Cultural Artifacts

A cell phone can be and can represent many different things. For most people, it is a way to communicate, whether through phone calls, text messages, email, or social media. For others, it is a way to escape everyday life or things that bore us. Again, this can be through phone calls, text messages, email, social media, games, music, movies or a plethora of other things from the over 1 million apps one can acquire on the app store (The Verge).

We can also associate cell phones with progress. John Berger's 2011 interview with BBC expresses the need for advancement with the specific example of the microscope. He also points out how important progress is and how much we need it to accomplish things in the future. 

Another association one can make to cell phones is with Amy Stone's article on Linda Stein. Phones today can act much like the armor Stein was creating to protect and empower people. Many people can use it like an armor to hid behind while others can use it to stand up and fight. For example, bullies like to "hid behind cellphones" and harass people via social media. A more positive example is someone who uses there phone to start a cause online to raise money for something like pediatric cancer research. Cell Phones are one area where the "4 B's" are quite prevalent. With a phone, we can be bullied, be a bully, be a bystander, or be a brave up-stander. Although it is not necessary the phone, usually it is social media, cell phones do provide an outlet for it. 

Most people learn their connections to cell phones through seeing other people's connections. These ideas come from a combination of our observations, associations, and what society puts forth. On magazines, TV shows, the internet, or even among our friends and families, we see people using their phones to communicate or to escape something. The Frontline article "The Coarsening of Culture," a subset of the Merchants of Cool Series, helps to show how ideas are spread among the young via TV which can be applied to how many people get their ideas and associations about cell phones. 

 When I asked several friends what there reactions and associations to the artifact were, I surprisingly got a variety of answers ranging in length and understanding. My friend Ryann, also a freshman here at Penn State, said that when she saw the image she saw "our generation's whole lives. I think because technology is so great, everyday things are all in one place. Unfortunately, it sometimes takes away normal social behaviors because they take up most of our time or we are always on them." Amanda, a freshman at Anne Arundel Community College, said "Well I know that as your phone so I kind of associate that with you, because I know you." Sean, who previously attended The University of Maryland, said that he associated cell phones with "Idolatry, pseudo-intelligence, addiction, laziness, isolation marked as interconnectedness, and cultural stagnation." He said he has these connections because "that's just how it is." He also drew a parallel between slavery and cell phone addiction; he said it was like "being shackled by the invisible chains of wireless connection," which was a very interesting way of viewing it.  Finally, Mary, a junior at Loyola University Maryland said that "I associate communication with a phone because I use it to communicate."

Since phones are not really gendered, except perhaps in what color you can get, it was hard to get any result with the regendered website. Phone makers, whether it be Apple, LG, Samsung, or any others, avoid using words that would persuade certain genders from buying their product. They are looking for the greatest total profit so they try to be universal and appeal to everyone. Cell phone companies try to bypass the issues brought up in the "Unpacking Privilege" article, such as gender construction and race privilege because that would lead to bad business. 

There is a slight issue in privilege as not everyone in all countries can afford a cell phone or have access to cell tower; although it is becoming a lot easier, even in third world countries. In some cases, cell phones can be banned altogether. Take the Bihar village in India. Unmarried women are not allowed to use cell phones and married women are only allowed to use cell phones indoors and in the company of relatives (Feminist Majority Foundation). For other countries, cell phone use is extremely restricted, like in North Korea. In places like Saudi Arabia, cell phones with cameras have been banned (NBC News). 

Another area where an issue with privilege may arise is in the production of cell phones. Apple uses Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., among others, to manufacture its Iphones. Hon Hai is a subsidiary of Foxconn, which was responsible for conditions so bad that a large number of the 300,000 people working there felt that they had no other option but to commit suicide (Fox News). Apple manufacturing employees face abuse of labor laws and in some cases, even lack of "common decency." Apple violates several labor rights in many of their factories including wages and the hiring process (Economic Policy Institute). This information really makes a consumer start to wonder what our phones are really worth. 

To conclude, cell phones have become an important part in many people's lives. They can serve the functional role of helping us all stay connected or they can serve a more fun role in the form of entertainment. They also help us to escape the bores of everyday life by letting us become someone else for a little while. This can have some negative effects as addiction can become a serious problem and can cause severe psychological disorders and can even lead to the harm or death of others, such as in a case of texting and driving (News Medical). Due to how connected we are as a generation, the cell phone has become extremely culturally significant and is likely to remain significant for a long time. 

Sources: 

"Apple Reveals Who Makes Its IPhones, IPads, and More." Fox News. FOX News Network, 13 Jan. 2012. Web. 30 Sept. 2015.

"Bihar Village Bans Use of Cell Phones by Women." Feminist Majority Foundation Blog. Feminist Newswire, 5 Dec. 2012. Web. 30 Sept. 2015.

John Berger Interview. Perf. John Berger. Youtube. BBC, 27 May 2011. Web. 30 Sept. 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7LZxCUApds>.

Dretzin, R. "The Coarsening of Culture." PBS. PBS, Nov. 2002. Web. 30 Sept. 2015.

Ingraham, Nathan. "Apple Announces 1 Million Apps in the App Store, More than 1 Billion Songs Played on ITunes Radio." The Verge. N.p., 22 Oct. 2013. Web. 30 Sept. 2015. 

Keifer-Boyd, K., Amburgy, P. M., & Knight, W. B. (2007). Unpacking privilege: Memory, culture, gender, race, and power in visual culture. Art Education, 60(3), 19–24.

"Mobile-phone Addiction in Teenagers May Cause Severe Psychological Disorders." News-Medical.net. N.p., 27 Feb. 2007. Web. 30 Sept. 2015.

"Saudi Arabia Bans Cell Phone Cameras." Msnbc.com. N.p., 29 Sept. 2004. Web. 30 Sept. 2015.

Shapiro, Issac. "New IPhones, Same Old Working Conditions." Economic Policy Institute. EPI, 18 Sept. 2013. Web. 30 Sept. 2015.

Stone, Amy. (2015). Linda Stein: The making of an artist-activist, feminist Jew. MA'AMT, 18-23.

Photo Courtesy of: Google Images 

Identity Map explanations

Since the identity map has so many components, it is a little hard to read my explanations for privilege, oppression, and how I perceive my role is between them.

The background is word art that covers the four given prompts about privilege and oppression.
1. I believe that historically, and even today sometimes, white people tend to benefit and use the privilege gained from oppressing other races, such as African Americans.
2. Usually those who are oppressed do not receive privilege; however, those who oppress or are privileged can reap the benefits of those they oppress.
3. Race, ethnicity, and gender that "go against the norm" are typically targets of oppression. For example, there was never an issue with marriage between a man and a women, but those seeking a same-sex marriage were oppressed.
4. Those being oppressed for things they can't help usually help face scrutiny, inability to do things they want, fear, violence, and a sense that they don't belong.

Within each of the pictures, I have an explanation for when I started to realize these things and when they became a part of my identity.

The shape of my body is something that I have most likely always noticed but did not start to particularly care about until middle school. Although sometimes my body shape may have been "different from the norm," I never felt oppressed about it. The arrow leading to the image of different body types is big to show that as I change, my body image and my awareness of my body type change as well.

The color of my skin has been something I have noticed since my childhood. I have not felt oppression over the color of my skin; although I have noticed oppression over skin color in the world around me. I do not feel that I am privileged simply because of my skin color, but I do feel that I may have certain things easier than someone of another race. The arrow leading to this identity is small because skin color is an unchanging part of me.

My gender is also something I have noticed since my childhood. I haven't felt oppression specifically because I am a woman however things like getting a job or getting into college can sometimes be harder for girls than for boys. Gender also has a small arrow because it is something that I can't and don't want to change.

My sexual identity has always been something I've known since my first playground crush. However, sexual orientation and identity didn't start to really matter until middle school and high school when hormones and dating were added into the mix. Since I fit "the norm" for my gender, I have never really faced oppression or privilege for my sexual identity. That being said, I am aware of the oppression those who do not fit "the norm" face. I am very secure in my sexual identity and orientation so this has a small arrow to indicate it will not change.

Socioeconomic class is something that never really seemed important growing up but has become apparent as I have gotten older. I do feel privileged and blessed in this area; however, I know that both of my parents have worked very hard to give my family everything we have and have never had anything "handed to them." I gave this category a big arrow because socioeconomic class is something that is always changing depending on the economy, opportunities, and how hard a person works.

I was baptized into the Catholic Church right after I was born and have been going to church every Sunday I can remember. This has a small arrow because it is something I would consider a concrete part of my personality.

I would technically identify with the republican party because their views on policies are most similar to my own. This I gave a big arrow because my political affiliation may change depending on how the stance on certain policies change as well as who is running for each party.

My age is something that I have always been aware of because I have had a birthday every year. The only oppression I have felt over my age have been not being able to apply for certain jobs or vote because I am not yet 18. I gave this a small arrow because while age is constantly changing, age as part of my identity is not likely to change.

Identity Map

This is my identity map and how I perceive privilege, oppression, and my role with these topics. Key: if an arrow is big, such as with politics, it shows an identity that is still changing as I learn more about myself and become more informed with the world around me; small arrows represent concrete parts of my identity, such as religion that are unchanging.

Although they aren't physically part of the map, the biggest part of my identity that I notice is family. My religion, political association, socioeconomic class, and many other areas have been influenced by my family. I am not really surprised that my identity came a lot from my family because I have a pretty large, tight-knit, family. Again, any area I may have been privileged, such as race or socioeconomic class, is because of my family. I didn't have any "new revelations" or awareness with this project because a lot of my identity, or at least the core parts, are unchanging. 

My favorite type of power that we have learned through our class explorations and the reading is transformative power. The way the Chilean women came together to change their circumstances and create power has really stuck with me. An instance where I have felt, or hope to feel this, is with Thon. Although I have yet to participate, I have already gotten involved with a special organization and I have seen my cousins participate. I see myself as making a change and doing something to help people who need it, like the families effected by pediatric cancer. This would most likely be my desired self because I would be doing something selfless. Hopefully others see me as doing something good for those around me and being supportive. Cyberspace and the media can sometimes be a bad thing; however in this case it gets the word out about Thon and helps people support it and become informed. I do have a race, but in this power situation, race does not really play a factor as everyone has an equal opportunity to help out. The conditions for Thon and for everyone involved are really great. Its a very fun and supportive environment and although it does take a lot of physical energy, it is worth it. Although religion, race, and gender may be an issue with domination power, when people come together for transformative power like the Chilean's or like people do for Thon, we are able to overcome all of these social boundaries. 

The Issue of Power and Privilege

Power is the "ability or right to control things; a person or organization that has a lot of control and influence over other people and organizations" (Merriam-Webster). Power can be seen everywhere. In my life specifically, power can be seen at home, at school, and at the workplace. Anyone who is in a position of authority has power; for example, a parent, teacher, or employer. Power is a very interesting concept that I like to pay attention to. How people come to power, such as in a household, school, job, and on a broader scale, in a state or country, is also interesting.

 Power is not something I obsess over or try to achieve in my daily life; however, like most people, power can be a driving force in making certain decisions, For example, I work and go to college in order to make money and hold financial power, I find powerful influences mostly in people rather than things. For example, the people I look up to such as my parents, certain world leaders, celebrities, and famous athletes are powerful influences.

After reading the chapter, I realized there were some forms of power I neglected. For example, the emotional power a work of art of literature can have over you. It holds influence and can make you see things differently. The reading also provided names for the different types of power and made it easier to distinguish between them and see their effectiveness. For example, I didn't know that power over a country or state was called domination power. The type of power I found most remarkable, and had overlooked in my preliminary evaluation of power, is transformative power. This power is extraordinary and shows the power of coming together to make change. I found the Chilean example in the reading quite moving. Although people tend to inflict domination power, more would be accomplished in the world, and there would be more respect for one another, if we used transformative power instead.