Grace's Scope: American Pop Culture

    R eading chapter 5 in Grazian one of the main points I took away from the chapter was “cultural producers tend to work collectively in collaborative circles and other social groups.”(pg.115) this I felt really related heavily when I learned of the fascinating techniques that were utilized in Hollywood: A Celebration of American Silent Film, Ep. 11: "Trick of the Light" documentary, especially being able to manipulate the light but using white tablecloths or boards till it became a standard in filming. Then as technology had grown there were also a development of artificial lighting than natural lighting, although it was pretty harmful to the eyes, until it was legally required to have glass used. Even for effects with glass if they wanted to create more elaborate sets they would paint over the glass and have it used to film with the camera in the front at the exact spot you were shooting at to create a scenery as if you were transported to different time periods or c...

4 questions for blackface minstrelsy: Why were white audiences so taken in by Blackface minstrelsy in the first place?  How popular was blackface minstrelsy across globally? Especially to the point where Al Jolson who was from Lithuania, and became the most popular blackface artist of the 20th century? When did black entertainers feel more confident to compose works unrelated to their pre-disposed harmful stereotypes? How did the williams and walker company stand out among the rest of black musical theater companies? These questions came across my mind strongly whilst reading History of Minstrelsy From “Jump Jim Crow” to “The Jazz Singer” but also taking into the concepts from Grazian such as Defining Culture, “ to the sociologist, culture refers to a mode of living in the world as a social being, as represented by the shared practices, rituals, behaviors, activities, and artifacts that make up the experience of everyday life.” We know that Rice took these superficial observations ...

     If I had to be honest... to describe my "Home Culture" I feel it would take up a plethora of this post. But to simplify this the best way I can, my family moved here from Guangdong, China (the South part of China) in the eighties. Leading me to be born in the United States, making me a first generation citizen.  I feel culturally connected to my American side since English is my first language, but my mother would always remind me about my Chinese culture in the way she raised me . For example celebrating both holidays such as Chinese new year and Christmas. I moved around with my family a lot as a kid and lived in both San Francisco and Seattle. My family was not really the typical "nuclear" family, having majority of my life lived with my Mother only, while she took care of me and my older sister. Another rather large aspect that has influenced me especially in my youth till now was B-Boying/Breakdancing when I was in high school, which has led me to my l...