Coming Home Again
Chang-rae Lee
"Eventually, she would clear her throat or call out to say she was fine, then begin to move again, starting her rhythmic ka-jug; and only then could I go on with my cooking."
I liked this quote because I think it gives readers an early look into the narrator's relationship with his mother. There he is, hard at work, cooking and in one instant he goes from hearing his mother moving around to not hearing anything. He stops and can only go back to what he was doing once he is certain his mother is okay.
It made me think about if I were in that situation and I thought my mother was not okay. My heart would drop, as I'm sure is did too. When he turned back to what he was doing Im sure that included breathing.
It made me think about fight or flight. When he was scared for his mother's safety he didn't do either. He froze, which is what i think is a more realistic example of what people do in stressful situation.
This part reminded me about a clip from The Big Bang Theory. One of the characters lives with his mother and they take care of each other. In this scene is mother falls in a room and he breaks down the door to get in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wpyjp0eeP3g
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Edison, New Jersey
Edison, New Jersey
Junot Diaz
"If I were to park the truck and get out nobody would take me for a deliveryman; I could be the guy who's on the street corner selling Dominican flags. i could be on my way home to my girl. Everybody's on the street."
I think this line is very powerful when discussing status. The status of wealth plays a big role through out the the story. The narrator can tell a lot about a person by what kind of table they order, their name, and what town they live in before they even get to the house and meet the person. You get the sense that he is very insecure about his status, his job and how he is. He steels things because he feels he is entitled to do so. He somehow blames the wealthy for his lack of wealth. He just isn't relaxed.
You can tell that in this line when gets to New York he suddenly has this feeling of comfortability where all of that goes away. He doesn't feel judged by the truck. No one is looking down on him because they assume he is a delivery boy or a scoundrel.
Junot Diaz
"If I were to park the truck and get out nobody would take me for a deliveryman; I could be the guy who's on the street corner selling Dominican flags. i could be on my way home to my girl. Everybody's on the street."
I think this line is very powerful when discussing status. The status of wealth plays a big role through out the the story. The narrator can tell a lot about a person by what kind of table they order, their name, and what town they live in before they even get to the house and meet the person. You get the sense that he is very insecure about his status, his job and how he is. He steels things because he feels he is entitled to do so. He somehow blames the wealthy for his lack of wealth. He just isn't relaxed.
You can tell that in this line when gets to New York he suddenly has this feeling of comfortability where all of that goes away. He doesn't feel judged by the truck. No one is looking down on him because they assume he is a delivery boy or a scoundrel.
Thursday, November 6, 2014
The Cariboo Cafe
The Cariboo Cafe
Helena Viramontes
"Rule one: never talk to strangers, not even the neighbor who paced up ad down the hallway talking to himself. Rule two: the police, or 'polie' as Sonya's popi pronounced the word, was La Migra in disguise and thus should always be avoided. Rule three: Keep your key with you at all times- the four walls of the apartment were the only protection against the streets until Popi returned home.
I chose this quote because I think it really demonstrates the fear that this family lives in. When I read the first rule, I thought this was going to be the standard kind of rules you give to a child when they go out into the world. All parents, whether they are an immigrant or not tell their children not to talk to strangers. It is something we drill into our children's mind. We don't want them to get kidnapped or anything to happen to them with people we don't know.
The second rule is what makes me the most upset. They tell their children to never trust the police. This upsets me because when you think about the things we tell out children, after we warn them of strangers, we then tell them about the police. We tell them that policemen, teacher, firemen, and other adults of authority don't count as strangers and that if they need help that they can trust the police. I think this shows how hard it was for this family to be here. Here they were risking their lives to live in a country to the point where they have to tell their young children that they cannot trust the police.
The third rule I had mixed feelings about. The beginning of it (don't lose your key) seems like another one that every family no matter of origin or status would tell their kids. You don't want them to lose their key because you want them to be able to get in the house if no adult is home and you don;t want a stranger to end up with a key to your home. I understand giving this piece of advice. it is the explanation given that I have the problem with. This family doesn't want their kids to lose their key because there isn't another place that is safe if the father isn;t there. If you are distrusting of the police, there aren't many places you can go to feel safe. This family only has their apartment, and even that is not completely safe until the father is there. I can't imagine living in such fear that there was only one place I could go to be completely safe and have that place only be that safe when a certain person was there. That is a lot of pressure to put on anyone, especially a child.
Helena Viramontes
"Rule one: never talk to strangers, not even the neighbor who paced up ad down the hallway talking to himself. Rule two: the police, or 'polie' as Sonya's popi pronounced the word, was La Migra in disguise and thus should always be avoided. Rule three: Keep your key with you at all times- the four walls of the apartment were the only protection against the streets until Popi returned home.
I chose this quote because I think it really demonstrates the fear that this family lives in. When I read the first rule, I thought this was going to be the standard kind of rules you give to a child when they go out into the world. All parents, whether they are an immigrant or not tell their children not to talk to strangers. It is something we drill into our children's mind. We don't want them to get kidnapped or anything to happen to them with people we don't know.
The second rule is what makes me the most upset. They tell their children to never trust the police. This upsets me because when you think about the things we tell out children, after we warn them of strangers, we then tell them about the police. We tell them that policemen, teacher, firemen, and other adults of authority don't count as strangers and that if they need help that they can trust the police. I think this shows how hard it was for this family to be here. Here they were risking their lives to live in a country to the point where they have to tell their young children that they cannot trust the police.
The third rule I had mixed feelings about. The beginning of it (don't lose your key) seems like another one that every family no matter of origin or status would tell their kids. You don't want them to lose their key because you want them to be able to get in the house if no adult is home and you don;t want a stranger to end up with a key to your home. I understand giving this piece of advice. it is the explanation given that I have the problem with. This family doesn't want their kids to lose their key because there isn't another place that is safe if the father isn;t there. If you are distrusting of the police, there aren't many places you can go to feel safe. This family only has their apartment, and even that is not completely safe until the father is there. I can't imagine living in such fear that there was only one place I could go to be completely safe and have that place only be that safe when a certain person was there. That is a lot of pressure to put on anyone, especially a child.
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Seventeen Syllables
Seventeen Syllables
Hisaye Yamamoto
"The truth was that Rose was lazy; English lay ready on the tongue but Japanese had to be searched for and examined, and even then put forth tentatively."
I really like this quote because I could relate to it on a personal level. I am applying to the MAT program fro elementary education. In order to gain experience through out high school, I taught Hebrew School. I taught children who either had a learning disability, enrolled late, or had another reason for being behind in the curriculum. I learned very quickly that there are huge differences in being able to understand a language and being able to speak it. There is also a huge difference in being able to read and write in a language and being able to speak it. You would think that all of these things go hand in hand but it is very easy to be able to do one of these things and not the others because they are all different skills.
I always admire foreign writers for that reason. To be fully literate in 2 languages is incredible. It takes true genius to be able to sort thought two languages of vocabulary to find the words, like it said about Rosie.
I can read and write Hebrew. I taught it, but my parents never spoke it at home. I can read anything you give me, but my conversational skills are limited. I know basic vocabulary very well. For example, I know that good morning is, "Boker Tov." If I were to walk in someplace (even if it was hebrew school, or a place I knew people spoke Hebrew, and wanted to say good morning, I would probably say it in English because it is my first language. I know how to say it in Hebrew but it takes less brain power to say it in English.
I think it is interesting that the author describes Rose as being lazy for this reason. I think it is human nature to use your first language first. I think that it is because that is the reaction, that it is so incredible when authors are able to write such extraordinary pieces in their second languages.
Hisaye Yamamoto
"The truth was that Rose was lazy; English lay ready on the tongue but Japanese had to be searched for and examined, and even then put forth tentatively."
I really like this quote because I could relate to it on a personal level. I am applying to the MAT program fro elementary education. In order to gain experience through out high school, I taught Hebrew School. I taught children who either had a learning disability, enrolled late, or had another reason for being behind in the curriculum. I learned very quickly that there are huge differences in being able to understand a language and being able to speak it. There is also a huge difference in being able to read and write in a language and being able to speak it. You would think that all of these things go hand in hand but it is very easy to be able to do one of these things and not the others because they are all different skills.
I always admire foreign writers for that reason. To be fully literate in 2 languages is incredible. It takes true genius to be able to sort thought two languages of vocabulary to find the words, like it said about Rosie.
I can read and write Hebrew. I taught it, but my parents never spoke it at home. I can read anything you give me, but my conversational skills are limited. I know basic vocabulary very well. For example, I know that good morning is, "Boker Tov." If I were to walk in someplace (even if it was hebrew school, or a place I knew people spoke Hebrew, and wanted to say good morning, I would probably say it in English because it is my first language. I know how to say it in Hebrew but it takes less brain power to say it in English.
I think it is interesting that the author describes Rose as being lazy for this reason. I think it is human nature to use your first language first. I think that it is because that is the reaction, that it is so incredible when authors are able to write such extraordinary pieces in their second languages.
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Saboter
Saboteur
Ha Jin
"Comrade policemen, your duty is to keep order, but you purposely tortured us common citizens. Why violate the law you are supposed to enforce?
Thus quote, along with the rest of the story made me think of the American judicial system and the other freedoms we have. I know this story is set in China so their rules are different but it made me think about all of the things we take for granted. The biggest one being Freedom of Speech. While we are taught not to talk back to adults, especially those who are of a higher status than ourselves, we are allowed to raise our own opinions and ask questions. It is called freedom of speech and we take in for granted.
Before I start, I would like to clarify that I am not a communist, and am not anti-american in any way, but I wold like to argue a different perspective than I would usually take. I don't know that I believe all of what I am about to say, but I certainly think it would be interesting to entertain these ideas.
When I read this story, initially I was appalled by how their justice system worked. I thought ti was terrible, until I started thinking. What exactly was so bad? Is it possible I was just shocked because it is different than how we do things here? Maybe its a good thing that its different. We are certainly not perfect. In this story, nothing horrible was done to Mr. Chiu. He was arrested for talking back to a police officer. Now, he wouldn't have been arrested for something like that here, however that is the law where he lives. He, as a professor especially should know that is the law. You don't have to agree with every law, but you should certainly abide by them. He should know that he cannot talk back to a police officer. Then, he was put in jail and was told that he couldn't leave until he apologized. Is that such a horrible punishment? Yes he was stuck in jail when he thought his hepatitis was acting up, but all he had to do was apologize and he would have been set free. I think it was his own stubbornness that was the real problem here.
No obviously, this system is not perfect. What they did to the man who cam to rescue Mr. Chiu was horrible and should not be allowed. Also, in a perfect world Mr. Chiu should not have been arrested for asking a question. Their system is not perfect, but neither is ours. People talk about how amazing America is because of our freedoms, but once you get passed the freedom (something a lot of countries now have) we still have a lot of flaws in out system.
This debate is discussed a lot thorough out the HBO show The Newsroom. (My favorite Show) IN this clip a TV News Anchor is asked What makes America the greatest country in the world. People in the show get very mad at him for his answer here. He tells people America is not the greatest country in the world anymore. He lists all of the reasons why it isn'. However, then he makes what he later calls, "A Rising Call to Actin, " in which he talks about how America used to be the greatest country in the world and how if we can get back to these things, we could be the greatest once again. A lot of what he says in this clip directly applies to Mr. Chiu's experience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBIMb5ZAY3g
In another scene in the same show, a reporter goes to cover an Occupy Wall street protest where people are being arrested for no reason. Even though the reporter identifies himself as reporter, he is still arrested for the same thing Mr. Chiu is arrested for. WHen the head anchor goes to bail his reporter out of jail he discusses the judicial system in different parts of the world and how every system has a flaw, but that we should start by fixing ours.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlInwQ9aFn4
Ha Jin
"Comrade policemen, your duty is to keep order, but you purposely tortured us common citizens. Why violate the law you are supposed to enforce?
Thus quote, along with the rest of the story made me think of the American judicial system and the other freedoms we have. I know this story is set in China so their rules are different but it made me think about all of the things we take for granted. The biggest one being Freedom of Speech. While we are taught not to talk back to adults, especially those who are of a higher status than ourselves, we are allowed to raise our own opinions and ask questions. It is called freedom of speech and we take in for granted.
Before I start, I would like to clarify that I am not a communist, and am not anti-american in any way, but I wold like to argue a different perspective than I would usually take. I don't know that I believe all of what I am about to say, but I certainly think it would be interesting to entertain these ideas.
When I read this story, initially I was appalled by how their justice system worked. I thought ti was terrible, until I started thinking. What exactly was so bad? Is it possible I was just shocked because it is different than how we do things here? Maybe its a good thing that its different. We are certainly not perfect. In this story, nothing horrible was done to Mr. Chiu. He was arrested for talking back to a police officer. Now, he wouldn't have been arrested for something like that here, however that is the law where he lives. He, as a professor especially should know that is the law. You don't have to agree with every law, but you should certainly abide by them. He should know that he cannot talk back to a police officer. Then, he was put in jail and was told that he couldn't leave until he apologized. Is that such a horrible punishment? Yes he was stuck in jail when he thought his hepatitis was acting up, but all he had to do was apologize and he would have been set free. I think it was his own stubbornness that was the real problem here.
No obviously, this system is not perfect. What they did to the man who cam to rescue Mr. Chiu was horrible and should not be allowed. Also, in a perfect world Mr. Chiu should not have been arrested for asking a question. Their system is not perfect, but neither is ours. People talk about how amazing America is because of our freedoms, but once you get passed the freedom (something a lot of countries now have) we still have a lot of flaws in out system.
This debate is discussed a lot thorough out the HBO show The Newsroom. (My favorite Show) IN this clip a TV News Anchor is asked What makes America the greatest country in the world. People in the show get very mad at him for his answer here. He tells people America is not the greatest country in the world anymore. He lists all of the reasons why it isn'. However, then he makes what he later calls, "A Rising Call to Actin, " in which he talks about how America used to be the greatest country in the world and how if we can get back to these things, we could be the greatest once again. A lot of what he says in this clip directly applies to Mr. Chiu's experience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBIMb5ZAY3g
In another scene in the same show, a reporter goes to cover an Occupy Wall street protest where people are being arrested for no reason. Even though the reporter identifies himself as reporter, he is still arrested for the same thing Mr. Chiu is arrested for. WHen the head anchor goes to bail his reporter out of jail he discusses the judicial system in different parts of the world and how every system has a flaw, but that we should start by fixing ours.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlInwQ9aFn4
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Brokeback Mountain
Bokeback Mountain
Annie Proulx
"There was some open space between what he knew and what he tried to believe, but nothing could be done about it, and if you can't fix it you've got to stand."
This quote from Brokeback Mountain talks a lot about the characters struggle between knowledge and feelings. I think it is important to see how this quote relates to a couple of the stories we have read this far.
Immediately when I read this quote, I thought about Everything that Rises much Converge and hoe Julain was in a similar conundrum. He too was fighting with himself on how to hand people of other races. He doesn't know if he should handle things the way he grow up, the way his mother taught him, or what he was taught in school.
It also made me think about the Voorman Problem. The lawyer struggled between the space of what he knew and what he thought be believed. There was no way that Voorman was gd. Intellectually, he knew that. However once Belgium disappeared, he had to battle between what he thought he knew and what he was feeling.
Annie Proulx
"There was some open space between what he knew and what he tried to believe, but nothing could be done about it, and if you can't fix it you've got to stand."
This quote from Brokeback Mountain talks a lot about the characters struggle between knowledge and feelings. I think it is important to see how this quote relates to a couple of the stories we have read this far.
Immediately when I read this quote, I thought about Everything that Rises much Converge and hoe Julain was in a similar conundrum. He too was fighting with himself on how to hand people of other races. He doesn't know if he should handle things the way he grow up, the way his mother taught him, or what he was taught in school.
It also made me think about the Voorman Problem. The lawyer struggled between the space of what he knew and what he thought be believed. There was no way that Voorman was gd. Intellectually, he knew that. However once Belgium disappeared, he had to battle between what he thought he knew and what he was feeling.
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Everything That Rises Must Converge
Everything That Rises Must Converge
Flannery O'Conner
"What she meant when she said she had won was that she had brought him up successfully and had sent him to college and that he had turned out so well—good looking (her teeth had gone unfilled so that his could be straightened), intelligent (he realized he was too intelligent to be a success), and with a future ahead of him (there was of course no future ahead of him). "
I love this quote because it says a lot about Julian's mother. While she is quite racist and is not the perfect, she really does try her best. Julian is less racist than his mother, and seems more okay with the new integration, but his moral compass doesn't exactly point due north. He is "okay," with the idea of sitting next to a black person on a bus, not because he sees the black man as his equal, but because he wants to prove to his mother and the other people around him that he has black friends. So while technically he is more accepting towards the people on the bus, it is not for the right reason.
His mother, on the other side, isn't the most accepting, but tries very hard to be the best person she can be. She does not believe she is hurting anyone around her. She tries really hard to be sweet to everyone. It is probably generational. She grew up segregated and doesn't know how to live somewhere that is integrated. Other than her ignorance of race, she is a very good mother and member of society. She gave up everything to encourage her son to follow his dreams and tries to make conversation with everyone on the bus.
Flannery O'Conner
"What she meant when she said she had won was that she had brought him up successfully and had sent him to college and that he had turned out so well—good looking (her teeth had gone unfilled so that his could be straightened), intelligent (he realized he was too intelligent to be a success), and with a future ahead of him (there was of course no future ahead of him). "
I love this quote because it says a lot about Julian's mother. While she is quite racist and is not the perfect, she really does try her best. Julian is less racist than his mother, and seems more okay with the new integration, but his moral compass doesn't exactly point due north. He is "okay," with the idea of sitting next to a black person on a bus, not because he sees the black man as his equal, but because he wants to prove to his mother and the other people around him that he has black friends. So while technically he is more accepting towards the people on the bus, it is not for the right reason.
His mother, on the other side, isn't the most accepting, but tries very hard to be the best person she can be. She does not believe she is hurting anyone around her. She tries really hard to be sweet to everyone. It is probably generational. She grew up segregated and doesn't know how to live somewhere that is integrated. Other than her ignorance of race, she is a very good mother and member of society. She gave up everything to encourage her son to follow his dreams and tries to make conversation with everyone on the bus.
Thursday, October 16, 2014
The Voorman Problem
The Voorman Problem
"May I ask how long you have believed yourself a g-d?
I am ask you the same question.
I don't believe myself to be a g-d.
You believe yourself to be a psychiatrist.
Yes. Since I began practicing my profession."
I liked this exchange a lot because implies that the truths are what you believe to be true. One man believes he is a psychiatrist the other, g-d. While to us, it seams more likely that one would be a psychiatrist than a g-d, if you believe something hard enough it becomes true. Its a self fulfilling prophecy.
Form a psychological point of view a self fulfilling prophecy is "a prediction that causes itself to come true due to the simple fact that the prediction was made. This happens because our beliefs influence our actions."
Read more: http://www.alleydog.com/glossary/definition.php?term=Self%20Fulfilling%20Prophecy#ixzz3GL0UQ6Jx
It is clear here that both men act a certain way because they have predicted their professional labels. Dr. William goes into evaluate a prisoner because he believes he is a psychiatrist was as asked to do so. Mr. Voorman is playing a game with a human because he believes thats what g-d would do and he is g-d.
Both men entertain the other's beliefs which completes the prophecy,
"May I ask how long you have believed yourself a g-d?
I am ask you the same question.
I don't believe myself to be a g-d.
You believe yourself to be a psychiatrist.
Yes. Since I began practicing my profession."
I liked this exchange a lot because implies that the truths are what you believe to be true. One man believes he is a psychiatrist the other, g-d. While to us, it seams more likely that one would be a psychiatrist than a g-d, if you believe something hard enough it becomes true. Its a self fulfilling prophecy.
Form a psychological point of view a self fulfilling prophecy is "a prediction that causes itself to come true due to the simple fact that the prediction was made. This happens because our beliefs influence our actions."
Read more: http://www.alleydog.com/glossary/definition.php?term=Self%20Fulfilling%20Prophecy#ixzz3GL0UQ6Jx
It is clear here that both men act a certain way because they have predicted their professional labels. Dr. William goes into evaluate a prisoner because he believes he is a psychiatrist was as asked to do so. Mr. Voorman is playing a game with a human because he believes thats what g-d would do and he is g-d.
Both men entertain the other's beliefs which completes the prophecy,
Thursday, October 9, 2014
It Pours
"It Pours"
Tim Parrish
"Why you think your daddy does his car like that?" I asked. "You know, starting it and all at the same time?" "I don't know. Ask him." Donny spat again arching a white glad into the swirling water where it circled and went down. "Didn't he start after Tootsie got busted?" I asked. "Maybe. Why's your old man keep shoveling the drain?"
I chose this passage because in the beginning of the story a lot of detail about the two families were given. It seamed like the two were more similar that they realized. Both families have two sons far a part in age. For one reason or another, both families' older sons were out of the house. Both fathers had a strange habit; one starting and stopping a car and the other shoveling a drain. It seems to me that both fathers continued with their habit because they were worried about their son that wasn't home. Tootsie's father started working on the car when he left and Bob's father goes outside when the news is on because the news reminds him of his son.
This quote made me realize that while I can see the similarities, the two families could not. Both families thought the other family was odd. In this quote the two young boys ask each other why their father does what they do.
I thought this was funny because they say you never really know what someone is going through until you've walked a mile in their shoes. In this case, however, both people are wearing the same shoes and don't realize it. I know that Bob left the house for an honorable reason, but both father's still care about their sons and worry about their safety when they are not home.
Tim Parrish
"Why you think your daddy does his car like that?" I asked. "You know, starting it and all at the same time?" "I don't know. Ask him." Donny spat again arching a white glad into the swirling water where it circled and went down. "Didn't he start after Tootsie got busted?" I asked. "Maybe. Why's your old man keep shoveling the drain?"
I chose this passage because in the beginning of the story a lot of detail about the two families were given. It seamed like the two were more similar that they realized. Both families have two sons far a part in age. For one reason or another, both families' older sons were out of the house. Both fathers had a strange habit; one starting and stopping a car and the other shoveling a drain. It seems to me that both fathers continued with their habit because they were worried about their son that wasn't home. Tootsie's father started working on the car when he left and Bob's father goes outside when the news is on because the news reminds him of his son.
This quote made me realize that while I can see the similarities, the two families could not. Both families thought the other family was odd. In this quote the two young boys ask each other why their father does what they do.
I thought this was funny because they say you never really know what someone is going through until you've walked a mile in their shoes. In this case, however, both people are wearing the same shoes and don't realize it. I know that Bob left the house for an honorable reason, but both father's still care about their sons and worry about their safety when they are not home.
Thursday, October 2, 2014
August 2026:There Will Come Soft Rains
"August 2026: There Will Come Soft Rain"
Ray Bradbury
"The house tried to save itself.
Doors sprang tightly shut, but the windows were broken by the heat and the wind
blew and sucked upon the fire."
I know a lot of people read this and want to talk about the technology behind the story. It is very cool to think about a house that can fully sustain a family. When I pictured the house I pictured the house form the kids show Rolie Polie Ollie. The house in this show was alive and helped the family a lot, not quite tot extent of the house in the story, but nonetheless the house was a caretaker.
Here is a picture of the family in front of their living house.
The technology in this story is certainly incredible, but I want to focus on the emotional aspect. I chose this quote because it honestly made me sad. The house was always there for the family, for whatever they needed. The house was there to help with every day tasks like wake up calls and bathing, and also for added things to just make the family happy, like a poetry reading. The house was always there, giving everything of itself, and the family was not there for the house the one time it needed someone to help it.
This aspect reminded me of The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. The tree gave all she could to the little boy (her shade, her apples, her leaves, her branches, her truck) until she was nothing but a stump all so that the little boy would be happy. When the tree was not happy, the boy was never there. He was off using all the tree had given him. The same thing happened to the house
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
SQ
"SQ"
Ursula Le Guin
"An asylum means a place of shelter, a place of cure. Let there be no stigma attached to the word 'insane,' to the word 'asylum,' to the words 'insane asylum'! No! For the asylum is the haven of mental health-the place of cure, where the anxious find peace, where the weak gain strength, where the prisoners of inadequate reality assessment win their own freedom!"
I am still unsure as to how I feel about the piece as a whole, but this passage really stood out to me. It was so powerful. I found myself nodding to the words. I felt as though I was at the meeting and I wanted Mr. Speakie to succeed so that his would be true.
I looked up the definitions of each of these definitions:
Insane: "in a state of mind that prevents normal perception, behavior, or social interaction; seriously mentally ill."
Asylum: "an institution offering shelter and support to people who are mentally ill."
Insane Asylum: "a hospital for mentally incompetent or unbalanced person."
None of those terms seam condescending or like they should have a stigma to them, but they do, they should't but they do. Psychology and sanity are pretty clear themes throughout this story and I began thinking about how we look at these things today. It made me think a lot about the beginning of mental health and the universality of it. I wondered lot about what made Mr. Speakie qualified to be the administrator of this project and how when talking about someone's sanity they are no longer credible. In my psychology class we learned that if a patient has a brain injury they need someone else to accompany to them to doctor's appointments to vouch for the their claims.
The story said that the people working for Mr. Speakie had to take the test quite a few times and people got nervous. It made me wonder if you are a fully functioning adult who has a job, would you want to take the test? If you are just a little bit on the insane spectrum, but you are able to live a normal happy life would you want to know? WOuld having that label on insane or a number score that tells the world that your brain cannot function at 100% efficiency help you? Maybe its better no to know.
This story made me think a lot about other things I had read or movies I had watched on the subject of sanity, such as One Flew Over the CucKoos Nest and Shutter Island. Shutter Island reminds me a lot of this story and thinking about the early stages of handling mental illness.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxMo__fkCqM
Thursday, September 18, 2014
G-d of Love
G-d of Love
"I take it back. It's more important to me that you are happy." 11:23
I chose this quote as my favorite quote from the movie. I know that this probably isn't what you expected it be. I think the intention of this movie was to get the audience to think about love. When I watched it however, I thought about friendship way more. By the end of the movie you see two couple who are madly in love with each other, that wouldn't have been if they weren't stabbed by a love arrow. It makes you wonder if the love is real. Are they under some kind of spell to change how they? or does the arrow just make them realize how they felt all along? This isn't answered in the movie. The love depicted still leaves you with a lot of unanswered questions. The one thing that is consistent and clear is the friendship that is there.
I know I spent my whole last blog post talking about what a hopeless romantic I am, but I think friendship is even more important. (That is probably why my favorite stories are the ones where best friends end up together.) The friendship depicted in this movie is so amazing that I feel that it should be the focus of the move. Not romantic love but the love of a friend.
When Raymond is trying to woo Kelly, he knows he can count on Fozzy. Fozzy knows that Kelly is in love with him but would rather make his friend happy that to create a happy relationship for himself. Not only does Fozzy help Raymond but he does even more than Raymond asks. He changed the theme and the meal to things he knows Kelly will like better to do everything he can to make sure things go well for Raymond. Fozzy doesn't believe in the love darts, but puts all of his feelings aside to support his friend's happiness. I chose that part to write about because I think the strongest relationships in this movie are the friendships, not the romantic ones and I think a good friendship is often overlooked.
This all comes together in the end when Raymond realizes Kelly does't love him in a romantic way, but maybe as a friend. So, like a good friend, Raymond does fro Kelly what Fozzy did for him, and helps the person Kelly loves fall in love with her, even though it hurts him.
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Happy Endings
Happy Endings
Margaret Atwood
1983
"You'll have to face it, the endings are the same however you slice it. Don't be deluded by any other endings, they're all fake, either deliberately fake, with malicious intent to deceive, or just motivated by excessive optimism if not by downright sentimentality.
The only authentic ending is the one provided here:
John and Mary die. John and Mary die. John and Mary die."
This is my favorite story we have read so far. I love romantic stories and this one flipped all of the preconceived notations of love stories I had around. It made me question everything I thought to be true of a love story. I naively thought a love story is one where two people love each other, and while there may be some struggling time, in the end, they live happily ever after. Every one of the endings to this story proved me wrong. Each story contains some aspect of love, whether or not both people felt it. The only consistent thing is that everyone always died, which a much more realistic approach to ending a story.
I love this quote because I am one of those people who enjoy the "deliberately fake" endings because of "excessive optimism," and "downright sentimentality." I am a hopeless romantic and would love to live one of those happily ever after stories. I know that isn't a sensible way to look at things, but when you read a love story or watch a movie, it does give you that false sense of optimism that it could happen to you. On an intellectual level I know the difference between real life and a story but I sometimes can't help but dream. As far as sentimentality, I am a very emotional person. When I read a story with an exaggerated plot, I am the person who will cry, "aww," as the story comes to that predictable, cheesy ending.
Before reading this story I looked at love stories like theses clips:
Pitch Perfect: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QxmVkNX_z8 "Endings are the best part."
Easy A: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBnBgFBH-nc "I want my life to me like an 80s movie."
However, after reading this story and thinking very clearly as to how stories, romantic and otherwise, I have more realistic outlook.
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona
"This Is What It Means To Say Phoenix, Arizona"
Sherman Alexie
Esquire, 1994
"Victor knew that Thomas would remain the crazy storyteller who talked to dogs and cars, who listened to the wind and pine trees. Victor knew that he couldn't really be friends with Thomas, even after all that had happened. It was cruel but it was real. As real as the ashes, as Victor's father, sitting behind the seats. 'I know how it is,' Thomas said. 'I know you ain't going to treat me any better than you did before. I know your friends would give you too much shit about it.'
Victor was ashamed of himself. Whatever happened to the tribal ties, the sense of community? The only real thing he shared with anybody was a bottle and broken dreams."
I chose this passage because I found it to be vey emotional. Two boys who were friends as kids can no longer be friends due to some kind of status quo. Their lives went in two different directions as adults and then crossed again. After a tremendously emotional road trip, flashing back to all of their memories, their friendship will never be rekindled due to their positions in the community.
The story mentions that Thomas is the story teller in tribe and kind of has a crazy reputation. No matter the past theses two boys share, Victor can't be seen talking to him because then other people passing by may think Victor is crazy too. This is something both men knew and neither one took offense to. I did like that Victor felt ashamed and recognized the flaw in the system. He still was not going to talk to Thomas much but at least he knew that was the wrong thing to do and felt some remorse. I know that actively doing something you know is wrong is not a good thing, but I think in this case it is. The reason theses two people have the understanding is because of the pressure from their surrounding community. I like that Victor, while still conforming to the ideas of the community, questioned them.
I think this clip is a lot like the ending of the movie The Breakfast Club. A lot of kids from different social groups all bond over a day in Saturday detention. They talk about a lot of personal and family history but then they realize no matter how strong the bond they created that day is, they will have to go back to their own peers at school on Monday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OMuX561ykM
Sherman Alexie
Esquire, 1994
"Victor knew that Thomas would remain the crazy storyteller who talked to dogs and cars, who listened to the wind and pine trees. Victor knew that he couldn't really be friends with Thomas, even after all that had happened. It was cruel but it was real. As real as the ashes, as Victor's father, sitting behind the seats. 'I know how it is,' Thomas said. 'I know you ain't going to treat me any better than you did before. I know your friends would give you too much shit about it.'
Victor was ashamed of himself. Whatever happened to the tribal ties, the sense of community? The only real thing he shared with anybody was a bottle and broken dreams."
I chose this passage because I found it to be vey emotional. Two boys who were friends as kids can no longer be friends due to some kind of status quo. Their lives went in two different directions as adults and then crossed again. After a tremendously emotional road trip, flashing back to all of their memories, their friendship will never be rekindled due to their positions in the community.
The story mentions that Thomas is the story teller in tribe and kind of has a crazy reputation. No matter the past theses two boys share, Victor can't be seen talking to him because then other people passing by may think Victor is crazy too. This is something both men knew and neither one took offense to. I did like that Victor felt ashamed and recognized the flaw in the system. He still was not going to talk to Thomas much but at least he knew that was the wrong thing to do and felt some remorse. I know that actively doing something you know is wrong is not a good thing, but I think in this case it is. The reason theses two people have the understanding is because of the pressure from their surrounding community. I like that Victor, while still conforming to the ideas of the community, questioned them.
I think this clip is a lot like the ending of the movie The Breakfast Club. A lot of kids from different social groups all bond over a day in Saturday detention. They talk about a lot of personal and family history but then they realize no matter how strong the bond they created that day is, they will have to go back to their own peers at school on Monday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OMuX561ykM
Thursday, September 4, 2014
A Diamond Guitar
"A Diamond Guitar"
Truman Capote
"When another man receives a letter, he brings it to Mr. Schaeffer. Most of these letters are sad and complaining; very often Mr. Schaeffer improvises more cheerful messages and does not read what is written on the page. In the sleep house there are two other men who can read. Even so, one of them brings his letters to Mr. Schaeffer, who obliges be never reading the truth. Mr. Schaeffer himself does not receive mail, not even on Christmas."
I chose this quote because it is point in the story where I fell in love with Mr. Schaeffer as a character. At this point I would describe Mr. Schaeffer as a selfless caretaker. He never gets letters himself, which is really sad. Instead of being bitter about this, however, he tries to make getting mail a positive experience for everyone else.
The story describes him as a man who has the respect of everyone, even the Captain. That is shown in this quote too. Even the men who can read, want Mr. Schaeffer to read their mail for them.
Before we learn that Mr. Schaeffer is at the farm for murdering another man, there is a lot of evidence to support the fact that he is holds the caretaker roll. When Tico Feo first came and played the guitar, Mr. Scaheffer comments on how nice it was to hear all of men laughing. It is a very parental trait to find joy in the joy of others. He then makes sure that Tico Feo adjusts comfortably by congratulating him after he plays, gives him dolls for his sister, and befriends him quickly. Once they become friends, Mr. Schaeffer remarks several times that Tico Feo is still growing and needs more than he does for he is old. He gives him candy bars and oranges that he buys with his own money. It is very like a parent to give all they have to younger people and to concern themselves with the young person's growth.
Mr. Schaeffer is to me, what people call a Hemingway Hero or Anti-Hero. Even though he is in jail for murder, you cant help but love him and want to him to be happy. He reminds me of a character from the TV show How I met your mother. Barney Stinson, one of the characters does not know who his father is and often hints to the fact that his mother was not the greatest mother in the world, however both Barney and viewers of the show can't help but love her. She, like Mr. Schaeffer, made mistakes, but always did all she could do to make her son happy. When no one came to his birthday party, Loretta told her son that they got a letter from the Postmaster General apologizing for losing all of the invitations. When he got cut from the basketball team, she told him it was because he was so good that it wasn't fair to the other kids. Both Loretta and Mr. Scheffer try to keep everyone else happy, even while making mistakes and not being all that happy themselves.
Truman Capote
"When another man receives a letter, he brings it to Mr. Schaeffer. Most of these letters are sad and complaining; very often Mr. Schaeffer improvises more cheerful messages and does not read what is written on the page. In the sleep house there are two other men who can read. Even so, one of them brings his letters to Mr. Schaeffer, who obliges be never reading the truth. Mr. Schaeffer himself does not receive mail, not even on Christmas."
I chose this quote because it is point in the story where I fell in love with Mr. Schaeffer as a character. At this point I would describe Mr. Schaeffer as a selfless caretaker. He never gets letters himself, which is really sad. Instead of being bitter about this, however, he tries to make getting mail a positive experience for everyone else.
The story describes him as a man who has the respect of everyone, even the Captain. That is shown in this quote too. Even the men who can read, want Mr. Schaeffer to read their mail for them.
Before we learn that Mr. Schaeffer is at the farm for murdering another man, there is a lot of evidence to support the fact that he is holds the caretaker roll. When Tico Feo first came and played the guitar, Mr. Scaheffer comments on how nice it was to hear all of men laughing. It is a very parental trait to find joy in the joy of others. He then makes sure that Tico Feo adjusts comfortably by congratulating him after he plays, gives him dolls for his sister, and befriends him quickly. Once they become friends, Mr. Schaeffer remarks several times that Tico Feo is still growing and needs more than he does for he is old. He gives him candy bars and oranges that he buys with his own money. It is very like a parent to give all they have to younger people and to concern themselves with the young person's growth.
Mr. Schaeffer is to me, what people call a Hemingway Hero or Anti-Hero. Even though he is in jail for murder, you cant help but love him and want to him to be happy. He reminds me of a character from the TV show How I met your mother. Barney Stinson, one of the characters does not know who his father is and often hints to the fact that his mother was not the greatest mother in the world, however both Barney and viewers of the show can't help but love her. She, like Mr. Schaeffer, made mistakes, but always did all she could do to make her son happy. When no one came to his birthday party, Loretta told her son that they got a letter from the Postmaster General apologizing for losing all of the invitations. When he got cut from the basketball team, she told him it was because he was so good that it wasn't fair to the other kids. Both Loretta and Mr. Scheffer try to keep everyone else happy, even while making mistakes and not being all that happy themselves.
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
"A Clean, Well-Lighted Place"
Ernest Hemingway (1933)
"What did he fear? It was not a fear or dread. It was a nothing that he knew too well. It was all nothing and a man was a nothing too. It was only that and light was all it needed and a certain cleanness and order. Some lived in it and never felt it but he knew it all was nada."
Ernest Hemingway (1933)
"What did he fear? It was not a fear or dread. It was a nothing that he knew too well. It was all nothing and a man was a nothing too. It was only that and light was all it needed and a certain cleanness and order. Some lived in it and never felt it but he knew it all was nada."
The young waiter, oblivious to his surroundings, was rude to the old man who was seeking a haven in the cafe. While closing the cafe the older waiter admits to having similar feelings of the old man. It was this point in the story where it all came together to me. Earlier when asked why the old man tried to kill himself, the waiter says it was over "nothing." I, along with the younger waiter took this to mean that there was no reason for the old man to kill himself. It is here that we learn the reality. The old man wanted to kill himself because he had nothing.
We know that the old man has a niece and plenty of money but that is it. His wife passed away. His house his empty. He has nothing to go home to. It is much easier to sit in a clean, well lit cafe, then to sit in a dark house, full of memories all alone.
I like how the author describes nothing has an object. Rather than to say he doesn't have anything, they say he has nothing. I feel like that is a more positive way to look at a very sad situation. It says that he has one thing rather than he doesn't have anything. Even though the one thing he has is nothing.
This story made me sad because both the waiter and the old man felt that they had nothing and needed to seek a place for the evening. They both felt alone and that no one understood. I feel as though maybe, they both just needed a friend. Had they talked to each other, they could have felt better. There is a song called "People are Crazy," that I think relates to this well. An old man is sitting in a bar and talks to a younger man all night until they got kicked out. Soon, the singer learns that the old man has died and left all of his money to him. The old man did not have a good relationship with his family. Al he needed was someone to talk to that night and it changed his life.
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