Today's thought:

Money is such a stresser.

But the snow is beautiful.

Final Blogging

Hey all! This blog is mad early because I have mad work to do this week and all through next week, so here are my thoughts thus far!

These presentations have been really wonderful this week, yet again! I love being surprised by the range of topics that people have read about and are doing research on. The books covered on Tuesday were: Then We Came to the End and Trans-Sister Radio. I enjoyed how different these books were and I found the covers online to be very provocative. The sticky notes as the cover for Then We Came to the End is really creative and appropriate for the story. I am interested in the cover for Trans-Sister Radio because it shows a naked person, whose gender is not explicit, facing away from the viewer.

Group four focused on Then We Came to the End, which interestingly takes place in an advertising corporation. I have never personally read any novels or even memoirs about a person, or peoples, experiences in a corporate position so this presentation captured my attention immediately. I have studied corporate America in a great deal of my classes and for some reason it never occurred to me to read a novel about it! This novel is written in the plural first person, which is called the “corporate we.” The character development must be extremely interesting to analyze in this book because even listening to the summary I could feel how suffocated and claustrophobic this particular workplace is. I like that one person is going to look at character development of Lynne, who is leading a lonely life with breast cancer. The group brought up a great point that by having the middle section focus on Lynne through the first person the story is made less comedic. The narrative lacks individuality when the corporate we is used versus the first person. I am intrigued with her character and learning about her struggles with breast cancer and being alone makes me want to read the book further. That sounds completely morbid, but we all enjoy a sad read, yeah? I loved the idea of looking at disease in the workplace socially, like gossip, and in the literal sense, like the workers who develop severe depression. Disease can be analyzed through many different lenses in literature and is a really creative road to pursue. Advertising is such a complex job position to have, but I can’t imagine it at a corporal level. I would probably be going insane like the characters seem to be. I feel that a lot of psychology goes into creating an advertisement because the point is to appeal and please people.

Group five talked about Trans-Sister Radio and it seems that many are going to be talking about the complexities of gender in some respect. The character Dana is interesting within herself because she is transitioning in a community that does not seem to be accepting, and she also has a girlfriend throughout her transition. It is very rare, in what I have read and studied, for a person’s partner to stay with them if they are transitioning. This brings to light the question of what sexuality and gender means. The group, taking into account the social and individual meanings of gender and sexuality, is covering this question. I myself do not know the answer to this as much as I have studied gender and sexuality in college and outside of college life. These two social constructs become harder to understand when you have both the accounts of society and an individual, and more so when you have a massive spectrum of individual definitions. Many people who transition don’t consider themselves the “opposite sex” or the “opposite gender” and some do not even call themselves transgender or transsexual. They just are. This is something a lot of people have a hard time understanding because as human beings we tend to automatically put labels on people so we can socially understand who they are, not necessarily individually. The topic of nature versus nurture greatly plays into the idea of gender because there is no one answer to which is more influential. The study of archetypes in literature and within this book is going to be a really great paper to read. I never would have thought of this as a possibility to focus on and it makes complete sense! What I am most interested in with this area of interest for the paper is where Dana, the character who transitions, fits into this archetypal spectrum, which is segregated into men or women.

Blog 13: Some Thoughts

The class presentations thus far have been really enjoyable and eye opening for me. I love the large range of topics that people experienced while they read their selected books. I have been so focused on tweaking and figuring out my paper that I didn’t fully think out even my group members’ ideas until they presented them! As I heard other classmates’ presentations I couldn’t help but get lost in their theses as well as connecting it to my own paper. I think that the rest of my group has some really great working theses and hearing them verbalize their ideas made me really think of all the aspects of the book. I hadn’t really thought through the idea of killing being an art form and how there have been people in our world that have performed such acts. I think that focusing on journalism and ethics is really neat as well because it seems to be such a controversial idea within the world of journalism. I have to agree that James Patterson is brilliant. To be a solid bestseller is beyond my understanding and to analyze the ways in which he structures his books will be valuable knowledge.

Groups one and two have some really interesting ideas surrounding shunning, violence, abortion, and New Hampshire as a setting. I like that both Without a Map and Nineteen Minutes dealt with teenagers and the pressures of society on younger people. I think that it would be cool to look at shunning and health rights overtime, as well as cross-culturally, for those who are focuses their papers in relation to these ideas. This may highlight the argument that some of you are trying to make. Banishment, rejection, and shunning absolutely affect the human mind and I agree that it can be more damaging than some other forms of punishment. To shift gears a little, I can’t stop thinking about how Peter views death as a change in environment, not as an end to a life. He has trouble seeing how death in the video games he plays is not like death in reality. When should we be sympathetic as readers towards the victims of society, victims of bullying, victims of shunning, and victims of psychological problems? I think we can all agree that we are working with complex characters that lead unimaginable lives. When do we all feel for the characters, if we do?

What has struck me most from these presentations of the theme of the complex human being, which is every human. Through murder, suicide, killing, the psychological damage of shunning, killing as art, and school shootings I feel the characters in these works mirror reality. What is creepier is that people do kill as a form of art and two of these novels are set in New Hampshire. I love hearing about the reactions of those who are living in that proximity, and to see how it affects the community. Apparently Nineteen Minutes freaked out people who live near Sterling, New Hampshire, because it was so close to home. It’s always amazing to hear about what literature can provoke within people, whether it be fear, curiosity, and any given emotion. It’s really neat that the author of Without a Map is UNH faculty and published a book based on her experiences as a pregnant teen in a very conservative and conventional community during her youth.

I feel that we have articulated and thought about the emotional limits within the novels this week. Group three is focusing on a book, which works with high school pressures, social status, school shootings, sexuality, and more. I found it extremely catching that Paul, the troubled teen who shoots up the school, kills only one teacher in the school and it’s the one who identifies as gay. Peter is made fun of by his peers and is accused of being gay, which results in being called derogative names. The group said that he questions his sexuality throughout the book and that there is a chance that he might be interested in men, maybe not necessarily gay. Homophobia takes many forms and I have definitely heard of cases of closeted people being homophobic or violent towards LGBTQ+ people. Yet, I still can’t fathom why this happens because it’s so psychologically warped. This ties into the “high school hierarchy and wearing masks” paper because in order to survive many teenagers have to fake their identity to maintain a good position on the social ladder. I am really curious as to where this paper will go because the idea of wearing a mask and repressed identities are such complex ideas to even start thinking about!

Breaking Silence.

Perfect Peace by Daniel Black is more than a novel, but it is also a place for silence voices to speak. Too many times have people faces countless injustices, which we can so perfectly see in Black’s novel through all the characters. This one of the major reasons why I love this book, that not one character faces troubles and prejudice solo, that it affects the entire community. Social injustices are present this novel through gender, class, race, sex, and gender identity.

There is one passage that I want to focus on because I believe it gives voice to those who have been maimed, silenced, and treated unjustly based on a part of their identity. Before Sol goes off to college he gives Paul the best advice he can give him as a brother. He says on page 218, “Just remember to be yourself. That’s all you have to do, just be yo’self. Some folks like you and some won’t, but it doesn’t matter. Not really. You’re the only one you have to live with. Folks ‘round here done talked about you real bad, little brother, and I’m afraid it’s not over yet. But I wouldn’t trade you for the world. Or change you. You’re the sweetest person I know, so stay that way, okay?”

The honesty that Sol gives to Paul is just plain amazing and beautiful. What better advice to give someone than to be yourself, really. Yet, the characters know as much as most readers that staying true to an identity can be close to impossible. It is evident throughout the story that Paul cannot be his true self because his environment does not allow him, and he doesn’t know who he really is. Few characters truly understand the injustices that Paul personally faces emotionally, sexually, physically, and psychologically because many fit perfectly into their expected gender roles. Obviously, there are more injustices in the book than gender, but Paul’s experience is more than difficult to ignore. I think that Paul’s character gives light to those in our world who don’t fit into the gender binary. It’s interesting to read this novel, which takes place in the 1940s onward, and comparing it to the 2010 experiences of those who have been silenced. Social injustices are more addressed in our time and I believe that we have progressed socially towards acceptance, but there are certainly still places that are unprogressive.

I like that Sol says, “not really” because there are times where other’s perceptions of us matter, or we make them matter. Black’s novel provides a number of characters that struggle with different parts of their identities, and it’s crucial to wrap our mind around the intersections. He also creates a story for the reader that is empathetic and sympathetic towards those who have been maimed for simply being who they are. Moreover, I think this novel is trying to give people that people are just people, and for some, living up to their true selves is a matter of life or death. It's truly unfortunate that some face violence, assault, and even death because someone has been made to believe that they are impure, or a disgrace to humanity in some way.

Community is crucial to surviving a traumatic and challenging life like Paul’s, especially when it relates to injustices. From my activism work and my understanding of people’s experiences from all backgrounds, I have learned that a community can move mountains. It takes more than the word community; it takes people that are committed to social change and social movements. I feel that in 2010 we are more able to find people who we can work with and promote social change. I believe that by sharing the voices of the disenfranchised we can expand and create acceptance in communities we never thought possible.We all have to use our voices and our words, like Black does, to show that maiming a person based on their sexuality, gender identity, race, class, age, and more is intolerable.

Revised Proposal and Annotated Bib!

Well, after narrowing down the topic I want to focus on and looking at the definition of “setting,” here goes nothing! This is still in the works and I need to read more about this but I would love ideas and suggestions if anyone has any, please!

Setting in The Postcard Killers plays a major role with setting and understanding character’s roles. The beginning of the Postcard Killer’s murders began in the United States and the move onward to all regions of Europe. Within this paper, I would also like to compare the cultural boundaries and walls between Jacob and the Swedish police because of their different exposures to the United States and Europe. Throughout the book it is evident that Jacob has a concrete opinion of how the European police work versus how he works back in the United States. Jacob is often labeled as “the American” and the European characters have a similar title related to their background. Jacob’s anger obviously surrounds his daughter’s vicious murder, but it is also directed at the law and agents he is working with across the ocean. The setting seems to displace Jacob and make him an outsider, especially with language because he cannot understand Swedish. Nationality is something people hold onto to stand their ground and the characters in the book, except Dessie, cannot stray from it because nationality is learned. It is based around setting in the way that the European characters have specific nationalities and Jacob has his own American nationality, thus differences and boundaries are created. There are no moments when the European and American characters don’t act their nationality. In this paper I will research how setting highlights the traditional associates with Europe and the United States and how the characters use their nationalities to define themselves.

Bhabha, Homi K. Nation and Narration. London: Routledge, 1990. Print.

Bhabha gives an analysis of cultural differences and how international perspectives are created. Interestingly, she incorporates Benedict Anderson and how he views modern nationalism as taking up space in novels. I like this book becayse Bhabha connects literature and narratives, like heroic narratives, to the development of real-life nationalism and the process of an one’s identity on a national level. I want to use this source to compare earlier literature to more modern literature and the effects they have on an individuals understanding of nationality and their surroundings.

Lee, Yueh-Ting, Clark R. McCauley, and Juris G. Draguns. Personality and Person Perception Across Cultures. Mahwah, NJ: L. Erlbaum Associates, 1999. Print.

This book will help me understand the differences between human biological characteristics (personality), which is at a more individual level, versus the study of culture, which focuses on characteristics within a group. Luckily, there are chapters that apply characteristics cross-culturally so this will be helpful. In many ways, this book is written for someone who would be studying or working in a different culture and it wants to prep the reader about why cultures are nationality diverse. This piece of work will help me understand why particular characteristics of a culture remain consistent overtime and as to how they are created and associated with the region.

Miller, David. On Nationality. Oxford: Clarendon, 1995. Print.

This book really breaks down nationality as a concept and it deconstructs the sub-categories of the topic. This will help my paper as a while because it will give me a solid foundation of how nationality shapes a society and the people. For example, some national identities create a hierarchy of power within that given region, which are then applied to other countries, like a cross-comparison as to who is more worthy and powerful. I can connect this to the relationship between American and Europe overtime. Miller also talks about government security, loyalties, and allegiances, which obviously shape the people inhabiting this particular location. This book will further help me understand nationality behind politics, leaders, and tensions between bodies of land.

Özkırımlı, Umut. Theories of Nationalism: A Critical Introduction. New York: St. Martin's, 2000. Print.

What I find interesting about this book is that the introduction states that nationalism is a passing phase in the modern centuries. Yet, The Postcard Killers show the tensions between people of different nations. Nationalism is talked about through various ideas, which include: war, ethnic conflicts, and crises. If I decide to gather real historical events then they will pair up well with the groundwork of nationality from this source. The author includes a modernist perspective from modernist scholars about the theories of nationalism, such as Benedict Anderson.

Ruland, Richard. American in Modern European Literature: From Image to Metaphor.

New York: New York UP, 1976. Print.

This source talks about the invention of American by the Europeans, historically and within literature. It shows what American has symbolized over periods of time, including speculation on the twentieth century. From a European literature perspective, America’s image fluctuates as an image of power, freedom, and more. Like the others, this book incorporates works of literature and historical events that show the change of America through history, social aspects, and within literature. I would like to somehow connect this to The Postcard Killers when Jacob goes back to the United States and how this setting differs from his European one.

If anyone needs good sites to go to for online articles or information then check out Wordcat!

http://www.worldcat.org/

Hands and Work

I really love this picture!

The poem I will be focusing on by Kelly Tsai is entitled “Lili’s Hands.” While there are many literary elements one could use to analyze this poem, I could not veer away from imagery. Though we never know as readers who this hard working woman is, we are able to see the endless tasks she manages, and can even speculate on her background. Tsai helps the reader understand who Lili is and her experience as a worker through the images she provides.

The images of the food allow the reader to taste Lili’s experience through their senses. Tsai paints scenes where Lili works with a variety of foods that include: “ fish, rice noodles, garlic, bittermelon, buns, sesame oil, soy sauce, ginger, tofu, and chicken feet.” It was impossible for me not to image these delicious foods and cooking ingredients, especially when they are attached to verbs. Just reading these multiple types of food dill my imagination with scents and feelings that Lili is exposed to. It is the food that gives the reader a further look into who this mysterious woman is. Lili uses a “wok” to put most of the ingredients in, specifically the oils and sauces. The wok is usually associated with Asian cultures, among others, so the reader can only assume that Lili is from an Asian background. Of course, this is all speculation but knowing more of Lili’s identity deepens our understanding of her roles. Where is she from? Why is she working for these people? Was she forced to work here and take on this “maid-like” position? Many questions arose for me after taking note of all the ingredients to her meals, and though they never are fully answered, it is possible to know Lili’s importance to the household. I loved the stanza that says that Lili’s hands “soak the bittermelon/ and suck it of/ its dry newspaper taste” because I thought it showed how kind-hearted Lili is. Perhaps she must soak the melon to rid its awful taste in order to please the people she is serving, or she could be doing it out of consideration and care. If so, it shows how committed she is to her job, that in putting in hard effort she might make more money or her stay in the house is prolonged. The images of the food help the reader visualize what Lili sees daily, but also who she is in a bigger picture, not just of a server in a household.

The movements of Lili’s hands convey the hard work she exerts in a daily basis. Tsai uses multiple verbs to show Lili’s job: slice, dump, smash, spin, soak, wipe, pile, dash, cube, cure, wipe, massage, curves, rub, ball, and pulls. These specific words convey the labor Lili has on her hands and on her role as a woman and a worker in a household. The reader has no knowledge of who she is because she does not get a voice in this poem. The imagery does not even give Lili a voice of her own and merely show some of the chores she must do daily. These tasks are not easy though and range from cooking and piling buns to taking care of the people she is living with. Tsai writes that Lili’s hands “massage my uncle’s feet/ bloated from a lifetime/ of a soldier’s walk” and that they “cube tofu/cure chicken feet/wipe the shit stains/from my aunt’s toilet.” It is evident that the labor Lili has to endure is not just cooking large meals for the family, but she also has to take care of their personal cares that involved feet and feces. I imagine that Lili has a great tolerance for cleaning up after people and having to touch their grimy body parts or excretions. I gained more respect for all her hard work after I read that being a chef is not where it all ends. I also got the feeling that Lili may not be appreciated in the household she labors in, that she is ignored or seen as a mindless maid.

Imagery helps the reader see the conditions Lili must live in and how she feels about it. We understand how Lili feels about her job as a whole when she her hands “ball into tiny fists/as she pulls her/ blanket over her head/ on the cot/ in the back room/ next to the laundry machine.” I imagined Lili curling into a ball in her cot as the laundry machine blasts in her ears. I also saw this house as having thin walls and Lili being able to hear every movement and voice. Yet, no one hears her, not even the reader; we see her. Being in a room that is located in the back of the house, next to the laundry room, is a crappy place to sleep! This image could be a metaphor for Lili’s class standing and social value as a human. The reader gains perspective on how Lili feels about her staying in this house by the way she moves her hands. They “ball into tiny fists” and “pull her blanket over her head” and show the reader how strong and resilient she is. Her hands are more than tools of creation, but they are also doors into Lili’s soul.

Blog Holiday!

Hey all,

I need a blog holiday this week. Have a great weekend!

<3

Postcard Killers Proposal

Alright everybody, here goes!

The Postcard Killers by James Patterson and Liza Marklund contains many important literary elements, which give the story a natural flow and rhythm. With this, it is difficult to notice such elements, but they are deeply seeded in every page. The setting of any book tells the place, time, atmosphere, mood, state of characters, where the story may go, and more. Setting in The Postcard Killers plays a major role with plot movement and even the understanding character’s roles. The beginning of the Postcard Killer’s murders began in the United States and the move onward to all regions of Europe. I want to further understand how and why Europe makes the story immobile and what movement and murders mean in relation to location. Within this paper, I would also like to compare the cultural boundaries and walls between Jacob and the Swedish police because of their different exposures to the United States and Europe. Throughout the book it is evident that Jacob has a concrete opinion of how the European police work versus how he works back in the United States. Jacob is often labeled as “the American” and the European characters have a similar title related to their background. Jacob’s anger obviously surrounds his daughter’s vicious murder, but it is also directed at the law and agents he is working with across the ocean. The setting seems to displace Jacob and make him an outsider, especially with language because he cannot understand Swedish. He is not a conventional character within Europe, nor is Dessie even though she has resided all over Europe. This book would be extremely different if it had taken place in the United States, which is small compared to the size of Europe. Also, it seems that authors are still portraying Europe as almost “mystical,” spacious, and full of opportunities. Many horror movies take place in Europe, as well. It seems that this would faze an American audience, especially someone who has not been abroad, more than someone who lives in Europe. In this paper I will research how setting can highlight a lot of social and cultural differences between characters, drives the plot and murders, and how it also enhances the imagination of a reader or specific audience.

If you can't tell, my thoughts and ideas are all over the place. Any suggestions or ideas would be amazing to hear. Thanks, everybody and have a great, relaxing weekend!

Reflections about Blogging

One part I enjoy about weekly blogging is taking concepts we have talked about in class and applying them to my own personal ideas. It really is nice at the end of the week to have a physical representation of what we have been learning about in class. My blog is a space where I can explore ideas that strike me while reading and a place where I can openly ask questions. Each week I have used the readings we have focused on in class and expanded on them in length and content. I worry that my blogs are too long at times and people might not want to sit there and read it based on the length. We are all busy after all.

I incorporate images and quotes as much as I can because I think it can draw people in. I want a people to have a visual, especially if it pertains to what the blog is about, and I also want them to see how words of the past fit into our present day. I like thinking my blog is being reached by people who will finish reading and have at least one question or comment on their mind.

The grammar in my blogs probably is not perfect, especially my commas. I personally think that a blog space should be whatever a person makes it, and those small spelling and grammar errors can fly! Despite my misspelling of the word “an” I think that my ideas and words are still credible and interesting. Those little mistakes and quirks can add character! Right? I like to re-read my writing, especially after a number of days have passed by and they are not in the forefront of my mind.

I really appreciate the major events in history we have been covering in class like: Hurricane Katrina, 9/11 because they make me dig deep into my emotional soul. I know this sounds cheesy, but these are moments I lived through and blocked out of my memory. 9/11, for example, occurred when I was 7^thFalling Man grade and I realized how much I had suppressed. Since I am older I can look at this event through many lenses I have attained since middle school. I touch upon this in my entry about when Lianne approaches Elena about her music. Lianne’s use of the word “they” when talking about Elena and her assumed Middle Eastern “people” reminded me of how racism further thrived after 9/11. I also talk about how Lianne “frames” Elena physically in the doorway and racially. Framing also appears in my blog about The Boondocks episode where the news was accusing the “drug-related crime” on the only Black characters in the neighborhood.

This is also connected to the stories behind Botero’s paintings of Abu Ghraib where American soldiers tortured innocent civilians in Iraq. This unjust event is grounded by racism, hate, and prejudice, and is also a product from 9/11. In my blog I analyze the colors, shapes, and appearances in Botero’s paintings and why he perhaps painted his figures and scenes the way he did. This was a powerful blog for me to write because as I continued analyzing the paintings I realized how they impacted me. I began to ask questions about the painting with the tied up man being attacked by the dog: he scream? Did he call for anyone? Hopefully others began asking questions. I think that art was a good switch from talking about books people outside our class perhaps have not read.

Other concepts I have highlighted are escapism and creation, particularly in 1 Dead in Attic. I reflect on how “Some through alcohol and medication and even suicide” have “achieved escapism, but Rose seeks a piano. The piano becomes the symbol of the broken house/family and a memory of the liveliness of Louisiana through music.” I thought it was important to understand how Katrina emotionally and physically affected the survivors. There was also a certain amount of creation and creative thought, like the Cat Lady, who lived near Rose. This creativity acts as a light through the bleak darkness that surrounded the survivors and Louisiana as a whole. I really wanted to touch upon these two concepts because I feel like that they should provoke empathy and understanding in people who haven’t given Katrina much thought.

One thing I would like to change within my blogs is making them more personal. I feel that at times I can get too hooked on the analysis of a book or idea, which can take away from my personal opinions about the topic. I do this a lot in informal, personal papers even! I would like to make more concrete statements as to how I feel about a specific concept and to be able to feel my voice more.

The Postcard Killers

The Postcard Killers has been a thrilling book thus far! I haven’t gotten too far into it but the short and precise chapters have been a real treat compared to the reading I’ve had for other classes this semester. It is really different for me to be reading a contemporary book published in 2010 because I never have time with school to do that. To say the least, I am excited to be reading more modern literature this semester. I really enjoy reading murder/mystery novels and it’s great to be reading a contemporary one. I’ve always read a lot of Sherlock Holmes stories and I even took a class this summer that focused on the British Empire, narrative, and detection. It’s interesting to compare The Postcard Killers to Sherlock Holmes, or even The Moonstone. They are all extremely different but they all make up the history of the detection novel.

The narrator in this book seems to be objective and honest. I’m unsure of who is telling the story, but it reminds me of the driving voice in The Good Guy by Dean Koontz. The narrator feels like it’s someone who was not personally part of the story, but seems to know everything; it could even be the author. I also enjoy the switch narratives from Dessie to Jacob and to the killers. This reminds me of Falling Man in this aspect. I think it’s important to have these multiple focuses because as a reader we know they will all come together, which can be a really fulfilling feeling. These four characters are all in close proximity but just haven’t run into one another yet, which creates more suspense. The setting of the book takes place in Europe from Italy to Germany and to Paris. There’s a lot of ground for these characters tamper with and physically move on, which I like because the book doesn’t seem grounded in one place.

As readers we also learn a lot about each character. We can tell that Jacob is grieving over his murdered daughter and how close this case is for him based on the repetition of “Rome, Rome, Rome” and his large intake of alcohol (20-21). We can see how his mind goes in circles and how emotionally committed he is when he repeats words or phrases like, “what the hell, what the hell, what the hell” (22). I’m finding it really easy to latch onto how the characters feel and what type of personalities they have. One last thought: the use of postcards to relay murders and to secretly contact people is pretty damn creative!

I personally think that Falling Man should be taken off the syllabus. I enjoyed this book the least and I had a hard time identifying with it. I think that there is a better book out there about 9/11 somewhere; I’m just not sure what it is. The prose was great and the emotional states of the characters were pretty accurate, but it didn’t trigger a great deal of emotion for me. Perhaps this is because it’s fiction? I really wished I liked this book and got more meaning out of it like some people did, but it just was not my cup of tea. Yet, this makes me want to read more novels written about and around 9/11. I think if I were to teach this book I would have another book from post-9/11 so the class could do a cross comparison and see which they could relate to better, or feel the most compelled by. This would be the only way I could keep Falling Man on the syllabus because I feel that it this one book doesn’t entirely capture the moment in history.

PAINting Torture

Sometimes the painting starts to relate very directly to either sights seen or experiences felt, other times it just goes off on a tangent that you really can’t articulate.

-Susan Rothenberg

I’d be lying if I said Fernando Botero’s interpretations of Abu Ghraib didn’t disturb me. How could I forget the pile of naked human bodies, stacked and left as a spectacle? Or even the pink blood and the urine being sprayed all over an exposed man's stomach and genitals? I’m actually in awe that he was able to create something so realistic and accurate without having looked at the actual torture images. Yet, at the same time my reaction to his images is less intense than the photographs. I think it’s easy to convince myself that these people aren’t “real” because of the different art form, but they are brought to life in a completely different way.

One also has to keep in mind how and where they are viewing the painting. Going to an art gallery or art museum is extremely different for me than seeing a painting off my computer screen. It’s a whole new experience when you have the painting, sculpture, drawing, and other art physically and literally in front of you in their organic form.

The men being tortured are portrayed as puffy, muscular, and stout. According to the text parallel to Botero’s images, the simplified style of the tortured subjects is supposed to allow more reliability for people. Their bodies always seem to be curved and in movement, more than likely because of pain. They are not only vulnerable because they are bonded up and stripped naked, but they are also blindfolded. This does make the subjects more relatable because the “windows of the soul” are being covered up, this could be anyone. The various skin colors also show that these men are from no specific or known culture. There are few characteristics about the men that make them unique in their appearance, which I think ties into the reliability aspect as well as the loss of identity and individuality. This makes sense because to most of the American soldiers who were torturing them didn’t give them an identity other than perhaps “terrorist” or “animals.”

I find the random blue-gloved hand in the image of the dogs attacking the victim interesting. It serves as a reminder of who is behind this occurring hell. This person is also holding onto a leash for one dog, as if it really matters because it’s about to bite the man’s neck off anyway. I think this is a good representation of who is in power in this situation and who literally holds the reigns of control. The blue sticks out on my mind, like it’s am image I will not forget. It’s actually disturbing. The hand looks like it’s covered in a medical glove, protecting the torturer from the hell they are dispelling. Here’s one last ending remark: the anatomy of the most vicious dog and the victim look alike. The ribs are bulging out of the sides of their puffed chests, their mouths are both opened a tad, their skin looks lumpy, and their bodies mirror one another in posture and pose. One major difference is the man’s hands are behind his back and he cannot fend of the dogs, which epitomize torture. Analyzing this image makes me wonder what the man said. Did he scream? Did he call for anyone? Wow, these paintings are getting to me more than I expected.

One last aspect I want to touch upon is the lingerie wearing and how this is used as a form of humiliation. I feel that this puts into perspective the conservative gender roles of the torturers. To them, this it’s funny to see a man in women’s attire and women’s bras. Putting a man in a bra would not be “humorous” in all environments, but in this one it “is.” This is all speculation of Middle Eastern traditions, but it might be offensive and taboo for a man to wear designated women’s clothing. I think one can really gain the dark sense of humor of the torturers by the lingerie.

I’m surprised there are so few artistic interpretations from Abu Ghraib. Have major events such as this, 9/11, and Katrina been captured through different mediums than photography? I have seen various artistic remakes of the Holocaust and times in history like the Great Depression, but not 21^st century events. Anyone who has seen otherwise please let me know because I would love to know about more recent interpretations! Do artists feel less need to capture our century because of the up rise of photography? I really hope not because I think we still need paintings and other creations besides photography. I think that we need these images that can help us escape from the subject being presented, or simply understand the subject in a different way.

Falling Man

I’ve been thinking a lot about the concept of framing as I’ve been reading Falling Man. One scene that stands out the most in my mind is when Lianne confronts Elena about her music. This is not only a verbal confrontation, but also a physical one. Lianne’s anger and prejudices build up throughout the book, but can be especially seen through her reactions to Elena’s music. Even though she does not know the exact origins of the music she concludes that they are of an “Islamic tradition” (DeLillo 67). I questioned Lianne’s knowledge of Middle Eastern cultures because it sounded like she was merely putting Elena and her music into a box. Not to mention, she talks about those who follow the Islamic tradition as “them” and says that “they” are all alike in their prayers (DeLillo 68). One of the most crucial parts of framing is diminishing individuality, which Lianne does here. She not only stereotypes the “different” music but she then makes assumptions about Elena and her (perhaps) “people.” Lianne has an air of superiority around her assumptions and “knowledge” of people of different racial and ethnic backgrounds. Though we don’t know Lianne’s entire life story, one can speculate that 9/11 further provoked Lianne’s need to frame specific people.

Lianne’s thoughts become more superior when she brings privilege and class into the picture. On page 68 she reflects that Elena and whomever she lives with doesn’t own, but they rent their apartment like “people in the Middle ages” (DeLillo 68). What if Elena is barely making rent? What is Elena and her family can’t get sufficient jobs based on their appearances, beliefs, or race? There is little we find out about Elena in this section of the book and we certainly know that Lianne knows nothing about her, other than what she has framed her as. By making this comment, Lianne’s lack of empathy turns into harsh criticism. She is saying that “they” don’t own their place like she does because she is privileged and is in an efficient financial position.

Framing can take also take a physical form. When Lianne goes to Elena’s apartment she describes her appearance. Elena is literally framed by her doorway in her “tailored jeans and sequined T-shirt” (DeLillo 119). Even her dog is framed at a certain point in the archway. Marko, Elena’s dog, is said quickly described my Lianne as “a hundred and thirty pounds, black, with deep fur and webbed feet” (DeLillo 119). I really like how Elena and Lianne are standing in two different dimensions: one in the hallway and the other in between their abode and hallway. I think it shows the separation between American and “other” cultures, white and people of color, Lianne and Elena. Lianne even uses “we” as if she and the other residents have agreed the music was too loud. I saw this as self-affirmation that she was right and it makes Lianne’s argument sound more legitimate.

Lastly, I want to focus on acceptable or appropriate post-9/11 behavior. Did any of you think it was offensive that Elena was playing her music after 9/11? Do you think she was purposefully trying to aggravate people? Elena says the music gives her “peace” and the neighbors haven’t approached her about its loudness (DeLillo 119). Do you think Elena is entitled to listen to something that calms her after 9/11? What does this show about Lianne? Lianne’s repetition of the word “circumstances” is something that Elena does not agree with. I think this can be read a number of different ways but I think Elena isn’t “ultrasensitive” in the way Lianne is about 9/11 (DeLillo 120). I think that there is a possibility that Elena can be framed in this scene as apathetic or separated from the entire event, as if she’s an enemy or doing wrong. It is not just the music that drives Lianne’s anger; it’s merely a catalyst.

The Boondocks

The Boondocks is a hilarious and satirical cartoon. The episode we watched in class lightened the heavy weight I have feel when thinking about Hurricane Katrina’s destruction. One aspect that struck me the most was how accurate the shows interpretation of the news was. In this episode, a white woman from News 5 is quickly and unexpectedly interviewing Robert Freeman about his recent sheltering of Katrina refugees. She asks Robert, “What do you hope to get out of this?” Robert responds, “Not a damn thing.” The reporter mistakes this as selflessness instead of heated selfishness. She is so caught up in her own unaware, ignorant world that she cannot detect the true story happening in Robert’s house. The news and media often does that.

News 5 seems to linger outside of Robert’s house. They return when Robert is about to kick the refugees out of the house and the same news reporter frames him as a jerk. This was funny to watch because here we have the juxtaposition of the news, which portrays inaccurate information and is not helping with Katrina, and a man who is sheltering refugees even though he doesn’t entirely want to. This reflects the injustices that occurred after Katrina hit, and perhaps even now still.

The second example of News 5’s stalking behavior is when they report the “drug related crime” which obviously means, “the crime rate is rising.” It’s not a coincidence the camera was filming Robert, Uncle Ruckus, and another man of color. Again, this mirrors the present day news and the obsession with crime, what groups of people are focused on, and the faultiness of the news. Uncle Ruckus is also a good parallel to the news because he is outwardly racist, while the news can be subtler. He truly believes that he is white and he is the physical form of racism.

Despite the humor in The Boondocks, I thought that they did a great job at portraying the fears of the refugees. Robert panics the refugees when he says they have to evacuate. In conclusion, the refugees scream and run and end up sitting on the roof. Robert now has to fix a hole in his roof that they made, their escape route. This put the anxieties of refugees into perspective for me. It’s a different experience to read a memoir or book, like Chris Rose, about Katrina refugees being depressed, drinking excessively, and having Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Even though this was a cartoon, which can make emotions and moments less emotional, it really hit me. It’s so different for me to see even cartoon characters fleeing to the roof and breaking a hole in the roof. The stress and fears that some refugees now have can be hard to grasp for me.

The question we discussed during class, about when it’s okay to make something serious funny, has been resonating in my head. Even more so after I read The Falling Man by Tom Junod. Junod talks in his article about an artist named Eric Fischl who scultpted a large bronze state entitled Tumbling Woman. He wanted to redeem all the jumpers on 9/11 and this is what the statue reflects: a woman who appears to be falling through space. When this was exhibited people had very negative reactions and it has to be taken out of the exhibition. Fischl even received bomb threats, which I thought was just ridiculously dark. I can understand people being offended and not ready to face something that emotionally triggering, and may even get the wrong idea, but a bomb threat after 9/11? Seriously? That’s just sinking to a new level of extreme and viciousness, especially after the loss of the Twin Towers. I personally think that The Boondocks was enjoyable to watch and it feels that there’s been “enough time” to be able to joke about the horrid event.

Alternate Routes Please

One small story. Many small stories make a big story (Rose 179).

Richard Misrach’s photographs of the Katrina aftermath are disturbing. By this I mean that they provoke deeper emotions and thoughts about Katrina. In 1 Dead In Attic we have read examples of these signs, but having the visuals change how I personally read the story. This sign. Wasn’t that and isn’t that still the question for refugees and survivors of Hurricane Katrina? What now?

Chris Rose can only capture an extent of experiences that arose from Hurricane Katrina. It is evident in this book that Rose resides in a nice part of town but he remains empathetic to Louisiana the entire time. He is not ignorant to the segregation, racism, injustice, and abandonment that Katrina has highlighted. Despite most of the stories being from his perspective, Rose uses metaphors and symbolism to show that his anxieties are not isolated, they have spread like a disease to refugees around him.

The two columns that I felt spoke to one another were Songs in the Key of Strife and The Cat Lady. In Songs in the Key of Strife Chris Rose, still depressed from the sights and emotions in Louisiana, finds himself losing interest in his old hobbies. He continuously works around the clock producing articles about Katrina. He finds life in playing piano and is determined to purchase one on his day off, which his boss makes him take. Rose goes to a piano shop he finds in the phone book, only to discover that Bitsie Werlein’s pianos have “marinated for weeks in Katrina Stew” (197). Not giving up, Rose enters another musical store and instead of enjoying the piano shopping experience he finds a “sad song” (198). He sits at a piano listening to a broken customer telling his story about post-Katrina. The second article is quite different from the first and focuses on Ellen Montgomery, a loner cat lady. She remains in her house throughout the storm and survives with all 34 cats. Unlike Rose, Ellen remains in her sheltered world of reality and sustains a tolerable peace of mind. Rose reflects that she has not necessarily perceived the entirety of the Katrina wreckage and is out of touch with the world around her. The differences and similarities between these two articles critique the universal needs of escapism and resiliency.

Rose’s article about the piano experience shows that he is unable to escape his post-Katrina reality. Some through alcohol and medication and even suicide has achieved escapism, but Rose seeks a piano. The piano becomes the symbol of the broken house/family and a memory of the liveliness of Louisiana through music. Though he does not get his “groove back” he discovers that he cannot “escape the storm” because someone is always telling their Katrina story about loses and pain (Rose 198). This is what Rose believes everyone needs: a listener because grief is everywhere. His experience in the second piano store shows the rapidity and surge of stories that come his way, which he incorporates into his articles. Rose is so submerged in the world around him that he is easily consumed by intense emotions and writes other’s stories. Anyone that is need of living though a disaster needs to be resilient, but he cannot find a solid ground to stand upon. Even when he is trying to play his piano later he reveals that he is unable to think of anything but Katrina and cannot play a single tune. This story shows the affects of the entrapped soul without an escape route and how crucial this is to survive.

Ellen, unlike Rose, is able to escape the storm and society in general. She paints her own reality, figuratively and literally, to the point that she “vaguely” notices Katrina approaching (Rose 112). The two extremes of escapism made me question which one was more numbing. Ellen does not have to hear people’s depressing stories on a daily basis, or even go outside; whereas, that becomes Rose’s occupation and reality. Would Ellen be able to handle the new Louisiana if she was exposed to it like Chris? Would she too feel the need to reach out and connect and share her story? Ellen’s ability to spend time alone makes her “resistant” and resilient in dire situations (Rose 110). Yet, this isolation has given the opportunity to strengthen herself and her peacefulness. Despite her seemingly lack of awareness of current Louisiana, she is able to create beauty out of the wreck. Ellen takes roofing tiles made of slate from ruined houses to paint on. Of course, she may not realize the symbolism behind this, but she redefines loss through recreation. I think Ellen’s story provides a message of hope for those who are lost and seeking an alternate mental residence.

New Chapter

Hey all,

So this blog was once used to record my travels abroad this past summer and is now focused on my English 745 class. I will be posting blogs now and then with literary ideas and concepts that I collect with particular readings. I hope that you will enjoy reading this or will be inspired to write yourself or simply read one of the pieces that will be covered.

It's way too hot out for classes this week. I'm really looking forward to the rain coming this weekend so it's not 90 degrees.

Stay cool everyone!

My thoughts today:

Major find at the Sherlock Holmes museum in London!

I missed Stephen Hawking AGAIN! He was here today in his office and was gone by the time I came back for dinner. I'm hoping he will come back before I leave.

3 more papers and a final and then I can hopefully explore Cambridge before I leave this week! Ah!

And

the trees were the best in this garden. Gah, I just can't go home anytime soon!

Ireland

puts everywhere else to shame.

Trinity College in Ireland

Ireland!

My new

favorite cereal!

Surprise!

Taken from a tour bus.

Exhausted.

I'm not sure i'll ever get used to this time zone.

Today. Yesterday.

Mostly everyone went on the Hop On-Hop Off bus in Cambridge to get the tour of the city. It was very interesting to learn about the colleges, the importance of religion during the making of cathedrals/churches, and the slow presence of women in the colleges. Cambridge is a pretty damn small city actually, but extremely walkable.

There are so many bloody tourists today. I'm glad our group doesn't stick out as bad as tourists that have the same florescent-colored clothing and sequined shirts of the English flag because we look so damn good compared to real tourists, haha. I love the old architecture in Cambridge and how it's ultimately stayed the same over the years. It's so different being in an old culture that doesn't change and there's something really wonderful with the preservation of physical history.

I believe today we have a scavenger hunt around 1:30 and then later tonight we get to go punting! I heard it's hard to do and people usually end up on the wrong side of the river. Punting is a huge things here since the river runs behind all the colleges. That'll be fun if that happens! I plan on walking around town though and taking pictures since I haven't done that just yet. I might even explore alone, pop in my headphones, take my camera, and just go! I'm going to start a picture collection of road signs.

We had out opening banquet last night and got to eat in the fancy dining room in Gonville and Caius. It was incredible. A lot of the artwork was based off of Greek mythologies. We even got candle lighting and when dinner was done the wax had melted all over the polished table and only the wicks were left. The banquet began on the lawn, which is a huge deal because we're not allowed on the grass on campus. We're not allowed on the grass and we can't go through the gates (one being the Gate of Honor). These things are really for the English students that attend Gonville and Caius during the school year. So, to say the least, it was a huge deal going on the grass, even though the drunks have already done it at night secretly.

We got to try sherry, which was absolutely disgusting in my opinion. My teacher said that she didn't like it either and that it was more for prop. I couldn't agree more. The aftertaste was like a mixture of yeast and raisons. Everyone got dressed up and looked smashing while being classy and drinking sherry, water, or bubbly wine. Then the man who was serving us drinks rang the bell and said that dinner was served. This is what happens almost every night for dinner (minus saturday and friday because they don't serve us dinner) where a server will come down and tell us dinner is ready. We then go up two flights of stairs from the Buttery, which is like a pub inside campus, into the dining hall, which looks like Hogwarts. There are portraits all over the walls, one being Stephen Hawking, who attended Cambridge, and there's a high table up front. Every student has the chance to sit at the high table to get to know the professors and be that classy and that person. It's a hell of a lot different than just sitting at the tables below; manners really matter here.

Anywho! So we went into this gorgeous dining hall last night for our banquet and between each course someone would read a passage aloud from those who attended Cambridge long ago or just wrote about the college itself. It was really wonderful. I took pictures of some of the courses for Rach because this was by far the best meal we've had because I could actually eat everything! I can't wait to be able to post pictures for you all to see where we're at because it's absolutely incredible. After dinner everyone parted ways and the people who love going out drinking went out, ect, ect. I went on a walk with a bunch of chill people because we felt the need for a brisk walk in our classy attire. The nights here are not like the U.S. They kind of do as they please. One minute it's perfect, not too hot, not too cold, and then it'll be chilly as hell, then again it is at around 2 a.m.

As we were walking we ran into 3 British guys that were looking at nice suits in a window. We all quickly got into a conversation starting with the suits and then about cultures, restaurants, pubs, ect. One guys was pretty drunk and we was going on about how much he loved England and how the English founded America. Perhaps this is a direct quote: "It's in the name. GREAT Britain." He wasn't a snob about it and more hilarious, which was refreshing. He also didn't pin us in a corner for being American and being abroad, which is also refreshing. It's really fun talking to locals here though, some of them are bloody hilarious and friendly! Drinking, of course, is one of the major ways you meet people, er, it's the "easier" way.

So after encountering some locals we ventured onward and walked around the colleges, parallel to the river, and back to Gonville and Caius. After that we tried to look for a laid back pub, which is impossible on the weekends, then proceeded to locate an open liquor store, which was also a fail. Stores close around 5 or 6 here actually, which can be a pain in the ass. If you're even in need of food late into the early hours then you must go to The Trailer of Life, which is the equivalent to Kurts at UNH, except way better. They have chips (fries), cheesy chips (fries), quesadillas, burgers of all kinda, hot dogs, ect, ect. You should know that chips are fries and crisps are chips, like potato chips. Also if you get nicked, that means that you've been arrested. But to say the least, The Trailer of Life is the hot spot for those who are drunk, under the influence of any drug, or just damn hungry late at night. I'm pretty sure this one guy was on some sort of hallucinogen drug while riding a bike; he was pretty damn out of it.

So, after dinner, as I was saying, I hung out with some people and we played pool in the recreation room under the Buttery and just talked and hung out. It was actually one of the greatest times because it wasn't too out of control and just chill. You definitely need those nights here to keep your sanity at times, and it's also nice to get to know more people better. I met a new friend from Ohio and we were all comparing the differences in NH and Ohio. We also chatted a lot about music, which we could all relate on quite nicely even though most of us liked different shiz.

A lot of people are set on going to Quins tonight for the karaoke because they have it every saturday. I'm not sure what my plans will be though. I might go and see Macbeth a few towns away, orrr try and find ghosts again, which was an epic fail last time.

I'm really loving Cambridge. It was a culture shock at first, and it still is in a lot of ways. I'm beginning to love the smell of the air, the cobblestones, the constant talk from the punting guys, how Sainsbury (the most popular shopping market) is constantly in a state of chaos, how the construction down below my window wakes me up at 5 or 6 a.m. almost every morning, how almost every British song at the Slug and The Lettuce is a song and artist I know...the list could go on! I'm meeting some incredible people here though. I do miss home at times. Being here has made me see that the U.S. is more home to me than anything, even though I haven't felt that for a while.

One things very cool about Cambridge is that even though it's a completely tourist spot there aren't any tourist-aimed shops. There are no shops that have just T-shirts and shot glasses and postcards. Everything is spread out here. There aren't any notebooks in the bookstores where one can buy their college books. I don't even know where to find shot glasses! Maybe the airport? The H&M here is epic, it's two floors. The first one is classy and more expensive, then the second one has men's clothes and women's clothing on sale. There's some great fashion here. A lot of women ride their bikes wearing skirts and dresses and flats, oh so classy! Bikes are a huge things here though and since it's the summer and there's a lot of construction cars can't come through some streets that are blocked off.

My body and mind are definitely still in U.S. time. I feel at times that there are fewer hours here in the day, or the days seem shorter in general. It's difficult to go to bed early and wake up early. It's really hard to believe that one week has gone by, bollocks! I need to make it over to Ireland soon, that's my number one destination with traveling thus far. Next weekend we're all going to London to see The Winter's Tale at the Globe and we get the option of staying there the rest of the weekend to explore, which HELL YEAH. I'm definitely going to explore London with those who stay behind. I'm really looking forward to going to Scotland though! That trip is going to be so much fun.

Well, I feel that's enough for right now. What shall I leave you with? Hm..the Cambridge Press is right across the street from the college. How more badass can you get?

Cheers!

I heard a pigeon cooing like an owl today.

I don't think I can fully put into words how great it was so sleep last night. While taking a few moments of being peoplesick and homesick I fell into the deepest sleep. Today I had the best scramble eggs I've ever had (other than yours mum!) and the chef was so friendly. It's really hit or miss here, some people are friendly and want to help you as much as possible, rude and don't want to have a lengthy conversation with you, and some just plain out flirt with you. You never know what you're going to get really! What I can say though are the road signs here are so intolerably awesome and I want to steal them, minus the fact that there's no possible way I could get them back into the states, damn! They're so simple and hilarious because they totally reflect the British culture. I've also never seen so many traffic circles in my life. A lot routes the bus took have the same setup: traffic circle, go any direction, go into a small town where the barriers are rails (sometimes with flowers), nice apartments, pubs/shops, pond with ducks (who look different than our ducks in the states and just hang out on shore sleeping), then back to the traffic circle.

One of the craziest things I saw was when we first started out on our bus to Cambridge. We were driving on the freeway and I look to my right (when we were on the left) and I see the other lanes on the other side of the road and behind that is an open field/hill with massive cows! It was an interesting mix of animal and technology. I saw a lot of wonderful countrysides and fields, it was so hard to stay awake.

Jess and I bought mixed drinks yesterday at this cute place called The Slug and the Lettuce, I felt quite like an adult girl! It was really cool being able to just relax and not get CARDED. A lot of people are into the drinking scene and going out but I want to do more exploring with architecture and culture.

What else can I say about England?

The first thing a lot of people say is, "alright?"

We had duck for dinner last night, which I gave a try! To say the least, duck is not my favorite choice of dinner. I was gaging on the small piece I took. Then I thought about how many people in my family would love it. Wish I could've mailed it to you all! Oh! We also had rum ice cream with raisons. I immediately thought of you, Rach, because we had that nasty fruit pudding ice cream one time.

It stays light basically ALL night! I went to bed at 11 p.m. and it was so bright out still (picture to come). The nights here are perfect. Perfect temperature, perfect amount of people, perfect picture-taking time. Perfect!

A lot of people ride bikes in Cambridge, mostly with baskets in the front.

We're forbidden to go on the grass at out college because they use it for special events (such as our first banquet on Friday) and one other time.

John Caius created 3 entrance gates at the college which, like the grass, are only used for certain ceremonies.

The grocery store is always a hotness of people are chaos.

I've seen only a handful of people are purple or pink in their hair.

The vending machines are kick ass because I don't recognize any of the food products. Though, I will tell you that the bottles here are a lot taller and thinner. The cars and even trucks are a lot boxier and smaller.

I start classes today! Shakespeare and Empire, Detection, and Narrative. Whoo! After I get out of class at 4 I'm going shopping!

Our courtyards at the college are absolutely beautiful, I'll be sure to post pictures soon! I unfortunately don't get wireless in my room so it's the school computers for now.

Cheers! :)