Meritocracy

           Meritocracy does exist in our society today. I believe it is true that people who are taught from the start that they are from a successful, educated, and high class family ("superior" kids in the video) are more likely to be motivated than those who are from a lower class, uneducated family ("inferior" kids). I also believe that if someone works hard, they could achieve the American Dream. The video supports meritocracy, because the group of kids that were considered superior did perform the tasks that they were given better than the ones that were considered inferior. I think that the kids who were superior expected better of themselves which made them live up to the image that they were given. Being in a lower class family, however, makes it more challenging to get into better schools. The kids who are inferior think that they are considered low. I believe that inferior kids and people in general should try harder. Inferior kids should not give up just because they are being "named". despite the lack of resources available to a lower class individual, there is always a case where typical stereotypes are completely reversed.
            The case previously discussed ties into meritocracy. I have always believed that a lower class individual should work hard enough and they would succeed in life. Meritocracy is based off of skills and abilities rather than on a person's wealth. To conclude, if someone from a lower class possesses the necessary skills and abilities to succeed, they will. 

Television Impact

         The invention of the television is an important event in history. I believe that media does influence the action of teenagers in many ways. It is something that every child recognizes and a modern society cannot live without. Now a days, Television has changed how children and teenagers live. It also changed the source of entertainment. Really, the newspaper is no longer necessary because we can inform everybody with shows, news, or programs in the T.V. Overall, it has impacted this generation of teenagers a lot because they are conformed to act in a way which we all think is right. Looking at today, daily exercise is something that rarely happens. Due to the fact that teenagers rather watch a show or go to the movie theater for entertainment. It has become an on going issue that we face. America's teenagers is increasingly becoming more exposed to to explicit material. It eventually creates a more violent youth, which is now seen more.

Story Time- Norman Rockwell Painting

         It is Christmas time, the Jackson's are at home celebrating this great time of the year. The weather for the last few days has been a bit unstable. It is snowing already in the town and the Jackson's are extremely happy with the weather. Caroline and Mark are enjoying the day before Christmas by spending quality time with the family playing board games. After a few minutes they both hear something outside the house. Caroline runs up the stairs, in a hurry to see what all the noise is about. She reaches her room in a second. As she runs to the window, she trips over her brothers shoe. Eventually getting up, she is frustrated at her brother for leaving his shoe in the way. She gets up and tells herself to calm down and relax. She gets to the window and looks outside and finds her dad unpacking his suitcases from the car as it suddenly begins to snow. It looks like winter wonderland outside as she sees her day getting better, because her dad fulfilled her dream of coming for Christmas to spend time with them. She eagerly shouts and screams "Come, I have something to show you!" Her mom comes up with Mark and the dog Vinny. As they reach the window they look outside to find their dad. They smile and excite as they see the snow filing the road like a blanket of white sheets. They are extremely filled with joy to know that their Christmas is filled of happiness.  

Sexism

     In my opinion this ad is very sexist. Notice how the guy only worries about the beer, but does not worry if his wife is injured. This shows that men cared for beer. As well as, that men were led to whatever they saw. I guess that women in the 1950's would get offended by this ad. I would not appreciate somebody to only care for beer. I seriously believe that sexism is a serious problem in society today. It was not so different 60 years ago. Society in the 1950's was engulfed by the idea that a women's job was to cook and clean, and had no business in doing either. The ad shows that men would enjoy by drinking beer. Why would men care more for beer than for their wife's? Ads like this show the weakness of women in the 1950's. Hopefully, in the progressive society things will change. 

Topic.10 Study Concepts

McCarthyism Impact on Society
-House Committee on Un-American Activities
-Lead to paranoia among the people.
-McCarthy charges writers, directors, producers, and actors with communist propaganda in films.
-Anxiety over Communism intensified in the U.S.
-Goes after the "Hollywood Ten"

Communist "Witch Hunt" and impact on those accused
-Supported by anti-Communist committees and groups.
-Imprisoned hundreds of government employees (mainly those in entertainment industry).
-Thousands lost their jobs.
-Many were arrested.
-Invaded lives of many citizens.

Space Race impact on government policies
-Soviet Union beat the U.S. to space with Sputnik
-As a result, USA responds by pouring more money into the education system.
-Begins the Cold War competition.
-U.S. government started to create more space programs.

Cold War mind set for the United States Government and public
-Caused great fear in the public and government.
-Soviet Union beat us to space in the technology race.
-Today's Competition: Soviet Union vs. USA in technology.
-USA afraid of Communism.
-Houses in the U.S. had bomb shelters in case we were attacked in the race to build atomic bombs.

Relationships of suburbs, automobiles, and roads 
-In 1950's more families moved to the suburbs.
-As a result a norm was established that meant thatt a family could own more than one automobile.
-More reliance on cars.
-So in effect more roads were need to compensate the extra drivers on the road.
-1956: Interstate Highway Act
-America was on the move.

Baby Boom
-In 1955: One baby was born every 7 seconds.
-Men came home from war to their wives, had children.
-1946-1960
-Causes: 20 years of "tough times"-->(World War II and Great Depression),
                 Removal of social and economical restraints that kept people from having families.
-Also caused consumer boom.
-Causing the current Social Security issues.

Urban-Suburban Pattern
-Business District
-Inner City- Low Income Families
-Suburbs- Middle Income Families
-Suburbs- High Income Families

GI Bill
-Bill that provides WWII veterans college or vocational education.
-Provides loans to start businesses/homes.
-One year of unemployment compensation.
-Supported those who served.

Expansion of the Middle Class (why were things"affordable")
-Low prices on consumer goods.
-Suburbs= Less expensive homes (Levittown)
-Invention of the Credit Card.
-The number of credit cards rapidly increased from 1945-1960.
-More consumers due to the baby boom and economic boom.

Show and Tell

 

       This is an Engineers Compass that was utilized during WWII. Used in 1945 by the US Army Corps. This compass were important to keep next to your side. The compasses helped them get to where they wanted to go. Many times soldiers would get lost without a compass, so it was hard to tell where one was going. Soldiers saw this compass as a very useful item to carry in a pouch. They also took a lot of care of this item. If the Army Corps wouldn't have this compass, they wouldn't know where they would be headed. Items like this compass have been passed down to many generations of children as a gift and collectible.

 Source: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?VISuperSize&item=230595838645

Casablanca Outline

I. Setting
         A. Casablanca, Morocco
                     1. WWII, 1940's
II. Introduction
         A. Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) 
                           1. Owner of "Rick's Café Américain" 
                           2. Main Character
                           3. Very cynical man 
         B. Two German courriers murdered
                           1. Rick wants to go back to America 
                           2. German leaders want Lazlo to stay in Casablanca 
                           3. The Germans want murderer who killed the courriers dead        
         C. Ugarte (Peter Lorre)
                            1. Criminal who arrives at Rick's Café with "letters of transit"
                                          a. Rick hides them in the piano of his cafe
                           2. Plans to sell to highest bidder
                           3. Gets arrested before exchange 
                           4. Dies in custody of the police
                           5. Entrusts the letters to Rick
         D. Isla Lund (Ingrid Bergman)
                           1. Rick's ex-lover
                           2. Married to Victor Lazlo
         E. Victor Lazlo (Paul Henreid)
                           1. Resistance Leader
                           2. Tried to meet Ugarte for the letters of transit
                           3. Escaped from Nazi concentration camp 
III. Rising Action         
         A. Isla arrives at Rick's Café with her husband
                           1. Ilsa recognizes Sam (Dooley Wilson), the house pianist, and asks him to play "As Time Goes By".
                                         a. A significant song between her and Rick
                           2. Rick becomes upset upong hearing the song                          
                           3. Rick finds out that Isla is married to Victor Lazlo
IV. Climax
                 A. Victor asks Rick for the Letters of Transit
                           1. Rick refuses to give letters because of his past with Isla.
                           2. Lazlo learns of Rick and Isla's past.
                           3. Rick and Isla plan to let Lazlo leave and stay in Casablanca together.
                 B. Strasser and german officers begin singing a German pride song
                           1. In response to that, Lazlo orders the band to play "La Marseillaise"
                 C. Strasser acts back by having Renault close the club.
                 D. Isla confronts Rick in the cafe
                            1. She tries to get the letters back and threatens him with a gun when he refuses to give her the letters.
                            2. She confesses her love to him.
                            3. Flashback to their romance in Paris-Isla thought that Lazlo had been killed when they fell in love, when in reality he was alive.
                                           a. Isla left Rick with only a letter.
V. Falling Action
                 A. Rick agrees to help Isla, and makes her believe that they will remain together after Lazlo leaves.
                            1. Isla is hidden in the back when Laszlo unexpectedly appears in the cafe.
                            2. Rick and Laszlo talk.
                 B. Laslo acknowledges and tells Rick that he is aware of the love between him and Isla.
                            1. Tries to persuade Rick to have the letters in order for Isla to be safe.
                 C. Police arrest Laszlo
                            1. Rick convinces Renault that he can set him up and charge him upon a more serious crime.
                 D. To calm the situation, Rick tells Renault that he and Ilsa will leave for America
                 E. Renault while calling the airpot, makes a secret call to Major Strasser.
VI. Conclusion
                 A. Police try to arrest Laszlo as they had planned, but Rick threatens to shoot and let Isla and Laszlo get away.
                 B. Rick makes Isla leave with Laszlo, assuring her that staying with him was the best decision.
                            1. Isla disagrees but is forced and convinced to leave.
                 C. German officers arrive, Rick shoots Strasser.
                 D. Rick and the police officer become friends and walk off into the distance.