On the presentations...

The two readings were interesting and fitting for our class on close reading. Bathes used psychoanalysis to explain away the deeper meanings beneath cultural symbols and the tactics of marketing. Barthes close reads mythologies, examining the connotation of word choices such as foam and deep. The argument made for detergent builds structurally but it is not entirely clear where it ends up. As for Wine and Milk it is interesting how much meaning the author attributes to the drink choice, as representative of a nation, a set of ideals, and a lifestyle. The sentence styles are varied and there is a frequent usage of italics (altering the words connotations). Each argument that the author makes is followed by examples that serve to validate and elaborate on the points. Both excerpts seem to be using style to sell the reader on the value of the given mythologies.

Paste

Paste, fortunately, is incredibly different from the excerpt of his we read in class a few weeks ago. Here his writing is straightforward and filled with emotion as apposed to the obscure impersonal style of his later work. James layers social commentary on top of social commentary, creating the sense within the piece that all of the characters are self-centered and self-serving. James’ voice is vividly pronounced through the narrator and more significantly through the subtleties within the dialogue. As the characters communicate, they outwardly express ideals of friendship, consideration, and well-meaning intentions; yet, implicitly they reveal themselves to be calculating and self-interested. This is James’ voice asserting sarcastically, that one’s social appearance is often contradictory to one’s true nature. Arthur acts maliciously out of denial, Mrs. Guy the opportunist takes advantage of Charlotte, and Charlotte attempts to relieve her sense of dishonesty by exploiting Arthur’s denial. On top of this the deceased woman is accused of obtaining the pearls through illicit means. No one is spared by James, as he builds up the story through the character’s emotional responses and psychological insights. It seems the statement, “He’s really morbid” expresses more than just the character’s nature, but also Henry James’ view of society at large, materialistic and treacherous.

Hills like White Elephants

I read this story a long time ago and kept thinking while reading it again that the meaning was going to be revealed in the end. Which is definitely not the case. To me this means that the story itself conveys the intended meaning so well, that I remembered and was waiting for it to be spelled out for me. It is pretty obvious that the couple is discussing an abortion. By never affirming this, Hemingway leaves the story open for interpretation. It can be seen as a social commentary of the era or of gender roles or of relationships in general. The woman is presented as deeply unhappy, self-sacrificing and disillusioned. The man thinks little of her, putting himself first and pushing for her to get an abortion. It is clear that she doesn’t know what she really wants, because, as she asserts, she doesn’t care about herself and thus is not able to think of her own needs. She does however seem aware of this inability, and she seems to be trying to make up her own mind. She has hang ups about having an abortion and she doesn’t think that it will fix anything, that their relationship is beyond repair. Hemingway builds suspense and then leaves the reader hanging. This creates a sense of hopelessness and makes it seem like the characters situation will not or cannot evolve. Happiness should be self-evident, merely saying you are happy does not make it so, alternately it points to an unhappiness. Throughout the story the couple's discourse is like a strained and unsuccessful effort at becoming happier by denying that anything is wrong. To me, this story evokes a similar sentiment to the one Didion expresses in Goodbye to all that: disenchantment.

Sister Mary Ignatus Explains it all for You

This was a funny and disturbing play. It made fun of Catholicism in a simple, straightforward way. It was pretty campy, maybe because it was written as a play instead of in a more serious format like an essay. It didn’t seem over the top though. Sister Mary was typical without being too cliché. Her speech was very authoritative yet childish. She sounds like Thomas, making her seem less accountable for her wrongdoings, as if she never really grew up and is not at fault. I thought the shootings in the end were a bit much. The second one was funnier since she justified murdering him by his supposedly going to heaven.

Both my grandmothers were catholic though that was the extent of Catholicism in my family. My grandmother still cries and begs me to get baptized, and tells me I’m going to hell if I don’t. Both of my parents endured Catholic school for 12 years and their experiences were similar to the play. My mom still hates the particular color green she had to wear for those 12 years. Sadly the abuses of the nun in the play were a reality. Stylistically it was a little too simplistic for me the writing was almost too exaggerated. It was funny nonetheless. The idea of anyone actually being like or living like Sister Mary really bothers me. She makes me want to go and have abortions and do drugs and sin. She makes me really uncomfortable, I cannot imagine anyone being able to be happy living like that.

The play reminded me of this christian church in Kentucky and how terrifying it is,

James Baldwin

The title says it all. In Europe he is still a stranger, whereas in America his presence has been, by necessity, constantly vivid and unignorable since her conception. In Europe, racism is abstract and isolated within the confines of distant colonies. Alternately, in America slavery and racism has always been very much apart of not only society, but also the home, and beyond this the American identity. He recognizes that American beliefs are founded in European beliefs but that there is a definitive point of separation between the two sets of ideals, a departure that leads places that Europeans, not having the same history as American’s, will never comprehend fully. He concludes by acknowledging that, out of a tragic past and through the modern battles being waged the American identity encompasses black people in a way that Europe has never been capable of. In other words progress has been made though, it has been at the cost of so much suffering, leaving permanent scars.

Stylistically, he speaks abstractly or in generalities at times to distance his voice from what he is saying. He does this also to downplay without diminishing the severity of his criticisms and anger. Ultimately, he establishes a place for himself (in America) through the climactic structure. Beginning softly and building in intensity, he reflects the transformation from oppression and submission into authority and power. This he says, will never and can never be reversed, innocent ignorance will never resurface in America, as it still exists in Europe.

The money was placed in a manila envelope once a month. The same increment different drop location. The blackmailer was an anonymous, all-knowing, and clever blackmailer, accruing considerable wealth through each transaction. As extortions go demanding more money would have been more than plausible. Yet, greed was never a motive. By asking for a humble sum, the blackmailer ingratiated his victim to him. Ultimately, the vulnerable target, felt like the blackmailer had done him a favor when he stopped calling, for things could have gone much worse.

Goodbye to all that

I thought this story was great, it really caught what its like to fall in and out of love with NYC. I related to the narrator a great deal. Most people that I know who have moved here from elsewhere, express similar notions to those depicted. A lot of people say when they first move here, that it doesn’t feel real or that it hasn’t sunk in that they live in NYC. The author conveys something similar, like how she doesn’t have furniture and how she keeps a flight schedule. New York is this magical living breathing yet surreal, almost fictional place for many people. People in all parts of the world grow up hearing about NY and longing for it in one way or another. I can see how when you move here with this mindset, at some point the magic fades and it becomes a real place. I have only been here a few years and I have experienced, to a lesser degree, this sense of disenchantment. However, I do not think that I will ever fall out of love with New York. Definitely though, it is not the same city for me that it was initially, and it never will be that place again. NYC still amazes me everyday, and I’m totally grateful to be able to live here.

It was hard to place the time period of the story. Maybe this is a testament to how timeless the experience of moving to New York is. Her writing is very straightforward, she doesn't have to be exaggerated or excessively descriptive to communicate something. Despite conveying sentiments and experiences that I would consider difficult to express, I do not like her writing style. In some instances the way she said something sounded weird or completely wrong, to the point of resembling typos.

I did like her usage of paratactic sentences. For instance, “As it turned out the bridge was the Triborough, and I stayed eight years.” Also, I loved the following paragraph. Part of the magic of New York is in not knowing the names of places, its much more immense when you know next to nothing about it. Overall I really enjoyed the reading.

There's something devastatingly sad about how wonderful New York is, as if anything this great will inevitably break your heart or let you down at some point. Or maybe its that NYC is great all on its own, and it will never really need you as much as you need it.

I remember this story from an abnormal psych lit class in high school. It is a difficult thing to eloquently and imaginatively express the pressures of growing-up in a dysfunctional family, especially with such brevity. Lawrence never sounds trivial as he tells us a story suitable for an early twilight zone episode. If he had gone a different route and abandoned the elements of fantasy it would not have been as effective. Lawrence by corrupting a common children’s toy, really shows Paul’s desperation. While the rocking horse visually parallels horse racing. Further, the boy’s illness reminds the reader that gambling is an illness.

The idea of luck is used by the mother as an excuse and by her son as an obsession. Lawrence speaks of an unhappy upbringing in the tone of a children's tale, evoking the perspective of the child, this is more provocative than a solemn mature tone would have been. Another element of innocence and fantasy, is the way in which the house itself whispers of their never having enough money. This theme of greed and insecurity is repeated constantly throughout, providing enough build up to make the boy’s death seem plausible. However, for me the opening paragraph is the most disturbing, when we find out of the mother’s inability to love her children. Sadly, she wants to but she is simply unable to. Her maternal instincts do come out, but unfortunately not soon enough.

The sentences themselves vary from short and clear to long and informative series style sentences.