Homework #11

1)

One cultural artifact that represents American culture that was very apparent over the course of this week would be the use of technology. I took many pictures of students and friends using various forms of new technology, such as cell phones, iPads, and laptops. American culture revolves around the newest and fastest gadgets that become available. These things also tend to be topics of very many conversations among people as well. It is all about who has the next greatest device and it then in turns seems to give them a sense of pride and higher status than other people. This is a reoccurring theme that I encountered throughout the week, and it kind of surprised me just how frequently everyone was talking about apps, and the iPhone 5 and things such as this. This, I think, applies to American culture more so than others because our market is so swayed to these ways. Other cultures don’t seem to hide behind technology as Americans do.

Another thing that I took a picture of this week would be the various amounts of fast food restaurants. Even on or right next to campus there are so many, from Arby’s to Taco Bell to the classic standard McDonalds. The amount that exists even in this small town is astounding, which completely represents our culture and its overall weight problem that we have. Most Americans will depend on fast food when they do not have time to make a meal or sit down and eat a proper meal that takes longer to get at a restaurant. Due to this, fast food becomes a staple in most American homes; kids at younger and younger ages are becoming accustomed to eating unhealthy. Most other cultures value family time more, therefore home cooked healthier meals are more important than just throwing fast easy food on the table. This is becoming a huge problem in America and it would be very hard to try to reverse its effects.

2)                          This painting instantly stood out to me when I was searching for different forms of art work on google. I chose to pick a painting because that is one of my favorite forms of art, since I love to paint as well. Also, all the different colors captured my attention like no other on the page, I have rarely ever painted or drew something without vast amounts of color in it. Yet, when you actually look at this painting, different meanings and objects come about the longer and harder you look at it. This is specifically what made me choose this. I like to think that’s exactly how I am as a person. I am not predictable or easy to read and I often change my mind about everything all the time. Therefore, the only way someone can get to know who I truly am is by spending time and trying to find patterns as to how I act, much like this painting. Every time I look at it I find something new that I did not notice the first time, and I very much think that is how my personality is, I’m constantly making jokes and figuring out new ways to make people laugh, things that people would not expect by just a first glance at me. Also, I could not pass this painting up because this is very similar to my art technique, I rarely just draw or paint with not specific reason or thought behind it. There are always hidden messages and meanings in my art work, and this painting exemplifies just that as well. Therefore almost anyone who’s looking at this art work could find their own personal meaning in it, exactly like mine.

Homework #10

1. One thing about American culture that I have started to notice that’s getting worse as the years pass is actually the lack of social interaction.  As walking around on campus you will see hundreds of students on their phones with headphones in not talking to anyone, even if they are walking in a group of people! It gets worse when in a class room setting as well, barely anyone speaks to each other, they are more concerned with Facebook, Twitter and texting. Most conversations happen over these website or via text message than they ever used to before. It seems as though it is getting rarer to have face to face conversations as the years go on.
2. One interaction that I was involved in actually happened today when I was able to go visit my family for Easter. I have a huge family and everyone gathers in the same room and feasts on various types of food, due to our Russian and Polish backgrounds. Some would not be common to most, but they are to us. Another thing would be that there is always a certain way to saying grace at our table, and it is always done by the head of the table, who is now my great uncle.
3. One thing this week that I think exemplifies individuality would be expressing your personality through your appearance.  I saw this girl on campus that has vibrant yellow hair. Not the typical blonde hair, but bright daffodil colored hair. This girl made me realize that people often express themselves and feelings through their appearance. The way someone carries themselves can tell a lot about who they are. This girl with the yellow hair expresses her individuality through her appearance.

Homework #9

1. Americans often think it is rude to talk about many different personal topics with people that they do not know that well or even some people they do know. The first issue being finances. Americans find it impolite to talk about money in social settings because it can come across as bragging, which can make other people feel inferior and that is not helpful in work situations either. Another issue would be religion, most people have a set opinions and beliefs and it would be very easy to offend some one with opposite beliefs. It is just easier to avoid this subject completely, than rather start a debate. The last matter is politics, this kind of goes hand in hand with religion; the same social outbursts of different opinions are viewed just as bad as religious ones. It is rather saved for closed knit groups.
2. In Thai beliefs, if an elder is sick than they are commonly moved into the household of family members and are taken care of. Yet, in the United States there are companies dedicated to serving elders, things such as in home nurses and even nursing homes. It is quite the opposite for the two cultures.
3. I wouldn’t say that there are specific incidents in my life that have shaped the way I think or view life; I think society also has a huge impact. For me though, success is always on my mind. My family is successful and I would hate to not live up to their set standards as well.

Homework 7

1. People have become so dependent on money that it can come off quite shallow. It runs this world, and the population. Whereas before the money based economy was so influential, everyone was happy doing work and helping people out of sheer generosity. This is a hard to find now a days, when all people want is the maximum amount of money for a service they’re providing.
2. Yes, I made my friend Christmas cookies over break for helping me study for my accounting final.  These types of relationships in my point of view tend to be more personal than those based solely on money exchange. Money can be so cold, it tends to be a quick nonverbal trade.
3. One sentence that stuck out to me the most in the second reading was “America’s main role in the new world order is not as a military superpower, but as a multicultural superpower.” This sentence is important because it almost sums up the whole passage. After fully reading this, I completely agree. I was baffled at first, but it is 100% true.
4. Two negative things that instantly come to mind are that people would lose who they really are, and their sense of personal culture because it would be so mixed in with everyone else’s. Two positive things would be that everyone would be so connected because you would be able to experience every different type of culture out there. So in turn you would be able to understand people in every aspect.

Homework 3

1. I’m not too sure if an intelligence based catastrophe would occur in our lifetime, but I do think that our generation is due for some kind of uproar. Whether it’s about the world ending due to some environmental problem or from a nuclear power plant blowing up, everything in those crucial moments before hand would be completely chaotic. Every one acts differently in stressful situations, therefore imagine almost seven billion people acting completely different at the same time. There are no words that come even close to depicting how unstable things would be.

2.  I think that Artificial Intelligence is very likely, maybe not in our time period, but I can definitely see it existing in the future. Technology has come so far even just the past couple of years; it’s only a matter of time until complex robots are built. The idea of robots and them being able to perform difficult tasks has been around forever, and the urge to finally make a successful one will never go away. Therefore, when these robots actually exist, I think it will completely change the world as we know it. Humans will no longer be the leading race; we will have to compete with robots that can do everything we can. I think everything will be even more competitive, and humans will start to question who really runs this earth; man or machine.

3. There will be both advantages and disadvantages with the existence of artificial intelligence. For example some disadvantages could be the simple fact that they could take over and completely make the human race endangered so to speak. Also there’s a chance that humans could become even lazier. If robots were at every ones disposal and could perform everyday tasks, than why would we do them? Simply make the robots do it. This would be everyone’s mental process. Though, on the positive side, robots could do a great deal of good. They could program them to fight wars, which would in fact increase our human population. This would save millions of lives, and bring people together.

4. I’ve never had a computer crash on me, but I have had my fair share of problems with technology. From cell phones randomly shutting off, to the internet stop working all together during an online quiz. This actually happened to me last semester and I then had to go into my professor’s office hours so he could re-open the quizzes and finish them. It was an inconvenience, especially because it was near finals week and I had a lot of other things to be doing.

Homework 2 – morality

1. As I first read the initial question my mind instantly spit out the answer of Mother Theresa. Yet, after reading the whole passage and learning new facts about each person, my answer has changed. It seemed to me as though Mother Teresa was more of a social figure than she was anything else. Yes, she did do some great things, but Norman Borlaug seemed to have done better things in my mind. As according to the passage, Mother Teresa’s patrons received less than par medical care and terrible conditions. Prayers only go so far in my mind, medical assistance trumps religion, and Mother Teresa did not offer that.
2. The two most admirable people in my mind would have to be my parents. They have always done the right thing for me even if I do not agree with it because they are genuinely concerned about my well-being. Their input means the most to me and even though everyone goes through tough times they always come out on top. This does show me how I am morally because family means the most to me and I would never do anything to purposely hurt them. Also because they brought me up and most of my morals I have learned from them.

 

3.  I would have to agree with the concept of universal morality. If this was not a true idea than every person would look and view common courtesies differently. Granted there are some people who do not follow these, but usually there is something wrong with them mentally. Therefore, most of the population in my opinion has the same outlook on what is right and what is wrong. Without this common sense of morality the world would be completely chaotic.

 

4. The five elements of morality written by Haidt are harm, fairness, community (group loyalty), authority and purity. In my opinion Americans tend to rank harm and authority first. There are so many groups and organizations to fight against different types of harm and most people have the right moral sense.  Also, we are brought up with the simple rule “do not harm what does not harm you.” Second, we are taught who and how to respect our elders at a very young age. This carries on for the rest of your life, from parents, teachers, managers and so on. This concept of authority is engraved in our brains, and is followed every day. If Americans were not so heavily influenced by this idea than ranking orders would not exist in any way like they do now.

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