Your Enemy, Yourself, Heaven, Earth

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[c34erika]

My Chemical Romance // Summertime

[c34erika]

One More Thing

The two months or so I have spent in ENGLCOM reminds me that time is fleeting: Monday turns to Thursday in the blink of an eye. One minute you are taking the first quiz, in the next your final exam. But while the term is short lived, the lessons I have learned are not so. With ENGLCOM, I developed myself as a writer, as a reader, and even as a student.

The thing about writing is that it is a very complicated process: instead of just thinking about what to say and how to say it, you build structures and define it right down to the core. You create outlines, you do research, you justify every sentence you write with another sentence. While this might seem to restrain thoughts, as I would have previously thought, it does exactly the opposite- it gives you the flow you need so that all you have to do is think of what you want to write about. As a self-proclaimed mediocre writer slowly learning through ENGLCOM, I have seen how I’ve changed as a writer- from the jittery-I’ll-write-the-first-thing-that-comes-to-my-brain entrance essays to the well-crafted extended definition and argumentative essays, and even now, as I write this.

I am not a very wide reader. My literary appreciation mainly revolves around mainstream novels, with the occasional article or essay. In class I did not just learn to analyze, but to also appreciate- to see the writer’s passion, to see his style and reason. Every time-consuming activity, every topic discussed was not just to gauge how well one listened or read- it was for us to learn that not only writing, but reading is an art. There is no mention of the words “book report”, yet the class still seeks to widen our literary tastes with well-crafted articles and essays. While I have yet to hunt down for certain works of those kinds, I now know to not skip them the next time I read.

While this blog started out as a mere compilation, it only took setting up a web site and re-typing essays for me to grow a bit affectionate of it. Looking back on what I wrote, I find it quite funny that I wrote such things, that I once thought they were not good enough or they were too much. I have miles to go as a writer, a reader, and even a student, and everything you see here are baby steps. Important baby steps. Knowing that what I wrote is going to be in the deep pit that is the internet, with the chance that someday a random stranger will come across it makes me terrified, but at the same time makes me proud. I have started to look at this portfolio not just as a display of my accomplishments, but a time capsule of sorts, the great memory of me saying, “I wrote that? Whoa, I wrote that.”

Time has come and gone, but even in such sojourn I have found lessons I shall keep with me forever. Maybe this is what they were talking about when they say that when time flies faster, you value things more.

[c34erika]

Look Up by Gary Turk

(Turk uses a spoken word film to describe how today’s generation has been affected by media and technology.)

Writer and director Gary Turk uploaded Look Up to his YouTube channel, stating in the description that it is “is a lesson taught to us through a love story, in a world where we continue to find ways to make it easier for us to connect with one another, but always results in us spending more time alone”. Aside from his ideals poured out into the poem, one of the film’s elements that he believed would catch a lot of attention was a love story: he makes use of the plot to emphasize that we might be missing our chance until we “look up”.

The “social media and technology is ruining our lives” campaign is no stranger to me: many have pointed out that our generation is one all too dependent on technology. But, this technology does not ruin our lives: we utilize it to gather more information, and interact more, but others choose to abuse it, even on not-so-necessary occasions. For example, Turk tells us to shut our phones and leave it at home. This is not one concept I agree with, because phones are useful means of communication and can be used for long distance conversations or emergencies. Other people who weigh out the benefits of technology in comparison to their cons also tend to disagree with some of the supposed exaggerations Turk states.

Another thing I find interesting is Turk’s hypocrisy: he sends a message poking fun at technology by using the very same technology to spread the message. Some people might also share it and spread word, but still end up being the people shown in the video. I would say that this is an effect of the “older is wiser” assumption, that people who are older would assume that they are wiser and know better than their successors. An example of this is the “90’s kids” series of photographs and articles.

The title “look up” is on the basis that people “look down” on their screens too often, whether alone or with other people. Hence, the video shows exactly that: people to enamored with what they see on their devices instead of the world around them. Turk shows young children playing games on an iPad in contrast to kids playing outside, a couple on the date with the man busy using his phone, and several others.

Filtering out all the bad bits, the message presented by Look Up is still a positive one: we should learn to live life, using only technology when we need it. We need to learn to interact with people face-to-face without having to use social media all the time. However a viewer will choose to “live life the real way”, physical interactions with the environment around us are still important.

(About: This is one of four Media Log entries we made for class, which addressed media and technology. I feel this is important as someone who gre up around technolgy.)

[c34erika]

Knives

Women resemble knives.

Women resemble knives in the way that society is the chef that chooses the best knife for cooking. And maybe some knives appear dull, appear dusty, appear useless, but all it needs is a good sharpening, a good cleaning, and a chance. Society needs to stop judging women on how they seem to be, especially if they really are more than meets the eye. They need to stop looking down on women's weaknesses, and instead turn these weaknesses into strengths. Today a woman can be free to pursue what she loves, but still there are people stopping her merely because she is a woman. A chef is responsible for the care of his utensils, the same way society us responsible for the growth of women. You cannot always blame th knife if something wrong happens.

Women resemble knives in the way that society is the mother telling her children to keep away. Knives are dangerous, but they are useful. For a significant part of their lives, the children will be led to believe that knives are only useful for making them bleed, in the way that some parts of society believe that a woman is there for destruction: a homewrecker, a bringer of temptation, a cause of sin. They fail to see how useful the knives are. Knives cut things into more manageable pieces, in the way women can help solve society's problems. Knives can be used to open things, in the way that women bring good opportunities, and make use of them. The women today are not the cheating wives, the flirting girls, the lovesick and conscious characters you see in media. Women are not those who carry themes of destruction and ruin with only that purpose.

Women resemble knives because they are sharp, they are shiny, and are both dangerous and useful. Women are sharp; they have wit that needs to be refined with good education like knives need to be sharpened with a whetstone. Women are shiny; they are the fresh, shining face, they bring a fresh start, a new future, and they will keep on shining if you value and take care of them like a chef should wash and clean his knife spotless. Women, like knives, are both dangerous and useful. Slicing vegetables one second, cutting off heads the next. The danger of knives are put to good use. The danger women possess can make changes. But today, some women are still denied education, some women are still degraded and unvalued, some women are still seen as nothing but bad luck. These knives, prepared for use have been mistreated, have been left to dull and rust.

I promote feminism because society keeps on seeing women as lesser than men. I promote feminism because women have been only told to be "pretty" and not "pretty smart". I promote feminism, because a woman is stereotyped to be a horrible person who might make bad decisions just because of her period. I promote feminism, because even if women are like knives, society still does not believe them to be so.

I promote feminism because I seek for women to be treated equally with men. Men are said to be the knives with their strength and power; it is time society realizes that women are knives, too.

(About: This exit essay tackled the same issue as the entry essay, which is feminism. Coincidentally, it is also just as messy.)

[c34erika]

Aborting the War against Abortion

For decades, one of the state's biggest arguments concerns abortion. Abortion is no easy decision. But legalizing abortion can meet concerns regarding human rights, gender equality, and health and safety.

One of the greater arguments against sabortion is that the foetus should be treated as a human being with rights. When or how do you consider it a human being? The answer is debatable. Yet, questioning whether or not the woman carrying the foetus is a human being is not something for debate. In Human Rights Watch's Q&A on Human Rights and Access to Abortion (2005), rights that should apparently be given to the foetus are presented in the pregnant woman's point of view. If foetuses deserve the right to life, pregnant women also have the right to terminating life-threatening pregnancies, and the right to safe and legal procedure in order to not risk their lives. Foetuses are treated as "human beings" as per their apparent right to nondiscrimination and equality. The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (cited in Human Rights Watch, 2005) have implied that the denial of medical procedures that are exclusively for women is considered a form of discrimination against them. Foetuses are given the right to be free from cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. But women who are in need of abortions are not always given that right; they are degraded, denied any post-abortion care, or are even forced to carry any unwanted or health threatening pregnancies. Let us keep in mind that abortion venters on two parties: the foetus, and the pregnant woman.

Florynce R. Kennedy was once quoted saying, "If men could get pregnant, abortion would be a sacrament." The feminist movement is one of the biggest advocators for legalizing abortion, as a part of women's rights. The Feminist Majority Foundation (2014) states in their website that when an unwanted pregnancy presents excessive strain on the woman and her family whether physically, emotionally, or economically, there is the reality that the woman will seek an abortion- legal or otherwise- with instinct and self-defense in mind. Furthermore, the arguments presented in the previous paragraph presents a portion of the feminist movement's fight to make abortion legal. As with what Margaret Sanger once said, "No woman can call herself free who does not own and control her body."

One case that makes even some anti-abortionists hesitate is getting an abortion due to the pregnancy's risks on health and lifein general. Ectopic pregnancies, for example, involve abortion as one of the possible treatments. WebMD (2005-2014) explains that in an ectopic pregnancy, both the pregnant woman and the foetus' possible life is at risk, and that it can result in aborting the foetus in order to save the woman. Additionally, the World Health Organization (2011) declared that in 2008, 47,000 maternal deaths were due to unsafe abortion procedure because of its illegal status. Legalizing abortion can give way to safer procedures and better accesibility, lessening any exposure to the threat of health issues, injuries, and even deaths.

Hillary Clinton once said, "I have met thousands and thousands of pro-choice men and women. I have never met anyone who is pro-abortion." Abortion is no simple matter, and it is not wasy to choose whether to get one or not. Legalizing abortion can give way to safer procedures and easier accessibility, provided that there is reason behind the choice to get an abortion; also, let us not forget that prevention is still the best cure. Ask yourselves this: does health and safety matter? Do human rights matter? Yes, it does. And legalizing abortion matters.

(About: This is an Argumentative Essay, which required me to pick a stand on an important issue. Abortion is arguably still one of the most controversial topics, and our class had also watched a documentary about it days before.)

[c34erika]

Fearless, dauntless, bold: brave

In Sun Tzu's The Art of War, it is stated, "on desperate ground, fight". The quote mirrors how an average person would choose to face his fears. This would be described to be brave, or heroic. But what is bravery now compared to back then? Bravery may be an act of heroism, but it could also lead to acts of vanity and carelessness.

"Brave" come from the Old Italian and Old Spanish word "bravo", meaning "courageous" or "wild". Put simply, bravery it the state of feeling or showing no fear, as provided by Merriam Webster (2014). But while it is synonymous with the word "courageous" in technical terms, philosophically it is different. The website Difference Between (n.d.) states that "courage involves the presence of fear, while bravery lacks it". Slater (2014) further argues that courage involves emotional fear, while bravery imposes physical danger or fears. Whichever the argument, one could say that being brave is easier than being courageous. But let us put the patr-time synonym aside. If the given definitions and comparisons were put together, bravery would be explained as facing things head on, with the factors of no fear and less emotion setting bravery apart.

Today's culture has made use of re-fitting vocabulary to adapt to present times; bravery is no exception. More than a century ago, Bierce (1906) defined valor (synonymous with bravery) as "a soldierly compound of vanity, duty, and the gambler's hope". Who knew this would still be relevant today? Bravery, in modern culture, has been bent into the form of the famous acronym YOLO or "You Only Live Once". Although this is more often linked with living life to the fullest (it was described as the modern "Carpe Diem"), it is its effects on society that reflects on Bierce's definition of bravery. Dexter (cited in Judkis, 2012) mentioned that he associated YOLO with acts of arrogance and foolishness. "No fear" is associated with "laughing in the face of danger", and although one could say that this is matched with being brave, it leans more towards vanity. Is this what bravery has been reduced to now? YOLO has might as well cause the fine line between bravery and stupidity to become thinner and thinner.

Fret not; bravery is still its own identitiy. Although repetitively looked down on- Difference Between points it to be a less deep version of courage, and Slater implies that bravery is easier, not to mention the trend that is "YOLO"- the concept still proves its value. Bravery, according to Slater, is the sense of duty and danger that makes us face our fears, albeit they are in physical form. There are many roles in society that requires bravery- Slater gives examples such as soldiers, firemen, and policemen. Compared to Difference Between, Slater does not treat bravery less, but sees it in a way that bravery and courage go hand in hand. bravery serves as a euphemism of sorts when facing fears- think "fake it 'til you make it". Suppressing fears may be a way of indirectly facing them and overtime, there fears vanish. Bravery, in its essence, is a good thing, and it is still set apart from any pop culture abomination.

Yes, bravery is a show of boldness and heroics. Yes, it may seem like it is also an effect of pride and heedlessness, but we must keep in mind that it is not what bravery is all about. Maybe bravery is different from courage. But the question should not be whether we decide to be brave or courageous. What we should ask ourselves is this: "Am I ready to face my fears?"

(About: This is an Extended Definition Essay, which required us to give meaning to a concept. I had no important reason to choose bravery, except for that fact that i was reminded of it by a quote from The Art of War which is seen at the introduction.)

[c34erika]

Roses

Women resemble roses.

Women resemble roses in the way that society acts as the florists that take away their thorns. A woman's opinions and strengths are treated lightly, from the way some women are still forced to stay home and do chores instead of go to school, to the way that a woman wanting to do a man's job is thought to be weak and foolish. While this has evolved through the ages, allowing women to learn, to vote, or to go into politics, some still think men should do better.

Women resemble roses in the way that society becomes the customers, choosing only based on physical appearance, on color, on smell. Roses may not have personalities, but women do. Women are told that they should look like this or that, wear this or that, act like this or that. Florists utilize paint to change a rose's color, the same way that society allows us to think that women should be like the model's on billboards and magazines. True beauty and acceptance of one's form is advertised at present, but that doesn't stop society from making other's insecure.

Women resemble roses in the way that some people always treat roses as symbols of lust and love. Society treats women as bikini-clad objects that are used to sell beer and clothes and body spray to men. They think women who work as entertainers do not know better, but the industry would not have started if it wasn't for man's objectification.

It may not be quite obvious, but there are still signs that women are not treated equally. Society blames rape victims, because those girls were entitled to wear what they wanted to, yet people think they were asking for it. Society looks down on a woman wearing only shorts and a tank top in hot weather, yet is fine with a man in the same clothes.

I promote feminism because I am afraid to walk alone at night, because girls with opinions are considered loud-mouthed, because we cannot sell items without being half-naked and wearing make-up. I promote feminism because friend-zoned boys think that a woman has not chosen wisely when she did and is entitled to her own decisions. I promote feminism because there are people that see a young girl with a little child and can think that the girl is a slut and got pregnant at an early age. I promote feminism because a woman's job can still pay lower than a man's.

I promote feminism. Feminism does not ask for women to be treated as superiors, but to be treated truly like equals. Women and roses are different in a number of ways- one of them being that women are humans. The question is, do all people treat women equally so?

(About: This was the very first essay I wrote for class, which was used to determine if I needed additional help in regard to English proficiency. This was also the messiest.)

[c34erika]

E-Portfolio Objectives

This is what my e-portfolio is for:

—1. Collect, store and manage written outputs electronically

—2. Develop a sense of authorship

3. —Showcase mastery of various genres and of writing process

—4. Evaluate and reflect on writing performance holistically.

—5. Monitor progress

—6. Improve understanding of oneself

—7. Recognize the gaps in one’s current knowledge and skills

[c34erika]

Be My Guest.

To the reader,

Hi! If you are not a) my ENGLCOM prof, or b) anyone who is in my block/ENGLCOM class, and have only stumbled upon this website, then let me introduce myself properly: I'm Erika, and right now you are at my e-portfolio for my ENGLCOM class.

This e-portfolio is a collection of my work. It shows all the effort, progress, and achievements I've made during my ENGLCOM class. Why do I have an e-portfolio? Here's why.

If you will take the time to read all of my work, I hope that you enjoy it. This e-portfolio is more than a compilation- this is who I am, this is what I stand for. So go ahead.

-Erika