NAMES

Names hold a lot of power as we clearly saw in Lucy. I was fascinated by the way in which Lucy's name had been chosen, and how each part was meaningful in some sort of way, no matter how odd. Earlier, we discussed in class many of our names and how they were chosen, but what didnt really come up was a name in which was hurtful or not really suited for a person, but that person was stuck with it anyway. What I mean by this for example is how Lucy's first name, Lucy, was given to her because her mother named her after the devil. This is what I mean by hurtful. Lucy is now stuck with a name that does not have a positive connotation, but there does not seem to be much that she can do about it. Similar to Lucy, my own grandmother, was named in a similar fashion. No, she was not named after anything evil, forutnately, but she was named after somethign she is not. Her father had wanted always wanted a boy and was sure he would get one. When my grandmother was pregnant, he had no doubts she had a baby boy inside her. He prepared to name this chil Mike--a simple boys name. To his horrified surprise, the baby was not male, but female. In his stubborness he still insisted that she be named Mike. He was clearly in denial, and refused to accept a girly child, and maybe by not giving her a girly name, he could live in denial the rest of his life. Of course he eventually gre to love hsi daughter, but not before than name stuck, and still today she is called Mike. As a child this was very upsetting for her, knowing her father wished she was a boy and having to permanently carry a boys name. I foudn this story to be relevant simply becuase it illustrates the strength and power of a name. A common name such as, Mike, holds a history in its one syllable. The power of names is not to be underestimated or ignored.

Often names are the first thing people learn about us; it is the ultimate first impression. For example many times, in a new place, such as a school, etc., people will wear name tags. Before even meeting or being in a contact with a person, they will the name written on the name tag and form some sort of judgement, consciously or unconsciously. For example it is possible that at Saint Mary's if you see the name "KATIE" written on a name tag, you might think, 'oh, just another Katie, nothing important', and you are thereofre unengaged by this person, simply because of their name tag.

lost in translation

In class we have discussed langauage and culture and whether culture is lost when language is translated. In another class of mine, PHILO110W, we have discussed this topic. We read a book called The Other Side of Eden by anthropologist Hugh Brody, in which he discusses Culture and langauge. A topic that I focused on perosnally was whether ethics can be lost through language. The conclusion I came to was that, yes, ethics can be lost through language, and therefore culture is lost as well. A culture that I looked at was an Inuit culture in Northern Alaska/Canada that faced colonialism by Birtish Canadians. The inuit language is a language that is cery specific to that culture and unlinke any other. The way in which words are understood is through experience. Inuit children learn the language of their people by experiencing the land, a very unique experience which often can not be translated or understood by someone outside the culture. Words in Inuktitut (thats the language) have gained very unique meanings due to the land and the way in which the Inuti experience and Interpret it. It is because of this unique expeirence that outsiders have difficult times understanding the culture and often face a conflict in values and ethics. Such values and ethics cannot be translated from language to language because of this uniqueness. It is imperative to understand that by simply learning the technicalities of a language is not enough to fully communicate with and understand another culture.


...To many cultures a puff of smoke may just be a puff smoke. To this inuit culture, this puff of smoke is much more than that, it is a way to communicate with others. Further, even by learning the smoke puff signals, a foreignor may have difficulties interpreting importance, and other things of that nature.

The Power of Power

As we discussed in class, the element of Power in the novel Power, is essential to the core of the story. The story explores power in its many forms and assesses its hold over a community and individuals. But what I found so fascinating about this novel was the types of power, or rather the things that were powerful, present in the book. Coming from a culture/community/society thta greatly differs from the Taiga tribe, it is interesting to learn what other people view as powerful. For example, the power of the Oni, or the wind, is very abstract. That an intangible element could provide a source if greatly respect, is fascinating to see. As is written in the book the wind is referred to as, "the spirit, the breath" (4). The concept of a powerful source such as wind to me gives a sense of awe, because wind is everywhere, as we discussed. I really found this to be an interesting topic to touch on because there is nothing like it in my own experiences. Similarly, the idea of the panther as an idylic being reminds me of nothing in my own personal experiences. I have often been surrounded by people who put faith and respect in inanimate objects, and in the book there is much power placed in living things. It is ineteresting to see the contrast between the two forms of respect that are paid to symbolic beings/objects.

This leads to the interesting dichotomy of two different forms of power that meet in the novel. As we discussed in class, American beliefs and tactics contrasted with that of the Taiga. It had not often occured to me that other cultures within the United States, that culturally abide by different laws, legally have to abide by the United States legal system. Obviously this would cause a distinct clash among cultrues. Dealing with this is clearly a difficult and controversial topic. After our discussion in class I was truly perplexed by the complicated situation proposed by the contrasting dynamics present in the two cultures. I began to sympathize with the many positions of the characters in the novel, especially that of Omishto trying to find her way.

The case of Ama and her 'crime' is not unique or unusual. In the United states there are many cases like this; cases in which cultural beliefs clash with American government laws and standards. Below is a link to an article concerning a 2008 case in which a young Native American boy was disciplined for violating dress code by having long hair at school. But his long hair is due to religious beliefs and it would offend said beliefs to cut his hair. Although this case certainly differs from the one presented by Ama in many ways, i thought it may provide a good example of how such culture/legal clashes do exist.

Lucy

. These are all different covers of LUCY, I thought it might be interesting to compare, although I myself am unsure what to make of it :)

Lucy's relationship with Peggy seems to be one of usefulness on both parts. The two share a common element of loneliness and the desire to change that common trait. I believe Lucy is trying to full her empty void through her friendship with Peggy. This is most strongly suported by the fact that the two girls seem to be worlds apart and yet they find themselves desiring one anothers company. This is most likely becuase they are comfortable enough in each others presence to allow the other person to fill the empty void despite their lack of connectedness. For example, Lucy provides a description of this new found freidnship, "The funny thing was that Peggy and I were not alike, either, but that is just what we liked about each other; what we didnt have in common were things we approved of anyway." (61) It almost seems as if the fact that the two women have nothing in common is essential to the nature of their relationship; they fill in the voids with their differences. Had they been the same, how could they have filled anything for each other? They would have been in the exact same position they had begun in.

I find this relationship to be interesting because I feel as if the two women are unaccustomed to female relationships. Although Lucy has a certain relationship with Mariah and as readers we are unsure of Peggys past relationships, I still feel Kincaid has somehow managed to illustrate the two women in lacking in female relations, or at least not very good at them. Other than Mariah, the only female relationship Lucy is familiar with is one with that of her mother, and this relationship is not a particularly strong one. I believe this unaccustomed nature of Lucy and Peggy plays a strong role in their friendship. It may just be this quality as well as being lonely that are the only two common traits these two women share. Maybe they are comfortable with each other because they are not normally comfortable with other female relations, and they see this reflected in each other.

Interpretor of Maladies

Jhumpa Lahiri's choice of title is very expressive of that which she is trying to portray through her short stories. In reference to "Maladies", she is most likely discussing the issues and circumstances surrounding the Indian-American experience, as she revealed. But what makes the choice of the word 'maladies' so interesting is the obscure way it can be interpreted in comparison to similar words such as 'problems', 'ailments' or 'issues'. It is possible that Lahiri is not only interpreting life situations within the Indian-American experience, but also interpreting the way in which an issue may be represented. What does it mean to be Indian? American? Indian-American? It is this question of interconnected identity that is discussed and brought forth in her stories.

Lahiri question of the human experience and identity is a broad and complex issue that is difficult to tackle. Yet through her creative prose she manages to deliver an answer, or at least an examination, to this issue. I believe her story, "This Blessed House" is certainly an depiction of the human experience. It happens around the world; man and woman marry, move, and live on their own. This is an often common human experience that is made even more difficult by having to blend two cultures simultaneously. In Sanjeevs eyes, twinkle blends too much. It is possible that in Twinkle's eyes, Sanjeev doesnt blend enough. For example when Twinkle finds a tiny porcelain effigy of Christ, Sanjeev instructs her to, "Check the expiration. And at the very least get rid of that idiotic statue." (136) It appears that Sanjeev fails to realize that he lives in a melting pot community; one in which in order to have peace, respect for other cultures and religions is a necesary part of daily life. It is in this issue that Twinkle pften contradicts him. For example, "She planted a kiss on top of Christs head, then placed the statue on top of the fireplace mantle..."(137)Twinkle, however, seems to lose her identity as a Hindu in being so adamant the effigy of Christ. To Sanjeev, it appears that she is losing her roots in a community where they are outnumbered. This question of blending makes their new marital and living situation change all the more difficult. Tis issue that Sanjeev and Twinkle are facing with one another is Lahiri's examination of a maladie (malady?) that is troubling an Indian-American couple.

This issue of blending and balancing, which in essence is what Twinkle and Sanjeev are tryign to do, is part of the story that Lahiri is trying to tell about the Indian-American experience. I believe that both characters, especially Sanjeev, are struggling with identity issues. Twinkle seems to be drawn to the Christian relics and statues, that obviously are not symbolic of Hinduism. Whereas Sanjeev is bothered and agitated by Twinkle's actions. He seems to be struggling with maintaining his Hindu identity where it is a minority. But he is also not open in a way that would help his transition as an Indian-American.

This is a Time Magazine cover page that was adressing an article about Indians coming to America. I thought this was an interesting picture, that sort of documented the Indian-American eperience.

O and Shakespeare

In the film O, there were many things that the filmmaker did that caught my eye. Similar to last viewing, the use of colors really stuck out to me. A very interesting and powerful shot, I thought, that executed this meticulous use of color was a scene right before Em took Des' scarf off the floor. The scarf falls to the floor and lands on a red carpet. The shot is held for several seconds to emphasize the importance of the scarf. I believe that the red carpet was no accident, and very particularly placed by the filmmaker. The color of the carpet combined with the scarf could possibly be foreshadowing events to come. When Oden realizes that Des does not have the scarf, this triggers many significant events. He becomes violently angry and his suspicsions that Des is cheating on him are confirmed in his mind. He then resorts to drugs and his demeanor rapidly changes. As we all know from reading Othello that this movie will most likely end in a violent tragic manner--much to do with the scarf. The red carpet foreshdows the bloodshed that is to follow in the path of the scarf, hence the several second shot in which is filmed the scarf on a red carpet.

The scarf and the foreshadowing red carpet triggered many events in the movie that I believe reflect the play itself. Thus, implying that Shakespeare is, in fact, universal. Viewing the many popular adaptions of Shakespeares play today such as, O and 10 Things I Hate About You, it cant be denied that Shakespeare universally speaks to audiences in a timeless manner. Although these movies are adaptions and therefore lack much of the speech and have a unique take on events, this does not degrade the value of Shakespeares stories, which after all is the essence of his works. It is his stories combined with his poetic language that aften captures his audiences. I say this because even in his time, everyone who viewed his plays was not completely literary, for example the 'groundlings' who would stand and watch at the bottom of the theatre would still enjoy his plays despite their illiteracy and possible lack of comprehension of many of his lines. Therefore it is his stories that speak universally to many of us hundreds of years later. In a personal note, I honestly still get worked up when viewing any version of Romeo and Juliet (especially when Leo's in it :) ) because it make's me think about my boyfriend (who's not Leo
:(...haha). This is because Shakespeares story about love will effect people forever, unless for some reason the world becomes a loveless society--but then we have a bigger problem.

http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Studio/9226/elekiss.jpg

Othello

I believe that the version of Othello that we watched in class really captured my own personal perception of the play. The strongets characteristic of the movie that we watched in class was mosr likely the color palette. I had pictured the play has being strongly based on physical perception. Thereofre I saw it as very straight forward--black, white, and red. The movie reflected my perception. It cast Othello in black clothing and the others in white, drawing a strong contrast between the characters. Blood was very evident; the color red unmistakable against the black and white color scheme.

I also felt that this helped to focus the viewer on the characters. Dramatic or complex costumes may have drawn attentin away from the acting and therefore created a more material, visually appealing performance, rather than an emotional and beleivable performance.