Since our main goal is to make homeless more visible, we wanted to use some of the readings to back-up why we picked this. In "The Everyday Geography of the Homeless in Kansas City", the author Paul Rollinson makes a few points that support our mission. "Early in the 1980s, homelessness was viewed as a tragic and temporary aberration affecting the most vulnerable members of US society. Today, it appears that homelessness is not an aberration: 7.4% of all adult Americans have been on the streets or in a shelter at some time during their lives (Link et al., 1994)." This is an important claim because it highlights one reason as to why people sometimes overlook who actually make up the homeless population. Sometimes a person can be in a shelter for just periods of time, on and off again, and the public tend to not see this as not being homeless. Why? Because most of society tends to view a person being homeless only if they absolutely have no shelter at all, more of the extreme of homelessness. This is one major reason it gets overlooked.
More support comes from the article "Alternative Cartographies of Homelessness:Rendering visible British women's experiences of 'visible' homelessness"by Jon May, Paul Cloke, and Sarah Johnsen. "Constructions of homelessness move around a number of powerfully restrictive
tropes. In the popular imagination homelessness tends to be reduced to the experience of ‘visible’ homelessness or ‘rooflessness’ (May, 2003). Thus constructed, it may in turn come to be understood as mainly restricted to the urban realm and largely, if not wholly, a male preserve (Cloke et al., 2000; Higate, 2000a)." This is a very important notion because when it comes right down to it, many people think of the homeless as predominantly males. It's hard to picture a homeless woman, especially if she has kids. This is partially true because society doesn't want to admit that it happens in our country and by not admitting it then it's not a reality.
Our campaign would help out in making the situations, like the ones in the article, more visible. It can be clearly seen that many homeless are being overlooked. It would require society accepting that it is a real issue and needs to be dealt with. By highlighting the fact that there are more homeless than those of the extreme end, those without absolutely any shelter whatsoever, I think people would have a better understanding of how big of a problem it actually is. This is why we want to make it more visible to the public.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Discussion of Examples and How Homelessness is Portrayed in Cultural “Artifacts”.
In our examples of how homelessness is portrayed in society we could see common themes through various types of media. Our examples of movies, documentaries, comedic television shows news articles and music give us a wide scope of how homelessness is portrayed. I think the main them to these portrayals of homeless is one that shows them as unequal and dehumanizes the homeless. In the article, "working without place", the author states, "homeless is also a term of disrespect for those who do not fit into a conception of home- who do not fit prevailing standards of housing, land tenure, family form and material comfort." In some of these examples we see the hardships the characters go through without having this place of "home". In these media examples we can see a a displacement of place and the adaptation to survive these conditions whether it be short term or long term. In these examples you also see the urban setting of homelessness which is discussed in the article "Alternative Cartographies of Homelessness: Rendering visible British women's experiences of 'visible' homelessness. The authors conclude, " In the popular imagination homelessness tends to be reduced to the experience of 'visible' homelessness or 'rooflessness'. Thus constructed, it may in turn come to be understood as mainly restricted to the urban realm..." In these portrayals you can see the economic hardships the in-turn lead to the loss of home and the individual struggle to redefine "home".
In some examples they relocate to shelters and others find a way to live on the streets temporarily before they can figure something out. In all these examples you can see the you can see a problem of an individual's struggle to recuperate instead of having structural support. I agree with the article " The Everyday Geography of the Homeless in Kansas City" as i conclude with this statement, " Faced with a problem that is unlikely to go a way in the near future, it is imperative that we begin to see the problem of homelessness not simply lacking a roof and to understand the context within which the experience of homelessness is embedded. Any lasting solutions to the problem must address the individual vulnerabilities and the structural causes of that problem." The problem lies in the structure in which homelessness is created not solely created by the individual.
In some examples they relocate to shelters and others find a way to live on the streets temporarily before they can figure something out. In all these examples you can see the you can see a problem of an individual's struggle to recuperate instead of having structural support. I agree with the article " The Everyday Geography of the Homeless in Kansas City" as i conclude with this statement, " Faced with a problem that is unlikely to go a way in the near future, it is imperative that we begin to see the problem of homelessness not simply lacking a roof and to understand the context within which the experience of homelessness is embedded. Any lasting solutions to the problem must address the individual vulnerabilities and the structural causes of that problem." The problem lies in the structure in which homelessness is created not solely created by the individual.
Friday, May 13, 2011
10 Examples of Homelessness in Popular Culture
1. The Pursuit of Happiness (movie)
2. Dark Days (documentary)
3. Phil Collins-Another Day in Paradise (song)
4. The Soloist (movie)
5. South Park Episode (tv show)
6. The Real Face of Homelessness (Time article)
Article Link
7. A Night on the Streets (NY Magazine article)
Article Link
8. Made Homeless by Tornado, Alabama Victims Ponder Their Next Moves (LA Times Article)
Article Link
9. CBS-Teens Beating Homeless (news)
10. Trading Places (movie)
2. Dark Days (documentary)
3. Phil Collins-Another Day in Paradise (song)
4. The Soloist (movie)
5. South Park Episode (tv show)
6. The Real Face of Homelessness (Time article)
Article Link
7. A Night on the Streets (NY Magazine article)
Article Link
8. Made Homeless by Tornado, Alabama Victims Ponder Their Next Moves (LA Times Article)
Article Link
9. CBS-Teens Beating Homeless (news)
10. Trading Places (movie)
Readings and in class discussions
We are focusing on the 'invisibility' of homelessness, hoping that bringing the subject out of the taboo and into the mind's eye of the mainstream public will help motivate change and create a commitment to helping our societies displaced people.
In the Working With Place article the interview with the suburban woman was enlightening, they say that there are no homeless in their neighborhood because "we have a good, helpful community. If folks are in trouble we help them. All the undesireables keep to themselves or move away."
-This shows almost a sense of denial about the problem, as well as the popular mindset that homeless are 'undesireable" and that no homeless could come from a good, wholesome town.
Campaign for the Homeless
The goal of our public education campaign would be to shine a light on the 'invisibility' of homelessness. By reducing the invisibility factor we can bring this issue of homelessness closer to the mind of the everyday person in mainstream America, and hopefully that will lead to more initiative toward solving the problem.
We want to emphasize that the homeless are people too, they have a background and are just like me and you. The problem is that society tries to distance itself from the issue, as we hope to resolve that mindset by creating a public awareness campaign that coveys the message that one day it could be you, or someone you care deeply for. The television ad would show first a young woman or man graduating from high school or military training, and being showered with love and attention, then that same person in the next scene as a homeless and saddened individual being passed up and ignored by the people passing by, walking over him.
Our ad campaign would be accompanied by posters put up around college campuses and in downtown areas that show images of homeless life with the faces of the homeless being a blank white space - the message being that the "next time you look it could be the face of a loved one."
On the posters and after each TV ad we will post a phone number for people to call and donate, we will work with local shelters and proceeds will go to making these facilities better/more available to the range of people that are homeless, as well as generating job training and rehabilitation programs.
Our project's name is Humanizing the Homeless and our slogan is "Four Walls and a Roof are all that separate HOME from HOMELESS"
We want to emphasize that the homeless are people too, they have a background and are just like me and you. The problem is that society tries to distance itself from the issue, as we hope to resolve that mindset by creating a public awareness campaign that coveys the message that one day it could be you, or someone you care deeply for. The television ad would show first a young woman or man graduating from high school or military training, and being showered with love and attention, then that same person in the next scene as a homeless and saddened individual being passed up and ignored by the people passing by, walking over him.
Our ad campaign would be accompanied by posters put up around college campuses and in downtown areas that show images of homeless life with the faces of the homeless being a blank white space - the message being that the "next time you look it could be the face of a loved one."
On the posters and after each TV ad we will post a phone number for people to call and donate, we will work with local shelters and proceeds will go to making these facilities better/more available to the range of people that are homeless, as well as generating job training and rehabilitation programs.
Our project's name is Humanizing the Homeless and our slogan is "Four Walls and a Roof are all that separate HOME from HOMELESS"
Identities, Meanings, Geographies of Homeless
Meaning: A person without permanent or nighttime residence.
Identities: Lack of control, sense of shame, seen as litter by those in the mainstream, often times issues with mental health or substance abuse. Disassociation from family and society, creating a feeling of alienation.
Geographies: Typically centrally located in large cities, away from public eyes such as under bridges or in alley ways. In rural and suburban settings homelessness is more hidden or invisible.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Identities, Meanings, and Geographies of Homelessness
Meaning: A person who is without a permanent or nighttime residence.
Identities: Lack of control, a sense of shame, seen as litter by those in the mainstream, often times there are issues of mental health and substance abuse.
-Disassociation from family and society, resulting in a feeling of alienation
Geographies: Typically in central areas of larger cities, away from public eye such as under bridges or in alleyways or secluded areas of public parks. In rural and suburban areas the homeless are more hidden both literally and in the minds of the community.
Campaign
Our goal with a public education campaign would be to shine a light on the 'invisibility' of homelessness. People tend not to want to think of the homeless and so they are marginalized to areas where they can be mostly unseen. We will also incude a number for people to call in and donate, with the proceeds going to local homeless shelters and centers of rehabilitation.
By making homelessness an issue that can be seen in the public forum and in a different light, we hope to create a hightened awareness of homelessness which can generate a willingness to help. By making the issue less 'invisible' we can make people reflect on how the homeless are people too, and should be seen as somoene who could be a loved one or even ourselves.
In class we talked about the Working with Place which talked about how homeless are seen as a lesser class of person or as "human litter"
An attitude like this would rather have the problem unseen that dealt with, and so it is the focus of change that needs to be made in society's view of homeless.
This can be seen not only in cities where people are forced out of sight under beidges or in abondoned lots, there is also a problem with invisibility in the suburbs. The same article includes an interview with someone from a rural community. The person exclaims there are no homeless in her town because they have a "good, helful community. If folks are in trouble we help them." She then goes on to say that all the 'undesireables' keep away. This links homelessness with being undesireable in the mainstream eye of society.
We feel that people need to look at the homeless in a different light, taking everything into considderation about how they are a person!
Description:
Our campaign would be a tv advertisement that shows that homeless people are human too. We would shine a light on where homeless people come from and that they could be a loved one or good friend. We hope to create an intimate view of homelessness so that poeple no longer want to distance from the problem, but want to get involved. We would show a soldier or a young person in an accepted situation recieving love and attention, then the same person only a short time afterwards being in a shelter or soup kitchen wondering what happened, and accepting a rock-bottom status in society.
By making homelessness an issue that can be seen in the public forum and in a different light, we hope to create a hightened awareness of homelessness which can generate a willingness to help. By making the issue less 'invisible' we can make people reflect on how the homeless are people too, and should be seen as somoene who could be a loved one or even ourselves.
In class we talked about the Working with Place which talked about how homeless are seen as a lesser class of person or as "human litter"
An attitude like this would rather have the problem unseen that dealt with, and so it is the focus of change that needs to be made in society's view of homeless.
This can be seen not only in cities where people are forced out of sight under beidges or in abondoned lots, there is also a problem with invisibility in the suburbs. The same article includes an interview with someone from a rural community. The person exclaims there are no homeless in her town because they have a "good, helful community. If folks are in trouble we help them." She then goes on to say that all the 'undesireables' keep away. This links homelessness with being undesireable in the mainstream eye of society.
We feel that people need to look at the homeless in a different light, taking everything into considderation about how they are a person!
Description:
Our campaign would be a tv advertisement that shows that homeless people are human too. We would shine a light on where homeless people come from and that they could be a loved one or good friend. We hope to create an intimate view of homelessness so that poeple no longer want to distance from the problem, but want to get involved. We would show a soldier or a young person in an accepted situation recieving love and attention, then the same person only a short time afterwards being in a shelter or soup kitchen wondering what happened, and accepting a rock-bottom status in society.
10 Examples in which Homelessness is Portrayed in Cultural "Artifacts"
1. Dark Days-Documentary About NYC Homeless Living Underground
2. Trading Places-Eddie Murphy Movie
3. South Park Episode-Night of the Living Homeless
4. CBS News-Teens Beat Homeless
5. Pursuit of Happiness-Will Smith Movie
6. Time Article-The Real Face of Homelessness
source: http://img.timeinc.net/time/photoessays/homelessness/counselling.jpg
Time Article Link
7. NY Magazine Article-A Night on the Streets
source: http://images.nymag.com/news/features/homeless080324_7_560.jpg
NY Magazine Article Link
8. Phil Collins Song-Another Day In Paradise
9. The Soloist-Jamie Foxx Movie
10. LA Times Article-Made homeless by tornado, Alabama victims ponder their next moves
source: http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2011-04/61273823.jpg
LA Times Article Link
Author: also Erik Smith
2. Trading Places-Eddie Murphy Movie
3. South Park Episode-Night of the Living Homeless
4. CBS News-Teens Beat Homeless
5. Pursuit of Happiness-Will Smith Movie
6. Time Article-The Real Face of Homelessness
source: http://img.timeinc.net/time/photoessays/homelessness/counselling.jpg
Time Article Link
7. NY Magazine Article-A Night on the Streets
source: http://images.nymag.com/news/features/homeless080324_7_560.jpg
NY Magazine Article Link
8. Phil Collins Song-Another Day In Paradise
9. The Soloist-Jamie Foxx Movie
10. LA Times Article-Made homeless by tornado, Alabama victims ponder their next moves
source: http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2011-04/61273823.jpg
LA Times Article Link
Monday, May 2, 2011
Summary
It can easily be seen how these three views react with one another. Being able to map aspects of Greek life, observe the class system that is created within the community, and the roles and norms of these people are all important to their identity. Sometimes it may be expected to act a certain way such as being elite which would then become a role and possibly a norm to all the Greek community. Also, a role is that they should maintain this class system because it gives them a sense of identity and to "one up" the rest of the student population in a way. As far as the empiricist view, by mapping these locations and knowing where they are, it also contributes to the Greek life identity because it is a familiar place where members of the same group gather and share common interests and beliefs.
Observation Through a Constructivist Lens
source:http://www.10tv.com/wwwexportcontent/sites/10tv/local/stories/2009/11/17/images/image_ou_280.jpg
As a member of a fraternity, Delta Tau Delta, I saw firsthand how norms of behavior were implemented. During rush my fraternity emphasized 'wild' parties with sororities the most. Thus, heavy drinking was immediately attributed to my fraternity's lifestyle. Although, we also were engaged in a limited amount of community service it was not something we mentioned too much in detail as well as anything about GPA expectations. I know the pledges we were looking for were athletic and 'cool' guys. Many of my fraternity brothers also wore certain brands of expensive clothes on the weekends such as Ralph Lauren, J. Crew, and Lacoste. By becoming a member you were accepted by a large group of people who threw large parties that girls attended. Hazing was implemented to get rid of weak individuals or guys who weren't committed as well as develop strength. An elitist view was emphasized when you became a Delt and were encouraged to display almost an overbearingness of confidence. At the time, we were considered a part of the 'big 3' on campus by some people, which also included Pike and Fiji. Other fraternities were considered inferior and sometimes altercations occurred. Subsequently, my fraternity was suspended for 5 years my junior year because of a hazing incident. A summary of the norms of behavior that were associated with my fraternity were partying, sports, 'gaming' with girls, while exuding a humorous and confident approach to life. On the other hand, school and volunteer work were of secondary importance. Through all of the partying, some members still managed to be admitted into graduate and law schools as well as on occasion medical school. Our overall GPA was about the average for Ohio University.
An article about Delta Tau Delta's suspension
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