Blog #10 What's the deal with Reconstruction?

Reconstruction happened after the Civil War ended. it was an attempted to reconstruct and put the country back together. the reconstruction had actions that made the South connect and become closer to the Union. President Abraham Lincoln was the one who started taking action during this reconstruction. Amendment 13, 14 and 15 were created during the reconstruction.
Amendment 13 ended slavery in the United States. Amendment 14 stated that anyone born in the United States of America was a citizen of the United States, and permitted former slaves to become citizens. amendment 15 granted black former slaves the right to vote. the fact is that many of these amendments were not legally used to protect former slaves, it dint guarantee that former slaves could vote or become citizens.
from all the pieces of writing we have read so far, we can determine that for many of the people living in the south, the Civil War hasn't ended.

Blog # 9 Hepatitis A Threatens Swimmers At San Diego Beach

This headline is a red flag waving, warning us that we have mistreated our beaches. We know that the Tijuana River empties their sewage on Imperial Beach. Its not the first time we hear this, we all know that everything that goes into the sewage system ends up on our beaches. What is important here is that our beaches have become very polluted and the water now contains diseases that we never expected. A team of researchers from San Diego State University took some samples from the Imperial Beach, and they found that 80% of the samples had Hepatitis A. this is very threatening to the surfers, swimmers and fishermen, and anyone that visits Imperial Beach.

Sow how can we solve this? It can be really easy to blame certain people, but the overall idea, is that governments have not taken the necessary actions to clean the beaches and prevent more sewage from reaching the beaches. Tijuana has a poor infrastructure development, their water treatment system, can’t treat the amount of sewage waste, and most of it emptied on Imperial Beach. I would say that the government needs to figure a way to solve this issue.

Our upcoming project, Media Saves the Beach, is the most efficient way to spread awareness about the issues related to water pollution. After all, we are saving our beaches from becoming dangerous waters. Beaches are a family resort, and we are very lucky to live in San Diego. We have beautiful beaches and nice weather, but we have mistreated them. Now it is time that we, as students and residents from San Diego, come together to inform our community about the dangerous threats we provide to our beaches and the most efficient way to solve these problems and prevent further damage.

To read more about this issue visit: http://blogs.uscannenberg.org/neontommy/2009/05/hepatitis-a-threatens-swimmers.html

Blog #8 Media Saves the Beach

I love creating videos, so my first idea was to create a video, more like a documentary on all the small objects that get thrown in our gutters and we don't even think those things make it onto the ocean. It could be a fun video showing how the trash travels and ends up in our oceans. Then I thought that we have seen many of these films on commercials.

So I want to head a different direction now, I'm thinking on an art piece. A sculpture of some sort, that is composed of all the objects found on the beach. Even though that sounds nasty, I think I can also incorporate how to disinfect or clean household items with products that wont hurt the environment, or would be toxic to the sea creatures.

Something that I believe everyone should incorporate in their projects, would be awareness that San Diego is in a HUGE drought. Many of us take water for granted and we don't realize the importance of water, and WE NEED to make sure everyone knows that we need to reserve those last drops.

American Icon

La Noche de Tlatelolco

The night of Tlatelolco is considered, to anyone who knows of this day, a heartsick day in the history of Mexico. It is a day to mourn the lives lost on that night. Yet I see this rainy night as a representation of bravery, unity and compassion within students and workers from all social classes. As rhetorical as it may seem, this event involves a bit of ignorance from the students. They failed to recognize, or admit that their own government could take such violent acts, against student movements. For it is the police forces’ job, to protect and defend the people, not exterminate them.

 

The massacre of Tlatelolco should not be consider as a symbol that should be thrown around, but should be appreciated as an example of a struggle to obtain human rights. It gives an understanding that students are capable of creating a peaceful revolution, while questioning the unexplained rules, and restrictions our government has placed on us. I don’t want to use a well-known cliché, “Question Authority,” but if this quote were to be explained, it would involve the 5,000 students who protested that night and the hundreds of them who died defending their education, as evidence that indeed this quote should be followed.

 

My final product, in this case my image, represents the most gentle side of this movement. The grotesque side would consist of a disgusting image that I rather not share. I do want to say that this event has helped me focus more on my education, it has taught me to appreciate and take advantage of it while I can. I am saddened to see kids waste their education, when students from Tlatelolco gave their lives for it.

 

I can say that I have always been rebellious deep inside; I can stand up and defend my own rights even when the world turns their back on me. I’ve learn about the importance of education, from my sister, who I had the pleasure to protest with in order to bring more AP courses to her high school in San Diego. I will never forget gathering with high school students at the Board of Education, making our posters, and holding the flags of our victorious icons. The long walk from point a to point b, singing the chants, “Libros Si– Bayonetas No!” “Books Yes- Bayonets No!” the same words that came from students 40 years ago, were now coming out of our mouths, demanding more education, in our schools. I will continue doing activist work around my community and schools in order to establish a bond between students and education, because this bond should always be present. My admiration will not turn into an obsession, but rather a simple gratification for the new perspective of rebellious education.

Work Cited 

Poniatowska, Elena. La noche de Tlatelolco. México, D.F: Era, 1971 

”October 2 is not forgotten – upsurge and massacre in Mexico, 1968 part 1: the youth revolt : Mexico History.” Access Mexico Connect – Current Issue – The Eletronic Magazine all about Mexico. 14 Sep. 2009 <http://www.mexconnnect.com/articles/239-october-2-is-not-fogotten-upsurge-and-massacre-in-mexico-1968-part-1-the-youth-revolt>. 

“La noche de Tlatelolco.” La Jornada en Internet. 14 Sep. 2009

<http://www.jornada.unam.mx/2007/10/02nota4.php>. 

Blog #6 American Icons Resources

At this point I have no idea if I've been breaking a main rule in writing. Every time I write, I write all my thoughts down, without thinking about the reader. I focus on what I want to get down on paper, and the things that are most important to me without realizing that my thoughts might not spark a connection with the reader. After a few drafts, I do try to make a connection or common ground with the reader.

Then, Randy comes along and he gives a whole speech on how writers, are supposed to think about the reader at all times while writing. Throughout this project, I had reader in mind. Therefore I didn’t want to make my writing seem a boring informative essay, and I didn’t want to leave the reader wondering what they had just read. I used one tip for writing, which is "Create a relationship with the reader."

When I received my first draft revised, I noticed that the reader, my teammate, had understood the main idea, which was the students defending their, while finding the writing interesting, not boring as I suspected.

Without a doubt, I would include more quotes into my writing. When I say more, I mean actually include quotes that can describe the event, a little better. The only quote that supported my ideas was the one that described their chants. I also didn’t include

"The long walk from point A to point B, singing the chants, “Libros Si– Bayonetas No!” “Books Yes- Bayonets No!” the same words that came from students 40 years ago, were now coming out of our mouths, demanding more education, in our schools."

Not that I think this is a well written sentence, but I have to say this is one quote explains the activism that is happening in our communities. The actions students take to inform their own Board of Education, the lack of AP classes, college courses and literature in schools. Just by reading it, I start having flashbacks of all the protest and marches I've attended, and the importance of having them. If this sentence is not interesting, then it is a waste of time reading my artist statement.

Founding of America

According to the initial research I made, John Locke came up with this phrase. Not the one we know of today, but his phrase was “life, liberty and property.” It was until Dr. Samuel Johnson, who substituted the last section with “the pursuit of happiness.” Later that century, Thomas Jefferson used it, to form a new phrase. So why did he change this last section? That is something I don’t know.

The federalist papers are 85 essays, explaining or persuading people, of how a new government was going to operate. These essays were posted in newspapers around New York. The papers are signed as PUBLIUS, but it is believed the authors are Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay.  

 

John Locke is considered as the Philosopher of Freedom. One of his ideas was that no one could justified, imposing their beliefs on others. Making it freedom of religion, and speech. He also believed that the government should protect private property.

Voltaire, can be another philosopher, he was a French enlightenment writer, who distrusted democracy. He admired Locke, and his ideas. Voltaire hated injustice, intolerance and religion. 

Photo Techniques

Overexposure & Underexposure 

Overexposure and Underexposure will allow sections on my image to stand out. Most people hate over exposure image, but I on the other hand, want to see a difference between my portrait and the background. In other words, I want to highlight the most important aspect of my image and an overexposure image will indeed help create this aspect. 

Photo Techniques

Contrast

This is another technique that will work great with my image. This technique allows me to play around with the contrast, meaning the colors, shades, sharpness, and focus on the images. I want to make sure my image is visible, but I want them to focus more on the background, which represents revolution. 

Photo Techniques

Slow Shutter Speed

One of the techniques I’ve always love, is slow shutter speed. I want to take a picture of myself for the first 15 seconds, and then I move away from the camera angle, and it will take the picture of a background for the next 5 seconds. This will allow my image to be a bit blurry, and it will focus on the background behind me as well. 

American Icons Resources

The Massacre of Tlatelolco

It was a rainy October afternoon, when more than 5,000 students and demonstrators gathered around in the Plaza De Tres Culturas. They had come together on this day to demonstrate to the Mexican Government, that students had rights, and that schools should have their autonomy. they wanted to let the government know, that they will not withhold any more damage to their education, and that the government was not to hurt the student movements, instead they should protect the people from corrupt governments.

These students had no idea that their own government, who had built their schools, was going to destroy their passion that day. "Right around sunset, the army and police forces surrounded the students and the people of México. They closed every exit and enclosed them together."3 The helicopters put spotlights on the students and from the air, they gave the order. Police men from the riot squad fire the first round. Targeting not only the students and professors, but everyone walking by, including children.

It now seemed like a river of blood, it kept on raining and the bodies now filled the streets. The army forces didn’t stop to the killing on the streets; they also entered every house near by, and killed anyone that had witness the scene.

Perhaps it was their love for education, their passion for unity or their bravery to stand against the cruelest government, in order to defend what’s theirs, that draws me closer to them. When I remember their story, read their quotes I feel like I was standing with them, walking the roads that were filled with laborers, students and mothers. I cry when I think about their struggle, and my mind worries, with the thoughts that ran trough their heads, when they heard the shots, when they felt the wounds. I know what its like to love education, to love every single thing that I learn, and I know what it feels like to suffer when your education is being threatened. They lost their lives to it, and I envy them, because they had the guts to fight for it, they got to experience what its like to be surrounded by your companions, defending what you love most.
La noche de tlatelolco, the night of tlatelolco, will be an event I will never forget, an event that every student should know about, the event that has made my education my only priority. I owe these students my education, because they made me realize that if I don’t value it enough, I will never know what I’ll be missing. To the students who died that night, I respect, admire, and salute you.

1The book, "La Noche De Tlatelolco," by Elena Poniatowska is narrated by the author, but includes images, interviews and quotes from students.

2"Rojo Amanecer," a film made years later, explains more in details what families where suffering through, it shows the governments movement against the students and it wraps around a family to show a narrower story line.

3This article explains more, on the massacre and it goes deep into the government’s determination to stop the student’s movement.
http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/239-october-2-is-not-forgotten-upsurge-and-massacre-in-mexico-1968-part-1-the-youth-revolt

Matilde Landeta

It’s her passion and bravery that captivated my attention, when I first saw one of her films. “La Negra Angustias,” is a dramatic story focusing on a young Mexican woman, who kills a man that tried to rape her. She then escapes to join the rebels during the Mexican Revolution, in order to support justice and equality between women and men.

Matilde Landeta was one of the few women to enter the world of cinematography. "Not everyone believed women could be capable of producing international recognized films. Landeta was boycotted twice during the production of her first film. It took her, 3 years to release her movie."3

Mexico finally closed the doors on her, after she produced her second film.

It wasn't so much that she was a women cinematographer, at a time when women were not allow to have a career, but it was because she was the first to portray women who could think, feel and love. During this period of time, women were shown in films as prostitutes, and it wasn’t an easy thing for women to be accepted in society.

I have always been a rebel myself; I never try to follow what society has expected me to believe, but this black and white film opened my life to a whole new world. The way every scene was shot, the dialogue it carried and the emotions that jumped out of screen and into your heart, it made me realize that there are many other ways to show resistance against injustice. It was because of Matilde that I want to become a cinematographer; I know that there are many other injustices that need to be resolved. I don’t intend to change everyone’s idea on certain issue, but I do want to express my opinion in beautiful way.

1The book by, Julia Tunon, Matilde Landeta, hija de la Revolucion focuses on her, with the title named translating to "...Daughter of the revolution," it is an incredible book the really explains why she is the daughter of the revolution, the pioneer of women cinematographers that is.

2In this interview she describes what it was to live and work in México, especially when you were a woman who was doing jobs that belonged to men. http://caliber.ucpress.net/doi/abs/10.1525/msem.2002.18.1.189?cookieSet=1&journalCode=msem

3This is more of a biography and it also touches upon all her films, most of whom where made years later, when she finally returned to Mexico.
http://cinemexicano.mty.itesm.mx/directores/matilde_landeta.html

Debbie Harry

Debbie Harry

She started her musical career with the folk rock group called The Wind in the Willows. She then joined a girl group trio, The Stilettos, where she met her Chris Stein, who later became a guitarist for their band called Blondie.

Blondie is a pioneer band to the American New Wave and Punk Rock in the mid 70’s. This band was very successful in UK and Australia, but became successful in the US after releasing Parallel Lines, one of their greatest hits. Years later they were recognized for combining disco, pop and reggae to their music, while remaining their basic style of new age.

Harry became a pop icon, due to her look. She was associated with Andy Warhol, and in June 1979 she appeared in the cover of Rolling Stone.

In 1982, Blondie, the band broke up. Harry pursued a solo career.

Later in 1999, the band formed again and a song called “Maria” became number one single in the United Kingdom. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Rock Walk of Fame in 2006.

I believe Harry is a huge American icon. Blondie, the group was a pioneer, and she was the main reason why this band became idolized. This band is still known today, but Harry is quickly recognized. She entered the Guinness World Book of Records in 1999 as the Oldest Female Singer to Reach No. 1, in the UK charts. To this day Deborah Harry is still singing, and making hits.

I wasn’t born in the 70’s and I didn’t have to, in order to be inspired by Harry. I’ve been listening to her music ever since. She has been one of the most successful women in Rock and Roll history.

The Massacre of Tlatelolco

The Massacre of Tlatelolco

Students from many universities in Mexico were meeting and planning protests against the Mexican government. They wanted the government to respect the universities, and allow them their autonomy. They were also protesting the police attack on a high school in Tlatelolco, which had happen on September 1, 1968. Many student leaders and professors had been handing out flyers in public busses and streets in order to inform the Mexican people of what their government was doing. They planned meetings, and marches trough public and open spaces avoiding the government to riot against them. Ten days before the Olympics, 15 thousand students took the streets to protest the army's occupation of the university campus. That afternoon 5,000 students and many other demonstrators and citizens who were supporting the students, congregated in the Plaza de las Tres Culturas in Tlatelolco. They were united for noble causes and I want to clarify that this was a peaceful protest.

Protesters were soon joined by army and police forces, equipped with armored cars and tanks. They surrounded the students and helicopters shunned spotlights directly at the students. Protesters were chanting louder, more than ever, demanding the repeal of Articles 145 and 145b of the Penal Code (which sanctioned imprisonment of anyone attending meetings of three or more people, deemed to threaten public order).The abolition of granaderos (the tactical police corps).Freedom for political prisoners. The dismissal of the chief of police and his deputies. The identification of officials responsible for the bloodshed from previous government repressions (July and August meetings). Yet the President of Mexico was determined to stop the student movements before the Olympics.

It started with the October 2^nd sunset. Police and Army forces fired directly at the students, it had been a direct order from the President. The forces enclosed the protesters, and killed students, demonstrators and passersby alike, including children. Dead bodies filled the streets quickly, some who did not die immediately, were brutally beaten. Some were arrested and other got away with severe injuries. Not only this but, soldiers went to nearby houses and killed anyone who tried to hide the students, or assisted their wounds. The killing continue trough the night. Many witnesses claim that the bodies were removed by garbage trucks.

The government defended themselves with arguments stating that the students, had attacked the forces, and they had to return fire in self defense. The President, Gustavo Diaz Ordaz, was convicted with genocide charges, but was release due to the lack of evidence.

The U.S.A plays a huge role in this even because the Pentagon sent military radios, weapons, and ammunition and riot control training material to Mexico before and during the crisis. This equipment was used to kill hundreds or even thousands of students.

The U.S released statements made by Government officials, 6 days before the massacre, stating that the student movements were going to be under control very shortly.

Yet, Gustavo Díaz Ordaz was never found guilty.

This event has a huge impact on me, and to many Chicanos and Mexican students, because it shows that students have always stood up for their rights, and they create peaceful walkouts, and protests. No one should forget The Massacre of Tlatelolco, because those students did make a change in society.

Here in San Diego, students from Mission Bay, have been protesting against weapons training in their schools and are still struggling to achieve that. My sister is one of those students and I am their follower, Tlatelolco represents the struggle that every student should do to make sure they always receive a better education and their rights are being respected. I admire the student leaders, the CNH, and every student who lost their life that rainy night, in order to defend their education.

Matilde Landeta

Matilde Soto Landeta

Matilde was one of the first women cinematographers is Mexico. When she was 14, she traveled to the U.S and saw "Old San Francisco" Directed by Alan Crosland, 1927, and that’s when her passion for cinematography started.

5 years later, her brother Manuel Landeta, an actor at that time helped her get involve as a script girl in 1932. She was the first Women, in Mexico to have a job as a script girl. She worked as a script for 70 movies. Until in 1945 she became Directors assistant for famous directors at that time.

In 1948 she made her debut as a Director for "Lola Casanova." in order to make this film, she had to put her house on mortgage, and funded the TACMA S.A de C.V productions, because no one thought a woman was capable of creating a movie, and didn't want to produce her film.

She was boycotted several times, and her film took more than a year to be premiered at a cheap theater.

She produced a second movie and was also boycotted, and by 1951, producers made sure her career never progressed. She spent 40 years without creating a film, but worked for an American network, writing 110 short films for Howdy Doody.

She later continued directing films and was awarded with the Ariel award. She was the first women to challenge the world of film making in Mexico and inspired many women cinematographers in Italy to do the same. She was also the first cinematographer to portray women as, for what they were. Women with knowledge, feelings and rights. Not prostitutes, like they were currently shown in films.