BLOG # 14: FINAL DRAFT ARCHIEVES ESSAY

Irene James
English 103
Dr. Vasileiou
Archives Project Essay
May 8, 2011

                                                                   Planned Shrinkage:
                         During the 1970s, New York City was considered a complete wasteland.
Times Square didn't look like a circus, and the Lower East Side resembled a toxic dump. Crime rates were up and unemployment rates were sky high. Soldiers returning home from the Vietnam war were turning into complete drug addicts from the tragedy. Prostitution and Drug dealers, also known as pharmaceutical distributors owned the streets of New York City. As a result of the issues on the rise in the 1970s era; New York began to lose 1% of its population a year.

The city wasn't going to stand this for long. Especially housing administrator Roger Starr. Starr had a vision to increase the amount of cash flow in the city. With poverty being at its finest, Starr conjured up the idea of "planned shrinkage". In all actuality, the premise of his idea was to move people from one slum to the next. It took vacant land from one borough and created housing facilities for consumers with low income. Hence, bought about two kinds of federal government programs. One program for middle income housing called the FAJ 236 program and the rent certificate program called the Section 8 program which gave someone a voucher to rent out an apartment.

Developers believed the housing that was demolished in the South Bronx which became vacant land would have more redevelopment value. "Planned shrinkage" did not just affect the boroughs, but specific minorities of African-Americans and Hispanics in those boroughs. Residents were outraged at how often fires would erupt in there communities but nothing was done to stop them in time. Out of the five boroughs in New York City.  Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the South Bronx seemed to have been the most affected by Starr's vision. Over 40% of the housing in these areas were being destroyed ubiquitously. Residents were forced to move to the Rockaways in Queens where housing facilities were ready and waiting for them.

Although "planned shrinkage" was a very productive business. It was not very well received. The populations all over the city plummeted. Residents began to protest, claiming the conditions to move were extremely harsh. As a result, tenants began to abandon there homes and commit arson towards there housing facilities. This was the tenants way of voicing there living conditions as to what "planned shrinkage has done to there communities. Job loss and migration were a couple of the problems that persisted through this era. This left Brooklyn and the South Bronx (in particular) completely devastated. This caused quite a dislike for Roger Starr and came close to resigning.
Even though Roger Starr was not the most well-liked person in the city. He was very productive.

"Planned Shrinkage is being used today. It's not only in New York City but across the country. His idea set the tone for a lot of the government programs used to facilitate residents across the country. Since the 1970s, employment rates have been on the rise and crime have surprisingly gone down. "Planned Shrinkage" has been improved and even has helped a large portion of families live better. Starr's philosophy was to make more money and more property available to build on. In this day and time, his mission has been accomplished.

BLOG #13 "ARCHIEVES PROJECT ESSAY"

Irene James
English 103
Dr. Vasileiou
Archives Project Essay
May 1,2011

                                                                   Planned Shrinkage:
                         During the 1970s, New York City was considered a complete wasteland.
Times Square didn't look like a circus, and the Lower East Side resembled a toxic dump. Crime rates were
 up and unemployment rates were sky high. Soldiers returning home from the Vietnam war were turning into complete drug addicts from the tragedy. Prostitution and Drug dealers, also known as pharmaceutical distributors owned the streets of New York City. As a result of the issues on the rise in the 1970s era; New York began to lose 1% of its population a year.
The city wasn't going to stand this for long. Especially housing administrator Roger Starr. Starr had a vision to increase the amount of cash flow in the city. With poverty being at its finest, Starr conjured up the idea of "planned shrinkage". In all actuality, the premise of his idea was to move people from one slum to the next. It took vacant land from one borough and created housing facilities for consumers with low income. Hence, bought about two kinds of federal government programs. One program for middle income housing called the FAJ 236 program and the rent certificate program called the Section 8 program which gave someone a voucher to rent out an apartment.
Developers believed the housing that was demolished in the South Bronx which became vacant land would have more redevelopment value. "Planned shrinkage" did not just affect the boroughs, but specific minorities of African-Americans and Hispanics in those boroughs. Residents were outraged at how often fires would erupt in there communities but nothing was done to stop them in time. Out of the five boroughs in New York City.  Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the South Bronx seemed to have been the most affected by Starr's vision. Over 40% of the housing in these areas were being destroyed ubiquitously. Residents were forced to move to the Rockaways in Queens where housing facilities were ready and waiting for them.
Although "planned shrinkage" was a very productive business. It was not very well received. The populations all over the city plummeted. Residents began to protest, claiming the conditions to move were extremely harsh. As a result, tenants began to abandon there homes and commit arson towards there housing facilities.
This was the tenants way of voicing there living conditions as to what "planned shrinkage has done to there communities. Job loss and migration were a couple of the problems that persisted through this era. This left
Brooklyn and the South Bronx in particular completely devastated. This caused quite a dislike for Roger Starr and came close to resigning.
Even though Roger Starr was not the most well-liked person in the city. He was very productive. "Planned Shrinkage is being used today. It's not only in New York City but across the country. His idea set the tone for a lot of the government programs used to facilitate residents across the country. Since the 1970s, employment rates have been on the rise and crime have surprisingly gone down. "Planned Shrinkage" has been improved and even has helped a large portion of families live better. Starr's philosophy was to make more money and more property available to build on. In this day and time, his mission has been accomplished.

BLOG # 11: CONCEPT OF THE OTHER

                    The concept of "the other" boggles my mind.I always considered everyone
 pretty equal. People make such a big deal about homosexuality as if its the worst thing on the face of the earth.I mean, me personally dating or having an intimate relationship with another woman is not my cup of tea. I can definitely understand how a person of one sex can fall in love with a person of the same sex.

Part of my family is of west-indian decent. In the west-indian culture, homosexuality is very much frowned upon.I've heard stories about people who are considered "the other" that were just horrifying. Especially one story about this female soccer player that was openly homosexual. She was teased and taunted by men who watched her games on thew field. When night fell, they beat and raped this women who did nothing wrong to them. Even to the point where should could not conceive children. It is a sad story and I get teary eyed when I think about it.

I really don't consider people "other". I just see one race, the human race.

BLOG # 7 ANNOTATED BIBLOGRAPHY

                

    THESIS:  Television: A Reflection of Reality or an Instrument of Persuasion?:

             Approaching the notion, that children who have watched an excessive amount

             of television at an early age, will be more prone to engage in criminal activity during

             their adolescent and adult years is a hypothesis that will be explored and proven to be

             inaccurate from a media socialist point of view.

PART 1: Introduction

•  my stand I'm going to take 
• reason for taking the stand

PART 2: Body paragraphs

• When television first began
• What cities received television first
• What shows were played in certain areas
• What influenced certain television shows

PART 3: Show statistics

• graphs of cities that had violence
• charts of crime ratings, comparing and contrasting

PART 4: Conclusion

• why I stated what was written
• how my ideas came to pass
• my final word 

SPECIAL: MOMI

I really enjoyed the tour yesterday. Although, it was a little rushed through by the
tour guide. I actually did learn a few things and discover some interesting facts. In the beginning of the tour, we were taught how film started and how Nickeloneon shows started in the early 1900's. Also, we were showed quite a few things we learned in American Film Class. The tour guide showed us that during the filming of a movie, there are twenty-four frames shot per second. As well as the advancement of video cameras over the course of a hundred years. I found that to be very interesting and quite an advancement.

                   During the tour in another room, I noticed the museum was playing a
silent film we viewed in American Film class called The Great Train Robbery by D.W. Griffith.
When I was listening, the guide was explaining the how this was one of the first silent films with
color. I remembered in Professor Rheuben's class she explained the same thing. I really enjoyed
seeing and experiencing what directors and camera people go through as far finding the perfect music to fit a scene. I thought that was a lot of fun. 


Looking back in time to see the different cameras and television sets. How big the director's cameras
were to move around. How small the television sets were to fit the typical wives homemaker lifestyle. 
It was really mind blowing. I really enjoyed when our group made the mini movie. Posing for the camera, I'm such a plus size model at heart :-)


The old video game systems and video were really awesome to look that. I've heard of the video game 
system Atari from the 1970s, but to actually have seen it in person was a blast to the past. Technology
has definitely advanced from that era to now. I was really impressed and fascinated by it. What really caught my attention and kept my attention; was seeing all the prosthetic pieces and old movies that when along with it. Even a movie we saw in American Film called Citizen Kane starring Orsen Welles. 
I saw the old make-up and letters he wrote to the studio of the film.


Overall, I had a great time and will use the passes given to us and go back again, and again, and again. I had a blast.

BLOG # 9: Midterm Paper

Irene James                                                                                                                                   

Prof. Lucca

English 101

17th April 2011

             Television: A Reflection of Reality or an Instrument of Persuasion?

             Approaching the notion, that children who have watched an excessive amount

of television at an early age, will be more prone to engage in criminal activity during

their adolescent and adult years is a hypothesis that will be explored and proven to be

inaccurate from a media socialist point of view.

Economists, Levitt and Dubner used the coincidental reporting of the Kennedy

assassination and the cancellation of the popular baby boomer Beaver Cleaver show 

within the same year as examples of how television can impact the minds of America.

Was the country unable to accept and grieve the death of our president with the added

“shock value” of this new form of “mass media” television. Did the country’s aspirations

and hopes of attaining the American dream die? I don’t think so!

Television is a medium of communication uniquely capable of intensifying or reflecting

the reality of events past and present. It can be manipulated to alter the opinions of

various groups of people.  As an African American woman I can appreciate the role

television had in bringing the graphic images of the civil rights movement in the South to

the so-called liberal North.  Watching these events unfold in the comfort of one’s living

room verified that the rumors of inequality, injustice, racism, sexism and the concept of

the “haves and have nots” could no longer be tolerated.

Today we can see how powerful television has grown and become part of the fabric of

one’s life. It was used as a tool of persuasion in the election of President Obama.

Before seeing him receive an endorsement from Oprah Winfrey on her show many

people didn’t know who he was.  Another example of media manipulation is how the

“Tea Party” and the “extreme right” may use television to promote their issues against

abortion and gay marriage.  Although these examples demonstrate the ability of this

instrument of the media to reflect or persuade groups of Americans, it may not

supersede your personal encounters and experiences in forming your opinions and set

of values.  In order to have a clearer understanding of the potential influence television

can be on our youth and the probability that they may be persuaded to attain the

“American Dream” through a life of crime rather than becoming a positive productive

citizen.

     The TV was invented in the early part of the twentieth century and was only

^{available in black and white.  The first regularly scheduled programming was broadcast starting in 1928.  During this time the technology was very primitive and was only affordable by the ultra rich and those with special interest in the product.}

^{Television displayed certain aspects of the world that America experienced on an everyday basis,  events and important publically known figures were presented} Although, television had a black and white screen…Americans only witnessed anything but white faces.^.

^{After a few decades color television was created and most programs adjusted to broadcast to this new technology. For a few years the color televisions sold out on a regular basis as people were very excited to purchase the new units.}

^{In the late 1900's flat screen technology became widely available and many people began to purchase these television sets although the technology was so expensive early on that the majority of people could not afford it. The price has come down in recent years and is expected to continue falling. In the future televisions will become more and more compact as a dimension of width and will probably move on to have many 3D features that are becoming popular in many movies across the nation.}

      

From an African-American media sociologist viewpoint, exploring African-American’s

history of television is important when exploring this subject.

            It was rare to see African-American actors and actresses on television.

.In fact, it wasn’t until 33 years after television was created in 1927; that a black actor

and actress were seen on television. During the 1950’s, society was extremely

racist. Especially towards African Americans. During this time period, African

Americans, weren’t allowed the same rights as white people.

             In 1950, Beulah was the first television show that debuted

featuring African-American cast members. The show was based on a white

 family that hired an African Amercian, overweight, female, housekeeper. It

 wasn’t long before the National Association for the Advancement of Colored

People(NAACP), forced the network to cancel the series in 1953 because of

 the shows demeanor towards African Americans. The NAACP is an organization

who’s principal objective is to ensure the political, educational, social, and

economic equality of minority group citizens of the United States and eliminate

prejudice.

       Amos and Andy, which ran from 1951 to 1953; was also one of

the first television shows to air that had African-American cast members.

The show was a comedy that portrayed an all black world. Even though it

was cancelled in 1953, the show continued to be in syndication until 1966.

But like Beulah, the NAACP launched lawsuits and boycotts which were

instrumental to its cancellation and the future for African-Americans in

television.

^{The TV was invented in the early part of the twentieth century and was only available in black and white. The first regularly scheduled programming was broadcast starting in 1928. During this time the technology was very primitive and was only affordable by the ultra rich and those with a special interest in the product. After a few decades color television was created and most programs adjusted to broadcast to this new technology. For a few years the color televisions sold out on a regular basis as people were very excited to purchase the new units.}

^{In the late 1990's flat screen technology became widely available and many people began to purchase these television sets although the technology was so expensive early on that the majority of people could not afford it. The price has come down in recent years and is expected to continue falling. In the future televisions will become more and more compact as a dimension of width and will probably move on to have many 3D features that are becoming popular in many movies across the nation.}

             ^{In conclusion, the surge in crime in the United States, cannot be attributed to the excessive viewing of television. Other factors are more important}

^{in the development of a child’s intellectual and emotional mindset. These}

^{social environmental and community demographics play a part in the motivation}

^{in young adults to adapt positive or negative behaviors in an attempt to acquire the American Dream.}

BLOG # 2 "THE ALLEGORY OF THE CAVE"

                                    Allegory Of The Cave I thought was a cool story.
        It metaphorically showed people who were blind to there own surroundings. In my opinion,
It referred to the outside world which is reality. There are a lot people still living in a cave today. My grandmother always told me" you know better, you do better!" That always stuck with me. How can one know better if they were never taught? There are parents who keep there children sheltered from life. Mainly because they don't want to hurt there feelings. Or it could be, that reality is so harsh that they don't want there child to be tainted by life in this crazy world.
 It was very interesting to see how these story indirectly compare illusion and reality. some people live in there own illusion, maybe just to help them sleep at night, even if it is lie. I know this sounds insane. The topic kind of reminds me of the Maury Show. How these women live in the illusion that these men are the their child's father, or how some of them know there man is cheating but just need a lie detector test. That to me is an illusion and pretty sad. I guess if you don't know any better, how can you do better. Hence, why people live in an illusion.