Sunday, April 27, 2008

Letter from Birmingham Jail- Martin Luther King Jr.

Perhaps one of the most influential pieces of writing I have read, Martin Luther King Jr. places his argument against the religious clergymen who thought that King's nonviolent protesting was taking measures thought to be too extreme. The clergymen urged King to stop his movement. Not only did King rebuttle their views with such potent words and powerful analogies, but he also was able to accomplish such a task behind bars.

Everytime I have read this letter, I find another great argument or point that King is trying convey to his reader. King writes, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere" (500). His words strike true today--40 years after this letter was written. We have seen the injustice created in Sudan with the genocide and we hear and see photographs about the sex trade that plumets our society. We hear about the need to start taking more sustantative actions to preserve our environment---but are we, each and every one of us, doing anything about it? All of these issues that strike the conscience of the world's mind today are seen as injust. Just as the racial divide that segregated the country when King wrote his letter, our society will always be faced with unjust problems.

While reading this letter over again, I found reason to believe that King is looking for more radicals to help create a more peaceful and equal society. In fact, King compares himself to radicals seen throughout history including Jesus Christ. King expresses, "But though I was initially disappointed at being categorized as an extremist, as I continued to think about the matter I gradually gained a measure of satisfaction from the label. Was not Jesus an extremist for love...Amos an extremist for justice...Paul an extremist for the Christian gospel..." (509). He goes on to list many famous historical figures that we read in our textbooks year after year. And his point with each man that is listed simply gets stronger and stronger. Why are these men studied in our nation so fervently? It is because they were willing to take a risk and be seen as a radical--they were willing to make a difference.

While the risks we are willing to take do not have to be a momental as King, Paul, or Jesus Christ--we can make small steps towards a radical life. Only a few are meant and gifted enough to stand in line with these great men. However, our small actions can make a radical difference to those who know us. For example, if one feels strongly about perserving the environment, perhaps that individual will try not to drive and instead find optional transportation whether that be carpooling, using public transportation or by simply walking. Little things can be done to make a difference.

I truly admire King a little more every time I read this letter. His letter pours out the discontent that he sees and is flushed into words through the ignited passion that he possesses. While few may be able to reach the level that King has reached, each of us, as King expresses can help make a small difference to the injustice felt everywhere. Nothing is too insignificant when looking at creating a more just society.

Friday, April 11, 2008

"All's Not Well in the Land of 'The Lion King'" -Margaret Lazarus

I am convinced that our society sometimes has the propensity to over-analyze every fictional story in order to prove that it is not satisfactory for our children. Lazarus in her essay, "All's Not Well in Land of 'The Lion King,'" provides a review that unforunately finds the Disney classic to be full of stereotypes and complacent attitudes. For example, Lazarus points out that with Whoopie Goldberg as one of the hyenas with an inner-city dialect, one cannot help but compare those creatures in the film to that of the life in the ghettos. While discussing Scar's reign over the Pride Lands, she criticizes the lioness for not taking a stand against the evil lion.

These points may very well be true, however, other than her boys, who apparently found these errors, no child will care or even think about these things. Disney movies always provide a wise balance between adult humor and children entertainment, in order to attract all audiences. With this in mind, it is also important to remember that Disney is in the business of creating fictional, fun entertainment. Do you think Jay Leno thinks about how he may be creating a biase feeling when cracking a joke about a presidential candidate? Did Hans Christian Anderson consider religious confusions while creating fictional characters that deal with magical things?

If Lazarus has a problem with the "Lion King," I cannot imagine how her feelings would be about other children modern-classics such as "Harry Potter" and the "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe." Her assumptions about how this simple Disney movie will affect her children's psychological development is absurd. Perhaps Lazarus should be more concerned with other factors that play into a child's growth.

Lazarus fails to realize that many good themes are portrayed in the movie, which I am sure will be more prevelant to a child, than Disney's stereotypical characters full of complacent attitudes. For instance, take the idea of friendship. Tumon and Pumba stood by their lion friend even when things were dark, evil and scary. It's a film about accepting life's changing ways, coping with death, making friends, and, of course, like every Disney movie, a little love. Certainly it is these things that a child can take away, as well as the easy to sing-along music and funny lines exuded in the movie. Some things just should not be over-analyzed and 'Lion King' is one of them.

"Heartbeats" by Jose Gonzalez-A Review

Folk rock artist, Jose Gonzalez leaves his listeners with another soothing and simplistic hit. The sultry lyrics of "Heartbeats," which questions a torn-love, is packed full of poetic language to engage in. Most artists today seem to lack the depth needed in their songs. With lines such as, "And you, kept us awake with wolves teeth//Sharing different heartbeats//In one night," listeners are aware that Gonzalez has a creative written talent. His music also surpasses the talent of the mundane artist. While it may see very simplistic, it is this very use of skill that brings out the complexity of the lyrics. Having both a powerful and complex melody with strong lyrics can most often be too much. Gonzalez's relaxing broken-chord progressions in the lower register of the guitar provides the perfect balance. While Gonzalez may not have the best voice, it is this almost-ameteaur sound that provides a realistic artist that many listeners may be attracted to because of its common tone. This certainly is not the song one may be looking for to be put in a cheery mood, yet it offers the perfect avenue of comfort for all those heartbroken souls.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

"The E-Learning Curve"- Glenn C. Altschuler

While both essays that I have read in the investigative section, deal with electronics, I find one to grasp my attention more successfully and to hold more clarity than the other. "Altschuler's essay, "The E-Learning Curve," takes more of an objective approach than Skow's "Lost in Cyberspace". The author manages to write the facts, showing both sides of the story with very few opinions. I think that I would deem his essay much more investigatory than the other.

With this in mind, I must also admit that I found the specific topic within technology much more interesting than the conflict that Skow tried to conquer. Altschuler discusses the effectiveness of using the internet to take classes. These online courses seem to be the new trend in our culture. In fact, as Altschuler states, "With 90,000 nontraditional students enrolled, the University of Phoenix is not the largest private university in the United States" (245).

While this type of learning obviously attracts many people for the convenience that is offers, I think that I would highly avoid using this tactic to enhance my own knowledge and education. As Altschuler explains in his article, having online courses that can be done at the individual's own convenience, means that for the many procrastinators out there, nothing will ever be done until the last minute. Another factor that I agree with is the lack of personal interaction an online course provides. One cannot engage in a stimulating conversation about a certain topic, which I believe is a vital process of learning. Hearing other people's opinions, looking at the facts, and trying to form your own, is a great part of education. We are meant to learn to think for ourselves. However, with online courses, all one has to do is simply regurgitate material in essay format without any discussions from the professor or fellow classmates.

Furthermore, without that interaction, it becomes easier for a person to simply become a hermit and never leave their room to venture into the outside world. While college is mainly established for educational purposes, relationship building becomes another essential key to academic success. Learning how to cope with different people (by living with different roommates, working on group projects, etc.) is an imperative skill that everyone needs while entering the workforce. As Altschuler states, "Not every student can (or wants to) leave family and work, but those who do tend to complete degrees at a higher rate than those who don't" (247). This proven merely for the diverse amount of interaction a student receives when attending an university as opposed to taking online courses in the comfort of mom and dad's home.

I think that these online courses have good intentions, but when used by the wrong audience, can produce more negative impacts than positive ones. Groups of people that perhaps would benefit greatly from these online courses would be adults who have received a degree or have a job and are trying to obtain another degree to reach a higher level job or start on a different career path. This program may be beneficial for the single mother working at a convenient store who needs the flexibility to take the courses when she has the time, which could be late at night after putting her children to sleep.

Surely, these online courses can be helpful in society when used on the right population of people. Students freshly out of high school and learning to become mature adults should, however, consider learning in a colligate environment and avoid these online courses.

Sunday, March 30, 2008

"Lost in Cyberspace" John Skow

I always have trouble trying to navigate myself across the treacherous waters of Google's search engine. While looking for research material on any given topic or author, I usually, with the help of Google, find some legitimate sites. However, more than often, a majority of those sites look like they have been thrown together by a college student with pink angels flying in the background and synthesized music to go along with their findings. Therefore, it is easy to question the accuracy of many of these websites.

John Skow in his essay, "Lost in Cyberspace" makes some practical observations while investigating the scary realms of the World Wide Web. His main concern is quite sincere and understandable: there are good sites out there, but more than likely, we may not be finding them. And if we do, it may take us quite a few Google trips to reach a solid destination. Skow says some of the reasons being is our inability not to just take a web site for its outer-appearance. Skow writes, "Yet doing research on the Internet is like taking a two-year-old for a walk. Pretty pebbles and deeply meaningful small sticks present themselves, but enlightenment seldom proceeds in a straight line" (240). Just like people and books, it cannot be judged by its outside cover.

In fact, we could be landing on a site that may finally answer our question, however, if it takes longer than three minutes to load---forget about it. Three minutes in the internet world is like waiting for 1.5 dog years or 20 human years. Certainly, no one wants to waste their time waiting for a site to load. Instead, we keep clicking hoping that we will somehow come across some valuable and insightful information.

Or perhaps we do come across a site that is low-funded and does not have all the high-tech graphics and videos to support every story. Right away, many people will figure that the website is just not good enough. They will put it in the same category as the college student's pink background with pixel-looking angels flying around. However, according to Skow, "...virtual power, not real size, is often what's important" (241). Therefore, perhaps we should take a double look at the website that was not professionally done. It could give us more information than we thought.

Skow's points become a rude-awakening for many Google travelers. We must learn to look cautiously and judge after investigating the site for more than two seconds. There may be a secret hidden treasure amongst all those simplistic features. However, I think the most important part about internet-surfing is to try and find web sites based from organizations, charities, and places where people know their stuff because it's how they make their pay check every Friday. Indeed, this would perhaps be the best piece of advice I could personally give throughout my years of experience. As the wise Skow puts it, "Run barefoot through its meadows, but be careful where you put your feet" (243). Explore past the outer-appearance of that website, but use a careful eye while reading information.

Oh, the woes of the internet. Magellan has no idea what we conquistadors must try to sift through to find our treasure.

Sunday, March 9, 2008

"Why We Crave Horror Movies" Stephen King

I have never read any literature by Stephen King and now see that I have been providing a disservice to my developing mind...or maybe there is a reasonable explanation. In King's explaining essay, he candidly writes about the different reasons why people want to watch horror movies. One point that certainly echoed a fiber in my body was when King wrote, "It urges us to put away our move civilized and adult penchant for analysis and to become children again, seeing things in pure blacks and whites" (312).

Many times I have approached a horror film with a very cynical and rational attitude. However, when entering the world of fictitious gruesome murders and disappearances caused by the supernatural, one must put aside all rationale and let the mind immerse in the story completely. It is only when I allow myself to strap on my velcro princess sneakers, do I get the full experience of a scary movie.

King was absolutely right. Adults never see the world in a mere black-and-white complex. Yet, horror film does not allow for the gray area in between. It is to be interpreted by what has been seen, not by an a priori knowledge. Philosophers, theologians, lawyers, legislators, and judges all might have a hard time putting down their over-analytical brains. It could become quite the challenge to slide on those childish brain cells and welcome the "invitation to lapse into simplicity" (312).

After all, as King points out, we all are insane, just in different degrees. The philosopher might want to shut himself into a room for years without coming out until reaching his climactic enlightening-experience. Society may call that philosopher a hermit or just plain crazy.

King wants to stretch the point that in some sick and twisted way, we all can relate to the ax-murder who killed all his wives. While I agree that we have to leave room for the imagination and throw away a grand deal of sensible knowledge, there is a significant gap between being a cannibal and picking your nose. Does it depend on our degree of insanity to how we view the movie? Is King able to write such terrifying novels because he is a little more twisted inside than the normal being?

I can only come to the conclusion that yes, we are all insane, but in different ways. The philosopher that locks himself in the room for several years may be insane, but would he appreciate the horror film the same that King would? I think not. Our levels of insanity may be different, but so is the reason that stimulates our crazy actions.

Perhaps that is why I am unable to crave a horror film as King describes. I am the over-analytical individual who is not willing to categorize every situation in black or white. I like to think that sometimes there can be a gray, blue, violet-- even tie-dye side to the story. And perhaps my type of insanity is different from that of an addicted viewer of the blood-oozing deaths. Perhaps my type of insanity allows me to crave (dare I admit it) chick flicks and Disney classics. I’d rather view a child movie that is intended to be watched with a teddy bear in hand rather than the rated “R” films meant to be seen with a child mentality. If I am going to wear my pink shoes and tie pink ribbons in my pig-tails, then I should just watch the movie that would compliment this behavior.

While I completely understand King’s valid points, I find myself being classified as a different brand of insanity. Sorry, King. I do not crave horror films or your novels.

Sunday, March 2, 2008

"Los Pobres" Richard Rodriguez

I became fully aware of what a remembering essay encompasses after reading Richard Rodriguez's, "Los Pobres." Not only was he able to capture all the main points the chapter described for this type of essay, but he also managed to discuss some very important themes in his autobiographical story.

I think it is very interesting how Rodriguez touches upon the thought of going into a job with pre-conceived notions. Like all things in life, many things are never like the expectations that we held them to be. Rodriguez was shocked about the diverse amount of personalities he encountered while working at the construction site. Never before did he think that construction workers could be highly educated or have artistic capabilities. The stereotype of what a construction worker comprised of was installed in his memory. His summer job helped to refresh his thinking.

Similarly, I can recall countless amount of times when I have approached a situation with high and unrealistic expectations. For example, it would be silly of me to think that the volleyball skills I had possessed in high school would be even better after not playing the sport for about a full year. Yet, I did. I had in my mind that I would be able to spike the ball harder than ever before to prove to the collegiate athletes that I was up for the challenge to join their team. My first time trying to spike the ball again, I missed it completely and landed practically into the net. I looked like the middle-school version of my volleyball skills. I was mortified. For some reason I automatically dreamed up this mix between my image with the olympian skills of Misty May or Kerry Walsh. Unfortunately, I ended up playing like I had no idea that the ball was supposed to go over the net.

While reality can be quite devestating, it is only when we are able to crash those expectations do we achieve a better understanding of ourselves and the world that surrounds us. Rodriguez conveyed similar feelings. He thought that by the end of the summer job he would know what it would feel like to be a real worker. Yet, after meeting people who actually needed the money to survive, he realized he would never be that worker. By describing to the reader what he was in comparison to the worker, one is able to grasp a solid Rodriguez-definition of the "real worker."

The real worker needed the money desperately. The real worker could only depend on that particular job hoping that its skills (or lack of) would be able to get him or her through the week for the next pay check. The real worker needed the job for shelter, bread, and for a life. Rodriguez would never be able to be a real worker because he had something to fall back to--his education. (179). Rodriguez had much more than what the Mexican immigrants could have and I believe he realized that through their abensce of words.

Rodriguez was able to convey to the reader a sense of humility and gratefulness that he seemed to lack before. Likewise, there are many experiences in our own lives where we think that we possess qualitites others may have. Or that we have more to look forward to than surviving tomorrow. Many of us have a profitable future. Although my pre-conceived notions of my sweet volleyball skills only failed, it did not matter. I was not planning on becoming the next Misty May or Kerry Walsh. I have other talents that I can pursue and hopefully find success in. Even if I do not, there are many unique and special opportunities that my college experience fosters.

A college education was something that Rodriguez and I have in common and that many people unfortunately cannot afford. I, too, may never know what the "real worker" is.

Friday, February 29, 2008

I survived the ice storm of 1998

Brainstorming an event from the '90s.



The weather in Plattsburgh, New York is quite the fickle supernatural event. One day it may be a beautiful sixty-degrees with the sun shining and no cloud in sight. However, the next day there could be ten inches of snow and a day off from school; also known as the most beautiful two words in any child's langauage---a snow day. I loved snow days, in fact, I relished them. Any reason to get out of school, I was game. So when Plattsburgh entered an ice age for about two weeks, I was in heaven. Imagine waking up and seeing an ice skating rank in the backyard, covering every inch of ground for miles and miles of neighborhood living.

For most people the ice storm was quite the terrifying experience, but with power, hot water, no school and history happening before my eyes--it was like a dream come true.
The ice storm's cold behavior robbed the electrical power away from the majority of my town for more than two weeks. People were buying generators, cooking food on stoves, and living without a hygenic care. However, for some odd reason every house on our block lost power and was suffering the plague of ice, except my family. It was as if the angel of death passed by our door and swiped up everyone else in sight. We did not have anything different from any of the other houses on Cogan Avenue. Nevertheless, having power made the ice storm one enjoyable adventure for me.

Automatically, my house became the place of refuge. I would wake-up every new snow day to find my mother cooking homemade soup in pots the size of diner stools on our stove. Neighbors and friends would stop on by to receive a hot shower and bowls of the soup my mother slaved over. The "precision weather forecast" of News Channel Five would be giving the play by play in our living room of the destruction that the storm was causing. The biggest news day was when our little town managed to get on the Nightly News with Tom Brokaw for what the frosty weather did to our neck-of-the-woods. We were famous. The only destruction I saw was the deprivation of a solid fourth grade education and that was perfectly fine with me.

I read book after book, watched movies until my eyes could no longer bare a screen, and played with my brother day after day after day. I would press my nose against the window trying to peer out onto this new and extraordinary world that was being created before my eyes. Life was grand until reality knocked upon my little pink door.

Sunday, February 17, 2008

"Toys" and "Barbies"

When one usually thinks of toys the words enjoyment, childhood, and nostalgia usually pop into mind. However, when describing those plastic painted Matel-made objects, Roland Barthes and Emily Prager took a different kind of approach. Instead of reminicising about the fantasy world that Prager made Barbie and Ken live in, she criticized the maker of the toy and his biast opinions of how the female anatomy should look on Barbie versus the Ken figure. And rightly so.

Hardly any woman on Earth will ever have the physique that Barbie is blessed with. Yet, Barbie is perhaps one of the most commonly bought toys by little girls across America. What kind of message does it send if Barbie "...looks like someone who got her start at the Playboy Mansion" (133)? An unexisting small size, perfect hair, flawless skin (regardless it is painted on) is not how women look. We have blemishes, frizzy uncontrollable hair, and God forbid, we have fat.

Why couldn't Barbie be normal? And why do celebrities have to also feed into the image of a Barbie figure? No wonder so many girls in their teens have eating disorders and spend all of their money to get the coolest clothing from the hippest store. If Barbie did it, then obviously we have to look exactly like that in order to get our own Ken. Girls all over the country felt as if they need to be endowed in their feminist parts just as much as Barbie as well. It's just wrong. Girls should stoping purging themselves or going to surgeons for the perfect body. The only specialist they should be seeing is their own, inner-self. They need to look in the mirror and realize that healthy, for Tanya, may be a size eight and for Carrie it may be an eighteen. Being happy with their figures for their own personal well-being and for society is the only way to cure the image of Barbie perfection that we all feel we need.

The more women figure out who they are and can proudly announce, "No, I am not a Barbie-figure and never will be, but I love who I am," the better our society's image will be. There needs to be a "Barbie" doll named Tanya and Carrie, to whom real girls can relate to. There needs to be more celebrities who announce that they are happy with their shapes God blessed them with and will not try to lose 15 extra pounds for the camera. There needs to be more moms who tell their children they are beautiful just the way they are.

Beauty starts from the inside and isn't it ironic that the inside of Barbie is just solid plastic? Barbie does not have a real, pumping heart that can send compassionate words to friends. Barbie is a toy, not a role model. As Prager writes, "...we're all trapped in Barbie's world and can never escape" (135).

I agree with Prager's description. Barbie sucks.

Sunday, February 10, 2008

"Lenses" Annie Dillard

"Lenses" seems like quite the suitable title for Annie Dillard's short essay about description. She describes a microscope and swans truly in her own perception; her own lenses. That is perhaps one of the greatest beauties of human nature. We may all be looking at the same piece for inspiration for our writing (like a pair of swans), but all end up with different explanations of how we see the swans. Dillard focuses on the movement of the swans as she gazes at them through her binoculars. I on the other hand would have been more romantic in my description of the swans.

When I think of a pair of swans on Valentine's Day (as Dillard writes in her description), I would surely play more off the symbolism of swans caressing each other in the shape of a heart. I would write about how they were bound to each other's trust as they take their trip up the Atlantic coast. I would remark of the beauty that they share in their pure white feathers. I would express how their coat represents their cleansing spirit to start anew in a fresh location. I would speak about how a swan's journey could perhaps be similar to a journey in companionship.

As perhaps easily noted, I would perhaps describe more of the unknown, idealistic parallels than try to write about their wingspan. The one thing that bothers me about Dillard's description is her lack of poetic language in areas where it almost seems silly to just leave a simplistic remark. For example, she writes, "All their feathers were white; their eyes were black. Their wingspan was six feet; they were bigger than I was" (121). I knew that the moment she said she had spotted swans. Automatically my mind pictured two stereotypical swans. Couldn't she have given us more? Were there imperfections in the white coat of the swans? Were their eyes so black that it caused a sense of unease to the viewer? Or were the eyes so enthralling and mystical that one could not help but wonder what those eyes saw that the binocular holder did not. I want to know more than just the basics. Give me something to hold on to. I want to hold so tight to the words that she writes that I cannot question at all the picture she is setting for me. I want to believe that what she is telling me is so true that there can be no question beyond doubt that those swans are large and flying somewhere.

I am not quite sure I like the lenses to which Dillard perceives the world. They are quite realistic and descriptive without too much use of the imagination. I want metaphors, curious future predictions, and lyrical adjectives to describe those swans. I can only conclude from this essay that Dillard and I do not see "eye to eye."

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

"Mother Tongue" Amy Tan

I love how when telling her story, Amy Tan, expresses the different vernaculars of English by writting, "Englishes." It is true that perhaps the form of the English language that we use with different people does change. When I am with my friends, we end up shortening words that should only be shortened via text messaging. For example, instead of saying, "That is just awkward," some of my friends will sarcastically say, "That is just awk." "Whatever" will become "whatev," and instead of taking the time to say the extra syllable of "legitimate," it is apparently easier to just say, "legit." While I must confess that I frequently use these shortened terms, I am happy to say that I have never written, "whatev" or "that is so legit" in a formal essay. However, I cannot help but dwell on the text message language and the effects that it has probably developed. Just as Amy Tan felt like she struggled with her English class in high school because of her mom's English, do other kids struggle with the text message syndrome? Are kids so use to frantically typing on their cell phones and jokingly using the lingo when talking to friends that they simply bring that habit to their writing?

I always thought it was ridiculous when reading SAT prep books that they had to mention a rule stating something to the effect: "Make sure to use complete sentences and take the time to spell out the words." I was reading a SAT prep book (to prepare me for college), yet I was still being told of things that I assumed were fourth grade writing basics. Although I have never encountered this problem personally, it must be quite prevalent in the writing of youth if it is mentioned in a SAT prep book. I will be quite saddened the day when I write an essay (thankfully not for the SAT's) and subconsciously use abbreviations that would only be seen on my cell phone.

While Amy Tan specifically addresses the problem that is occurring with Asian Americans, could this perhaps be a phenomenon that is a cross-cultural development between human interaction and computer interaction? There is a right time for everything. Amy Tan knew that she could use the "broken" English with her mom, but also knew the importance of using correct grammar in her writing. Perhaps it is important that we leave the "legit's," "whatev's," and "awk's" to the computer and the actual correct words for conversation. After all, as Tan pointed out, many people thought her mother was incompetent because of her broken English when, in actuality she was reading Shirley MacLaine's books and the Forbes report. I know that my friends (who are attending some of the top-rated universities in the country) are very competent, but it surely does not look like we are in college when we start to say our abbreviations used in text messaging. It is just "awk."

Sunday, February 3, 2008

"Shitty First Drafts" Anne Lamott

Just get it all out there. It doesn't matter how terrible it is. The point is to get out all your thoughts in the first draft. What Anne Lamott expresses is something that is so true, yet is a practice I rarely follow. Usually I just want to get all the three magical steps of writing away with one, big sweep. I have other things to do. People to see. Superbowls to watch.

However, by trying to get everything done with "one, big sweep" I am realistically cheating myself out of what could be spectacular writing and perhaps spending more time on one piece of writing at a time than should be spent. To obtain great writing, it is important to be able to just write down all the thoughts that are mustered in one's thinking about a particular subject. As Lamott puts it: "You just let this childlike part of you channel whatever voices and visions come through and onto the page" (75). So if I'm talking about the importance of music and accidentally let it slip that I actually enjoy listening to country music or that N'Sync is actually better than what many my think, it's okay. The point of first drafts is to just express all the emotions that the writer has at that time. People are going to argue with a piece of writing no matter what one may write about. A piece of writing cannot please everyone.

Therefore, I shouldn't be afraid to write what exactly comes to mind. In fact, Orhan Pamuk also briefly mentions this aspect in his Nobel Literature award-winning speech when he says, "My confidence comes from the belief that all human beings resemble each other, that others carry wounds like mine--that they will therefore understand." While everyone may not agree with what I write, people may have similar feelings. How will I ever reach that point in my writing if I do not allow for a "shitty first draft?"

The beauty of that terrible first draft is acknowledging the feelings that the writer may have. It's like going to an AA meeting. The first step is always acknowleding that the addict has a problem. The first step in writing, is to be willing and to have no reservations about the initial feelings that something may possess for the writer to express feelings of hatred, depressions, comic relief, irony, love, etc.

So don't be afraid. The paper can handle the terror that your writing can bring it. As Lamott discusses, first drafts do not have to be seen by anyone. Revise a little or in many cases a great deal before showing your "first draft" to someone.

"Hi I'm Kayla Peck and I have a problem. I can't write 'shitty first drafts.'"
Like they say, knowing that you have a problem is the first step.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

"My Father's Suitcase" Orhan Pamuk

I truly wanted to start this post off with a quote. However, I had a difficult time trying to pick which one to use. Orhan Pamuk's usage of words and the meanings that he conveys in each sentence creates powerful ideas. His essay makes me want to become this extravagant writer and one day give a speech as powerful as his to an audience as important and royal as the one he had. Reading the beginning of the essay, I made notes after notes in the margins, underlining and putting stars among the things I found so profound. I looked at my page and realized I was like one of the those kindergarteners who scribbled across any piece of paper I could grab my hands on. However, by the time I got to the middle of the essay, when I found myself agreeing with everything statement he made, I found one. I found a statement that disagreed with the award-winning author.
Pamuk writes, "The starting point of true literature is the man who shuts himself up in his room with his books." Of course, I think the statement is true, but I think there is much more that is involved with the starting point of "true literature" than reading great books. I think that there may need to be another essential key that helps create wonderful writing. Perhaps I am taking what we wrote too literally, but I do think "true literature" also needs to be founded by life experience. I could shut myself in a room and read all the books possible, but I myself would have not felt half of the emotions or had to face any of the adversity that the authors that are so highly praised discuss about in their novels. I think Pamuk fails to write that it is also important to live life. Just as sometimes the best person to counsel someone when facing a dilemma is an individual who has been through it, I think the same can be said about great or "true" literature. "True literature" means conveying true feelings. How can one write such a vivid response if the author had not experienced even a fraction of what he or she is trying to write about?
Indeed, good literature is evolved from years of reading, but there is more. An author needs depth. A kind of depth that can only be experienced when faced with it directly.

"The Library Card" Richard Wright

There are so many different ways to tackle the theme of prejudicism. Some authors make the point so valid and in-your-face that the reader just wants to shut the book and scream, "I get your point! Can we just talk about something else?!" Others, however, including Richard Wright, are able to gracefully make discrimination a main concern while still creating a interesting piece of writing.
Here is a black man who hears the name of an author, H.L. Mencken, and lets his curiousity explore the wonderful world of reading while sneaking books under an employer's name. Genius. Pure genius, Richard Wright. Not only is the main character able to explore bits of wisdom from well-known authors, but he is also able to open his mind to new thoughts and ideas. Books become the character's key to freedom. "But to feel that there were feelings denied me, that the very breath of life itself was beyond my reach, that more than anything else hurt, wounded me. I had a new hunger" (43). He seemed to fall out of complaceny when he was able to pick up a book and read.
I cannot help but wonder about how I have never had to sneak a book out of a library because my skin color or ethnicity. Wright has an entire essay (at the very least three hours of writing and editing) of an essay where a man sneaks books. It's odd how our society can change. I could see young adolescents sneak to the movie theaters to see a rated "R" movie, but for a book?! Books are what we have to read in school, analyze and write the most boring three-page essays on. I commend Wright for not only tackling the issue of discrimination, but for showing the ostracism through the what sometimes seems like a dying media. This essay is a perfect example of how books and the ideas that they present can change a man's way of thinking.
The black man in this essay was able to find a new sense of freedom through reading. Others have found Christianity, love, forgiveness, value, and purpose.
Maybe I am being a little too harsh on our society today, but it would be refreshing to see a kid steal a library book.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

First Day

Kayla Peck walked into her Writing and Rhetoric class not knowing what to expect. With a grumbling stomach (the class was during her favorite Lane meal; dinner), her hopes were quite small that the time would go by quickly. However, the minutes flew by while she learned more about what to expect and the possibility of getting out early. The first class involved getting to know each other, which didn't seem so bad. Kayla announced that she was from New York (and no, not the city). She said she lived an hour away from Montreal and enjoys to hike and ski in the mountains she grew up in. She also mentioned that she was an undecided freshman just trying to get by her first year at Gordon.