How many times have you flipped through radio stations in the car, randomly coming across an upbeat Spanish song? How many times have you heard a Pitbull or Shakira song with that infectious beat compelling you to dance and groove? I will be the first to admit that everytime I hear Shakira’s ever so popular, “Hips don’t Lie,” I can’t help but belt out the lyrics. I have listened to my fair share of Latin music over the years; however, my very first memory of Latin music is hearing the Christmas classic we can all recognize by its distinguishable tune, Feliz Navidad.
As I was thinking about songs like Feliz Navidad and the immense popularity and craze over Enrique Iglesias and Pitbull songs nowadays, it is strikingly evident that Latin music has taken America by storm and has unimaginably left a lasting imprint on U.S music, whether we are really cognizant about it or not.
Popular U.S. music today is flavored with unique styles and sounds drawn from many parts of Latin America, specifically Spanish-speaking countries. From the soulful fusion sounds of Santana to the pop confections of Ricky Martin, Latino musicians have contributed what I believe is some of the most memorable and innovative styles, rhythms, and vibrant sounds in American music. But what is it about Latin music that makes it so popular and almost irresistible?
We hear Latin music on the radio, on TV, in movies, and in clubs. Obviously, Latin music has catchy beats and tunes, but I think it’s sheer cultural richness and diversity is what appeals to many. Over the past 400 years, Latin music has evolved to be an incredibly diverse blend of various musical styles, beats, and rhythms from different ethnic groups. Additionally, Latin beats and sounds continue to express the pride, identity, and lifestyle of the Latino culture which is why it intrigues many, myself included.
Now before I discuss my thoughts on the more contemporary Latin American artists we’re familiar with, I wanted to share some background on another way in which Latin music has tremendously impacted the American cultural landscape… Zumba!
I am sure by now you have heard of the dance fitness frenzy and craze that is Zumba. I have attended a couple Zumba classes here at Penn State, and let me tell you, the energy, beat, and dance moves put together is quite the exhilarating Latin fitness experience!
For those of you who don’t know, Zumba is basically a Latin-music inspired cardio class. By simply going to an hour long Zumba class, people can get a flavor of the Latino culture by dancing to the different Latin beats and rhythms.
Latin American music continues to grow in popularity and when looking at contemporary Latin music, artists like Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, Enrique Iglesias, and Pitbull continue to be prominent on the pop charts. More recently, Latino artists have been incorporating more Spanish into their songs, which actually seem to garner even more popularity in America. Latin Grammy and Billboard winner Don Omar’s, “Danza Kudaro”, currently has approximately 700 million views on Youtube, Enrique’s “Bailando” (a personal fav of mine) has been on the iTunes top 100 charts for months now, and Adrenlina by Wishin, Jennifer Lopez, and Ricky Martin received 10 million views on Youtube in just a week.
Believe it or not, in Kansas, state employees can now be fired, harassed, or denied a job simply for being gay or transgender. The worse part is…it’s perfectly legal.
One of the biggest news stories that has recently caught my attention and has sparked discussion amongst many is the fact that the Kansas Governor has removed protections for LGBT employees as of last Tuesday.
In 2007, Kansas barred employment discrimination against gay, bisexual, transgender, and lesbian state workers under an executive order signed by the state’s previous governor, Kathleen Sibelius. Last Tuesday; however, the current governor of Kansas, Sam Brownback, abruptly revoked this order causing uproar especially amongst human rights and equality activists. He felt as though the order placed in 2007 created additional ‘protected classes’ and the expansion of these classes must not be done through unilateral action and rather needs legislative approval.
As a proponent of equality and attaining human rights, Brownback’s decision appalls me, and leaves me quite perplexed. Under Brownback’s new order, Kansas’s workers are still protected against race, religion, age, color, and gender discrimination, but not sexual orientation? Why is one group of people being singled out, when most other state employees are being treated equally? Why are we removing rights instead of adding them? Is our nation taking a step backwards instead of forwards?
In fact, even the legal director of Kansas’s American Civil Liberty Union, Doug Bonney, deemed the ruling as unprecedented and shocking, and the Human Rights Campaign condemned his actions as “reckless, shameful, and foul”. In the grand scheme of things, by losing LGBT protections that they’ve had for over 7 years, the state workers in Kansas are returning to a situation that is all too familiar to many American employees. Currently 29 states, including Kansas, have no protections put into place to prevent discrimination against sexual orientation, according to the ACLU. Additionally, hundreds of gay, lesbian, and transgendered workers have jobs that are now at risk, after believing they were safe on the job for close to a decade.
This issue raises up two important questions: Was rescinding the order constitutional and what was Governor Brownback’s true intentions behind removing LGBT protections?
When examining the Constitution and the Court’s precedents, state-sponsored discrimination against gay workers was found to be unconstitutional. Whether there is a ban on LGBT discrimination or not, the Constitution forbids states from “the equal protection of laws.”
Although Governor Brownback stated that his primary reason for reversing the executive order of 2007 was due to the fact that they did not receive official legislative approval to ban job discrimination for sexual orientation and gender identity, many people say that this was not his only incentive. Asides from political reasons, many people argue that personal beliefs played a tremendous role in influencing his decision. In fact, he widely supported and defended the previous ban on same-sex marriage in Kansas, before it became legal. Furthermore, historically speaking, efforts to prevent employment discrimination have been advanced by unilateral action in the executive branch, followed by the legislature passing a law. Both Presidents Harry Truman and John. F. Kennedy issued executive orders in order to prevent discrimination. Thus, this further exemplifies that politics was not the primary reason for his actions.
The fact that the Governor repealed an order banning discrimination for LGBT groups sends out the overall implication and negative sign that Kansas does not care about the issue of equal rights and that the people are not deserving of protections. Thomas Witt, the executive director of Human Rights Campaign, “Equality Kansas,” stated that the new order would cause LGBT state employees to be viewed differently at work. I find it disheartening, yet interesting that the job performance of state workers was no longer measured by the quality of their work, but rather by whom they love and go home to at the end of the day.
Brownback’s behavior is a direct assault on fairness and equality in the state. Unless actions are taken politically to reverse the orders of Brownback, paranoia will begin to set in for the LGBT state employees, outcries will increase from the LGBT activists and the country as a whole will be taken backwards in terms of equality.
Instead of choosing one particular song to analyze, I wanted to do something a bit different this week. In light of the 57th Annual Grammy Awards this past Sunday, I decided it would only be appropriate to share my thoughts on what is arguably one of the most momentous events in the music industry.
To be honest, I could probably spend this entire blog post discussing the array of unique fashion choices I saw Sunday night. Rihanna’s fluffy, pink dress alone caused social media to blow up with thousands of hilarious memes and jokes. Was she getting ready for her quinceanera or her 15th birthday party? The world may never know, but I’ll just leave this here.
Here are a few other gems I found while searching the beauty that is Twitter…
I’m not gonna lie, this one made me laugh.
Although the fashion this year at the Grammy’s was “interesting” to say the least, I want to focus on what the night was truly about: the music. Each performance of the night had its own distinctive, prodigious elements, but the ones that I found particularly notable were ones by Katy Perry and Beyonce. In comparison to last year’s Grammy’s, which was filled with upbeat performances, this year’s was a somber affair. Lots of speeches. Lots of tears. Lots of solemn ballads. Sam Smith alone took home 4 Grammys for his sentimental, soulful song, “Stay With Me,” about a former love.
Katy Perry’s, “By the Grace of God”
The Grammy’s this year placed a spotlight on the growing issue of domestic violence. Katy Perry made a huge statement against domestic violence through an emotional performance of her hit song, “By the Grace of God.” Her powerful song details an intimate moment when a person feels hopeless, but manages to pull herself up “by the grace of God and put one foot in front of the other.”
Brooke Axtell, a survivor of domestic violence, introduced Katy Perry with a heart-wrenching and moving story about her traumatic experience being sex trafficked as a child and being violently abused by her husband. After Perry’s performance, President Obama (in a taped recording) spoke out about the increase in rape and domestic abuse, and how messages in music have the power to shape our culture and attitudes. He emphasized how Katy Perry’s song encourages many to create a world in which violence against women and girls ceases to exist.
So no, Katy Perry did not give us the energetic and buoyant performance we are accustomed to seeing, but the raw emotion behind her stripped down ballad, along with the effective message she expressed, made her performance ten times more meaningful.
Beyoncé’s, “Take My Hand, Precious Lord”
Let’s face it. When Beyoncé takes the stage, it is really hard to focus on anything but her. She is a multiple grammy winner, a show-stopping performer, and this generation’s Queen of R&B and Pop, with a fierceness and sassy attitude we can’t help but adore.
Following last year’s outrage over the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner, Queen B addressed the issue of race, by hand-picking a group of black men to join her in singing a soulful rendition of the gospel song, “Take My Hand, Precious Lord,” from the award winning film, Selma. Through her song, she wanted to show the strength and vulnerability in black men. Although Beyoncé’s performance was stunning both visually and vocally, there was a bit of controversy surrounding it. For viewers unaware of the controversy, Beyoncé’s performance was ethereal, moving, and delivered “flawlessly” as expected. Some critics; however, were angered and disappointed that soul-jazz singer Ledisi, the original singer of the song in Selma, was not asked to sing the hymn, despite being present at the awards.
Here’s what some people had to say about the performance…
Although the Grammy’s was more on the somber and serious side this year, the depth and variety of the music was astounding, and I truly enjoyed each and every one of the performances. I can’t wait to see what the Grammy’s next year has to offer!
The power of a single song astounds me- it can join people together or tear them apart. It causes us to feel an amalgam of different emotions we can’t often articulate. It has the potential to impact an entire society.
The song, “Blurred Lines,” by Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams is quite easily one of the most controversial songs of the decade and has become a lightening rod for moral outrage and censorship, especially amongst women. Although the song was a top hit and gained popularity all over the world for its catchy beat and tune, it has generated primarily negative criticism for it’s disturbing message and use of “rapey language.” (Yes, ‘rapey’ is a popular word that was coined by young third wave feminists to describe this song).
So, quick confession: to be completely honest, I didn’t care much about the song until pretty recently. I have listened to the song numerous times, but it was not notably egregious at first. I mean, I have heard tons of songs with controversial lyrics and sexual politics, and “Blurred Lines” just seemed like another example to add on to the growing list. However, after reading a few articles online and analyzing the song, Thicke’s lyrics changed from being simply “sexual” to disturbing x 100.
I recently stumbled across an intriguing online post, which contrasted the lyrics of the song to pictures from Project Unbreakable, an online photo project that features sexual assault survivors holding up signs with the horrific words of their assaulters. This post truly made me realize that the song strongly promoted rape culture and reflected the abhorrent words of “rapers” themselves (whether that was intentional or not). Believe it or not, the catchy song lyrics of “Blurred Lines” and rapist one-liners are more akin than you may expect.
“I know you want it”
The repeated line, “I know you want it” in the song is highly scrutinized, and it is a phrase that many sexual assault survivors reported their rapists saying to justify their actions. Through the song, I think the biggest issue is the fact that the song seems to undermine the importance of consent in sexual relationships. “I know you want it” does not exactly encompass the notion of consent in sexual activity. Rather, it insinuates that a woman’s consent to a man’s sexual advances can be assumed, meaning that explicit consent is unnecessary.
“You’re a good girl”
Another controversial lyric is the assertion, ” you’re a good girl.” By labeling his target as a “good girl,” he is trying to offer an explanation for her lack of interest or reciprocation of desire, despite his irresistible advances. He suggests that she is concealing her true sexual desire under a facade of disinterest, which simply becomes further proof in his mind that she desires sex. Essentially, he will give her what he thinks she wants (sex) even though she is not actively consenting, or might even be rejecting the man.
“The way you grab me/Must wanna get nasty”
This is a prime example of victim-blaming. If a woman wears a short skirt or tight dress, or dances with man, that means she wants to sleep with him, right? Just because a girl flirts, dresses, or dances in a certain way, does not necessarily mean she is “asking for it.” Unfortunately, many rapists use this absurd logic to justify their actions, and use such actions to serve as “consent”.
There are also a fair share of critics who argue that the song is misinterpreted and that there may be elements of female liberation beneath the surface of the song, due to women taking action and breaking free from constraints. Ultimately, we all view and interpret the song in our own, distinctive way, and the true meaning of the song will forever be “blurred.”
“Never lose sight of the finish line. Keep pushing yourself until you have crossed it.” These are the profound words my grandfather would often utter to me. The words that constantly replay through my mind. I use his life story as my almanac and personal guide through life.
“There is no way you are going to make it in the big city.” “The movie industry is too competitive.” “You will never be successful.” Growing up, my grandfather was accustomed to hearing these incessant mantras.
My grandfather was raised in an underdeveloped village in India, with agriculture as his family’s chief occupation. Born as a naturally gifted public speaker, he had one prime aspiration: to break free from his family business and become a meritable politician or a movie producer. Despite being besieged with negativity and receiving no monetary support from his parents, my grandfather journeyed to the Indian city of Madras alone, carrying nothing but 10 rupees in his pocket and a dream in his heart. For 3 years, he hunted for jobs, climbing the footsteps of all the movie companies in the city. He was continuously rebuffed, but even at his lowest point, his vision failed to fade. Let’s fast-forward a couple years. Hundreds of rejections, insults, and humiliations later, he rose to the position of a successful movie producer and the Planning Commission Chairman of India.
I believe in determination and persistence. I believe in that alarm clock in our minds that perpetually motivates us to keep running and to echo the words of my grandfather, “never lose sight of the finish line.” Every single one of us sets goals for ourselves to aspire in life, and as I reflect on my experiences, I realized, what is the value if we don’t have the proper mindset to attain these goals?
At the age of seven, I was not braiding the locks of a Polly Pocket or assembling dollhouses with my friends. My favorite toy was my piano. I’ve played the piano for 11 years now, but it definitely did not come to me with ease. Before retiring, my piano teacher voiced one wish: he wanted one of his students to play his favorite piece, “Junkyard Jam,” at his last recital. I wished to be that student.
I often flashback to those frustrating nights- the nights I spent trying to master the music. I consistently kept striking the wrong notes and botching the rhythms. In fact, my piano teacher even advised me to choose a different song for the recital in order to avoid mishaps in front of the large crowd. Every time I felt engulfed with frustration, my grandfather’s face would cavalcade in my mind. His determination and persistence has always been my genesis of inspiration. Determined to master the song, I practiced six hours a day, attended additional music lessons by choice, and even sacrificed several hours of sleep. Countless hours of practice and persistence eventually translated to a standing ovation at my recital.
Whether our goals are trivial or paramount, we all seek to accomplish them. We all seek to achieve a certain destination in our lives. Persistence and determination are the vehicles that will get us there. This I Believe.
Are women in the United States truly “equal?” What defines equality? To introduce my civic issues blog topic on equality issues, I wanted to provide my interpretation and a brief overview of the primary gender issues we are currently confronting as a nation and how it compares to those of other countries.
We constantly hear about the horrors that women face all around the word, from sex trafficking in Eastern Europe to brutal rape in places like Bangladesh. As much as we condemn these atrocities that women abroad endure, many of us in the United States ignore that same execrable oppression that lays on our own doorstep. This is due to the fact that we are suffering under the mass fallacy that women in the United States have achieved equality.
Of course, we all want to believe that we have made great progress as a nation in terms of establishing equal rights and justice for women; however, we are merely basking in a “girl power” moment that ceases to exist. It is a simply a mirage of equality that we’ve been deluded into believing is the “real thing.”
Despite the undeniable achievements our nation has made, women continue to be violated, raped, discriminated against, assaulted, trafficked, (the list is practically endless)- not just in other countries, but here in America. Today, feminists continue to fight a lingering battle of gender injustices and advocate gender equality, but the sad reality is that their battle is slowly weakening.
Women in the United States are being shot dead in the streets more often. In fact, according to a recent analysis of 56 mass shootings across America since 2009, the most frequent victims have been women. Just a couple years ago in Colorado, gunman Duane Morrison methodically selected six teenage girls from Platte Canyon High School as hostages and sexually assaulted them, shooting and killing one student. That same year, a gunman shot 12 girls in an Amish schoolhouse in Pennsylvania, killing five. Just as of last year, George Sodini opened fire in a Pittsburgh gym, injuring nine women and killing three. This issue becomes one of equality rather than one of crime because all these shootings share one commonality: the primary target was “women”.
Strangers are not the only ones killing women- over thousands of women are killed by their own male counterparts, and domestic violence and abuse has notably increased over the past few years. In fact, of the total number of women murdered from 2005, 1/3 were killed by their boyfriend or husband. What is a leading cause of death for a pregnant women? Murder by her partner.
We want to believe that women have achieved the same status of equality as men, but let’s look at the statistics aside from violence: In politics, women only hold seventeen percent of the seats in Congress, over 85 percent of counties within the US have no provider, and although women now work outside the home, the distressing truth lies in the fact that they only make up to 76 cents to a man’s dollar.
Now, when looking at countries aside from the United States, many people criticize that women have it “too good” in this country to complain and we should shift our focus to different parts of the world where women are being oppressed even more obscenely. I do agree that women are doing better in the US when compared to the females born in African and Asian countries per say, and I am not certainly not underestimating the leaps we have made as a nation in terms of equality. However, my point is the fact that women in our nation have yet to reach a complete state of equality, yet we are under the delusion that we have already attained that status.
Yes, women today have exceptionally superior rights to the ones of their foremothers- they can work outside of home, they have the right to vote, and domestic violence is illegal, but in hindsight, that doesn’t change the reality of women’s lives. These rights don’t prevent female troops from being assaulted, 1 million women from being raped, or even the continued legal discrimination against transgenders and gay people. Are American women really supposed be satisfied with the most basic rights of representation? Are we supposed to be thrilled to finally be considered a “full human?”
In order to put a definitive end to this never ending misogyny, in order to actually reach “true equality,” our nation needs to step up and take further actions.
Drawing attention to interesting lyrics is actually pretty fun. A song that recently caught my attention was Taylor’s Swift’s, Blank Space.
Whether you are an avid T- Swift fan or not, I am sure by now, almost everyone has heard her hit single Blank Space (It is only replayed on every radio station about 50 times a day, right? ). It is an extremely catchy and upbeat song, but of course, there are also people who find the song utterly vexatious. Nevertheless, there is no denying that Blank Space is one of the most debated and widely discussed songs of 2014.
This got me thinking…why is this song so talked about? Why is Blank Space more popular then some of her other songs? When it comes down to it, it is really the lyrics and the messages embedded within the song that keeps people constantly buzzing about it.
Taylor Swift, commonly deemed by the media as a “feminist nightmare”, has garnered the reputation of being “boy-crazy”, due to her rocky dating history and countless songs about her failed relationships and ex-boyfriends.
Blank Space particularly intrigues me because it contrasts from her typical songs. Listening to it for the first time, I thought the song was yet another commentary on her love life. But upon further listening, the lyrics were much deeper than I expected. In fact, they were actually quite deceiving. Through the song, she is actually poking fun at the media’s perceptions of her relationships with men, by sarcastically playing into the “psycho-ex girlfriend” persona.
After analyzing the lyrics and message of the song, it is evident that T-Swizzle is exploring a new brand of dark humor in terms of addressing her relationship history. Here are my thoughts on some lyrics that particularly stood out to me:
“I get drunk on jealousy….Cause darling I’m a nightmare dressed as a daydream”
The fact that she says “cause” is interesting- it’s almost as if she’s filling in what some people assume about her or are already thinking. Taylor pokes fun at people’s assumptions of her as a “dating nightmare” or an insane, obsessive girlfriend.
“Ain’t it funny rumors fly/And I know you’ve heard about me”
This line is pretty self-explanatory, and I can sense her sarcasm. Clearly, Taylor is making a jab at the fact that people think they “know” her due to rumors spread by media.
“Cause you know I love the players/And you love the game”
I interpreted this line as a sarcastic statement against those who judge her for her dating reputation. It draws attention to the fact that we (and the media) are always “game” for a good story.
I find the underlying message in this song significant because it highlights the role the media plays in forming stereotypes and false assumptions about people. The media often makes delusive judgments and fictitiously portrays people, which in turn, highly impact how society perceives them.
Blank Space will forever be a personal favorite of mine- not simply because of the catchy beat or tune, but because of the momentous message it holds.
“There is no way you are going to make it in the big city.” “The movie industry is too competitive.” “You will never be successful.” Growing up, my grandfather was habituated to hearing phrases like these frequently.
My grandfather was raised in a small village in India, and agriculture was his family’s chief occupation. Born as a naturally gifted public speaker, he had one aspiration: to break free from his family business and become a major politician or famous movie producer. Without the slightest experience in political or film fields, his family believed he was doomed for failure.
But that did not hinder him.
Despite the negativity he was besieged with, and despite having no monetary support from his own parents, my grandfather journeyed to the Indian city of Madras alone, carrying nothing but the 10 rupees in his pocket and a dream. For 3 years, he worked as a simple storywriter who earned minimum wage. Fast forward a year. Hundreds of speeches, debates, meetings, and “small jobs” later, he became an accomplished movie producer and the Planning Commission Chairman of India.
I believe in determination and persistence.
Every single one of us sets goals for ourselves to aspire in life, but what is the value if we don’t have the proper mindset or impetus to attain them? Let’s look at a running race for example. You could be the next Usain Bolt or perhaps slower than a turtle, but it not your speed which determines if you are a real “winner.” True success is measured by the pathway in which you accomplish your goal, and to me, that pathway is through determination and persistence. Determination is that alarm clock in our minds that constantly reminds us to never lose sight of the finish line, when it seems out of reach. It is the engine that fuels our inner strength and motivates us to keep running. Persistence is like running the race itself. When you run, you push yourself until you have crossed that finish line.
At the youthful age of seven, unlike most girls, I was not braiding the hair of a Polly Pocket or setting up a dollhouse. My favorite toy was my piano. Ever since a young age, I have been immersed in a world of music and for the past 11 years of my life, I have played the piano. Learning to play was not always a breeze, and I still have flashbacks to learning a song titled “Junkyard Jam,” a nightmare to say the least. Week after week, I consistently kept striking the wrong notes and messing up the same rhythms. Determined to master the song, I practiced 6 hours a day for a month and attended additional music lessons by choice. Countless hours of practice and motivation eventually translated to a standing ovation at my recital.
Whether our goals are trivial or paramount, we all seek to accomplish them. We all seek to achieve a certain destination in our lives. Persistence and determination are the vehicles that will get us there.
After giving both of my passion blog ideas much consideration and thought, I have ultimately decided to write my blog on music this semester. Although I know many of you were looking forward to reading a pet peeve blog, and it would be quite comical and unique to say the very least, I realized that it would be difficult to elaborate and expand on one single pet peeve every week. Most of my pet peeves are short, simple and fairly self-explanatory, and it might be somewhat of a challenge to write 500 words about each one without boring you or repeating myself. With the topic of music, I think there are a wider range of topics to discuss. I think it will be interesting to analyze a different song each week and share my individual perspective of it. To capture the interest of my readers, I plan on choosing modern songs (like from T Swift and Nicki Minaj) as well as a variety of songs from different genres, eras, and even different languages and writing about topics such as controversy or lyric meaning.
For my civic blog, I have chosen to discuss issues surrounding gender and sexuality both in the US and internationally. I think it would be really fascinating to learn more about the gender and sexuality issues that are overshadowed in the news today and bring to light topics such as women in the workforce, treatment of women and gays in different countries, and the media’s role in gender stereotypes.
I will be the first to admit that my decision-making skills are quite terrible, so you can probably imagine the struggle I went through while attempting to choose a topic for my passion blog this semester. After some soul searching and vacillating between different ideas for my blog, I have FINALLY settled on two possible topics.
One idea I had for my blog was to explore the world of music. I have played the flute, violin, and the piano since elementary school, and I am a major music fanatic. I think it would be fascinating to provide some insight into the significance behind several of the popular songs we have heard over the years. Each week, I could choose a different song and provide an analysis of it, whether it is focusing on its history, the meaning of the lyrics, controversy, what I did/didn’t like about it, it’s societal impact, emotional appeal- the list is endless.
Another idea that I came up with is discussing my pet peeves. Each week, I could choose to blog about a different pet peeve that I have, and relate a personal story (if any) to it. The only problem with this idea is that I feel as though there may not be sufficient information or content to discuss each week since this topic is relatively narrow.
Civic Issue Blog Ideas
For my civic issues blog, I think it would be interesting to focus on gender and sexuality rights both domestically and internationally. Issues incorporated with gay marriage, diversity in the workforce, and the role of media in forming gender/sexual stereotypes are some of the facets that I could discuss.
For another idea, I could write about the civic issue of race. Diversity on college campuses, the idea of “affirmative action”, racial stereotypes, and multiculturalism, are just some of the topics I could take a stance on.
This I Believe Ideas
One of my ideas for the This I Believe project actually stems from the memory exercise we were required to do in class. A belief that has completely shaped my character today is the idea, “hard work pays off”. I could discuss my grandfather’s legacy and my piano lessons in 5th grade and explain how such things impacted my personal values and everyday actions.
I also believe in “appreciating what you have.” My grandmother who was diagnosed with a rare nerve disease as well as visiting orphanages has taught me to be thankful for the things I am blessed to have instead of focusing on things that I don’t have.
flipped through radio stations in the car, randomly coming across an upbeat Spanish song? How many times have you heard a Pitbull or Shakira song with that infectious beat compelling you to dance and groove? I will be the first to admit that everytime I hear Shakira’s ever so popular, “Hips don’t Lie,” I can’t help but belt out the lyrics. I have listened to my fair share of Latin music over the years; however, my very first memory of Latin music is hearing the Christmas classic we can all recognize by its distinguishable tune, Feliz Navidad.
The Grammy’s this year placed a spotlight on the growing issue of domestic violence. Katy Perry made a huge statement against domestic violence through an emotional performance of her hit song, “By the Grace of God.” Her powerful song details an intimate moment when a person feels hopeless, but manages to pull herself up “by the grace of God and put one foot in front of the other.”
The repeated line, “I know you want it” in the song is highly scrutinized, and it is a phrase that many sexual assault survivors reported their rapists saying to justify their actions. Through the song, I think the biggest issue is the fact that the song seems to undermine the importance of consent in sexual relationships. “I know you want it” does not exactly encompass the notion of consent in sexual activity. Rather, it insinuates that a woman’s consent to a man’s sexual advances can be assumed, meaning that explicit consent is unnecessary.
s concealing her true sexual desire under a facade of disinterest, which simply becomes further proof in his mind that she desires sex. Essentially, he will give her what he thinks she wants (sex) even though she is not actively consenting, or might even be rejecting the man.
This is a prime example of victim-blaming. If a woman wears a short skirt or tight dress, or dances with man, that means she wants to sleep with him, right? Just because a girl flirts, dresses, or dances in a certain way, does not necessarily mean she is “asking for it.” Unfortunately, many rapists use this absurd logic to justify their actions, and use such actions to serve as “consent”.
Whether you are an avid T- Swift fan or not, I am sure by now, almost everyone has heard her hit single Blank Space (It is only replayed on every radio station about 50 times a day, right? ). It is an extremely catchy and upbeat song, but of course, there are also people who find the song utterly vexatious. Nevertheless, there is no denying that Blank Space is one of the most debated and widely discussed songs of 2014.
