First Paper

I enjoyed writing this paper. It was cool to watch the movie, Gender Codes, to understand how models are posed to have hidden meanings. I always knew the phrase, "sex sells," but I never knew the deeper meaning. I wouldn't have known that there are specific poses that interpret so much. Then it was cool to put that new understanding to advertisements we got to critique. It was a good start to assignments because it was our opinions as well. It was not the stiff research assignments like most classes. It was interesting and fun to look closely at ads we use everyday and see what was trying to portray. It was different and fun. It was helpful that we had time in class to peer review and ask questions. I have never had a teacher that emphasized peer editing as much, but it definitely led to better results.  

Important Quotes

From Mondo Barbie:

“This and a dress invented from an old sock when we cut holes here and here and here, the cuff rolled over for the glamorous, fancy-free, off-the-shoulder look.” I chose this quote because it expressed their creativity because they couldn’t buy all the different outfits and accessories that are made for Barbie. They still feel fashionable, without the glitzy ball gowns and perfectly matching outfits that are made for her. It made the girls seem to understand a sense of reality with their own creativity and imagination.

“So what if our Barbies smell like smoke when you hold them up to your nose even after you wash and wash and wash them. And if the prettiest doll, Barbie’s MOD’ern cousin Francie with real eyelashes, eyelash brush included, has a left foot that’s melted a little – so? If you dress her in her new “Prom Pinks” outfit, satin splendor with matching coat, gold belt, clutch, and hair bow included, so long as you don’t lift her dress, right? – who’s to know.” I love this quote because it’s a little sad that the girls have Barbies that smell like smoke and are covered in soot, but they make the best of the situation. They sound empowering and confident. Its hard when you’re a child and you don’t have access to all the great toys that your peers are playing with, but these girls are happy just to be able to have the half melted Barbies. They are brave and the way they say so what? is great.

From Body Outlaws:

“Now, I wouldn’t strip in a smoky, dim club for men who like to exercise control from the shadows – too often using more than just imagination or money. But I live every day in a misunderstood body, and I have never had a day that taught me more confidence, more self-love or more power than the day I stripped.”  This is the best quote because you can understand the confusion and the scare. “Misunderstood body” is the best way to describe this story because this person is not sure if female or male is a category that suits them. But there was confidence finally after stripping because people respected the performance and probably made the audience feel better too.

“I introduced the room to my transsexual body, my disabled body, my woman’s body.” I chose this quote because she had to strip to become herself or accept living as either a man, woman, or with no gender. Stripping changed her feelings of who she was and wasn’t worried about what others thought anymore.

I like that with blogging, it is a journal that can be viewed by everyone. People can share their feedback and opinions on similar subjects. It is a way for other people to share interests. 

First Blog

My name is Annamarie Schroder. I am a psychology major with a Spanish and art history minor. I am from Cincinnati. I have two older siblings, I have one brother and one sister. Each of us are four years apart. I enjoy reading romance and travel novels, watching movies and being active. I have a Siberian Husky named Tundra. An interesting book to read is Eat, Pray, Love; if anyone is interested in travel and a true story about a woman's journey through Italy, India and Indonesia. I am interested in travel; a few summers ago I went to Paris, London, Barcelona and Madrid. And the following summer after that I traveled to Greece and Turkey. My dream is to travel to Italy to experience the food and architecture/art. I was in journalism in high school and always thought I would be a writer; but orientation of college I randomly changed to psychology.