Blog #6: Personal Profile :"The Bible Belt's Racy new Boyfriend"

“I do not give a rat’s ass about the content,” Boyfriend’s father, Monty, says. “The job of art is not to tiptoe but to completely obliterate the line. The phrases she says don’t tiptoe. They walk right over.” (The Bible Belt's Racy New Boyfriend) 

 (Photo courtesy Akasha Rabut)

Emily Mcdermott's piece tells the story of "Boyfriend" a former devout christian teen who became a racy open pansexual rapper. Boyfriend grew up in a conservative christian home in Nashville, Tennessee. She spent summers at bible camp and struggled with coming to terms with her sexuality.  When she left for College, she felt for the first time she was able to think clearly and not feel guilty about who she was.  She also go to redefine her out look of religion and spirituality in a way that works for her.

The Author makes sure to give the reader the full experience that is Boyfriend.She not just a rapper, she is also a grade school teacher in New Orleans.She is someone who doesn't hold back and has no problem being in your face, because she wants to be the voice that some many Questioning teens need. It also showed that Boyfriend has the full support of her family, they understand who she is and why se does what she does. They even say that she has changed their outlook on life for the better.

The one thing that stood out the most was the intro. The description was so vivd that you can almost see the shower and the soap suds. But you also feel for the girl- an overwhelming feeling of guilt. But the reason its show brilliant is that you don't know what she is feeling guilty for, buy you just feel it. That emotion is what keeps you engaged.

I think Boyfriend is very interesting Subject. She is witty, confident and comes off very approachable. And iIwant to know if that's just how McDermott wrote her or is how she really is.

Blog # 5: Interview Idea

The person i chose to interview is my mother's boyfriend Alvin. I chose hime because i feel like i could know more about him and i just find him to be a highly interesting Human. He's done a lot of cool things  (He's a Dj, body guard, retired cop and former biker). I have some general questions in mind to direct the conversation, but think i would like to take very natural approach to the whole thing.

Blog # 4: Responding to a Memoir: Michael Pollan's The Omnivores Dilemma

The piece I really Enjoyed was Michael Pollan's The Omnivores Dilemma.  I first came across the book in High school- i had to read excerpts of it for a biology project. I have always liked things that dealt with food. Eric Schlosser's Fast food Nation  and  The Ethics of What We Eat  by Peter Singer came to mind when I Read this in class.

What was interesting about this excerpt specifically was the way Pollan show cased the chicken farm. Because i have read so much about the un-ethical practices of HUGE chicken companies it was nice to see a story from a smaller organization. Pollan brings a great deal of respect to Joel and his profession. You can see that these men truly care about what they do and ethics behind it. 

Blog #3: Defying Gravity

Remember being a kid and wishing to fly? Wanting to see the world and not being stuck in one place? Remember the disappointment in being told that people cannot fly? But that did stop all the jumping off beds and  couches preferably with a sheet acting as a cape. Nothing came close until Ballet.

The only thing that that anchors her to the ground in one foot en Pointe. Its the closest thing to flying. She spins and spins and spins.Lost in the moment that is neither here nor there, she is lost. She is doing what few people can. 

Her skirt in no longer an just an item - its an extension of her. Showing that she is an ethereal being. Balancing her out and showing that she is movement. She is untouchable.

Her head in the crook of her elbow- she’s done this before, she can do it in her sleep and yet its beautiful and captivating and haunting. She’s suspended in time. a moment displaying her grace and power.

She has been dancing her entire life. She will be remembered as one of the best dancers of her times.  But Right now its 1942, and she’s  8 years way from becoming a lead dancer in the New York City Ballet  and George Balanchine's favorite dancer. So she dances.

She is flying, she is untouchable, she is defying gravity.

Welcome To My Blog

Hi! My name is Amanda and I am a Journalism major here at LaGuardia. I've always loved magazines, i have back issues of my favorites tucked into every nook and cranny of my room. The first magazine i ever read was Rolling stone - I think Green day was on the front cover. I'm a huge tumblr nerd - its my main social networking of choice followed by twitter. So I either want to work at a magazine or for something like tumblr.  I took the Creative Fiction workshop this past summer, which I really enjoyed.

i think creative non- fiction is being able to take a real subject and being able to create an immersive experience for the reader. Where a news story is just giving the reader the facts, creative non- fiction is letting the reader experience the situation first hand.