Blog Post #4: Storytelling

Last year, Penelope and I won our annual city doubles tournament during High school tennis season. That year had been really important for us, because Washburn had beaten every team in the conference, except for Southwest. We had been the second best team in the city, consistently getting beat by our rivals. This tournament was our last chance to beat Southwest, and claim the title for the city doubles championships. The first two rounds were held at Powderhorn Park. I remember Penelope and I were very nervous. All we could think about was getting past each round, which would bring us one step closer to the finals. Our first two rounds went very well, which we won pretty easily. It was getting dark, and one the High School coaches announced the two final teams which would play the next evening. Washburn versus Southwest. The Southwest team started cheering and high fiving, as if they had already won the tournament. Penelope and I were really excited, but it wasn’t until the next day that we felt nervous.

The next evening, the finals were to be held at 6. It was at the University of Minnesota. When we got there, our opponents were already there. There whole team was dressed from head to toe in Southwest paraphernalia. Finally, the coaches called our names, handed us three tennis balls, and showed us which court we were playing on. The anticipation was killing us. We practically ran down the steps to get to the courts as quickly as possible. It seemed like forever until we finally started playing. We had to play a full 2 out of  3 sets. Penelope and I had a game plan. Target one the opponents, and hit the ball as hard as we can. On match point, Penelope and I couldn’t stop laughing. We were so close to beating them! Match point went on forever, until I saw my opportunity and hit a volley winner down the middle. We crushed Southwest 6-1, 6-0. We ran and hugged each other. The girls from Southwest were very mad, and didn’t say anything when we shook their hands. Our parents were cheering, everyone was really proud of us. They had a small ceremony for us on the courts. Our coach handed us two, big, shiny trophies with tennis players on top. I was so proud of myself and my partner. Everyone had expected Southwest to win the whole tournament. However, we kept our heads straight, tried our best, and everything worked out in our favor. That was a very proud moment in my life, and a feeling I won’t ever forget.

Blog Post #3: What's Current Creates Currency

4. What makes music popular is the person that sings that song. When a person becomes a celebrity, the content of that song doesn't have to any particular meaning. However, because that person is liked by a majority of the population, a mediocre song can still become a hit. 

1. The values in MTV music videos have changed considerably. Watching it now, you see a lot of sexual songs and music videos, fame and lots of money. Also sometimes promoting the stereotype of certain social groups.

3. Popular music can dictate what others believe. Especially for younger generation. If there are songs that sing about drugs and money and kids like those songs, they may think its ok do to what their favorite singer is talking about. This also reflects on the cultural values on our society. When people sing songs that exploit women or talk about them in a provocative way, then people can think its ok to say those things, even if its inappropriate.

6. Music influences peoples ideologies by constantly singing about one thing, and then selling that to the public.

7. Music reflects cultural values in many ways. When someone really likes an artist or a genre, they will try to incorporate that particular lifestyle into their everyday lives.

Blog Post #2: Disappearing Languages

1. The languages that I chose were from Aboriginal Australia. The Aborigines have already lost several languages and, and they are continuing to lose more. Among them, the Magati and Amurdag languages have less than 10 people that can speak their language. I chose this because I remember watching a documentary on Aborigines losing their identity, and I thought it would be interesting.

2. Their languages are considered dying because hardly anyone speak them. The languages couldn't stay alive because many aboriginal groups were small and displaced due to historical conflict with settlers. After that it was difficult to preserve their culture and language.

3. Trying to maintain these languages would be very difficult to do. However,  gather the remaining speakers and try to define their language again. Also creating some sort of dictionary and educating other people about the language

4. SLANG CHART
- Term: What's poppin homie,  Translation: Hey how are you,  G. Generation: Why friend, how are you today?
-Term: Chill, Translation: You need to calm down,  G. Generation: Please sir, calm yourself

-Term: Cray cray, Translation:  That is crazy, G.Generation: Wow, that is very wild my friend

-Term: So swag, Translation: That is so cool, G. Generation: I find that very entertaining

-Term: Turn up, Translation: Time to party, G. Generation: Time to have a splendid afternoon

5. My generation can keep its language alive mostly through social media, and constantly adding our new slang words in the dictionary.