Comments for Bloggie. http://lossik816.wordpress.com Just another WordPress.com weblog Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:14:01 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on American Literature. by Siobhan Dowling http://lossik816.wordpress.com/2007/01/21/hello-world/#comment-20 Siobhan Dowling Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:14:01 +0000 #comment-20 I'm afraid to tell you that you're theory on American literature is not correct, specifically in the context of early American literature (late nineteenth, early twentieth century). Many articles were written during this period about how American culture was undefined and how Americans needed to stop looking to Europe for inspiration; Europe had a long standing tradition of literature, dating back to Ancient Greek civilisation (Look at D.H Lawrence's "America, Listen to Your Own" from 1920 and "On Creating a Usable Past" by Brooks in 1918). America had no such tradition: much of the literature which dates from the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries comes from an immigrant tradition; consider the many films made about immigrants (The Jazz Singer, The Italian) and consider the literature of Jewish immigrant Abraham Cahan. It is not until later that American literature began to find it's own (Consider Toni Morrison and her Nobel Prize for Literature in 1993). Also, literature in general, if you have ever studied it, is always related to society, whether it be in Japan or Great Britain. 'The Last Man', Mary Shelley's science fiction novel about the demise of human nature, was inextricably linked to developments in mathematics and sociology, where there were concerns about the growth of population versus the growth of resources; the environment. I’m afraid to tell you that you’re theory on American literature is not correct, specifically in the context of early American literature (late nineteenth, early twentieth century). Many articles were written during this period about how American culture was undefined and how Americans needed to stop looking to Europe for inspiration; Europe had a long standing tradition of literature, dating back to Ancient Greek civilisation (Look at D.H Lawrence’s “America, Listen to Your Own” from 1920 and “On Creating a Usable Past” by Brooks in 1918). America had no such tradition: much of the literature which dates from the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries comes from an immigrant tradition; consider the many films made about immigrants (The Jazz Singer, The Italian) and consider the literature of Jewish immigrant Abraham Cahan. It is not until later that American literature began to find it’s own (Consider Toni Morrison and her Nobel Prize for Literature in 1993). Also, literature in general, if you have ever studied it, is always related to society, whether it be in Japan or Great Britain. ‘The Last Man’, Mary Shelley’s science fiction novel about the demise of human nature, was inextricably linked to developments in mathematics and sociology, where there were concerns about the growth of population versus the growth of resources; the environment.

]]> Comment on Their Eyes Were Watching God. by mandy2612 http://lossik816.wordpress.com/2007/03/02/their-eyes-were-watching-god/#comment-19 mandy2612 Mon, 30 Apr 2007 06:54:38 +0000 http://lossik816.wordpress.com/2007/03/02/their-eyes-were-watching-god/#comment-19 I did not read Their Eyes Were Watching God, but it was interesting to read your blog without any knowledge of the novel. It's interesting that the main character really thought that all you needed in life to be happy was many and expensive things. Discovering that there is so much more to life than just expensive and valuable things is a really important thing to do, and I'm glad that this character was able to achieve this in the novel. I did not read Their Eyes Were Watching God, but it was interesting to read your blog without any knowledge of the novel. It’s interesting that the main character really thought that all you needed in life to be happy was many and expensive things. Discovering that there is so much more to life than just expensive and valuable things is a really important thing to do, and I’m glad that this character was able to achieve this in the novel.

]]> Comment on Invisible Man. by mandy2612 http://lossik816.wordpress.com/2007/03/26/invisible-man/#comment-18 mandy2612 Mon, 30 Apr 2007 05:08:16 +0000 http://lossik816.wordpress.com/2007/03/26/invisible-man/#comment-18 I thought you had some really interesting points about the theme of blindness. The fact that the men are blindfolded while being tortured definitely symbolizes the ignorance these men possess in order to be able to treat other humans in this way. Also I thought your view of the statue was really intuitive. When I read that part in the book, I definitely did not consider the act of covering the child's head would be a way of shielding the child from the racism and bad things going on in the world, but now that you mentioned it, I can definitely see how this act can symbolize something like that. I thought you had some really interesting points about the theme of blindness. The fact that the men are blindfolded while being tortured definitely symbolizes the ignorance these men possess in order to be able to treat other humans in this way. Also I thought your view of the statue was really intuitive. When I read that part in the book, I definitely did not consider the act of covering the child’s head would be a way of shielding the child from the racism and bad things going on in the world, but now that you mentioned it, I can definitely see how this act can symbolize something like that.

]]> Comment on End of Sula. by tonygeras http://lossik816.wordpress.com/2007/04/16/end-of-sula/#comment-17 tonygeras Mon, 30 Apr 2007 00:53:10 +0000 http://lossik816.wordpress.com/2007/04/16/end-of-sula/#comment-17 I think people just found her weird only because of the way she lived. I mean, she was differently the scapegoat, but that doesn't make her a bad person. In fact, I was kind of sad when she died. She was happy that it wasn't as bad as she thought it was, but death isn't a pleasant thing in the slightest, in my opinion I think people just found her weird only because of the way she lived. I mean, she was differently the scapegoat, but that doesn’t make her a bad person. In fact, I was kind of sad when she died. She was happy that it wasn’t as bad as she thought it was, but death isn’t a pleasant thing in the slightest, in my opinion

]]> Comment on End of Native Speaker. by tonygeras http://lossik816.wordpress.com/2007/04/29/end-of-native-speaker/#comment-16 tonygeras Mon, 30 Apr 2007 00:51:46 +0000 http://lossik816.wordpress.com/2007/04/29/end-of-native-speaker/#comment-16 It's true that he 'wore the mask all through his life.', but what I find impressive is that he can reveal himself to the world now- the world being all the different ethnicities of the children. They are shocked at first that he isn't a monster at all- and actually a man who looks like he would have about the same amount of English speaking skills as they! Because he was embarrassed a bit by his heritage, this is a nice big step in the positive direction for Henry. It’s true that he ‘wore the mask all through his life.’, but what I find impressive is that he can reveal himself to the world now- the world being all the different ethnicities of the children. They are shocked at first that he
isn’t a monster at all- and actually a man who looks like he would have about the same amount of English speaking skills as they!

Because he was embarrassed a bit by his heritage, this is a nice big step in the positive direction for Henry.

]]> Comment on Native Speaker by Rebecca http://lossik816.wordpress.com/2007/04/23/native-speaker/#comment-15 Rebecca Thu, 26 Apr 2007 07:14:45 +0000 http://lossik816.wordpress.com/2007/04/23/native-speaker/#comment-15 I agree with you about the book being hard to start reading and then really easy to get in to. I like how you pointed out that they both felt as if it was there fault that Mitt died, I think that is an important part when thinking about character roles. You made a good point about how Henry felt about being Asian. You don't really think about people not liking who they are or at least to the extent that he does. I feel like a lot more people these days are more comfortable with who they are and where they came from, but I guess maybe I'm wrong. I feel like there are alot more people out there who feel like Henry and don't know who they are and we don't even realize it. I agree with you about the book being hard to start reading and then really easy to get in to. I like how you pointed out that they both felt as if it was there fault that Mitt died, I think that is an important part when thinking about character roles. You made a good point about how Henry felt about being Asian. You don’t really think about people not liking who they are or at least to the extent that he does. I feel like a lot more people these days are more comfortable with who they are and where they came from, but I guess maybe I’m wrong. I feel like there are alot more people out there who feel like Henry and don’t know who they are and we don’t even realize it.

]]> Comment on Native Speaker by Alex T. http://lossik816.wordpress.com/2007/04/23/native-speaker/#comment-14 Alex T. Wed, 25 Apr 2007 23:23:50 +0000 http://lossik816.wordpress.com/2007/04/23/native-speaker/#comment-14 Yeah, now that you bring it up, Lelia may seem to be slighted by Henry because she shows more emotion, yet at the same time that list was incredibly hurtful. She is also the one who runs away from the marriage. Although a lot of Henry's and Leli'a reactions make a lot more sense once we find out more about their parents and Mitt. Yeah, now that you bring it up, Lelia may seem to be slighted by Henry because she shows more emotion, yet at the same time that list was incredibly hurtful. She is also the one who runs away from the marriage. Although a lot of Henry’s and Leli’a reactions make a lot more sense once we find out more about their parents and Mitt.

]]> Comment on Sula! by Lauren http://lossik816.wordpress.com/2007/04/11/sula/#comment-13 Lauren Sun, 15 Apr 2007 22:48:15 +0000 http://lossik816.wordpress.com/2007/04/11/sula/#comment-13 I agree with you in that Sula has this edge to her. She is not going to sit there ant let people bully her. She is going to stand up for what she believes is right, and that's that. When you mentioned it was out of character for her to cut off the tip of her finger, well, I am not so sure that it is proper behavior for anyone, right?; Not just Sula. I agree with you in that Sula has this edge to her. She is not going to sit there ant let people bully her. She is going to stand up for what she believes is right, and that’s that. When you mentioned it was out of character for her to cut off the tip of her finger, well, I am not so sure that it is proper behavior for anyone, right?; Not just Sula.

]]> Comment on Invisible Man. by Devyn http://lossik816.wordpress.com/2007/03/26/invisible-man/#comment-12 Devyn Tue, 27 Mar 2007 00:09:57 +0000 http://lossik816.wordpress.com/2007/03/26/invisible-man/#comment-12 i definitly have to agree with you interpretation of the blindness of everyone in the novel as a recurrent theme. You also stated that the narrator tells the readers that:" he is not the invisible one, the other people just refuse to see him." which i feel to be a very important/significant quote becaus eit is so true..he isnt invisible, he doesnt have supernatureal powers to disappear, its just that some people are so ignorant that they refuse to see him. i definitly have to agree with you interpretation of the blindness of everyone in the novel as a recurrent theme. You also stated that the narrator tells the readers that:” he is not the invisible one, the other people just refuse to see him.” which i feel to be a very important/significant quote becaus eit is so true..he isnt invisible, he doesnt have supernatureal powers to disappear, its just that some people are so ignorant that they refuse to see him.

]]> Comment on Invisible Man. by froglover http://lossik816.wordpress.com/2007/03/26/invisible-man/#comment-11 froglover Mon, 26 Mar 2007 18:17:03 +0000 http://lossik816.wordpress.com/2007/03/26/invisible-man/#comment-11 I never even considered the idea of blindness as a theme in this book. You are right that it appears over and over again. The blindness literally of the narrator, the blindness of those who treat black people badly, the blindness of Ras and his way of thinking. It is a good idea that you should consider bringing up in class and if you already did, sorry I wasnt paying attention. Your last paragraph sort of brings it all full circle and the way you thought about that was very different and a great way to consider the ideas! I never even considered the idea of blindness as a theme in this book. You are right that it appears over and over again. The blindness literally of the narrator, the blindness of those who treat black people badly, the blindness of Ras and his way of thinking. It is a good idea that you should consider bringing up in class and if you already did, sorry I wasnt paying attention. Your last paragraph sort of brings it all full circle and the way you thought about that was very different and a great way to consider the ideas!

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