2a Monterey, Monterey County

2. Contains the sources you used with links to these sources .25 points
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monterey,_California
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monterey_County,_California
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monterey_Bay_Aquarium
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannery_Row

3. Contains a brief paragraph how it connects to your study of humanities. 1 point

Though at first one might not think that Monterey would stand out amongst the rest of the more colorful cities of California it is actually quite well known for being a center for artists and all forms of art. Since the late 19th century authors, painters and actors alike have come to the city to produce their meaningful contribution to our culture. This has lead to the attraction of a very diverse population. The rich culture of Monterey has even lead to it being given the name "the language capitol of the world" by some, for its work in learning other languages and providing translators. I feel Monterey connects to our studies of humanities due to its great emphasis on art and diverse culture which are key elements in this particular area of study. I also feel that the effort put out by the town to train translators relates to our class because it shows an effort on individuals behalves to try and help others that may need their services in order to better our
world.

4. Contains the following "analytical elements":

a. Observation: What did you choose? What do you see or hear or feel or think of in the choice you made? What is the subject of the work? If you chose a 'thing' what is the work made of and what techniques (colors, lines, shapes, textures)does the creator use? Be specific in your description. If you chose a place, be specific in your description of what you see or hear. Talk to your reader as though they cannot see the item but somehow must draw a painting of what you see or hear. 1 point

As I pull into Monterey I first make note of the expansive ocean right infront of me. It's a cloudy day and the usual overcast yet slightly sunny weather welcomes me back to my favorite town. As I pull my car into a parking space down at the beach parking lot I quickly open my door and rejoice at the cool ocean air rushing up to nip at my face. The sounds of seagulls crying out and the somewhat fishy smell that always seems to linger about reaches my senses, delivering the final touches to my arrival in the town. Shutting my door and walking quickly over to the large pier that runs out from the beach I glance down at the water. I spot a family of otters splashing about literally under my feet. Its a wonderful sight to see, for, though I have seen the little creatures once or twice, it is still a sight not observed as often as I would please. Looking back up I notice the beach is lined with houses, all placed just far enough away from the sand and waves.
Not many people are out today on the beach, although not an overwhelming amount ever seem to be. The few people and dogs that I do spot however are milling about lazily kindly waving or nodding at each other as they pass.

b. Interpretation: What is your choice about? Give specific examples to support this statement in 2 sentences; do so in a way that teaches us something about your choice. Make Paulo Freire proud! .75 point

Monterey is a very laid back town. Due to its friendly nature people seem attracted to it. While it may seem like a lazy vacation spot there is much to do there. Monterey is home to the famous Cannery Row sometimes recognized by some due to John Steinbecks novel titled after it. Most all of the canneries that once lined the street are no longer in business anymore but that doesn't mean the street is dead by any means for it is now a large tourist attraction housing many hotels and restaurants. Also Monterey is the home to the Monterey Bay Aquarium notably known for its research on deep-sea marine life. It is one of the largest aquariums in the world to date.

c. Judgment: What led you to your choice? What do you think or feel about this choice? Why do you feel this way? Support your thoughts with specific observations. .5 point

I chose Monterey because I fell in love with the city when I first visited it. I love the diverse group of people and the kind atmosphere the town has to offer. I am especially interested in the study of marine life and since Monterey puts such a huge focus on the study I always get to learn information everytime I visit. What lead me to further pick this town was the fact that it did house so much art history which is essential to our culture. As most people do, I enjoy all forms of art and when I discovered that many well known artists had once resided in the town I was very intrigued.

d. Questioning: What else would you like to know about this choice? When completing the question section, lead your audience into the question by stating a fact you do know, yet you still have the related question. This way, both your audience and you will have an educational experience. Example: I learned that John Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath was based on his personal experience working with farm workers. I would like to know if the characters he used in that book are fictitious or are they people he met? .5 point

I learned that many great and famous artists, such as John Steinbeck, once called Monterey home and composed many of their great art works there. I wonder what it was that attracted them to the town when California has so many beautiful places to offer?

5. Using your classmates work from last week, tell us one thing you learned from 1 student. Is this one thing some common experience you share or some experience that is completely different than what you experienced? Is this one thing related to our class theoretical foundation and if so, how? Is that one thing related to historical or cultural context of this country or a different one? Link that persons blog to this entry (eg cut paste that blog entry here) . .5 point

I chose to look at Danielle Petersons blog post for assignment 1b. I learned that Paulo Friere believed if colonizers and those colonized had limits put on on them that both parties would be dehumanized, removing the ability for dialogue to occur. He was very much concerned with the relationship between action and values. Personally I find that when someone is given a limit or told that something will be hard or near impossible for them to do, while they might try, their full effort is never put forth. Like Freire I feel that people should be lifted to their full potential. I feel that this class relates to this concept because since everyone must share and do equal work we are all learning from each other and in the process benefiting from each other rather than setting limits.
http://daniellepetersen.blogspot.com/2008/09/assignment-1b.html