So, I realized today that I somehow spaced creating a blog last week, so I am just going to make this a double blog and comment on all the group presentations here.
Group 2: "The Postcard Killers"
I have yet to read this book, but this group seems to have had a particularly interesting text to work with. I really enjoyed the fact that they chose a James Patterson novel. I thought that the idea of exploring this idea of "art as murder" was pretty cool. It's really creepy that these killers posed their victims as actual paintings! This theme sounded to be rather popular among group 2 but I also really enjoyed this idea of looking at the characters and their nationality and the way that this plays into both the setting and plot of the novel. It is always interesting to compare and contrast stereotypes as well as theorize why a book was written to portray characters in a certain light. This idea of ethics in the novel was another interesting take on the book. It must have been hard to work with a bunch of news reporters who were basically giving the killers what they wanted: to be publicized. We really do glorify serial killers, at least in this country! I also felt that the exploration of "popular formula" was another intriguing subject. It was something I wish had been a little bit further explained, but it sounded rather compelling! It is amazing that James Patterson is such a popular author, who apparently (I have not read any of his books) writes stories using rather similar formulas that cater to the needs of the public eye. How can someone not be bored after reading x-amount of books by the same author that uses the same formulas over and over again! Perhaps I am just generalizing based on a lack of information, however if this is the case and Patterson is able to sell that many books based off a similar formula every time--hats off to him!
Group 3: "19 Minutes"
While I do own this book, I have yet to find the time to read it, however after listening to Group 3 presentations, I feel like I am missing out. Thus far, I have heard many great things about Jodi Piccoult and from the looks of it 19 minutes is a great read. While their text was not particularly related to the book that our group read, there seemed to be some similar themes of not fitting in, social expectations, etc. and I really enjoyed hearing what this group had to say about their papers. There seemed to be a common theme of exploring roles that people take on in high school based on social expectations, as well as the results of what these pressures are capable of doing (inevitably in this novel, the school shooting). However, the two topics that particularly intrigued me were the ones about Peter's sexuality and the one about the characters' understanding of death in high school. Both of these are rather striking as topics and I really enjoyed their observations on these particular topics, especially this idea of bullying coinciding with this idea of homosexuality, the masculine and the feminine. It hits home even now...
Group 4: "Then We Came To The End"
While this is not a text that I will most likely purchase, I really enjoyed what Group 4 had to say in regards to the novel. Something that particularly peeked my interest about the text, as it did for so many others, was this 1st person plural point of view for the majority of the novel. I loved the group's observations about community and unity within the work space, which kind of seems...funny to me, when I think about the fact that it's an advertising firm that is basically aimed at making people feel inadequate or in need of something in some way. However, I suppose it is ignorant to assume that every person that works for an advertisement firm is viciously out to seduce people all the time. This text is particularly relevant with the way that our economy within this country has plummeted. They had very keen observations about depression and how lack of job security can cause instability in other aspects of one's life. I thought it was a little bizarre for some reason, that the character with breast cancer seemed to be the most central point of the book. I have not read this book before, so I would not know about the claimed profound affect, however it seems a odd to me that this could be such a sharp focus for people in the office through which the author could play off with gossip among other interrelations between co-workers. I would really be interested in hearing what Emmy comes up with in this regard. I know that she is focusing more on the aspect of breast cancer's affect on ones life, but perhaps she might comment on the workplace itself as well.
Group 5: "Trans Sister Radio"
In terms of plot, this book was rather different from all the others that were presented in class. It is nice to see that transgender literature is slowly making itself known to the world and I really enjoyed Group 5's insight to this particular text. I admire them for pushing their own ideas of gender and sex through reading this novel as well as the willingness to do outside research and discuss a topic which is still on the rise. It's awesome and I think they are doing a wonderful job! Of course, it is no surprise that this idea of gender is a topic of focus for a majority of the papers and I really like the observations that people are making about these social expectations and how it correlates to one's own identity. The one presentation that I was particularly blown away by was the one about the archetypes. I thought that this was absolutely phenomenal and it is not something that I would have thought to do myself! Her arguments were clear and also thought it was cool that the author manages to follow these archetypes of the feminine even when the character had yet to transition. It was awesome. I also really enjoyed the fact that someone stepped out of the lines of gender and focused on the structure of the text itself, exploring the ways in which these multiple points of view affected the story that was being told. Overall, great job Group 5!
Group 6: "Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim"
I absolutely LOVE David Sedaris and I am really happy that a group in our class chose his book as their primary text! It made for a very interesting last class and I really enjoyed the discussion. I love that nearly everyone had something different to say about the book. While there were cross-themes in the presentations, no one person seemed to be focusing on the exact same theme as someone else and I thought that was really cool. I loved that one person was taking a look at literature based relationships within family and that another person was looking at humor in terms of lightening up heavier messages and to switch that up a little bit, another person had a thesis about humor and David as the outsider. Then someone else decided to focus on gender and sexuality as well as socio-economical status and in turn also used this idea of humor to dictate Serdaris' experiences growing up which I thought was really intriguing. And then (finally!) someone else was focusing on this idea of memoir, which I personally love. Owen's topic about fiction and memoir and the discussion of differences and similarities and the fact that twisting the facts can make for a better story was great. It's going to be an awesome paper, I'm sure. It's a debate that is still on the rise.
I really enjoyed listening to everyone's ideas, including my other group-mates. It's been a wonderful semester with you all. Thanks for the awesome literary experience. I hope you all have a wonderful break and best of luck in future endeavors. Oh, and good luck on those papers too!! :)
-Jake
Friday, December 10, 2010
Friday, November 26, 2010
Perfect Peace
"I gotta go now."
"Why?"
"'Cause Momma gon' be lookin' for me soon. And if your folks catch us, they ain't gon' let us play together no more."
"I know."
(161).
At this point in the text, Perfect has discovered that she is actually Paul. He is hanging it out with Eva Mae for the first time since his family went back to church and everyone found out the truth. During this particular scene, Eva Mae and Paul are hanging out like they usually do, however since Paul's new identity has come to public knowledge, things are a bit different now and both Eva Mae and Paul recognize this. They are both still close to one another despite the sudden change however, it is no longer appropriate for them to play together because boys and girls are not allowed. Eva Mae is the only friend Paul has felt close to; she is his only community that he has left and in order for them both to preserve their friendship, they have to be secretive about it, otherwise they will be unable to see one another again. As the story continues to unfold from this point forward, the reader is able to see that community plays a large role in people's lives. Without community we are left to feel alone, ashamed, scared and silenced. As an outsider, anything we do wrong can be held against us and further ostracize us from community, family and friends. Community is one of the biggest building blocks for a society and if one person is left out of that community, there seems to be nothing left for that individual. We don't know what community really means until we have lost it.
"Why?"
"'Cause Momma gon' be lookin' for me soon. And if your folks catch us, they ain't gon' let us play together no more."
"I know."
(161).
At this point in the text, Perfect has discovered that she is actually Paul. He is hanging it out with Eva Mae for the first time since his family went back to church and everyone found out the truth. During this particular scene, Eva Mae and Paul are hanging out like they usually do, however since Paul's new identity has come to public knowledge, things are a bit different now and both Eva Mae and Paul recognize this. They are both still close to one another despite the sudden change however, it is no longer appropriate for them to play together because boys and girls are not allowed. Eva Mae is the only friend Paul has felt close to; she is his only community that he has left and in order for them both to preserve their friendship, they have to be secretive about it, otherwise they will be unable to see one another again. As the story continues to unfold from this point forward, the reader is able to see that community plays a large role in people's lives. Without community we are left to feel alone, ashamed, scared and silenced. As an outsider, anything we do wrong can be held against us and further ostracize us from community, family and friends. Community is one of the biggest building blocks for a society and if one person is left out of that community, there seems to be nothing left for that individual. We don't know what community really means until we have lost it.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Annotated Bibliography and New Proposal
New Proposal:
Within the genre of memoir, truth is a theme that is constantly being challenged. Memoirists narrate their lives through memory, while simultaneously referencing metaphor, myth and other mediums outside the “factual” truth of the author’s story, to create a relatable narration of a life or part of a life. In Without a Map, Meredith Hall creates a comprehensible, intimate narration of the past in relation to the present. In telling her story, she informs the reader, “I believe we are accountable, that what we do stays in the world” (200). She believes that as individuals, we are responsible for our own actions and our own lives. For Hall, it is her responsibility to remember the past; it’s not a choice. Without a Map is her way of holding herself accountable. In writing her life, she begins to answer the “why” and the “how” of not only her parent’s actions, but her own. Even though several moments in the text utilize metaphor, these metaphors reinforce Hall’s truth. Tom Larson, author of The Memoir and the Memoirist, believes “that any writer must hold himself accountable for his memoir. And where else should he do this but in the writing. It seems so obvious. But still, few memoirists understand how co-creative accountability and remembrance can be" (107). Hall is one of those few memoirists who understand this relationship.
Annotated Bibliography:
Laron, Tom. The memoir and the memoirist. Athens, Ohio: Ohio University Press, 2007. Print.
Taking a personal approach to the genre of memoir, Larson's book is comprised of multiple chapters which explore memoir in terms of literature, recollection of memory, personal narration, history and culture. While referencing published memoirs as well as published journals of psychology, he speaks to the heart of what he believes memoir is and how it should be critiqued. Specifically, there are a few chapters in this text which focus on the idea of myth-making, truth, and authenticity within memoir. I plan on using these particular chapters and relating them to Hall's memoir, showing how Larson's ideas of truth support Meredith's views on truth.
Eire, Carlos. "Where Falsehoods Dissolve: Memory as History." Tell me True: Memoir, History, and Writing a Life. Eds. Hampl, Patricia and May, Elaine Tyler. Borealis Books, 2008. p. 163-178. Print.
Carlos Eire's essay discusses the reason behind his publishing his memoir. As a native Cuban who now lives in the United States, he is prompted by the controversy over Elian Gonzalez' deportation to write his story, one he feels that very often goes untold. Frustrated with the ways that history portrays Fidel Castro as a hero, he feels the need to set the record straight by bringing forth the horrors of the Cuban Revolution. He believes the memory best serves in terms of history, bringing the big lies into the light and making people realize the truth. While perhaps, on the surface Eire's story may seem unrelated, his belief in the important relationship between truth, history, and memory coincide with Hall's view of the importance of their interrelationship.
Pals, Jennifer L. "Constructing The "Springboard Effect": Casual Connections, Self-Making, and Growth Within the Life Story." Identity and Story: Creating Self in Narrative. Eds. Mcadams, Dan, et al. p. 175-199. Print.
Throughout this essay, Pals explores the psychology behind personal identity and self-making through "casual connections" which is a strategy people use to create a coherent life story, emphasizing that the life is story is a process of interpretation of past events, relationships, etc. and is always in the making. According to Pals, there tend to be three different ways in which people use this idea of "casual connections" to promote or demote personal growth, the most healthy of which is called "The Springboard Effect." "The Springboard Effect" is a process through which an individual willfully allows himself to open his mind to new ways of thinking about past events, so as to productively change his interpretations of his life story and come to a more positive understanding of his life. I will use this essay to show how Hall uses this precise way of thinking in order to come to a more personal understanding of her past in relation to the present, further supporting her idea of truth.
Smith Sidonie and Watson, Julia. Reading Autobiography: A Guide for Interpreting Life Narratives." Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press, 2001. Print.
In this book, both Smith and Watson explore the history of memoir in terms of autobiography criticism, theorizing, historical perspective, and the various types of life narratives that have existed throughout history. They also spend some time analyzing why memoirists utilize certain narrative tools: how and why they use certain types of memory, identity, etc. and what it means. I plan on using this text to explore the ways in which Hall utilizes these tools in her memoir and how they allow her to narrate as story that she believes is truthful.
Rainer, Tristine. "Your Life as Story: Discovering the "New Autobiography" and Writing Memoir as Literature." New York, NY: Penguin Putnam, Inc. 1998. Print.
Rainer's book presents a practical guide through which to learn how to write memoir, exploring ways in which a writer can delve into and sift through past memories. While exploring the structure of story telling, as well as her own personal understanding of what a story is, she also examines the idea of truth within the genre. I will use this text to explore who Rainer's idea that there is no one right answer in regards to truth within memoir, further supports Hall's personal narrative as truth.
Within the genre of memoir, truth is a theme that is constantly being challenged. Memoirists narrate their lives through memory, while simultaneously referencing metaphor, myth and other mediums outside the “factual” truth of the author’s story, to create a relatable narration of a life or part of a life. In Without a Map, Meredith Hall creates a comprehensible, intimate narration of the past in relation to the present. In telling her story, she informs the reader, “I believe we are accountable, that what we do stays in the world” (200). She believes that as individuals, we are responsible for our own actions and our own lives. For Hall, it is her responsibility to remember the past; it’s not a choice. Without a Map is her way of holding herself accountable. In writing her life, she begins to answer the “why” and the “how” of not only her parent’s actions, but her own. Even though several moments in the text utilize metaphor, these metaphors reinforce Hall’s truth. Tom Larson, author of The Memoir and the Memoirist, believes “that any writer must hold himself accountable for his memoir. And where else should he do this but in the writing. It seems so obvious. But still, few memoirists understand how co-creative accountability and remembrance can be" (107). Hall is one of those few memoirists who understand this relationship.
Annotated Bibliography:
Laron, Tom. The memoir and the memoirist. Athens, Ohio: Ohio University Press, 2007. Print.
Taking a personal approach to the genre of memoir, Larson's book is comprised of multiple chapters which explore memoir in terms of literature, recollection of memory, personal narration, history and culture. While referencing published memoirs as well as published journals of psychology, he speaks to the heart of what he believes memoir is and how it should be critiqued. Specifically, there are a few chapters in this text which focus on the idea of myth-making, truth, and authenticity within memoir. I plan on using these particular chapters and relating them to Hall's memoir, showing how Larson's ideas of truth support Meredith's views on truth.
Eire, Carlos. "Where Falsehoods Dissolve: Memory as History." Tell me True: Memoir, History, and Writing a Life. Eds. Hampl, Patricia and May, Elaine Tyler. Borealis Books, 2008. p. 163-178. Print.
Carlos Eire's essay discusses the reason behind his publishing his memoir. As a native Cuban who now lives in the United States, he is prompted by the controversy over Elian Gonzalez' deportation to write his story, one he feels that very often goes untold. Frustrated with the ways that history portrays Fidel Castro as a hero, he feels the need to set the record straight by bringing forth the horrors of the Cuban Revolution. He believes the memory best serves in terms of history, bringing the big lies into the light and making people realize the truth. While perhaps, on the surface Eire's story may seem unrelated, his belief in the important relationship between truth, history, and memory coincide with Hall's view of the importance of their interrelationship.
Pals, Jennifer L. "Constructing The "Springboard Effect": Casual Connections, Self-Making, and Growth Within the Life Story." Identity and Story: Creating Self in Narrative. Eds. Mcadams, Dan, et al. p. 175-199. Print.
Throughout this essay, Pals explores the psychology behind personal identity and self-making through "casual connections" which is a strategy people use to create a coherent life story, emphasizing that the life is story is a process of interpretation of past events, relationships, etc. and is always in the making. According to Pals, there tend to be three different ways in which people use this idea of "casual connections" to promote or demote personal growth, the most healthy of which is called "The Springboard Effect." "The Springboard Effect" is a process through which an individual willfully allows himself to open his mind to new ways of thinking about past events, so as to productively change his interpretations of his life story and come to a more positive understanding of his life. I will use this essay to show how Hall uses this precise way of thinking in order to come to a more personal understanding of her past in relation to the present, further supporting her idea of truth.
Smith Sidonie and Watson, Julia. Reading Autobiography: A Guide for Interpreting Life Narratives." Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press, 2001. Print.
In this book, both Smith and Watson explore the history of memoir in terms of autobiography criticism, theorizing, historical perspective, and the various types of life narratives that have existed throughout history. They also spend some time analyzing why memoirists utilize certain narrative tools: how and why they use certain types of memory, identity, etc. and what it means. I plan on using this text to explore the ways in which Hall utilizes these tools in her memoir and how they allow her to narrate as story that she believes is truthful.
Rainer, Tristine. "Your Life as Story: Discovering the "New Autobiography" and Writing Memoir as Literature." New York, NY: Penguin Putnam, Inc. 1998. Print.
Rainer's book presents a practical guide through which to learn how to write memoir, exploring ways in which a writer can delve into and sift through past memories. While exploring the structure of story telling, as well as her own personal understanding of what a story is, she also examines the idea of truth within the genre. I will use this text to explore who Rainer's idea that there is no one right answer in regards to truth within memoir, further supports Hall's personal narrative as truth.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Blog Holiday
Hey All,
Taking a Blog Holiday this week...see you all on Tuesday! Hope you have a great weekend!
-Jake
Taking a Blog Holiday this week...see you all on Tuesday! Hope you have a great weekend!
-Jake
Friday, November 5, 2010
The Good News (p. 147-148)--Matt Mason
This poem is all about the speaker. It is one that I cannot imagine being performed at home, alone in the living room. This is meant for an audience. It is meant to be spoken with humor and vulnerability. It's meant to be spoken with a human voice. It is not meant to be spoken, necessarily, by an avid believer in Jesus, in the strictly conservative religious sense, as this poem could possibly be seen as offensive, as if Jesus were being made into a joke or spectacle.
I think the poem speaks to religion and the many ways in which Jesus can be viewed. I find this poem to be hilarious, honest, frank, tasteful, and beautiful. It's the voice of a man who believes that all in all, Jesus is a good man. He's cool and a great role model: "he's no/show off/That's what I like about Jesus, (stanza 1)." He is someone to admire, to follow. The speaker makes the listener and reader relate to Jesus by using common cultural references. And, isn't that the intention: for Jesus to be someone we can relate to now matter how much time has passed? What would Jesus do, right?
Well, according to Mason he "makes a kickass mix tape" and "loves cows" and "likes blue jeans" like the rest of us. He's a regular person like you and me who has likes and dislikes. But at the same time he's the Son of God. The speaker cannot deny that he is not merely a human. He is omniscient: "Jesus pisses me off with his honesty sometimes. But it's not like he's ever wrong." He uses humor in wanting Jesus to make Diet Coke instead of Wine, making the point that for Jesus, there is no difference between the two, implying perhaps, something bigger in the sense that everything and everyone should be equal. He also narrates the ridiculous antics through which humans endeavor to get into Heaven, which Jesus finds to often times be self-centered and not genuine.
All in all this is a very spiritually rooted poem with an "unorthodox" approach: "Jesus wanted me to tell you he loves you/Jesus also wants you to stop doing that thing." I nearly burst into a fit of laughter with this line because even though Jesus loves you no matter what, he doesn't always agree with the way you live your life and we should all strive to be closer to Jesus. At the same time there is still a hint of human uncertainty and we see that Jesus is still above us: "Jesus tells me I'm saved/Then he laughs real loud/Jesus makes me nervous when he does that." It leaves the audience with a particular uncertainty. I felt a knot in my stomach in the last line. It makes one question the implications. Only a strong voice that believes in the integrity of this poem can perform this piece properly.
I think the poem speaks to religion and the many ways in which Jesus can be viewed. I find this poem to be hilarious, honest, frank, tasteful, and beautiful. It's the voice of a man who believes that all in all, Jesus is a good man. He's cool and a great role model: "he's no/show off/That's what I like about Jesus, (stanza 1)." He is someone to admire, to follow. The speaker makes the listener and reader relate to Jesus by using common cultural references. And, isn't that the intention: for Jesus to be someone we can relate to now matter how much time has passed? What would Jesus do, right?
Well, according to Mason he "makes a kickass mix tape" and "loves cows" and "likes blue jeans" like the rest of us. He's a regular person like you and me who has likes and dislikes. But at the same time he's the Son of God. The speaker cannot deny that he is not merely a human. He is omniscient: "Jesus pisses me off with his honesty sometimes. But it's not like he's ever wrong." He uses humor in wanting Jesus to make Diet Coke instead of Wine, making the point that for Jesus, there is no difference between the two, implying perhaps, something bigger in the sense that everything and everyone should be equal. He also narrates the ridiculous antics through which humans endeavor to get into Heaven, which Jesus finds to often times be self-centered and not genuine.
All in all this is a very spiritually rooted poem with an "unorthodox" approach: "Jesus wanted me to tell you he loves you/Jesus also wants you to stop doing that thing." I nearly burst into a fit of laughter with this line because even though Jesus loves you no matter what, he doesn't always agree with the way you live your life and we should all strive to be closer to Jesus. At the same time there is still a hint of human uncertainty and we see that Jesus is still above us: "Jesus tells me I'm saved/Then he laughs real loud/Jesus makes me nervous when he does that." It leaves the audience with a particular uncertainty. I felt a knot in my stomach in the last line. It makes one question the implications. Only a strong voice that believes in the integrity of this poem can perform this piece properly.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Without A Map: An Abandoned Woman's Search For Truth
Meredith Hall's memoir Without a Map is the story of a woman who as a young girl, was shunned by her family, church, school and the rest of her community after becoming pregnant at the age of 16. Having been exiled and abandoned over the course of her pregnancy, she works her way into the world alone, without family and without her child, to live a life full of sorrow as well as great strength.
Throughout her story, Hall focuses on the idea of shunning and abandonment, both within her family and her community in Hampton, NH. In her introduction, she explores the position of her 16 year old self in the midst of both familial and social disapproval, within a town full of tolerated imperfection; "They were the Community" (Hall xi). It is obvious that in writing Without a Map, Hall has given herself the opportunity to explore her life and the incidences which have made her who she is today, stating "Shunning is as precise as a scalpel, an absolute excision leaving, miraculously, not a trace of a scar on the community body. The scarring is left for the girl, an intense, debilitating wound that weeps for the rest of her life" (Hall xxvii).
Using Without a Map as my primary text, I will explore how Meredith Hall utilizes the genre of memoir to find her own answers. I will examine the psychology behind Hall's abandonment and how she uses her personal truth as a catalyst to find a greater truth: an understanding of past events.
Throughout her story, Hall focuses on the idea of shunning and abandonment, both within her family and her community in Hampton, NH. In her introduction, she explores the position of her 16 year old self in the midst of both familial and social disapproval, within a town full of tolerated imperfection; "They were the Community" (Hall xi). It is obvious that in writing Without a Map, Hall has given herself the opportunity to explore her life and the incidences which have made her who she is today, stating "Shunning is as precise as a scalpel, an absolute excision leaving, miraculously, not a trace of a scar on the community body. The scarring is left for the girl, an intense, debilitating wound that weeps for the rest of her life" (Hall xxvii).
Using Without a Map as my primary text, I will explore how Meredith Hall utilizes the genre of memoir to find her own answers. I will examine the psychology behind Hall's abandonment and how she uses her personal truth as a catalyst to find a greater truth: an understanding of past events.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Observing Myself
One of the first things I can say about my previous posts is that they are LONG. Really long. Ugh, I'm honestly surprised that the people in my group have "suffered" through reading all my jargon! Thank you all!
I spoke to fiance (an avid blogger) a week ago about how if I were writing an actual blog for personal purposes or what-have-you, most people would probably skip over my blog posts because no one has the patience to read through anything more than 500 words. I'm pretty sure my posts run a bit over that maximum. It's a problem I suppose I have always had as a writer. I am very into stream-of-consciousness type things. Often times when I sit to write my blog I find myself thinking about A LOT and cannot decide what to write about specifically and I feel like that clearly comes across...that I just couldn't decide on a topic. And I suppose that's something I can work on. I find that when I was given something specific to write about, for example, my first entry about Hurricane Katrina, I was a lot more reserved and precise. After that, I went a little haywire. The only other short, blunt post I have is a letter to Don Dellilo about his book Falling Man.
On average, my posts are around 7 paragraphs long, aside from the 9 paragraphs in the entry about 9/11. The entries get notably longer and the paragraphs get notably thicker as time goes on. I think this is because most of them, I make into a personal thing. I find that as a writer, I feel more secure when adding ideas and thoughts from my own point of view, whereas when I write something critical or something that I have to do research for, I feel a lot less confident about my work. When I write an analysis of a work I always find myself cringing as I edit because I can't help but feel that I write best when it's non-fiction or a personal narrative of some sort. I've always felt that this is my forte.
For example, in my post about the Falling Man...it was not necessary for me to write about where I was on Sept. 11 and what I felt on that day. In my post regarding torture, I didn't have to go off on a rant of what I think torture is and how I feel we live in a violent culture. I could have easily gone directly into the topic at hand, yet I found the need for some personal background information that wasn't required/necessary. No one asked me to write about it--I just did. It's an impulse. I've always felt that reader responses should be personal rather than strictly analytical. In this way, I am okay with the way I write because I feel like it allows me to grow as a person and as a writer. I love responding to texts in a way that not only makes me think, but makes me analyze the way I live my life, how I identifiy, how I interact with other people, etc.
I spoke to fiance (an avid blogger) a week ago about how if I were writing an actual blog for personal purposes or what-have-you, most people would probably skip over my blog posts because no one has the patience to read through anything more than 500 words. I'm pretty sure my posts run a bit over that maximum. It's a problem I suppose I have always had as a writer. I am very into stream-of-consciousness type things. Often times when I sit to write my blog I find myself thinking about A LOT and cannot decide what to write about specifically and I feel like that clearly comes across...that I just couldn't decide on a topic. And I suppose that's something I can work on. I find that when I was given something specific to write about, for example, my first entry about Hurricane Katrina, I was a lot more reserved and precise. After that, I went a little haywire. The only other short, blunt post I have is a letter to Don Dellilo about his book Falling Man.
On average, my posts are around 7 paragraphs long, aside from the 9 paragraphs in the entry about 9/11. The entries get notably longer and the paragraphs get notably thicker as time goes on. I think this is because most of them, I make into a personal thing. I find that as a writer, I feel more secure when adding ideas and thoughts from my own point of view, whereas when I write something critical or something that I have to do research for, I feel a lot less confident about my work. When I write an analysis of a work I always find myself cringing as I edit because I can't help but feel that I write best when it's non-fiction or a personal narrative of some sort. I've always felt that this is my forte.
For example, in my post about the Falling Man...it was not necessary for me to write about where I was on Sept. 11 and what I felt on that day. In my post regarding torture, I didn't have to go off on a rant of what I think torture is and how I feel we live in a violent culture. I could have easily gone directly into the topic at hand, yet I found the need for some personal background information that wasn't required/necessary. No one asked me to write about it--I just did. It's an impulse. I've always felt that reader responses should be personal rather than strictly analytical. In this way, I am okay with the way I write because I feel like it allows me to grow as a person and as a writer. I love responding to texts in a way that not only makes me think, but makes me analyze the way I live my life, how I identifiy, how I interact with other people, etc.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Persepolis
I have actually read this graphic novel once before, but I am really excited to be reading it again! I loved it the first time around and I am falling even more head over heels the second time! This graphic novel is beautifully and inspirationally written by a courageous young girl during the Islamic Revolution. This was the first graphic novel that I had ever read, and in comparison to any of the novels we have read so far, I find this medium to be the most intriguing. This type of non-fiction literature tends to read faster than other forms of literature (which I love!).
It is amazing, the wealth of information that Marjane Satrapi provides the reader through comic-esque form. She paints a picture for her readers through the illustrations and dialogue that I don't think she could have ever accomplished in a full-on narrative memoir. I believe that the medium she chose, works particularly well for her story and I strongly advocate for the use of this medium for other writers in the process of writing memoirs or personal narratives (although I do recognize this is not a medium for every writer). I think it is a beautiful effective form of art that often times tells a story more intensely/effectively than words alone, ever could.
For example, on the first page of the first chapter of this book, we get the image of the veil in the elementary school. One of the first moments that sticks out to me is on the first page, when the caption plainly reads "We didn't really like to wear the veil, especially since we didn't understand why we had to."The brief, yet strong language is further enhanced by the vivid picture below in which schoolgirls are running around with their veils off, throwing them, playing jump rope, etc. They're pretending to be monsters and there is also the image of one girl choking another shouting, "execution in the name of freedom!" This quotation shocked me the first time I read it--I couldn't believe that a girl that young had been so...brainwashed. In addition, not only does the veil symbolize a lack of freedom in certain ways, it also introduces the reader to the conservative ways of the Islamic religion.
Other thoughts:
I know there is a film "Persepolis" that came out within the past 5 years or so. I think it would be something for our group to possibly consider...viewing the movie together and comparing the two mediums and how they tell the story. This is something that particularly interests me. You always hear people complaining either "The movie didn't tell the whole story!" or "The movie is so much better than the book!" What has to be left aside when creating a film? What is added? How does the story change, if at all? I would love to explore this as a group. We have already discussed in class, the different ways that media effects our view of events. I wonder what effect the media has in telling Marjane's story through film vs the graphic novel.
Falling Man:
There are certain similar themes between the books we have read in class and "Persepolis". There are themes of death, torture, government, war, etc. In a certain way, like 1 Dead in Attic, I really appreciate the truth of the narrative, the fact that it is written by someone who has experienced this. This was one of my main problems with "Falling Man" (aside from the fact that in certain ways I felt it was poorly written). I would have loved to read the memoir mentioned by Chris Rose, but that's for another discussion. I think that Persepolis would be a great alternative to "Falling Man", although we will be reading another graphic novel this semester. Also I am conflicted because I really enjoyed talking about the photographs from 9/11 and our overall class discussions, so to an extent, I feel like the theme of 9/11 should remain a part of the class. I just personally don't like "Falling Man."
It is amazing, the wealth of information that Marjane Satrapi provides the reader through comic-esque form. She paints a picture for her readers through the illustrations and dialogue that I don't think she could have ever accomplished in a full-on narrative memoir. I believe that the medium she chose, works particularly well for her story and I strongly advocate for the use of this medium for other writers in the process of writing memoirs or personal narratives (although I do recognize this is not a medium for every writer). I think it is a beautiful effective form of art that often times tells a story more intensely/effectively than words alone, ever could.
For example, on the first page of the first chapter of this book, we get the image of the veil in the elementary school. One of the first moments that sticks out to me is on the first page, when the caption plainly reads "We didn't really like to wear the veil, especially since we didn't understand why we had to."The brief, yet strong language is further enhanced by the vivid picture below in which schoolgirls are running around with their veils off, throwing them, playing jump rope, etc. They're pretending to be monsters and there is also the image of one girl choking another shouting, "execution in the name of freedom!" This quotation shocked me the first time I read it--I couldn't believe that a girl that young had been so...brainwashed. In addition, not only does the veil symbolize a lack of freedom in certain ways, it also introduces the reader to the conservative ways of the Islamic religion.
The second image and quote that grabbed my attention is on the second page when the dictator claims that bilingual schools are symbols of capitalism and must be shut down. He is standing at a podium and there are civilians below him shouting "Bravo!" and "What wisdom!" I found myself overwhelmed by the fact that these people were so vulnerable to deception...willing to follow this evil man with an agenda. It goes to show how societies can think...when people get lazy and don't want to think for themselves, or ultimately that they can be in a situation where they have no choice. The prospect of the it...the reality of it...and the willingness of so many to just...follow without question, terrifies me. This chapter is a great introduction into the Marjane's world.
Other thoughts:
I know there is a film "Persepolis" that came out within the past 5 years or so. I think it would be something for our group to possibly consider...viewing the movie together and comparing the two mediums and how they tell the story. This is something that particularly interests me. You always hear people complaining either "The movie didn't tell the whole story!" or "The movie is so much better than the book!" What has to be left aside when creating a film? What is added? How does the story change, if at all? I would love to explore this as a group. We have already discussed in class, the different ways that media effects our view of events. I wonder what effect the media has in telling Marjane's story through film vs the graphic novel.
Falling Man:
There are certain similar themes between the books we have read in class and "Persepolis". There are themes of death, torture, government, war, etc. In a certain way, like 1 Dead in Attic, I really appreciate the truth of the narrative, the fact that it is written by someone who has experienced this. This was one of my main problems with "Falling Man" (aside from the fact that in certain ways I felt it was poorly written). I would have loved to read the memoir mentioned by Chris Rose, but that's for another discussion. I think that Persepolis would be a great alternative to "Falling Man", although we will be reading another graphic novel this semester. Also I am conflicted because I really enjoyed talking about the photographs from 9/11 and our overall class discussions, so to an extent, I feel like the theme of 9/11 should remain a part of the class. I just personally don't like "Falling Man."
Friday, October 1, 2010
Torture Is Torture Is Torture
It's that simple (or at least I think so).
I don't think fine lines exist here. I think torture is obvious enough for someone to recognize it when they see it. I think torture manifests itself in all forms of abuse including physical, emotional and mental abuse. Torture is a deliberate act of a person or group of people which aims to humiliate, degrade, harass, and ultimately dehumanize another human being or group of people.
Rape is as much torture as verbal abuse as what happened to Matthew Shepard as what happened...September 22...when that young man committed suicide by jumping off the George Washington Bridge because of the live-streamed video his roommate cast on the internet of him in sexual contact with another male student without his knowledge.
We live in such a violent culture.
I will never know what was going on in the minds of the MPs. I will never understand what it's like to break out of myself enough to become someone who can commit those despicable acts. I will never know how they felt when taking orders from superiors. Personally, I probably would have fought against these orders in court, but I don't know what it's like to be at war. Lastly, I will never understand why the photographs were necessary. But they are honest in a way that a painting could never depict.
As much as I love art, I don't think that Fernando Botero's art is as captivating as is claimed, in the link we read for class. As much as I can appreciate what Botero was attempting to do, I don't think that paintings can substitute the reality, the brutal honesty of the actual photographs. For one, I find his people to be too "full". They are lush and honestly don't look real enough for me to have a close enough connection to them to be effected in the way Botero appears to want to affect his audience. One thing I do appreciate is the fact that he uses multiple colors in the skin of each person so that we ultimately, as viewers, are unable to declare the race or ethnicity of those particular people. I can see how that would allow us to relate to them more, and therefore make them more human.
For whatever reason, I personally find paintings of Jesus' Crucifixion more compelling and moving than any of Fernando's paintings. While both depict torture, there appears to be more humanity in the paintings of Jesus (or maybe a different kind?). But, maybe that's just because it's an association--He's the Son of God. There's a huge sad, honorable story about him dying for our sins...he's not just some stranger who is being tortured that we are attempting to find a connection with through skin color and the art's depiction of events. There is something profoundly different and more visceral...captivating in the paintings of the Crucifixion. For whatever reason, I feel that the paintings of Jesus do not require the perpetrators who crucify him. We know they are evil. We've heard the stories. We know the history and the beauty of the story. We know he had to be tortured and that he had to die. But no one knew this story before the photos...Americans committed these despicable acts and I think that's something we can't wrap our heads around. And honestly, without their presence in the paintings, I feel that they lack something.
I can't help but feel that his paintings would be more moving if they incorporated the MPs who were involved, not just through a line of piss. This is one intense aspect which differ the photographs from Fernando's works. The brutality in the photos, wasn't necessarily the fact that the detainees were in pain and suffering, but the fact that the MPs were in the photographs showing delight in their work. Everything looks more deliberate in the photographs. Sure, the paintings bring out a humanity in the detainees which multiple cultures can understand and see, as art appears to be a more universal language, (everyone knows pain in some ways, and there always seems to be a dull ache you feel within when looking at something as beautifully moving as Fernando's works), however, I don't think that it's necessary for the detainees to have "humanity" placed upon them deliberately, as in the paintings (if that's even the proper way to express what I am attempting to say). Obviously they are human...it's the fact that these MPs...their faces...you just know, that they don't see them as human. Anyone looking at those photographs sees the dehumanization. There is no need for replication of these events (in my personal opinion); the photographs say it all.
Art is deformation. There are no works of art that are truly 'realistic.'
-This event in history does not call for deformation. The photographs say it all. And while photography is a form of art (and after finding out about the Veit Cong photograph being deliberately relocated, I believe that that particular photograph has deformed reality), sometimes photography just tells a more brutally honest story. I applaud Fernando for his artwork and his talent. I just don't believe it's as effective in portraying what happened at Abu Ghraib.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Letter to the Author
Don Delillo,
I am disappointed. I did not like Falling Man. Most of the writing is rather mundane. There seems to be no story line. The beginning and end of your novel are predictable and the best written out of the entire 246 pages. Most of your characters are flat and do not promote anything remotely stimulating. I hardly felt a connection with them. I do not understand your decision in including the terrorists in your novel. Your "falling man" ironically dies of natural causes. I don't understand the Sex. Your novel does not make sense. Maybe you were trying to give the reader a sense of what it felt like after 9/11...a whole bunch of discombobulation and emptiness....searching for answers. However, I do not like your approach. I think that there are better ways to do what you attempted to do and in my personal opinion, ultimately failed to do. There are some beautiful moments...scattered paragraphs that declare that there is a writer in you somewhere. I just wish that he would have shown himself more.
Some moments in history should be left to be told by the real survivors of these tragedies. That is not to say that there is not some wonderful fictional writing out there that does a beautiful, honorable job in portraying what it may have been like for survivors. Your novel is just not one of them.
That is all.
-Jakob
I am disappointed. I did not like Falling Man. Most of the writing is rather mundane. There seems to be no story line. The beginning and end of your novel are predictable and the best written out of the entire 246 pages. Most of your characters are flat and do not promote anything remotely stimulating. I hardly felt a connection with them. I do not understand your decision in including the terrorists in your novel. Your "falling man" ironically dies of natural causes. I don't understand the Sex. Your novel does not make sense. Maybe you were trying to give the reader a sense of what it felt like after 9/11...a whole bunch of discombobulation and emptiness....searching for answers. However, I do not like your approach. I think that there are better ways to do what you attempted to do and in my personal opinion, ultimately failed to do. There are some beautiful moments...scattered paragraphs that declare that there is a writer in you somewhere. I just wish that he would have shown himself more.
Some moments in history should be left to be told by the real survivors of these tragedies. That is not to say that there is not some wonderful fictional writing out there that does a beautiful, honorable job in portraying what it may have been like for survivors. Your novel is just not one of them.
That is all.
-Jakob
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Falling Man-I'm Not Really Falling For You
I'm really not...-shrugs-
Often times I feel really conflicted about novels. And maybe this stigma is what is keeping me from thoroughly enjoying Falling Man, but it's just not doing anything for me. It's been a while since I've "been into" fiction and perhaps this has made me biased, as I feel like I am reading a false account of what happened. Yes, I realize that the Twin Towers fell. Yes, I realize that there were people who lived in apartments nearby and had to start their lives over. Yes, I realize that people had to deal with relationship issues and sex and work. I know all these things. But for some reason, I can't help but feel that this book is not about the Towers. And yet, I can't really put my finger on what this story is about. Maybe I am supposed to state the obvious...that it's about people moving on with their lives after 9/11. Or maybe I should say something like: "The novel is actually about humanity as a whole and the healing process and 9/11 is the background story...a prompt." And yeah, I guess all these characters are human, but the novel as a whole seems stiff to me-robotic (as was mentioned in class). Sometimes I just can't help but feel that some stories should be left alone, to be told by those who experienced them and not made into fiction. But, maybe I'm wrong--what do you think?
Or maybe all the above babbling is just my way of trying to sort out whether or not I like this novel. And I don't think I do--do I? I can't help but wonder if I would finish reading this book if I didn't have to read it for a class. I don't put books down all the time, but sometimes there is that one book that really just isn't keeping me interested and down it goes, never to be picked up again...and I can't help but feel that this is one of those books. One thing I do know for certain is that I never would have picked this book up to read had it not been for this class. I was really hoping that we would read the memoir that was mentioned in 1 Dead in Attic or that we could have read Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close but that's not what happened. And I am stuck reading another novel by the guy who wrote White Noise and I'm not really enjoying it.
For one-I find the sexual undertones throughout this entire novel to be incredibly distracting. I can't help but feel that it takes away from the story as a whole. I understand what Tom was saying in class about how it possibly ties all the characters together (both the Americans and the Terrorists), but I am not totally convinced. It makes me uncomfortable...all this sex in the midst of healing. But, maybe it's supposed to make us uneasy? It doesn't make me uneasy because it humanizes all the characters...it's just...I mean...sex...really? I can't help but feel that if I had been in NYC on 9/11 I probably wouldn't have had such a vital sex drive...at least for a while! I'd have been too depressed to even think about sex, but maybe that's just me. Maybe it's supposed to be some kind of symbol for showing people healing and moving on in the midst of disaster. I'm glad their sex drives are still intact.
And then there's the characters. The only character I feel like I am getting to know at all is Lianne. All the other characters feel very flat, static, robotic...motionless...they lack growth. I don't really find myself relating with them or sympathizing with them. I don't feel like I am being trusted as a reader to know what is really going on. But, maybe that will change as the book progresses. Maybe all the good climax-ish stuff is further towards the end. I am really nervous to read a section that narrates the terrorists in the midst of flying into the towers. I almost don't want to be there. But maybe that won't happen.
And then there is the whole deal with the "Falling Man". The title had me under the impression that somehow the photo would be involved with this story, however the "Falling Man" in the novel is an artist who poses as a man falling/jumping from the Towers. I have mixed feelings about this character. I think it's odd that the book got it's title from a character that thus far has yet to seem particularly significant to me. He has showed up twice and although he stays with me throughout the book, I don't quite understand what he is supposed to stand for, aside from as a reminder of the events that took place. And in that way it's almost torturous...who wants to relive that? Even though I find the photo beautiful in many ways, this man's artistic reenactment makes me squirm...almost makes me angry. I could try to make some kind of symbolic interpretation, but I couldn't help researching to see if Delillo's "Falling Man" was real and he isn't...Delillo didn't even know about the photo and had no intention of making that connection when he titled his work.
I dunno.
One thing that I suppose I am enjoying, however, is the conversation we are still managing to have in class, regardless of how static I feel that the novel is thus far. I really enjoyed people's point of views today in regards to "identity" in the novel. I really enjoy our class discussions. And I really appreciated Emmie's insight today-wisdom result of her trip abroad.
Oh, and no, Falling Man...I am not falling for you. It's just not working out. We've had a great run, but once we finish our last chapter, it's over between us. No hard feelings. It's not you. It's me.
Often times I feel really conflicted about novels. And maybe this stigma is what is keeping me from thoroughly enjoying Falling Man, but it's just not doing anything for me. It's been a while since I've "been into" fiction and perhaps this has made me biased, as I feel like I am reading a false account of what happened. Yes, I realize that the Twin Towers fell. Yes, I realize that there were people who lived in apartments nearby and had to start their lives over. Yes, I realize that people had to deal with relationship issues and sex and work. I know all these things. But for some reason, I can't help but feel that this book is not about the Towers. And yet, I can't really put my finger on what this story is about. Maybe I am supposed to state the obvious...that it's about people moving on with their lives after 9/11. Or maybe I should say something like: "The novel is actually about humanity as a whole and the healing process and 9/11 is the background story...a prompt." And yeah, I guess all these characters are human, but the novel as a whole seems stiff to me-robotic (as was mentioned in class). Sometimes I just can't help but feel that some stories should be left alone, to be told by those who experienced them and not made into fiction. But, maybe I'm wrong--what do you think?
Or maybe all the above babbling is just my way of trying to sort out whether or not I like this novel. And I don't think I do--do I? I can't help but wonder if I would finish reading this book if I didn't have to read it for a class. I don't put books down all the time, but sometimes there is that one book that really just isn't keeping me interested and down it goes, never to be picked up again...and I can't help but feel that this is one of those books. One thing I do know for certain is that I never would have picked this book up to read had it not been for this class. I was really hoping that we would read the memoir that was mentioned in 1 Dead in Attic or that we could have read Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close but that's not what happened. And I am stuck reading another novel by the guy who wrote White Noise and I'm not really enjoying it.
For one-I find the sexual undertones throughout this entire novel to be incredibly distracting. I can't help but feel that it takes away from the story as a whole. I understand what Tom was saying in class about how it possibly ties all the characters together (both the Americans and the Terrorists), but I am not totally convinced. It makes me uncomfortable...all this sex in the midst of healing. But, maybe it's supposed to make us uneasy? It doesn't make me uneasy because it humanizes all the characters...it's just...I mean...sex...really? I can't help but feel that if I had been in NYC on 9/11 I probably wouldn't have had such a vital sex drive...at least for a while! I'd have been too depressed to even think about sex, but maybe that's just me. Maybe it's supposed to be some kind of symbol for showing people healing and moving on in the midst of disaster. I'm glad their sex drives are still intact.
And then there's the characters. The only character I feel like I am getting to know at all is Lianne. All the other characters feel very flat, static, robotic...motionless...they lack growth. I don't really find myself relating with them or sympathizing with them. I don't feel like I am being trusted as a reader to know what is really going on. But, maybe that will change as the book progresses. Maybe all the good climax-ish stuff is further towards the end. I am really nervous to read a section that narrates the terrorists in the midst of flying into the towers. I almost don't want to be there. But maybe that won't happen.
And then there is the whole deal with the "Falling Man". The title had me under the impression that somehow the photo would be involved with this story, however the "Falling Man" in the novel is an artist who poses as a man falling/jumping from the Towers. I have mixed feelings about this character. I think it's odd that the book got it's title from a character that thus far has yet to seem particularly significant to me. He has showed up twice and although he stays with me throughout the book, I don't quite understand what he is supposed to stand for, aside from as a reminder of the events that took place. And in that way it's almost torturous...who wants to relive that? Even though I find the photo beautiful in many ways, this man's artistic reenactment makes me squirm...almost makes me angry. I could try to make some kind of symbolic interpretation, but I couldn't help researching to see if Delillo's "Falling Man" was real and he isn't...Delillo didn't even know about the photo and had no intention of making that connection when he titled his work.
I dunno.
One thing that I suppose I am enjoying, however, is the conversation we are still managing to have in class, regardless of how static I feel that the novel is thus far. I really enjoyed people's point of views today in regards to "identity" in the novel. I really enjoy our class discussions. And I really appreciated Emmie's insight today-wisdom result of her trip abroad.
Oh, and no, Falling Man...I am not falling for you. It's just not working out. We've had a great run, but once we finish our last chapter, it's over between us. No hard feelings. It's not you. It's me.
Friday, September 17, 2010
United We Stand-Divided We Fall
Or do we? "The Falling Man" appears to divide us more than it allows us to come together as a nation.
Our class discussion (in addition to the reading) we had yesterday was incredibly intense. As much as I have thought about September 11, I have not THOUGHT about it. At the time it happened, I was in 8th grade. We didn't know that anything had happened until there was an uneasy announcement over the intercom right before we were let out for the afternoon, around 2pm. I had no idea what they were talking about. I had never heard of the World Trade Center. It meant nothing to me. I met my mom in the parking lot outside and got in the car and she asked me if I had heard what happened. I said yes. We drove home in silence. It wasn't until I had gotten home and turned on the TV, that I saw what my principal had mumbled about. On every channel, there were news broadcasts and they all showed the two towers up in flames. They played and re-played the planes flying into the towers, deliberately. I watched the news for hours, unable to process what had happened.
Admittedly, until later in high school I never really tried to analyze what had happened. Eventually there was talk of government conspiracy...talk about how our government had seen signs but hadn't prepared themselves. It was suddenly their fault. I still don't truly understand everything about that day, but I don't think anyone does. I have never had much of an emotional attachment to it, as I didn't know anyone that died that day. I take my moment of silence every year our of respect, but it never really hit me until our discussion yesterday, how big of an impact it truly had, albeit any time is better than never.
Prior to our having to read the controversial article, I had never seen a picture of "The Falling Man". I never thought about the fact that people had to jump out of the building in order to avoid the smoke. It never occurred to me that people were deliberately committing suicide. I never knew that reporters had taken photos of people committing such a "sinful act"...
It truly angers me...how divided our country feels towards the individuals who decided to take their own lives. It seems petty to me. We should remember and honor all the people who died, not judge. We should be more angry at the terrorists than the people who committed suicide, somehow tainting our American Honor. I have never understood the stigma around suicide. I have never seen how it is a less honorable way to die. However, given that the stigma does exist within our society, I can understand how people view this image as "going against" the American Image of Hope and Strength. Instead of facing the predicament head on, they "took the easy was out" and jumped (I guess). Hence, why images of firefighters swarmed newspapers instead.
As much as I can appreciate the way that our country celebrates those who risked their lives to save the people inside, it kills me that there is so much controversy over those who died. It is frustrating to know that the people who decided to stay in the building and suffocate and burn to death, were somehow more honorable than those who decided to jump. Is succumbing to death through choking on smoke and being engulfed in flames, somehow more admirable than jumping out of a window? I don't think there is a necessity to justify which form of death is "more ideal" or "less honorable". That in itself results in a huge debate, which we began to touch on in class.
One person in class mentioned that it could have been their way of claiming freedom for themselves, one last time. It was their way of taking charge of the situation. If anyone was going to take their lives, it was going to be them, not a terrorist. Another mentioned that the mentality of that moment is something we will never know. None of us know what it's like to face certain death.
Is the decision to jump out of a window of the World Trade Center more honorable than someone committing pre-meditated suicide?
The one thing I can understand is what another classmate mentioned: how we feel the correct way to honor the dead should be. If I had had a relative jump out of the World Trade Center, I would not want that picture to be on the front page of a newspaper, not because of the stigma (although no one wants to deal with that on top of the death of their family member), but because placing a picture of someone dying or seeing a real corpse of someone who has died on the front page of a newspaper, is disrespectful. As our classmate mentioned, death is a very personal thing. If we are in a hospital and our relative has just died, the doctors will give the family time and space alone, with the deceased. If there are public pictures of that person's death, that person becomes a spectacle.
This is what I find dishonorable: the fact that the picture was ever put in the newspaper to begin with. The act of suicide, I don't think was dishonorable. I think that the conscious act to make this man or any person who jumped that day, a spectacle is dishonorable. Who are we to judge?
It is unfortunate that "The Falling Man" seems to somehow separate us, rather than unite us. It's all about the image. It's all about frame. I wish the only thing that upset us as a nation, was the despicable act committed by those who killed so many people. Not the way that some chose to die during that horrific moment in history.
Our class discussion (in addition to the reading) we had yesterday was incredibly intense. As much as I have thought about September 11, I have not THOUGHT about it. At the time it happened, I was in 8th grade. We didn't know that anything had happened until there was an uneasy announcement over the intercom right before we were let out for the afternoon, around 2pm. I had no idea what they were talking about. I had never heard of the World Trade Center. It meant nothing to me. I met my mom in the parking lot outside and got in the car and she asked me if I had heard what happened. I said yes. We drove home in silence. It wasn't until I had gotten home and turned on the TV, that I saw what my principal had mumbled about. On every channel, there were news broadcasts and they all showed the two towers up in flames. They played and re-played the planes flying into the towers, deliberately. I watched the news for hours, unable to process what had happened.
Admittedly, until later in high school I never really tried to analyze what had happened. Eventually there was talk of government conspiracy...talk about how our government had seen signs but hadn't prepared themselves. It was suddenly their fault. I still don't truly understand everything about that day, but I don't think anyone does. I have never had much of an emotional attachment to it, as I didn't know anyone that died that day. I take my moment of silence every year our of respect, but it never really hit me until our discussion yesterday, how big of an impact it truly had, albeit any time is better than never.
Prior to our having to read the controversial article, I had never seen a picture of "The Falling Man". I never thought about the fact that people had to jump out of the building in order to avoid the smoke. It never occurred to me that people were deliberately committing suicide. I never knew that reporters had taken photos of people committing such a "sinful act"...
It truly angers me...how divided our country feels towards the individuals who decided to take their own lives. It seems petty to me. We should remember and honor all the people who died, not judge. We should be more angry at the terrorists than the people who committed suicide, somehow tainting our American Honor. I have never understood the stigma around suicide. I have never seen how it is a less honorable way to die. However, given that the stigma does exist within our society, I can understand how people view this image as "going against" the American Image of Hope and Strength. Instead of facing the predicament head on, they "took the easy was out" and jumped (I guess). Hence, why images of firefighters swarmed newspapers instead.
As much as I can appreciate the way that our country celebrates those who risked their lives to save the people inside, it kills me that there is so much controversy over those who died. It is frustrating to know that the people who decided to stay in the building and suffocate and burn to death, were somehow more honorable than those who decided to jump. Is succumbing to death through choking on smoke and being engulfed in flames, somehow more admirable than jumping out of a window? I don't think there is a necessity to justify which form of death is "more ideal" or "less honorable". That in itself results in a huge debate, which we began to touch on in class.
One person in class mentioned that it could have been their way of claiming freedom for themselves, one last time. It was their way of taking charge of the situation. If anyone was going to take their lives, it was going to be them, not a terrorist. Another mentioned that the mentality of that moment is something we will never know. None of us know what it's like to face certain death.
Is the decision to jump out of a window of the World Trade Center more honorable than someone committing pre-meditated suicide?
The one thing I can understand is what another classmate mentioned: how we feel the correct way to honor the dead should be. If I had had a relative jump out of the World Trade Center, I would not want that picture to be on the front page of a newspaper, not because of the stigma (although no one wants to deal with that on top of the death of their family member), but because placing a picture of someone dying or seeing a real corpse of someone who has died on the front page of a newspaper, is disrespectful. As our classmate mentioned, death is a very personal thing. If we are in a hospital and our relative has just died, the doctors will give the family time and space alone, with the deceased. If there are public pictures of that person's death, that person becomes a spectacle.
This is what I find dishonorable: the fact that the picture was ever put in the newspaper to begin with. The act of suicide, I don't think was dishonorable. I think that the conscious act to make this man or any person who jumped that day, a spectacle is dishonorable. Who are we to judge?
It is unfortunate that "The Falling Man" seems to somehow separate us, rather than unite us. It's all about the image. It's all about frame. I wish the only thing that upset us as a nation, was the despicable act committed by those who killed so many people. Not the way that some chose to die during that horrific moment in history.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Purple Upside-Down Car
This entire section of the book was heart-warming and heart-breaking at the same time. As I was continuing to read tonight, I found myself smiling as I read about more people who used art to move forward with their lives in New Orleans. I love hearing people's stories where art/music/poerty/etc. has had a profound impact on the way they live their lives. It has an inexplicable amount of healing power. I love being able to feel a connection (on some level) with the people who are trying to rebuild from Katrina. While I have never lost a house...have never witnessed a hurricane or seen a community fall to ruins, I have had my own life experiences where I have needed to rebuild. And had it not been for music and writing, I can truly say that I don't know if I would still be here today. Art is my saving grace. And I love having this in common with other people.
Reading these articles is opening my eyes. I feel that in a strange way I am growing as a person. And in another way I feel guilty for saying that because I have not dealt with anything remotely as devastating as the people of New Orleans have. But having read about all these people's lives, I can't help but feel more wise (in some ways). I have never felt as connected to other people as I seem to feel right now. I mean, I slightly recall feeling some kind of patriotism when September 11th happened nine years ago (thank you to all who risked their lives and best wishes to their families), but at the time, I was in 8th grade and didn't really understand the magnitude of what had happened. All I can recall is seeing people with American flags on their cars, on their lawns, on their front porches, on their shirts, in hand walking down the street, etc. And it made me feel strong and proud. All of us were together in fighting to keep our country strong and resilient. And we were. And I have always had this dire longing to belong to something larger than myself. I love the idea of community working together to build something great, something brighter, for our future. I have always wanted to make a difference. And in reading how these people strived to continue living post-Katrina makes me want to live. It makes me want to love everything I have. It makes me want to work harder. I makes me want to make a difference.
I remember feeling an overwhelming "call to duty" if you will, when the BP Oil Spill happened and I did a ton of research on how I could help, only to find out that donating money was the only way I could help. I longed to fly or drive down and help clean up the mess. All the pictures of animals covered in oil was tearing at my heart. And in that moment, I found myself wishing that I had chosen a different major -- that I had actually truly considered being a biology major or a pre-vet major, my freshman year, because then I might have had something to offer (never mind the fact that the economy of that region was completely ruined!). I checked the news daily, terrified that I would hear news of the oil reaching the Everglades. Even the mere prospect, killed me. Made me feel helpless.
I was a senior in high school when Katrina hit. And reading this text makes me regret not being more aware when the devastation occurred. I can honestly, hardly remember hearing that it had happened. I had always been (and often times still am) ignorant of the news. Often times, I have no idea what is going on in this world. And I hate myself for it because I feel like I am now at an age where I should willingly be aware of everything that is going on around me. Even my fiancee at least takes the time to read Newsweek! But no, not I. And this kind of guilt drives me nuts. The whole "I wish I had been more aware because I would have loved to go down and help rebuild the city during my spring break or over the summer before I started going to school at UNH." But it didn't happen. And I feel ignorant. I feel lazy.
And all this babbling is mainly because I feel like I too have experienced a loss. I am done reading for the night, after having read about the death of Ellen Montgomery. Somehow I came to love and admire that Cat Lady and I sit here typing, feeling an incredible void...feeling like tears should be forming, but they aren't. Chris Rose's entire article dedicated to her memory at the end of this set of articles was overwhelming, to say the least. His own experience compared to "Tuesdays with Morrie" almost did it for me. There are so many wonderful admirable people in this world. So many people that are selfless and full of love for others. I have an incredible amount of love and respect for these people.
And so I say, "Thank You."
I hope I can grow up to be just like you some day.
Reading these articles is opening my eyes. I feel that in a strange way I am growing as a person. And in another way I feel guilty for saying that because I have not dealt with anything remotely as devastating as the people of New Orleans have. But having read about all these people's lives, I can't help but feel more wise (in some ways). I have never felt as connected to other people as I seem to feel right now. I mean, I slightly recall feeling some kind of patriotism when September 11th happened nine years ago (thank you to all who risked their lives and best wishes to their families), but at the time, I was in 8th grade and didn't really understand the magnitude of what had happened. All I can recall is seeing people with American flags on their cars, on their lawns, on their front porches, on their shirts, in hand walking down the street, etc. And it made me feel strong and proud. All of us were together in fighting to keep our country strong and resilient. And we were. And I have always had this dire longing to belong to something larger than myself. I love the idea of community working together to build something great, something brighter, for our future. I have always wanted to make a difference. And in reading how these people strived to continue living post-Katrina makes me want to live. It makes me want to love everything I have. It makes me want to work harder. I makes me want to make a difference.
I remember feeling an overwhelming "call to duty" if you will, when the BP Oil Spill happened and I did a ton of research on how I could help, only to find out that donating money was the only way I could help. I longed to fly or drive down and help clean up the mess. All the pictures of animals covered in oil was tearing at my heart. And in that moment, I found myself wishing that I had chosen a different major -- that I had actually truly considered being a biology major or a pre-vet major, my freshman year, because then I might have had something to offer (never mind the fact that the economy of that region was completely ruined!). I checked the news daily, terrified that I would hear news of the oil reaching the Everglades. Even the mere prospect, killed me. Made me feel helpless.
I was a senior in high school when Katrina hit. And reading this text makes me regret not being more aware when the devastation occurred. I can honestly, hardly remember hearing that it had happened. I had always been (and often times still am) ignorant of the news. Often times, I have no idea what is going on in this world. And I hate myself for it because I feel like I am now at an age where I should willingly be aware of everything that is going on around me. Even my fiancee at least takes the time to read Newsweek! But no, not I. And this kind of guilt drives me nuts. The whole "I wish I had been more aware because I would have loved to go down and help rebuild the city during my spring break or over the summer before I started going to school at UNH." But it didn't happen. And I feel ignorant. I feel lazy.
And all this babbling is mainly because I feel like I too have experienced a loss. I am done reading for the night, after having read about the death of Ellen Montgomery. Somehow I came to love and admire that Cat Lady and I sit here typing, feeling an incredible void...feeling like tears should be forming, but they aren't. Chris Rose's entire article dedicated to her memory at the end of this set of articles was overwhelming, to say the least. His own experience compared to "Tuesdays with Morrie" almost did it for me. There are so many wonderful admirable people in this world. So many people that are selfless and full of love for others. I have an incredible amount of love and respect for these people.
And so I say, "Thank You."
I hope I can grow up to be just like you some day.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Art After Katrina
Two particular articles that caught my attention were those of Ellen Montgomery and Chris Cressionnie, respectively known as "The Cat Lady" and "The Magnet Man". Both of these artistic individuals encompass the soul of New Orleans natives. Both have taken rubble from the ruins and made it their own...redefining what being an artist means post-Katrina.
Ellen Montgomery is a stubborn woman who refused to leave the city when the hurricane hit. Obsessed with painting, her house is filled with thousands of paintings that she has made over the past three decades (at the time of the article). They line the walls throughout her home and those she could not hang, are stacked in piles on the floor. Since the hurricane, she has run out of canvass and has since moved to collecting roof tiles that were scattered into the streets, result of collapsing roofs in the neighborhood. The idea of these sleek beautiful slate tiles being trampled over made her shudder. So she collected them and has since begun to paint scenes drastically different from her once light works (florals, landscapes, etc.) leaning towards something more dark. Her once serene works of art have since become muddied, "work clearly influenced by the monstrous forces that have visited her life this past month (p.111)".
In a similar light, Chris has also found beauty amongst the rubble (if you can even call it beauty). While at one time he was a painter who waited tables for a living, he has since become fond of collecting magnets off of the discarded refrigerators that line the streets, using them to cover his car. Unlike Ellen, his passion for painting withered away with the last gusts of the storm. Having skipped the prospect of morbid paintings entirely, he found a passion for magnet collecting. He walks the ruined streets daily, in search of new magnets to add to his masterpiece. "They're like little trophies of people's lives. Keepsakes (p.117)". Whereas Ellen shuddered at the idea of the slate tiles being trampled, Chris seems to shudder at the idea of these magnets, these identities, becoming lost.
Both artists have been re-defined by what has happened. Katrina has molded them, an artist on her own terms. She titles her work "Destruction". They are no longer the artists they once were, now haunted by the aftermath, in search of sanity. They have found solace in a new art. In a city where they refuse to believe that all is lost. "Destruction" has become their muse.
And so I wonder - what does it mean to be an artist post-Katrina?
Ellen Montgomery is a stubborn woman who refused to leave the city when the hurricane hit. Obsessed with painting, her house is filled with thousands of paintings that she has made over the past three decades (at the time of the article). They line the walls throughout her home and those she could not hang, are stacked in piles on the floor. Since the hurricane, she has run out of canvass and has since moved to collecting roof tiles that were scattered into the streets, result of collapsing roofs in the neighborhood. The idea of these sleek beautiful slate tiles being trampled over made her shudder. So she collected them and has since begun to paint scenes drastically different from her once light works (florals, landscapes, etc.) leaning towards something more dark. Her once serene works of art have since become muddied, "work clearly influenced by the monstrous forces that have visited her life this past month (p.111)".
In a similar light, Chris has also found beauty amongst the rubble (if you can even call it beauty). While at one time he was a painter who waited tables for a living, he has since become fond of collecting magnets off of the discarded refrigerators that line the streets, using them to cover his car. Unlike Ellen, his passion for painting withered away with the last gusts of the storm. Having skipped the prospect of morbid paintings entirely, he found a passion for magnet collecting. He walks the ruined streets daily, in search of new magnets to add to his masterpiece. "They're like little trophies of people's lives. Keepsakes (p.117)". Whereas Ellen shuddered at the idea of the slate tiles being trampled, Chris seems to shudder at the idea of these magnets, these identities, becoming lost.
Both artists have been re-defined by what has happened. Katrina has molded them, an artist on her own terms. She titles her work "Destruction". They are no longer the artists they once were, now haunted by the aftermath, in search of sanity. They have found solace in a new art. In a city where they refuse to believe that all is lost. "Destruction" has become their muse.
And so I wonder - what does it mean to be an artist post-Katrina?
Friday, September 3, 2010
Wham!
I know we aren't due to write a formal blog yet, but after having read and brewed over the reading we had for Thursday's class, I can't help but feel the overwhelming need to write about it. Have you ever read something that suddenly makes you feel like you have been sleeping for years and you're just now, finally waking up? Well, now I'm awake and afraid to fall back asleep for the sake of avoiding nightmares...so-to-speak.
For years, I've considered myself to be aware of current societal constructs. I've been involved with Safe Zones on campus and with OMSA (Office of Multicultural Student Affairs) and it has been very eye-opening. But, over the past year or so, classes and life kinda took me away from those things. I lost sight of the "activist" in me...the person who strongly believes that there is SO much that needs to be changed in the society we live in. Not just in regards to the way we view race, but also gender, sexual orientation, religion, identity, etc. There are so many things that need to change...so many doors that need to be opened.
Harris and Carbado are right...the societal norms ("frames") that structure the way our society functions have more of an effect on our daily lives than facts ever could. While statistics are helpful in making a point, mere data is not enough to make people change their ways. Beliefs are ingrained in people through social cues, family, friends, teachers, classmates, religion...the list is endless. It would be easy to think that all of the frames that surround us are the "natural" order of things. That when a person is born they are simply male or female, etc. But centuries ago, hell, even decades ago, things were different. Yet, there are still an unbelievable number of dichotomies that cloud our society. Something has to be A or B. A white man finds, but a black man loots. There is no in-between. Black people break the law. And racism doesn't exist. Anyone else see something wrong with this picture?
In addition to this course, I am taking a course on John Milton. Recently, we have been discussing his philosophy that one should never stop. By this, he means, one should never stop questioning, growing, learning, educating, thinking. If you sit still for too long, the frames around you could sway you to think like everyone else...you just jump on the bandwagon and you're set. Milton believes this is dangerous. And I do admit, that people's ability to just "go with the flow" scares me at times.
And often times I can't help but feel that our society is lazy. We'd rather drive than walk, we're always in a rush...relaxation is a mere dream. People are too focused on weight, on outer appearances, on superficial things that don't define a person. And all the while, this is going on: GLBT people are being harassed, killed, denied rights. Racism is being ignored. Rape "isn't an issue". Women and men alike are in abusive relationships. Young girls are getting pregnant. Public education systems are falling apart. Obesity is another huge issue. So often, this all goes on the back burner. And feminism has been given a bad name.
And so I wonder...my burning question(s) of the day (since I wasn't in class on Thursday) is this:
What do you think about these "frames"? Why do they exist? Do you agree with them? Why or why not? And if not, what are you prepared to do about it?
Peace and Love,
Jake
For years, I've considered myself to be aware of current societal constructs. I've been involved with Safe Zones on campus and with OMSA (Office of Multicultural Student Affairs) and it has been very eye-opening. But, over the past year or so, classes and life kinda took me away from those things. I lost sight of the "activist" in me...the person who strongly believes that there is SO much that needs to be changed in the society we live in. Not just in regards to the way we view race, but also gender, sexual orientation, religion, identity, etc. There are so many things that need to change...so many doors that need to be opened.
Harris and Carbado are right...the societal norms ("frames") that structure the way our society functions have more of an effect on our daily lives than facts ever could. While statistics are helpful in making a point, mere data is not enough to make people change their ways. Beliefs are ingrained in people through social cues, family, friends, teachers, classmates, religion...the list is endless. It would be easy to think that all of the frames that surround us are the "natural" order of things. That when a person is born they are simply male or female, etc. But centuries ago, hell, even decades ago, things were different. Yet, there are still an unbelievable number of dichotomies that cloud our society. Something has to be A or B. A white man finds, but a black man loots. There is no in-between. Black people break the law. And racism doesn't exist. Anyone else see something wrong with this picture?
In addition to this course, I am taking a course on John Milton. Recently, we have been discussing his philosophy that one should never stop. By this, he means, one should never stop questioning, growing, learning, educating, thinking. If you sit still for too long, the frames around you could sway you to think like everyone else...you just jump on the bandwagon and you're set. Milton believes this is dangerous. And I do admit, that people's ability to just "go with the flow" scares me at times.
And often times I can't help but feel that our society is lazy. We'd rather drive than walk, we're always in a rush...relaxation is a mere dream. People are too focused on weight, on outer appearances, on superficial things that don't define a person. And all the while, this is going on: GLBT people are being harassed, killed, denied rights. Racism is being ignored. Rape "isn't an issue". Women and men alike are in abusive relationships. Young girls are getting pregnant. Public education systems are falling apart. Obesity is another huge issue. So often, this all goes on the back burner. And feminism has been given a bad name.
And so I wonder...my burning question(s) of the day (since I wasn't in class on Thursday) is this:
What do you think about these "frames"? Why do they exist? Do you agree with them? Why or why not? And if not, what are you prepared to do about it?
Peace and Love,
Jake
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Like O.M.G.
Yes, that's right--I am trying to be creative in the way I express the fact that: I am finally entering yet another dimension of the technological world. Just like with Facebook, I have yet again to find myself in a position where there doesn't seem to be any other choice but to join! And so, alas, I am here...! Blog with me fellow classmates! I'm sure the journey will be a rewarding one!
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