Extra Credit Film Review

I recently watched “The Shakers”, a film by Tom Davenport and Frank Decola suggested by www.folkstreams.net. In this documentary, Shaker women were interviewed and told about their lives and experiences in the Shaker community, and also the history of the Shaker religion. One fact that stuck out to me was their belief in celibacy. The Shaker community started out with 6,000 members about 100 years ago, but in 1974 when this film was produced, only 14 sisters remained. Towards the end of the video, these women also explained that in some places, they have closed the option for new members because they fear that these new members are only seeking to inherit the Shakers’ assets and not truly follow all of the Shakers’ beliefs. This struck my interest because I find celibacy very puzzling; how is one to procreate? I expect the entire Shaker community and religion is about to cease especially because of the new decree to not admit new members and their inability to have children. This idea puzzles me because my notion is that most religions want to procreate and initiate new members in order to keep their spiritual beliefs alive and thriving. I wonder what the Shakers’ thoughts would be if everyone on earth conformed to the Shaker beliefs. Would they agree on the death of reproduction and therefore the halt of all population growth on earth? It is an interesting topic to think about, but unfortunately there are not too many Shakers left on earth to ask these questions. I found the dedication of these Shaker women both eerie and inspiring. It seemed that they had no ideas or interpretations of their own, but simply were copycats of their original leaders. I find all of this skeptical because I think spirituality should derive from personal growth and not because of a childhood promise made by one of the women interviewed in this documentary. But their devotion to their faith and set beliefs, I find inspiring and I strive to be that dedicated to my own spirituality.

Overall, this film was very informative and interesting, but also depressing because of the realization that the Shaker community will cease to exist in a very short time.

This post is a response to the Extra-Credit Film Review assignment.

Chapter 7 Reflection

If I had access to endless amounts of time and resources to study and research a project anywhere in the world, I would travel to Uganda, Africa. I definitely would take interest in the orphans who lost their parents due to AIDS. I have a heart and an interest in global poverty and how developing nations suffer without help from industrial nations like the United States. I would study how the kids manage without their parents, the community’s response, and the actions taken to better the lives of the children. It would be interesting to investigate where the United States and its citizens could contribute and help those who do not have the money, resources, or education that is readily available to us. I think that our culture and society has enough compassion for those who suffer across the world, but are unaware of the extent to which they suffer. With my studies, I would hope to return to the US and give accounts of my first-hand experiences and provide information on the African children and ideas of how our nation can help, but also bring it to an individual level. I feel like more people would be willing to help out this cause if the knowledge was presented to them in a convincing manner, which would make my studies worth the while. I would be wishing to decrease ignorance on foreign poverty, bring attention opportunities to make a difference, and possibly bring hope into the lives of African orphans.

This post is in response to the Chapter 7 Reflection.

2nd Peer Review

I read an entry on the blog Dutchess 2010 on the Sixth Reflection Question. Her interpretation of folklore surrounds her memory of her father, her parent’s relationship, her current marriage, and her children. Her explanation of each type of folklore is very powerful and beautifully expressed. She relates to different types of folklore, but she focuses on the aspects that compel her and that she finds important. For example, she specifically thinks about her father’s storytelling abilities when she studies the Story Telling component of folklore. She has included several pictures of different rituals and memories, including her son’s duct tape suit that he made probably for a traditional dance or other formal.

This outlook on folklore is very encouraging to read and perceive because it shows that not all aspects of folklore have to pertain directly to you or your life, but your own perspective is what truly matters. Certain rituals might mean more to a person than specific performances, or friends might dominate family values, or second husband’s relationship over first. It is interesting to read which perspectives reign over the others for different people.

This is in response to the Second Peer Review.

Chapter 6 Reflection

I find the intersectionality theory or approach the most compelling out of those discussed in Chapter Six. I prefer this model more so than the others because I agree that many factors contribute to the way you perceive different aspects of folklore.

For example, whether you are male or female really affects your stance on various cultural values including abortion, dress code, or even the history of voting rights. Gender plays a large role in folklore interpretation.

Personal experiences are crucial to your own development and viewpoints on most issues. Your socio-economic status might alter your opinion on taxes or government programs. Relationships that you have with people who are of a different sexual orientation greatly affect opinions of gay rights and marriage.

This theory is the most compelling because I don’t believe there is a direct formula or pattern that determines someone’s outlook on folklore like the Structuralist theory suggests. I also don’t agree that every issue has a corresponding meaning and purpose like the Functionalist theory. I think that the Intersectrionality theory describes the best approach to folklore because every person has a different lifestyle, background, and experiences that affect their perception on life.

This post is in response to the Chapter 6 Reflection Question.

Material Culture (Object)

A few days ago, I was down the hall from my dorm-room visiting my friend, Rachel. I noticed on the shelf above her desk a box-like wooden figurine. I asked her what the unfamiliar object was and she called it a dreidel. I had heard that word before and a few things came to mind, first was the Jewish celebration, Hanukah, and second was the song that goes, “Dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, I made you out of clay”. Rachel and I began to have a great cultural conversation. She continued to explain to me the significance of the Dreidel and why it’s important to Jewish culture. I know that Rachel is a valid source for this information because the dreidel is her artifact, she attended a boarding school, American Hebrew Academy, her major is Jewish Studies, and she’s very disciplined about her spirituality and keeps strict Kosher.

Her perception and use of the Dreidel is as follows:

In December when her family celebrates Hanukah, they light the candles held by their Menorah and afterwards, they play a game using this Dreidel. When you roll the Dreidel, depending on what side it lands on, you either gain or lose one of the fifteen coins you start with. Somewhat like the popular game of Monopoly, the game can keep going for long periods of time because the game does not end until one player wins everything.

This specific Dreidel was hand-made by Rachel’s twelve year old brother, Sam. Sam attends a special school where he receives assistance in his learning. Last December before the Holiday season, his entire class constructed their very own dreidels and painted the symbols on each side themselves. This object is very significant and special to Rachel because it symbolizes her religion and a celebration which she enjoys, but it was also a gift made by her brother and given to her.

This post is in response to Encounter Project #6.