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.