Unit III

Whom do you want to reach? CJ Russel

What is your audience's background - their education and life experiences?  Home schooled, and he always loved to skate.

What are their interests? Skateboarding and music.

Is there any demographic information that you should keep in mind? Nope, we get along on almost everything, and we are both mixed.

What political circumstances may affect their reading?  Maybe the fact we (skater) think its okay to skate at different spots b/c we arent stuck up and we wont sue anybody (unless that skater is stuck up)

What does your audience already know- or  believe - about your topic?  Everything I know and maybe more.

What's your relationship with your audiencee, and how does it affect your language and tone? Good friends and skate buddies.

What does your audience need and expect from you? Some questions for a report.

What kind of responce do you want? A real and true response.

How can you best appeal to your audience?  Using some skater terms and personal history we both can relate to.

Unit III

What is your genre, and does it affect what content you can or should include? My genre is a class paper, modern history, and technically my genre requires you to skateboard and attend the skatepark regularly and to be local, otherwise most of the genre I am writing about will not be accurate. so yes some things cannot be allowed in my paper because some of the material is explicit.

Does your genre call for any specific STRATEGIES? Yes, great communication skills,  have to be able to see the bigger picture, also have to be able to expect things as is because there might not be a bigger picture, and some narration.

Does your genre require a certain organization?  Not really, just as long as it flows well you're pretty much good.

Does your genre affect your tone?  Yes, I have to be careful when I use skater terms due to the fact that I have multiple audiences and I need to be aware that not everyone doesnt skate at the level I do. So explanation about the terms would help.

Does the genre require formal (or informal) language?  Formal. I am talking to an educated crowd and also my teacher for a grade so I definitely wouldn't use slang such as "mad crazy" or "that was fire"

Do you have a choice of medium? No, its to be posted on our blog.

Does your genre have any design requirements? Yes, paragraphs in a laid back thesis format.

Compare A&G

1st page 2 paragraph - What you write, how much you write, how you phrase it, even your choice of GENRE (memo, essay, email, note, speech) - all are influenced by the audience you envision. And your audience will interpret your writing according to their expectations and experiences.  Basically this paragraph gives us insite that genre and audience are one in 2 different names because depending on who you talk to you have to change up the game so that you get the outcome you are looking for.  Like for a teacher a paper, your girlfriend a love letter, your mom a sweet note, your boss a memo, ect.

So What Who Cares?

No I dont believe she stated the reason why her audience should care about her topic. Because in her statement she uses scientists as her argument. She should have a deeper point to the issue such as some kind of personal experience or something legit that we could grasp onto.  In a way its like she is stating things we already know.  

Unit Two Piece

I am still trying to find a legit arguement for my piece but I feel that I could use the fact that even though horrible graffiti and crimes occur at the Skate Park the other 95% of the time is spent having fun, training, and spectating other people.  So my argument would be the Skate Park despite its downfalls has its large perks that could be easily over looked for our youth because they are our future.  Also, parents and the government cares.  My audience would definitely be the older generation and the government since they are (at the moment) making the large decisions about the city.

Questions

1. Where were you and what did you think when the Dew Flow tour came to Louisville?  When compteting how did it end, and who were the judges?  Was the winner circle fair?
2. Where did you get your first set up and what was it?: shoes, board, trucks, bearings, wheels, loose or tight?
3.When did you actually go the the skatepark?
4. How long did you skate before the skate park open?
5. Who was your first sponsor and who are you sponsored by now?
6. Do you have any amazing stories you would like to tell me about that you remember at the skate park? What about the time you got baptized?

What did you want to find out? I want to figure out what the skate park means to my interviewees.

What is the primary goal of this history?  So I may be enlightened about the skate park in a way i didnt know about.

Oral History

On the first page of the comic oral history is taking place because one of the mice was telling the other that he doesn't eat anything. And the mouse replied with his history about past eating experiences and how his father wouldn't allow him to leave the dinner table unless he didn't eat his food, and if that didn't happen his father would save it until he ate it or starve.  and this corresponds to "What is Oral History" in the website.

Interviews

I choose to Interview the Classics of the Louiville skate park.  1st Skate Park legend Tyrone Porter, which he is the best AM skater in louisville.  2nd Home Skate Shop owner, 3rd my good friend CJ Russel.

Skate Park Negatives

The Skate Park is one of my fav places to go and have fun, but despite the all the positivity at the Skate Park the worst thing at the park is when a bunch of "wanna be" gangsters roll up into the park with their pants sagging and large t-shirts that cover their knees.  They usually come about 10 people deep because they do not contain any self defense or offensive methods so they use the element of numbers to intimidate a foe. For example about 3 years ago I was having a late night skate session and in the corner of my ear i hear a terrifying screech of intense pain, as I get close enough to see I caught a mob of guys beating a skater with his own skateboard. Back up was coming so I decided to help him as I ran over pulling the guys off of the skater. The situation ended with a few bikers chasing the punks down the street and the ambulance taking the victim to the hospital.

Unit 2

"Park History" louisvilleky.gov. n.d.

This article is about the history of the Louisville Skate park/ Extreme Park.  It explains how the park came to be, the established date, what precautions that were taken post due to the skate park being made,  and the opening of the Louisville KY Skate park.  The Author of the article is unknown but it was posted by the louisivlle.gov website.  Since this is only the history of the Louisville Skate park it has no voice yet, I managed to pull somewhat of a quote out of the text. "Local government officials recognized the need for a place where children and young professionals could practice their skills without disrupting business."  I believe this quote works with my piece because that is where the skate park originated from, ideas, and people thoughts about the youth which is amazing.  The skate park has brought a lot of people together over the 9 years it has been up and running. 

I could use this text in further research but, the text definitely has some room for updating. I cant tell when the text was posted but a lot has happened in the 9 years it has opened for example: the Skate parks bathrooms are closed and when the park first opened they weren’t done remodeling the main bowl section, and I don’t know if anyone else cares but I would like to know where the advertisement for the public input sessions about the park in 2000 were aired at (lol I was only 9 at the time). I still think its some useful information.

Unit 2 Part II

Wolfe, Bill  "Louisville Extreme Park: A Playground for Daredevils." hellolouisville.com. n.d. Web  May 31, 2010

This article is a summary of the Louisville Skate/Extreme Park.  The author is a local journalist who has attend a few competitions at the Skate Park and he claims that its a "Playground for Daredevils". Quote Bill Wolfe "Skaters, skateboarders and cyclists use the Louisville Extreme Park at their own risk and are required to wear protective helmets. No smoking, drinking, drugs or food are permitted within the park’s fenced skating area." A law that isnt enforced any more, I guess you could say, and it look passed because first off no one wears helmets unless you are doing 8 feet and over bowls, (those are were most of the injuries prolong at), second people sell drinks and food to the skaters for profit and the nearby skateshop is usually closed. Personally it whatever goes at the Skate Park, they even provide you with an emergency button (that I have accidentally ran into before). I dont know if it absolutly works but its there.

I could definitely put this as important information in my article because  there are government rules but, they are not enforced which paradoxes to jay walking I guess. And in this article Wolfe was pretty much on point about all his facts. I would like for him to explain that there are 2 sets of stairs (i dont know if they are neccesarily there for skateboarding) but they are there and should be in the description of the park, due to the fact that many skaters and myself have done various tricks down the stairs.

Sources

With the sources found, I was planning on using them to both enhance and explain more in depth about my place.  By providing more history, different view points of people who have visited my place; what they thought about it, the scene around my place, is my place beginner friendly, ect.  Also, I really wanted to integrate rules and different policies my place offers and which ones get followed and which ones get passed by.

Intaglios

Page 504 in section 2 parts 30-33. This was my favorite part because he explains from the ground the constructor of the horse made a vivid image of the horse but when he glanced at the aerial photo he noticed how crudely crafted the horse was. The horse was also created on ground so hard only a few ocotillo cactus were living, and no matter how large it is you could easily walk past it so it doesn't need fences or plaques so it wont be disturbed by vandalism.  Also I like how he said, he thought, the image was meant to be seen on the ground and not by the gods, but to be seen by the shadows and light from above on the ground.

My Cave and Ascension

One of the most caved in time of my life was in high school.  I went to Louisville Male High School.  In the high school I went to drama, smoking, doing drugs and reality shows were the fancy of the majority of people in Male's cave.  I myself weren't into those activities and I did not fit in very well.  In my spare time on the weekends instead of going to parties I went skateboarding with my younger brother and my friends, also I kept up with music, styles, and trends in other states and countries (things you couldnt find watching television). I would return to school telling others about the progress other cities were making.  Many times I tried to make a bboy club at my school but I got NOGAFed (No One Gives A F**k) many times and I never got enough people to be interested and join my club. At the end of my Junior year of high school I traveled with my friends to Chicago to my first bboy jam (a competition for hip hop dancers) and when I returned home i spread the news about all the new things I saw and how everything was changing and how Louisville is behind. People still didnt care and I just did me. Finally I reach college and make an RSO (Recognized Student Organization) for dancing spreading the love of Hip Hop.
The place i choose can be considered and ascension b/c the Skate Park is a place where all kinds of people join together and meet. Bikers, bladers, skaters, and the list goes on. 

The Allegory of the Cave

Yes, I am on the side of Socrates.  "Better to be the poor servant of a poor master, and to endure anything" (a splice off of the original quote) in most cases people who are poor and dont experience life as "they do" appreciate the smaller things in life depending on the person. For example I am born and rasied in what Louisville calls the "ghetto" and the "hood" of Metro Louisville. I do admit a large amount of people here do appreciate the small things in life and they hope for the better for their children and the youth of the West End (the area where i live) in a way it resembles the cave because we see shootings and horrible crime on a daily basis.

Louisville Skatepark

Louisville Skate Park established April 5, 2002. A place where beginner to advanced skaters, bikers, extreme scooters, inline skaters, come to practice, tweak or polish their moves. Also, a place for families to come and watch all the extreme moves executed on the ramps. And for the past 3 years, on Thunder Over Louisville, it’s been a place for me and my fellow dancers to exhibit our dance moves. It all began as a wilderness forest where hobos and animals used as their shelter. The forest filled of refugees in large camp sites, on a first come first serve term.  After many years of finally making a decision that probably took 10 years to make they finally got to tearing down the hobos domain causing an uproar in the homeless community. Finally in 2002 they made it public and Tony Hawk and a bunch of amazing skater came to shred the brand spankin new skate park which set off the Louisville Skate park.

The best part about the skate park is itself. No matter where you idol at, while standing, sitting or propped on an object you’re bound to see spectacular, top of the line tricks and bails provided by Louisville's finest extreme sport athletes.  As one enters the skate park you are abruptly hit with the taste of smog from the nearby factories, and the smoking of cigarettes and weed, the smell of melted wax rubbed in to the ledges so skaters may execute sliding/grind tricks, the sight of tattered shoes due to the intense friction of the skaters shoes against the rugged grip tape glued onto the deck (the wood part). The snapping, cracking, and popping noises fill the air during the trial of each skater trying to land tricks whether its for show or self confidence, while the sun's rays beams against the skate park creating the shadows so the people don’t have to endure the pounding UV rays against their skins as they try to keep cool.  Stories told by the locally well known hobo, "Hobo Jim" of hobos fighting over property rights, and stolen goods from fellow brethren, and how one must not trust anybody because they will stab you in the back.  He follows that guideline and he says he is the most successful person in the world because he is living life the way he wants; no taking orders, sleep where ever you want, and have an adventure everyday of his life that office people can’t have. Things such as this occur at the skate park whenever someone finds their way to wander across the hard cement park. 

Confidence- belief in oneself and one's powers or abilities; self confidence; self- reliance; assurance. The moment I step onto the faded grey cement of the skate park my heart pounds satisfaction, and adrenaline into my bloodstream as my body begins to tremble due to the side affects of pure happiness.  Unbelievable that all those emotions race through my head just in split seconds before the wheels of my skateboard abruptly smack against the smooth concrete on a common humid and hot Louisville day.  As the orange soles of my shoes touch the sparkly black grip tape I roll next to the battered half pipe worn down by the use of extreme sports and harsh weather.  I swiftly undo the straps of my backpack letting it fall to the ground leaned against the half pipe, calmly I step up onto the large wooden ramp sizing it it up, as usual, 12 feet deep hoping today is the day I will be able to drop in, but since I am not able I just pump up for my warm up routine throwing down a few kick turns and early grabs until I become winded.  As I slow down into the middle of the half pipe I am one step closer to dropping in with "confidence".

Lately I haven’t been going to the skate park due to the dance sessions I run, but whenever I do show up to the spot I usually get acknowledged on my unique skating skills.  Usually I hit up the skate park around the late afternoon after the intense weather has passed by and more of the higher ranked skaters come by to test their skills on the element of "cement".  The skate park is open all times of the day from dusk till dawn, till the birds quiet their singing and the crickets begin their chirping, and after the sun goes down into the midnight dew that covers the grass and the metal coping, of tiny droplets that drip slowly down each object it touches.  Skaters go any time of day night or day, hot or cold, if its dry its fair game, they skate and fall ignore the pain they say, just get up and try it again. 

FUBAR, West End Skaters, Mango Crew are all the skate crews I have been in and am currently co-captain of FUBAR.  Each crew has its story in and out of the skate park, but in the skate park we went for fun and new tricks.  At the skate park I am usually the one right behind the top of the line skaters the runner up of the group.  This is usually because I never fully committed to all of my tricks so I don’t land most of my tricks.  I have had the highs and lows at the skate park.  I went through everything from skinning my face to having the best trick of the day. In Daewon Song’s video he said, "In skateboarding you can do anything one day it feels so good and then the next minute you just feel like a complete idiot and that’s the best thing about skateboarding is that you can never be too cool on your skateboard cause something else might happen to catch you off guard and you just gotta suck it up, and I don’t know enjoy it."  To me that’s the beauty of skateboarding. And what he said pertains to every skateboarder at the skate park everyday not matter what.  Especially me.