Journal 2: Big Ideas

The Ways to Look at Representation talks about how visual culture can affect people’s perspectives. As it says, we all have the ability to empower or disenfranchise others (or a specific group) and vice versa. Our action and inaction matter.

Popular cultures like films and TVs can considerably affect people. In one hand, it can promote revolutions of ideology; in the other hand, it also spreads stereotypes. Like the author of Hillbillyland indicates, Americans have too many stereotypes of people who live in the mountains, which are called “hillbilly”. People think “hillbillies” are stupid, lazy, and always drinking alcohol. This kind of discriminational image appears on every aspects of dominant American culture like TV shows, newspapers, literatures and comics. Those stereotypes are accepted broadly by people. Sometimes we can’t even notice we are hurting others’ feelings when we talk to them with our stereotypes since we believe deeply that they are true. The video, American Hollow shows us some parts of “Hillbilly” life. They live in a very natural but not convenient way. They need government funding to make their livings. However, they are very cool and positive.

We don’t need to be shame just because people judge us by their stereotypes. Like what the movie Matewan shows us, miners overcame difficulties and stood together finally in West Virginia. No one will protect us until we stand together and protect ourselves - we don’t need to change people, but we need to protect ourselves.