Review: Imperialism and Colonialism: E. Said

In the movie "Hotel Rwanda" is based on a true story. The conflicts between the Hutu and Tutsi peoples lead them to a civil war. The country soon after was corrupted and bribery was the daily routine. Paul who is the manger of the Hotel is Hutu but his wife Tatiana is Tutsi. George who is the supplier to the hotel who was also the local leader of Interahamwe (anti-Tutsi militia) is an activist who did not approve of Paul and Tatiana’s marriage. 

             As the country starts to get worse due to the political situation, Paul and his family watched their neighbours being thrown from their homes and beaten in the streets where everyone else can observe. When the civil war started a Rwandan Army Officer threatens Paul and his neighbours. Paul would try his very best to carry favour with people of influence. He would bribe them with money, alcohol and jewellery to make sure he keeps his family safe. When the war erupt it was very difficult for Paul to continue to negotiate safety and bring everyone to the hotel. As a manager of the hotel Paul must convince the Hutu soldiers to care for the people who were at the hotel and maintain the appearance of a functioning high-class hotel. The situation becomes more violent with mobs in the streets just ready to kill more people.

Critical Reflection #3 - Organic Intellectuals

             Gramsci discusses two types of intellectuals: organic intellectuals and traditional intellectuals. "Organic intellectuals are particular strata of intellectual that are connected to the dominant social class and acts as both an organizer, of society and its diverse organisms, and as its thinking element, leading the ideas of their class" (Gramsci, 1971). For example Gramsci stated, "Organic intellectuals are often recruited from lower classes and used to maintain the hegemony of the ruling class or they may provide an alternative hegemony" (Gramsci, 12).

Review: Do We Have Internet Privacy?

An issue today is the discussion about internet privacy. Parents of the young generation today are worried about the safety of their children because of the internet. The internet is a system of interconnected computer networks that uses protocol to serve millions of users worldwide. The internet is a network of networks that has millions of links that are linked by electronic and networking technologies. So why are many people afraid that they their internet usages are not private. Well, from what I believe and understand that the network of where you log onto can be detected and found by other users if they are using the same network.

 

Are You A Facebook Stalker?

 In class we discussed why some or most of us have facebook this video lists all the reasons we discussed in class. Facebook allows us to have surveillance on what our friends are doing in their lives. I found this video funny and very true. I'm sure many of us can yes to some of the things or all of the things said in this video.
1) Refresh homepage to see if there are any new notification etc... 
2) Going on your friends page to see their wall to wall 
3) Becoming friends with someone to see more of their informations 
4) Clicking through your friend’s friend pictures just to see all the photo in the album
The list goes on... The other reasons given are on point.  
See if you answered "yes" to all the reasons! Cheers  

Critical Reflection #2: The Panopticon

Perception of what is power will be viewed differently through one’s eyes.  Not everyone in today’s society will always agree on the same things.  Foucault uses the Panopticon as a way to explain power, surveillance and discipline in today’s society in his book “Discipline and Punish”.
Foucault uses the Panopticon as a way to explain power, surveillance and discipline in modern society.  The model of the Panopticon is used to monitor and moderate people.

Critical Reflection #1: Master Narrative

In class we discussed the article “Cowboys and Indians: Toys of Genocide, Icons of American Colonialism” by Yellow Bird. He discusses the roles of narrative in society.  Yellow Bird says that identity making are through stories that are constructed by series of events.  He believes in what he calls the “Master Narrative”. 

            “The everyday discourse of people in my community was also highly supportive of the master narrative” (Yellow Bird, pg 41).  According to Yellow Bird everyone use to call one other ‘cowboy’ or ‘Indian Cowboy’.  Master Narrative is a way of self identifying yourself or one another.  The whites would be called the ‘cowboys’ and the Indians would be called the ‘Indian Cowboys’.  Master Narrative has taught us that Indians are inferior to whites.  Whites are the dominant ones in society. 

Making the Mosaic

Multiculturalism in Canada

I grew up in Toronto and have grown up with many races.  Toronto is known to be very multicultural.  I personally have not experienced any form of segregation even though I am Chinese.  Multiculturalism is a fabrication that the Canadian government has created to manipulate the diverse cultures that reside in the great nation of Canada.  Canada clearly uses multiculturalism to objectify Canadian immigrants.  Using multiculturalism as a way to differentiate itself from other western societies by flaunting the diversity in Canada.  It is known Canada sometimes does not treat the residents equal.