Author Archives: Izzy

City-Girl Discovers “Farm Life”

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Full-disclosure: I attended this event primarily because I assumed I would get the opportunity to milk a cow for the first time (Spoiler: I didn’t get to do it). I have lived in large cities or surrounding suburbs my entire life. I hope this is sufficient to convey my disappointment at not having milked my first cow on this expedition to the Cornell dairy barn.

However, I learned a lot about cows and the dairy industry. For instance, I had no idea that most of the cow breeding that happens within diary barns, throughout the US, happens through artificial insemination. I guess I should have seen that coming, seeing has how male calves are castrated at a very young age and raised as beef cattle. I learned about the maintenance that happens within dairy barns to ensure that milk obtained is safe for consumption, as well as other fun-facts about how to care for calves — they are absolutely adorable! (Picture of brown calf attached  for reference.) To top off the trip, I was very amused by the backscratcher (which is the bright yellow brush in another attached picture) for the cows, which is located above their drinking water.

I had a very pleasant experience overall, after the initial disappointment dissipated (haha, just kidding). I probably learned more about cows than I’ll ever need to know in my lifetime. I hope the readers enjoy the pictures as much as I enjoyed staring at these mystical, previously-only-seen-in-textbooks (or their movies), creatures.

 

Power of Individuality Over Mob Mentality

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One thing I found really fascinating in this proposed scenario on film was how easily most people in the room fell into a mob-mentality state when placed in a room with the others. While the outcome of the story resulted from one man who was persistent enough to cast doubt on the judgement of 11 other jurors, the prevailing attitude for at least the first half of the film was: if everyone else thinks so too, he must be guilty! Until the older man decided to support the not-guilty verdict and lend an ear to the reasons someone was unconvinced about a guilty verdict, the arguments for why this sole voice in opposition to the majority should change his vote were practically nonexistent. It’s possible that they all individually reached the same conclusion (after all, there were only two choices to vote for), yet to me,  this film was an interesting example of scenarios in which this phenomenon manifests itself. Maybe it’s a flaw in the system, or judicial process, for a verdict to be decided in this way. I don’t think it’s realistic to expect that if someone on a jury has an opposing decision, to the prevailing judgment of the others, they will be patient and outspoken enough to try and persuade an entire room of people against what they believe. Is it necessary to isolate the 12 men who decide a person’s fate from outside influence? Could allowing outside influence from the external environment (political or otherwise) provide more context or even offer differing perspectives to what should be considered? Is mob-mentality the reason juries are able to reach a unanimous decision instead of declaring that they are hung on the verdict? I think these are important factors to consider, especially if capital punishment is a potential consequence.

Maybe I’ll get some answers to these questions, or gain a better understanding, when (or if) I experience serving on a jury, first hand.

Art Resulting From Oppression

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Personally, there was little about this movie that I could relate to. Yet there was one interesting message that stood out to me amidst all the partying and rule-breaking that dominated the plot of the movie. That message was that art in all of its forms is largely inspired by oppression. The entire introduction, if not more, of this movie was based on part of a novel that Reinaldo Arenas was in “in the process of writing” later in the movie for a literary contest. It was about leaving his family and the oppression he felt at their home because of his poetic inclinations and sexual orientation. Subsequently, he was able to publish other books through his struggles and troubles in Cuba, but all under oppressive circumstances (such as being imprisoned). The second he was able to get away to America, however, he was unable to publish any books of his own writing. I think this was the reason he stole his roommate’s book and decided to edit and publish under his own name. Whether that actually happened or not, and if his lack of publishing in this stage of his life was due to some onset illness, was very unclear to me. Yet it seemed extremely possible given my experiences with famous or relatable works. Many of the classic novels that we read in school are a direct result of some political movement from the time it was published. Even the paintings on the walls of the art district I visited recently in Miami were primarily devoted to depictions of artistic interpretations about the current political climate of this nation. Maybe art, whether poetry or paintings, is a way of coping with what we believe is wrongdoing in society that we cannot directly oppose or maybe it’s just a coincidence.

Blind Acceptance

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While I know the after-film discussion focused more on abuse of power, I was really more bothered by the blind acceptance of the people in this week’s Friday film. The general population never questioned what they were told was best by their government — best for them, the planet, and their children. Personally, I think my main issue with the film was primarily the submissive attitude of the people, which essentially created the setting for the plot of this film.

Various questions came to mind for me the second Cayman made a public announcement that all “siblings” would be processed into a medically induced cryosleep:

  1. Where are you going to physically store all the sleeping bodies?
  2. How much energy does it take to keep the bodies in this preserved state and does this outweigh the supposed “benefits” of this proposition?
  3. Who is going to raise the children when all their known relatives are deceased?
  4. How does this actually help the planet?
  5. Aren’t there more humane alternatives?
  6. Do they really expect parents to comply with this legislation?

One of my friends even brought up the idea that this sounds like Nazi Germany.

It’s unfathomable to me that the general public would agree to this. I’d even go as far as saying that most parents would subject themselves to “cryosleep” before giving up their children to such a process. It would take an oppressive regime, with sole and absolute power, to make something like that happen.

The entire basis of this movie is mob (AKA herd) mentality. I don’t even think you can go as far as saying that supreme powers were a factor because the entire resolution is based on the revolt of the people.

 

A Wholesome, Tear-Jerking Film

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I lived in Guatemala for seven years of my life and traditions there, given the geographic proximity to Mexico, are sometimes very similar to some Mexican traditions. That being said, I believe this to be one of the reasons I found the movie so relatable and moving. Coco is centered around the Mexican traditions of El Día de Los Muertos (or day of the dead), whose primary purpose is to pray for family, and put out “ofrendas” or “offerings”,  in hopes of aiding the spiritual journey of our dearly departed. This made the holiday a perfect setting for the film to covey and emphasize the importance, and meaning, of family.

Miguel was child like many others around the world, who won your compassion over by his pure will to pursue his dreams, despite the disapproval of his family. I mean, with such innocence and naïveté about the ways of the world, how could a 12 year-old understand why his family would be so opposed to music? After all, there’s a type of music for everyone to enjoy, regardless of taste. Yet, his great-great-grandfather had abandoned the family to pursue music, and so it was assumed that he would follow in those footsteps should music be a part of his life. It reminded me of all the times I was turned down by my parents without truly understanding why. Just because someone else might do something hurtful, it doesn’t mean that he will (or that I would) if placed in the same situation. Our choices are ultimately our own and I find it unfair that you could deny someone happiness for such an assumption. It is a question that I find relatable to this day, and so I placed myself in Miguel’s shoes.

Yet, hispanic culture really tends to center around family and traditions. In this case, the family could not find a way to reconcile their traditions with Miguel’s pursuit of music because their shoe-making origins stemmed from a resentment for a particular musician. This is also something that I could empathize with, since you cannot expect someone to have a positive attitude towards something that hurt them so deeply. It’s a basic conditioning principle. We can therefore understand the Tía’s feelings towards music. How does one consolidate such strong, opposing feelings that have brewed over generations? If you’re Miguel, you start questioning the meaning and purpose of family. If a family is meant to support you through thick and thin, then they should be capable of setting aside resentment for their willingness to show love. Ultimately, that’s what life, and family, is about. Family is there to love you unconditionally, and you can show love through your support for others.

I think this entire film really hits home on what I always believed family is there for. I know that families are very different and come in all forms and sizes, but even if this was based on hispanic traditions, it is a universally relatable movie for people across cultures. How can we not seek acceptance from the people we grew up with? Why should we sacrifice our dreams, and hearts’ desires, to obtain that acceptance?

I think most people past the age of 10 have found themselves asking similar questions at one point or another, making this one of the most relatable movies I’ve ever watched. I couldn’t stop crying (tears of joy at the resolution).

Rate: 10/10

Chillin’ at the Chili Cook Off

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This was my second year attending the annual Chili Cook Off in the commons and it does not cease to surprise me how it, as all downtown festivals, brings so many diverse people together. Everyone at the cook off gathers for one sole purpose — tasting the ultimate chili recipe — yet the event is about so much more than the food available. You can get a taste of over 25 unique chili recipes (including some vegan and vegetarian options), but there are also people selling cornbread to fundraise for healthy kid snacks and others who are enabling others to register to vote locally while informing the community about different political candidates. If anyone is seeking to learn more about Ithaca and the local community, the Chili Cook Off is definitely on my list of recommended events to attend. Part of getting off campus and going to a downtown event is getting to know more about the people whose lives influence ours during our stay in Ithaca, just as we influence theirs. You get to have conversations with people at the chili stands or the ticket booths. You get to know more about local shops/vendors that you had no idea existed. You get to learn more about the issues this community cares about or faces. Most of all, however, you get to be an active citizen in this community by being more informed and supporting the local events. It was worth getting all bundled up and spending time outdoors.

It’s All About Attitude

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While I have mixed feelings about the content of the movie “Friday Night Lights,” I think there’s a lot to be said about the characters’ attitudes and how they influence the plot.

One of my favorite characters in the film was Boobie Miles. I think that if you overlook his questionable, yet somewhat justifiable, behavior towards his attending doctor at Midland Hospital, he was a consistently positive force throughout the entire movie. Throughout his personal highs and lows, he never failed to act accordingly to what would be most beneficial for his team and friends (other than his lack of discipline to train with them). When everything was going his way, he consistently attempted to make his teammates smile and feel as part of the family, despite being the superstar that everyone relied on. After being told he would not play football again, he kept his chin up in front of his friends, which may have been intended to save face, but he also gave each of them encouraging words before leaving.

Coach Taylor was another positive force in influencing the team’s attitudes. I think the way he handled the pressure being placed on him was relatively respectful, given that he was threatened and pressured from all sides at various points in the movie. His ability to guide his mentees through example, particularly through his positivity during the coin-toss to decide if they would play at states, was a powerful force that I thought influenced the team to stop looking negatively at the situations presented going forward.

Overall, I think that was the most powerful message that I received throughout the movie. “The only difference between winning and losing is how the outside world treats you.”