I usually am not a big fan of fantasy and to be honest when I first read the story about Ansarac I was a little bit confused and uniterested. Once we talked about it in class I realized the importance of what LeGuin was writing about. The Ansarac found it very imoprtant to maintain their way of life by restricting visitors to one spot where they can see some of the culture without actually affecting that culture in a way that would change it or lead to its demise. This reminded me of Ishi’s people once hidden away in the mountains to protect their lives from invading settlers and the improtance of maintaining a culture by not allowing people in to change it or destroy it. I also found it very interesting that she included a treck up a mounatin in the story, where the families disperse and leave no trace behind kind of like what the Yahi had tried to do but unfortunately it did not work out for them. The influences the story of Ishi has on Leguin’s story is very clear to see. The importance of preserving a way of life, of preserving diversity and of protection from outside influence were all themes in both stories.
Monthly Archives: May 2013
Response to speakers from Engleman Hall
I enjoyed the speakers very much. I love hearing from people with accents because I think that it makes you listen more closely and think harder about what the speakers are saying. I’m not sure if it was the sound system or the heavier accents on some of the speakers but I could not make out every word of what some of them had said. My favorite speaker was probably the one who needed a translator. I couldn’t understand a lot of what he spoke in English but I loved that he did it and I found his attempt at English more exciting than any other attempt I have ever heard. The way he spoke English was so exciting and different. Maybe he was just excited about what he was talking about. Either way I appreciated it very much.
I found Nadeem Aslam’s talk to be the most moving and I will never forget what he said about the meanings of Jihad. I have spoken to a few people about what he said about it sometimes meaning to smile at someone when you don’t feel like smiling. I love that he brought up the power of words in politics and the dangers that come with having such power. I’m glad he spoke about the lives that were lost in drone attacks and those responsible for them. I also like that he is not afraid to talk about these things and focuses on the importance of holding such power in the face of danger to seek the truth.
A Key Into The Language of America
Although the two works from Roger Williams and Rosmarie Waldrop share the same name, they serve two different purposes. Roger Williams intended for his work with the Natives, and this guide, to be a tool for the English to learn more and not be so estranged when it comes to Indian culture. He also believed that the English could learn from the Natives on a moral level. Although he was very disturbed by their religion, he could not help but notice how well the Indians conducted themselves when it came to each other and when it came to the settlers. Inherent in his language are subtle jabs at the supposedly superior English settlers whom, despite being civilized and acknowledging God and Jesus Christ, are unable to exhibit the same kindness and consideration as the so called savages. Rosmarie Waldrop comes from a different time but is able to identify with Roger Williams, the Indians, and even the other English settlers. She identifies with the Roger Williams because she was born the same year as his three hundred year ban in Massachusetts would have ended and they share the same initials, she identifies with the Indians because as a woman she too is conquered by this English society, and she identifies with the settlers because she also was not born in America, and traveled there expecting to find something new and strange. In her “key” she is able to incorporate all of those identifications. Her goal is to show the clash which occurred between the Indians and and the English Settlers, she also adds in the experience of a woman coming to terms with being conquered in the italic paragraphs that accompany each chapter. In a way, it seems like a part two to Roger Williams’ own work had he been able to write one after the loss of the Indian culture, minus the bit about women of course.
Engelman Hall May 2
After having attended the Pen World voices panel, it was interesting to hear what inspires different writers to write what they do. After hearing such a wide cultural group of established authors all speak at the same time I felt very privileged
to be able to attend. All of the writers that were there seemed to be very passionate about their work and everything that they spoke about. The writer that I was most able to relate to was Eduardo Halfon of Guatemala. I also lost a good portion of my secondary language skills at a young age, and I still regret it. His writing style was also extremely unique in a sense that you sort of how to peel back layers of it. Lastly the Scottish writer, I found like mostly everyone there to be extremely funny. He was very blunt, but also humorous and intelligent.
Pen World Voices
The Pen World Voices event was something I would never have thought of attending myself, but after hearing each author speak, I was more than glad to have had the opportunity. I never gave thought to what inspired a writer, in part because I have yet to have to have something in my life that completely inspires me to pursue it. In the back of my mind, I know I want to write, but as for having the motivation to do so, that’s a completely different story. Seeing that most of their inspirations came from reading a certain book, I am inclined to start reading more in my spare time. Perhaps something will just click.
All of the writers were very delightful in their accounts but the one author that stood out to me was Nadeem Aslam. It could have been his youthful appearance that captured my attention, but at the heart of it was his passion. His voice had a hint of nervousness, coupled with an intensity that expressed his willingness to make an impact on those he was speaking to. He said that when he read Bruno Shchulz’ “Street of Crocodiles” that his heart started to beat faster as if he was holding precious jewels. I have never heard someone describe reading a book in such a grand and meaningful way. It seems this novel sparked a fire within him, or ignited a driving force, that allowed him to do amazing things, that I would never do, such as rewriting “Moby Dick” just to learn how many thoughts can go in a paragraph and how many images can be on a full page, and rewriting a handful of other novels just to become a great writer. I was, and am still, in awe of his persistence and hard work.
Another part of his speech that really left a mark was the political aspect of it, and how he views politics as being a vital component of literature. His affinity for the physical world transformed by the use of words is something that any person with a love of literature can understand. There was a moment when he spoke about Jihad, when tears literally started to stream down my face. He said that Jihad has a number of meanings to those who know the language; it has as many meanings as a rose has petals; to smile at someone when you don’t feel like smiling at them is Jihad, to be kind to someone when your own life is full of meanness, that is Jihad. But the only meaning of Jihad I have seen or heard is religious warfare. I was completely amazed, touched, and in awe of how powerful words can be, and what they can do when used in a certain way. I really just enjoyed all that he had to say.