Heads up: Assignment 2 is due in two weeks (Monday, November 15th, 11:59 pm).
Here’s what you need to do this week (1 – 2 hours):
– Read from JTC:
> “Excerpt from Citizen,” by Claudia Rankine (pp. 120-126)
> “You Left Out the Part About…,” by Ta-Nehisi Coates (pp. 127-128)
– In the comments below, please answer the following questions:
1. In “Excerpt from Citizen,” Claudia Rankine quotes Zora Neale Hurston in relation to Serena and Venus Williams: “I feel most colored when I am thrown against a sharp white background.” Do you recognize the figure of speech this is? Regardless of whether you do, how would you analyze and interpret it? Remember the three stages of rhetorical analysis: observing the rhetorical signs – analyzing – interpreting.
You may or may not have had that reflex, but it may be helpful to get some context on the book this excerpt is from.
2. What genre would you say the text belongs to? (Bear in mind that genres tend to be loose categories. Whether the books define genres, or whether genres are pre-made categories we force books into, is a whole debate in genre studies, but think about where you would put Citizen in a bookshop, based on the excerpt you just read).
3. “You Left Out the Part About”: The concept of suspension of disbelief is attributed to Samuel Taylor Coleridge, one of the greatest poets from the Romantic period (late 18th-early 19th century). How do you understand it in relation to the text? What’s a situation where you have to “suspend your disbelief” in order to experience a narrative?
4. As for the first text: what genre would you say Coates’ text belongs to? (Careful, don’t confuse his text with the narratives he refers to).
5. Please comment on at least one classmate’s response below.
Friday meeting:
– We’ll discuss the readings and your responses.
– We’ll practice some visual analysis with tips from the JTC, p. 106.
– We’ll talk about how to shift from summary to analysis and interpretation (or suspension of disbelief to analysis).
– I’ll answer any questions, especially about Assignment 2, so take notes if you have any.
I tried to find out what figure of speech is it and I think its personification because she is attributing herself a personal nature for example, she referred herself as a colored thing. I tried interpreting it into real life, finding a connection or reliability to what is similar to. I used the interpreting stage of observing rhetorical signs.
I could say that the genre for this text is non-fiction and narrative because the writer is expressing a real life topic and a t the same time is narrating what was happening with the William sisters.
I understood the term suspension of disbelieve but I am confused about the relation with the text.
Hi Jessica.
I agree with what you said about the genre for both texts being non-fiction. I also had trouble linking the suspension of disbelief with the text.
1. The quote, “I feel most colored when I am thrown against a sharp white background” can be recognized as imagery. Rankine uses this quote to emphasize the fact that Serena Williams is a person of color playing a sport that is mostly dominated by white people. In terms of analyzing this piece of imagery, we can say that because of the fact that Serena Williams is a person of color, she tends to stand out because of this sharp white background. The sharp white background represents white people.
2. I would say that this text belongs to the genre of non-fiction.
3. The concept of suspension of disbelief is explained as the ability to allow oneself to believe something is true even though it may seem impossible. To my understanding, this concept relates to the text because Coates highlights that a scene in the movie “First Class”, which she discusses throughout the text, appeals to an insidious suspension of disbelief. Coates explains that Bigotry and fear are bravely opposed by heroic mutants of America throughout the movie. A situation where I had to suspend my disbelief in order to experience a narrative was when I had to convince myself that animals in a fiction novel could actually talk, when in reality I know this isn’t true.
4. I would say that Coates’ text belongs to the genre of non-fiction.
Hi Shamella, I have a similar experience to when I had to suspend my disbelief when watching or reading fictional content. I also agree with your interpretation within the first question because the sharp white background does indicate white people and how people of color are often overshadowed.
3. That’s an excelelnt example, and excellent definition of suspension of disbelief too, thanks Shamella!
1. I interpret the line “I feel the most colored when I am thrown against a sharp white background,” as a metaphor because it underlines the mistreatment that people of color receive and how they are overshadowed by white people.The “sharp white background” depicts white people who are at the spotlight at most major events where people of color are seldom recognized. By taking account of Serena Williams, she is a tennis player and a person of color, who was competing and lost to Marina Alves (a white tennis player), where Alves was criticizing how Williams hit the ball. Alves’ complaints had racist undertones against Willaims where Williams said she felt cheated when she “lost” the game.
2. I think the text can fit in the expository article genre as it highlights Serena Williams’ tennis incident and it mentions Jayson Musson’s interpretation on “how to be a successful artist.” The points mentioned are to outline the subject matter of people of color not being taken seriously and how they are stereotyped.
3. The concept of suspension of disbelief is essentially holding your opinions about a subject or matter when reading a text. This applies when in “First Class,” where the setting was in South Carolina (1962) where the characters were playing a game in front of the Lincoln Memorial compared to the historical day in 1962 where people were rallying in front of the Lincoln Memorial. In like manner, when I had to suspend my disbelief to experience a narrative was when characters in a cartoon would have super powers and be extraordinary whereas, in reality, people do not have special abilities and are mundane.
4. I believe Coates’ text is a nonfiction narrative because he recounts the time he and his son watched “First Class,” and related it to historical events to showcase suspension of disbelief.
Definitely agree that this has a non fiction narrative that showcases suspension of disbelief.
1.“I feel most colored when I am thrown against a sharp white background.” I would say this quote is most related to a metaphor. A metaphor is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable. Obviously, the “sharp white background” as the quote says means the white people that attend in the audience to watch them play. Most important to note that Serana Williams is a african american tennis player who exceeds them all in a sport that is mostly known for the whites.
2. I think the genre that this text best fits would be non fiction due to it showing many facts on Williams and Musson’s opinion as well.
3. I understand this in relation to the text because of the movie that the author highlights with the movie “First Class”. A time I had to suspend my disbelief to experience a narrative was when I would watch or read about superheros and how they could fly, read minds, have lazer beams from their eyes etc.
4. I think Coates’s text would be a non fiction.
I agree, I also thought both of the texts were non fiction.
1. “I feel most colored when I am thrown against a sharp white background.” I think this can be considered an example of imagery. The quote enables us to imagine what the author is trying to convey. Serena Williams, a black woman who dominates tennis, a sport mainly played by white people, is an example that the author uses to help us understand this quote.
2. I think this article falls in the humanitarian/social justice genre as the text seems to be highlighting racial inequality in a sense.
3. I understand the concept of suspension of disbelief in relation to the text by analyzing the example the author uses. Instead of seeing the X-Men or mutants as a genetic variant of human kind and as superheroes we can look at them as just eagle scouts, people who are charismatic, understanding and people with deep respect for themselves and others.
4. I would think non-fiction.
Aside from considering it as a metaphor, I also agree that the first quote can be considered imagery. The vocabulary used really helps the reader visualize the idea the author is expressing.
1. I Believe the quote is a metaphor. I think it is a metaphor because it represents a deeper meaning which cannot just be seen by reading it. The quote refers to the tennis athletes in which they play with and against, tennis is a predominately white sport. Therefore the fact that Serena and Venus Williams are black contrasts with the majority and is noted by critics.
2. I believe the texts are non fiction because it is referring to real life topics.
3. I understand the suspension of disbelief in relation to the text because they were talking about comic books and movies which are fictional. There are things which happen which obviously are not realistic or possible but they were able to put aside to better experience the movie in which they watched.
4. I believe Tanehisi Coates’ text is also non fiction because it is showing his experience in relation to comic books and movies.
1.I think the quote, “I feel most colored when I am thrown against a sharp white background” is a metaphor describing the difference of treatment and perception between white people and people of color. Serena William dominating a predominantly white sport makes her stand out and draws a lot of attention towards her because she is a women of color.
2.I would say the genre is non-fiction.
3.Suspension of belief is temporarily believing something that regularly would be seen as impossible or unreal. You intentionally refrain from thinking about it critically and allow yourself to believe in events or people that do not exist in our reality. Suspension of belief relates to the manner in which Coates watches “X-Men: First Class.” The movie consists of super-powered species of humans, yet was set in a year when South Carolina marked the Civil War. The movie includes a scene where the two main protagonists are playing chess in front of the Lincoln Memorial, which was where Thurgood Marshall was asked to speak on the 100th birthday of the Emancipation Proclamation. I suspend my disbelief to experience a narrative when I watch Sci-fi movies and accept the supernatural events occurring as momentarily true.
4.I would say Coates’ text is non-fiction.
your definition on “suspension on belief” is way better than mine. I must say that I agree with you to the fullest.
3. Yes, excellent defnition, Karla!
1. This quote mostly correlates to a metaphor; a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable. It demonstrate on how Serena Williams ( Famous women’s tennis player) felt that the sport portrayed a dominance of the ” Supremacy of the white color” when playing tennis on the field.
2. non-fiction.
3. Confused on the part of suspension in belief whether if that relates to using your imagination or something else.
4. Non-fiction as well.
Hi Michael,
I agree with your answers for questions 2 and 4, I believe they are both non fiction.
I agree with you when you said you are confused with the suspension of belief because I am too
I do not recognize what type of figure of speech this is. The way I would analyze and interpret this quote is by reading it and then going back to read it to make sure I understand the quote. Then I will think about what I notice in the quote and after that we can analyze the meaning. In the quote “a sharp white background” is mentioned. This is because a majority of people playing tennis are White so Sarania Williams stands out in this crowd.
2. The genre of this story is nonfiction.
3. The concept of suspension of disbelief is when you can not express the disbelief you are feeling. For example in the text from pg 127-128 it discusses a speech that was going on to celebrate the Emancipation Proclamation and there were people there playing a game instead. At the moment I can’t recall an event where I had to suspend my disbelief.
4. I believe the genre is non fiction.
Hi Karla, just to clarify: the suspension fo disbelief is when you read or watch fiction and have to accept the fact that the narrative is not real so that you can follow the narrative. You “suspend” your disbelief for the duration of the text/film. I like your interpretation though!
Thank you for posting, everyone! e’ll discuss the figure of speech, the genre, and the suspension of disbelief in class. Sorry thta the latter was confusing. I look forward to our discussion!
1. In “Excerpt from Citizen,” the quote “I feel most colored when I am thrown against a sharp white background.”, I think that the figure of speech is metaphor because it compares colored and white, and how this situation was felt. Color tends to pop out to us when its on a white canvas, and this is a good figure of speech to point out how uncomfortable the situation she is in.
2. This is non fiction. There is nothing made-up and it talks about real world problems.
3. Suspension of disbelief is when stop thinking logically and start believing in the unthinkable. An example of this is used in writing of fiction like the ones in the x – men movies he watches. One example of suspension of disbelief that I experienced was in horror movies. Especially at a young age I would watch a horror movie and the antagonist would jump out with supernatural abilities creating fear. For many nights I would be scared of the dark thinking what happened in the horror movie could happen in real life. But as we grow older there is less suspension because we think “oh it fake” and we realize that the unthinkable can’t happen in real life.
4. This is non-fiction
1. I think that the figure of speech is a metaphor because it compares two things against one another. Especially when the quote compares colors to a sharp white color.
2. I think that this text is nonfiction
3. I understand suspension of belief, where you have to let go of what you think is reality or real and look at what the author is saying. However I dont understand it in this context.
4. I think that it is nonfiction
1. I must say I did have difficult figuring out what the quote can be but I ended up with a Metaphor. I guess that it means is that in an area that is generally made up of a white population and culture, and her being black, she stands out from the rest of the people and the attention is towards her.
2. The genre is non fiction.
3. The concept of suspension of disbelief is basically for someone to hold onto their beliefs even though it may seem unrealistic.
4. Text seems to be non fiction.
1. I thin the quote is a metaphor. I think it is a metaphor because it has an another meaning that deeper and and more complex meaning which cannot just be seen on first sight.Also because it compares two things against one another.
2) The genre is non fiction.
3. I understand the suspension of disbelief in relation to the text because they were talking about comic books and movies which are fictional and that something I have experience with.
4. yes Coates’ text belongs to the genre of non-fiction.