Prompt 6

The formal writing that we are forced to partake in during our academic careers entails a taught structured prose that we learn through imitation. It is a standard way to learn to express oneself through writing that is accepted in the academic world. It teaches us to communicate in an effective manner. A manner in which has been established by academics before us. We learn how to do it by reading other academic prose, essays and arguments written by academics that make an argument about a particular topic. As students, we then imitate the methodology others have used to make an argument. Whether it is a research paper, a descriptive paper or an argumentative paper, the way we write and present them to our audience are the same. We begin using this type of writing in school as soon as we begin to write essays in the 4th grade, and continue to write this way through our college years in which prepare us for the professional world. Even in the professional world, we are expected to communicate in a professional manner, which I believe is modeled after the academic writing we learn.
Generally, besides in our college classrooms, we express ourselves and communicate everyday through non-written acts. Everything we do to modify ourselves is making an argument about who we are or want people to think about ourselves. How we dress, do our hair, accesorize and do our makeup make a statement. It fits us into a certain group which we identify with. Working out and staying fit makes an argument to others that we are healthy. Even daily hygenic acts, like we discussed, communicates that we care about our bodies or don't, like shaving. We also communicate who we are by what we do. All careers, jobs and hobbies have a stereotypical person which fits into each of these. A lawyer is thought to be very different than a teacher, or from a model, so on and so on. Someone who rock climbs is a certain person and someone who sews is a different person. Also, art, in all forms, is an act of expression. Painting, sculpture, music, acting, dancing, photography, and many more are different acts we use to express ourselves through. In this way, especially, we take authorship and control.
However, whatever way in which you express yourself or make an argument through, there is a limit to how you can do it. A person can only do so much to themselves. Body modifciation can only go so far until it becomes harmful. Body modification can only break the norm so long until it becomes so popular that it is the normal trend. As Pitts argues, no matter what you do and the meaning that it has to you or you are trying to portray, it is limited by societies interpretation. It is intersubjective, she says, meaning you do not ever have complete control because it will be washed out by society. I agree with this argument. There will always be a limit to everything you do as long as you live within society and if you chose to live outside society than you are not making an argument to anyone.

Prompt 5

These two very different cultural artifacts give two different views of body modification. The National Geographic "Tattoos, piercings, & body markings" Gallery documents both traditional and modern primitivism as a cultural art that serves a particular role and/or meaning. The argument that this gallery makes is that body modifications are unique and extreme. It argues that is is against the norm for mainstream Western cultures besides the leading modern primitives yet a deeply historical norm for many other cultures across the world, including Africa and the South Pacific. It argues that this act of body modification needs to be preserved because of its cultural significance. The argument it makes about the body is that it is a medium in which one uses to express things about oneself. Things like status, beliefs, identity, beauty and faith.
The second cultural artifact, the NPR program, Marketplace's "Inc.'s a bit more at ease with ink," makes the argument that body modification has been increasingly incorporated into mainstream society. This in turn has made it more acceptable and part of the norm. Because of the popularity of tatooing, more people get them for no particular reason. It makes the argument that the body is a means in which one expresses their identity and portrays status and self-worth in a professional environment.
My own view point falls somewhere in between these two arguments. I understand the historical significance of modifications done by primitive societies because of their meaning and tradition. However, I do not understand modern primitivism. I do not believe that Westernized populations who partake in modern primitivism are making arguments to society. I do, however, believe that the body is a means to represent oneself to society, and when one modifies their bodies to extremity it is in means of resisting the cultural norm.

Short Writing Assignment 2

Curtis Hopi
Originally uploaded by jilliansayre

The photo I have chosen by Edward Curtis is entitled Hopi. I am assuming that this is the name of the Indian tribe that the subjects in the photograph are from. The genre is the labor of an old Indian tribe. The medium is a non-colored photograph. The historical context that I can gain from this photograph is that because of the medium we know that it had to have been taken in at least the early 20th century. This means that it is the much later part of the Native American era, yet we see that their civilization has not advanced itself to the times. The subject of the photograph is four Hopi Indian women. They are located inside some type of working house. It looks like a very small space and probably made out of some type of adobe or clay. There are tools or various equipments hanging in the background, implying that the subjects are not inside a home. The arrangement of the women is all four equal to each other in a single line. This shows them as all from the same caste; not one is more important than the other. They are completing some kind of task. They each have their own defined space in which they are rolling something. In front of them it looks like there is a bowl of maybe some kind of grain. Maybe they are rolling out dough.
Never the less, the women are being displayed as an inferior body. They are all on their knees and looking down, a clear symbol of submissiveness. There is no distinction between them showing a lack of individuality. They are all wearing the same clothes, which are very simple and plain. It looks like a robe with a shawl over their shoulders. However, they are completely covered, something different than what we saw with the early Native Americans. Perhaps, this was because over time the influence of the Europeans showed them it was right to cover one’s body. Their hair is also identical. It is parted down the middle with two twisted buns, one on each side of their head. Perhaps since they are working they put their hair back as to not get in the way of their work.