Final Blog

Women's literature as a whole was not what i expected. I didn't expect to read a book called Vagina Monologues let alone to read about single mom experiences. I didn't expect to expect to read read about a mom and her children in a concentration camp ,  a overweight girl catching H.I.V from her father, or a single mom been a prostitute in her own house. I didn't expect to read about the fathers , either been dead or non existent either. But i did, and Eve Ensler uses her talent and writes novels about everyday woman problems for women to read and even men. Women are always celebrated for being a sex symbol or being a first lady. Today we are seeing more and more women being successful writers, talk show host, and even successful politicians like Hilary Clinton. What is hidden is the nasty and horrible experiences have to go through to get there or experiences that ruin their chances to be successful. In the vagina monologues Eve Ensler personified a women private part numerous times. She wants women to become more comfortable with talking about it. she also wants them to become more comfortable with themselves. Honestly i don't read aloft of books but most of the books i read gave me a huge understand and makes me appreciate women a lot more. I would watch movies like these bit reading makes you sick and think about all of the experiences. I am emotional creature is message for women and men that women are indeed emotional. In fact it is one of the two or three things i know for sure. These books serves an inspiration so that no women should have to go through the experiences that in the book. It brings real life experiences right there to your lap. These books make me sit here and think and wonder are getting stronger and more successful. Is it because they are sick and tired of being the less dominant sex? Watching the movie about the women in jail makes me wonder if they wasn't treated so bad in life and by men would they be there. Well at the end of the day women are on the rise and Eve Ensler are one of the inspirational women behind it. Professor Gaurino is a prime example of someone that women would want to be. She knows she can be the difference between women waiters and women professors. She knows she can be the difference between men thinking they are dominant and men thinking women are equal. That's why she choose the use Eve Enslers books. That's why she choose to show that movie at the end of the semester.  Everyone in class has to leave with a better understanding of  why women literature exist because i sure do. I will save all the books so when my sister gets older she can read them.

i am emotional creature

Eve ensler is a great woman role model and uses her literature to portray the struggles of women. I am a emotional creature is like a tell all book that expresses the emotional side of women. The things that women have to go through in general should make them strong human beings but they have to face it they are emotional. I understand why girls are taking over the world because they have something to prove. look at oprah and michelle obama. they are emotional. if they seen a sad movie or if a guy stops talking to them they would probablt feel the same as any other girl would feel. Every girl can relate to this book and use it as a sepping stone to go wherever they want to go. Eve Ensler is using her writing skills to influence girls to become more successful like herself. “It’s a call to your original girl self, to your emotional creature self, to move at you speed, to walk with your step, to wear your color.” Why cant men have books to read that had things like this in it. Eve ensler is bringing women together and helping them find themselves and is pushing them forward. I am a guy and i support this 100 percent.

Two or three things

All of these quotes in this book make you really think and in someway helps you better yourself. Not only was the book enjoyable the quote in the book make you stop and think. Another one of my favorite quote go a little something like this " Two or three thing I know for sure, and one of them is what it means to have no loved version of your life but the one you make. " This too the most time to sit and think about. To me it is saying the always love your life for what it is because it can always get worst and someone in the world always has it worst. nYou always have to make the best out of a situation and always look at the bright side. You will have to look through alot to love your life but so be it. I am average college student. But being that i am from Harlem alot of the people dont have my opportunites. I often wish for a better life but i have it EXTREMELY good. I have every reason to succeed in life because i basically had no huge obstaceles in my life.

Two or Three THings

"Two or three things I know for sure, and one of the them is just this-if we cannot name our own we cut off at the root, our hold lives as fragile as seed in a wind. "
My favorite quote in this book because it makes me sit there and think about it meaning. I think it has a very powerful mean and helps you look at yourself as a better stronger person. In other words i think this is saying that if you dont know who you are or what you wanna become or if you cant find yourself then you are weak and vulnerable. The root is the connection from the heart to the brain and it is cut off. With this being said you easily vulnerable to influence and easy to get led off the right path. When the evil wave comes towards you are likely to go with it. If you cant name your own self then you cannot do anything to better yourself. You to know who you are to get ahead and accomplish something in life. Before graduating highschool I found myself to know that i want to go futher with my education and labeled myself as a college student. You should of always know your position and your role before you play it.

Everything about The shawl that is confusing.

For one Magda's daughter was pushed on a electrical fense. OR was it Rosa's daughter? In class the teacher said the Rosa may be insane becuase she doesnt know if Magda really exists. Rosa takes place in a gap from 1940 to 1977. In 1940 Rosa was in her twentys and she was in the camp. In 1977 Rosa was fifty eight years old in Florida living in Florida. She was poor and only had a single room place.  There is a huge gap between that and i dont fully understand what has gone on during that time. Another thing that was confusing was the relationship with Mr. Persky. he is a seventy one year old man, he either works at the laundry mat or is always spotted there. Rosa does not trust him at all and believes he is just there to pick up girls and is a pervert. i wouldnt trust Magda as a reliable narrator either because i dont really like the way she thinks about everything.

the shawl

The story ia about fifteen-month old Magda, and how her mother, Rosa, deals and tries to keep her from death by the Nazis, as they march to a concentration camp. Along with Magda, Rosa’s niece, Stella is marching with them. Stella is always cold physically cold, and eventually steals the shawl , which i still dont understand what a shawl is. The book summarizes Rosa’s harse memorries of that dreadful day when she marched to the concentration camp, and her horrifying memories of later times she spent in the camp. She also witnessed one of nthe gaurds kill her daughter. Cynthia Ozick gave  us a great book, and one that intensifies as the reader moves through the pages. Her writing is a talent, and it is a gift to her readers. The Shawl is an excellent psychological study of love and death,  loss, remembering and guilt. I recommend it to all those who wish to have a greater understanding of the effects that the Holocaust has on individuals, decades after the fact. The Shawl should always be in  in high school, college and university libraries forever.

Emperor was devine

This short story by the name of  "When the Emperor was Divine" written by Julia Otsuka is a novel.  the book has different stories from through the eyes of each family member.  the titles are mother, girl, and boy.  The mother tries to protect the  children by keeping  them from the realities they were going through by not  by her not explaining exactly what was going on. Their father was taken away in the beginning  and this plays a major role in this novel  because the mother feels that she is better off woth him there for support and she cant really raise them  without him being around. He is a major role that has been taken away from her and without him she doesnt really play the mother role as she should have. She becomes depressed and doesn't show much attention to her daughter who begins to rebel at the age of twelve, and her son begins to takes care of her as well as be a friend to her. symbol of a women not having the support she needs from her husband and shows the worth of a dad, man, and husband being there for his family but it wasnt his fault. 

Emperor

In When the Emperor Was Devine, the author should not be called or labeled a minimalist. The tone of the book flows with  the main point of the book. The type of the writing is has more of a poetic stance  to the writing by portaying the feelings of the actions written throughout the words. someone is tne class said that monotone is the tone that the story was told in. I feel that the tone of the book is somewhat set the style and mood of what is going to happen and what the events are in the book. One question i wanted to ask in class was about in the beginning of the book. If the notes all over town was a notice about them being sent away to camps and such as why does she still try to fix the house up and continue her motherly routine.

Lying

In the novel , When The Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka lying is kind of the theme for the beginning of the books. In the beginning of the book i thought all of the white lies would come merge in to one big tradgedy or downfall. Being that i havent gotten to far into the book, i do not know if i am right or not. The theme is clearly white lies in the beginning of the story. One important lie is when the daughter claims that she doesnt receive letters from her dad. The dad is the most mysterious character in the story. Another lie that was told is when they was on the train. The mom told the son that they was gonna see horses and cowboys can be able to go out and pick any horse they want. She said they will probably be  able to see 8 horses , which is a flat out lie.

Difference in schools make a huge difference.

In this blog i want to show how much difference different schools make to your future and actions. Precious at first went to public school. The teachers there normally care enough to give you a passing grade and not worried about what is going on with your life. In NYC city almost all of my friends that go to public school say its like a party in there. One of my friends says he has to go threw metal detectors and when he does he swipes his card and then goes back home. The funny thing is he is cool with the security guards so he doesnt get in trouble. for the kids that actually stay either they do work or they go just to socialize. Precious went to class and sat in the back and did absolutely nothing. But she still managed to go on to the next grade. She thinks that she doesnt have to do anything to move on in life which is completely false. I went to catholic school my whole life. not only do they teach your the lessons better, they teach you how to shape into a young man or young women. In my high school i wasnt able to grow side burnsand i wore a shirt, dress pants, tie, and a blazer everyday. if we didnt do our homework we got detention and if we did anything worst than we got suspended. just like in real life if you break the rules you will have to suffer the consequences. Without catholic school i know for sure i would not be at southern today. When Precious when to the Each One Teach One program everything basically changed for her. she actually was challenged and had teachers that care. I dont even wanna think about if she never got into the program. in Harlem today there are hundreds of programs like that that are helping young children get better test grades.

What is the role of Precious' community in forming her individual self?

What is the role of Precious' community in forming her individual self?

Precious is from Harlem from 20 years ago.I reside in present day Harlem. The time period that she lives in is what makes Harlem famous for being sort of a rough edge place. People always ask me how do i live in Harlem because of the stories and movies such as Push and Precious. I think all of Precious problems should be blamed on her parents, her neighors, and her teachers. For one her parents are the complete opposite of mine. Her parents failed her by abusing her and keeping it to themselves. Her neighbors failed her by not calling the police or helping out what was going on in their household. her Teachers failed her by letting her go to the next level of studies without actually deserving to go. Then again her parents was not educated and they did not want precious to have a better lifestyle. In Harlem around that time there was alot of gangs and drugs, which did not make it easier for Precious to succeed. I am from Modern day Harlem. Today it is very cleaned up and you never hear stories like Precious going on in real life. Not to say its not going on but Harlem has better neighborhoods and better resources today.

Push

Being that Iam from Harlem, New York I kind of understand what is going on in this novel to a certain extent. Never before have I heard or witnessed someone getting raped or abuse like that as a child though. Plenty of time in school I had friends that have been beaten or verbally abused by parents. The reason that they got help is because i went to catholic school and the teachers really cared. In high school the guidance counselors was the one to help kids with situations like that. A couple kids that know that i am from Harlem always ask me what it was like and this movie kind of helped the stereotype. To be honest i know plenty of girls that are younger than me that already have children.Its sad to say because going to school in Connecticut show me a different view. I don't know anyone in Connecticut even my age that has children but in Harlem i know over 20 people my age and younger that has children. the movie precious , which i never seen, is the type of movie i try not to watch and I don't know why. Reading this novel explains better what was going with Precious. Its very disturbing and graphic. Being that she had a kid with down-syndrome didn't make it easier for her. I look forward to reading the book because i am from the same neighborhood and my family is the total opposite. I want to understand to not take my family and my education for granted because not everyone has it as easy as i do.

Fun home??

By far Fun Home by Alison Bechdel is the easiest book in this class. I spoke to many of classmates about what they mean by fun home. They said that fun home is the complete opposite of the description that their home would recieved. They live in a small town and the daugthers says her family reminds her of the Adams Family. The last time i checked the adams family wasnt really a fun home to be in. Well i think fun home is short for funeral home being that they basically live in one. the children does chores and the parents are complete opposite. With that being said living in a funeral home  does not define "fun". The one things about the children in this family is that they do alot of things to make this home not scary but actually fun.

Vagina # 2

Ensler seems to have two purposes in this text: to celebrate vaginas and to raise awareness of violence against women? Does she achieve both of these goals equally? Do they contradict each other at all? What is the effect of reading all the monologues as one large piece?

Eve Ensler does have two purposes in this text but i feel she celebrates vaginas way more than raise awareness of violence against women. This book celebrates vagina more than pornstars. Never had i read a book that expresses, the sight and smell of a Vagina. From live performances to discussions on college campus this book raises awareness for Vagina. Eve even speaks to different women about their views and secret thoughts about their own vagina.

Vagina

1)The genre of this piece of literature is drama, meaning that Ensler wrote these monologues to be performed. Why do you think she wants vaginas to be publicly performed? Why does she want vaginas to be physically embodied? What effect does this have on the way we see and think of vaginas?
For one I Never met someone that is so comfortable taking about their naked body part. Almost no one i know actually calls it vagina. i really dont think she wants this to be performed, but rather she puts alot of emphasis in the word vagina. She has alot of similesand personification. "Here's the place to practice saying the word, because, as we know, the word is what propels us. "VAGINA". this quote is powerful enough to show the authors point of view without reading anymore of the book. Its more of a tell all about being more comfortable with saying and talking about their vagina. She gives desriptions and smells about it. even gives a full list of nicknames for the word.

Carolines Wedding

Caroline is very appealing to me because happened in my family, with makes me think if I should marry someone outside my family. My parents really don't care if i marry an hispanic, caucasian, or spanish women but their parents did. What is ironic is my mom's brother married someone outside of the race named Caroline, which is the protagonist in the story. Her mom wasn't to found of this situation bout the weddings still went on and it was beautiful. In the story, Caroline wants to marry a guy outside her race. They are haitian and personallly i never a haitian married to someone else besides haitians. Her mom decide to make bone soap which is suppose to ruined the wedding somehow. Grace, Carolines sister, is caught in between the drama. my attitude with this situation is that you carry whoever you want. myself i am not really attracted to women my own race.

Night Women Analysis

Night women is about a prostitute that has sex with married men right next to her son bed. This story bothers me somewhat because i cant imagine a mom actuallly during something of this nature. She describes her son as a " butterfly fluttering on a rock that stands out naked in the middle of a stream. what she means by this he moves in his bed but silently enough that she does not know that he is awake. Her excuse to her son that if she ever woke up that the person she is having sexual relations is his dad. I heard a similar story from my mom. My mom said that a girl in Harlem, my residence, was a prostitute and she lived with two of her children. She did not exactly do it in the same room but in the same apartment. Not only did she lie to her children about the guys she had sex with, she lied about what was going on. when her children heard noises in her room she said she was exercising.

Flinn, On the Bus.

This poem is somewhat hard to understand but was very interesting to me. "Three hours after the buildings fell, he took a seat beside me. Fresh out of prison, after 24 months, You're my first hello!" These were the first three lines in the poem and it grabbed my attention. Being that Naomi Shihab Nye was linked to writing about the September 11th, 2001 attack on the trade towers i automaticly figure she was talking about the trade towers in  the first line. Later in the poem Naomi talks about a person singing behind her on the bus that had spent time in jail. This person felt his lawyers did him wrong and he wanted revenge. But he didnt want to go back to jail so he second guessed his revenge plan. I felt this is similar to Americans wanting revenge on the terrorist or whoever they thought was responsible for the trade tower attack. "Savaged skylinesn thousands of lives" was said in the poem and that it was exactly happen on 9/11. The last line of the poem was "Peace is rough".

great poem by Maya Angelou