Topaz: Artists in Internment

A picture of the wall where all of the poems were placed.

A piece of art that really stood out to me that was titled, “Where Would We Go?”

A photograph taken of the Topaz Camp.

     A few months ago I had the opportunity to attend a reading of a play called “Block 8” which is a story based off of the experiences of Japanese Americans during WWII.  The reading was done in honor of the opening of an exhibit in Salt Lake City featuring art that was from the Japanese Internment Camp in Delta, Utah called Topaz.
    The poet Lawson Inada, who helped to present the Topaz art, wanted people to be able to interact with the exhibit.  So he came up with what he called Jan Ken Po-ems (Jan Ken Po is the rock-paper-scissors childhood game) which hint at haiku, but they are just common everyday phrases applied in an uncommon context.

Some of the phrases were …
Broke His Heart
In God We …
Do It Justice
Go On Living
Please Forgive Us

Inada wrote:
    “We want your thoughts and responses to the artwork created by artists, no longer alive, who visually recorded their lives behind a barbed-wire fence.
    “Begin with one of these pieces of paper with three words written on them.  Add your words.  Your words can come before one of the words or after.  You may cross one out and add another to the list.  You choose.  If you wish, just begin with a blank piece of paper and write a Jan Ken Po-em.
    “In Japan, Shinto temples and, often, trees and bushes are places were individuals may leave a paper prayer.  In our version, your poem may be a poem, a wish, a dream or a prayer.  Please post on the wall above.  Thank you.”

And I invite you all to do the same.  For more information you can visit http://topazmuseum.org/

~ Rachel Shimizu

The Human Experience

I watched this documentary on Netflix recently, and if any of you have the opportunity-watch it. The "back of the box description" says, "In a world fraught with hostility and violence, an altruistic group of young men endeavor to understand the true essence of the human spirit by visiting forgotten souls such as homeless New Yorkers, Peruvian orphans and isolated Ghanian lepers. By spotlighting heartwarming stories from around the world, this uplifting documentary shows viewers that every single person, no matter his or her lot in life, is beautiful."

This film was honestly so inspiring. I feel as though taking this sociology class has really opened my eyes to different situations, even to different people, in America that I never paid much attention to before, like the homeless on the streets or the neglected lepers in Ghana that these young men in the documentary noticed more once they literally spent some time in their shoes. Everyone on this earth is united, "we are really the same." I love the quote by President Ucthdorf that says, "Everyone is walking his or her own difficult path." Now that we have really seen the difficult paths for our fellow brothers and sisters we have the responsibility to do something more-no matter their race, citizenship standing, sexual orientation, or anything else. We need to find the things that make us universal humans, no matter what our political or social beliefs are.


-Nikki Bradshaw

Gender Roles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srnaXW9ZgZc
(I couldn't get the video to post so here is the link so you can watch it on youtube!)



I loved this video!! This little girl is among very few, children in particular, who understand these implemented gender roles in society. Gender roles are so ingrained in our society and in our media. These gender roles are implemented into our brains and way of life from a very young age. I feel that this is the case because of media and especially because of parents. I’m sure we all could share a story or two about the time our brother or cousin came out wearing a dress or chose something pink over something blue and every adult around started freaking out. I totally believe that boys and girls tend to gravitate towards different things because of their gender, but we tend to take things to extremes. I think this little girl got it just right when she said, “Sometimes girls like superheroes and sometimes boys like princesses”.

It Gets Better at BYU

Validation!

I know this is a a bit different topic than normal, but I remember reading something about a month and a half ago about not letting the chain of love stop with you. I've been thinking about that lately. I was also thinking about when I was a nanny for my nieces and nephews over the summer. I remember being horrified at the shows they ended up watching. I felt that they were really vulgar and rude. They were basically teaching my little nieces and nephews how to make fun of and to hate people that they view as different or inferior. Maybe the nostalgia is hitting early at 20, but weren't the kids show about accepting others and being kind and understanding? Anyway, my roommate found this mini movie on youtube that sums up the point. With all of the tension going on, like elections, shootings, hate crimes, and lack of understanding, we need to revisit the power of a compliment. It feels like all of us are surrounded by unfeeling comments. With all of the topics we have covered in class, it is hard not to notice how the power of words can bring an entire population down. The sheer number of racial slurs is staggering! Hopefully this will put a smile on your face because your smile is beautiful and you are awesome!

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Rebecca Anderson