Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen not only managed to provoke a manner of realism in a past and present tense but also allowed the reader to challenge all preconceived notions of a circus. The outlook of the book reminded me much of Heart of Darkness in the sense that it was so tragic, it was beautiful.
The manner in which the animals were treated made me angry. I couldn't help but think if we had the animal treatment acts in place that are now, but then, many of the horses that were slaughtered and fed to the other animals may have survived. I tried to keep in mind that it was a hard life for the people involved in the circus, but even though I lived most of my life not having enough money to pay for food through the week I could not imagine ever treating animals or even people the way the circus did.
The way "freaks" were characterized was relative to the time period but still just as disturbing to me. When I see someone of a small stature I treat them the same as anyone else, same for anyone of any ethnicity, weight, or tattooed. I believe in equality and half the time I found myself wanting to shout at the book or how wrong things were but just as compelled to keep reading.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Middle-American Gothic
Middle-American Gothic by Jonathan Ames, made me think about the stereotyping that I see happen everyday. I have friends who claim to be gothic as it may seem but, categorizing my friends in a stereotype like they want makes me feel like I'm filing them away in some dusty old file cabinet along with all of the worlds stereotypes.
I'm no stranger to stereotypes, being called a geek freshman year of highschool, and then a prep after that. I know that stereotypes are not fun when they demoralize someone or break down someones self esteem. Ames' article made me think about how often people break the mold, or fight stereotypes. I love how he chose a morbid stereotype to throw his audience into. Concerts full of people who someone may not think fits in that mold made my heart happy, in a sense he was breaking the mold most people grow up in.
I can't remember a day sitting with my parents going through old yearbooks that they didn't say oh yeah that was the head jock, or cheerleader, or something along those lines. It made me wonder what children in highschool would be like if they were striped of those stereotypes. I would hope that each person would see someone for who they are and less of what they are labeled (much like Sufjan's introduction of reading food labels). I can't help but think the world would be a better place.
I'm no stranger to stereotypes, being called a geek freshman year of highschool, and then a prep after that. I know that stereotypes are not fun when they demoralize someone or break down someones self esteem. Ames' article made me think about how often people break the mold, or fight stereotypes. I love how he chose a morbid stereotype to throw his audience into. Concerts full of people who someone may not think fits in that mold made my heart happy, in a sense he was breaking the mold most people grow up in.
I can't remember a day sitting with my parents going through old yearbooks that they didn't say oh yeah that was the head jock, or cheerleader, or something along those lines. It made me wonder what children in highschool would be like if they were striped of those stereotypes. I would hope that each person would see someone for who they are and less of what they are labeled (much like Sufjan's introduction of reading food labels). I can't help but think the world would be a better place.
Suffian Stevens
Suffian Stevens achieved a metaphoric analysis of the education system without directly stating it. I thought the most thought provoking situation was when I realized that the child was learning to read from food labels in a grocery store. I thought it was both ridiculous and ingenious at the same time. I wondered what good would chemical and ingredient names do a chidl in learning to read? But then I thought that that was the irony. That he could write an introduction like this and have learned to read form a grocery store. By no means was I believer of such a ridiculous claims.
Not to mention his reading of Edward Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. I was no believer of teh fact that he had read all 3,568 pages in one night. When I attempted to even read some of such a book I was bored and didn't get far at all. In retrospect when I have read books I am interest in, at most I can read a book of 1,000 pages in about a day, but to more than triple that? I don't think I was expected to eblieve that he read that book in one nigh, that is part of the irony- that this is a book of unrequired reading and he read a very large novel. I figure there is more to his fake reading than there is to believe he actualy did read it- that each and every story has a point- a thought provoking factor.
Not to mention his reading of Edward Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. I was no believer of teh fact that he had read all 3,568 pages in one night. When I attempted to even read some of such a book I was bored and didn't get far at all. In retrospect when I have read books I am interest in, at most I can read a book of 1,000 pages in about a day, but to more than triple that? I don't think I was expected to eblieve that he read that book in one nigh, that is part of the irony- that this is a book of unrequired reading and he read a very large novel. I figure there is more to his fake reading than there is to believe he actualy did read it- that each and every story has a point- a thought provoking factor.
Rock The Junta
Rock the Junta by Scott Carrier made me think about what everyone really wants out of life. I mean you have this reporter who at first makes me think what the heck is he doing there, and then I though well wait, what would I be doing if I was there. It made me realize that the peculiarity of the reporters situation allows the reader to relate on a subconscious level or even internalize what is going on with the reporter.
The alien manner in which the reporter saw "shells" of people made me think of when I went to see the Dalai Lama. When I looked at the crowd I saw the spark in some eyes where his presence was truly appreciated. In others, I saw blackness- an empty shell of a person not even grasping the consequences of what was going on, what people would give to switch places with someone who was there for all the wrong reasons. I remember when he first came on stage to speak, someone behind me started laughing, proclaiming he sounded like a star wars character. It made me want to turn around and ask him if he knew what respect was, but then I realized that by no means would that have been peaceful.
I felt able to relate to the reporters position in the alien-like nature of the environment. I tired to put myself in the same situation but, I couldn't even see myself being in such a place. I call that an accomplishment in Carrier's respect because I had inadvertently found that the situation was so real I would not have even put myself there- allowing for me to see more of both myself and the standards of different areas that seem so alien to each and every varied nation.
The alien manner in which the reporter saw "shells" of people made me think of when I went to see the Dalai Lama. When I looked at the crowd I saw the spark in some eyes where his presence was truly appreciated. In others, I saw blackness- an empty shell of a person not even grasping the consequences of what was going on, what people would give to switch places with someone who was there for all the wrong reasons. I remember when he first came on stage to speak, someone behind me started laughing, proclaiming he sounded like a star wars character. It made me want to turn around and ask him if he knew what respect was, but then I realized that by no means would that have been peaceful.
I felt able to relate to the reporters position in the alien-like nature of the environment. I tired to put myself in the same situation but, I couldn't even see myself being in such a place. I call that an accomplishment in Carrier's respect because I had inadvertently found that the situation was so real I would not have even put myself there- allowing for me to see more of both myself and the standards of different areas that seem so alien to each and every varied nation.
Literature Unnatured
Literature Unnatured by Joy Williams, stuck me as a thought provoking piece of literature that I never would have picked up off of a local bookstore shelf, but something that after reading, I wish I would have felt compelled to do so. The relationship between nature and words seemed both metaphoric and yet not. I felt like the interpretation by the end was left to the reader, and that that was the point. That there isn't one solution to just anything, that each and every person pulls something diferent from experiences.
It made me think about how "manufactured" in a sense the entire world is. I can't think of a day that I don't use a computer, or my phone, or even my identification card. It made me think of George Orwell's 1987 in the manner of the Big Brother factor. It made me want to strike out, technology-less and try and beat the grid. I had read articles before of peopel going off the grid in order to prove that people can live, and he difficulties wrapped up in a situation like that made me realize that I take advantage of what I have around me. That I am a student at a University with limitless access to book after book, my passion after all, where I could be more absorbed in what I was learning and passing on to others. It made me wonder if the standards I hold for myself academicaly are lower than I know I can achieve- and at the same time what US standards are compared to other country's standards.
The manner in which our words are being "manufactured" reminds me of the mechanic like lives we could end up living, and that I hope we never do live.
It made me think about how "manufactured" in a sense the entire world is. I can't think of a day that I don't use a computer, or my phone, or even my identification card. It made me think of George Orwell's 1987 in the manner of the Big Brother factor. It made me want to strike out, technology-less and try and beat the grid. I had read articles before of peopel going off the grid in order to prove that people can live, and he difficulties wrapped up in a situation like that made me realize that I take advantage of what I have around me. That I am a student at a University with limitless access to book after book, my passion after all, where I could be more absorbed in what I was learning and passing on to others. It made me wonder if the standards I hold for myself academicaly are lower than I know I can achieve- and at the same time what US standards are compared to other country's standards.
The manner in which our words are being "manufactured" reminds me of the mechanic like lives we could end up living, and that I hope we never do live.
A Happy Death? Or Maybe Not so Happy
A Happy Death by Allison Bechdel, left me torn. How could death be so ridiculously dry? The comic strip is devoid of emotion, somewhat relating to the inability of humans to face death, but also casting an eerie background to her efforts. I must admit that reading this left me with goosebumps on my arms and confusing still ringing in my ears.
I could not believe how much each of the feminine or non feminine characters all looked male. It confused me at first, but then I wondered if the graying of the gender roles could be part of Bechdel's overall point. Once I got to the end, I read through it again thinking I had missed an underlying point about gender roles amidst the subject of death. I was disturbed to discover the likeness of gender roles being switched. Generally I thought it should be father, son- Mother, duaghter type of relations, call me hypocritical. I started to see that there was much more behind the comic strip than just the uncomfortable subject.
Using the subject of death seemed at first, an akward if not uncomfortable subject to read about. Perhaps that was the point. It made me think of Stiff by Mary Roach in the manner the way th dry humor took away from the eeriness of the subject. It made me think that, hey- we are all eventually going to die right? Why am I afraid of something that is inevitably going to hapen. My mind could have strayed then to all of the sci-fi answers of far fetched capabilities but I found that the truth for me was that I was scared to leave things unfinsihed, to leave the people that make me happy, and to not have the things that make my every day life-my life.
I could not believe how much each of the feminine or non feminine characters all looked male. It confused me at first, but then I wondered if the graying of the gender roles could be part of Bechdel's overall point. Once I got to the end, I read through it again thinking I had missed an underlying point about gender roles amidst the subject of death. I was disturbed to discover the likeness of gender roles being switched. Generally I thought it should be father, son- Mother, duaghter type of relations, call me hypocritical. I started to see that there was much more behind the comic strip than just the uncomfortable subject.
Using the subject of death seemed at first, an akward if not uncomfortable subject to read about. Perhaps that was the point. It made me think of Stiff by Mary Roach in the manner the way th dry humor took away from the eeriness of the subject. It made me think that, hey- we are all eventually going to die right? Why am I afraid of something that is inevitably going to hapen. My mind could have strayed then to all of the sci-fi answers of far fetched capabilities but I found that the truth for me was that I was scared to leave things unfinsihed, to leave the people that make me happy, and to not have the things that make my every day life-my life.
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