My main priority at this point in the semester is for you to be able to see The Story at your fieldsite. What are you going to write about?
What's the story about?
We need to make sure that you end up writing a story about people, about a subculture of people (hair stylists, lobstermen, pizzeria owners, ) and their trials and tribulations, their history, their life experience as members of this group.
What is it like to be a fisherman in Rhode Island in 2013?
What is it like to cut and style other peoples' hair every day?
What is it like to own and sustain a neighborhood pizzeria in Rhode Island?
The point of the project is to find out about a place and about the people there. That's it. Two things.
So, we've got place down. Now, onto focusing on the people, the life of the place, the underground tensions and invisible forces at play.
I'd like you to watch this film on skateboarders in Mongolia. It's 43 minutes long, so please go to the bathroom, grab some popcorn, and have your notebook and pen handy for jotting down observations.
I'd like you to watch this documentary--this local inquiry project--with this question in mind:
WHAT IS THIS STORY ABOUT?
(Hint: it's not just a report on Mongolian skateboarders.
Another hint: There's more than one answer to this question.)
After you finish viewing the film, write a 300-400 word response in which you discuss the three most compelling aspects of this study of skateboarding youth in Mongolia.
What was interesting to you?
As an immediate response to the film, tell us about the three most intriguing aspects of this study for you as a viewer and why they engaged you.
For class on Friday, be prepared to write to me about the question I pose above: What is this story about? (there are many different thematic narratives woven together here...try to identify them.)
ENJOY THE MOVIE! I think you will be amazed! (Do you know where Mongolia is?)
Mongolia, the skaters coming in already having misconceptions of what they were getting into. They discovered how elaborate and driven the skateboarders of Mongolia are and how they treat the simple sport like it's a magnificent part of their lives. The girl with the large graffiti work behind her with the Wu Tang logo kept referring to the connection of skateboarding and art, and that can be said of every skateboarder. They respect the sport like a fine piece of art and it creates a place where they can be expressive and define their creativity by it. In skateboarding, they find something they enjoy in their life and have dedicated themselves to it.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of the dirty and rough streets that the skateboarders decide to make the best of, shows a commitment and drive that I don't think we find in skateboarders from here. To the Mongolian group, they amidst having no support in Mongolia, buy skateboards offline, teach everything they know to themselves, and have created a very supportive community on its own for the young people who like them want to skate. They also discuss the pain they get from each injury which I found fascinating to elaborate off to that dedication they have to continuing to learn. They have created the idea that the pain they get doesn't outweigh their experience.
This community that a couple of kids have invented has grown with them and they really explain how in their age they'll still support the generation that has followed them, and have gone further, the subtle background of the documentary pointing at their dreams to build and indoor skate-park. They worked to create a rather positive environment for themselves and friends who wanted to have that skateboard dream come true in Mongolia, and still do it now, when they aim to help the younger generation get things they couldn't for themselves and more. They encourage believing in ones self and aim to really enhance the community as a whole.
This was such a cool documentary that I think sent a lot of different messages out (and the awesome music definitely kept my attention.) For one, these skaters have sooooo much dedication it’s ridiculous. They didn’t have any access to skate parks or skate stores, or even anyone else to give them tips on skating. It was solely on pure passion for the activity. I love how they showed how worn out the skateboards were, because that’s how much they used them. It’s like when you read your favorite book so much that the binding starts to come off. I loved their crew’s name, “Dirty Tricks”, because of how dusty and dirty the city they skated in was, and when I took a closer look at the filming of them doing tricks I could actually see the dust poof up after them. I give these skaters so much credit for skating on such rough, rocky roads. I could hear the ground crumble when they skated. I could relate to them being frustrated with the roads because when I go ice skating, I could definitely tell a difference from skating on a pond and skating on a freshly smoothed ice rink. I feel that skateboarding is not very accepted by the other civilians, especially since the skateboarders get in the way when they are driving or walking. I think it’s great that the crew is expanding their love of skateboarding to another generation of skaters and hoping to open up an indoor skate park for them. In general, I think this story was to prove that if you put your mind to it and are passionate about something, you can make it happen. These skaters didn’t have much access like we do in America and other countries to things related to skateboarding, so the fact that some of these skaters are even more talented than some of the people that do have access is amazing. They started a movement sort of in Mongolia. This was very inspiring.
ReplyDeleteI believe the thing that intrigued me the most was how different their culture is. In the United States, skateboarding is everywhere. A large percentage of teens take up skateboarding at some point in their lives, nearly every town has a skate shop, and their are indoor and outdoor skate parks everywhere. However in Mongolia, it is a much different situation. It is such a foreign sport to them. They don't have parks or skate shops, they skate through dusty, rugged streets and get cursed at by vehicles. They teach themselves and each other the sport, they barely even have online access to learn more about it. It is a sport supported by no one except the subculture who participates in it.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I thought it was intriguing how passionate they are about this sport. They don't participate in skateboarding because it is popular or trendy (like it is here in the United States). They just truly love the sport and they way it makes them feel. The sport isn't accessible, practical, or easy to participate in. If their boards break, they can't just go to a store and buy a new deck, because there are no skate shops. As much of a hassle the sport can be in their culture, they don't give up on it, because they love what they do.
I also felt like I could relate to their situation. Not because I have an interest in skateboarding, but because I know what it is like to be passionate about something that most people around you/in your culture don't really understand or care about. It may not be important to others, but to you nothing makes you feel more proud or accomplished.
What intrigued me about this video was how passionate they are about skateboarding. People everywhere skateboard, but not many kids have a passion for it as these kids do. Their country has never heard of skateboarding before and for them to learn what it is and how to skateboard is amazing. I love how they are so into skateboarding and how much they love to skateboard, especially with friends. What also intrigues me is how at the beginning, one of the kids said that their country has never heard of skateboarding because skateboarding is known everywhere and for them to take little of what they know and turn it into a passion is amazing. Another thing that intrigued was how they forced each other to learn their own stunts. They didn't go to other people for help or guidance, they didn't have a computer to look up on youtube how to do stunts; They taught themselves their own stunts and helped each other learn as well. It's amazing how strong this group of kids are and how persistent they are. I also love how they never gave up on skateboarding, they just kept trying and trying to get better and better each time until they perfected on what they wanted to do. I feel like people who have a passion for something can really relate to this video and see how other kids in other countries have them same passion as they do, it shows that all kids around the world are then same, and not really different then one another.
ReplyDeleteThis documentary was inspiring to me for several different reasons. It's inspiring to see the passion they have for what they do, its more than just a hobby it drives them in life. They have goals and expectations. It was also interesting to think about the fact that they learned, practiced, and mastered stunts all on their own by pure determination and encouragement from one another. No matter the location and circumstances of the area it never stops them. Its a complete culture shock when I look at it because where they are they learn by doing an dont rely on other people or internet because their resources are limited. Yet they still achieve, that's an inspiration itself on how far determination can take you. It's more than just a story on skateboarding, it teaches valuable lessons about how to live passionately everyday and never give up or discredit what your capable of. "It is the sensation we get from skating that overcomes the sensation we get from getting injured." I like how he said that because it's like when you find something that truly brings you that much joy in life its a driving force that motivates you everyday. It's cool how theyre inspired enough to pass down what they love to do and help kids younger than them become just as passionate. They truly believe in them and invest in them. Persistence is key. This film really helped me look at my life and think about all the things I've given up on to easily, but if I had the attitude they represent in everything I do I wonder how many outcomes would be different. I think its also cool how far they want to take skating in Mongolia.. "Make a living out of what you love to do". That is one of the most important and encouraging things said in this documentary. I enjoyed watching this, it really was inspiring and had some valuable lessons relating to life whether you skate or not.
ReplyDeleteI found this documentary very interesting, I was amazed at how passionate the skaters seem to be about their hobby. I can appreciate the love that they have for it, and the drive that they posse in regards to getting better and teaching the younger generations the tricks that they know. While I was watching the film I found myself having an eye opening experience because when I drive past or walk past a group of skaters I never really think twice about it or take a minute to see what here doing or what they are warring or ask them why they do what they do. When I came to this realization I began to recall my experience when I had visited my field site and was wondering if there are some sub-cultures there that I have over looked that will prove to be rather interesting and maybe beneficial to my paper. I think that the fact that they continued to skate and get better at their tricks even with the shitty situations they faced. My hat goes off to their drive and dedication.
ReplyDeleteThis documentary was very inspiring. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I was first watching this video because it seemed very boring in the beginning and then he shared that really weird story about the duck. After it starting going, it was extremely interesting and I was really into it. I liked numerous things about this video because they used so many different things to make it perfect. There’s was always music (there was a song in a different language at first, but it was soothing, and then there was songs in English as well) and they broke up the interviews with video’s of them skating. Throughout the entire video, they kept comparing Mongolia and America and how different they were. I find it amazing that even though it was nearly impossible to own a skateboard, they still managed it. Although many people didn’t support the skateboarders (such as the drivers and common people), they didn’t let that stop them from doing what they loved. It was amazing how driven they were and how much they loved to skateboard. No matter how many times they made a mistake and how many times they fell (which made me cringe ever time they fell), they got up and kept going. They never gave up. One of the guys said that you have to stick to it, just like you do with other things in life that you like. In this town where skateboarding didn’t exist, a small group of skateboarders slowly started expanding and grew bigger and bigger. They were trying to show the importance of skating and how it affects everyone’s life in some sort of way. Some people may think it’s a “childish act”, but it’s what they love and what makes them happy. In addition, you could tell their struggle with their hobby. The sidewalks were all rocky and rough and they were frowned upon while skateboarding in the streets. After watching this video, I wonder if they will eventually make a skate park. This benefits the skateboarders (because it’s what they love), as well as everyone else (the skateboarders aren’t in the streets or driving in front of them). I also found it very interesting how similar Mongolia was to America. A person in the documentary said he wouldn’t expect all these skateboarders to exist there, and they did. It’s amazing how far away from a place you can be yet how similar hobbies, interests, and thoughts can be. Overall, I thought this was a great documentary because it showed how important skateboarding was and how many lives it affected. P.S. I found it funny when he flicked us off at the end of the video!
ReplyDeleteThis video was really interesting because it gave us a glimpse into a world I think many of us never really thought about. I think it should all of us what it looks like to be so dedicated and passionate about something that we would try that hard to get it noticed. The video made me realize that while I picked Allen's Harbor as my fieldsite I never really thought about the different feelings people towards the harbor and how it affects their lives. Some people go their just to fish and have some food so they don't have to buy it all from the supermarket. But other people go on the water because it is how they make a living. We all see TV shows like Deadliest Catch or Wicked Tuna in which we hear about people and their troubles, but I don't think any of us really believe it because it's a reality TV show. The video made me realize that those stories could be very true because they are based on real people and their experiences. Then there are the people who go to the harbor just to have fun on the water and I realized that I never really thought much about these people because I never interacted with them. This video made me realize that there is a reason why these people love the water so much that they would pay to use a boat ramp to spend a couple of hours burning gas out on the bay even if they aren't fishing. I can't wait for the day that I find something that I am as dedicated to and passionate about as these guys are about skateboarding. My favorite part in the video is when the guy gets hit in the face with the chicken after telling us that random story.
ReplyDeleteWriters! I am so proud of the awesome responses you've written so far! WOW! This is some of the best, most passionate writing you've done all semester, and I couldn't be happier that it is here for all to see. Thank you for taking the time to watch the film. From the sound of it, it really paid off for you. Notice how engaged you were, as viewers, in the story and the storytelling. The talking, interspersed with the "music/skate videos," made for an attention grabbing format. We can do that as writers: instead of droning on and on and on, we can switch it up and flash forward, flash back, change venues, change points of view, whatever we like. We are creating a work with our bare hands and some raw materials...we are craftsmen, shaping the writing as our interest guides us. So, I hope your passion for this film--and these skateboarders--trickles into your own fieldworking project. I appreciate how most of you made connections between this project and your project. I'll see you all today! Keep going! We are almost at the finish line!
ReplyDeleteThis story is about how skate boarding in Mongolia started and how more and more kids want to learn how to skate. It shows how the skaters all got started. They first explain why they wanted to start skating. Some of their stories are different but most of them say they saw it on television and they wanted to try it out and learn. Because there were no skateboard shops in Mongolia, most of the boards were shipped to them from out of the country. There was no such thing as a skate park to them so they learned how to ride in the streets of Mongolia. Most of the tricks were learned off the internet, and also by forcing one another to do different stunts. They also share a passion for the sport, they all love to do it and they love to teach the youth new tricks and keep the tradition going. The three most compelling aspects to me is how they got it all started, how they are keeping the tradition alive, and the passion they share for what they do. Skateboarding in Mongolia was nothing, it didn’t exist. There were no skate shops or skate parks. The story is about how it all started. Internet was a key for them, which is how they got their boards, and also leaning tricks. Another key aspect is the passion they share. They all share the same passion, they love what they do and they all have fun doing it. They all have goals in getting better and love teaching the youth how to get better. The last aspect which I think is most important in this documentary is tradition. The people who started skating all say that they want to pass down their knowledge and they want to teach the youth their tricks so that they can keep the tradition of skating in Mongolia going.
ReplyDeleteWhen I began watching this documentary it grabbed my attention immediately. There were many things I found useful and effective. This leads me to the first of my three main things that I liked. I feel like how engaging the material presented was went a long way. Little things like camera angles, and music selection can make a big difference on how people see things. A good example was the long boring story in the very beginning. He told it with a lack of energy purposely to lead to him getting slapped with a turkey. The use of comedy here drew me in, as I imagine it did to the rest of the audience. Another thing that engaged me even further was how the main topic was unfamiliar to me. I never really skate boarded or was into that whole culture growing up so I felt taking a look into it was cool. That and the fact that I knew nothing about Mongolia as well. Another main thing that I felt made this a great documentary was how inspirational it was. Seeing a group of people bring a culture and build so much in a place that had nothing to do with it prior is crazy to me. That's such an inspiration and these people at the Uukhai organization just set up something that kids in Mongolia will appreciate for years and years to come. This reinforces the idea that anything is possible. If you set your mind to something and put in the work you can achieve it or get it done. The last thing I would say that made this so great is the positiveness and the honesty I saw in this documentary. You can tell somebody didn't go up to these kids and say "You have to make a documentary about this". You could tell they wanted to make this and they were responsible 100%. They have a love for skateboarding which drove them to start up the organization and change the culture of the youth in Mongolia. I think in anything love and passion should be the overlying factor that drives anyone to do what they do. These three main aspects made this documentary very great to watch and I'm truly inspired by what these kids did in Mongolia. I'm definitely going to refer to this when I'm composing my final draft of my field study.
ReplyDeleteThis documentary was very uplifting to me. Like Dr. Cook said it is about more than just a report on Mongolian skateboards. To these people in Mongolia skateboarding has become a way of life. They use this activity to get away, come together, relax, have fun and much more. Part of the film that was uplifting to me was the fact that even when they fall and get hurt it doesn’t stop them. They stand right back up, jump on their board and continue doing what they love to do. For myself that is something I would like to learn how to do because I have the tendency to stop and shut down when something doesn’t work out or if I “fall”. The story seemed to be about how the people who live there and skate make as much as they can with the close to nothing they have. Unlike places here in America where we have skate parks, parks, or even just areas that are abandoned that people can explore, these skaters do not have that. They use whatever places they can even though there are people walking around, stones, dusty roads etc. They didn’t let any of that get in the way of what they love to do making them inspirational to the kids in the areas and to outsiders like us watching this film. The skaters were always there for each other as a family, helping them learn new things, supporting them and watching their talent expand. It was interesting to me that people in the area were not more supportive to groups like this. These days I feel kids get into illegal things at such an early age due to the fact that they get whatever they want handed to them, and have no structure. With groups like this it gets kids out of that, keeps them going and gives them something positive to focus on. I also thought it was cool to watch people who seem to be so much different than me, from such a different area doing what kids here in RI do. This film was really engaging and I will definitely use some pointers from it for my field site evaluation.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the story was mainly about doing what you love and not giving up no matter what people say. This group of skateboarding youth in Mongolia formed a friendship through their passion in life; skateboarding. As time passes by they become family and support each other in every way. I noticed that one of the boys mentioned that skateboarding to other people just looks like a bunch of kids playing with toys but to him and his friends it is not only a sport but their life. The boys and girls in the group are so dedicated to what they do that they don't stop practicing the same tricks until they get it right and even when they fall and get bruised they get right back up again. This is a life lesson in the way that if you really try hard at something and don't listen to the world's discrimination, you will succeed. One of the most compelling aspects of this study of skateboarding was as I said earlier the friendship among the group members as well as the fact that they don't discriminate each others age or knowledge of tricks. Also they welcome all skateboarding lovers. Another compelling aspect is the fact that they help each other succeed at new tricks and don't laugh when they get it wrong. So when one member falls, they help them up and congratulate them for trying. A third compelling aspect is how much they have achieved by forming a group. They do some pretty crazy stunts that I found intriguing and wish I could do because I can't even get on a skateboard (HaHa). All in all I really enjoyed this documentary and would recommend it to friends because I thought it was both humorous and interesting. PS: I believe Mongolia is somewhere is Asia.
ReplyDeleteThis video truly amazed me in so many ways. It gave me a different outlook on the typical skater boy life, and how like sports for some people this is their sport/ hobby that they put their all into it. I loved the confidence that they showed at the end of the video saying how the purpose of the video was to show how skate boarding is different and how it can affect lives, and how Mongolians are better at skate boarding than others. I was inspired by their courage to be able to teach themselves all the tricks, with rare access to the internet. Also I loved how all their skating was done on the streets rather than in skate parks or indoor facilities. It was saddening however having to see them not be able to skate during the long winters or in rainy weather because skating is their lives and even though they are getting older they are trying to pass the skate boarding legacy down to the younger/ just as talented kids. There name “Dirty Tricks” was a very clever name considering the roads where they live is really dusty/dirty. I am going to definitely think twice when walking by skate boarders and I will show more appreciation towards them for all the dedication they put into what they do best. People in Mongolia would judge these talented kids and think they were just being childish with the skate boards, but I bet they would change their minds if they listen to each one of their stories and what skate boarding really does for them.
ReplyDeleteI’m not a big fan of documentaries of any kind, especially of the amateur ones. I lose my interest quick when I see poor camera direction and lack of storytelling in a sense of keeping the topic or subject fresh throughout the entire film. Also, the topic of the documentary would influence on my interest on the film. If I had to choose between “the history of contemporary cooking” to something like “the life of Mick Jagger: The Documentary” then the decision would be to choose the latter for it peaks my interest to know about a music idol than to learn why people in the in western societies eat as much pasta as the Europeans. Again, my personal taste would be heavily involved when it comes to seating down to watch a sixty minute documentary. Unfortunately this time I didn’t get to choose for I had to seat trough a documentary that I didn’t know anything about it in order to get credit in class. So I did.
ReplyDeleteSo, I sat down, and although I was suggested to get popcorn to help me swallow the next forty five minutes of coming torture, I decided to grab a snickers bar and pressed play to get it over with. The film was a YouTube video titled THE UUKHAI Documentary. The video follows the struggle of kids that grow a passion for skateboarding and their intentions to introduce it and popularize it in a culture that is not accustomed to modern change. Taking place in Mongolia, the documentary shows the struggles the group of skaters had to go through and still go through to peruse their careers as skaters. With the internet as their allied they were able to learn skating trick by watching videos of professional events and also used the internet to post videos of their efforts to draw attention to the skating community subsequently making them a hit sensation on the web. Little by little, drawing international attention and local notoriety, the group began to expand as kids of different ages became interested in the sport.
Right from the start the video shows the video tells the story in a way that kept from closing my browser. I didn’t go off course but instead kept reintroducing the main idea in different concepts by showing clips of skating stunts as well as interviews from the skaters and the film’s director.