While meeting with my conversation partner again, we talked about the differences in school in China and the universities in America. Linda brought it to my attention that in their dormitories in China, there are between six to ten girls sharing one room and one bathroom. She said she was pleased with the amount of space she has in her dormitory here at TCU. We started to talk about living with other people and how there are benefits and drawbacks. She had not known her roommate before moving in, however she said she was nice and they seem to get a long pretty well. She said they do not spend too much time together, but there is not any major issues with their living situation. I am not sure if she was completely honest about this or if she just did not want to talk badly about her roommate.
She asked me about my living situation and I explained to her that last year I lived in the same dormitory she lives in now, and that now I live in an apartment with three of my best friends. We agreed that its nice to have more space to ourselves and how it would be difficult to live with at least five other girls in the same room.
She then asked me if I had lived on a campus before coming to TCU or if this is the first time I had lived on a university's campus. I explained to her that most people in America live at home with their parents while going through school before college. However, I also mentioned boarding school programs and explained how those worked. I had mentioned that one of my best friends went to a boarding school for high school. She asked me if my friend was allowed to have a phone while she was at boarding school and was surprised when I said yes! She explained to me that at schools in China, you are not allowed to have your own phone and how she and her friends would sneak their phones onto the campus! I found this strange, but also funny that she and her friends were so sneaky.
She also explained that until you are the equivalent to an American college sophomore you are not allowed to have your own computer on campus. She told me a story, about her friend that is at a university in college was just recently given permission to have her computer on campus, so they are able to talk sometimes. She told me that her parents even bought her her own wifi, because the internet connection on the campus is too slow.
I was quite interested to hear more about schools in China. I had no clue how different and how much more strict the schools are there. She seemed quite pleased to be privileged enough to be attending school at TCU and to be given more freedom on campus in America.
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Learning Experience One: Light Pollution
In my writing composition class, we have had to research a topic that interests us and write different types of papers about that topic as well as make different presentations. As an Interior Designer and a Lighting Minor, I decided to research how light affects human behavior. The more I researched this topic the more I learned about light pollution. As a future designer, it is important for me to know how to design lighting in a way that does not harm the environment, but also light the space efficiently. I never realized how many things in our environment are affected by light pollution.
I began by focusing on how human behavior was affected by light. I found that our sleeping patterns are severely affected by the amount of light we expose ourselves to. Many forms of depression are also caused by a lack of exposure to light. A disorder referred to as Seasonal Affective Disorder, is a type of depression that is related to a combination of biological and mood disturbances with a seasonal pattern. In the winter months, the general population is exposed to less sunlight. This causes a mood disorder in many people, especially those living in the northern hemisphere.
I also found that light therapy, also known as bright light therapy or phototherapy, is used to treat many mood disorders and forms of depression. It exposes people to only the benefits of artificial light.
As I continued with my research, I began to acquire more of an interest in the pollution of light. I have learned how light pollution has actually caused a decrease in the population of migrating birds. With so much light in the sky, the birds' natural migrating pattern is disturbed. Light pollution is not only affecting the health of wild life but it also may be causing health problems in the human population. Ian Cheney, the producer of a documentary on light pollution, noted in an article about his film that he found a “growing body of evidence that suggests a possible connection between decreased nighttime darkness and increased risks of certain cancers and other health problems.” George Brainard, an expert in light's influence on physiology at Thomas Jefferson University, told The Huffington Post "light is a two-edged sword. Too much light at the wrong time or at the wrong intensities or wavelengths can have detrimental effects." The ebb and flow of light during the day and night triggers fluctuating levels of melatonin. The hormone regulates our circadian rhythm and peak production occurs during the night, regardless of whether or not one is asleep unless the darkness is interrupted by light. The World Health Organization announced in 2007 that the disruption of the circadian rhythm experienced by shift workers is a "probable" human carcinogen. The American Medical Association released an official statement warning of light pollution's potentially broad health hazards. Most research has focused on breast and prostate cancer, but there have been implications of increasing depression rates at the same time of increasing levels of light at night.
I feel that my new knowledge of the affect too much light can have on the environment can benefit me in my endeavors in the interior design field, as lighting design is one of the most important parts of designing a space.
I began by focusing on how human behavior was affected by light. I found that our sleeping patterns are severely affected by the amount of light we expose ourselves to. Many forms of depression are also caused by a lack of exposure to light. A disorder referred to as Seasonal Affective Disorder, is a type of depression that is related to a combination of biological and mood disturbances with a seasonal pattern. In the winter months, the general population is exposed to less sunlight. This causes a mood disorder in many people, especially those living in the northern hemisphere.
I also found that light therapy, also known as bright light therapy or phototherapy, is used to treat many mood disorders and forms of depression. It exposes people to only the benefits of artificial light.
As I continued with my research, I began to acquire more of an interest in the pollution of light. I have learned how light pollution has actually caused a decrease in the population of migrating birds. With so much light in the sky, the birds' natural migrating pattern is disturbed. Light pollution is not only affecting the health of wild life but it also may be causing health problems in the human population. Ian Cheney, the producer of a documentary on light pollution, noted in an article about his film that he found a “growing body of evidence that suggests a possible connection between decreased nighttime darkness and increased risks of certain cancers and other health problems.” George Brainard, an expert in light's influence on physiology at Thomas Jefferson University, told The Huffington Post "light is a two-edged sword. Too much light at the wrong time or at the wrong intensities or wavelengths can have detrimental effects." The ebb and flow of light during the day and night triggers fluctuating levels of melatonin. The hormone regulates our circadian rhythm and peak production occurs during the night, regardless of whether or not one is asleep unless the darkness is interrupted by light. The World Health Organization announced in 2007 that the disruption of the circadian rhythm experienced by shift workers is a "probable" human carcinogen. The American Medical Association released an official statement warning of light pollution's potentially broad health hazards. Most research has focused on breast and prostate cancer, but there have been implications of increasing depression rates at the same time of increasing levels of light at night.
I feel that my new knowledge of the affect too much light can have on the environment can benefit me in my endeavors in the interior design field, as lighting design is one of the most important parts of designing a space.
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Negative Humor
Today in class, Mexican humor was presented to us. As many of you already know, the presentation contained many comedic clips portraying how their humor was often self-deprecating. One video in particular caught my eye. Gabriel Iglesias, also known as Hot and Fluffy, is a Latino stand up comedian who is found popular in America. I found the clips in class rather amusing, so when I got home I looked up more videos of his special on Comedy Central. I could barely get through a minute of the clips without breaking into laughter.
After watching his special, I tried to sit down and figure out why I thought it was so hilarious. All of his jokes were stories that actually happened to him. His humor was self-deprecating. These anecdotes were all from times he was made fun of or he made fun of someone else. I realized that it was all negative humor. I am quickly realizing how much exposure to negative to humor there is in today's society. Even if the humor is self-deprecating it is still negative humor because it is still deprecating someone and is at the expense of that person or people.
This got me thinking. Why do we think these negative jokes are so funny? What is it about negative humor that gets us all laughing so hard?
I believe it is because of the Superiority theory. Not only are we happy its not happening to us, but we are also relieved - The Relief Theory. There are so many theories that can explain why we laugh at the things that we do and why we find things so amusing. When Gabriel jokes about his weight or his race, the audience laughs. Is it only okay because he is making fun of himself? If he wasn't calling himself out would it still be funny or even appropriate? Probably not. We laugh because he is laughing at himself.
There is a part of his special where he is telling a story about a time he was on an airplane. The plane was hit by lightning and dropped 60 feet instantly. Gabriel talks about how someone could be the "toughest guy ever" and he will still be scared. He went on to make a joke about how he was "gay for five seconds." He then imitates how he acted on the plane, screaming at a high pitch. Some would say "screaming like a girl." I couldn't help but laugh. However, at the same time, I realized how controversial his comment could be. Homosexuality quite the controversial topic - much like race or weight problems. Gabriel walks a fine line commenting on these topics and making jokes about them.
Even though many people find Gabriel Iglesias' special hilarious, including myself, it is mainly negative humor. I am still surprised at how amused our society is by this kind of humor. Our society becomes desensitized to these critical comments when they are transformed into humorous jokes.
After watching his special, I tried to sit down and figure out why I thought it was so hilarious. All of his jokes were stories that actually happened to him. His humor was self-deprecating. These anecdotes were all from times he was made fun of or he made fun of someone else. I realized that it was all negative humor. I am quickly realizing how much exposure to negative to humor there is in today's society. Even if the humor is self-deprecating it is still negative humor because it is still deprecating someone and is at the expense of that person or people.
This got me thinking. Why do we think these negative jokes are so funny? What is it about negative humor that gets us all laughing so hard?
I believe it is because of the Superiority theory. Not only are we happy its not happening to us, but we are also relieved - The Relief Theory. There are so many theories that can explain why we laugh at the things that we do and why we find things so amusing. When Gabriel jokes about his weight or his race, the audience laughs. Is it only okay because he is making fun of himself? If he wasn't calling himself out would it still be funny or even appropriate? Probably not. We laugh because he is laughing at himself.
There is a part of his special where he is telling a story about a time he was on an airplane. The plane was hit by lightning and dropped 60 feet instantly. Gabriel talks about how someone could be the "toughest guy ever" and he will still be scared. He went on to make a joke about how he was "gay for five seconds." He then imitates how he acted on the plane, screaming at a high pitch. Some would say "screaming like a girl." I couldn't help but laugh. However, at the same time, I realized how controversial his comment could be. Homosexuality quite the controversial topic - much like race or weight problems. Gabriel walks a fine line commenting on these topics and making jokes about them.
Even though many people find Gabriel Iglesias' special hilarious, including myself, it is mainly negative humor. I am still surprised at how amused our society is by this kind of humor. Our society becomes desensitized to these critical comments when they are transformed into humorous jokes.
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