Category: Blog 10/28

For my research topic and question, I wanted to focus on the correlation that rap music has with the crime and murder rates in the cities from where the rappers are. Now, this seems a bit vague but I wanted to zone in on the way that rap music inevitably has an effect on the crime scene in the cities because of the things that rappers are known for rapping about. For example, of course, there are exceptions but there can be a general consensus that most of the scenes in today’s NY rap/hip-hop music is drill music, with we know figures like Pop Smoke, Fivio Foreign, and as well as even Drake. However, their lyrics are general vulgar and speak about smoking, guns, drugs, money, and overall the gang life that is affecting NYC today. These artists are extremely popular and teens growing up even looking up to these rappers and what they say in their songs. This turns into a  cycle where they want to replicate this life that is glamorized by the money that the very popularity of the rappers’ songs brings! and even deeper into it, these record labels are making bank off these drill rappers because they are so popular, yet it puts NYC into a cycle where it seems as if the crime rates are stagnant or increasing; anything but decreasing in al honestly.

For my assignment, the topic that I would like to focus on is cyberbullying. My preliminary research question is: what is cyberbullying and what effects does it have on the youth of today?

I know that cyberbullying is a rather new type of bullying that incorporates the use of electronic communication. With the frequent use of smartphones, apps, and computers it is easy to contact peers outside of school. These sources of technology can be used for good and evil. Cyberbullying is an example of this evil. At the beginning of my paper, I will define the term cyberbullying. Next, I will focus on how frequently cyberbullying occurs in society. I will then expand my paper to include different types of cyberbullying. Examples include nude photo sharing, lies and false accusations, false identity profiles (catfishing), encouraging self-harm or suicide, and jealous bullying. Then I will look into what warning signs parents and teachers should be aware of. These warning signs can point to a child being a victim of cyberbullying. Afterward I will explore the adverse effects that cyberbullying has on the victim. Then I will highlight the adverse consequences that the bully can experience when engaging in the act of cyberbullying. I intend to explore websites to gather information for my paper, such as StopBullying.gov. This is a website that was created by the United States government. The purpose of the website is to discuss the difference between traditional bullying and cyberbullying. Furthermore, it emphasizes prevention techniques that can be applied.

 

 

Question: How has the Occident appropriation of Japanese culture affect the Japanese perception of their own traditions?

In the globalized society we live in, there’s an enormous trade of merchandise and currency, but not only that. There’s also an accountable type of trade between countries- the trade of ideas and cultures. In the last 30 years, there has been a surge of popularity in the western countries regarding a style of animation from Japan, popularly known as “anime”. The increasing demand in the western hemisphere led to changes in the industry and the way the content is produced, leading to a loss in the traditional values of Japan that should be included in the art, making a more “westernized” version of anime that relates less and less to Japan’s traditions and values.

So I actually have two topics I recently thought about and I am not sure about which to choose.

topic 1: corruption in soccer.

question 1: Why is corruption in soccer something that must be looked at and how has it evolved over the past 15 or so years?

I am not sure if I sorted this question correctly but soccer is something I really enjoy watching and still playing since my early childhood. I primarily watch soccer in Europe, the highest level, and in European club tournaments, league games based on country and  and  even in the ” randomization” of picking teams into pots for tournaments has always shown the to go in favor of certain teams. This is something I have always seen but never done my research so maybe this is my opportunity.

topic 2: new rap artists aren’t good         *( some are )

question 2:  Over the past 20 or so years how has rap evolved from a platform where artists make original music and tell stories in their songs to a newer generation of rap artists who mumble and talk about the same things in every song.

Like every other kid in New York, I was at some point introduced to rap music and liked it. There are many good rap artists such as Eminem, Lil Wayne, Kendrick Lamar and J Cole just to name a few who peaked in the early 2000s and 2010s, respectively, who make very unique music. A lot of rappers right now like NAV, Lil Tjay and Lil Pump to name a few, talk about the same things with the same flow in every song and mumble their lyrics.

My topic is the analysis of the fundamentals of the Men’s NCAA league. A multibillion dollar organization containing vast demographic of fans, where there players are not payed. My question is: Should NCAA players be payed more than a mere scholarship? Both sides have a clear argument as this topic is extremely 2 sided and is hard to pick a side. This topic also tends to my interest in sports and money, allowing me to study a corporation that has many different revenue streams.

Question: Is the American Dream just a dream?

My question entails whether the American Dream really is attainable for everyone and if is luck is on our side. I believe that this idea has been a long held goal especially to immigrant families to arrive in America. While everyone has their own version of the “American Dream”, I plan to focus on what the word symbolizes, being stability. I also would like the reader to eventually realize this idea stretches beyond financial wellbeing, and should incorporate some aspects of their wants and needs. For evidence, I hope to use statistics to show the barriers that prevent certain people from climbing this ladder such as the minimum wage and gaps seen between race and gender.

Doubts: I am not completely sure if this question is too broad still and whether I should apply it to a certain group particularly. The reason I didn’t make it about a specific type of people is because this idea is applied to everyone. Like everyone has their own “American Dream” so it would be too exclusionary to just talk about some of it. But I don’t know, maybe it has to be more specific to explain a group’s point of view better. Still on the fence.

My topic revolves around environmentalism and I will be exploring topics that relate to it such as consumerism and monopolized corporations. My research will explore how these topics are crucial in the deterioration of our environment. I will dive deep into consumption of ecosystems and natural resources into waste, dumping waste into disadvantaged communities, air pollution, water pollution, weak infrastructure, exposure of organic life to toxins, deforestation, natural disasters, etc. Basically climate change as a whole and all of its contributors.

Another major topic I will discuss is monopolized organizations and their contribution to climate change as well as the government and their corporate-dictated policies whose sole motif is profit, without any real concern for environmental issues. These major corporate companies such as oil, tobacco, steel, and other companies such as amazon and wall-mart, are all favored by the government, and they work together to increase revenue with little to no care about how its impacting our Earth. And these companies significantly impact our environment in many ways you might not even realize. It all comes down to realizing our duty to this earth, and how we need to educate ourselves on these issues so we can take the next step; fixing it. 

I have 2 topics that I’m thinking about

1. Islamophobia – Did 9/11 create a new form of discrimination?

For this topic I’m planning on researching media/communication culture change and how this form of discrimination became prevalent in other countries around the world surrounding the 9/11 incident.

1. South Asian beauty standards post colonization.

I’m not sure about this topic but it’s something I am interested in researching, how beauty standards changed post colonization. I know that in South Asia “looking white” is the ideal beauty standard, so I was wondering if colonization have anything to do with that.