Bordo (funny name hee hee) called the new advertising a “cultural permission to be a voyeur.” Nicely put. I love that she argues with the ‘biology’ of males being wired to respond visually more than females. I’ve always wondered how true this is.
The way she describes the first calvin klein ad almost made me blush.
It’s funny. I used to have such strong, irate feelings about this issue. I think I’ve gotten older. It’s refreshing to hear again.
It’s interesting that ‘overexposed’ male photography is considered gay when female photography is not considered lesbian.
It’s so true that a female had to be in the picture of an ad promoting a male’s vanity. Homophobia can be silly.
Men are viewed in action and women are looked at. She gives a great example with the Pompeian cream and how it promises to ‘beautify and youthify’ women but helps men ‘win success’ and ‘make promotion easier’ on the job.
I wonder what men of today would think of this essay. I would like to think that they agree…
On page 207: “I never dreamed that ‘equality’ would move in the direction of men worrying more about their looks rather than women worrying less.” This is great. Equality in more misery. How human.
She says that we ‘pay constant lip service to beauty that is more than skindeep” harsh but true. I found the ending of this essay a little weak.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Our Secret
I love how the author uses a fact as a sort of metaphor to preface the story line.
The little excerpts talk about the tiniest thing, the cell and RNA, etc. the smallest molecule of life then she throws in the excerpts about the weapons of mass destruction. A large, evil thing that destroys life. It’s an interesting foil (I think that’s the right term). Makes the reader think really tiny then really big and she throws in normal (?) everyday life in between.
I had no idea that there was child abuse in german history. I think that’s a very stupid reason and a cop out to say that was what led to the holocaust.
Page 341: “To a certain kind of mind, what is hidden away ceases to exist.” This reminds me of the human defense mechanism of blocking out traumatic memories. Griffin goes on to explain that these memories still exist and ‘nothing really ever disappears.” It reminds me of chilson’s essay on memories and the question of memories creating a person’s character.
I like the Self Portrait pieces. She describes the physical aspect then lets the reader come to her own conclusion of where she is at in this point of the story. I love metaphors!
The little excerpts talk about the tiniest thing, the cell and RNA, etc. the smallest molecule of life then she throws in the excerpts about the weapons of mass destruction. A large, evil thing that destroys life. It’s an interesting foil (I think that’s the right term). Makes the reader think really tiny then really big and she throws in normal (?) everyday life in between.
I had no idea that there was child abuse in german history. I think that’s a very stupid reason and a cop out to say that was what led to the holocaust.
Page 341: “To a certain kind of mind, what is hidden away ceases to exist.” This reminds me of the human defense mechanism of blocking out traumatic memories. Griffin goes on to explain that these memories still exist and ‘nothing really ever disappears.” It reminds me of chilson’s essay on memories and the question of memories creating a person’s character.
I like the Self Portrait pieces. She describes the physical aspect then lets the reader come to her own conclusion of where she is at in this point of the story. I love metaphors!
Thursday, September 20, 2007
John Berger
Ways of Seeing
Berger states that the invention of the camera ‘destroyed the idea that images were timeless’ I disagree. Photography is just as timeless as any art. I prefer this medium.
The charts on 147 are interesting. The more educated seem to appreciate art more. It’s funny that museums remind people of church. This is probably a dated view.
I don’t really understand the point of this essay. Is he saying that reproductions can’t be as good as the real things? Why the hell not?
On Rembrandt’s Woman in Bed
It’s funny how berger talks about it being strange that historians speculate the age of the model, and yet he does it himself.
“They are paintings which speak of his love, not of hers.” Descriptive and beautiful concept.
Writing about art is weird. It’s his opinion and again I don’t see the point really.
On Caravaggio’s The Calling of Saint Matthew
Berger’s writing is easy to read, but who reads it? Why do people want an interpretation of art and not just create the story in their own minds? Are the stories he puts behind these pictures accurate, or is he just guessing?
Berger states that the invention of the camera ‘destroyed the idea that images were timeless’ I disagree. Photography is just as timeless as any art. I prefer this medium.
The charts on 147 are interesting. The more educated seem to appreciate art more. It’s funny that museums remind people of church. This is probably a dated view.
I don’t really understand the point of this essay. Is he saying that reproductions can’t be as good as the real things? Why the hell not?
On Rembrandt’s Woman in Bed
It’s funny how berger talks about it being strange that historians speculate the age of the model, and yet he does it himself.
“They are paintings which speak of his love, not of hers.” Descriptive and beautiful concept.
Writing about art is weird. It’s his opinion and again I don’t see the point really.
On Caravaggio’s The Calling of Saint Matthew
Berger’s writing is easy to read, but who reads it? Why do people want an interpretation of art and not just create the story in their own minds? Are the stories he puts behind these pictures accurate, or is he just guessing?
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Sources
Words to look up: boletus, bladder-campion, Irasburg 1968, Ashkenazi, lox
Stanza III: From where does your strength come, you Southern Jew? split at the root, raised in a castle of air? I wonder what this means. It intrigues me. Castle of air?
Split at the root – white skinned social Christian, neither gentile nor jew.
When I first read ‘vixen’ I thought she meant cunning female but later realized she meant mother fox.
Castle of air – rootless ideology. Thought system with no basis?
Stanza XXII: To say: no person, trying to take responsibility for her or his identity, should have to be so alone. Is she saying that everyone has the right to voice their opinion without feeling bad or alone?
“When I speak of an end to suffering I don’t mean anesthesia. I mean knowing the world, and my place in it, not in order to stare with bitterness or detachment, but as a powerful and womanly series of choices: and here I write the words , in their fullness: powerful; womanly.” This quote would go in my Book of Quotes if I had one.
Looked up the words:
boletus - mushroom that can be poisonous
bladder campion - a plant
Irasburg 1968 -The incident started out as a drive-by shooting which damaged the windows of a private home, but mushroomed into the public eye as law enforcement scrutinized the victim's background, rather than going after the shooter.The victim was a black ordained minister who moved to Irasburg with his family and a white woman and her children about 14 days earlier from Seaside, Calif. The shooter turned out to be a white Glover resident who reportedly had told others before the incident he intended to "scare" and "harass" the (racial epithets). -www.caldonianrecord.com.
Ashkenazi - descended from medieval Jewish communities of Rhineland
lox - salmon that has been cured in brine and sometimes smoked.
Stanza III: From where does your strength come, you Southern Jew? split at the root, raised in a castle of air? I wonder what this means. It intrigues me. Castle of air?
Split at the root – white skinned social Christian, neither gentile nor jew.
When I first read ‘vixen’ I thought she meant cunning female but later realized she meant mother fox.
Castle of air – rootless ideology. Thought system with no basis?
Stanza XXII: To say: no person, trying to take responsibility for her or his identity, should have to be so alone. Is she saying that everyone has the right to voice their opinion without feeling bad or alone?
“When I speak of an end to suffering I don’t mean anesthesia. I mean knowing the world, and my place in it, not in order to stare with bitterness or detachment, but as a powerful and womanly series of choices: and here I write the words , in their fullness: powerful; womanly.” This quote would go in my Book of Quotes if I had one.
Looked up the words:
boletus - mushroom that can be poisonous
bladder campion - a plant
Irasburg 1968 -The incident started out as a drive-by shooting which damaged the windows of a private home, but mushroomed into the public eye as law enforcement scrutinized the victim's background, rather than going after the shooter.The victim was a black ordained minister who moved to Irasburg with his family and a white woman and her children about 14 days earlier from Seaside, Calif. The shooter turned out to be a white Glover resident who reportedly had told others before the incident he intended to "scare" and "harass" the (racial epithets). -www.caldonianrecord.com.
Ashkenazi - descended from medieval Jewish communities of Rhineland
lox - salmon that has been cured in brine and sometimes smoked.
When We Dead Awaken: Writing as Re-Vision
What does misogynist (male critics) mean? Merriam Webster: woman hater
Page 540 “The awakening of dead or sleeping consciousness has already affected the lives of millions of women, even those who don’t know it yet.” Powerful. Knowledge is the first step to change. I love the ‘dead or sleeping consciousness’ as describing the complacency of one’s own situation. “The sleepwalker are coming awake, and for the first time this awakening has a collective reality; it is no longer such a lonely thing to open one’s eyes.” How motivational! It reminds me of Tool’s Third Eye “That we are all one consciousness..."
Jane Harrison states that women are written as a dream or a terror but not vice versa. We had a similar discussion about Anzaldua and Adams Virgin and Whore theory.
I think her theory on women being represented the way they are is true for our current music industry. I can’t find female artists I like. They are all sex icons with no truth in their lyrics. Ugh.
Page 542, Rich talks about men writing for men and women writing for men also. I have never considered the gender of my audience when writing. How annoying this must be.
Page 543: “These women [in poetry written by males] were almost always beautiful, but threatened with the loss of beauty, the loss of youth-the fate worse than death. Or, they were beautiful and died young….” This essay was written in 1971 and these beliefs still apply. Beauty and youth is still considered so important in women. It’s gotten better, I think. Well, I heard someone once say that feminism has turned into the woman’s right to be as ‘slutty’ and blatant about her sexuality as she wants and nobody can say anything. This same person said that this was a step backwards in women’s liberation.
Page 545: “If there were doubt, if there were periods of null depression or active despairing, these could only mean that I was ungrateful, insatiable, perhaps a monster.”
This is great stuff. It could be applied to recovery beliefs. One must always be grateful. This is not always true, however. We should not be sheep. If we are not angry, how can things change? They tell us not to play the 'victim role' but damnit, sometime we are the victim.
Rich mentioning Caroline Herschel in this essay is a perfect example of the inequality in our culture. I hope to find similar examples that will back up my essay.
Rich states that we (women) should write with anger (if need be) and not be detached or objective. I don’t think this would apply to my essay, but we will see.
Page 540 “The awakening of dead or sleeping consciousness has already affected the lives of millions of women, even those who don’t know it yet.” Powerful. Knowledge is the first step to change. I love the ‘dead or sleeping consciousness’ as describing the complacency of one’s own situation. “The sleepwalker are coming awake, and for the first time this awakening has a collective reality; it is no longer such a lonely thing to open one’s eyes.” How motivational! It reminds me of Tool’s Third Eye “That we are all one consciousness..."
Jane Harrison states that women are written as a dream or a terror but not vice versa. We had a similar discussion about Anzaldua and Adams Virgin and Whore theory.
I think her theory on women being represented the way they are is true for our current music industry. I can’t find female artists I like. They are all sex icons with no truth in their lyrics. Ugh.
Page 542, Rich talks about men writing for men and women writing for men also. I have never considered the gender of my audience when writing. How annoying this must be.
Page 543: “These women [in poetry written by males] were almost always beautiful, but threatened with the loss of beauty, the loss of youth-the fate worse than death. Or, they were beautiful and died young….” This essay was written in 1971 and these beliefs still apply. Beauty and youth is still considered so important in women. It’s gotten better, I think. Well, I heard someone once say that feminism has turned into the woman’s right to be as ‘slutty’ and blatant about her sexuality as she wants and nobody can say anything. This same person said that this was a step backwards in women’s liberation.
Page 545: “If there were doubt, if there were periods of null depression or active despairing, these could only mean that I was ungrateful, insatiable, perhaps a monster.”
This is great stuff. It could be applied to recovery beliefs. One must always be grateful. This is not always true, however. We should not be sheep. If we are not angry, how can things change? They tell us not to play the 'victim role' but damnit, sometime we are the victim.
Rich mentioning Caroline Herschel in this essay is a perfect example of the inequality in our culture. I hope to find similar examples that will back up my essay.
Rich states that we (women) should write with anger (if need be) and not be detached or objective. I don’t think this would apply to my essay, but we will see.
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
Her reason for writing this essay is so noble. She states that it is essentially not to talk shit, which is incredible, considering what she’s been through, but instead to let the women in the north know what her sisters are going through. I plan to hopefully write a similar essay for my personal essay assignment concerning the state of our justice system and the cops, and I hope I can keep my resentments and personal anger out of it.
Jacobs states that she is uneducated, but she has such an expansive, well used vocabulary, that I don’t see it.
When she’s talking about being weaned at 3 months, so the master’s daughter could be fed, that really struck a chord. How f**ed up.
Page 371, she uses the bible verse Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself to illustrate the hypocrisy of the mistress’ actions. Love it. She doesn’t come out and say it exactly, she just says, “…I suppose she did not recognize me as her neighbor.”
I hear no resentment in the author’s voice; she almost gives credit for the slave owners behaving the way they did (not paying back the $300 loan, counting out the number of biscuits made, etc.). This allows the reader to feel his or her own horror and indignation at the stuff that happened. I find this technique is quite effective.
I really liked this line on page 379: “The war of my life had begun; and though one of God’s most powerless creatures, I resolved never to be conquered.”
Jacobs states that she is uneducated, but she has such an expansive, well used vocabulary, that I don’t see it.
When she’s talking about being weaned at 3 months, so the master’s daughter could be fed, that really struck a chord. How f**ed up.
Page 371, she uses the bible verse Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself to illustrate the hypocrisy of the mistress’ actions. Love it. She doesn’t come out and say it exactly, she just says, “…I suppose she did not recognize me as her neighbor.”
I hear no resentment in the author’s voice; she almost gives credit for the slave owners behaving the way they did (not paying back the $300 loan, counting out the number of biscuits made, etc.). This allows the reader to feel his or her own horror and indignation at the stuff that happened. I find this technique is quite effective.
I really liked this line on page 379: “The war of my life had begun; and though one of God’s most powerless creatures, I resolved never to be conquered.”
Monday, September 17, 2007
Free Write Personal Essay
i know what i want to write about, need to write about, but it's a rather lofty endeavour and i'm not sure where to focus. i want to write about the complacency of americans concerning the judicial system and cops. it's an important issue to me for a variety of reasons. my mother insists that if i'm not involved in the criminal lifestyle, it should be of no concern to me. i come back with "That's not the American way!" and "Checks and balances, damnit!" My dad has the opposite view, sort of. He sees the corruption and hates the fucking pigs, but i think it stops there. I believe that him being a vet has something to do with the feelings of injustice. He loves this country with all his heart, so the shit that happens does piss him off. i feel the same way. when i had my run ins with the law, i was greatly disillusioned and felt like i was on some foreign planet. everything i had been taught in american history and about justice and freedom was a crock of shit. i don't want to be preachy in this essay, however. i want to present my ideas so the reader can decide. i have such strong feelings about this that it's going to be a challenge. we'll see how it goes...
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Houdini's Box
'dangeroos' on page 488. that one made me laugh out loud.
on 492, Phillips talks about houdini parodying the Christian 'Do unto others' this is great! He says ' perform other people or they will perform you, prejudge you.'
boasting was a big part of his act. i gather that he wouldn't be as popular without him talking himself up. it reminds me of the celebrities of our time that are scandalous and get themselve in the papers and brings them more fame.
on 492, Phillips talks about houdini parodying the Christian 'Do unto others' this is great! He says ' perform other people or they will perform you, prejudge you.'
boasting was a big part of his act. i gather that he wouldn't be as popular without him talking himself up. it reminds me of the celebrities of our time that are scandalous and get themselve in the papers and brings them more fame.
Free Write Topic 3
Internalize identity. Whenever i go to a Korean friend's house of my mom's, there's always bounds of food and drink offered. It's the polite Korean hospitality that i have learned to show to my friends and visitors. The acrid smell of kim chee makes my mouth water (and also reminds me of the embarrassment my mom feels if americans are around to smell it). Whenever i smell the leathers of shoes lined up outside of a house that reminds me of my home as a child (no shoes inside!).
Classic rock songs, Creedence Clearwater and Zeppelin, always make me smile and think of my harley riding, bad ass, anti-authoritarian father and the rebellious streaks he unknowningly instilled in me.
Classic rock songs, Creedence Clearwater and Zeppelin, always make me smile and think of my harley riding, bad ass, anti-authoritarian father and the rebellious streaks he unknowningly instilled in me.
Free Write Topic 1
I could relate a lot to Rodriguez stories about growing up with foreign parents, as my mother is first generation from Korea. She also didn't go to college. She valued the opportunities that America offered greatly. She always pushed me to do well in school and I did very well. I was a straight A student and was in accelerated classes and received full ride scholarships to several schools. I didn't experience the desire to forget my past or home life, as Rodriguez did however, because my mom was so encouraging about school.
In Search of Our Mother's Gardens
Walker's writing reminds me a little of Toni Morrison. They both often describe the sacrificing, almost heroic, beautiful black female in their pieces.
pretty wording on 678 '...when she cried out in her soul to paint watercolors of sunsets, or the rain falling on the green and peaceful pasturelands.'
on this same page, Walker asks rhetorically how the black woman's creativity survived all the hardships. the fact that we do have creative black women is proof of the strong human nature to survive and to create.
i have never heard of Sapphire's Mama so i googled it and found the following on www.sitcomsonline.com:
Now, about Ramona Smith, aka Sapphire's Mama (as played on both the radio and televison versions by Amanda Randolph (she also played "Birdie", the maid on "The Great Gildersleeve", as well as the housekeeper {whose name escapes me at the moment} on "Make Room For Daddy/The Danny Thomas Show)...she was the typical "battle-axe" type mother-in-law character popular in sitcoms of the era. Her main goal was to annoy and aggrivate the Kingfish (played on tv by the incomparable Tim Moore), and, when Kingfish did something to make Sapphire (Ernesetine Wade) mad, Mama would come and rescue her daughter, or worse, double-team the poor Kingfish, to get their point across!so as well as being seen as 'Castraters' they were seen as 'battle-axe' bitches?
my mom was always hard working a busy like Walker's mom. I don't see any creative streak in her, i don't think. it makes me wonder if everyone has creativity or enjoys being creative.
i'm going to see that quilt at the smithsonian someday.
pretty wording on 678 '...when she cried out in her soul to paint watercolors of sunsets, or the rain falling on the green and peaceful pasturelands.'
on this same page, Walker asks rhetorically how the black woman's creativity survived all the hardships. the fact that we do have creative black women is proof of the strong human nature to survive and to create.
i have never heard of Sapphire's Mama so i googled it and found the following on www.sitcomsonline.com:
Now, about Ramona Smith, aka Sapphire's Mama (as played on both the radio and televison versions by Amanda Randolph (she also played "Birdie", the maid on "The Great Gildersleeve", as well as the housekeeper {whose name escapes me at the moment} on "Make Room For Daddy/The Danny Thomas Show)...she was the typical "battle-axe" type mother-in-law character popular in sitcoms of the era. Her main goal was to annoy and aggrivate the Kingfish (played on tv by the incomparable Tim Moore), and, when Kingfish did something to make Sapphire (Ernesetine Wade) mad, Mama would come and rescue her daughter, or worse, double-team the poor Kingfish, to get their point across!so as well as being seen as 'Castraters' they were seen as 'battle-axe' bitches?
my mom was always hard working a busy like Walker's mom. I don't see any creative streak in her, i don't think. it makes me wonder if everyone has creativity or enjoys being creative.
i'm going to see that quilt at the smithsonian someday.
The Achievement of Desire
i liked this line on pg 567 'Tried hard to forget. But one does not forget by trying to forget. One only remembers.'
I remember a time when reading was an escape for me also. I couldn't stop. My mom would even yell at me cuz i would stay up late reading books. I alphabetized my book collection too!
On 568, the author talks about his sibling laughing at his mother when she mispronounced words. My sister and i would do the same with my mom. Her being Korean, she sometime had problems with 'r' and 'p' sounds and we would giggle endlessly when she said 'squirrel' or 'grape.'
My mother was very encouraging during my schooling also. She was a single parent and spent money on computers and books and study materials and always pushed me to do well.
When Rodriguez talks about how he can't discuss his essay on 'universality of Shakespeare's appeal' with his parents, i could relate. i just didn't discuss certain school topics with my parents.
Page 572, Rodriguez describes reading: Reading was, at best, only a chore. I needed to look up whole paragraphs in a dictionary. Lines of type were dizzying, the eye having to move slowly across the page, then down, and across...." this is exactly how i feel about reading right now. I hope it gets better.
i also enjoyed how Rodriguez stressed the importance of family and being comfortable around them.
I remember a time when reading was an escape for me also. I couldn't stop. My mom would even yell at me cuz i would stay up late reading books. I alphabetized my book collection too!
On 568, the author talks about his sibling laughing at his mother when she mispronounced words. My sister and i would do the same with my mom. Her being Korean, she sometime had problems with 'r' and 'p' sounds and we would giggle endlessly when she said 'squirrel' or 'grape.'
My mother was very encouraging during my schooling also. She was a single parent and spent money on computers and books and study materials and always pushed me to do well.
When Rodriguez talks about how he can't discuss his essay on 'universality of Shakespeare's appeal' with his parents, i could relate. i just didn't discuss certain school topics with my parents.
Page 572, Rodriguez describes reading: Reading was, at best, only a chore. I needed to look up whole paragraphs in a dictionary. Lines of type were dizzying, the eye having to move slowly across the page, then down, and across...." this is exactly how i feel about reading right now. I hope it gets better.
i also enjoyed how Rodriguez stressed the importance of family and being comfortable around them.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
The Achievement of Desire
i loved this sentence on Page 563 "Proudly i announced - to my family's startled silence - that a teacher had said i was losing all trace of a Spanish accent." it's so powerful; it show's the child's ignorant insensitivity. it such a different viewpoint than in Anzaldua's situation where her mother said she wanted her to lose her accent.
i had similar experiences with homework and my mother's involvement. she would try to help me but i just got frustrated and did it myself. the english barrier was the issue also.
my mom pushed school to no end. it was always quiet enough for me to study and she encouraged it.
i never was embarassed about my parents lack of education (as the author did) but i do remember being envious of my class mates that had parents that could help them with their english or history assignments.
i had similar experiences with homework and my mother's involvement. she would try to help me but i just got frustrated and did it myself. the english barrier was the issue also.
my mom pushed school to no end. it was always quiet enough for me to study and she encouraged it.
i never was embarassed about my parents lack of education (as the author did) but i do remember being envious of my class mates that had parents that could help them with their english or history assignments.
Clifford Geertz Continued
Say Something of Something
I like the complex sentence structure at the bottom of page 296. It's has to be slowly digested and thought about.
The sentence at the bottom of page 298 intrigues me: "If we see ourselves as a pack of Micawbers it is from reading too much Dickens (if we see ourselves as unillusioned realists, it is from reading too little)..."
what are Micawbers?
did some research and found this on sparknotes.com:
Mr. and Mrs. Wilkins Micawber - An unlucky couple crippled by constantly precarious finances. Although Mr. Micawber never succeeds at supporting his own family, he is generous and industrious in serving others. Mrs. Micawber stands by her husband despite his flaws and regardless of the hardships they suffer.
still not sure... i'll have to think about it, maybe ask around.
I like the complex sentence structure at the bottom of page 296. It's has to be slowly digested and thought about.
The sentence at the bottom of page 298 intrigues me: "If we see ourselves as a pack of Micawbers it is from reading too much Dickens (if we see ourselves as unillusioned realists, it is from reading too little)..."
what are Micawbers?
did some research and found this on sparknotes.com:
Mr. and Mrs. Wilkins Micawber - An unlucky couple crippled by constantly precarious finances. Although Mr. Micawber never succeeds at supporting his own family, he is generous and industrious in serving others. Mrs. Micawber stands by her husband despite his flaws and regardless of the hardships they suffer.
still not sure... i'll have to think about it, maybe ask around.
Free Write Topic 2
Overcoming my tradition of silence. It's so funny that this is a topic you chose. I have been involved in court ordered treatment programs for the last year and half. School is the first somewhat 'normal' environment i've encountered (besides my job). Since i have been in the program, everything i say and write is guarded and carefully stated. i can't always say what's on my mind and have to be very careful not to offend or look bad. i noticed when i first started writing for this class, my sentences were stock full of 'i think' and 'i feel that' or 'it seems to me' (which are called 'I-statements' and are heavily encouraged) and it was driving me nuts. previous english classes had always taught me to leave these out because they are unnecessary and make the writer seem unsure of what he or she is saying. i'm working on it and i think this class and all the writing we will be doing will help me shed this bad (cowardly) habit i have formed. (did you notice that last i think?!)
Clifford Geertz
I looked up the definition of disutility and utility:
dis·util·i·ty
: the state or fact of being counterproductive
util·i·ty
1: fitness for some purpose or worth to some end
2: something useful or designed for use
dis·util·i·ty
: the state or fact of being counterproductive
util·i·ty
1: fitness for some purpose or worth to some end
2: something useful or designed for use
Monday, September 10, 2007
Free Write Instructions
Alas, writers, it is the third week. Here are the freewrites I promised. Please write on each topic during the week (before class on Thursday); give yourselves time as these might help dislodge what you'll want to write about in your personal research essays. You may write on these as many times as you'd like, but please try each at least once. (The dark chocolate one is my favorite.) Enjoy.
1. Use an essay you read in class this week (2nd or 3rd week) as a jumping point to discuss and explore an aspect of your own experience. (Ex. knowledge, education, travel, spirituality, men/women, outsider/insider, etc.)
2. Anzaldua says, "I am my language. Until I can take pride in my language, I cannot take pride in myself" (81), and continues, "I will overcome the tradition of silence" (82). In this, she is speaking not only about her culture and the limits of language, she is also, perhaps, talking about her craft as a writer as a means to vocalize and eliminate this silence. Write about your "tradition of silence."
3. Anzaldua writes, "There are more subtle ways that we internalize identification, especially in the forms of images and emotions" (83). Freewrite on ways in which you internalize identification.
1. Use an essay you read in class this week (2nd or 3rd week) as a jumping point to discuss and explore an aspect of your own experience. (Ex. knowledge, education, travel, spirituality, men/women, outsider/insider, etc.)
2. Anzaldua says, "I am my language. Until I can take pride in my language, I cannot take pride in myself" (81), and continues, "I will overcome the tradition of silence" (82). In this, she is speaking not only about her culture and the limits of language, she is also, perhaps, talking about her craft as a writer as a means to vocalize and eliminate this silence. Write about your "tradition of silence."
3. Anzaldua writes, "There are more subtle ways that we internalize identification, especially in the forms of images and emotions" (83). Freewrite on ways in which you internalize identification.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Clifford Geertz
The Raid
When they are running from the cops it sounded like something out of Indiana Jones. Strange spelling of marijuana (marihuana).
This section sets up the story and gives the reader an overview of Balinese culture. It also tells of encounters to come. It has a light, humorous mood.
Of Cocks and Men
pg 276 "the deep psychological identification of Balinese men with their cocks is unmistakable" i liked this sentence and i also like how he points out the deliberate double entendre in the following sentence.
This section is informative, giving the specifics of the cock and its meaning in this culture. It almost reads like mythology.
The Fight
Strange that there is no vocal cheering during the cockfights. This section was also informational and gives details on cockfighting. It was journalistic, factual and descriptive.
Odds & Even Money
This section was hard to get through. I don't quite understand betting and the read was too dry and mathematical for me, but again informational. It also showed how serious cockfighting is to the Balinese and how much money is put into betting.
Playing with Fire
The way people spend their money is none of Bentham's (or the government's) damn business!
The author analyzes why the Balinese gamble and how it is symbolic in different ways .
I'm confused about disutility and utility.
There is an honor among bettors. Those in it for the money were looked down upon.
I enjoyed the multiple descriptive words used at the bottom of page 288 ('...involved system of crosscutting, overlapping, highly corporate groups-villages, kingroups, irrigation societies, temple congregations') I like sentence like that. They flow well.
I wonder how long he was there to be able to gather so much in depth information on cockfighting and village structure.
Feathers, Blood, Crowds and Money
Cockfighting reminds me of American Football with the loyalties and the inability to ascend or descend the social ladder based on wins or losses.
When they are running from the cops it sounded like something out of Indiana Jones. Strange spelling of marijuana (marihuana).
This section sets up the story and gives the reader an overview of Balinese culture. It also tells of encounters to come. It has a light, humorous mood.
Of Cocks and Men
pg 276 "the deep psychological identification of Balinese men with their cocks is unmistakable" i liked this sentence and i also like how he points out the deliberate double entendre in the following sentence.
This section is informative, giving the specifics of the cock and its meaning in this culture. It almost reads like mythology.
The Fight
Strange that there is no vocal cheering during the cockfights. This section was also informational and gives details on cockfighting. It was journalistic, factual and descriptive.
Odds & Even Money
This section was hard to get through. I don't quite understand betting and the read was too dry and mathematical for me, but again informational. It also showed how serious cockfighting is to the Balinese and how much money is put into betting.
Playing with Fire
The way people spend their money is none of Bentham's (or the government's) damn business!
The author analyzes why the Balinese gamble and how it is symbolic in different ways .
I'm confused about disutility and utility.
There is an honor among bettors. Those in it for the money were looked down upon.
I enjoyed the multiple descriptive words used at the bottom of page 288 ('...involved system of crosscutting, overlapping, highly corporate groups-villages, kingroups, irrigation societies, temple congregations') I like sentence like that. They flow well.
I wonder how long he was there to be able to gather so much in depth information on cockfighting and village structure.
Feathers, Blood, Crowds and Money
Cockfighting reminds me of American Football with the loyalties and the inability to ascend or descend the social ladder based on wins or losses.
Monday, September 3, 2007
Stranger in the Village
page 101: 'For it protects our moral high-midedness at the terrible expense of weakening our grasp of reality. people who shut their eyes to reality simply invite their own destruction' we have seen this again and again through out history and it think it is a good reminder about our checks and balances government system. it reminds me personally to be active about the things in our system i disagree with.
Stranger in the Village
i've been to nepal and india and i felt similar feelings. for example, i was stared at quite intently by the indians. i figured out this wasn't them being rude, as it would have been in our culture, but them exhibiting simple curiosity.
How to Tame a Wild Tongue
on page 85 'possessing a malleability that renders us unbreakable' i loved this one too
How to Tame a Wild Tongue
on page 78 she says they spoke with a forked tongue - a variation of two languages... i love this metaphor it's perfect
Entering into the Serpent
she says the destiny of humankind is to be devoured by the serpent...which is guarded by rows of dangerous teeth. the serpent = womanhood - ouch!
Entering into the Serpent
'chingada' means to make ashamed of our Indian self. i thought it was used to mean 'oh my god' but my guatamalan brother in law said it meant 'you bitch'
Henry Adams
grammar question: what is the possesive of Adams? isn't it Adams' or is it Adamses as written in the essay?
Henry Adams
i liked the part about the degree received at harvard gives social respect but is not very useful in life. i fully agree that the little piece of paper that states you took certain classes is more important in the real world than any actual job skills you may possess.
Henry
on page 33 he says, '...to stand alone is quite natural when one has no passions, still easier when one has no pains' i don't quite understand this. i think people stand apart when they do have different ideas and passions and blend in when they don't.
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