Blog #6- Video

Here is my video, you can use the video for whatever you'd like
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cvk8y1qiVm4&feature=youtu.be

Blog #5- Response to "Mark R. Digital Story"

Nicholas Sparks writes, “In the end, people should be judged by their actions, since in the end, it was actions that defined everyone.” 

The digital stories that I have heard and witnessed have been moving and incredibly interesting, but one in particular has been in my mind since I watched it. Mark Ravinsky's story about the language of dance struck me in particular because it was incredibly unexpected, refreshing and real. I never really spoke to Mark in class, but his responses to questions have always been intellectual and deep, hinting at another layer that may not meet the eye..but nothing prepared me for his story.

Mark's love for dance and outside cultures spoke to my mind because I have the same love and respect for the variety and beauty the world has to offer. Being of a Russian descent, and not being encouraged to seek out friends from other cultures fueled Mark's desire to branch out and develop his own mind...something I truly admire. At first glance, Mark is a tallArtistically, the video itself was beautifully done. 

Blog #4- Response to "My Digital Story"

Simply being "an open book", and being able to talk about your history, your influences and your family is wonderful on its own...but to artistically, creatively and academically portray these events is a whole different ball game. This project of creating a digital story, for me, made me take a long hard look in the mirror and contemplate who exactly I am and what aspect of my life do I want to make public.

Kean University is the most diverse population I have ever been submerged in, and with that comes an array of stories, cultures and experiences. I have an appreciation for variance and the ability an institution has to bring it all together for a common goal...an education. With that being said, I want to leave my footprint at Kean in a large way and open other students eyes to "difference", and the only way to do that is to be honest, ethical and in-tune with what you want out of life. The digital story helped me put a large piece of that puzzle together...

Adoption for me has always been so close to home, but yet a concept so far away. I rarely met other adoptees, and when I do, to be quiet honest, they are usually Asian children raised by White families. I am always asked about my feelings about it or about whether or not I want to meet my birth parents, but, no one really asks me how it has affected my life? That is what I wanted this project to answer.

The angle I wanted this project to take was a multi-faceted one. I wanted to hit on who the key role players were in this event, how is affected me positively and negatively, societies view about adoption and an in-depth look as to why I was affected so much by it. (I won't speak on them because my project did) But, I will speak on the affect the project had on me since I presented it. First off, many of my classmates, whom do not know me on a personal level, felt a level of comfortability with me, where they would stop me in the hallways or library just to ask me questions that they may have had. This alone was heart warming because I can come off as guarded and tough, when in reality I love talking to people and inspiring others. Another way this project has affected me is my genuine appreciation for my mother and my life that I have had. As time passes, and we get caught up in school, girlfriends and jobs we sometimes fail to "stop and smell the roses." This concept of appreciation is underestimated. Appreciation gives you a whole new boost of motivation, and a whole new outlook on what you have, instead of worry about what media says you should have or what you think you should have. Everyones life is missing something and everyone has flaws, but harnessing the good is key to success. So in all, I want to thank you Dr. Zamora for giving me even more of a positive outlook on life...

Blog #3- Response to Smoke Signals

Native Americans have had a dark history that has been masked by the success of the USA. Unfortunately, what most people tend to sweep under the rug, is the fact there are still thousands of individuals that still are suffering from the separation from American society.Native Americans live in a culture that has not developed economically or domestically, causing vast addiction problems and poverty. History, for Native Americans, has been a constant downhill battle. The demolition of their world started with the colonization from the Eastern world, headed by Christopher Columbus.

The movie, Smoke Signals, offers a unique point of view film from a Native Americans perspective on the outside world, being the USA. The main characters Victor and Thomas are sent on a journey that forces them to remove themselves from the comfort of reservation life and offers them a new perspective on their culture v. traditional American culture.  The film points out numerous times how much hatred the Natives have towards this one man, being Christopher Columbus. Ms. Song at one point points out that she wishes the Natives could have been as organized as the National Powow when Columbus landed, hinting at how discombobulated and spread out the Indians were, making domination easier. Followed up by this, is the continuation of war with cowboys v. Indians. Thomas at one point says that the cowboys always win. This parallel from history to present day shows how little America has come in terms of accepting the Natives as one of their own.

There is no argument that can justify the treatment and unjust outcome Native Americans received, but, there is something to be said about the lifestyle the Natives live now. My heart goes out to the Natives, really, but a certain point you have to look from the insider out. The habits formed by this reservation culture seem to be rich in passion, religion, song and dance but have serious flaws when it comes to love, understanding and health. These characteristics cannot be blamed on Christopher Columbus. The movie highlights how these flaws and attributes effect people across the board, starting with Victor. Seeing his fathers drinking habits forced him to not drink, but, made him bitter and violent. The spiritual values emphasized for Thomas made him compassionate and open minded but closed his mind off to some realistic aspects of the world, something Thomas had inherently.

Smoke Signals was an interesting film to me because it gave a scope into a society that I had only heard about online or in the news papers. The vast separation causes a lot of positives and negatives to occur. Being ostracized forces a tight community, where everyone knows everything and is there to support and help you (i.e. Victor and Thomas). Along with that, is the notion of being removed from medical advancements and cultural developments that USA has made, leaving essentially in the dust...

Blog #2- Response to Melpomene Tragedy

The idea of colonization has been around since the start of humanity. Colonization, "stemming from the Latin word colere, actually means to inhabit, cultivate, tend, guard and respect." What is so ironic, is that not many groups of people who have been colonized would ever use these terms to describe the process, except maybe inhabit. Modern use of the word colonization refers to the ruling over an indigenous people, forcing them to adapt to the new culture and amend their views of who is the authority.

Korean-American author, Teresa Cha, was born during the Korean War in South Korea. There is no disputing the incredible amount of colonization Korea has gone through, between the Sino-Japanese war on Korean soil, the Russo-Japanese war also on Korean soil and finally with the partisan of the country itself into North and South Korea. This ongoing battle over control of a country that has an entire history and culture of its own, has created an animosity within the country and with the natives towards other countries. Cha writes, in her short story Melpomene Tragedy, of the brainwash that her people have gone through. In the opening section she writes, "She could be seen sitting in the first few rows. Closer the better. The more. Better to eliminate the presence of others surroundings better view from that which is left behind far away back behind more for closer view more and more face to face until nothing else sees only this view singular." (p33) These powerful few lines referring to her mother really emphasize the fact her mother has become narrow minded and excluded. The words choices, "left behind far away back behind" over exaggerate the culture, people and view she left behind her. The ironic imagery of a church, with use of the word "rows" emulates the Catholic devotion and idolization of a singular God/ priest standing up at the alter, just as her mother has grown to love this new authority. 

Anthony Burgess once said, “Colonialism. The enforced spread of the rule of reason. But who is going to spread it among the colonizers?" I would imagine that Cha would agree with this same realistic outlook on colonialism. The idea of Melpomene refers to the Greek muse of Tragedy, a concept we as English majors are very familiar with. For me, there is no happy ending in a tragedy, just a lesson to be learned. Cha reiterates the idea that; whatever has influenced or sculpted the path of South Korea, there can be no happy ending, simply because South Korea has not had a natural journey. Cha references the perfection of nature juxtaposed to her nation on page 34. Cha writes, "The correct time behind the windows the correct season the correct forecast. Beyond the empty, the correct setting, immobile. Placid. Extreme stillness. Misplaces nothing. Nothing equivalent. Irreplaceable. Not before. Not after." Chas' yearn to be like nature is so clear. Nature has proven over and over that it is the only genuinely natural thing on this earth. Everything else, including South Korea, has been tainted by mankind. Cha's culture has been pulled and pushed every which way, causing a dilution in culture, causing a sense of anger towards those who have changed the natural way of things. 

This reading, considering the jagged writing and vague expression of feeling was difficult for me. One aspect of the reading that stood out for me was the tone. The tone, for me, was extremely sad and evoked a sense of yearning. A yearn for normalcy and change. 

Blog #1- Response to "I Would Remember"- Carlos Bulosan

  Carlos Bulosan can be defined as an immigrant, a Filipino, a son and a writer...but none of these labels seem to fit as much as 'a soldier'. Carlos Bulosan, like so many other Filipino’s, fed up with the severe economic standing of their homeland, migrated to the United States. Bulosan, along with thousands of Filipinos' crossed the Pacific seeking financial stability, an education, job security and a better standard of living. Because so many immigrants' minds were plagued with the false ideals of America, reality hit much harder. Immigrants experienced racism, poor work conditions and extreme poverty...an environment they expected to leave at home. Despite his odds, Bulosan achieved much more than many of us could obtain with all the money in the world, a voice. Carlos Bulosan's writings and story, after his death, became the center piece for a movement that changed the way society thought of immigrants, specifically Filipinos. 

Carlos Bulosan gives a brief scope into a characters psyche and how it has developed and morphed because of his first hand experiences with death. “I Would Remember” highlights a common thread between cultures, being death, but also offers a unique way of looking at life. At first glance, this story; between the description of murderous accounts and the realness of morality, can be depressing, dark and raw. Bulosan does this for a reason...he understands that no matter who is reading this piece, they will be able to relate, no matter culture, race and gender. Bulosan opens with the death of a boys mother, which was his ice breaker, so to speak, into the realization of the circle of life. He writes as his character stares into the moonlight, “The small bird disappeared into the periphery of moonlight and darkness, shrieking fiercely as the bat caught up with it somewhere beyond the range of my vision.”(p28) This recognition of nature is his way of coming to terms with how the world works, culture aside, religion aside. Just as a solider can not be mentally de railed by the death of a comrade, this boy will not lose grip of his goals. 

The middle section of the story offers us a vision in the growth and transformation he has made from a small boy on a rice field to a starving man in America, all the while experiencing death, relationships and hardships. Each account of the person who dies grows in actually physical space he takes up writing about them. Making notes of personal connection he made with the person and influence they had on his life, giving a tell sign that he has grown to appreciate the people in his life, because they can be taken from him at any moment. Bulosan writes about a man named Crispin, “Men like Crispin who had poetry in their soul come quietly into the world and live quietly down the years, and yet when they are gone no moon in the sky is as lucid compared to the light they shed when they were among other people.”(p31)In this eloquent account of a friend, you are able to see the maturity that comes with losing someone. Once again, just as a soldier keeps fighting forward, this character did as well.

Fast forward to the end of the story, with the death of Leroy. The description of Leroy being lynched is testament to those who have suffered and died and to the power one man has over another, and will forever stay with me. The lesson learned from Leroy I believe is the catapult to this characters motivation. He writes, “He had a way of explaining the meaning of words with utter simplicity. Like “work”, which he translated in to “power”, which he translated into “security”.” (p31). This ending to such a story, to me, means that this last gruesome death is a representation of what he saw, and what he survived. He knew he had to keep going no matter what. What Bulosan does, ever so meticulously, is present facts along with lessons learned. Events such as the ones described in the story are only at detrimental as the witness allows them to be. This character and Bulosan are incredibly similar, which leads me to believe that this characters psyche and Carlos' are one in the same.