In class we talked more about the article "Helping, Fixing, or Serving?" When I first read it, to be honest I didn't like it but I didn't want to say so because it sounded like a nice article that would have been a great church talk, however as an academic article I think it was pretty ridiculous. Then in class I found out that people in my group also didn't like the article. I disagreed about the definition of helping, and how you see people as weaker when you help them. I would disagree, because my definition of helping is just to offer assistance to those in need. When we serve people, it's pretty much the same thing. We offer of ourselves, whether it's our talents or our time or both!
In class Ashley erased the words helping, fixing and serving next to our definitions, and then I liked the article better. Without the semantics and definitions, there were concepts. The concepts were the attitudes behind when you are assisting somebody. If you do it because you want to appear better or stronger, then you are doing it for the wrong reasons. If you are doing it because you have love and want to express that, then you are serving in the way that Christ would have you.
When I go do research, I don't want people to think I'm here to fix their ways or help them because I'm a "rich American" and my way of life is better. I also don't want them to think that I'm trying to change them. When I do research with people, I am going to tell them that this information is going back to the US in order to broaden people's cultural understandings, and is in no way to put them down or show that all other ways other than our own are dumb. The way they are is beautiful because it's different, and that alone is a good enough reason to research and study the culture in Tonga. Knowledge of a different culture shouldn't be intended for criticism of that culture, but perhaps criticism of your own, and realizing that there's another way of life other than your own.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Friday, March 4, 2011
Make-up Journal #2
Ah yes, another make up journal for the ones I missed before I was in the class.
Yesterday, I got the opportunity to talk to professor Ostraff from the art department. He spoke to me about how in Tonga, they don't even have a word specifically for "art." This makes sense, in that pretty much everything that people do is art. The way we walk or talk, the clothes we wear, how we style our hair... even things like cars, shoes, pillows, architecture etc they are all some sort of art, and it's such a broad and generally term that the word doesn't even mean anything! The things that people do that are creative can also have a utility, and at the same time things we use for utility can have aesthetics to which we can ascribe artistic qualities.
I like that Tonga doesn't have a word for art, in that, everything they do is art so there just isn't a word for "everything you can do." It makes a lot of sense.
As I go to Tonga, I am studying the weaving houses, and the women create art, but it's also their "job" or source of income, at the same time it's a social space where she can spend time with her family and/or friends, and at the same time, it's traditional and cultural, and the cloths will be used for important ceremonies or for gift giving. When you look at it this way, it's clear to see why there isn't a word for "art," because everything is sort of woven together (pun definitely intended). In Tonga, the womens relationships to the cloth is so much more than just a way to make money, or a form of art. It's multi-dimensional and it's super beautiful. I am excited to be able to take a closer look at what all that is like in the weaving houses!
Yesterday, I got the opportunity to talk to professor Ostraff from the art department. He spoke to me about how in Tonga, they don't even have a word specifically for "art." This makes sense, in that pretty much everything that people do is art. The way we walk or talk, the clothes we wear, how we style our hair... even things like cars, shoes, pillows, architecture etc they are all some sort of art, and it's such a broad and generally term that the word doesn't even mean anything! The things that people do that are creative can also have a utility, and at the same time things we use for utility can have aesthetics to which we can ascribe artistic qualities.
I like that Tonga doesn't have a word for art, in that, everything they do is art so there just isn't a word for "everything you can do." It makes a lot of sense.
As I go to Tonga, I am studying the weaving houses, and the women create art, but it's also their "job" or source of income, at the same time it's a social space where she can spend time with her family and/or friends, and at the same time, it's traditional and cultural, and the cloths will be used for important ceremonies or for gift giving. When you look at it this way, it's clear to see why there isn't a word for "art," because everything is sort of woven together (pun definitely intended). In Tonga, the womens relationships to the cloth is so much more than just a way to make money, or a form of art. It's multi-dimensional and it's super beautiful. I am excited to be able to take a closer look at what all that is like in the weaving houses!
March 4
In class, Sione talked about how western culture is views by the Tongans. Many Tongans believe that the palangi (white) way is better than the Tongan way. It made me really sad actually. While there are good things about our culture, there are probably more bad things that I can think of right now. If Tongans made a significant effort to become more western, I can imagine them adopting materialistic attributes that would make them extremely unhappy. Kaylee talked about how a girl refused to eat in front of her, and when asked the girl said that she didn't want to eat in front of her because Americans think Tongans are fat, so she didn't want Kaylee to see her eat and re-enforce the stereotype that all Tongans are fat. I was extremely saddened by this. If there are some western things that I wouldn't want Tongans (or anyone) to adopt, they are body image ideals, materialism, and acceptance of extreme inequality between people. By that I mean, the capitalistic mindset of poor people are poor because they are lazy and dumb. This is completely untrue, and I would argue that poverty and inequality is a result of the way society is set up in America.
So, as this relates to my project, I just hope that Tongans don't have the view that I think I'm better than them, or that I want to teach them my ways because I think they are better. I want to understand their ways, not impose mine on them. No one's beliefs or lifestyles are better than another's. We are all different, but in reality, everyone has a common goal of finding happiness, so we should be accepting and decide for ourselves what kind of lifestyle that we want to lead in order to create that happiness.
So, as this relates to my project, I just hope that Tongans don't have the view that I think I'm better than them, or that I want to teach them my ways because I think they are better. I want to understand their ways, not impose mine on them. No one's beliefs or lifestyles are better than another's. We are all different, but in reality, everyone has a common goal of finding happiness, so we should be accepting and decide for ourselves what kind of lifestyle that we want to lead in order to create that happiness.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Make-up Journal (woot)
We read an article about Stephanie Sinclair who worked for months to gain access into various polygamous towns in order to photograph their lives. A lot of her photos look like she was just a fly on the wall taking pictures, while others (the group shot) was posed.
Her role as a researcher was more observationalist (considering she was not participating). She had to get permission from Warren Jeffs himself and from various leaders in the communities in order to get in, and then it took even longer for her to actually be able to photograph what went on inside.
It took her months to gain access, and her hard work paid off, she was able to take and share pictures that no one else has been able to get before. Doing so was a lot of work, especially due to the fact that she went in right after the raid at Yearning for Zion. She had to make sure that the people knew that her intentions were not to incriminate or investigate, but simply share their lives with others so they can better understand too.
This makes me think of my research in Tonga, because I have to gain trust in the people before they will share their lives with me. This may take a while, but hopefully not months because I only have 3 in the field!
Her role as a researcher was more observationalist (considering she was not participating). She had to get permission from Warren Jeffs himself and from various leaders in the communities in order to get in, and then it took even longer for her to actually be able to photograph what went on inside.
It took her months to gain access, and her hard work paid off, she was able to take and share pictures that no one else has been able to get before. Doing so was a lot of work, especially due to the fact that she went in right after the raid at Yearning for Zion. She had to make sure that the people knew that her intentions were not to incriminate or investigate, but simply share their lives with others so they can better understand too.
This makes me think of my research in Tonga, because I have to gain trust in the people before they will share their lives with me. This may take a while, but hopefully not months because I only have 3 in the field!
Monday, February 28, 2011
February 28
Today's reading included an article about helping, fixing and serving.
The difference between them is that helping someone implies that they are superior and the one being helped is weaker. Fixing implies that the one who is being fixed is "broken." Then serving, is seeing life as whole and being equals.
While trying to think of why we were required to read this article, I came up with this: While abroad, we can't have the mentality that we are helping or fixing the people or a person. My intentions are not at all to try to change anyone while I'm there, if anyone is changing, it's going to be me. I'm not trying to fix anyone or tell them what's right and wrong about their culture, because who am I to say that? It reminds me of the movie we watched called Barbecue Area which is about going into a city of white people and commenting on their culture and trying to fix their problems. It's a parody on how developed countries feel like it's their need to go into indigenous people and tell them what they need and want because their lifestyle is wrong and barbaric. This kind of attitude is extremely ego centric, and one that we should not have. I should be going in with the attitude of serving, and just loving the people in Tonga like Christ would!
The difference between them is that helping someone implies that they are superior and the one being helped is weaker. Fixing implies that the one who is being fixed is "broken." Then serving, is seeing life as whole and being equals.
While trying to think of why we were required to read this article, I came up with this: While abroad, we can't have the mentality that we are helping or fixing the people or a person. My intentions are not at all to try to change anyone while I'm there, if anyone is changing, it's going to be me. I'm not trying to fix anyone or tell them what's right and wrong about their culture, because who am I to say that? It reminds me of the movie we watched called Barbecue Area which is about going into a city of white people and commenting on their culture and trying to fix their problems. It's a parody on how developed countries feel like it's their need to go into indigenous people and tell them what they need and want because their lifestyle is wrong and barbaric. This kind of attitude is extremely ego centric, and one that we should not have. I should be going in with the attitude of serving, and just loving the people in Tonga like Christ would!
Friday, February 25, 2011
February 25
Today we talked about ethics in a make-up class that I went to.
We talked about unethical research that has been performed in the past. A lot of these experiments taught us a lot, like the physicians who performed experiments on people in the Nuremberg trials. But, these experiments amoung others have ethical issues in that many of these people were forced into the experiments, were uninformed of what was really going on and many people died during the process.
Although none of our projects are going to be like this, we still have to consider ethical issues. We do have to get approval from IRB but we still have to make sure that out in the field we are being ethical to other humans.
For my project, the ethical concern I thought of was that I'm researching other people, and my findings might contradict how they feel and think about themselves and I might write things that are wrong in my speculations. In order to help solve this, I am going to make sure I show my notes to people I interview and write about so that they can look over it and make sure it is actually representative of what they say and how they live their lives.
I can't really know what other ethical things I might run into in Tonga considering I have never been there, but it's important to know where I stand and remember who I represent when I go there. I have to be able to make decisions on what I think is ethical and act accordingly. Even I am faced with the choice of doing something that might be unethical, I know I don't have to take the chance and I can be safe and choose not to do it if I am unsure.
We talked about unethical research that has been performed in the past. A lot of these experiments taught us a lot, like the physicians who performed experiments on people in the Nuremberg trials. But, these experiments amoung others have ethical issues in that many of these people were forced into the experiments, were uninformed of what was really going on and many people died during the process.
Although none of our projects are going to be like this, we still have to consider ethical issues. We do have to get approval from IRB but we still have to make sure that out in the field we are being ethical to other humans.
For my project, the ethical concern I thought of was that I'm researching other people, and my findings might contradict how they feel and think about themselves and I might write things that are wrong in my speculations. In order to help solve this, I am going to make sure I show my notes to people I interview and write about so that they can look over it and make sure it is actually representative of what they say and how they live their lives.
I can't really know what other ethical things I might run into in Tonga considering I have never been there, but it's important to know where I stand and remember who I represent when I go there. I have to be able to make decisions on what I think is ethical and act accordingly. Even I am faced with the choice of doing something that might be unethical, I know I don't have to take the chance and I can be safe and choose not to do it if I am unsure.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
February 23
Today the reading was on the Ophelia syndrome. She is a character in Hamlet who doesn't know how to think for herself which eventually leads to her suicide.
After reading this, I realize I have a little bit of the Ophelia syndrome. After taking theory classes and having to apply a certain theory to my research, I constantly wish that someone would just tell me what kind of ontology and epistemology to take into account for my research project because I couldn't decide for myself. Deciding for myself was too hard for me and I figured the easy way would be to have someone tell me. This way, I didn't have to know the material very well and I didn't have to study all the theories, just the one that my mentor told me to use.
I realize this kind of attitude inhibits my learning and profits my personal growth nothing. Thinking for ourselves, listening to different points of view, and challenging what we are taught are all parts of being able to actual learn, rather than parrot what we are taught.
After reading this, I realize I have a little bit of the Ophelia syndrome. After taking theory classes and having to apply a certain theory to my research, I constantly wish that someone would just tell me what kind of ontology and epistemology to take into account for my research project because I couldn't decide for myself. Deciding for myself was too hard for me and I figured the easy way would be to have someone tell me. This way, I didn't have to know the material very well and I didn't have to study all the theories, just the one that my mentor told me to use.
I realize this kind of attitude inhibits my learning and profits my personal growth nothing. Thinking for ourselves, listening to different points of view, and challenging what we are taught are all parts of being able to actual learn, rather than parrot what we are taught.
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