Topic for April 6, 2013
Appropriate Cultural Appropriation
Wikipedia defines cultural appropriation as "the adoption of some specific elements of one culture by a different cultural group. It describes acculturation or assimilation, but can imply a negative view towards acculturation from a minority culture by a dominant culture."
Cultural assimilation is "the process by which a subaltern group's native language and culture are lost under pressure to assimilate to those of a dominant cultural group."
1. Is it acceptable/not offensive to adapt another culture's practices or beliefs to your own culture?
2. When would this be acceptable? Always? Never? Sometimes?
3. If this is not acceptable, how can we appreciate cultural diversity?
4. Can you claim a culture as your own and not "share"?
5. The "Fiesta-themed" frat party last semester at UT and the "Asian-themed" frat party this semester at Duke both experienced backlash from their college communities. Why? Where/how do you draw the line between appreciating another's culture and offending the natives of that culture?
Wikipedia defines cultural appropriation as "the adoption of some specific elements of one culture by a different cultural group. It describes acculturation or assimilation, but can imply a negative view towards acculturation from a minority culture by a dominant culture."
Cultural assimilation is "the process by which a subaltern group's native language and culture are lost under pressure to assimilate to those of a dominant cultural group."
1. Is it acceptable/not offensive to adapt another culture's practices or beliefs to your own culture?
2. When would this be acceptable? Always? Never? Sometimes?
3. If this is not acceptable, how can we appreciate cultural diversity?
4. Can you claim a culture as your own and not "share"?
5. The "Fiesta-themed" frat party last semester at UT and the "Asian-themed" frat party this semester at Duke both experienced backlash from their college communities. Why? Where/how do you draw the line between appreciating another's culture and offending the natives of that culture?
Topic for March 23, 2013
When we see news titles like "Large-Scale Problem: Our Broken Global food System" from Scientific American or "Fixing Our Food Problem" from New York times, what runs through our minds?
What do "food" and the "food system" mean to you?
Have you observed or experienced any food-related actions taken at UT, in Austin, or elsewhere?
What do "food" and the "food system" mean to you?
Have you observed or experienced any food-related actions taken at UT, in Austin, or elsewhere?
Topic for February 2, 2013
Colorful names have been given to many types of dilemmas.
- Double bind: conflicting requirements ensure that the victim will automatically be wrong.
- Ethical dilemma: a choice between moral imperatives.
- Extortion: the choice between paying the extortionist and suffering an unpleasant action.
- Fairness dilemmas: when groups are faced with making decisions about how to share their resources, rewards, or payoffs
- Hobson's choice: a choice between something and nothing; "take it or leave it".
- Morton's fork: choices yield equivalent, often undesirable, results.
- Prisoner's dilemma: An inability to coordinate makes cooperation difficult and defection tempting.
- Samaritan's dilemma: the choice between providing charity, improving another's condition, and withholding it, preventing them from becoming dependent.
- Sophie's choice: a choice between two persons or things that will result in the death or destruction of the person or thing not chosen.
- Zugzwang: One must move and incur harm when one would prefer to make no move (esp. in chess).
Topic for November 3, 2012
Discussion:
-What are your thoughts, feelings and ideas towards different types of human expression like art, music, poetry and literature?
-Which type of expression do you identify with the most?
-What are your thoughts, feelings and ideas towards different types of human expression like art, music, poetry and literature?
-Which type of expression do you identify with the most?
Topic for October 20, 2012
"It takes a village to raise a child."
Discussion:
- What purpose or role has volunteering taken on in your life?
- In what ways do you agree or disagree with the quote/proverb?
- How would you evaluate the youth-community today?
- What factors need to be considered when empowering the youth?
- What role can mentors/role models play in the academic community?
- What aspects of community involvement need to be improved?
Discussion:
- What purpose or role has volunteering taken on in your life?
- In what ways do you agree or disagree with the quote/proverb?
- How would you evaluate the youth-community today?
- What factors need to be considered when empowering the youth?
- What role can mentors/role models play in the academic community?
- What aspects of community involvement need to be improved?
Topic for October 5, 2012
How ethical is it to manipulate people? Consider genetic engineering, the Truman show, and designing psychological experiences for people intended to push them a certain way.
Topic for September 22, 2012
"The only thing I regret about my past is the length of it. If I had to live my life again, I'd make the same mistakes, only sooner."
-----Tallulah Bankhead
Discussions:
1. What is your perspective on this quote?
2. Regret is often characterized as the most wasted human emotion, but sometimes it may be unavoidable to feel regretful. What often are the reasons that you feel regretful? Can you recognize a pattern or this emotional occurrence is random?
-----Tallulah Bankhead
Discussions:
1. What is your perspective on this quote?
2. Regret is often characterized as the most wasted human emotion, but sometimes it may be unavoidable to feel regretful. What often are the reasons that you feel regretful? Can you recognize a pattern or this emotional occurrence is random?
Topic for September 8, 2012
Our discussion topic will focus on refining our service project. Your particular vantage-point, insight and skills will aid in crafting a meaningful service project. Please read this article exploring the issue our service project aspires to address.
Questions to Consider:
1) Should it be made necessary to gain practical training in fields of interest before entering college.
2) Are universities giving students enough facts about the realities of post education prospects?
3) Is $100,000 too much to figure out what you want to do in life?
4) Does it make sense to get trained in financial planning before taking a college loan?
5) Is there a disconnect between what is taught at school and the opportunities in the real world?
6) is the idea of pursue ones dreams relevant or is a more pragmatic motto necessary?
Questions to Consider:
1) Should it be made necessary to gain practical training in fields of interest before entering college.
2) Are universities giving students enough facts about the realities of post education prospects?
3) Is $100,000 too much to figure out what you want to do in life?
4) Does it make sense to get trained in financial planning before taking a college loan?
5) Is there a disconnect between what is taught at school and the opportunities in the real world?
6) is the idea of pursue ones dreams relevant or is a more pragmatic motto necessary?