Resistance and Deviance

Historicity is the study of history as it continues through time and to be conscious about things we are not aware of, or thought about it. I wanted to build on this term due to a conversation I had with Dr. Merci earlier today. We were in a discourse about non-violent resistance and protest, specifically the example we analyzed was the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Dr. Martin Luther King was seen as a Religious and Ethnic Deviant (Dr. Stiler, 2009). I would also categorize Dr. King as one who practiced "resistance". He challenged the dominant and/or hegemonic white culture of American Society. Specifically he focused on oppressive races, class, and authoritarianism. Discussing Dr. King's practices allowed me to connect his efforts to our efforts today. Our Goals for social and educational justice focus on transforming the culture of schools as well as the culture of our society. Other theorists that support such change are Arnowitz and Giroux. They state that not all oppositional behaviors have radical intentions (1985). What may be viewed as resisitance, may actually be only a deviant act. Regardless, the intention is to transform society and cultural norms.

The lesson learned for me was that earlier in my studies within this program I viewed Dr. King's acts as criminal in nature, regardless of intent. I analyzed his behavior strictly from a dominant culture point of view, based on the law and nothing else. Without question, I understood the intent of his actions. However, I did not agree with breaking the law. But if he didn't break the written law, new laws would not have been inacted. Change towards equality may have been delayed for many more years to come. His intellectual courage gave him the strength and willingness to sacrifice his own saftey and subsequently his life to transform the dominant culture of this society, to a society that actually started to see all men and women as equals. Of course this journey continues to take place, even today, the struggles continue in our cities and in our classrooms.

The day after President Obama's inauguration, I read an article on MSN.com that described Obama as being a transformational leader. It is evident that he intends on transforming the cultural beliefs of this country, as Dr. King did as well. However, this is the beginning of his journey. Over time, we will see if he is truly a tranformational leader. We will see if he chooses to resist the norms of our society and the norms of our government. Will he possess the same intellectual courage that Dr. King possessed? We will soon see. I pray that he does and I look forward to fighting the battle that he is about to enter, and to assist him with doing my part towards transforming our country to a country that truly promotes democracy and freedom for all men and women based on one reason, because they are Americans, and human beings, nothing else.

Metanarrative Analysis

Tonights metanarrative about the perception of female Disney characters reminded me of the days when I learned what Barbie Dolls were all about. I imagined that every woman should be a vuluptous woman who had a slender figure with prom queen hair.

Much to my disappointment, not all women looked like the Barbie Dolls and Disney ladies that I once watched on TV and seen in magazines. So why did I think this? Was I living in my own fantasyland? Of course I was. Disney, Mattel and others were able to capitalize on their marketing schemes that captivated young men with grand delusions of tall, vuluptous women. While destroying the self esteem and confidence of young girls and ladies that did not look like the figurine models and princess that both Disney and Mattel portrayed in their characters that they created and presented to the public and the world.

So why is it that we have manufacturers of products and propaganda that wants to create these images of what women should look like. Why can't our princecess and Barbie Dolls be short, fat, tall, skinny, or anything other then tall, slim, and endowed? Perhaps they have a prejudicial bias towards such physical appearance and stereotypical entitlements such as being a princess who will be swept off her feet into Paradise by her handsome, charming, tall, good looking Prince.

Is this the message we want our kids to see and learn? Of course not, our children should learn that we all have different appearance, different opportunities and that not all people are privileged. Perhaps we should portray young ladies that become independent and become role models to their siblings and peers. Perhaps we should show people immigrating to America and making their dreams come true through hard work and dedication to their goals. Very few of us will live the fairy tale dream. So what we once fantasized about, we eventually became depressed and discouraged about. Most of us didn't become the Prince or Princess. So did Disney fail us, or did Disney give us something to strive for? Some would say they failed and others would say why would we want to strive towards something that is not even a reality. Either way, their capitalistic view of what women should look like has had it's toll on the perception of society about what a woman "should" look like according to Disney and Mattel and not according to the Norms of our society and the "real world!" Even then, I sure would like to date a few more Barbie Dolls and Princesses, I wonder why??? ;-)