Race and Ehtnicity

Wednesday, September 30, 2009
11:11 PM
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Listening to: Synchronicity -- FictionJunction Keiko
Mood: Depressed

Before anyone can say anything, I'm depressed because of an issue. I'm not back into a depression, I promise. It's just my Ethnic Studies class tend to make me a bit sad to see how we see each other or how we act to one another. Currently in the class we're focusing on White Racism which is completely opposite of what people think. It's not the hate of Whites, but how Whites are completely unaware of their status, and what they gain for just being "White".

One article stated that they weren't trying to make "Whites" to feel guilty about the situation that our society has created, but I couldn't help but feel guilty. I wasn't aware at all of what was really happening. I knew it was there but I never knew anything deeper than what was spoon fed me through society. And sometimes when I read the articles, it feels like there will never be a true understanding of each other, and that we'll always be racist in some way.

Though the class has taught me a lot, I've even shifted my behavior slightly to incorporate what I've learned from the class. Especially dealing with categorizing people in my mind. I'll admit when I first see someone I almost instantly define what race someone is because that's how society has wired our brains, according to my professor, but it doesn't mean that I do it in a negative way. It's just an instant thought that appears when I (or someone) takes in another person's appearance.

But anyway, getting away from my little rant. One of the articles interviewed five white woman their childhood to see if geographic positioning affects how people think about "race." They really narrowed down on how each woman reacted to the exposure of people of color. With each story it made me think about my own childhood, I remember moving a lot since my dad was in the military. The beginning of my years was living with my grandparents and other family from my dad's side, along with my mom. But the first friend that I can ever remember was Sarah who I met in North Carolina. She was an African-American who always seemed to have a big, toothy grin on her face. Her eyes were wide, and her dark hair pulled into a bunch of little braids with bright pink bow shape clips at the ends to hold each braid. It's been years since I've last thought about her, but I'm surprised that I still do. And then when I moved out into Arizona, one of my first friends and closest friends still today after 11 years was Eric. He was not "white" either, rather he was from a Mexican heritage.

I've always been exposed to being with other people of race and treated them like how I wanted to be treated, but from what the articles say, I'm in someway racists which frustrates me because I don't see that at all. Maybe I just don't like being defined in someway, I do notice the differences... but it doesn't mean that I let it stop me. For gosh sakes, I joined the BSU (Black Student Union) at my school.

Also, it feels like society discourages interracial marriage. To be honest, I most likely not going to marry someone of my color. I don't find a lot of white guys attractive but there's also the fact that international culture fascinates me. It's a reason why I want to become a cultural anthropologist. I want to study over seas and understand people, and their ways. Katie says I'm definitely going to marry some Japanese guy, but because I'm so into their culture. But back to the subject, because of this I'm pretty much breaking out of my "box". I refuse to be categorized, and follow the unwritten rules of what society wants me to be. Hear that!? I defy!

Well, that is the end of my rant for now. I needed to get that out before I went to bed or I would have so much trouble sleeping if all this was swirling around.


Drawing = intimacy

Tuesday, September 15, 2009
11:02 AM
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Listening to: Sad Love Story -- Kim Hee-Seon
Mood: In pain


I finally understand.

My homework for ART 100 (Art Appreciation) was to read a chapter on drawing. I actually learned quite a bit that I've never knew before, though I still need to finish it. I only got half way through the chapter last night but that's not the point. One of the first paragraphs was describing what drawing is. Apparently drawing is actually an intimate action.

The textbook described that artist's sketchbooks are not always meant for public views, it's their personal thoughts down on paper. In my own words, a sketchbook is like a journal with pictures instead of words. It makes a lot of sense. I consider myself an artist even though I'm not following it as a career. I've always been a bit weary of showing people my sketches, except for a few selected people unless what I'm making for public view. Only Katie, and my art teacher, Mrs. Gabaldon , are the people who I feel completely comfortable with showing.

Tati as well, though I didn't want to really show her the drawing of him, but after a long time I finally showed her.

I've decided to keep this current sketch book that I promised to fill out for Mrs. Gabaldon close to me, and not almost no one see it. Hopefully by the end of the school year (or even during the summer) I'll completely fill it up. And I want to experiment a bit as well, like trying using just ink instead of pencil. Even as I write this down I feel very weary with my decision right there.

But another fun fact that I learned. During the Renaissance, many artist used something called a metalpoint as their drawing utensil, but what was really interesting was that they used to use pure silver as the pigment placed on the paper like how lead is for pencil today in modern times.

A small update about my "depression", I guess you could call it. It's getting a bit better, I still have quite a bit negative emotions still floating around but I think because the up coming exams I have it's making me focus instead of dwelling on my feelings.


Another add to the depressing category

Thursday, September 10, 2009
11:08 PM
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Listening to: Boku ha gawa ni iru kara -- An Cafe
Mood: "This is bad"

I'm starting to smile. But not in a way that's good. I smile every time I see/hear his name. He who is starting to haunt my thoughts left and right. I knew it was bad, but it's gotten to worse. It's driving me insane that I feel like this, I haven't even met him personally.

I'm still feeling depressed. I mean, when I talk to Tati (and other friends) I'm fine. But then when I'm alone, or I read the past entry of my blog, it just comes rushing back. There's nothing to distract me from those thoughts, those feelings. Especially those feelings. I just get swallowed up in everything that's in turmoil in my mind.

The bad part is, I'm going to be alone this weekend. Stephanie is going to be going to Phoenix to visit Christopher, and go to a few parties. I'm going to be left alone with all this still swirling in my mind, and it's going to be horrible.

Drawing usually can keep myself in check since art is the artist's emotions on paper. Every stroke of a pencil, brush or any utensil to make something, the artist is pouring their feelings into it. It's why one of the reasons when I'm so over emotional I draw to let it flow out of me.

But I've finally started to draw him.

I've been practicing on my realistic technique with people, and almost unconsciously I pulled up one of my favorite pictures of him, and started to draw him. And drawing a person from a reference is bad, well, in this situation. Because I'm noticing every single detail about him. The shape of his eyes, his jawline, hands, how exactly his hair is styles... every single detail! Even when drawing I found myself thinking; "I really like his eyes." And I find that I really, really like his eyes.

I swear, I'm going to go crazy. Even though, I just finished talking to Tatiana through IM and she tells me to cheer up, I feel like I can't. And I haven't told her about drawing him yet, I as just reminded when I accidently picked up my sketchbook instead of my notebook.

I just feel like screaming, and keep screaming until I pass out from lack of oxygen.


Just blank

Sunday, September 6, 2009
10:54 PM
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Listening to: Filth in the Beauty -- the GazettE
Mood: Blank/empty



I like having the icons in the beginning of the entries. It feel like it gives the entry some life, but that's just a random thought that popped in my head that I felt like expressing.

My new netbook all ready has gotten a virus, some type of mal spyware. I dropped it off at the school's Tech Center, and I should be getting it back some time within the week. But I feel a bit down at the fact it's literally brand new. I have had it less than a week and it's all right gotten something. It's actually quite depressing.

Speaking about depressing, I'm in one of those moods again
where I'm just filled with negative emotions. Self-loathing, critical, want of something I can never have, lonely.

The self-loathing is actually gro
wn since I've been here in college. It's almost every time I look in the mirror now a days. My thoughts are usually are on the line of; "I look disgusting." I hate how my face is porportioned, how my nose looks, the color of my skin, how the achne getting worse each passing day and it doesn't seem to be going away. My hair is starting to look ratty, flat, and just not pleasing to the eye. The darkening color under my eyes. I honestly just hate it. It doesn't help either that I'm surrounded by people who just seem to be absolutely gorgeous, I feel so plain in comparison. Like Stephanie, my roommate, she's just simply beautiful.

And she's got the personality to match it. She's making friends left and right
without any problems, she's so out going. Then there's me, I feel so plain despite my odd likes. Every Tuesday and Thursdays I go through most of the day completely alone. I'm quiet, shy, and not great at speaking to other people I don't know. Those days I find solace by texting Tati. The confidence that I was gaining in the months of May, and June has disappeared almost instantly. I guess I feel envious of Stephanie, but not in such an ill manner. Just want, and wishing. But I will never tell her that I feel all this, it's better to be left in the dark.

The
want is driving me insane as well. The heart wrentching desire to be with a certain someone. Only Tati will know of this person, but it's still a horrible feeling. I know there is no chance; it's one of those situations where people say, "One in a billion." And I hate having this hope inside of me because in the back of my mind is screaming that it's impossible.

Impossible. Impossible. Impossible. Impossible. Impossible. Impossible. Impossible. Impossible. Impossible. Impossible. Impossible. Impossible. Impossible. Impossible.

And I just feel so alone to pile that up on that
want/desire. I just wish there's somebody that will stand there, hold me, and not let me go. But this makes me so angry because I shouldn't have to feel this way. I should be stronger, I shouldn't need someone. I've gotten by eighteen years, nearly nineteen as my birthday slowly approaches, why would I need someone now? I can get by, so why the hell do I feel like this? I just wish these confusing feelings would just disappear because music doesn't seem to be helping anymore.

Lately, I've been fearing that I might get insomnia, I think I found the source.

Someone, just make it disappear.