Hey guys, Things here are ridiculously crazy. I have had a ton of work this week, which sort of sucks, but its mostly the computer design so its not that bad. This is the crunch time though, and after this we're done most of our stuff. Guess what? We turned in our first big grade to the Australian professor and everyone else was struggling for B' and I got the only A- that i know of!! I was really excited and he really liked what i had to say and how i structured it. Everyone was really impressed, especially considering that i didn't exactly stress about it since i don't get the grade. I tried to find where it was on the computer, but i emailed it to myself and forgot that i have to save outgoing messages. Anyways, I'll just show it to you when i get back. I've been saving all of my stuff to show you. The only problem is that the computer where my group saved everything is having major problems, so we had to call in computer techs and stuff, but no one can figure it out. Everyone else is stressed, but being that I'm not getting a grade, I'm not flipping out. Our teacher, the TA, the Australian Prof -- no one can figure it out. I'm the only one in my group who really knows how to do this stuff, so all oy my pages are done... and pretty decent considering, but everyone else is going crazy. dad, you'll be proud, i have some really good rollovers, that everyone including the prof like (i overheard the prof and the TA talking about how good they were :) It looks like the pages might not be as good as i had hoped they would, but my skills are getting really good with dreamweaver... i was even thinking i might design my own "kelly web page." When its up and running I'll send you the link and also the link to the nature essay i wrote (the other big thing we've had to do). Luckily, after tomorrow I turn it in and then we're off to Uluru, and then to Cairns!! I can't wait for SCUBA diving. I can't wait for that!! Sydney is cool, but I'm ready to be back in nature and away from the city. We are only a 10 minute bus ride, so i get to check out the city pretty often. There's a part called darling harbor that completely reminds me of nice version of the inner harbor. I think i'm going to go back and check it out and take some pictures. there's a really cute little part with a playground, that is almost like artwork, so i want to take some pics. OK, well back to work. I still have to edit my big paper and write 3 more little ones for tomorrow. Plus, I have a feeling people are going to come bug me about the web thing. I went into another lab and turned up the music, but i have a feeling they'll still come find me! I miss everyone and I can't wait to see you guys! I'm going to give a call tomorrow morning. I was going to call tonight, but i think kim won't be back. we have an optional field trip to a PR firm tomorrow, so i'll probably give a call around 11 pm for you guys, maybe a little early if i can get out of class and head back right away. Oh, mom, we watched the "dingo ate my baby" movie today. it was pretty interesting, have you ever seen it? also, i got the email card -- thanks :)
love, me
love, kelly
aka kell bell aka boesch :)
Hey Dad, I found where the A- papers were... not too bad if i do say so myself! His comments: "Indeed... Kelly, good work. Clearly written. Precise and concise notes." Mine had only a few little changes, a lot less than everyone else. go me go!! :)
>From: "Kelly Sugarman"
CONCEPTS Date: Mon, 09 Jul 2001 05:27:50 -0400 > >Kelly Sugarman >MSU Media >July 8, 2001 > > >Concepts > >
Egalitarianism: "A social philosophy advocating the removal of inequalities >among people." There is a strong belief in egalitarianism in Australia, >which is "a belief in human equality especially with respect to social, >political and economic rights and privileges." True egalitarianism is an >ideal way of life, in which there is no elitism. In any society with >differences economic status, ethnicity and education, there will be >elitism. Maintaining egalitarianism as a goal minimizes such discrepancies. >The media play a role in resisting the temptation to sensationalize the >lives of famous people the way that The United States does. Australia >prides itself on what is known as the "tall poppy syndrome," in which the >media "cut off the poppies" when they have gotten too large. They sometimes >mock the celebrities to remind them and their audience that celebrities are >no better than anyone else. > >
Imperialism: The control gained by one country over another as its ways of >life spread throughout the world. Americanization is one form of >imperialism as United States culture is visible in many forms of Australia >media and entertainment. In recent years, some people say Australia has >begun to conform to American characteristics. The popularization of >American media has brought with it cultural and commercial influence. >Technological globalization has created conformity, which some Australians >think will be harmful to their society. To prevent excessive imperialism, >there has been regulation on broadcasting too much American television on >the primary networks. During the prime time, networks must show 50-55 >percent of shows with Australian content. Television stations sometimes >choose to buy ideas from American television like "Big Brother" and then >put an Australian spin on them. Often it is cheaper to run American shows >than to create new ones, so the government felt that it had to step in to >resist the takeover of American culture. > >
Irony: "The use of words to express something other than the literal >meaning, often the opposite meaning is used instead." Irony is "an >incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs." Irony >may be deliberate contrast between apparent and intended meaning, which is >used for humor. It is often used for humor or satire in Australian language >and culture. Australians like to use irony in nicknames and jokes. For >example, sometimes nicknames like "bastard" or "tight-arsed" would be used >as a joke toward someone who the speaker likes. Australian wit is apparent >in this type of ironic inversion, though sometimes people unfamiliar to >cultural meanings do not understand the distinction between ironic meaning >and literal meaning. > >
Miscegenation: Interracial marriage, the fear that a race will be tainted >by marriage outside the race. There is an idea in many racist societies >that interbreeding ruins the "purity" of a certain race. In The Searchers, >Ethan Edwards and Martin fear that Debbie will marry the Native American >man. She was captured at a very young age and when they find her, she is a >young woman. When Ethan finds her living on the Indian reservation after >years of searching, he would rather kill her than let her live with the >Indians. Because her parents died during the massacre, he feels that he >represents her deceased parents. She eventually comes back home with Ethan, >but hesitates at first. Her life on the Indian reservation is all that she >knows. The director implies the feeling of many Americans of the time >period, that living the lifestyle of Native Americans is a fate worse than >death. Miscegenation is one of the many racist themes of this 1950s >classic. > >
Multiculturalism: "A social or educational theory that encourages interest >in many cultures within a society rather than in only a mainstream >culture." In Australia, the influence of the Aboriginal people is evident >in the art, dance, painting and literature. The importance of >multiculturalism is realizing that different cultural influences make up a >society, not just the predominant culture. Multicultural countries like >Australia and The United States pride themselves on accepting and >appreciating the influence of minorities. Both countries have a large >number of immigrants, which bring a little of their own culture to the >country. In the 20th century, multiculturalism finally became more of a >priority and people began to realize people should be proud of their >heritage. Recently, they have both began to appreciate their dynamic >cultural groups as part of their national identity. > >
Phonology: "The study of speech sounds in language or a language with >reference to their distribution and patterning and to tacit rules governing >pronunciation." It is the distinction between different people in speech, >including "modifications and combination of tones." Accents differ in any >language. In The United States, accent are regional, while in Australia, >they vary more based on class differences. As one of the only northerners >at a very southern school in Virginia, I was amazed at the differences that >there are in a language. For example, it took me over two months to realize >that the phrase written all over campus, "Dubyuhnell" meant "W&L," in >reference to Washington and Lee. The school was making fun of itself for >having a very stereotypical southern American accent. As an American, these >distinctions become more apparent when travelling and hearing the >Australian accent versus the American accent. One of our first days in >Darwin, one student made the mistake of asking a British man where in >Australia he was from. Since then, we have all tried to pay closer >attention to accents. > >
Stereotypes: "When people develop a standardized mental picture that is >held in common by other members of a group and represent an oversimplified >opinion and prejudiced attitude." In studying other cultures, it is >important to recognize and challenge stereotypes rather than simply accept >them. Stereotypes are common in many forms of media, including advertising. >Many times stereotypes are racist as they disempower minorities with >negative associations. They create one image that is supposed to represent >an entire group. Audiences should realize that they must explore beyond >stereotypes to create their own impression of a culture, once they have >learned about it. Stereotypes are part of any countryÕs problem in gaining >true egalitarianism. Travelling outside oneÕs culture makes many >stereotypes seem obvious. For example, not all Americans represent "The >Jerry Springer Show" or "Seinfeld," as many Australians have asked; and not >all Australians are "Crocodile Dundee."