Entry #7. The American Culture of Fresh

Hello,

I recently had the opportunity to view this film called Fresh by Ripple Effect Films, which was directed by Ana Joanes. Overall, it is a film that discusses the farming and industries production and what it means to Americans. However, it is more than that as the film also includes the American culture of producing bigger, easier, and greater products for consumers.

“George, Americans fear only one thing, inconvenience.” George’s college roommate from Pakistan said. (Fresh)

Photo by Burst: Sam Jotham Sutharson

This film brought problems to the light, knowledge to be attained, solutions to consider, and discussions to be said. All of which gives the audience a chance to have prime and effective thinking even when the film is over. I believe that the purpose of this film, besides the obvious of having the general public really consider the health of their food, is the call of help from farmers and the dangers of industrial farms. Which means that the tone throughout the film signals importance and urgency, as it also brings out the reality of American culture of the people that don’t know or even think about where their food really comes from and how it effects Americans every day.

It really impacted me when I saw it. At first though, I’ll say that without knowing this film beforehand, not having a lot of opinions or thoughts about where my food comes from, or what the film might contain, I thought that an hour and ten minutes of talking about farms and industries was a bit too much. However, I am so happy and grateful to say that I was wrong. After the first ten minutes, or really when that quote, “Americans only fear one thing, inconvenience,” by George’s Pakistan roommate, I was completely and wholly invested by what the film had to say.

Photo by Burst: Matthew Henry

Moreover, I would say that it was a shock to learn how much problems farmers were going through with this day and age of industry farming. “Once you concentrate animals into these animal cities, that we call factory farms or feedlots you have all sorts of problems… You’ve created a pollution problem where you didn’t have one because if you keep animals on farms their manure is a blessing. You can use it to grow other crops, you can close the nutrient cycle between the animals that can eat crop waste, the parts of the plants you can’t sell, and they produce fertility for your fields… We took this solution, plants and animals working together, and we divided it neatly into two problems. One is this pollution problem on the feedlot where the manure becomes a pollutant instead of a blessing and then the other is on the farms, we have a fertility crisis because there are no animals left so we have to buy synthetic fertilizer.” (Fresh)

Farmers in America have many problems that they have to deal with that most of the general public doesn’t even know about. As well as the fact that it is so hard and so expensive to have quality food, it becomes a part of the American culture and creates a normalcy when there wasn’t one before.

“We can tip the balance of nature to a certain extent. But when we try to tip it too far it creates problems. And I think that’s what we’ve done in the food system, that’s what we’ve done in our overall economy, and that’s what we’ve done in our society. We just got so obsessed with productivity, having more cheap stuff and we’re facing the inevitable negative consequences.” (Fresh)

Photo by Burst: Matthew Henry

I think this film should have more recognition and more deep dives into what it shows. It should be what everyone watches at least once, most of all Americans as it pertains to American farmers and the industries in America. I think that it is important to see this film and really consider about how it shines a light on what is really happening to the American cultures and food. As, it is something that effects everyone. So I am very fortunate to have seen this film and hope that everyone watches it. I will certainly tell my friends and family to watch it.

Until next time!

-Mia R.

 

Fresh. Directed by Ana Sofia Joanes, Ripple Effect Films, April 2009.

Entry #6: Into the Interstellar.

Hello everyone!

Photo by: Shelby Bowers

Entertainment comes in all kinds of different forms. Walks, books, malls, restaurants, and movies are something to do when you want to relax or want to do something fun. A year or two ago, I had done something similar. I sat down with the intention of relaxing and watching a movie, until that movie changed my whole viewpoint. Which is why I wanted to write about one of my favorite movies that I think everyone should watch at least once.

It is the 2014 Interstellar movie directed by Christopher Nolan. The story, from beginning to end, is impactful and emotional. I believe the casting choices were well thought out and the acting by everyone was noteworthy. It is a sci-fi and an adventure film, so there are many intense scenes of danger, space, stars, planets and blackholes.

The instrumental songs during the film were created by Hans Zimmer. Which means that the soundtrack is amazing as well. There are also small, yet crucial details sprinkled in throughout the movie. Details that someone only notices if they watch it more than once. The pacing and how it was directed was meaningful as well.

Photo by: Dakota Monk

Now, I’m going to be describing it in more detail. So while I tried not to, there might be some spoilers throughout, so be aware! In the beginning, there is a scene with a bookshelf filled with books and some space shuttle toys that are covered with dust and dirt. It is panned closely, which gives us the opportunity to see that the dirt is still coming down gently. 

Then there is an old woman that says, “Well, my dad was a farmer. Like everybody else back then. Of course, he didn’t start that way.”

Right away, the hook of the intro keeps the audience’s attention. We learn that Earth is just barely habitable. As, blight, a plague that destroyed nearly all of the food, thrives in Earth’s atmosphere. There is also more dust and dirt than ever, so the air gets harder to breathe in. A lot of people’s jobs have changed into farmers in the hopes of having more food. Which is why a few brave astronauts travel through space to find a planet for humanity.

Photo by: Lucas Wendt

Within the scenes and overall message, there is hope, despair, inspiration, and a band that ties people together in the ropes of our own humanity. It is a movie that shows how much effort has been put into it. The scenes of blackholes and planets against people and their shuttles are humbling and near unbelievable in the greatest sense. When I first saw the movie, it inspired me to learn more about space, blackholes, and a greater sense of seeing humanity as one that perseveres. So, if you have the time, watch it!

Keep learning,

-Mia R.   

Entry #5. Mayhem

As we work with technology and watch countless entertainment and internet services, we always experience ads. Sometimes it is targeted and sometimes it is random. For example this ad, “Beauty Blogger,” by Allstate Mayhem, is targeted for a specific audience.

We can assume that the company of this ad wants the audience to relate to the beauty blogger experience that we either see or do. This specific lifestyle promotes likes and views, which the Mayhem guy explains as he tries to curl his hair into a “mermaid hair” for a lot of likes. This kind of blogger routine reflects a lot on American cultures and its beauty and lifestyle. Which is why it is a lot funnier and relatable because of the ironic way the Mayhem guy acts it.

Especially the way the room is set up. The colors of the desks, shelves, and walls make the room seem more girly. It also reflects on the light, wispy lavender-color curtains. The fairy lights that are on the curtains and the lamps that are turned on to make the room even more cozy. The makeup brushes that appear on the bottom of the camera as well as having another desk in the background full of makeup and other products bring a little bit more chaos into the room.

He then describes a mistake that he’s doing, which is putting his hair straightener on a towel that’s on the desk. He describes his actions as a “thumbs down emoji,” as the smoke from the hair straightener burns the towel. It makes the audience feel a bit of fear, as a lot of people have shown concerns on the internet about leaving their straightener on. This is the last thing the audience sees as the Mayhem guy puts on his glasses, that are covered in plastic gems, and leaves.

This type of ad brings relatable experiences such as the way the room looks, the makeup on the dressers, and the hair straightener. It makes the target audiences relate to it on a personal level as most people know this kind of blogger and beauty routine. Which means that people respond to it more and find it funnier.

Entry #4: Women and Their Stories.

Hello fellow learners,

Throughout history there have been many accomplishments and strides that have changed our world. We write about these people and acknowledge their work for generations. We have our children learn about them in school, build monuments like statues, create arts of remembrance, and write about them and their lives to be forever recognized.  

These people were able to further humankind and our appreciation of what we have yet to know about our universe and ourselves. Though, what about the people who aren’t recognized? Or the ones who are hardly ever remembered by the general population? History, even today, shows how hard it is for people of color and women. So today, I want to shine a light on the women that brought new ideas, gave us inspiration, and changed our world. I want to write about them, their accomplishments, and give tributes to their hard work.

Madam C.J. Walker, an African American woman, started her own business. She was born on December 23, 1867. She was orphaned at seven, married at 14, and had a daughter with McWilliams who died when their daughter was two. She faced cruelty, hard-working labor, and had many difficult problems.

Yet through inspiration, hard work, and success, she created a line hair products for other African American women named “Madam Walker’s Wonderful Hair Grower.” She started training programs named the “Walker System” for her employees of 40,000 African American women and men. She advocated for the anti-lynching movement and used her wealth to pay for six African American students to go to the Tuskegee institute and so much more. Unfortunately she had kidney failure, but before her death, she gave “two-thirds of future net profits to charity, as well as thousands of dollars to various individuals and schools.” (National Women’s History Museum)

Going further ahead, there was Judith Love Cohen, an Aerospace engineer. She was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1933. At a young age, she had a love for mathematics and was able to take advanced math classes in middle school. Even though the career advisors told her that math wasn’t for young women, she kept her passion close to her heart and continued to work hard. She eventually joined Space Technology Laboratories and helped with many projects. Such as building the Abort Guidance System that was able to bring Lovell, Haise, and Swigert back to Earth. "She was also involved in colorizing the images collected through the various filters — when you look at the amazing images of galaxies in deep space, you're looking at Cohen's work." (Judith Love Cohen - Northrop Grumman)

Then there is Greta Gerwig, who is a director and actress. She was born in August 4, 1983 and grew up in Sacramento. She attended an all-girls Roman Catholic high school and worked in theater productions and later went to Barnard College in New York City. She majored in English, acted, and wrote plays while in college. After a while, she wrote and directed Lady Bird. It launched her screenplay and director career and created many more movies. Some of which are Little Women 2019 and Barbie 2023.

Madam C.J. Walker was an activist and businesswomen, Judith Love Cohen was an Aerospace engineer, and Greta Gerwig is a director and actress.

All of these women are different. Yet they all shared perseverance, passion, and the strength to do their works. Even though people tried to dismiss them, say they couldn’t do it, or even tried to stop them, they continued to work hard. It resonates with all of womankind when one of us breaks through the barriers and bring their contributions to our world, our history, and an acknowledgement to women and their strengths everywhere.

See you later fellow learners,

-Mia R.

 

Want to learn more? Here are their stories!

Michals, Debra. "Madam C. J. Walker."  National Women's History Museum.  National Women's History Museum, 2015.  

Maxwell, Amanda. “Judith Love Cohen and the Female Engineers of Tomorrow.” Now, 2021. Northrop Grumman Corporation, 2025.

Bauer, Pat. “Greta Gerwig.” Britannica, 2025.