In class we were discussing how in Power... why trees matter so much when talking about the earth and heritage. How the roots grow deep and the tree grows higher. This made me think of Pocahontas and the talking tree. The tree is the tree of wisdom and Pocahontas goes to her for help. I think that this captures a lot of what we were talking about and how trees represent wisdom and knowledge. Also the tree knew her mother and can relate it to Pocahontas. So it is a kind of different way to look at a family tree. The tree is also old... kind of like mother nature. So like in Power how the trees are a symbol of past generations and the tribe is about the elders being in control, they too value what is older. (Press the talking tree to see the you tube video).

We talked about covers of books with Lucy. Lucy's book cover is of a girl from the West Indies and has no top on. She look ponderous which would represent her, Lucy. Now I contrast that with the cover of Power. The cover of Power is a dark forest with a dress hanging from the tree. I think this is representative of Omishto because she is torn and is confused about who she is. Her mother is often jealous of her looks but her sister always wants to dress her up. Omishto does not want to be a "pretty" girl and wear all the dresses. I feel like the dress on the tree represents her rebellion against being a "pretty" girl. The forest that the dress hangs on is dark and ominous which is like her thoughts... because she is confused about herself.

Namesake

A name has a lot power over people and how they are perceived. It is the first thing that people have to make a judgment about a person without actually seeing them. One time my friend was talking about me to her friends that I did not know, her friends stopped her in the middle of her story to ask what I looked like because all they could picture was a 300lb black football player. Ha obviously I am not a 300lb black man but my name, Mo, somehow insinuated that, that was what I looked like.
I think a lot of people struggle with their name just like Lucy. Or their name fits like Oshimito. I also think that there are many different names for people. A person can have their actual name, a nickname, their last name, male/female, occupation, or regional. For example I am a Missourian, and accountant, a woman, Mo, and a Weaver. Each name connects me to different things and different people. How is it that one person can possess so many different names? Some of the names you do not have control over but some you do. So which one's are more important the given names or the chosen ones?

Lucy - Cover

The cover of the novel Lucy is representative of her through the colors, shapes, and expression/ body language of the girl. The cover has a circle with a girl, Lucy, inside the circle. The circle to me is like a window looking in at her while she has no clothes on. The fact that she has no clothes makes me think that it is her, without a mask because she doesn't know we are peaking in. The look on her face is pensive like she is pondering her body and instances in her life. She is pictured as she is from the West Indies and looks like she is a young adult. The fact that she is pictured alone tells me that she is one, in a private spot, and two, that it is part of her character and situation that she feels lonely and confused. That is backed up by her facial expression that has a sort of sad tragic look. The color of orange and green is very earthy and there are a lot of references to the earth and outdoors in the book.

Ask for It

I went to the closing speaker for DSLC given by Dr. Malveaux. Dr Malveaux is the President of Bennet College which is an all women, mostly African American, institution. She spoke about a range of different topics but a couple that I really enjoyed were about women getting equal pay and poverty linked to diversity. The one that really stood out to be that made me think about class was the topic on equal pay for women. She discussed how women do not ask for a higher salary so therefore they do not receive a higher salary then men. In my business law class our Professor made us read this book and write a paper on this exact topic. The book was titled Ask For It. This is linked to earlier stories we have read in Lives and Times such as A Room Of One's Own and "The Yellow Wallpaper". In both of those stories women were fighting for their writes to be independent and equality. So like the main characters fought for women's rights we should to by asking for equal pay.

What it means to be "American"

The title "American" is very difficult. The question of what it means to be American was raised in class and here is my attempt to answer the question. Being American does not include race, religion, gender, but what I do think it includes is culture. I would say it is the majority of how people act that make the up the American culture. I think that things like Democracy, rights and laws, ect. is the culture of the United States. It's weird that we are called Americans when there is South America and North America: shouldn't we be called North Americans?
I think that Sanjeev and Twinkle can easily describe themselves as Americans because they have followed the American ideals of democracy, following the laws, and even going to college. I would consider higher education an American ideal. Christianity is too hard to throw in the mix because there is no one American faith, so I do not think it can be considered part of the word American, I think I would place it as a subset. But mostly I feel like being American is about the choices that you can make -- isn't America often referred to as the freedom lands?

Doves vs. Hawk: A tragic story

There once was a lone hawk that sored above everyone else... he didn't let anyone know how he truly felt because he believed that what you are and how people see you are two separate things. Then there were four doves. The doves were the prey in this epic story. The hawk was jealous of the doves because everyone loves them. They seem kind and harmless... people are just attracted to them. So when the evil hawk deceived the poor doves then all ended up dieing and the hawk was exposed and caged. The end.

Interpretations of Othello

I think that it is odd how many different versions of Othello different authors and producers can make. It was supposed to be done on stage not in a novel but reading it could be translated in so many things. It bothers me when I read a book or play and I have an image of what the stage or scene is suppose to look like and it doesn't turn out to be the way I read it. I guess this is one reason that Shakespeare did not put too many stage directions or detail into scenery because it can be widely translated. I imagine this is why it has become so popular because the differences have brought so many discussions and ideas of what is true and what every detail means. For instance... was DesDemona a virgin? What do you think?

Place and Identity

When reading Othello it is easy to see how place and identity is strongly linked. Everyone from the same culture has commented on Othello's differences, even DesDemona. This reminds me of Saint Mary's. Saint Mary's to me, is a more difficult place to feel like you fit in than a larger, maybe even a state school, would. I think this is due to our strong heritage and traditions. There is definitely a certain "fit" that is Saint Mary's College. I know I felt more comfortable here just because my mom and aunt had gone to school at Saint Mary's... It was fun to talk to girls and have them ask when my mom graduated and share that bond. I imagine it would be extremely difficult to go to school here if you did not feel part of the bond, not necessarily legacy bond, but some sort of Saint Mary's bond. I imagine that this is how Othello felt, out of place, or displaced. Except Othello couldn't just transfer schools.

Girl Interrupted

When I was watching the movie and Georgina introduces that she is a pathological lier it made me think of Yellow Wallpaper when Gilman introduced that her story is not entirely true. It made me think that Lisa was the reason that Suzana and her old friend Jamie felt like they needed to stay in the center. I thought that when Lisa went away Jamie got better and left. I felt like the story about hanging herself with a volleyball net was just a lie because Georgina told it. So in fact Lisa was the "devils advocate" as she called herself and prevented the two girls from getting better.

Yellow Wallpaper

Although the consensus seemed to be favorable towards this piece in class, I did not enjoy it as much. Yes, it was the easiest read thus far but the story made me feel uneasy. I couldn't help but become claustrophobic while reading how this woman is stuck in a room with bars and torn wallpaper. A pet peeve of mine is partially torn paper or things for instance when my paper tears with fringes out of a notebook. So to read about how the paper was torn really bothered me and I couldn't get past that image.

I think another problem might be that I cannot relate to this woman at all. I have never felt crazy like her and trapped in a room. It was hard to get into the character. Most of the time I was just thinking that her husband is probably just trying to help her because he doesn't understand her. I feel like I related to the husband more than I did her. I do feel sympathetic to her situation because I think it is sad that women just were casted as crazy when they had an illness that now is seen as common.

Virgina Wolf - A Room of One's Own

On page 37 when Wolf talks about how she would rather have to money over her vote. I think that there was a really good point brought up in class on how having the money allows her to go beyond the vote. That women can't just stop at getting the right to vote. This made me think of civil rights and how blacks went through the same type of ordeal when they were trying to gain the right to vote. We are learning about the 60's in my history class right now and how much of a struggle it was for the blacks to be able to vote. Do you think women went through some of the same trouble? Probably not to the extent that blacks did but maybe they had some men resisting their votes even after they gained the right to. It also makes sense that they have to go beyond just getting the right to vote. For blacks media was the number one key. Getting themselves herd and the media's attention. I think this can be related to women as well. Even though they can vote is that enough? Do you think that women, like blacks, need media's attention or to be published and herd to really have a say?

To me writing is like... a really bad date!

Going on a bad date is something that is bound to happen but you never look forward to it. When you first start out on the date of course you have hopes that it will be a good date and you will have fun. But the guy turns out to be a disappointment. As the date goes on it just keeps getting worse and all you can think about is how bad the date is and when it will be over. Then somewhere in the middle you feel bad about being so harsh so you may try to think positive and give it one more shot. It just doesn't seem to work out though, things just are not clicking. You stick it out though but when the date is over you are relieved and never think about the date again.

Just like bad dates writing is difficult for me because I can never really look forward to writing. When I get writing assignments I do always have hopes that it will go smooth and I will enjoy it. But it always takes me forever and is just frustrating more than fun or relaxing. Words and my thoughts don't flow very easily for me when it comes time to put them on paper.

writing is annoying like this guy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4D0555EtAZ4&feature=related