The short story I chose to read for this week was Whites by Julie Otsuka. We are taken on this journey in the viewpoint of a japanese woman who traveled from japan in seek a better life to only face a much worse situation than before, one she can not escape, in America. The blatant racism occurring in this short story is true, but unsettling to today's view points. At the time this story takes place the japanese were basically slaves, paid, but still slaves. The "bosses" controlled their lives, there was nothing they could do to leave the situation. Despite the cruelty and messed up system they are stuck in, they are determined to work even more and have high hopes for the future. The writer starts us out by not giving away the country of origin right away, it's more of a guess till they say. The creator tells a bit about both groups of people and how things are different, even things like language barriers are brought up. The characters in this story have big plans and dreams and yet they still know the reality is that it's an endless cycle of sadness. How am I connected to this world as a reader? Well, I'm a white american woman, but I 100% do not approve or follow the treatment of others in this story on my end. I am embraced by the white american history. I wish I could say that I wasn't white or American. I was raised to treat everyone as I would like to be treated. It made me feel like standing up for the woman in this story against the racist people. The fact that it had to be my race again always bothers me. My family's roots are in Germany and Wales, I'd rather be seen as German-Welsh than "White". After attending an inner city school in Georgia (I had moved from ohio to the south, a place I've never been to before) I was bullied for being white, I was labeled and I was treated horribly. Racism is horrible, it shouldn't happen to anyone. I truly hope this nation can get over this race-war.
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Reading From A Critical Position
The short story "Girl" by Jamaica Kincaid comes off like a list of do's and don'ts by a strict mother. The language is strange to me, telling your daughter "prevent you from looking like the slut you are so bent on becoming". This doesn't sit right with me, yet the story feels like it belongs.
The question "do you identify with the girl in this story" seemed like a joke. I was surprised to hear that the majority of the class said yes. I was not raised to compare myself to other genders, to others, and I did not have a mother who tried to put me in a label. Yes, my parents had me do chores, but not because of my age or gender. Our whole family did chores together, we all helped with laundry, my dad is an excellent cook, both my parents work, they encourage my sister and I to both have successful jobs. We were expected to go to college and get a job. It would have been odd if we didn't. My parents never placed gender roles on my sister nor I. My family sees everyone as equals, gender, race, education. I know there are some people and countries that believe that this is okay, but as a woman, I do not agree with this stories upbringing. Everyone should have equal opportunities to apply themselves and that it's okay if they don't fall into that gender stereo type, be yourself and what makes you happy.
The question "do you identify with the girl in this story" seemed like a joke. I was surprised to hear that the majority of the class said yes. I was not raised to compare myself to other genders, to others, and I did not have a mother who tried to put me in a label. Yes, my parents had me do chores, but not because of my age or gender. Our whole family did chores together, we all helped with laundry, my dad is an excellent cook, both my parents work, they encourage my sister and I to both have successful jobs. We were expected to go to college and get a job. It would have been odd if we didn't. My parents never placed gender roles on my sister nor I. My family sees everyone as equals, gender, race, education. I know there are some people and countries that believe that this is okay, but as a woman, I do not agree with this stories upbringing. Everyone should have equal opportunities to apply themselves and that it's okay if they don't fall into that gender stereo type, be yourself and what makes you happy.
Wes Anderson and Stephan Zweig
Wes Anderson pays homage to Austrian writer Stephan Zweig in his film "The Grand Budapest Hotel". Anderson shares similarities with the use of color, the humor, and the pace.
I always enjoy Wes Anderson's films, some may find him a tad boring, but I find his work quirky and colorful. It just has that classic humor that you can't find in most films today. It had the very dream life essence that Zweig's writing brought to the table. Wes Anderson said in an interview about Zweig "So much of his work is written from the point of view of someone who’s quite innocent and is entering into kind of darker territories" and that was a sort of essence Wes Anderson wanted and succeeded at. I didn't connect with the characters because they were sort of "out there", but I did enjoy it because they were so different.
I always enjoy Wes Anderson's films, some may find him a tad boring, but I find his work quirky and colorful. It just has that classic humor that you can't find in most films today. It had the very dream life essence that Zweig's writing brought to the table. Wes Anderson said in an interview about Zweig "So much of his work is written from the point of view of someone who’s quite innocent and is entering into kind of darker territories" and that was a sort of essence Wes Anderson wanted and succeeded at. I didn't connect with the characters because they were sort of "out there", but I did enjoy it because they were so different.
True Grit - Mattie's Justice
I have seen both the new and old films of True Grit and enjoyed both of them, but the old simply is a classic. Before approaching True Grit, I was reluctant because I can not stand western films, books, dramas, you name it. Again, having low expectations and then getting blown away by the powerful characters this story has to offer.
Mattie, our protagonist, is just a fire ball of energy, she takes charge, doesn't take no for an answer, and she has a strong voice and no one will silence her. I really enjoyed the strong female role, back then it was sort of un-heard of so the other characters were shocked and looked down on her like she was helpless when in the end she kicks ass. Mattie has "true grit".
Yes, sometimes Mattie was out-spoken for a young girl, but some things shouldn't be ignored and I applaud her for taking control of the situation. I feel like I connected with Mattie, I used to find her somewhat annoying in the beginning because she was so whiny, but what she had to say was important and she shouldn't be just seen as just a girl. I would always speak up if I felt things weren't fair or right, I would be the one that took charge and didn't take crap from anyone; that's what Mattie did. She wasn't going to sit around and sob, she was out to get revenge for her father's murder and see it till the end.
Mattie, our protagonist, is just a fire ball of energy, she takes charge, doesn't take no for an answer, and she has a strong voice and no one will silence her. I really enjoyed the strong female role, back then it was sort of un-heard of so the other characters were shocked and looked down on her like she was helpless when in the end she kicks ass. Mattie has "true grit".
Yes, sometimes Mattie was out-spoken for a young girl, but some things shouldn't be ignored and I applaud her for taking control of the situation. I feel like I connected with Mattie, I used to find her somewhat annoying in the beginning because she was so whiny, but what she had to say was important and she shouldn't be just seen as just a girl. I would always speak up if I felt things weren't fair or right, I would be the one that took charge and didn't take crap from anyone; that's what Mattie did. She wasn't going to sit around and sob, she was out to get revenge for her father's murder and see it till the end.
Pride and Prejudice - Original
Man oh man do I love this story. I had watched the 2005 Keira Knightley film a couple years ago, but had never read the book. First of all I hated reading up until my junior year of college, conveniently enough this is my second semester of loving books. So as a new- reader I had expectations for an old long book. Would it be like the movie? Would I imagine the characters faces from the film? Would the ending be different? Would I like it more than the movie? These questions were things I wanted to answer for myself as I took on the challenge of reading the biggest book I've ever read cover to cover. (seriously sad to say I haven't read many books in my life, but finding a new found interest at the age of 21 isn't so bad, least I'm trying again.)
Now this review is more for those who HAVE read the book, so I won't really go over the plot. It's a classic love story, but more so a one that started it all. There's the main lovers that almost have that fairytale feel, Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth. There's also Whickham and Lydia, the not so fortunate lovers. This story makes it so anyone can relate to any of the characters. These people FEEL real, their personalities FEEl real and so you want to be involved and invested in the lives of these characters. When things don't work out for one of the lovers you go "nooo!!" because you feel passionate as they do. I don't think I've ever enjoyed a love story (book or movie) like i've enjoyed Pride and Prejudice". It's simply a wild roller coaster of feelings. Jan Austen is indeed one of the worlds classic authors and deserves that position because a lot of writers fail at character connection. Those who succeed at making believable characters go on to be classic authors. People don't want to just read a story, people want to feel something. If a book can make you cry, well then it's a damn good book. The connections in this story besides the connections with the readers are those within the book, character to character. The sisterhood is the ideal sisterhood every sibling of a sister would want. Yes, my sister and I fight, but as an older sister, when my sister falls ill i would ride on horse back to go to be by her side. It's just what we do. I connect with Elizabeth a lot, never looking for a relationship, but then finding one. Even seeing my younger sister do so well (but then not so much after all, she's a lot like Lydia). You could say that the best thing about this incredible story is the connections and how Jane Austen can read people.
Now this review is more for those who HAVE read the book, so I won't really go over the plot. It's a classic love story, but more so a one that started it all. There's the main lovers that almost have that fairytale feel, Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth. There's also Whickham and Lydia, the not so fortunate lovers. This story makes it so anyone can relate to any of the characters. These people FEEL real, their personalities FEEl real and so you want to be involved and invested in the lives of these characters. When things don't work out for one of the lovers you go "nooo!!" because you feel passionate as they do. I don't think I've ever enjoyed a love story (book or movie) like i've enjoyed Pride and Prejudice". It's simply a wild roller coaster of feelings. Jan Austen is indeed one of the worlds classic authors and deserves that position because a lot of writers fail at character connection. Those who succeed at making believable characters go on to be classic authors. People don't want to just read a story, people want to feel something. If a book can make you cry, well then it's a damn good book. The connections in this story besides the connections with the readers are those within the book, character to character. The sisterhood is the ideal sisterhood every sibling of a sister would want. Yes, my sister and I fight, but as an older sister, when my sister falls ill i would ride on horse back to go to be by her side. It's just what we do. I connect with Elizabeth a lot, never looking for a relationship, but then finding one. Even seeing my younger sister do so well (but then not so much after all, she's a lot like Lydia). You could say that the best thing about this incredible story is the connections and how Jane Austen can read people.
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