ATA5

The idea that the way we view the world is influenced by culture is outstanding. I never believed that the way we perceive the world or environment is influenced by culture until recently. For example, the picture “Ambiguous Lady”. In this picture we can see an old or young lady. Our answer is an example of our relation to our age, culture, or background. When I looked at the picture, I saw a young lady. I did not see an older lady until it was pointed out to me. The way that we perceive the world is greatly influenced on who we are, and were we were raised. As an American, I see the world in a self-centered view. When I look at something, I see how it related directly to myself. This is a very important part of my culture. This view ensures our cultural evolutionary desire for survival, and the individual idea of society. Therefore, I see a young lady. The American perception is based on independent thought, self-reliance, and self-preservation.

I learned a lot from this section. Art is a reflection on your soul. Art is perceived differently depending on their ideas, views, or dreams. Different countries see the same image with different results. Sometimes you do not see an image until it is pointed out. These examples prove that your culture plays a major role in your results. Culture teaches us what to think, what we should perceive, and what is acceptable. Without it we would not be able to evolve as a society, and love art. Therefore, your answer of your perception is a window into your soul.

Nature and nurture are both part of the process of culture to understand what we think and see. Everybody perceives things differently. It is not the same size fits all. What we focus on tends to relate to each individual background. There are many pictures of optical illusions that show to this idea. What you see often relates to your identity and background.

ATA4

America’s standard culture views of beauty is a very difficult section for me personally. As a female, I am constantly objectified for my physical characteristics. Growing up, I was extremely physically fit, with a small frame. This ensured jealously and comments about my weight, body, and how lucky I was to be “small”, with no consideration of any expectations that was required for me to “fit” into this ideal body.

Ads in media and magazines were my main source of the ideal beauty. Unfortunately, it is impossible for an average teenage girl to have a figure while maintaining a healthy diet. Pills, diets, and extreme exercise programs constantly changing to ensure that as a teenage female I was beautiful. This behavior was reinforced by my peer groups, family, and strangers during sports competitions. While I tried to maintain a positive eating schedule, it was difficult between advertisements and general acceptance of skinny is healthy, and there is nothing wrong with pills, or puking to achieve the desired results.

During the early 2000’s, advertisement during this period started to use younger ladies as models. The standard acceptance of lack of clothing were more acceptable than in previous generations. As a teenager, and later a young adult I had to re-enforce to myself the idea that one person’s beauty is not the same as another.

America’s acceptance of younger models used as a sexual reference is a concern. This creates a dangerous standard of acceptance of what is acceptable age for sexual objectifiable. As a mother, this culture standard is a problem.

ATA3

ATA2

ATA1

Peer groups and families have different roles depending on each culture. Today so much is changing so quickly that young adolescents are having to teach the older generations how to work technology and what is excepted by new social standards. Many westerns cultures are supportive of prefigurative cultures. Our American culture accepts change and values equality above all else. Certain ideas and standards of acceptability are changing as we as a nation evolve into a better society. The parent generation must realize that technology and social standards have changed since we were children. Last semester I took adolescent psychology. Adolescents have their own support structure and mini culture among their selves. Peer influence is found worldwide. Many adolescents are looking to find support and advice from their fellow age groups instead of their elders. By teaching and raising our children to be productive members of society and to follow good ethic values such as, respecting their elders, we can produce adolescents with greater positive influence in each other’s lives. This is important to me because I am raising two young children. My daughter is attending middle school next year and is relying on a positive peer pressure group for support and advice. By raising Samantha with good strong core values, I can only hope that she finds a positive group to influence her decisions in life. 

This picture represents of looking upwards to the next generation for the future (Samantha).