5. My view on Critical Literacy now

You have almost completed this semester, so, how do you view Critical Literacy now? If you have any comments and suggestions, please do so as it helps for the betterment of the course as a whole.

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As this semester progressed and I've learnt more about Critical Literacy, I view Critical Literacy as a very tough subject. Although that is so, I thoroughly enjoyed learning this subject. 

Critical Literacy has helped me develop my ability to critically think and as I have always been brought up being told to think critically, I believe Critical Literacy has somewhat helped me in a very big way to achieve better critical thinking. I also find Critical Literacy to be very enjoyable because I gain knowledge about topics I never thought about looking into. As I did the question on Proposition, I learned that my favourite Disney cartoon, Pocahontas, has not always been a cartoon. It was based on a true story and that was interesting to find out. I also got to read a snippet of Mein Kampf. I have always known that the Nazis lived their life according to that book of ideology by Adolf Hitler; but I never knew that I could read a bit of it. In fact, I never even thought about reading it. 

However, I guess I could say that maybe our reading materials could also consist of classic literature. It would be interesting to critically analyze a poem or classic literature aside from the articles. Of course, the articles are very good for the subject, but if classic literature is included, it might be a bit more interesting for us. If the department adds in literature, I believe that students will have more interest in this subject.

All in all, I feel that Critical Literacy has benefited me in many ways even though it is a tad tough. I am grateful that I have had the chance to study this subject this semester and I very much enjoyed it. 

4. Hollywood lies

Proposition: Hollywood produces great movies, but they don't always tell the truth even it is based on 'True Stories'. Provide at least two (2) premises or counter arguments for the proposition. Write in complete paragraph(s).

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Everyone agrees that Hollywood comes up with very good movies and stories that are based on true stories are always the most interesting ones. Although that is so, it is said that Hollywood never actually tells the truth. Regarding this, I agree very much that Hollywood movies that are based on true stories are not, as people say, the truth and nothing but the truth. 

Why do I say this? In USA Today, Bowles (2013) mentions, "And with them comes the inevitable accusation that studios shun the truth in exchange for profits, despite claims of veracity." You see, Hollywood loves a great story. They will always find ways to give you great ones but in order for great stories to happen, the original true stories need to be tweaked. That is why Hollywood is said not to tell the truth. 

Also, the truth can be quite boring. Take Pocahontas for example; in actual truth, she never fell in love with John Smith. The real Pocahontas was ten years old (Byrnes, 2012). As we all know, the cartoon Pocahontas is a very good cartoon. The love affair among Pocahontas and John Smith has always been the main attraction to the movie. It made the movie more interesting and acceptable to children. The actual story is somewhat very different from the cartoon. "The debate continues about whether “Pocahontas” truly saved John Smith, but we do know she never married him, as the film implies. She instead spent her short life, which ended in tragedy, with John Rolfe — the man Disney made the villain." (Sterbenz, 2014)

Therefore, though Hollywood produces great movies, they always twist the truth and this proves that they do not always tell the truth even if it is based on true stories.

Byrnes, P. (2012, December 29). A matter of fact. Retrieved April 5, 2015, from http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/a-matter-of-fact-20121227-2bwru.html

Bowles, S. (2013, October 10). Should Hollywood get its 'true stories' straight? Retrieved April 5, 2015, from http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2013/10/10/true-stories-hollywood/2955851/

Sterbenz, C. (2014, April 6). The Real Story Of Pocahontas Is Much Darker Than The Disney Movie - Business Insider. Retrieved April 5, 2015, from http://www.businessinsider.my/the-real-story-of-pocahontas-2014-4/#r11bfv8W7sBEb1RJ.97

3. Black market babies

"If money were the only criterion by which a child's welfare can be gauged, then a baby bought for as much as RM40,000 on the black market would seem set for life. For money-rich but child-poor couples, it is a small price to pay to introduce a small life into their home. The cot is gilded, the blanket monogrammed, the college fund filled to the brim. All that's wanting is a bun in the oven. And where there is a baby-for-sale racket, money can indeed buy happiness. And after all, why not?" (NST, March 3, 2013)

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There are many ways to view this situation regarding selling babies in the black market. Personally, I am not for it neither am I against it. 

I do not agree that babies should be sold in the black market. There are many other ways to give away your baby. You could put your baby out for adoption in homes or you could always look for people who want children but cannot bear their own. Buying babies in the black market only encourages the market to expand and it is honestly not a very humane thing to do, selling babies in black markets. Of course the black market offers more money for your baby, but how would the child feel if they grow up discovering that they were sold off in the black market and their adopted parents actually bought them illegally? I'm sure they might feel abandoned or offended.

On the other hand, I am not fully against buying babies off the black market if you feel that you can provide the child the best future. In this case, the babies are better off bought by good people rather than fall into the hands of evil doers. What happens to a baby that is not wanted in the black market? How do they dispose of them? What do they do to them when they grow older? The black market is known for illegal business where the things sold may or may not be illegal. Many illegal business go through the black market, such as prostitution, human trafficking and what not. So you never know what happens to the babies sold in black markets if good people do not buy them. We should avoid the babies being sold off to illegal businesses. 

Therefore, my view on this scenario is that there are many ways to look at it. It can be bad and it can be good, depending on your reasons. 

2. Stereotyping

Stereotyping is exaggerated generalizations associated with a categorizing system, they go beyond the facts at hand and make claims that usually have no valid basis. Is is also something that most people find difficult to avoid from doing. What do you think?

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Stereotyping is somewhat a norm in every country and culture. In Malaysia, we categorize each race with a specific attitude or image. We also tend to categorize each person based on where they come from. Many believe that Chinese dress in a specific way, Indians act a certain way, all Malay thinking are alike and every other stereotyping tendencies. No one is excepted in this tendency.

I honestly believe that stereotyping cannot be avoided. I myself have the tendency to stereotype a person or a group of people. Although I must say that nobody is ever always on point when they stereotype. 

Many instances, people who stereotype are proven wrong. Just because a person is from that certain place or that certain race, it does not mean that they are exactly like the majority of where they come from. Easy said, an individual is exactly that - an individual. Therefore, they do not entirely fit into the exaggerated generalizations because they are who they are, not where they come from. 

The video above is an example of stereotyping. Just because they come from a certain place or look a certain way, they really are merely an individual that do not necessarily belong to the categories we stereotype them into. 

Therefore, I believe that stereotyping cannot be avoided by anyone but we must realise that we can always be proven wrong. 

1. Hopes and expectations for Critical Literacy

You heard comments and maybe grievances from your seniors about Critical Literacy, but what is/are your expectation(s) or hope for this subject as you are just started.

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Before I entered this semester, I had heard from many seniors as well as lecturers about Critical Literacy. Seniors mentioned that it is a difficult subject whereas lecturers had always tried to make us start thinking critically. In general, all of them mentioned that it would be quite tough. 

Although that is so, I braced myself for this so called tough subject as I entered this semester. As a person who generally really likes literature, I had hoped that this subject would be what I thought it would be - about classic literature or poems. Of course, I was nothing but wrong. Instead of classic literature or poems, articles were given to me and I have to analyze them; or as I have put it into simpler terms to show how tough I imagine it to be, I have to dissect the articles.

With this being said, I hope that this subject will help me in the future. Of course, by learning to dissect articles, I can put it into use in my own daily life and figure out the best ways to solve any problems that might be thrown to me.  

Also, I hope to sharpen my thinking skills as I know that thinking critically is essential in decision making. Although it is believed to be a tough subject and it can make a person go mad, I really hope I can get passed that and get maximum benefit from this subject. 

All in all, I hope Critical Literacy would be a subject I will enjoy and not stress over.