels wrong and that he feels weird being one. What if she (Richard) is scared to come out to his family or maybe has and was denied the ability? Does she still have to be Richard on Facebook? What if she meets some people who are supportive and call her by the name she prefers or wants? Can she use that name on her Facebook account? No, because it is not her "official name." 

What about Skype? Signing up for that only gives you three options for gender: Male, Female, or "Unspecified." What if you don't identify as either? Do you just put "unspecified?" This is a personal topic to many and one worthy of attention because it may actually be painful to them. 

To me, digital media is attempting to define who we can and cannot be. It is becoming even more personal than just knowing what you like to shop for or look up because it is now beginning to define who we can be and what is acceptable. Together, they seem to be cracking down on how and what a person can identify as, all the while reinforcing what we are supposed to be (stereotypes) through popular culture with movies and video games.

Where popular culture and digital media lacks, we can step in. Purposely going against Facebook's policies, creating posters about non-conforming shows and people, breaking down stereotypes; the binary was created by an old order, an order that sought control. It is time we break this order and stand up. Demonstrations of non conformity on campus, organization through social media, all are things we could do to combat stereotypes. 

Have you heard the phrase "Rules were meant to be broken." Let's change that into "Stereotypes were meant to be broken. An advocacy for individuality, to show that we all are individuals and that we are not all the same, that is what we must do. Killermann's "You Soup" and "Genderbread man" are good starting places, good calls to action, good bases to work from. We would take this base and use it, work off it, and show off our individuality. 

How do we effect the larger population though? People throughout the world? Well, fight fire with fire. Many of us are tied to our Digital devices. I am stuck to programs like Steam and Skype, communicating with people back home. Facebook is a site I used to use and check religiously I know I am not alone. Others do this more than I do, others use Tumblr and Reddit, sites like that. 

I encourage the reader to do some reading on the Arab Spring. One thing we know was that Social Media played a big role here in that it allowed information to be spread across the region and allowed people to communicate their thoughts. Ferguson showed that digital media can take issues and spread it across the Web. Twitter was ablaze with reports from the front. A few weeks ago, before I came to John Carroll, I remember seeing a news report on a video revealing Police Brutality in New York City. Social media spread it around the country to the point it became a issue big enough for the news to report on it. 

Let's do something to end stereotypes. 

Social Action Project Introduction

Transgender and Genderqueer Allies Project

With my Social Action Project (SAP for short), I wish to address the issues related to the LGBTQ community, specifically that revolving around the issue of being Genderqueer or Transgender. These are issues which are unknown and small. Over the past few weeks I have blogged about two things. Transgender and what it means and the example of a policy against it, that is anti-Trans and the use of the internet to disseminate information. In my post about the Military's Transgender policies, I agreed with them at the time but I feel wrong with doing so now. More specifically, I feel guilty and ashamed. Everyone ultimately has the right to fight for what they believe in and if they are healthy enough, that should mean they can join the Army.

Civilian side, there are also issues. In Ohio, for example,

"It is legal ... to be fired from your job, denied an apartment, or refused service at a movie theater, restaurant or hotel because of your sexual orientation or gender identity. In many cities and counties in Ohio and for many government employees, these practices are prohibited, but there are no statewide nondiscrimination protections that protect all Ohioans" (Equality Ohio).

There are currently 29 other states lacking these same laws, 29 other states not being equal in the distribution of rights to all citizens, 29 states that have taken these rights away without due process of law, 29 states that ultimately do not follow the 14th Amendment. The significance of this cause is that we must work to ensure ALL citizens are extended these rights and ALL citizens are treated equally. Currently there is a battle politically over the equality of women and men. Personally, this should be equality for ALL genders and sexes.

My SAP focuses on a simple information campaign using Social Media perhaps working with the Campus GSA, "Allies." Hanging posters or creating "Guerrilla Art" pieces themed around education and awareness, perhaps using the internet to help the issue get out into the world as well. There are a few speakers like Laverne Cox who will be coming to campus in the coming months, so the publication and support of that meeting could be emphasized.

Ultimately, it would simply be a campaign focused on education and awareness as to make it an issue among the student populace.

Equality Ohio's website actually states that "79% of Ohio registered voters believe that laws should be passed banning discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations based on both sexual orientation and gender identity" meaning that the project could actually evolve into a few of us writing to the Ohio representatives asking for a bill to be brought up to the Ohio Congress. 

A lot of LGBTQ events center around increasing the awareness of LGBTQ people and issues. Pride Days feature parades and party like atmospheres. People fly Rainbow flags to show support. The campus GSA held a Drag show last week to get some awareness of the issues. These tactics and strategies are actually very very common. It forms an appropriate response because ultimately only support is shown and no one actually has to come out of the closet, per se. It shows the regular, "normal" citizens support these issues and want to see them resolved and make sure that everyone gets what they deserve as citizens of the United States of America. Because we have ultimately nothing at stake, out voice may go farther because it means that the opinions of more than just those who fall under the umbrella of QUILTBAG are valid. Transgender and Genderqueer individuals ultimately are the miniorities, so they need the support of their allies to make their voice heard. Let's help them out. 

Secrets ahoy!

Today, we live in a world where people accusing the government of corruption is the norm. We hear it everywhere, from the news to just everyday conversation. People claiming that they are being left in the dark by a plutocracy who has no interest in their issues. A plutocracy that is constantly seeking to get rid of our rights. 

There is something they forget though. Democracies call for an educated populace. And an education doesn't just fall into someone's lap. It requires work. A lot of people tend to just watch the TV and they consider that to be their education. That is fine and all, but they miss so much by just watching the television. The real education is in the written media. 

In my Government class last year, we learned how people who read the newspaper are more educated about current events than those who just get their news from the television. They also have a greater chance of seeing what the government doesn't want you to see. In the 1970s, there was a case about the printing of the "Pentagon Papers" which detailed all the lies the government told the people about Vietnam. The New York Times grabbed the papers and printed them in their paper. 

Back then, we had the Newspaper. Today, we have the internet. Go look up Wikileaks and see what it has. It can give you all sorts of "Pentagon Papers" and a look into the actions of governments around the world. Twitter is another source of information. During Ferguson, the site was ablaze with "tweets" about what was going on, people reporting from the front directly what was happening. These are only two examples of websites. but they show us that we now have more power than ever to follow our government. We need to stop complaining and start acting! We need to open the door to the closet and find the skeleton ourselves. We have the key, we just need to use it. What we do with what we find though, that is up to the people to decide. 

Discussion Questions 1/10/14

Petopia Questions.

1. As a child, I used to wonder if my parents actually "owned" the houses they lived in. They paid taxes to a government to live in the house they bought. In "Petopia," a similar theme arises with Fluffy. He says that the company also owns him even though people bought him. Is this true with much of today's technology? Do we actually own anything?

2. At the end of "Petopia," we see Fluffy and Mina hacking into old hardrives to access the personal information of past users. Is this a risk we currently have?

3. Fluffy asks about why Mina doesn't go to school. Is this a reflection on us as a society? What do we take for granted that others don't have any hope of accessing?

4. What does that say about American society that we are willing to pay huge amounts of money just in the name of fun, when people are barely able to scrape by?

Alternative link to Pixton comic

Sources:

http://www.salon.com/2013/08/17/chomsky_the_u_s_behaves_nothing_like_a_democracy/

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/congressional_job_approval-903.html

http://www.nationaljournal.com/daily/i-lost-my-seat-in-congress-and-all-i-got-was-this-broken-website-20131115

Omelas? More like Online-as.

In class a few days ago, we discussed a short story called "The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas" by Ursula Le Guin. The story was about a utopia called Omelas in which everybody but one child lived a happy and amazing life. This one child lived, or really, experienced a horrible life where he was locked into a dark broom closet and left alone. He was barely fed and he was psychologically scared and incapable because of these experiences. The people knew about him and many had seen them with their own eyes and this left them with three options. They could ignore him and live a wonderful life, free him and risk ruining the lives of everyone else, or leave the city and never be seen again. 

Today, the internet and world wide web has an interesting power that gives people the ability to get their story or cause out into the world. On Youtube, one can regularly find ads urging people to quit smoking and informing people about the dangers of this activity. On news sites, interest groups stage events and thus get news coverage and articles published, allowing knowledge of a cause to spread across the web at breakneck speeds. The ALS Ice Bucket challenge spread like wildfire with the help of the internet and has helped raise funds and awareness of ALS and its effects in people. 

In a way, the internet is akin to a person being exposed to the kid locked in the broom closet. It gives us knowledge of an issue and it lets us form our own opinions. It lets information travel quickly. The question then becomes, what do you do? 

Do you move to support the issue and try to help the many tortured souls? 

Do you simply go on with your life like nothing happened? \

Or, do you walk away from Online-as, into the wilderness, and disappear because you can't live in this unjust society? 

The choice is yours.

"The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas" Accessed on 9/18/14

"What do you mean I can't Volunteer!?"

The unjust and unfair policy know as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was thankfully repealed in 2010 allowing those who identify as Lesbian, Gay, or Bisexual to join the military freely. But what about those who citizens who identify as Transgender? Can they join?

The answer is they are still barred from service, and sadly, I must say it is for good reason.

Right now, you may be asking "what does the term 'Transgender' even mean?"

Well, first you need to know what the norm is. This is called Cisgender and it is what a majority of people identify as. The term refers to one whose gender matches their biological sex. Transgender therefore describes someone whose psychological gender does not match their biological sex. A transman, for example, is a woman who identifies as a man while a transwoman is a man who identifies as a woman. 

You have many different LGBT groups around the country that fight for rights and awareness in their own regions. They provide support, counseling, help, anything to help those who are LGBT.

In the military, this group is called Outserve-SLDN and they originally formed to fight "Don't ask Don't tell."  They are now trying to get equal rights for all soldiers. Currently, the battle they are fighting for the Transgender community is changing the regulations on who can join from being based on sex to if you simply can fight for your country. 

Personally, I must disagree with this idea.

According to Outserve-SLDN's page on Transgender issues, the rules are as follows. If you are cisgender, you can join the military freely; if you are transgender however, you cannot, at all. The reasons for this are both "medical" and "conduct" related. 

Medically, the Army sees Transgender people as possessing "a mental health condition", much like depression or schizophrenia. To be honest, they do tend to have a higher rate of depression because of the dysphoria they experience as well as a host of other issues. The depression may be worsened or brought on by the harassment that accompanies this identity. According to this website, a whopping 90% of Transgender people experience some form of bias in the civilian workplace, so imagine what they would receive if they joined a place like the military. If an open transwoman, for example, joined, what would she experience? Most likely a great amount of bias. This could lead to the break down of a squad as sides formed. In a combat situation, this divide can be deadly because it means the bonds that hold the team together will be weaker, meaning the squad won't be as effective, won't respond as quickly, and may have discipline issues. 

Conduct wise, "the military strictly regulates uniform and grooming standards by gender." For this reason, a Transwoman would have to dress and present as a man, the sex they don't identify with or face the the punishment of not following them; a potential criminal charge. This condition may erode her mental condition and cause her to develop issues psychologically. A military is also very big on discipline and needs to keep their regulations. If not, discipline and overall effectiveness may begin to become more lax and degrade. The extension of these rights to an individual may also may show favoritism and thus cause resentment to form among that soldier's peers, further separating the units. 

Personally, in my heart, I feel that those who identify as Transgender should be allowed into the Army out of purely ethical reasons and my personal beliefs, but drawing from my little time with ROTC and previous experience, I can see why the Army says no. I sincerely want to believe they should be let in and retained because of the same reasons held by Outserve. I however cannot say this is correct because I feel that they are going to be more of a hindrance than a help and thus cannot be allowed in the field. Their presence will only harm the mission and those around them. 

However, if it is possible for a Transgender person to not out themselves, it may work. If a "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" like policy was brought into existence requiring that Transgender identifiers simply never mentioned there gender identity they should be allowed to join and work because they would not open themselves up to the harassment and hurt. This would allow those citizens who wish to serve their country, and who should be allowed too, to join the military. The problem is, this request may harm the individual more and cause them to develop depression and thus reduce their effectiveness. The reason for this is suppression of any kind only hides the feelings, it doesn't make them go away. These latent feelings will slowly eat away at the person, causing problems.

It is a hard thing for me to say, but I can't see it happening and I agree with why the Army says no. As a supporter of LGBTQ rights, I must firstly say that I am sorry to all those who read this. I must say the old rules should stay because they ensure the most safety for all involved. As my instructor stated in class, "once the bullets start flying, democracy ends." Rights end and rules are broken because lives are at stake. Because of this, I must, with a heavy heart, say I agree with the current regulations. There isn't a place in war to make everyone happy.

Sources:

"A history of 'don't ask, don't tell'." Washington Post. 30 Nov. 2014. Web. 11 Sept. 2014. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/dont-ask-dont-tell-timeline/>.

"Transgender People and Military Service." OutServe-SLDN. Web. 11 Sept. 2014. <http://www.sldn.org/pages/transgender-people-and-military-service>.

"Transgender 101." GLAAD. Web. 11 Sept. 2014. <http://www.glaad.org/transgender/trans101>.

Readings for MS-1 and previous study and understanding of the military also provided a background for statements provided. 

Discussion Questions for 9/12/14

1. Though Mrs. Keri Smith makes a point that the art may be "beautifying" the area, is it worth the legal risk? Is it ethical to leave your mark on something (like a building) owned by another just because you want to be an artist? Is this protected by our First Amendment rights?
2. Is "Guerrilla Art" a legitimate tool for spreading Social Justice? 
3. In 1984 by George Orwell, the Thought Police exist to ensure everyone stays in line with party ideals and to get rid of those who seem to go against the Party and Big Brother. Are we on this path? If so, can we get off it?
4.  Today, educators and thinkers seem to focus more on the individual and how they feel on an issue instead of the group or the whole; evidence of which can be seen in both Smith's book and Harrington's article. Is this focus a good thing for modern society or a bad thing? How does this hinder or help Social Justice? 

Hello, my name is Ethan Moeller and I am from Elma, New York, a small town outside of Buffalo. I am interested mainly in Military History, Social Psychology, and Dystopian English novels. I am also a Brony, or a fan of My Little Pony and I am fairly open about it. I do support the LGBTQ community and I am also very interested in affairs that affect it, specifically those revolving on the less known Transgender community. I am also very interested in issues pertaining to Constitutional Law and I love learning about cases, both past and present. I can be reached at emoeller18@jcu.edu. 

In order for me to be comfortable in a course and to take risks, I need the feeling of security and acceptance. Being a little more introverted, shy, and critical of myself, if I feel that I may have any form of resistance or animosity, I may not share my opinions and positions with the class. I also need to feel comfortable with the people I am with and I need to know them. It is easier for me to share ideas with people I know then complete strangers. If these two elements are not present, there is a greater chance that I will not take a risk. I have many ideas that I would like to enact or talk about or research, but I am scared how they will be taken by the class as a whole. Until I feel more comfortable and I sense that they are truly accepting, I will not come forward with them. I apologize for this.

The most important technological development in history to me is the telegraph. The reason for this is the increased speed of communication that came from this development. The Crimean War, for example, was the first war in which papers in England could get real time reports from someone on the front in Russia. It started the information and social media revolution that we see the effects of today.

Justice, to me, is ensuring the fair and equal treatment of another human. It is also ensuring that in any issues that arise, the judgement passed down is fair and unbiased, that all parties get what they deserve. Social Justice is when society takes this to heart and enacts it on a larger scale. One person can enact Justice, but when society as a whole tries to do so, it becomes Social Justice. So, it is a societal wide implementation of just policies. The top three main issues to me are LGBTQ issues, Gun Rights, and Race Politics. 

In my pursuit of Social Justice, I have only ever done one thing, and it was in High School. The administrators had just banned food trucks and everyone was fairly upset. I simply tried to get a petition together to challenge this ruling and show that the school was against it. After a few days of no support, I quit because I didn't see the point of fighting for those who didn't want to fight for themselves. 

My Questions: 

Where did you get the idea for this type of class? I find it very interesting because it is just so radically different from any other class I have taken. 

What are the class's thoughts on the idea of sexuality and gender identity? How can we educate the class and others on these complex and personal issues?