Reading Details

Portfolio work:

4/16: started cover letter draft - 30 min.

4/17: finished cover letter draft - 60 min.

Lisa See, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

4/15: 20 min., 4/16: 30 min., 4/17: 15 min.

Total: 155 min.

My Desires

If I were to have obtain only one thing, I 'd choose happiness. My own happiness. Content with myself and my surroundings. I haven't really learned how to control my emotions and opinions about myself. Like everybody else, I do have flaws and things about myself that I would change if I were able to without hesitation. However, I've realized that no matter how diligently I try to please my family, their criticism must always find a way to bite me from behind. I must learn how to accept all of my flaws.. instead of consistently comparing myself to my family's standards of beauty and perfection. I will never be smart enough, have beautiful complexion, be skinny enough, or respectful enough. And you know what? I understand that. It's ok. That is what my family might think, but I will rise above it. I will be the best version of myself. And if they are blind to see that, then at least I will have happiness within me.

Well, Tambu from Nervous Conditions is definitely an obvious character whom we studied this year who desperately craved for an education. She yearned for a chance to prove her family wrong, which she was able to do. Tambu really did not care about the obstacles which obstructed her path to success. She prioritized education so greatly that she neglected her mother's sickness as well as her family back in the homestead. Being so strong-willed, she starts growing her own crops originally which was against her father's wishes. Another character we've met is Nyasha, also from Nervous Conditions. She hopelessly wishes to fit in with the society as well as satisfy both of her parents. She risks her health and her life in order to be skeletal and underweight. She believes that this will allow her to fit in and fill the void that keeps her from fitting in with her peers. Nyasha's bulimia and anorexia in the far end result in her being in a critical state - not just physically, but also mentally.

Because I went to the reading discussion lunch, I am skipping the first blog post of this week. I went to the "Crank" book discussion. I also went to the Writing Center this week. Kiddie helped me acknowledge some errors in my research paper. This took about 20 minutes.
Reading details:
Lisa See, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
4/8: 10 min., 4/9: 15 min., 4/10: 30 min., 4/11: 30 min., 4/12: 30 min. 4/13: 60 min.
Total: 175 min.

Common ft. John Legend – The Believer

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZbmwaqF6yc

Lyrics: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/common/thebeliever.html

Personification is expressed using Common’s verse, “I walk where money talks and love stutters,” Money and love are inanimate objects and therefore cannot talk or stutter. The usage of personification, in my opinion, changes the tone of the poem, going from statements to unrealistic situations to represent how wealth and status replace love and affection in the world. I also came across a simile: “Real talking, in they ear like a Walkman,” This is used to refer back to a previous line, “Is it what we talking, we really ain’t walking.” He cleverly uses imagery, as well, to describe the faults of the people of society, how we are all able to claim what we are and what we will do, but showing that we really are not as acclaimed as we argue ourselves to be. This leads to a deep thinking of the real side of our country.

Common’s second verse includes a metaphor (I think?): “We go from being oppressors to Oprah” saying that the murderers and hustlers are now praised and honored as Oprah is today. Allusions towards Martin Luther King Jr. and Barack Obama are evident, too. “From one King’s dream he was able to Barack us” refers to the “I Have a Dream” speech, declares that without Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream, Barack Obama would not have been able to be our president. I think this is a very straightforward statement and is used to shock us listeners, as truth usually shocks our society having been so blinded by the media. And throughout the whole song, rhyming and repetition of words are evident, but I don’t think I will include those since there are quite a good bit of them.

After reading the blog prompt for this week, I knew without hesitation that I had to turn to Common and his brilliant faculty of poetry. (See what I did there?) I must admit, the process of finding a school appropriate song was a bit difficult. But after having found the perfect one, analyzing it wasn’t as challenging as I imagined it to be. The process was not too horrific. However, I probably am off on almost everything, and I apologize for my mistakes. I love this song, and I hope it inspires you all.

Reading Response

Lisa See, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
3/1: 30 min., 3/6: 132 min.
Total: 162 min.

For my historical fiction novel, I chose Snow Flower and the Secret Fan for World History. I actually wanted to read Memoirs of a Geisha instead, as I’ve seen the movie, but it’s way more 350 pages, and I probably would not have been able to finish in time. Surprisingly, I’ve grown to be really fond of this book. It centers on footbinding in ancient China and takes place during the Daoguang dynasty. I’ve always been fascinated with the footbinding process after briefly studying it in World History. The narrator of the story is Lily, an obedient and disciplined daughter who is willing to do anything for her mother’s love and attention. Her distinctive feet are considered to be so rare and pristine that it allows her to have the smallest feet (only 7 cm – the size of a thumb) which has been her ultimate goal in order to obtain her mother’s acceptance.

It is astounding how having the smallest feet can improve social standing. It must have been so depressing to have bound feet at the age of five, not being able to run around and play. These girls were so young, yet they had all already been matched husbands by matchmakers and knew SO much about their duties and their purpose. They were not permitted to leave the women’s chamber or ever see the world changing in the outside realms. They were physically unable to anyway, as it was awfully painful to walk on one toe. I also can’t imagine being so powerless as a woman. Men ruled their lives and everything in it. “When a girl, obey your father. When a wife, obey your husband. When a widow, obey your son,” (24). As I was reading, I pictured myself as a woman of this era. Having unbound feet, I would have been a slave or a maid, bringing dishonor to my family. I guess no matter which era I live in, I’ll have a long way to go if I want to make my family proud.