I really enjoyed this event because I was able to not think about anything stressful for a moment. I find yoga very relaxing and I really liked the five minutes at the end where we just lay down and close our eyes. I really enjoyed this yoga event because even though it didn’t require strenuous movements it was still challenging. I’m glad I was able to take some time out of my day to destress at this event.
Author Archives: jgc229
Not Just Humor
Last week, I watched Nanette—a stand-up comedy act on Netflix. Initially, I thought it would be a stand-up about lesbian humor but Hannah Gadsby’s performance broke through the standard style of a stand-up comedy show. There were too many themes and topics that were addressed in that hour but I will touch upon some of the most memorable ones.
Hannah didn’t want to do stand-up comedy anymore because stand-up comedy is based on self-deprecation. But self-deprecation is a form of humiliation and not the humility to seek permission to speak. This form of creativity should not mean that one must suffer so the audience can enjoy the show. The main focus of the show was to extend past the typical format of stand-up comedy. Hannah defined jokes as having only a beginning and middle, but she was more interested in telling stories which have a beginning, middle, and end. Hannah’s stand-up was successful because she employed a certain dynamic by creating and diffusing tension. She was able to firmly address many issues followed by intervals of humor.
I really enjoyed the connection she made to art history and the connections between art, abuse, and the way we talk about great artists like Picasso. I really enjoyed this Friday Film and I learned a lot.
I Want to Break Free!
I saw Breakfree’s showcase last year and it was so amazing that I knew I had to go again this year. I also wanted to support a few of my friends who were also on the team. I really enjoyed the crowd’s energy. There were times where everyone just went crazy because of how well they were dancing. I also really enjoyed the guest performances. Everyone on stage had amazing facial expressions and looked like they were having so much fun. I can’t believe how quickly those two hours passed by. This is definitely an event that I will attend every year.
New Perspectives
I learned a lot from Jason Hungerford’s Rose Cafe about cancer. I expected a very serious talk but he inserted humor and was very open about his journey with cancer. Cancer is something we rarely discuss because it is difficult to do so. He talked about how he had to navigate through other peoples’ emotions. I learned that the way to properly help and support someone going through cancer is to take their lead, gauging to see whether they want to talk about it that day. We should offer help through specific actions instead of vague support like “call me if you need anything” because they don’t want to feel like they’re burdening us. I was really interested when he talked about intersectionality and cancer. The quality of treatment and willingness to seek help all depends on many factors such as race, gender, sexual orientation, economic status, and previous trauma. There are also stigmas that come with different types of cancer such as colorectal, HPV, and lung cancer. As soon as he said lung cancer, I unconsciously made the association with smoking even though I know that not everyone who has lung cancer has smoked before. I’m glad I was able to hear about these different perspectives of cancer through this talk.
Bookmaking Break
I really loved this seminar because I got to see the process of binding a simple book and bind two for myself. They’re small and simple like the Muji notebooks I use to take notes with. I really appreciate events where I get to make something with my own two hands. It was a really relaxing break in the middle of a busy week. I haven’t decided what I want to use these books for but I can’t wait to fill them up.
Looking for Empathy, Compassion, and Respect
I don’t watch trailers or research too much about a movie online beforehand because I want to experience the movie as I watch it. And I was not prepared for how moving it was. This movie felt too close to home, but I don’t want to go into detail about my own personal experiences. However, I’m glad that this movie exists to show the real, raw emotions that disadvantaged people in society feel when dealing with the bureaucracy and stupid “rules.” These people feel tired, frustrated, and humiliated because they are treated as just another step in a long process instead of as human beings who are desperately seeking help.
At the end of the movie, someone asked if we have the right to be angry since we attend a prestigious school and probably come from a well-off family. Although he probably didn’t have ill-intentions, there were many aspects of that question that I didn’t agree with. It took me some time after the movie to formulate my feelings into coherent thoughts.
First, it is presumptuous to assume that everyone on this campus is well-off. We should be aware that not everyone has the same opportunities in life and many people in this school struggle to stay afloat financially while still trying to pursue their studies. It is this assumption that makes low-income students feel invisible and even, at times, unwelcome.
Second, this question detracts from the purpose of the movie. I, Daniel Blake showed some of the most vulnerable parts of these people’s lives. The most impactful scenes were when Katie opened the can of beans in the food pantry and when Dan was hiding in his empty, cold house because he felt hopeless and didn’t want to seek help. Katie didn’t realize that she was so hungry that she was shaking. She felt so embarrassed and didn’t want to be seen.
The purpose of this film was to invoke empathy, compassion, and respect for people in these moments when they need it most. We should not judge them in their most vulnerable moments, but instead treat them with dignity and respect. By asking if we have a right to be angry takes away the focus from these people and makes it a question about yourself. I, Daniel Blake shows us that we need to be aware that not everyone comes from the same background. Sadly, like the ending of the film, not everyone receives the help they need or receive the help they need in time. It is unfortunate that this broken system has failed so many people and continues to do so.
On Belay? Belay On. Climbing. Climb On!
I had never been rock climbing before so this was a new experience for me. I don’t really have upper body strength so I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to climb as much or climb as high. When we got to the wall, there were different colored climbing holds. They were labeled with numbers that indicated their difficulty. I first tried one with the lowest difficulty. To my surprise, I made it to the top without too much difficulty. I also tried bouldering, which was much more difficult because of the way the walls slanted. I climbed a few more times on sections with slightly more difficult climbing holds. I was surprised that I was able to climb a lot more than I expected. Although I could feel my forearms getting sore. All the belayers at Bartels were really friendly, patient, and supportive. They really made my first time climbing a welcoming and inclusive experience. Although I woke up the next morning with really sore muscles, I really enjoyed the event. I’m so glad that Rose Scholars helped me get out of my comfort zone and try something new. I can’t wait to go back with my suitemates in the future!
You Can’t Have Too Many Tote Bags
I already had two tote bags in my dorm, but I thought that another one couldn’t hurt. I was also really excited to be able to screen print my own design on it. Before we got started, we were shown a screen print of Trump by Deborah Kass. It was hung beside Andy Warhol’s Vote McGovern. I thought it was really interesting how she used this specific piece and Andy Warhol’s style to deliver a political message.
For the design of my print, I wanted to keep it simple since this was my first time making a screen print. I decided to use the initials of my name and print it twice with the top layer darker than the bottom layer to give it depth. Although the print didn’t come out as clean as I’d imagined it to, I think I like it more that way. It adds character™ to my bag. It was nice to remember that nothing has to be perfect in art and sometimes mistakes can turn out to be pleasant. Magdala reminded us that Rose Scholars events like these takes us out of our monotonous schedules and allow us to be creative. Here, we are so often defined by our major and what we study that it gets hard to do something else outside that world. I think the Johnson Museum events have been some of my favorite Rose Scholars events so far.
Winter Reads
I had read The Sympathizer a few years ago around the time it came out. I remember the elegance and fluidity of his writing style. A few months ago, I was able to attend his talk at Cornell. He spoke of his life growing up as a refugee and the importance of telling stories. When I saw the Rose Scholars event to read The Refugees, I signed up immediately. When I was young, I was a voracious reader, but unfortunately now I don’t have enough time in my schedule to read for enjoyment except during breaks. So every break I dedicate time to read a few books. This event was a great incentive stick to my goal. Tamar Kushnir who is a professor in child development led the discussion. It was nice that she shared her family history and immigration experiences in connection to this book. The professor brought up her knowledge in child development and connected it to The Refugees. She mentioned that you were unable to discern the ages of the main characters until further into the story. People that emigrate from different countries at varying ages assimilate into a new country at varying rates. I think it would be interesting to reread this book through this perspective.
A Chill Event
I was a bit afraid to go to this event. It had been a few years since I last skated and I had just recovered from a sprained ankle. The first few laps around the rink I stuck to the wall just to be safe. But after a few more, I felt more confident and strayed a bit away from the sides. It was nice to revisit the feeling of silently gliding across the ice, almost like flying. Then I walk back onto the ground with my clunky skates, taking wobbly steps back to the counter.
This was actually my first time at Lynah Rink and I’m so glad I went. It was nice to start off the semester with a chill (haha) event and pick up any remaining skating skills I had left in my muscles.