Theme: Women being the catalyst for change in other characters
Kody Liang
Something that I found difficult in Djuna Barnes’s book Nightwood is not specifically a part but the whole book itself. From the very first chapter, it starts off with “Early in 1880, in spite of a well-founded suspicion as to the advisability of perpetuating that race which has the sanction of the Lord and the disapproval of the people…” This sentence just keeps going on and on without no stop and this confused me from the start. It was only after the discussion in class on the reading and hearing what our classmates have to say about Nightwood that I was able to understand what was going on. I then proceeded to read over the chapter a few more times, maybe about 20 times. I defined words that I did not understand and try to piece them together. Hearing other’s input on the book is what helped me solve my problem.
Attending Andrew Zawacki’s reading translation of Sébastien Smirou’s See About: Bestiary showed a unique perspective and a different definition of translation. Never have I thought of a different definition for translation, but attending Mr. Zawacki’s reading gave a different insight on the same word. Translating is a form of art. It isn’t as easy as you think it is. As a person that’s bilingual, I believed translation is a piece of cake. That is, until you try translating yourself. You must be efficient in both languages and must know them by heart. There was always something said in a different language that I had difficulty translating. Zawacki talks about his experience translating, the hardships, and the benefits that came from this. There isn’t an exact translation for every word. The techniques used by the author can also affect the translation process. There were poems that ended with an “oh” sound, and by changing this will change the meaning and definition of the original piece. There are always things that can be done in one area while it can be done in another area. In this case, it would be language. There is a certain rhythm in French that won’t be exactly the same in English. Zawacki knew that, which is why he tried his best to make every translation as meaningful as the original without losing its poetic feeling. Translating is an arduous process. Whether it is in a different language or not, translation will not be perfect, but perfection takes time.
“Boy, come in to my restaurant and try this delicious slice of cheese pizza, freshly baked, coming right out of the oven. This is a one-of-a-kind pizza you’ll never have tasted before. The best pizza you’ll ever have in New York City.”
My stomach growling louder than a whale’s mating call, watching the steam coming from the hot pizza, drool coming out of my mouth as I stand outside the restaurant. I look at the slice as if I just met the love of my life. I then take a bite, and is amazed at how it is truly one of a kind. It has had to be the worse pizza I have ever tasted in New York City, the city that is known for their pizzas. I quickly spit out what was remaining in my mouth and threw my $1 worth of pizza out.
“Stupid child! You do not know what is the true taste of pizza made by an Italian man! The meaning behind the pizza, the work, the effort is something you would not understand! If you were given a slice of fake pizza from Costco, you would have devoured the whole pie in no time! You must’ve never tasted anything as precious as my pizza in your life. Begone! You are unworthy of being called a New Yorker. Go and enjoy your Costco pizza.”
From Baudelaire’s The Dog and The Scent-Bottle, I chose to imitate his style of using our senses and specific examples to bring out a true vision of what you are experiencing.
Kody Liang
On page 102 of the reading, Immanuel Kant argued that “debate was itself crucial to the process of enlightenment. He claimed that societies would make progress only if they opened all questions to public deliberation, inviting a full discussion of alternatives.” This statement by Kant can relate to what is happening in our country today. Just recently, President Trump decided to put an end to DACA, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. DACA protects undocumented children that were taken into the United States of America at a young age from deportation. There are over 800,000 young adults that were brought into the United States illegally that has little-to-no knowledge of their birthplace. DACA helps these children live without fear of deportation. But Trump announces the end of DACA and orders Congress to think of a replacement within 6 months. Trump made no action to find a replacement and talk about the consequences of removing DACA. Children that are a part of DACA are known as dreamers. If there is no replacement, the dreamers will eventually be deported back to their country where they were born. These Dreamers have started to speak out in hope of Donald Trump to listen and change his mind about his decision. As Kant says, societies would make progress only if they opened all questions to public deliberation, inviting a full discussion of alternatives. This is what we need to help what is happening in this country.