Critical literacy

In English, we're looking at critical literacy. We've started by looking at how media portrays various things, in particular, men and women.

Omi - Cheerleader

Cheerleader by OMI portrays women in a sexual manner. Not only that, but it also shows women as only being there to cheer on the efforts of men. Men, however, are barely shown and are more seen as being providers while women cheer them on and are there to support them

Robin Thicke - Blurred lines F.T Pharrell Williams

Not only does Blurred Lines objectify women in a lifeless sexual manner, but it also talks about the blurred lines of consent and about how the girl does actually want it. Everyone knows there is nothing blurred about the lines of consent. Men are shown as being classy and expensive while the women are shown as being sex objects there for male consumption. 

Marina and the Diamonds - How to Be a Heartbreaker

Although How to Be a Heartbreaker shows men as being predominantly muscular white men, they are still seen as having fun and not, you know, looking dead inside. If you compare this to the two above, the men here are having more fun and generally look alive and well. Marina is the only woman being portrayed in this music video. She's seen as being a player and playing the field quite often. 

Charli XCX -  Boys

Out of the previous four music videos, Carli's video "Boys" is the least sexualized. It's mostly her friends just, you know, chilling out. Also, this song is a bop and the music video is really fun and not lifeless. No women are in the music video except for a few seconds where they have fake mustaches. 

Te Tiriti o Te Waitangi Essay Plan - Social Studies

In the 1830s England discovered Aotearoa and had begun to send Whalers around the country, in particular, Kororareka which is now known as Russell. However, with no set rules and regulations for whalers, their lawless behavior and free trading among the Maori tribes of New Zealand caused various problems. These problems could’ve been controlled, if not stopped entirely with the help of a treaty.

Lawless Behaviour

State your point 

Lawless behavior is one reason why the Treaty of Waitangi was needed

Why your point matters

Lawless behavior was one of the ways disease spread throughout New Zealand killing hundreds of Maori people. It also caused countless unreasonable acts of violence between crews and the prostitution of young Maori women.

What evidence/facts m I going to use to support my point?

For Example, 

• Kororareka was given the reputation of being a hell hole
• The death rate because of excess violence  
• The rapid spread of diseases 

Sum up your point

The rate of violence, prostitution, and the spread of disease would've been able to be controlled and regulated with the help of a treaty.

Maori Rights and The Missionaries 

State your point

The rights of the Maori people were being violated by European settlers and whalers

Why your points matter

The rights of the Tribes of Aotearoa were being violated by Europeans and were not being acknowledged. 

What evidence/facts am I going to use to support my point?

For example.

• The taking of land from the Maori people
• The kidnapping of members of various tribes
• The senseless killing of various Maori people

Sum up your point

With the help of a treaty, the Europeans and the Maori would've been able to reach an agreement while still protecting the rights of the Maori people.

Musket Wars

What evidence/facts am I going to use to support my point?

• The fact that this caused the death of 20,000 people
• The rapidly changing borders of land ownership.
• The free reign of trading between Europeans and the Maori.

State your point

The musket wars could've been prevented if we had regulation and control over Europeans and Maori tribes

Why your point matters

It matters because the musket wars dramatically changed the population of the Maori people for the worse.

Sum up your point

With a treaty, the trading between the Pakeha whalers and the Maori tribes would've been able to be controlled and regulated. 

Declaration of Independence

Open with your question

But New Zealand already had a Declaration of Independence, so did we really need the Treaty of Waitangi? 

Answer your question

Yes as the Declaration of Independence did not cover the South Island, it was not signed by all the chiefs of Aotearoa and was only designed for trading between the nation of England and the Tribes of Aotearoa.

Evidence

• The number of chiefs who signed the declaration of independence does not equal the same number of chiefs who signed the Treaty of Waitangi 
• The declaration of independence does not include chiefs from the South or Stewart island.

 Sum up your point

The declaration of independence was only the foundation of the Treaty of Waitangi.

Israeli Couscous salad - yeah, this ain't it chief.

So last week we made this salad thing that wasn't that great. Um, the salad, yeah that was a thing we made. I was actually telling my Dad about the salad (for context my Dad's side of the family is Jewish so I've had my fair bit of food. Dad is also an Israeli citizen and lived there for roughly 3 - 5 years.) and he said that we completely messed it up with the lemon dressing and I quote "Why would you put a dressing on it? Like, a little bit of lemon yeah but dressing? Really? I'm sorry but you've totally butchered the recipe". He even said that it wasn't actually an Israeli salad and wants to know where Miss Hindson got the recipe from. Anyway on with the actual practical report thing that I'm supposed to write.

Team Aspect

We worked pretty well as a team I think. Not all of us were there and having a fourth person probably would've kept us at the same pace as the rest of the class but, we did finish in the end after speeding up the cooking of the couscous. Yeah, I mean we worked well together and we remembered everything. I did, however, get told off for not adding enough salad but the couscous was enough. 

Review

Personal

Yeah, I did not like it. It tasted bad. The dressing was not good in any way, shape, or form and I have no idea how we could make it better other than skipping it completely. 

                            Finished product                                                                              Dressing ingredients

  

 

Chop Suey

Last week in home economics we created an abbreviated version of chop suey.

Team Aspect

Last week we had two additions to our group. This is due to the fact that quite a few people were missing so a group of two was split up with one of them joining us making four. We then had one other addition meaning us and one other group had five people. I was a bit worried about how our group would work with one extra member and two new people. Luckily, my worries were put to rest as once the practical began everyone immediately took a  role and we were able to get started straight away. My job was to look after the noddles which was fairly easy, Tana prepared the vegetables, Connor, if I remember correctly, prepared the meat while Memory and Ella collected ingredients. I might've got some the roles wrong as I don't quite remember exactly. Everything went smoothly and we were able to complete everything on time. 

End Result

The end result was delicious. I've never had chop suey so I don't really have anything to compare it to but I assume that it tasted pretty similar to a chop suey made from a non-abbreviated recipe. The noodles were a bit weird but I didn't not enjoy it. I think it was quite good and quite a successful recipe and practical.

I keep forgetting to take pictures of our preparation so sorry about that.