What is Infographics?

Information graphics or infographics are graphic visual representations of information, data or knowledge intended to present complex information quickly and clearly. They can improve cognition by utilizing graphics to enhance the human visual system’s ability to see patterns and trends. The process of creating infographics can be referred to as data visualization, information design, or information architecture as quoted on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infographics.

What is Social Media?

Social media refers to the means of interactions among people in which they create, share, exchange and comment contents among themselves in virtual communities and networks as quoted on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media.

San Jose Public Library Collections:

• Social Media
• Infographics

More Information:

• Web 2.0

Do you know the story about the Smith and Carlos Statue in San Jose State University Campus?

Tommie  Smith and John  Carlos were the 1968 Olympic gold and bronze medal winners in the 200 meter run and they were the SJSU student activists. Tommie Smith’s raised black-glove represented black power. The knotted black scarf around his neck represented pride and the box in his left hand contained an olive tree sapling, which stood as an emblem of peach. John Carlos’s raised left black-glove represented unity in black America, and the beads around his neck signified lynching suffered by blacks. Both men wore black socks but were shoeless during the ceremony to represent the black poverty in racist America. Together they formed an arch of unity and power as quoted on SJSU Self Guided Tour Handout.

Sohn is the man at the centre of one of the iconic photographs of Olympic history. It is more understated than the snap of Tommie Smith and John Carlos giving the black power salute at Mexico '68, but just as powerful. It was taken on 9 August 1936, at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin. It shows three athletes on the podium during the medal ceremony of the Olympic marathon. At the back is the British silver medallist Ernie Harper. He is standing tall, shoulders back and head held high, a proud smile on his face. In front of him are two Korean runners, Sohn, gold medallist, and Nam Sung-yong, bronze medallist. Their heads are bowed and both are staring at their feet in, what they later called, "silent shame and outrage". Sohn is clutching a young oak tree to his chest. Nam would later say how envious he was of his team-mate. Not because of colour of his medal, but because unlike Sohn he had no oak tree to cover up the Japanese flag that was emblazoned across his shirt.

Between 1910 and 1948 Korea was under the Japanese rule, who suppressed the indigenous culture and language due to the Japanese imperialism and colonialism during the World War II. The flags that were raised and the anthem that was played to salute Sohn and Nam were not Korean, but Japanese, and the press and the IOC did not award or record the victory as a Korean triumph, but a Japanese one. Sohn was not even allowed to compete under his own name, but went by the Japanese transliteration, Son Kitei.

During his stay in Berlin Sohn tried to tell the would that they should not think of him as Japanese. He would sign his name in Korean characters, and would often draw a small picture of his country alongside his autograph. After the race he tried to tell the newspapermen again and again that he was Korean, not Japanese, but his minders refused to translate his remarks. Montague's mistake was repeated right around the world, with one conspicuous exception. Back in Korea the newspapers blurred the Japanese flag out of the photographs of Sohn. The Korean daily Dong-A Ilbo, which still exists today, carried the photo – with the Japanese flag scratched out – on its front page on 25 August. Immediately afterwards the Japanese government shut the Dong-A Ilbo down for nine months and arrested, then tortured, eight of its journalists as quoted on TheGuardian.

I think the common threads of the two stories are not only bowing their heads during the olympic medal ceremony for the silent protest, but also giving us the lesson about "take a stand” in what we believe in; equality, human rights, respect and freedom of speech etc.

• Movie based on the true story of Smith and Carlos: "Salute"
• Movie based on the true story of Sohn: "My Way"

San Jose Public Library Collections

• Equality
• Human Rights
• Respect
• Freedom of Speech
• Independence Movement
• World War II
• Black American History
• Marathon
• Olympic

Please note: Tutor.com's live tutoring service will be closed on Tuesday, December 25^th and Tuesday, January 1. The live service will close at 12:00 a.m. ET and will reopen at 1:00 a.m. ET the following day (Dec. 26^th and Jan. 2^nd).  Access to the SkillsCenter Resource Library and previous sessions through individual accounts will still be available during this time. (Tutor.com is also closed each year on Thanksgiving and July Fourth.)

 

Here are some resources to help you and your families cope with the recent tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary. I hope you can find comfort in a good book... I've been hugging my toddler even more than usual this past week.

• ZERO TO THREE: the National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families has created an excellent resource of practical tips, and links to additional online resources.
• The Fred Rogers Company offers insights from Mr. Rogers - with specifics on how to talk about confusing images and how to comfort kids.
• The Indianpolis Public Library created a page with tips, resources, and suggested books and the Washington, D.C. Public Library also has a page with resources and books on helping kids through tragic events.  

Please share any tips in the comments - what's your go-to book when things are looking grim in the world outside?