John Romano’s Blog

To start this blog post and before we even speak about the art associated with migration, how amazing is Genius (formerly Rap Genius)? I have been using this site for almost ten years now to decipher and find the deeper meaning in lyrics. It has truly changed how I listen to music and I could probably write a dissertation on how important and amazing it is. This is now the third class where a professor has directly linked a lesson to Genius. I wish more people knew about this website and utilized it. Anyway..

 

The stark contrast between ‘American Land’ and ‘Follow Me’ is immediately apparent in the first five seconds of listening. The tone of music used in ‘American Land’ is upbeat and cheery, stemming from traditional Irish folk songs. This is contrasted by the melancholy tone of ‘Follow Me’, the chorus being a melodic vocalization followed with the inspiring line “but at least I got you and you got me”. The sound of each song further contrasts with the content, as ‘Follow Me’ sounds more melancholy, the words are more inspiring;

“Follow me I am on your side
But we don’t have much time
Momma said there’s a war outside
Only the strong survive”

Although their world is falling apart they empower each other by sticking together.

 

‘American Land’ tells the story of people migrating to the … American Land, in search of a better life. They hear the streets are lined with Gold and Beer pours from the faucet and it sounds like a magical place. It is later revealed that all that glitters isn’t gold and many have died building the infrastructure of the country. Those who migrate here and work the hardest jobs to get by are usually (and wrongfully) forgotten in history. The chorus is cheery;

“There’s diamonds in the sidewalk the’s gutters lined in song
Dear I hear that beer flows through the faucets all night long
There’s treasure for the taking, for any hard working man
Who will make his home in the American Land”

but the reality is much more grim;

“They died in the fields and factories names scattered in the wind
They died to get here a hundred years ago they’re still dying now
The hands that built the country were always trying to keep down”

 

Favianna Rodriguez who is a Latinx artist based in Oakland is focused on allowing immigrants to tell their own stories, while also empowering those of misrepresented groups. Her art is a direct reflection of her own vision and viewpoint, which allows for a purity when viewing it. She tells her own story and empowers others to do the same. The strength and power of art comes from its ability to be interpreted and have numerous meanings based on who is viewing it. While Rodriguez may see something one way and create art to reflect it, it can resonate with the viewer and ignite feelings as intended. This is a double edged sword as well, because art can be interpreted in multiple ways.

 

3/5

 

The 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees clearly defines a refugee as “someone who is unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion”. This is a clear definition of who should be labeled a refugee, and those who are not included are those seeking economic freedom, work or better living conditions AKA migrants. The words used do matter when describing instances of migrations. I have been guilty of using the term “illegal” in my last blog post when that clearly was not the case. It feels as if the goal posts are forever moving when it comes to immigration policy.

This is further supported when comparing “Words matter” to the Justice Departments release on “use illegal aliens” not “undocumented”. On one hand we are told that people are not illegal and only actions are illegal, but then the justice department says that for continuity’s sake we should keep the language to name them as illegal aliens. I think this is a tactic to sway public opinion to either side of the argument. The base audience for “Words matter” will have their beliefs strengthened by the empowering message that actions are illegal, not people. While supporters of the justice department will see a governing body validate their stance on using the term “illegal aliens” to describe cases of human immigration. The 1951 convention clearly states what a refugee is which is helpful in keeping the terms separate, while laying out official guidelines relating to the status of refugees.

• Will there be a neutral decision on terminology for migrants?
• Does the general public care enough to search these terms and use them correctly?
• How does the misuse of terms perpetuate stereotypes?

4/5

My artifact originally appeared in the Star Tribune (largest newspaper in Minnesota) and was created by Steve Sack. Steve is a Pulitzer Prize winner in 2013, the same year this political cartoon was created. As my generation has come to age we’ve started paying more attention to politics and world issues. It’s worth noting that there have been immigration issues in the US long before President Trump was even a thought in our mind, as this clearly impossible path to citizenship cartoon was released in 2013.

This artifact’s importance lies in the strong imagery conveyed. There is not only a path to citizenship, but an impassible path TO the path to citizenship. While political cartoons are simplified versions of real issues, they do a great job of depicting the issue quickly for political discourse. Political cartoons have some irony and exaggeration in them, which is why they’re so effective and still widely used in physical media despite the introduction of technology. There is not literally a pit full of dangerous creatures, brick wall with barbed wire, quick sand, and land mines on the path to citizenship but there is POLITICS which is clearly states as well. This helps the viewers of the cartoon understand the struggles and hopelessness of being granted citizenship in the U.S.

Why are political cartoons so effective at drawing attention to policy and corruption? How does the media use these bite-sized images to further encourage political discord, and what is the line between thought provoking imaging and propaganda?

I plan to use the two short videos “No Way” and “Think you know ICE?” as thought provoking media artifacts from class. Although they are video formats, I believe the message still remains the same. They’re short, but pack a lot of information during their time which can be related to the single political cartoon I’ve chosen. These two videos also represent some of the “impassable obstacles” on the “path to the path to citizenship”.

 

When immigration opposers have done their part on home soil, they can take their fight to the source. Posting anti-immigration media in foreign countries can be an effective deterrent for would-be asylum seekers. With promises of punishment and hardship it would make those seeking a life abroad second guess their decision. In “An International Analysis of Governmental Media Campaigns to Deter Asylum Seekers” we learn of the many deterrent campaigns led by Norway, USA, and Australia. Mainly targeting asylum-seekers in Central America, the Middle East and even on the internet. The videos “Why risk your life?” and “You risk being returned” were posted by Norway to dissuade a growing number of seekers from coming, and highlighted the smugglers as being a main enemy. Norway was the only European country to use social media as a platform to send word that illegal crossings would not be allowed.

 

After viewing the videos “No Way” and “Stricter Asylum Regulations in Norway” it is clear that both countries are using visual media to dissuade illegal crossings by sea. Norway states that since 2014 over 10,000 lives have been lost trying to cross the Mediterranean; so why risk your savings and more importantly your life by trying to cross the sea into Norway? Norway makes it stance clear that those seeking jobs will not be permitted by illegal crossing, so why risk it? Australia uses similar language in “No Way” when referring to sea vessels arriving on Australian waters. They must defend their seas and no matter who you are, adults, children, skilled or un-skilled workers, you will not cross into Australia illegally and make it your home. The United States “Know the facts” video makes it clear that the border is overwhelmed with migrants. They try to dissuade additional migrants from South America by sending those who were detained back to their homes, which leads to oral messaging of “I’ve spent thousands of dollars to cross into America but I’m back where I am”. This is probably the greatest method of demotivation in my opinion.

 

It is clear that this is not a Presidential, nor solely an American issue. Other countries are facing the same human rights issues and can not keep up with, or care for all the asylum seekers they receive. Sarah Bishop cleverly references the fact that “Australia, Norway, and the United States all voted in favor of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. Article 14 of the Declaration grants that “everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.” The three nations are also all signatories on the 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, which extended protections originally established in the 1951 Refugee Convention by stipulating that nations should not penalize forced migrants for illegal entry or stay, regardless of where and when the migrants were forcibly displaced. Although the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 1967 Protocol are clear in this regard, the omission of information regarding the right to seek asylum in the Australian and U.S. deterrence campaigns obscures the reality that both nations approve and grant status to thousands of asylum seekers each year. Instead, they imply that this right does not exist.” This does a great job at picking apart their recent stance on illegal migrants.

 

Questions:

• • Seeing as these videos and instances from the US were pre-Trump, can we expect any changes for the better if the administration changes after the next election?
  • Is there really a solution here?

 

4/5

Migration is such a tough and tricky subject. People cannot be “illegal” but from an immigration standpoint the rules can be tricky. Young Americans’ future can be in jeopardy due to the legality of their residence in this country as illustrated in the soundbite “A house divided” on NPR. I believe the USA is a land of opportunity and if children are brought over without consent and have been living peacefully in the country they should get a pass. The end of the soundbite from NPR had a very powerful message regarding the siblings who’s future was uncertain, “..maybe they want their identity to be more than documented, undocumented and citizen.” There should be more to a person than their citizen status, and if they’re a functioning member of our society why shouldn’t we embrace them with open arms?

This gets complicated because where do lawmakers draw the line on immigration? I believe border security is important and necessary, but is riddled with flaws. Even former First Lady Laura Bush agrees and understands the importance of border security. The zero tolerance rule is cruel and I believe does more harm than good. Laura Bush states “These images are eerily reminiscent of the internment camps for U.S. citizens and noncitizens of Japanese descent during World War II, now considered to have been one of the most shameful episodes in U.S. history.” and I can’t help but agree. No matter what your politics are you should be empathetic and focused on people, not policy. It can be hard to decide between sticking to “the book” and doing what is morally right.  Laura Bush reveals some horror stories from the immigration system and provides a call to action not by condemning the people in charge, but by reminding us of the country values we were founded on and calling upon those within the government who she knows are kind and compassionate.

Personally my own family’s migration history is not talked about or idolized. I am third generation American and hearing my grandparents talk about their experiences here in America they have fond memories. America is seen as a land of opportunity for those who had none amongst old-timers. They had no choice but to come here and work hard for what they have, which is the same ideology that I have. There was some discrimination but my grandparents used to brush it off as unimportant, they put their head down and got to it. I had members of my family serve in the military and fight for the USA, and when I ask them what made them do it the response is generally “I will fight for the freedom I was given”. My family did not cross at the border, instead we came through Ellis Island. My family’s experience is not one that is highlighted by this week’s literature.

Questions:

If the administration changes in this year’s election, can we really expect immigration changes? What is the actual plan?

3.5/5 this one was tough for me personally. I also couldn’t get access to the NYT video.

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has been many things; a global health crisis, economic downturn, migration reset, and experiment in proper communication. As someone who was forced to start working from home it was hard at first, as I’ve never done it before and the uncertainty of my employment was looming overhead. The article “The important of communication while working from home” makes great observations and arguments on how to effectively work from home. I am in a managerial position within one of the most effected job sectors impacted by COVID-19 (Commercial Real Estate), and the struggles of trying to manage my essential staff who is on-site while I am at home was extremely difficult. As the article states “.. it is important to be patient and proactive.” While having strong leadership is “extremely important”. It was vital for me to communicate effectively via virtual outlets and guide my staff to complete tasks while there was no manager on-site.

The Politico article “How Corona Virus Could Make People Move” presents the idea of mass migration out of large urban areas and solidifies my own ideas on living outside of Manhattan. “Why choose to stay in a crowded city where body bags piled high during the worst parts of the pandemic?” This is the most important question to me; why would I choose to stay in New York City when it serves as a petri dish for disease? Surely I can earn a good living and live somewhere more rural. It would even fit my likes/needs more, and is something I’m considering. “Sell city, but country” is something that hits home for me. The only reason I’m here is because my job pays the most and exists in the greatest abundance in NYC – otherwise I most likely wouldn’t live here. “Cost of living is a decisive issue as well. For youth, especially, the coronavirus economic shock is proving far more devastating than even the financial crisis.” The cost of living in NYC is astronomical, and is usually offset by the amenities available to residents and social services provided, but once the pandemic hit and everything came to a screeching halt there was no more “value” in living here. Just despair.

Migrant children (migrants in general) in detention centers have been facing difficulty and uncertainties during this pandemic. While children are not necessarily the most at-risk demographic for COVID the effects still weigh on them equally. “It is not only the physical health of children that is under attack, but also their mental health. Children living in detention centers and shelters face heightened fear and stress on a daily basis, and many have already faced major traumas in life.” The mental aspect of this all may be more than some can overcome, and proper care should be taken. The isolation techniques for stopping the spread can have lasting mental effects as we need social interactions to thrive as human beings.

 

As earlier stated my own migration has been greatly effected, although not as bad as others. Once the quarantine began I was forced to work from home for months and navigate this new business landscape from home, armed with nothing but my laptop and some notes I gathered on my last day in the office. It could have been worse and I am sympathetic for all those who were effected by the pandemic, but I used the extra time I gained from having no commute/being at the office to learn new skills such as cooking and painting. I also took professional development courses with my newfound time. My migration has been limited; no vacations this summer as originally expected. I am used to traveling the world and all of that has come to a halt. My migration from home to work, or work to events have essentially disappeared. It is actually beneficial for me though as now I have a better quality of life with my family as we find more time to be together. School being completely remote is amazing for me, as I no longer have to rush from the office and then go sit in class for 2 hours a night when I really just want to be home. The hustle and bustle of working/learning in Manhattan is gone – good riddance.

Thoughtful Questions:

• How will the pandemic affect office leasing in NYC? How will the workplace transform?
• How long can employees effectively work from home while advancing their careers?

 

4/5

Narrative Criticism by Sonja Foss does a great job of methodically providing the procedure, structure, and purpose behind what a narrative criticism is. When applied to the accompanying Narrative Analysis Guideline, it allows the reader to follow the principals and effectively analyze stories. I learned about the two event characteristic (either active or stative) for making a narrative and how important having a timeline for the events can be. When hearing terms like “narrative” and “artifact” they seem very normal to me, as I know what the term means and have familiarity with the concept. I interact with narratives and artifacts on a daily basis as I read the news, engage with social media, and watch shows on TV but I have never viewed them as such.

Examples of meaningful artifacts I have come across and could write about are:

• NYT Article How climate migration will reshape America (Link)
• Recent stories about forced sterilization and hysterectomies while in detainment (Link)
• Social Media Memes depicting current event issues

_____________

Artifact: #2 photo of See-saw between US/Mexico border

How does the seesaw between the US and Mexico remind us that at the end of the day, we’re all human?

Q: What problem is the narrative identifying? Who does the problem relate to?

A: The narrative identifies the issue with humans associating others by their appearance, skin color, or nationality. The problem relates to all as we identify each other as American, European, Mexican, etc.

Q: What assumptions does the narrative make?

A: The narrative shows a light-hearted side of the story and throws out the old assumptions that align with an “us vs them” mentality. The image shows children on either end of the border playing on the seesaw with each other. This allows those who engage with the narrative to feel a sense of togetherness and humanity. Mexican children and American children are simply just – children. Children know no boundaries, arbitrary or physical.

Q: What are the strength and weaknesses of the narrative?

A: The strengths of the narrative are the heartwarming image that is portrayed. In an otherwise barren field, with an intimidating wall there is a splash of color and happiness as the children play together. It does a great job of bridging the gap between children (and humanity) on either side of the border. The weakness shown on this singular artifact comes not from the photo but the caption,  as it says “the installation… lasted half an hour”. This makes it seem as though it was not done from a place of goodness but only to garner social outrage and make for a good story to push an agenda. (I do not necessarily agree with this but recognize it as a weakness talking point).

 

Thoughtful questions:

• I wonder how many narratives I’ve mentally “subscribed” to without realizing I was part of a narrative.
• Should we be more thoughtful when posting stories, images, and blogs? We could influence a story, or share a story that might not tell the whole truth.

4/5

 

While listening to This American Life’s podcast titled “The Out Crowd” we learn about the horror stories from the southern border. Immigration from the southern border is met with a fierce and unjust opposition. This was truly one of the most brutal and frightening podcasts I’ve ever listened to.

Some key points that stuck with me:

• The story of the family getting raped was tough to sit through.
• The cartel member telling a father that his child was old enough to harvest organs from made me sick.
• Cartel members target border cities knowing desperate people will be attempting to cross.
• Even under the old rules, the asylum seekers appeared before a judge and many were sent back to Mexico. Is there genuine hope for these people?

I find it important to hear the stories directly from the source. Although this may mean that the story is told in a different language than the audience, the audience can pick up on audible clues and emotion that is being expressed through story telling. This creates a more meaningful delivery and impacts the listeners; it is very raw.

 

Podcasting has become extremely prominent in today’s culture. It is a new source of audio reporting on the scene, although podcasts themselves have been around for a while. I believe “The Out Crowd” won the award for its rawness, urgency, and message. There are injustices happening around us and it’s more impactful to hear it being told than to read about it.

• In modern time Columbus is a controversial figure.
• We as a society are looking to celebrate the indigenous people of North America instead of the colonization of America by europeans .
• Columbus set sail in chase of adventure, wealth, fame, and land ownership.
• He brought with him disease and death for the indigenous people.
• Italian Americans use Columbus Day as a way to celebrate their heritage.
• As an Italian American, I don’t necessarily identify with Columbus, but don’t have an issue with the man himself.
• It is important to consider that the time when Columbus lived, the world was incredibly different from the world we live in today.
• I believe it is important to celebrate or acknowledge both sides of history.
• Both Columbus and Indigenous people should be celebrated, Columbus should not be lost to history as he ‘paved the way’.
• Italian heritage should also be acknowledged in conjunction with indigenous people (month of October).

When prompted with the word ‘migration’ I immediately thought of the great migration of Wildebeest. This is the largest animal migration on the planet and truly a spectacle to observe. The herds of Wildebeest migrate to nutrient rich grasslands which offer the best environment for them to raise their offspring. The migration is not without its own trials and tribulations as many animals fall prey to predators such as crocodiles and big cats. Many more also die during the migration from environmental and natural causes.