After today’s discussion in class regarding stereotypes I began thinking more about Lyotards quote. The quote, “Let us wage a war on totality”, really got my mind going. I’m glad we broke down the quote so we all could get a better grasp on it and understand more about the point Lyotard was trying to convey. We referenced the meaning of this quote to stereotypes in the Winter Park community as well as the Rollins community. The class determined that stereotypes usually route from something and then we set apart breaking down the ones about Rollins, the students, and the community of Winter Park.
The two main stereotypes associated with Rollins. We all have heard the usual one that Rollins is considered a country club and a four year vacation. I’m not going to deny it, our campus is ascetically pleasing, and outrageously beautiful. The amazing Mediterranean architecture surrounded by Spanish moss is extremely good looking. Our campus looks like a resort in the tropics featured inside architectural digest. In fact, the first time my best friend came to visit she told me she felt like she was at a Caribbean resort coming off the beach. Also, college here is by no means a vacation. If it was a four year vacation I would be relaxed all the time. In addition, there are many stereotypes surrounding the Greek life here especially amongst the different sororities and even my sorority Chi Omega.
Moreover, there are also stereotypes regarding the Winter Park community. First, the underlying drug association affiliated with Winter Park was one I heard about when I first got to Rollins a few years back. And, it was brought up again by some older people I know as well asking me if it was true that cocaine regularly floats around the college as well as the community surrounding it. I often hear, “it’s snowing in Winter Park and was fed the information about how the community was established by wealthy north easterners who spend a large portion of their time in doing cocaine.
It’s interesting because sometimes stereotypes aren’t always negative. It can help people or a community in terms of marketing. For instance, Winter Park benefits from the stereotype that it is affluent and attracts many wealthy individuals from the northeast. They are hosting this image of the community and that’s the message they are sending to the outside world. Winter Park wouldn’t be what it is without the expensive shops and upscale restaurants. They choose to package themselves this way. And, it’s a good device in attracting people to the area to spend lots of money. It’s founded on the capitalist idea of trying to sell. It all roots from the notion of branding. Our discussion of stereotypes helped me get a better grasp on Lyotard’s quote and I’m glad we broke it down to a level all of us could relate to.
1 comment:
I can see where you are going with stereotypes and how Winter Parks can draw people in, but I don’t know if I can agree that this is necessarily good. You can argue that wealthy people come to Winter Park because it is known for its shops and fine dining, but isn’t this still harmful? I mean, we are then constructing Winter Park in a very one-dimensional way. It becomes this haven for expensive stuff and basically is written off as a city for the wealthy. Winter Park suffers because the complexity and richness of the city (behind the expensive headlines) is erased. What about the museums, parks, and cultural richness of the city? Perhaps art buffs and nature fanatics will pass up the city because of its affluent tendencies. I wouldn’t want to travel to Winter Park if all I had heard about it is its full of high class folk and overpriced shopping and dining experiences. So a wide sector of the population will never want to experience the beauty of Winter Park because it is marketed to the upper class. And I think this acts as an injustice to the city. I mean… they might attract some wealthy visitors, but what about the normal American? I guess it all depends on who Winter Park wants to appeal to.
Moving from stereotypes, I think this elusive idea of progress is scary. We are constantly seeking this “progress.” We don’t really do anything about climate change or alternative fuel, because everyone is so sure something will come along. We are so dependent on someone else to figure this whole progress thing out. As a society, we write off our troubles, because we are so confident someone will figure this out. And as we see, we are falling deeper into ruin but holding strong to progress as our savior.
Kelsey. 9/23.
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