New kid, Intern Susanna. (Week 1)

I’ve decided that the best way to document what I’ve learned during my summer internship at the county museum is to write it down.  And I just so happen to conveniently have a blog devoted to my professional/creative career endeavors. So here it goes:

I have completed the first week of my internship at the museum, and to say I am excited is a little bit of an understatement.  The pace has been slow so far as the individual who will be training me in curatorial work (cataloging, etc.) is in France until mid-May, however I have been shadowing the educational coordinator.  She has been showing me the ropes around the museum as far as how the gift shop works, front desk responsibilities, etc.  This week, one of the more challenging tasks  I was responsible for was writing press releases for various events that she has planned and that will be held at the museum.

It’s exciting to see the diverse opportunities created through various events held in the museum’s event room or on the grounds.  So far upcoming events I have written press releases for include lecture from a birding expert of the South Carolina chapter of the National Audubon Society, a blacksmithing demonstration on the museum’s own 19th-century forge, and a Flag Day celebration.

I’m looking forward to what this week has in store.  I think it may be more of the same, which is great because by the time my hardcore training starts at the end of Ma,y I will have a familiarity with the flow of the museum and be comfortable with my surroundings.  It’s amazing that I’m going to learn more about my potential career path this summer than I feel I would in any classroom…

Gender Representation and an O.J. Ad

(Finals Week is breathing down my neck, so this may be the last somewhat thoughtful post for at least a week.)

Jean Kilbourne is one of my favorites.  Her video “Killing Us Softley 3: Advertising’s Image of Women” truly, as cliche as it sounds, changed my perception of media, advertising, subliminal messages, etc, into reality.

I’m going to be honest, I’ve always possessed the critical thinking skills (mainly thanks to my mother’s constant urges for me to think independently) to realize that advertising was more than just pretty pictures telling you to buy something, and I feel sure (at least I hope) that others realize this as well.  The thing is, advertisers are really good at what they do, and while the majority of Americans say “Oh those don’t affect me” the majority of Americans are wrong.  As Jean Kilbourne states in the video, advertising sells more than products it sells, “values, images, concepts of love and sexuality, of romance, of success, and perhaps, most important, of normalcy.”

Oh, and a number for you: 3,000.  That is the generally estimated number of advertisements that many researchers say Americans are exposed to every day.  I find it amusing that after being exposed 3,000 ads on an average day people are still stubborn in their beliefs that they are completely and utterly unaffected by advertising. I digress.

Jean Kilbourne’s focus in Killing Us Softley is also how advertising depicts women.  You can imagine that she finds the representation less than realistic as most advertisements depict women who are digitally altered, who are PERFECT.  I find it interesting however, that she also addresses the role of men in advertising.  She does not go as deeply into this subject, but after watching the video I found myself looking more and more at males in the ads I saw in magazines.

Men in advertising are also routinely boxed into the roles.  They are  silent, shirtless, and strong.  But I found an ad that seemed to counter act that.  This one that really stood out to me was an ad by Tropicana.

What does this ad say to me? It says that this man is a loving father.  The this show of physical affection and the words “Squeeze” and “natural,” it goes against the traditional idea that for men to be considered masculine they must with hold emotions and affection.

I’ll just say it:  I like this ad.  I think it is an answer back to the domesticated women, indifferent men, and picturesque children seen in ads.  Yes, this ad invokes its own pressures – men have to be the perfect father, etc. – but it still 100% refreshing.

Reevaluating the future, and how to get there

The purpose of this blog is to not only present myself as a young adult rising to the challenge of the professional world but, but to also reevaluate what my passions are in order to pursue these new and mutually beneficial relationships. So I ask myself: What do I need to do to focus on my strengths?

Bobby and I had a conversation and he asked me to list five things I would do with my life, just for the love of doing it, no matter how low or high the pay was. These are my five, in no particular order:

• College professor
• Part of the writing team for a publication, whether online or printed
• Concert photographer
• Part of the PR team for a non-profit organization
• Novelist

The techniques that would be required to achieve these positions are:

• Intimate knowledge of photography technology
• Understanding of human psychology and sociology
• Critical writing abilities
• Public speaking/communication skills

(Right now, I’m not even going to get into the motivation, constant networking, etc. required to reach my “dream job”)

Now, how will I attain these? Over the course of the next few days I will be analyzing each of the four skills listed.

A Mantra for the Future

I am capturing moments, advocating optimism, and flourishing in an abstract world.

This is not a mission statement that I came up with; rather I would say it is my mantra.

I want to capture moments, whether in the literal sense through my love of photography, or in the sense of allowing people to fully realize an event or their surroundings. By allowing your conscience to be aware, you are capturing a moment fully and wholly in order to move on to the next.

I am an advocate of optimism. As a student during the economic turmoil gripping the United States and the world, it can be overwhelming and frightening. But, I believe young people collectively should be optimistic for the future. We have been given a chance to mold and touch the world around us. No longer are we in a sphere of isolation. It is time to reach out and tap into the great resource we possess – ourselves – in order to best help others. In regards to myself, I believe in my skills as a writer, photographer, thinker, historian, and artist. I will use these skills to promote confidence into my generation and therefore, into the economic and social systems of local, national, and worldwide communities.

Through capturing moments and promoting optimism, it is impossible not to flourish in this abstract world on a personal level or as a collective society. Through built communities, both physical and digital, and relationships formed, I am embarking on this mission to learn from others, to nourish my skills, and to assist in the evolution in this world of endless possibilities.