Week 2 Presentations
Food & Culture II Presentation
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Self-Introduction Speeches
In this section, you will also receive your first set of readings on Public Speaking and Communication Theory for the semester.
During Week Three, please be prepared to pose questions on the content, as well as engage in conversations regarding what you believe the content to mean based on your experiences.
Note that over time, languages change. You may notice that some words have a Hard C sound (sounds like the Letter K) at the end. Many of those words originally included the Letter K.
For example, music was once spelled musick, and the same goes for frantic and magic. This is not always the case, but those are but three examples of how the form of some words have changed over time.
Words also can change meaning over time. For example, an apology today is an expression of regret; however, in the 16th century, the concept of the apology was a formal defense against an accusation. Related to that meaning of the word is the existence of apologetics which are texts that are written to defend particular religious beliefs or doctrines.
In a similar vein, you may have heard someone say that they have naught which means that they have nothing. Prior to the late 16th century, the word naughty meant that an individual did not have much not that they were ill-behaved.
So, since English often fills individuals with awe one would think that we could say that it was an awful language. However, this too has changed. Awful now means something that fills individuals with dread as opposed to meaning something that fills individuals with awe, wonder and humility in the presence of greatness.
Prefer with Objectivity
Bias in Research
Soon, you will be asked to select your topic for the semester. Much like how your high school Biology teacher might ask you to care for an egg for the entire academic year without breaking it, you are being asked to adopt a topic about which you are deeply passionate or about which you have recently learned and which greatly whets your intellectual appetite.
Once you adopt it, you will be asked to conduct research on it toward the end of teaching three aspects of it to an audience.
Much later in the semester, you will be asked to select an aspect of the topic on which you present a persuasive argument. The argument may be in favour of or against the particular aspect that you have selected.
Whether one is presenting information to teach (Telling) or presenting information to persuade (Selling), it is important to have sound facts. Sometimes, researchers select supporting materials that match their way of thinking, and this is not the way to do it.
When conducting research, do your best to find information that is neutral or unbiased.
A
A Few Types of Bias
Conversations regarding the acquisition or practice of Soft Skills often speak of implicit biases. These types of biases are not only to be considered when speaking with others but also when reading what others have written. Why? Well, that which individuals write is often rooted in their beliefs and proclivities. So, when seeking articles to support a piece of writing, an author might not evaluate with balance and might use only the articles that support their points of view. For this reason, you are being provided with a list of biases below along with their definitions so that you may pose the following questions of yourself when you encounter an article, book or documentary film:
- From what perspective is this person or are these persons writing this article?
- What sources did this person or these persons use to support their statements?
- Are those sources reputable?
- Are those sources biased or skewed to a particular way of thinking?
A.1
Balanced Thinking, Writing and Speaking
Indidividuals who have not studied Psychology or Sociology tend to think of bias as being an intentional negative action. However, there are unconscious biases (formally known as implicit biases that can affect a person's behaviour. Generally, communicators look for these types of biases when speaking to others, but these behaviours can readily be unveiled upon closer analysis of written text. This is why it is important to read as many views as possible when educating others, given that one should always present a balanced view.
Now, you may ask, well if I am presenting a teaching on Human Trafficking or Noise Pollution, am I supposed to find a positive aspect of these topics? This is not the type of forced balance that is being asked of you. If there is no positive aspect of a topic, then simply present the information as if you were a newscaster reporting on a development. As a matter of fact, when you are presenting information for the purposes of defining, describing, or demonstrating, be neutral. Your thoughts on the information should not be shared. You can teach about Origami by offering information on the history of paper folding and its evolution without providing an audience with your feelings or beliefs about the topic. Now, you might present the information in such a colourful and rich way that your audience wishes to know more. This is a win. Note, however, that it is not you who would have urged them to delve deeply into the topic; it would have been the richness of the information presented.
Note that unconscious or implicit biases are often based on incomplete, inaccurate or mistaken information. So, make certain that you access more than one source to obtain information for your topic.
Biases of all types can have a negative impact on not only the individuals who are the perpetrators of the bias or the ones who are on the receiving end but on a nation's security. As such, always do your best to practice balance in thought.
A.2
Terms
Affinity Bias
Attribution Bias
Confirmation Bias
Conformity Bias
Contrast Bias
Halo Effect
Horns Effect
In-Team Bias
In-Team Serving Bias
Name Bias
Prevention Bias
Recency Effect Bias
What are these individuals saying about stereotypes?
Max Jobrani
A founding member of the Axis of Evil Comedy Tour, Iranian-American comedian Maz Jobrani is now touring with his second solo comedy show, Browner and Friendlier.
Why you should listen
Maz Jobrani is an actor and comedian who starred on the Axis of Evil Middle East Comedy Tour, a groundbreaking tour of the US and Middle Eastern countries, where it sold out 27 shows in Dubai, Beirut, Cairo, Kuwait and Amman. The Axis of Evil Comedy Central Special premiered in 2007 as, arguably, the first show on American TV with an all-Middle Eastern/American cast. In 2009 Jobrani performed in his first solo world tour, called Maz Jobrani: Brown and Friendly, and is currently following up this tour with a second, titled Browner and Friendlier.
Jobrani's comedy pulls from his background as an Iran-born kid raised in Northern California. He pokes fun at cultural stereotypes of all kinds -- starting with the stereotype that Middle Eastern actors can only play a few kinds of roles in Hollywood. He's been working to develop rich characters in a variety of TV shows and films. His next project: Jimmy Vestvood: Amerikan Hero, described as a cross between a Middle Eastern Pink Panther and Bend It Like Beckham.
What others say
“Maz Jobrani is one of the sharpest wits on this continent and for that matter, on many others too. He can root out the humor in just about any subject or situation.” — Bill Brownstein, Montreal Gazette
Dwan Reece
Dwandalyn R. Reece is Curator of Music and Performing Arts at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Why you should listen
Dwandalyn R. Reece curated the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture's (NMAAHC) permanent exhibition, Musical Crossroads. Reece has collaborated with other Smithsonian Institute units on such programs as the NMAAHC Grand Opening Festival, Freedom Sounds: A Community Celebration and the Folklife Festival program and Rhythm and Blues: Tell it Like It Is.
She is chair of the Smithsonian Institute pan-institutional group Smithsonian Music and works on the NMAAHC and Smithsonian Folkways collaboration, The Smithsonian Anthology of Hip-Hop and Rap, and serves as co-curator of the Smithsonian Year of Music.
Cameron Russell
Cameron Russell has stomped the runways for Victoria's Secret and Chanel, and has appeared in many magazines. But she is much more than just a pretty face.
Why you should listen
Cameron Russell has spent the last decade modeling. A Victoria's Secret favorite, she has appeared in multiple international editions of Vogue as well as in ads for brands like Ralph Lauren and Benetton. But she feels at her core that image isn't everything.
Cameron Russell
From TED Blog: Cameron's Added Benefit to Society
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Cameron Russell wants to have a discussion about the way that we, as a society, perceive beauty. Media representations of women, she says, are replete with racist and sexist representations, encouraging women to live up to a standard that is both oppressive and unattainable. Russell’s profession offers an insider’s perspective on the topic – after all, she has been modeling for over a decade.
Her candid talk from TEDxMidAtlantic led to this edition of TED Weekends on the Huffington Post. Below, find essays to start the discussion on our perceptions of beauty.
Cameron Russell: Beauty Is in the Lies of the Beholder
Women are not crazy for wanting to have a discussion about body image. And the conversation isn’t as superficial as the one Dove keeps encouraging us to have. It is a conversation about sexism and racism. It is a conversation about the real reason we try to shrink our waists and whiten our teeth (and sometimes even our skin). Most of the time we don’t do those things to make ourselves happy, we do them for someone else. I think we should start talking about that.
The easiest place to see discrimination is our incomes. Modeling is one of the few professions where women actually out-earn men. And across all jobs, studies have found that more attractive women earn more. A woman’s value is too often skin-deep. In 2004 a study found that resumes with very African-American-sounding names were 50 percent less likely to get called for an initial interview. And racial bias in salaries is overwhelming. While white women make an average of 78 cents for every man’s dollar, for African-American women that number drops to 62 cents, and for Hispanic women to 54 cents.
Orfano and Densho
TED-Ed Original lessons feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators.
TED ED Talk: Can stereotypes ever be good?
Aparna Bharadwaj
Aparna Bharadwaj seeks to understand consumers' authentic selves — how they feel, think and make decisions.
Why you should listen
Aparna Bharadwaj is a student of global consumer behavior and a lifelong marketing and sales practitioner. Currently, she is a Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group and leads BCG's Center for Customer Insight globally, with teams in more than 50 countries. She cares about understanding consumers at the deepest level and believes they are often a silent, but critical, stakeholder in major business decisions. In particular, she is fascinated by the diversity this world has to offer. She seeks patterns among consumers around the world -- in how they feel, what they believe in and how they make trade-offs when they buy things.
Bharadwaj comes from a variety of upbringings, spending her childhood in Iran, her teenage years in India and working life in India, the US and ASEAN. This gave her an appreciation of global cultures and connections across boundaries. Currently based in Singapore, she works with clients across various consumer industries, bringing more than 20 years of experience in growth strategy, customer analytics, consumer insights, route to market, sales and distribution excellence, operational excellence and portfolio analysis. Prior to BCG, she held several leadership roles at Coca-Cola, including brand management, sales, insights and trade marketing.
TED Institute Talk on Global Consumerism Trends
Working on Mastering Self and the Self-Introduction Speech (Presentation via Video)
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In today's competitive world, a memorable self-introduction speech can set you apart from the crowd. At Community Changers, we understand the importance of making a lasting first impression. The workshop content is designed to help you craft a unique introduction that showcases your personality and personal brand. Whether you are networking, interviewing, or leading a meeting, mastering your self-introduction will enhance your communication skills and confidence. Let us transform our introductions from sweet to remarkable! Be sure to access your assignment on the designated platform.
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