Give Me Head with Hair

lifestyle in which drugs, music and My roommates and I were fortunate to attend the Luther College Theater/Dance Department production of Hair. The reason why I wanted to go is because I loved the movie and I enjoy many of the song that are featured in the musical. When they were holding auditions in the fall, I wanted to try out but since I had to take Ed 115 I couldn't. The musical of Hair centers around the hippy culture in the 1960s in which drugs, music and the love-peace lifestyle was significant. The plot also surrounds the issue of the draft that occurred in the Vietnam War. I believe the musical Hair was a good experience because it dealt with many issues that can relate to many of the same issues that are happening today. I also believe that the musical Hair can be education because it demonstrates how the war affected the lives of the youth in the 60s. This related to what is happening with today's youth. Many of today's youth oppose the war that is occurring over seas. The musical Hair in my opinion is a good experience for up incoming educators because it demonstrates that everyone has their own opinions about controversial issues such as war. In order to be a good educator, we must be able to listen to every one's opinion instead of trying to change them to agree with your own.

Ethnic Art Festival

My friends and I attend the Ethnic Art Festival which consisted of: booths that represented different countries throughout the world, a bazaar of goods that came from different countries, a performance consisting of acts from different countries and cultures and a dinner with different foods from all over the world. Although the festival was a good way to learn about the culture of countries, I do not know if is the best way to educate students. We discussed in Ed Psychology that Culture Day is not the best way to educate people of other cultures but instead provide a curriculum that integrates cultures throughout the world on a everyday basis. Although the enjoyed the Ethnic Art Festival, I believe that we should find another way to integrate this educational experience on a everyday basis instead of one day of the year.

Vagina Monologues

Every year I get very excited to attend the Vagina Monologues. One of the reason is because many of my friends are part of the production. I believe the Monologues is a good opportunity for people that are not actively pursuing a Theater Major to get involve with theater and acting. Another reason that I attend the Vagina Monologues is because it is very entertaining as well as being extremely educational. The Vagina Monologues is based on over 200 interviews that were conducted by Ensler who is the founder of the V-Day movement. The Monologues celebrates the strength and sexuality of women as well as educating people of many gender equality issues. I believe that the play educates many of the issues that women must and went through throughout history. Although some of the interviews are vulgar and use appropriate language, I believe that everyone should attend the Vagina Monologues because the interviews are direct reference from real women and issues that happen in their lives. I believe that all teachers should attend so they can educate their students of gender equality issues which will help make the classroom a more equal environment.

Black History Month

This year, Luther College was fortunate to hold the Black History Month Conference. This conference consisted of a weekend full of lectures dealing with issues concerning the African American community. I was fortunate to attend one of the lectures that was held during the conference. The lecturer's name Walter Benn Michael and he presented a lecture entitled "Model Minority." Michael spoke about race and the Luther community. He believes that ending racial injustice will not be the solution for ending all other injustices. He also claims that issues of poverty has to do with racial problems. He believes that "Ending racism will not end those problems." He states that the issues between races are fantasies that the American society created. Micheal goes on to relate the idea of race to the college setting. According to him, Asian-Americans are over-represented in American colleges and universities whereas blacks and African-Americans are under represented. His reasoning behind this is because Asian Americans are looked at as being "white" in the eyes of Americans. According to Michael, economic inequality is a bigger issue than racial disparities. He believes that if race was completely gone, there would still be inequalities in the United States.

I did not agree with much that Micheal said in his lecture. In my opinion, I believe that the economic issue for black Americans is a race issue. Many economic issues that are happening and happen in the United States are due to the issue of race. I believe if race and the issues behind race were abolished, many of the issues behind economic issues would be abolished as well.