Journal 12

The same basic it tropes or plots can be found in just about every mainstream TV show or play. The rope used depends on the audience the producer is trying to reach. For example Fox’s new show Empire is a prime example of this. Even though I enjoy this show it does also carry the same typical type of tropes. The tropes I get tired of seeing the most on t.v. are the black drug dealer who makes it but always goes back to being a thug. There is also always the damaged woman who doesn’t know she is beautiful and allows men to beat and take advantage over her. Life Time is a tv station that thrives on that trope. All of the Real Housie Wives shows rely on what every negative tropes apply to that group. For example every time there is any type of reunion there must be a fight or big “ratchet” moment. That’s why I like Kevin Heart’s new series Hollywood House Husbands because it makes fun of all of the tropes found in that genre.

I honestly meet t.v. shows from the late 90’s like A Different World or Boy Meets World. These shows did use some common tropes but they also went against them. For example in Boy Meets World Topanga was pretty much in control of both Corey and Shaun throughout the entire serious. He thing that made all of these shows so popular is that the seemed real. I could be argued that Empire and Life Time movies also mimic someone’s real life but that doesn’t mean it should be shown all the time. If shows didn’t rely so much on these basic tropes then it would causes writers to be a little more creative.    

Post 10

 

If I would give advice to an incoming freshman there are a few things I would tell them. The first thing would be to enjoy there freshman year. This is college so you should enjoy yourself while you can. However make sure you still keep your grades up because once the drop it’s hard to pull them back up. Take your first year in the program to evaluate the different options that are available to you within the department. Make sure that a career in the arts is truly something you want to pursue. If it is truly not for you then don’t be afraid to go out and find what really fits you. I know many people who originally started as Theatre Majors but then later decided to minor in theatre instead. Once you have discovered the area that works best for you then pursue every available opportunity available. There are many opportunities available you to improve your skills in every concentration. Once you begin to improve your skills then you must also consider branching out into other departments. While it is important to gain the skills necessary for your major, it is also very beneficial to gain skills in other areas. The outside skills you pick up can help fund your actual passion.

I would also tell them to make sure they know how to manage their time wisely. It is easy to agree to commit to doing shows both for and outside of class. However it is important not to let them interfere with your course load. You are a student first and we must all remember that. If you don’t have the GPA then you can’t even participate in a main stage show so it is important to stay on top of things. It is also important to know how to deal with criticism. By working in the arts you will encounter bout good and bad criticism. You must remember not to take it all to heart especially if it’s from someone you trust. Listen to what the critic has to say and learn from it. Take the time to improve your skills and continue to build a positive reputation. Personal business and emotions should be left off of the stage. If you plan on working in theatre means being able to collaborate well with others so it is very important to also improve your ability to work well with others. If you cannot collaborate with other designers or actors it will be impossible to get any work done properly. Participate in group projects and learn from each experience. Different groups of people will always collaborate differently. Some projects may come together perfectly while others not so much. Take advantage of all of the opportunities given to you will you are in college but don’t forget to also have fun.

  

 

Post 8

        The software that makes up my processor is both pre-installed and self-downloaded. Growing up the same malware was installed in my mind like most young kids by their parents. I was raised in a Christian house hold so natural those values have been a major part of my life. However as I have gotten older I have installed my own versions. One thing my parents always taught is that we served a loving God and we should try to follow that moto. So when it comes to subject such as race or sexuality the hatred that comes with it does not compute. Truly having faith and a relationship with God and being religious are two different programs that people need to check before downloading. They may look similar but they are completely different.

        Now begin a black male required a few extra programs. Growing up I was taught by the of the older woman in my family that I was born with 2 strikes against me. The first strike is that I was black. The second strike is that I was also a black male. I was taught to always have my guard up because people on both sides would come from me. I was told to respect police but never to trust them. Sadly this has been reinforced especially since being at LSU. I have been accused of not working in my building or living at my apartment by police because I looked suspicious. I have been egged while walking home by some white frat boys passing by in a truck. Even when I was in high school I had to deal with racism when we played PWI high schools. Some of the members of the black community shunned me as well. Growing up some said I was black enough because I didn’t sag or clam my hood. When I came to LSU some of my class mates who went to SU were mad I chose a PWI over an HBCU. However I know what I am and that is a black man who refuses to be defined by a mold or statistic. It is a shame that such actions are common especially in the south. I fear that once I have children I will have to pass on this software to them.

                My financial software is similar to many middle class college students. At times it feels that even though I work hard and earn enough to survive I’m not going anywhere. No matter how hard a work it seems like bills and other living expensive eat away at my savings. However even when money is tight I always have enough to help a friend or buy a gift. When it comes to me I seem to be a little more hesitant because I know I could spend that money on something important. All of my software is still improving as time goes on. There is always room for new programs

Post 7

The first moment of synchronicity that comes to mind is when I was offered a chance to be an extra in Pitch Perfect 2. I knew that they were looking for people around campus but I never considered it. During that time most of my energy was been spent at my two summer jobs. When I first got the message I thought it was just a scam so I ignored it. However something in the back of my mind told me to do some research on the company. Once I found out that the offer was truly legit I figured why not give it a shot. That was one of the wisest decisions I have ever made. That experience opened up a whole new side of possibilities for my career after college. Shortly after that experience I was offered a job at Tiger TV which is slowly begging to open new opportunities. After going through that experience I have learned that you never truly know who is watching. Your may not current be at a job  you like but your work ethic while at that job can determine the outcome of your future.  If I were to give advice on how to handle such situations I would still say do your research first. Sadly every opportunity may not be a good one it is smart to know exactly what you are getting yourself into. However I would also say don’t be afraid of change. Just because the road a head may seem challenging doesn’t mean you should just give up you never know what you may miss if you do.

The Past, Present, and Future

Several of my friends have experienced a kriya recently. One of my friends has been accepted into several graduate schools for sociology. Another friend who I have worked with for two years just got hired at a call center making way more than we do now. I believe that I have also experienced a kriya at my second job. I work for Tiger T.V., the local t.v. station on campus, as a production assistant. This is only my second semester there however my boss has noticed my hard work and wants me to produce a show next semester. This is a wonderful opportunity and truly gives me something else to put on my resume.

I barley know what I am going to do tomorrow so trying to figure myself out at 80 years old is interesting. I believe 80 year old me would have a family that he has taken good care of. By this point he probably has a view grandkids and is still married. He would probably tell me to prepare myself for the long road ahead. I will run into hardships and challenges. However there is a lot of good as well. Don’t let trails change you for the worst. Learn the lesson needed for you to overcome it and keep moving. Don’t let unnecessary drama consume you either. You will only be as happy as you allow yourself to be. Don’t allow the bad vibes of others to influence you. Continue to have faith in God as you move forward but remember you must do your part as well. Don’t feel ashamed to take a day off for yourself you need your rest. Enjoy your 20’s you still have time to grow and mature. Just because things don’t happen as fast as you would like doesn’t mean it’s not going to happen. Don’t be afraid to listen to the child inside of you. Sometimes your inner child is a little wiser than you think. His final piece of advice to me would be to slow down and take each day at a time. Don’t rush thorough life just enjoy the moment while it last.

If I could go back to my eight year old self I probably wouldn’t even now where to start. I would tell myself frits to enjoy being you. Enjoy being care and drama free. I would tell myself not to be afraid to try new things you are young and should take full advantage of that. Put all of your heart into everything you do. If you can’t truly dedicate yourself to something then maybe you shouldn’t be doing it. Listen to your parents because believe it or not the know what they are talking about. Try to keep an open mind and an open heart as you continue through life. Try to learn from your mistakes the first time so you don’t have to repeat them. You are you and that is all you can be don’t compare yourself to the success of others. Most importantly don’t be afraid to truly chase your dreams. Make sure that is actually your dream that you are chasing and no one else’s.

 

 

Shame

 

I agree with the quote, “Shame is a controlling device. Shaming someone is an attempt to prevent that person from behaving in a way that embarrasses us. Shame could be describe as that little voice in that back of our mind that tells us something may be deemed in appropriate. However this depends on the individual and the environment they are in. For example if I were in an Amish community I couldn't shame someone for not knowing how to use a cell phone. Since the Amish don't use technology then that would be considered the norm. Like most situations it is important that we keep an open mind. Just because I may be a little more reserved than some of my friends doesn’t mean I should feel ashamed or shame them for it. We each have our own individual personality which makes us who we are. However as I said earlier time and place also play a major factor.

A few weeks ago my service fraternity was holding an informational in coats hall. During this informational we were making mardi gras mask for the children at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital. One of our members decided she wanted to play music as we worked I told her it was find as long as it was appropriate. She loves all kinds of music but favors music that could be defined as ratchet music. The first song she played had a lot of cursing and unappropriated content. Even though some of the people there began to enjoy it and sing along, other began to look uncomfortable. I told that this music was unappropriated but she failed to see it that way and got mad. I realized that she truly didn't understand how the mood had changed because that’s just how she was. Instead of arguing with her I decided it would be best to show her what I meant. I decided to switch the Michael Jackson/Motown channel and everyone became happy. I showed her how now everyone was socializing and signing along. Shame can be used to teach someone a lesson they may not truly understand otherwise. The key is not to let the shame prevent them from moving forward. You’re shaming someone can quickly turn into guilt if you aren’t careful.

Guilt is the feeling of wrong doing to others. Making someone feel guilt is only slight different for shaming someone.  For example if someone in an Amish community were to be found playing video games they would feel guilty. They would feel guilty for forsaking the way of life they chose to uphold. You feel guilty whenever you make a promise you cannot keep. Unlike shame, which general comes for others, guilt comes from within  us.

 

Crazymaker's

      As Julia  Cameron said in the article dealing with crazy makers is a part of everyday life. Different carries have different forms of crazy makers. Since our carrier is one the deals with a high level of drama our crazymakers are a special breed. Thankfully I have not come across many while in this program. However I have come across a few while working different shows. A crazymaker can simple be described as a leech that feeds on drama. If you aren’t careful you can easily be pulled into the drama that has surrounded them. This is exactly what happened to me while working a show. I was helping hang lights in swine palace and one of the girls helping just seemed out of it. Since we were going to up there for a while focusing lights I asked what was wrong. She explained to me the situation which at the time didn’t really seem like an issue. I gave her some simple “pick me up” advice and she cheered up some. We were able to finish focusing and go separate ways. I didn’t think much of it until I overheard another group of girls talking about a very similar situation.  They saw me as I was approaching and got real quit and separated. I knew one of them so I approached her and she came at me kind of hostile explaining her situation.  Apparently it was believed that I was siding with the other girl about the issue. I tried to explain my side but of course it wasn’t heard. I still don’t understand what all really happened between them. I completely removed myself from the situation. This is another reason why I always walk around with my headphones on. It is hard to get mistakenly pulled into drama if you can’t over hear it.

     Now crazymaker’s in my personal life is another story. In the professional world it is somewhat easier to separate yourself from the drama because you must remain professional. However in the social world we may feel we have more of an obligation, depending on the person. If we have a friend who is unconsciously a crazymaker we may try to save them, which in most cases is impossible. A good number of people in my personal life are crazymakers especially girls. For a while it seemed that was all I attracted. I was told by my best friend that I am easy to talk to and a little too willing to listen which doesn’t help the situation at all. This trait has gotten pulled into much drama without me even trying. However I have been able to find ways out of each situation.  One trick I use is that I don’t approach the situation, if I know both parties, without hearing both sides voluntarily. Once I have heard both sides I have them talk face to face and serve as a mediator to make sure both sides are heard. If I don’t know the other party I simply convince my friend to move on and forget because the situations are normally minor. Crazymaker’s will only build drama if you allow them. The best thing to do is not show them attention and it will blow over even faster.

Post 3 - Criticism

When I think about something that was said to me by a critic there isn’t an exact moment that comes to mind. The most common criticism that I receive is the same that most of the people in our field receive. I am constantly told that my major is easy and that it is not a real major. I take great offense when I hear this about art majors or anyone who is not engineering, nursing, or law. Just because a major does not rely heavily on math or science doesn’t mean that it is easy. It really hurts when I’m told oh you don’t need to study for a test you have an easy major. All of these allegations we know are false. If I want to truly gain knowledge of the business then I must study. We take test to make sure we understand the basics of our field so that we may build on them. We work sometimes 40 or more hours a week just to earn 1 credit hour. We are all in college we may have different majors but we have the same struggle.  I say that constantly to non-majors even though it falls on to death ears. The important thing is that I don’t let this affect me. I must keep moving forward so that I must succeed.

If I were to give an incoming freshman advice about how to take criticism I don’t know what I would say. One thing I could try to get them to understand is that knowing how to deal with criticism will either make or break you in our field. Criticism can be both positive and negative depending on the person; it is your responsibility to be able to tell them apart. If you don’t know how to deal with both then it will be difficult to improve your skills to where they need to be in order to succeed. Dealing with criticism is simply a part of life no matter what field you decided to work in. If someone you trust tells you of ways you can improve your skills then listen with an open mind. Don’t take anything that critics may say to heart. The moment you take criticism personal is the moment you lose. If you cannot take criticism and learn from it then you will not go far. As I said earlier there are critics out there that want to see you fail. They may tell you things that they believe will harm your character. However even the biggest lies hold some truth. As I said earlier you must listen with an open mind.

            Once you learn to deal with criticism it is also important to be able to dish it out. If you see someone needs to improve then tell them. It is important to be honest even if it may hurt their feelings a little. It is important to get them to understand that you mean no harm, that you only wish to help them better themselves.  Choice your words carefully and make sure you don’t make things seem personal. It is important to remember that everyone deals with criticism differently. If you are willing to criticize someone then you must also be willing to help them better themselves.

 

Post 2- Fear

Like most people in college I am afraid of life after graduation. I hate going home because that means constantly being asked by relatives, “what do you plan to do", "interesting can you get a job with that major”, etc.  In all honest I really don't know what life has in store for me after next fall. The only thing I am sure of is that it will be time for me to move on to the real world. I know that I'm not the only one with this issue. I also know theta other majors are having the same issue in the current job market. After reading some of the articles and hear other peoples personal accounts it really makes you wonder if it is all worth it. I ask myself constantly did I make the right decision when I switched majors. If I would have remained a Mechanical Engineer then I would probably have a better chance in finding a job out of college. These sort of doubts seem to constantly creep into my head as get closer to graduation. As I look around at my friends who did graduate in somewhat dominate fields most of them are still looking for a job. If they can graduate in engineering and nursing and not find a job then how much hope is there for me to find one?  This fear could be considered the driving force of my career. It is because of that fear that I try to do my best with the task that are giving to me. It does suck sometimes going to school then work only to come back and help work on a show tell 1am. However if you think about there is a good chance that is how the real world will turn out. If I don’t truly enjoy then why continue to do the work?

            Fear of survival is all a part of entering the real world. In all honesty if you aren’t scared or even a little nervous after gradation something is wrong. We are basically preparing to enter the union big world with a sheet of paper that is supposed to give us a better chance in life. I would be perfectly fine with having both a job and a career. I know that the road ahead isn’t going to be easy no matter with path I take that is why I’m glad both school and my family have somewhat prepared me for it. I have been able to acquire skills that would help me possible get a 9-5 at a company that can help support me, and possible a family, while doing theater or film on the side. Who knows after enough years in the industry I may be able to peruse a full time opportunity. The one thing I know for certain is that I enjoy what I do. Even once I become old and retire I can still see myself becoming involved with the industry. That is one thing that I admire about our field and that’s age is truly not a factor. This is my life and this was my major choice I look forward to seeing where it can take me. Of course I’m terrified but at the same time I can’t help but be excited. 

Post 1

Growing up I was never really taught exactly how to deal with anger. Being the oldest of four I was taught to be the mediator for my brothers. I was always a kind hearted child which led to issues. I was picked on constantly while growing up because of it. I was never really fought back I would just bottle up the anger and keep moving. This of course was not wise or healthy.  I bottled up the anger to the point that I couldn’t take it anymore and retaliated. Once those who bullied me tried to become physical I got physical too. After that moment I was no longer bullied but I didn’t like the feeling that I got after. I began to work on controlling my anger better. As I got older I began to see how much I was like the both of my parents, in regards to how I handle my anger. When my mother was angry she would lash out in a blind rage for long periods of time. Once she is upset it’s hard to get her to think about anything else.  My father however was the exact opposite of my mother. You could rarely ever tell when my father was upset. He would just go about his day as if nothing ever happened. If he were to ever get angry and lose his composure he would quickly snap out of it. At times it felt as if both of these tendencies are fighting for dominance. When I truly get upset I can lash out at those who hurt me but I always catch myself. It is hard for me to stay made for a long period of time because I feel that it is both pointless and a waste of time.  I try my best to remain neutral and aware of others feelings when I approach a situation.

Now as far as anger goes in theater I try to avoid it. Once I am in a professional setting I try my best to separate business from personal. It is important to remain professional even during tense moments. If I were to lose my cool on the job I could get fired or worse. Regardless of what may be going on personally or during a show it is important to stay on task and focus on getting the job done. In the real world there will always be those that critics   you and the work you do. The moment you give those that critics you a reaction we have either proved them right or given them the satisfaction of seeing you fall.  Anger in the work place can be your biggest down fall. If your know to lose you temper often while making a decision with your group then no one would wont to work with you. The ability to work well with others is one of the most important skills required for our field.  I personally have not encountered any moments while working a show that made me angry, sometimes annoyed but never angry. I have thou seen others respond in angry while making decisions on a production. I did my best to avoid involvement form the situation because this was supposed to be a professional setting and the cause of the anger was due to personal events. We must remember to express our anger in a constructive way whether in a professional or nonprofessional setting. It important not to bottle up your anger however don’t let your anger get you in trouble.