It's Just Morgan

From my time as an infant to middle school I had met one Morgan. I believed my name to be unique, a name that many people did not have. When I entered into middle school I met two other Morgans on the first day of sixth grade. I was so confused. I quickly had one of the names that teachers had to add a last name onto when calling on. I felt as though the uniqueness of my name had been stripped from me. I was no longer the only Morgan but one of three. It was during this time that I realized my name did not determine my uniqueness or individuality.

My name can not be shortened, it's just Morgan. My parents did this with intention. My dad has a habit of creating nicknames for everything and my mom did not want him to be able to shorten my name, she wanted me to be Morgan and only Morgan. My dads calls me "Me-F" because of my initials, mef. I am thankful that my name can not be shortened because I enjoy not having to go by another name. Throughout the past year many people have provided me with nicknames, finding ways of using the roots of my name. Morgz (with a s or z), Morgzan, Mo Flo, and Mo Mo have been used. None of these nicknames sound as nice as Morgan. It just becomes awkward when one tries to break down Morgan because it can not be done easily.

The name Morgan is from Celtic or Old English descent. It can be used for a girl or guy, but is most popularly used for girls in the United States. In many places Morgan means lives by the sea. Physically I do not live by the sea but I find peace while in coastal areas and the sea reminds me of adventures and times spent with friends and family. This meaning can describe me because of my love of the sea and everything that moves in it. Some researchers say that people with the name Morgan have a need for quiet, need to analyze the world around them, need to learn deep truths, and need adventure. This describes me in a nutshell. I hunger for all types of adventure and I am constantly searching for ways of making mundane activities adventurous. In addition, I spend a lot of time thinking about the world around me and analyzing everything around me. Morgan fits me perfectly, I could not imagine being called anything else.

Being an individual within a group can be difficult. I struggle with when to be an individual and when to blend in as part of a group. As a part of the dance company at Millbrook I have experienced this conflict. During some pieces the choreographer may decide to insert improv. When this happens directions are normally given about the dynamics. The improv may need to be sudden or sustained and at a high, medium, or low level. It is imperative that each individual follows these guidelines because otherwise attention will be drawn to one person. Every move by each individual is unique and all together there is a sense of continuity because of the consistent style used. It is during these times that it is easy to be an individual that is part of a group as a whole. However, when you are not given the solo in the dance or are not positioned in the front of the stage it can be easy to lose the sense of community and only become centered on yourself. Attitude is everything and when you hold a positive attitude it becomes possible to exist as a unique individual part of a larger group.
      

      

Othering

We are the Other. Walter, 38th & Chicago Bus Stop, South Minneapolis, MN. By Wing Young Huie (2012).

        Upon the examination of this picture it can be noted that the sign the man is holding reads, "Equality for the Undocumented." He is sitting on a bench at what looks to be a bus stop. Most of the time, multiple people can be found at one bus stop at any particular time; however, in this photograph the man is sitting alone. The area around him looks nice and the clothes he wears are normal street attire. When first looking at this picture it can be gathered that the man is alone and he seems upset. After diving deeper into the meaning of the photograph, the audience gathers more about both the person and subject at hand. The way in which the picture was taken communicates an enormous amount. The left side of the picture is open, full of trees and other flora, in the middle there is a pole, and on the right is the man seated between the pole and the end of the frame. The pole symbolizes the divide between the free and the Undocumented. The open space, on the left, represents those who have equality while everything on the right represents those who are fighting for equality. Wing Young Huie immediately draws the audience's attention to the man by placing he and his sign in an area that agrees with the Rule of Thirds. Through the positioning of people and scenery Wing Young Huie communicates that there is a division between undocumented and documented people within the United States.

        Margaret Atwood presents "othering," in The Handmaid's Tale through the use of color while Wing Young Huie communicates "othering," through layout. Atwood uses descriptions of color to convey the differences between the women in society. Specifically, Handmaids are set apart from the other women in Gilead society because of their attire. The Handmaids can be found in all red. Red is a dominate color that stands out in a crowd, therefore, drawing attention to the Handmaids and setting them apart from the other women in society. "Othering," is the idea of believing someone to be different than you and not a member of your group. In reality, however, every individual is unique and each person contributes equally to society. In the Wing Young Huie example the "othering," surrounds undocumented and documented Americans. Regardless of whether or not an individual is a citizen, in most cases, documented and undocumented individuals contribute equally to the community. Wing Young Huie challenges the idea, through a simple photograph, of separating the undocumented citizens from the rest of American society. As mentioned earlier, the way the photo is laid out suggests the divide in society. The solemn look on the man's face further communicates how the actions or words of others can create separations, and the pain that many feel because of this. Atwood and Huie challenge their audiences to think about how opinions, actions, words, and deeds can deeply affect another person.