According to Du Bois, what is the significance of what he calls the “sorrow songs” to African-American history and culture? 

Sorrow songs made African Americans closer to each other. everything that would happen to them they would sing for the world to hear. They would sing all the times they were down and I hope that one day they will get freedom and everything will change. This goes deep in their culture because people would think it was ok for African Americans to be treated unfairly. They would teach the children the song and the Children would pass it onto their kids so that people don’t forget their story and what they have been through. They sing their hearts out so they wouldn’t be forgotten and so that the generations to come won’t forget their story. Also, it is a sign of hope that one day African Americans would be free. Not judging by the color of their skin. They can unite to make a change and not let future generations go through the same thing. Sarros’ song doesn’t only give me the sad times, it also represents hope and a new light for African American and brings unity.

Which of the songs featured in this chapter us the most significant, in your opinion, and why? (Check out the Spotify playlist if you are not familiar with them.) 

You may bury me in the east by The Fisk Jubilee Singers  is more significant to me because it shows how spiritually they were and how much grit they have and they sing how they are not afraid to die and believe that their spirit is gonna be fine in heaven and with angels.

According to the podcast episode “Power” Damon Krukowski argues that the marginal rejected the repressed because of how easily we can listen to music with a simple touch from our phones when before there was a specific store we all went to get our favorite records or CDs. What I believe Krukowski is attempting to say is the way the huge companies have control over us; they gather all the data from our most liked music, to which songs we play the most, to even which ones we are most likely to skip. Companies get the benefit of us by gathering this information and give us more recommendations that can be near the sort of music we may like. All things considered, he called attention to how excellent the record shops were with so much information in just one store.

According to the introduction of the book “Seeing through Race” by John Berger, writes about how the media uses images where it shows how blacks are being victimized for whites to feel sympathy for them. However, sometimes the media is not telling the real story or portraying it differently. I agree with Berger, the media is used to bring sympathy to whites which can also lead to a movement. For example in George Floyd, we all knew that he died because a police officer was putting force on him causing him not to breathe and when this video was posted, it went viral and people started to protest to get rights.

1. The podcast “Ways of hearing – Love” by Damon Krukowski talks about how the type of microphones that we use affects the way the other person hears you and receives the feeling or emotion. According to Krukowski “the sound of our voices on the phone has gotten worse with the switch to digital.. cell phones don’t transmit the full range of sound picked up by their mics.” I agree and disagree with this, our cell phone does make our voices sound differently through it however if we are paying close attention to the person on the other side we can still receive their feelings even through the phone. There are even times that I and my friends are on the phone not even talking to each other and doing other things but the thought that they are there can make us feel their presence. I don’t remember how house phones sounded but I do agree that with mics used to sing used to be way better back then, it was a different vibe.
   2. ASMR is very relaxing to hear, even more relaxing with headphones on. ASMR is used to improve mood and even pain symptoms through various common triggers such as whispering or crisp sounds. For example, I sometimes use it when I have anxiety, I put my headphones on and watch a 10-minute video on YouTube of ASMR clips. Many people enjoy watching these types of videos and we all can see that by searching on YouTube ASMR and we see that those types of videos have millions of views.

The podcast “Ways of hearing #2 – SPACE” by Krukowski refers to how he grew up in the city with sounds and noises of sirens, the wind, and trains; however it all seems to have changed due to technology. Krukowski claims that “with all these headphones is like we are avoiding ear contact”. I agree with Krukowski, before when there was less technology in the streets people had no option but pay attention to their surroundings and was stuck with the noise that the city brings however now if we go on a train we see more than 80% of the people on a phone, with headphones/AirPods on or on a kindle and the other 15% is probably with someone else such as a friend or family member having a conversation. We can all agree that we have been guilty of this when we get on a train we don’t want to hear the loud noise that the train makes, little kids crying, people talking over each other so we put our headphones on and it is like if we are in our universe. We try to avoid strangers talking to us or people asking for money and when we have our headphones on people understand that we are trying to not be disturbed.

According to Berger in Way of Seeing Part 4, publicity is used to convey to consumers that they need that specific product. The item is portrayed in a way that shows that your life would be changed drastically. Companies achieve this by putting models or things that make it seem like the best product, for example in the skincare publicity they make sure to have models with clear and perfect skin claiming to be using the item so that people will envy and trick them into buying the product. Publicity tricks the consumer into buying things that they don’t necessarily need or are essential but makes them feel more “richer”.

Berger demonstrates that publicity and oil painting can appear different however there is a big difference. In publicity, the vendor is trying to convince the consumer that they need that product in their life for it to be better however in oil painting it shows the reality and imperfections of the item. It is confident and doesn’t need any attractiveness distracting the consumer into anything else. The consumer knows that they need this product and isn’t being tricked into it.

Berger mentions “The dream of Later Tonight” is showing the best time of your life. He mentions “Everyone is surrounded by what brings pleasure, but it is you who will bring the greatest pleasure of all.” People are shown having a good time with the alcohol and it makes the consumer envious of that life. Imagery is used to manipulate the consumers that with this certain alcohol you are guaranteed a good time.

It is often said that the way women dress or act is to please someone. In Ways of Seeing, John Berger talks about paintings from many centuries ago and how they are portrayed in the painting as sexual objects, just to satisfy the man’s eye. Nowadays women have social media where they can post whatever they feel like it but behind the scenes of that photo is a big hassle. Women make sure that they take the right photo that makes them appear confident. This photo is just to please their audience which is her friends or followers. There isn’t much of a difference between now and back then, even if this was filmed in 1972 there hasn’t been much of a change women are trying to be confident and satisfy an audience.