Power and Representation

In my studies of Indigenous culture, the concept of linguistics constructing our understanding of reality has been prominent. Anthropologists sometimes argue the validity of equating language with cultural identity, but clearly, structuralist theorists see the truth behind this. Aboriginal communities,such as the Mi'kmaq from my own heritage, are endangered as nations because of loss of language, along with the more obvious and recognized reasons. The dominant culture in the Maritimes fails to realize the intrinsic connection that the Mi'kmaq have to their language, and their land, both of which are intertwined in their identity.
Language seems to be a superficial representation of a culture's actual understanding of itself and the world around it, with signifiers and the signified making up a good part of what is unseen. While watching the White House Correspondent's Dinner remarks on Youtube this week, I noticed much of what was left unsaid by Barack Obama in his pointed counterattack on Donald Trump. A significant power struggle was evident here as well, represented by Trump's financial acumen pitted against Obama's status of being one of the world's most powerful men. Trump has undoubtedly made some trouble for the President, and could be further disruptive, but as Seth Myers pointed out, Obama is the leader of "the most powerful/poorest nation" in the world.
This power dynamic appears to deny Foucault's premise that power comes from below. In the United States, power is particularly associated with wealth. It is unusual to see what we might consider a 'powerful' poor person.
There is a point to be made, though, for the shifting nature of power relations between the dominant culture and Aboriginal Nations both here and in the States, in which an apparently compliant culture chooses to exert its power subtly, for the most part, as opposed to doing it overtly. "Power" is defined by the culture discussing it, as is every concept.

Ideology and Hegemony

Last semester, while taking a journalism class, I was introduced to the notion of media being owned and operated by corporations, and what that meant for programming and cross-promotion across television, print media, movies and websites.I was aware, of course, that these were all owned by someone, but it really hit home just how much all the various media scripted our lives, and how this is all based on money. So disillusioning.
This whole idea of hegemony really bothers me, and it becomes clearer to me just what was behind the Hippies 'dropping out'. What thinking person wants to feel that she is at the mercy of what conglomerates are telling her what to think? I want to believe that my favourite radio station, CBC, which I will not be mentioning again, is actually presenting a reflection of current Canadian thought, but, as evidenced by the recent federal election, that clearly isn't the case. Maybe it's a promising example of media that is not telling us what to think as a country, perhaps it's just telling the socialists among us what to think.
So, given all of the interesting facts I've read about this past week, it behooves me to come up with ways to avoid living my life in such a way that someone else is reaping the benefits of my labour, and on top of that, convincing me that I like this situation. This seems to be the best time of my life for avoiding hegemony-I am attending school courtesy of the government (until I'm done), I have employment that is based on the barter system, and I make up my own mind about what to think about, for the most part. I do have a weakness for American films, unfortunately, and I'll be off to watch Pirates of the Caribbean this weekend with no qualms whatsoever, although I'm aware that this is just another example of top-down popular culture. Through my culturally enlightened children, I will be exposed to more Indie bands this weekend, and until they're co-opted by the mainstream media, I enjoy hearing bands that start in grassroots culture. I'm guessing that I am engaging in a cafeteria-style of dropping out; rebelling against those things that I find most distasteful, while still engaging in those things that bring me pleasure.

I Really Hate Coffee

-I sometimes find myself being a bit of a Cultural snob in my choices of music and art. I listen to the CBC all day long, sometimes even (gasp) to Radio Two, just for the classical music. I have, in my time, been the proprietor of an art gallery, in a city that appreciates artists. Given all that, you would think that my lifestyle choices would reflect my affinity for high art. This isn’t the case, though. I eschew the accumulation of money and a fancy lifestyle. I think that nature is far superior to culture, and when I’m not listening to snobby music or writing academic masterpieces, I’m out in the woods.
I see plenty of examples of my contrary nature, when I come to really look at it. I am a strong proponent of decolonization of all kinds, which poses an issue for my dual Métis heritage, but no matter. This should suggest that I would enjoy the emergence of a more global form of popular culture, but when it comes to sitting and relaxing, I like watching American Idol, and Modern Family. I recognize the fact that I have been programmed, by American popular culture, to expect a certain amount of action, presented in a specific time frame. When I went to the theatre to see the movie Thor last week, I noticed that I was feeling vaguely dissatisfied with the pace of the movie, regardless of the fact that my dissatisfaction was alleviated by the main character’s physique.
In the midst of younger students, I feel that I have the advantage of a time-traveller, who has lived through the cultural changes of the past few decades, both in our Canadian culture and in people’s views of and participation in Culture. Art and music are so much more accessible now, through museum programs and social media like YouTube. I am the happy recipient of an education changed in nature by theorists like Leavis and Williams, and by the feminist movement, although a little more decolonization wouldn't come amiss there, either.
I can appreciate the cultural microcosm of ‘having a coffee’ as a social need for community. But this appreciation will never make me like the taste.

Observations from the Other Side

I have chosen this blog name for the obvious reason that I am far and away older than most of my classmates. While they may have found today's lecture a bit dull(as noted by the prof...), I was riveted by it, having grown up in the midst of the cultural changes of the sixties. It is so interesting to learn how universities changed in their views toward anyone who was not a white male and how the academic curricula reflected those changes.
I am so grateful to be going to university now, when I can benefit from the work of theorists like Hall and Thompson. I can only imagine what it must have been like for women of my mother's generation to try to learn in the face of sexism and intolerance.
Thus ends my introductory post. Further posts will, of course, reference popular culture and scholarly writings.