Ritual

Word Count:213

Renard, Fallon

Filmmaking

“Eye “ of the Universe

Norms: Individual Vs. Society-Ritual

My Bat Mitzvah

June 4, 2005 I Fallon Renard became a woman in the Jewish community. That was the day I read from torah for the first time in front of my whole congregation, family, and friends. It felt great to read from our holy torah on my special day.

After my long three-hour service was over, I felt so relieved and accomplished, and was stoked for my party. I went to the hairdresser to get a new up due for my party. When I got to the Woodland Hills country club and saw all the decorations, it was beautiful and couldn’t wait to have a great time with my friend celebrating me. My dress was a light pink with flowers and jewels and sequins all over and it was wavy towards the bottom. Everyone loved my dress and all the decorations. I had the most amazing dj and everyone had a great time dancing and loved the food. I’m so grateful for my parents and all they went through to give me that amazing night. Even though that night went by so fast, and I didn’t get to eat because I was busy changing outfits, dancing and mingling it was a night I will never forget and I have my picture album incase I do.

Versus

Word Count:277

Renard, Fallon

Filmmaking

“Eye” of the Universe

Norms: Individual Vs. Society-Versus

Conformity. Say What?

Everyone always wants to fit in with society, and great examples are clothes. Teenage girls that are trying to fit in with society and with their group of friends shop at stores like Hollister, Abercrombie & Fitch, Pac Sun, Victoria Secret, and H&M. I don’t shop at places to fit, for friends, only me. I have my own personal style.

Okay I’ll admit I used to shop at some of these stores, but I did it for the wrong reasons. Now that I’m older and know who I am better, I dress for myself now and nobody else. Some stores I shop at now are Urban Outfitters, never anything too expensive, always at the clearance section first, Forever 21, when I need something cute for a really cheap price, and I cut a lot of t-shirts I used to wear. Also I love going through my mom’s clothes and finding a cute vest or jacket that you wouldn’t see anybody wearing now a days.

If I had to pick a word to describe my style I would say it’s refreshingly different. I wear something different everyday and not wear another designer shirt with jeans like the day before. I like to style my outfits up with an occasional headband of some sort. In the summer you will not see me without a bandana, sweatband, or headband on. Some times I get stares from people from dressing so bold, but their opinions don’t effect me. When someone tells me how much they like unique outfits and style it makes me feel good, and hopefully people will eventually see not to become a robot in teenage clothing conformity.

Fired Up

Word Count:525

Renard, Fallon

Filmmaking

“Eye” of the Universe

Norms: Individual Vs. Society-Fired Up

Fallon Renard, 17

What’s Wrong With Me?

The norms of an American high school teen is enjoying life, parting, being out past curfew, and sharing good memories with a group of friends. How come I do not fit this norm? What’s wrong with me? My high school life, I would not call the easiest. When everyone thinks of their high school memories they think of football games, basketball games, going to parties, school dances, and prom. Well, when I think of high school, I remember the unstable relationships I had, traveling from one group of friends to another, wishing it was summer already so I can go to camp, coming home late, staying up till two in the morning, and stressing myself out way too much rarely having fun.

Let’s rewind to second semester freshman year. My best friend Rachel Scott stopped being my friends and I just felt lost in school. Her and girl that replaced me were in my sixth period ASL1. I would watch them sign across the room to each other, and I had nobody to sign to. Right after the bell rang I would run to get out of school, like I was in cross country racing for the gold.

Later that year I found a group of friends who I liked to spend time with and was happy for a while. It was now the mid of sophomore year, and I thought I was starting to see reoccurring things, like my friends not waiting for me at lunch, me having to run to catch up with them. For one whole week I ate lunch in the ASL room, because I couldn’t find them. I was feeling all depressed again, and I knew I deserved better. So I started to hang out with my friend Chloe and her dance team friends. They were cool, and we ate lunch on the side of the lockers with some communication. We went to City Walk for my friend’s birthday and I felt like I was a part of something again.

Junior year we had two new girls to our group, two foreign exchange students. One was from Brazil and the other was from Italy, they were so cute and I loved spending time with them. Everyone would leave or not come to the spot, and it was just I and my new foreign exchange students and I. I got really close with them, and then realized they would be leaving in a couple months, because they were only there for one semester. I was freaking out! I thought to myself where will I be next year.

Senior year after coming back from being at camp for eight weeks, I expected my friends to have at least missed me a little. The first day at school I felt invisible and not welcomed, and they had a new friend that I felt had some how replaced me. I felt sick to my stomach. So I talk to them now, but I now hang out with my Jewish youth group friends that are mostly younger than me. I’m so ready to go to college and make new friends, and get a fresh start.

Bikinis & Tiaras: Quinceaneras

Vida, Vendela: Bikinis & Tiaras: Quinceaneras, Girls on the Verge: Debutante Dips, Drive-bys & other Initiations 5cd New York, NY St. Martins

Summary

This story is about how traditions have changed over the years. The culture of Mexicans and Latino's, when a girl reaches the age of 15 they have a quinceanera to celebrate with an extravagant party. She didn't want to have a party and just take her pictures, other things are changing now they think boys should do something special for their 15th not just the girls.

American Born Chinese

Vang, Gene Luen: American Born Chinese

Summary

This story is about a guy liking an girl. Because of the culture he comes from he is not accustomed to liking girls at such a young age. At the end he gets the girl.

Persopolis: The Story of A Childhood

Satropi, Marjane "Introduction" Persopolos: The Story of A Childhood. New York: Pantheon

Summary

In the story, Marjane goes through scary experiences that girls her time went through. She has to give up her identity by covering her face. By believing in herself she thinks of ways to change her life and everyone else's.

Stereotyping Wordle Image

Stereotyping Mind Map

Stereotyping Photo

The Border

This story is about a Mexican girl born in the US, but goes back to Mexico so she can have a better life with more and the best opportunities. She has great grades, and great goals of helping other people. When her father gets cancer and they move back to the states for care her whole world is turned upside down. A new language, which makes school ten times harder, and is depressed for about two years. Later she finally embraces her new city, taught herself English, took harder classes, and is persuing her dream.

My Brown Eyes

A young gang boy living in Boyle Heights shares how his life isn't perfect, but his gang family helps him get through it. Being the man of the house and raised by a single mother is a big responsibility, and with his gang brothers supporting him he goes on. One of his brother's in college now and has a job, so he has hope for himself to get out of there some day.

"Introduction: At War With Ourselves" by John Nikkah in Our Boys Speak

Summary

Boys aren't just the stereotypical unemotional, bottled up guys. In this intro the author regains his confidence in young boys abilities to speak out and share their voices. Now that they have this book people need to listen to their stories and give them the attention they deserve.

NO LAUGHING MATTER

Summary

This story id about when a group of guys get together after summer before school starts. They began to exchange stories. Two friends went to South Carolina and had an adventure drinking beer on the street and were caught by cops. The girls they were with acted all sad and it was super funny. But their friend Abe, being super religious didn't agree. Neither did the author, but he laughed any way.

Introduction to "RED"

Summary

The editor Amy Goldwasser is talking about her book "RED" and the many wonderful, and inspiring young teenage girls that contributed their stories to the book. Originally the book started out as an email and she was astonished by how many girls replied to it. In the book she shows a variety of young girls, from different places and different ages stories. They share their inputs in things like, politics, eating disorders, our country, and reveal their complicated lives in such a personally way.

Curve

Summary

A girl named Alison is insecure with your body, and being too skinny. She is always ridiculed, because her friends tell her to shut up because they think they're fat when she thinks she's too skinny. People think of her as the stereotype skinny girl and don't give her the time of day. Now she has curves, and is really happy with them, and is making them her own. Wearing cute jeans to show them off.

Mind Mapping