Skip to main content

Hidden bias response

Hidden bias response
-Meisen Hu

To be honest, I only have a very limited amount of knowledges regarding American politics, and unfortunately, (no offence but) I don’t understand many of the issues behind some of the tests. Please forgive me if you find my response offensive.

Ever since my family bought a satellite TV over a decade ago and I began to watch western media through it, I’m always concerned about the effects of media contents to people and if they are spreading biases either intentionally and unintentionally. I never really liked watching news report when I was small, and after a terrorist attack in the Xinjiang Province of China by the Chinese cult Fa Lungong (which ironically, you can watch their very religious show “Shen Yun” in L.A.) in early 2008, my parents prohibited me from watching mainstream Chinese news media after, and I was only allowed to watch western media via the satellite TV so I can learn English. It might sound surprising to you but by that point, I’ve never learned about “racism” since we really don’t have the same issue in China. It was only till I started watching CNN and ABC news then I begin to learn about racism in the west. Unfortunately, I later became a victim of racism in Canada, and after I’ve become more and more aware of racial discriminations in educational materials and media contents.

The result of the race bias test is a bit surprising to me, in the test, we have to categorize faces of white Americans, black Americans, along with harmless objects and weapons in a short period of time. Unfortunately due to the incident which happened back when I was studying in Canada, I have to admit that I’m afraid of white, male teenagers in general and I tend to associates them with weapons and violent, reckless behaviors. However after I’ve finished the test, the result suggests that my bias is more towards Black Americans, which to me is a bit awkward and confusing, maybe I did the test incorrectly? Or maybe my bias is just towards reckless teenagers regardless of their race and identity? I think this might have to do with how news media (which I now watch regularly) have been unintentionally associating Black Americans with violence and crime. I know this might sound a bit bias for me to say, but as an Asian non-immigrant in America, I always feel that Black Americans are more friendly and calm towards me, maybe my past catastrophes have also contributed developing my bias?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

CalArts Garden

The reason why I choose this topic is that I know a lot of students are complaining that CalArts is too plain. It is just one main building with a small campus. I would like to design a space for the CalArts campus where students and teachers can work together as a community and taking care of the plants. The community can hold a farmers market, season food festival or food-related artwork competition.    Few things I read about the benefits of school garden:   -  Gardens create opportunities for students to work cooperatively and to take on responsibilities.  - Gardens provide unique opportunities for cross-generational connections.  - Students learn to focus and patience, cooperation, teamwork, and social skills.  -Combining language arts and gardening activities brings a hands-on element to a subject normally taught lecture-style, providing inspiration and motivation for students who struggle to focus in traditional cl...
Post a Comment
Read more

Katharine Means What a Riot! Response

In 2005 Mady Shutzman was invited by CalArts CAP to write a play for the teenage participants Plaza de la Raza arts center in East Los Angeles to perform. At first I was intrigued by this, as my limited knowledge of Boal and Theatre of the Oppressed techniques has been around the participatory games, activities, and techniques used to build community. I know some about Forum and Legislative Theatre, but had little conception of what a TO play would look like. Shutzman's piece, UPSET! , was modeled using Boal's Joker System. There is a character called the Joker who probes the characters and audience during the play with the "ultimate goal to raise questions, offer multiple points of view, and encourage dialogue". Shutzman used this form as a "means to incorporate the teens curiosity, dismay, outrage, confusion, fear, and inspiration in relation to the subject matter of the play within the play." The teens decided upon Rodney King and Claudette Colvin (a youn...
Post a Comment
Read more

What a Riot!

What strategies did she employ in her process of making in play with the youth? Some of the strategies Mady Schutzman employed in her process of making a play with the youth were, utilizing the Joker System, presenting exercises to create a “safe” space by opening the floor and space to the youth to speak, reflect, and share their stories. What approaches resonated with you? Many of the approaches that were used were very intriguing and interesting, but there was one approach that resonated with me. Particularly, the questions that came out of one of the approaches. In the vein of the Joker System, it was designed to ,”promote social inquiry and personal agency by asking questions (How do I know what I know? Who authored the historical narratives we reiterate? Are those stories relevant to me and my community? Who do they privilege and who do they marginalize?” Mandy shared. These questions resonated with me because they are questions I have been asking myself this...
Post a Comment
Read more