I am very fascinated by history and cultural anthropology topics, so I was very intrigued by the topic discussed during this seminar. In colleges binge drinking is a big part of the social culture, but where did this idea of drinking games originate from? During the event, Professor Fontaine explained to us that it surprisingly did not originate from well known wine producing countries, but instead in Renaissance Germany as the feudal system began to disintegrate. As knights became less useful, they began to play drinking games to prove their strengths and out win each other. This is similar, to the bro culture that exists in Greek life. However, more than just a way to showoff to each other, drinking games have become a form of bonding between these individuals. They are ways to ease interacting with each other in a chill environment.
Author Archives: AG
Sushi Evolution
I really enjoyed this demonstration since I got to learn more about the history of sushi and its traditional form, instead of the way we are used to recognizing it in the U.S. I thought it was interesting how it was originally made in Southeast Asia as a way to control the putrefaction of the fish. However, this invention has evolved to what we now recognize as sushi. The chef did a really good job explaining the tools and steps to make sushi that it does not feel so foreign to me now. After, attending this demonstration I think it would be a good research project to analyze the evolution of dishes and how they change when they are introduced to a new society, as the way sushi and Mexican food have evolved outside of their original context.
What makes a Leader?
This seminar got me thinking about what values I would like a leader to have and if I were a leader would my values play a part in the way I lead. This was the case for me last summer, when I worked on an a cultural anthropology team and my ethical values felt threatened. Considering that I had come up with the idea and implementation for the project, I felt like I had to keep other people on my team from violating the consent form our participants had signed. Since the seminar, I got to reflect on the way I let my values influence the way I lead during that project. I have also considered other values that a leader should have, such as decision making, being respectful, knowledgeable, and cooperative. These are characteristics we sometimes forget a leader should have, but are integral parts of making an effective leader.
Give Back or Give Forward?
I have never reflected before on what I hoped to gain from participating in community service or why I was doing it. In my mind it has always been to just help out in the community, not expecting anything in return, but this seminar showed me that gaining something from the experience can actually be a good thing. This way you can use your new profound skills or the initiatives that were taken at one community service work to another. It is easier to come to these conclusions as was presented in the seminar by reflecting. This is something that I did a lot in a Global Citizens course I took at Cornell my first semester. The professor encouraged us to actively write and do journal entries to reflect on different experiences, including a community service one. As I’ve learned, it is useful for me to write down my thoughts or share with others things I have done or am passionate about.
Bookmaking at its Finest Hour
After a long week, I really enjoyed this seminar since it allowed me to express my creativity through a new medium I had not done since I was little, bookmaking. The art of actually creating the book where pieces of stories or poetry could be found, is an interesting process. I see the design aspects being incorporated in respect to the content in the book to highlight the mood the content wants to portray. Every little detail, like what type of pages to use or color can have an effect on the way the book is perceived. We all try to not judge a book by its cover, but that is the first thing we notice, so it makes sense to make it look presentable to attract attention. Even though I have only had the chance to create my book, I hope that I can soon fill it in.
What would you like to be when you grow up?
From career day to having dinner with relatives, we are asked what we want to do for a living. This leads to us making up our minds at a young age that we want a specific career and we have to accomplish all these goals to obtain our dream job. This can be dreading for some of us who do not have it all figured out or when someone realizes that his or her career goal is not what they want anymore. Thus, hearing Lisa Nishii speak about her trajectory was a relief. Even though she had a dream job in mind, she was still open to new opportunities. As my years in college advance, I decided that this is a good way to think about life since there are so many fields out there that it can be hard to figure what I want now. I hope to be able to explore different jobs through talking to professors, internships and future jobs. I also found it interesting how she wanted to get a PhD to be best that she could be. This is also a mentality I have and it is helpful at times, but I realized that it is not necessary to be the best in everything.
Innovative Ways to Prevent Sexual Violence
Most of us have watched the bystander intervention video and learned in what situations to apply it to. When this type of intervention comes to mind, we think the worst and consider the seriousness of the situation. This is why, I was surprised when during this event we learned about fun practical ways that colleges have been trying to prevent sexual violence from occurring. For instance, the coat rack idea was not something I considered before, but it is a good idea for party environments where sexual violence is more prominent. Small ideas like this one could have a strong impact on campus, but it makes me wonder how do we solve this issue as a whole. As Weiss explained it is a phenomenon that is hard to understand and address. I hope that we could expand these ideas, such as the coat rack, off campus and find other ways to help society with this problem.
Relearning the Word “Vagina”
Why is it hard for us to talk about vaginas as if they were some sort of foreign concept? From a young age we were told that talking about our “private areas” is a private matter. However, as the Vagina Monologues demonstrated if it is a stigma, then we can never talk about issues that are related to it. For instance, female genital mutilation is a topic that is not addressed commonly, but is having a significant health impact on females who are put under the knife. To become aware of such issues we must feel comfortable talking about our vaginas and understand their importance to us. Therefore, even though I did not get a chance to watch the performance last year, I am glad I did this year since it made me laugh and appreciate a part society teaches us to ignore and it shed some light into the more serious issues that occur to people who identify as female.
When should you give your support?
The “50/50” has been different from the cancer related movies I have watched before. The plot tried to showcase the reality that one goes through when experiencing this situation. It also showed the perspective from family members and friends. I consider it essential to learn how to approach this situation when you know someone who has cancer. Sometimes support is the most important thing that a person needs. However, as shown by the movie this can only be done if the person is ready and open to talk about their situation. Once this occurs it is important to listen to them. Listening is a key concept when being there for someone. Sometimes we go the extra mile and provide people with advice, but this can come off the wrong way and make the person feel worse. It can be hard for us to stop giving advice since if we really care about the person we would do whatever it takes to help them feel better. Consequently, it can be hard to sympathize with a person in this situation, so listening can be a good way of showing your support.