SHE WHO WRITES

My Tumblr account will temporarily be solely dedicated to showcasing my thoughts, posts, and ideas regarding identity politics as partial completion of requirements for my major class. Nonetheless, posts shared here in the blog are personal and will fully reflect my perception about identity politics and other subjects related to the matter. REMINDER: TAP TO ENLARGE POSTS!

[incorrect-b99]

Amy: Okay, truth or dare?

Jake: Truth

Amy: How many hours have you slept this week?

Jake:

Jake: …Dare

Amy: Go to bed.

Jake: I don’t like this game.

[gaylecleven]

Great News (2017-2018)

[pamelaelle]

I miss this show so much

[harryedward]

i just spoke to a 4 year old who has a phone. a real working phone. with data and everything. who she gon call? elmo aint got minutes 

[pamelaelle]

Back

After more than 4 years of not posting here, I want to rediscover what I love- writing.

[vogue]

Vogue’s September issue is here!

For this issue, eight American models representing a new generation in fashion sat down with Vogue to reflect on a changing industry.

Read how these faces represent a new world in fashion: https://www.vogue.com/article/september-issue-2021

[pamelaelle]

"tingin ka diyan kunwari u appreciate art"

[pamelaelle]

Entry #14: Critical Essay | National Museum as Space

The National Museum of the Philippines has become an avenue for people, young and old alike, to appreciate the ever-evolving art and culture of our country. The building was initially planned as the public library by Ralph Harrington Doane, the American counseling planner of the Bureau of Public Works, and his right-hand man Antonio Toledo. Its development started in 1918. However, it was suspended a few times as a result of absence of assets. When it was chosen to be utilized by the Legislature, the modifications of the plans were given to Juan Arellano, at that point directing draftsman of the Bureau. The building was introduced on 16 July 1926. The building was a piece of Daniel Burnham's arrangement for the modernization of Manila. Upon its fulfillment, the second, third, and fourth floors were involved by the Senate and House of Representatives while the ground floor was possessed by the National Library. The 1934 Constitutional Convention was held in this building. It was also in the building that Manuel L. Quezon was confirmed as President of the Commonwealth. The Legislative Building was affected amid the besieging and shelling of Manila in 1945. It was recreated in 1946 after the first designs yet with a few amendments such as the substitution of flat pilasters and rounded columns. In mid-1996, the Senate of the Philippines moved out of the building. In 2003, the remodeling began and they changed it into the National Art Gallery of the National Museum.

Today, the National Museum is the home for art and development of the Philippine state. It boasts of some of the most breathtaking paintings, sketches, sculptures, and photographs that are at par with the world’s greatest. Several artworks of great Filipino artists can be found here. It is no wonder that Filipinos, especially the youth, have started to appreciate the place. With the launch of its free admission, more and more spectators are being encouraged to come and see this tourist attraction. It became an arena where one can absorb a hundred years’ worth of prestigious Philippine art.  Truly, the government should exert its efforts in maintaining and developing the National Museum as it can be a learning avenue for the youth.

source: National Museum of the Philippines 

note: all photos are taken and owned by the writer

[pamelaelle]

Entry #13: Critical Essay | YouTube as Commodity

In today’s age of everything fast-paced, we need technology that can keep up with us. Even entertainment should be accessible to one. It should be granted almost instantly, at the tip of his/ her fingers and within reach. That is why online video sites are so popular nowadays and YouTube is the biggest, grandest, highest earning of them all.

Launched in 2005, YouTube has transformed from being a site dedicated to amateur videos to an avenue for original content. It was founded by former PayPal employees Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim Users, both content creators and viewers alike, skyrocketed to watching four billion hours’ worth of video a month and uploading seventy-two hours’ worth of video every minute (Dickey, 2013). It has also helped in launching the careers of now global sensations Justin Bieber and Korean superstar Psy. Further, in just one year, Google saw Youtube’s potential and acquired the rapidly-growing video-sharing site for 1.6 billion dollars in October 2006. Content creators or commonly called ‘YouTubers’ are also some of the most influential and highest-earning internet celebrities in the world. According to Business Insider (2016), YouTube’s highest-earning star Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg or Pewdiepie, acquired a massive 15 million dollars in 2016 for his enormously popular channel with fifty million subscribers. Additionally, YouTube’s biggest stars are being sponsored by international companies to use their videos for advertising and promoting the brand in addition to making a name for themselves.

With YouTube gradually turning from a solely video-sharing site that promotes original and creative content to an arena for advertising, brand promoting, and capitalism, how is it not different from television ads or streaming websites that acquire your money in exchange for entertainment? The products that one sees in a famous YouTuber’s video will unconsciously cause a bias for a viewer to buy or favor it.

People go to YouTube for new and fresh content. Viewers initially liked the idea of this video-sharing site because it promotes original and creative content that is different from what mainstream media advertises. However, with the current trend that we are seeing, YouTube is not far from morphing into another money-sucking avenue for the elites. YouTube, its videos, and its content creators are deeming a petty disguise to a new form of capitalism hiding behind smiling faces, light humor, and so-called ‘fresh’ ideas.

References:

Business Insider. (2016, December 9). YouTube stars who made the most money in 2016. Retrieved from http://www.businessinsider.com/youtube-stars-who-make-the-most-money-in-2016-2016-12/#no-1-pewdiepie-15-million-10

Dickey, M. (2013). The 22 Key Turning Points In The History Of YouTube. Retrieved from http://www.businessinsider.com/key-turning-points-history-of-youtube-2013-2?op=1/#ad-hurley-registers-the-trademark-logo-and-domain-of-youtube-on-valentines-day-2005-1 

[pamelaelle]

Entry #12: Thoughts | 07.19.17

For our lecture last July, the class viewed a various array of videos that show how Filipino culture is particularly distinct from other cultures. It is evident in our food, clothes, way of life, and forms of entertainment. We are a culture of diversity- we have a rich variety for everything that we do and how we act and perceive things. To a foreigner, the Filipino’s preference may seem odd but to us it is normal to enjoy these things. We also discussed about the rich variety that Philippine cuisine has to offer and how we continuously innovate the style of our cooking in order to adapt to the younger generation.

[pamelaelle]

Entry #11: Thoughts | 07.25.17

For our discussion last July , talked about the culture of hula. When we normally think of hula dances and events, we commonly perceive beautiful Hawaiian women wearing grass skirts and dried flowers on their hair dancing to an upbeat music. There has even been a rendition of such dance in the Philippine context. However, as we learned during he lecture Hula isn't confined to such idea. Hula is a rich and offers a multitude of art and dances and even men and warriors practice it. We are just confined to thinking that Hula is the idea that we came to know. Limiting our thoughts to this can come off as disrespectful to the Hawaiian culture that practices such art. It should be a reminder for us that we shouldn't limit ourselves to appreciating a marginal area of such culture and to pay our greatest respects when we encounter them.

[pamelaelle]

Entry #10: Critical Essay | The Tacloban Experience

The first critical essay that I will post is about my experience of "consuming" the culture of a place that experienced collective trauma and horror. My group of friends and I went to the province of Leyte, specifically the towns of San Joaquin, Jaro, Tacloban and some parts of Samar, to see how much of the area has improved and how the people are slowly recovering from the nightmare brought by Typhoon Yolanda.  

We found out that during their recovery, the role of local elites is an important factor because they became the primary source of aid and help during the drastic event. However, it seemed that they did not fully attend to their roles and responsibilities of helping their kababayans recover. There was a play of traditional dirty politics where help was only extended to those in power. There was also stealing, looting, and violence experienced in the local community. Everyone was fighting to survive and save themselves and their families.

Now, they use the graves, memorial places, and cemeteries not only as a reminder of the painful memory that once haunted them but also as a sort of attraction for tourists who want to know more about how the place continues to exhibit its resilience. Wrecked buildings become perfect photo opportunities while buildings that did surpass the typhoon became landmarks that symbolized strength. Tourists spots such as the McArthur Landing, San Juanico Bridge, and Marcos Museum are being visited and awed for surviving the calamity. Leyte is a picturesque place- then and now, its beauty will never fall short despite being struck by a horrendous calamity.

Years after the traumatic typhoon, traces of horror can still be seen in a local's eyes. Almost all of them has a story to tell, as they were affected collectively. Each family lost a member, a friend, a relative. Each one can vividly recall the pain of losing their loved ones. The memory of Yolanda is still fresh for them, and they now are using it to narrate the story of their place.

[pamelaelle]

Entry #9: Critical Commentary | Indigenous Filipino Theories

The third critical commentary will mainly focus on the Indigenous Filipino Theories. The Western Disciplines exert the concept of indigenization from "without", meaning exogenous culture will be used as the starting point and indigenization from "within", meaning indigenous culture will be used as the starting point.

Some Filipinos still attach themselves with the identity of the colonizers. Some still choose to adapt the Western ideas and practices. While it is acceptable to adhere to such mentality, it is saddening to see Filipinos who may sometimes disregard their love and loyalty to the nation in lieu of their deep attachment to the foreign culture. This mentality is partly caused by the postcolonial effects that is embedded in the current culture. Nevertheless, it is important that we identify ourselves primarily as Filipinos before adopting foreign practices and customs.

The three indigenization theories are the Sikolohiyang Pilipino, Pilipinolohiya, and Panayong Pananaw. Sikolohiyang Pilipino generally disagrees with the Western approach to psychology. It advocates to teaching psychology as a neutral and bias-free subject. It disagrees with Western’s traditions way of universal application. I personally agree with the ideals of Sikolohiyang Pilipino and applaud its continuous effort to shift the interest of culture studies to a more nationalistic approach. It seekes to deconstruct the norms of Filipino culture in order for us to interpret and probe on the local culture better. It It reintroduces the the traditional characteristics of Filipinos and gives another interpretation for it. Pilipinolohiya deals with studying societal values with an indigenous approach. Pantayong Pananaw aims for a shared understanding of national identity. It is undeniable that the Filipino culture is deeply embedded in our linguistic discourse and Pantayong Pananaw greatly emphasizes this. The three indigenization theories deals with having the Filipino values and customs in focus when studying the country’s culture. 

[chiappettee]

[pamelaelle]

Entry #8: Critical Commentary | Post-Colonialism

The Post-Colonial approach to studying culture politics discusses the significance of a country being colonized before they achieve their distinct identity. The Post-colonial theory discusses three major concepts: hybridity, otherness, and location. Hybridity is considered an alternative for hegemonic concepts such as race and nationality. Otherness refers to a philosophical idea that assumes the alter ego of the self. This concept made it possible for colonizers to instill the idea of the self as foreign and learning to adapt the "other" as the default identity. 

The Post-Colonial theory has greatly impacted how cultures of modern societies are shaped and molded. Colonization is a huge factor of how many societies were formed in many countries. A majority of nations were once under a foreigner’s rule- and the Philippines is no exception. It is undeniable that their influence has been felt to a great extent and it is still evident in the country’s culture today.

The domination of Western influence that is continuously felt in the society today can be traced back to the Colonial Project that the foreign invaders have imposed on us. We see Eurocentric ideas as ‘superior’ to our own, that is because the ‘alienness’ of the ruling group is strongly preserved and upheld today.

The ethnic and language diversity of the country also has notable impacts in how our culture differs from that of other nations. We are undeniably a diverse population, with varied streams of distinct features that can be seen in our language and societal norms. With this, we are often confused on how to identify ourselves. We do not know how to distinguish our identity. It is fluid and dynamic. The Filipino population is a melting pot of varied roots and identities and with this we share different ideas and opinions that can agree and oppose with each other. Our identity as a nation is of multi-color; its gradient feature makes us unique from others.

[pamelaelle]

Entry #7: Critical Commentary | Western Theories

The Western Theories’ approach to understanding identity politics dealt greatly with Marx’s explanation of how capitalism shaped the identities of different nations. Marx explained that the workers’ consciousness will be awaken and eventually leading them to revolt for against capitalism. However, he did not foresee the possibility of capitalism disguising and rebirthing itself into a new and more advanced form that is eventually accepted by the proletariat. This explains the failure of socialist revolutions. Capitalism became an ideology that perseveres to take power even as of today. Capitalism continue to be a dominant trait of society today. It is evidently embedded in the culture of many countries, if not all. It is fascinating how capitalism continues to disguise itself in a milder, more tolerable form that is eventually accepted by the working force. It is undeniable that to study the culture of a certain country, one must assess how capitalism weaves in through culture and society.

Together with Marxism, the Frankfurt School of Thought also became a prominent approach in studying identity politics. The Frankfurt School emphasized the significance of reification as an effective tool of cultural manipulation. Reification implies that there is an inevitable event of domination by the hegemon and citizens should eventually learn to accept and tolerate it. Popular culture has also become an important matter of discussion. Popular culture became an influential means of domination. However, its potential to be commodified is utilized by capitalism to advance its own interests. Commodified culture is extremely evident in many societies today. Forms of art such as dances, songs, poetry, paintings, to name a few, are being commodified instead of being merely channels of expressions. Even television and mass media are used as means of commodity and seen as something that can be sold and be profited of. If culture continues to attain this trait, it may eventually be difficult to distinguish between authentic art and “profited art”.

The Postmodern Theory offers an array of explanations as to how culture is molded to how it is today. The Postmodern Theory describes society as continuously being conjured to have an alternative version of reality through manipulated images and ideas. The Postmodern Theory also emphasized the importance of language as a channel for expression and arena for political discussion.

The points made above are amongst the few that The Western Theories have to offer. Its emphasis on the significance of culture and its dynamic traits should be greatly considered when immersing oneself in studying cultural politics.

[pamelaelle]

Entry #6: Thoughts | 06.14.17

Our discussion today talked about the Marxist Cultural Theory. It discussed how apolitical camps were occasions for deepening theorists’ own disciplines. From this lecture, I learned how culture is not a reflection of economy, but independent from it. Ideology became a representation of both social and economic system. It became an arena that inverts and distort reality, thus becoming more complex and irrefutable.  We also discussed the Theory of Late Capitalism as a direct state intervention in the economy to promote social security. It is embedded and evident in popular. I realized the extent to which Capitalism has penetrated the social stigma. It can fully disguise itself and blend in the norm, making it more powerful and influential. I also realized that one will always encounter capitalism when dealing with culture studies because of the scope of its influence.

[pamelaelle]

Entry #5: Thoughts | 06.07.17

For this day’s discussion, we talked about the different theoretical antecedents related to identity politics. We discussed how Marx miserably failed in proposing a theory that will stand the test of time because he focused in contradictions of capitalism, how labor pushed the marginalized to rebel. We also talked about the failure of revolutions, specifically the one in relation to capitalism. Capitalism managed to endure because it learned to deal with social, cultural, and economic crises. 

What struck my interest in today’s discussion is the emphasis on culture being a commodity nowadays. It is evident that even our hobbies, interests, and means of entertainment are being manipulated by the capitalists. It is alarming to think that our society is becoming a playground for business.