A common question at the end of courses is what your
favorite text or thing you learned was. In this course, I have an interesting
situation where one of these questions answers the other. Before revealing
which text it was that was my favorite, I feel compelled to explain the
background in my life which influenced why I learned so much from the text.
Since I was young, one of my biggest pet peeves has been people who are
judgmental. I don’t know why it is, but that’s the quickest way to make my
blood boil. Perhaps, it may be because I feel that I am so different from what
I appear like at first, that I feel like judgment is almost always mistaken. Because
of this, I felt that all judgment was bad. In my favorite text, Bless Me ,Ultima, I learned so much
about judgment. I remember reading it and feeling a slight feel of uneasiness
about Ultima. The next day in class, Professor Mack said something I think I
will never forget. He asked how many of us felt sort of “sketched out” by
Ultima. Nearly the entire class raised their hand. Professor Mack almost immediately
had an unsatisfied look go onto his face. He then asked us how Jesus had asked
us to judge. The reply “by his fruits” soon followed. This struck me and I
analyzed Ultima’s fruits. She had done nothing but good. In that moment I
realized two crucial things. First, that even just in reading for a class I had
done what I so often hate, which is judging. Second, I realized not all judgment
is wrong. We should judge but do so in a correct manner. The second reason I
loved Bless Me, Ultima is because of
the nostalgia for a more innocent time. I felt like I could relate so perfectly
as I end my freshman year and begin to experience more adult-like experiences. .
Overall, I loved this class and enjoyed each of the texts. This class was a
unique experience.
Discovering Latin America Through the Humanities
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Para mis amigos
“What was there to be gained by fighting the most evil wizard who has ever existed?" said Black, with a terrible fury in his face. "Only innocent lives, Peter!"
"You don't understand!" whined Pettigrew. "He would have killed me, Sirius!"
"THEN YOU SHOULD HAVE DIED!" roared Black. "DIED RATHER THAN BETRAY YOUR FRIENDS, AS WE WOULD HAVE DONE FOR YOU!” (Chris Columbus.Alfonson Cuaron.Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban. June 4, 2004. United States: Warner Brothers.)
Harry Potter and His best friends scheming a plan. |
My family raised my siblings and I with very typical Colombian and Latin American
customs and culture. Among those customs, is the high valuing of friendship.
Once one makes a very good friend, one values that friendship and will go to
great lengths for a friend. The following quote by Baltasar Gracian, a famous Spanish
philosopher and writer, goes hand in hand with the Harry Potter quote and displays this cultural belief in Latin
America.
Some of my best friends |
Some of my best friends |
Harry Potter and the
Prisoner of Azkaban shows this high value of friendship both with Harry and
his friends but even more so with Harry’s parents and their friends. As I examined
these relationships and thought about how much the Latin American community
values friendship; I began to wonder why is it that Latin Americans value
friendship so much? I think it may be for two possible reasons. One, most Latin
American countries have less wealth than developed countries such as the US or
European countries,so for that reason people learn to value non-materialistic
things more.Thus friendship is more vital for happiness. Second, in many Latin American countries the cities have all the
resources and the further you get from the cities the harder it is to find
commodities. Because of that often people crowd into the city. This is a
contrast from the US because most in the US live in suburbs where they have
more space from their neighbors. I would argue this physical proximity, also
adds to making more friendships. Along with the living situation point, most Latin
Americans tend to stay in one place for generations versus other areas of the world
where people move around a lot. Regardless of the reason, the validity and
evidence of Gracian’s quote especially among the Latin American people is
undeniable.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Show me what I'm looking for
“The God I so eagerly sought was not there and the understanding I thought to gain was not there... I wanted to tell her I was searching for something, but sometimes I didn't even know what it was I sought.” (Anaya. Bless Me Ultima. 235)
Searching. Every day of life we are all constantly searching
for something. It can be searching for someone, for something, or for someday. This message is found in poems,
books, movies, or songs. As I thought about this the lyrics to a popular song
came into mind.
“Save me, I'm lost
Oh, Lord, I've been waiting for you
I'll pay any cost
Save me from being confused
Show me what I'm looking for
Show me what I'm looking for, oh, Lord”.
("Show me what I'm looking for by Carolina Liar)
This song perfectly goes hand in hand with the struggle
Antonio is presented with at the end of the novel. After Ultima has finally
taught him to look at the world through a questioning eye, he begins to search.
We read how he struggles with not immediately finding his answers. This may
lead the reader to wonder,
“Is Tony’s new found view of questioning and wondering a
good thing?”
I would argue that it is a great thing. This is because it
teaches us to appreciate life and opens new horizons. It can also make our convictions
stronger. This can be fundamental to a happy life when it comes to crucial
questions like our religious convictions. As stated in the first quote, Tony
looked for God because of Ultima teaching him to question. He didn’t necessarily
always find him but at least he searched. That search helped Tony, at least part
of the time, find answers. Another young boy like Tony who searched was Joseph
Smith.
Smith wondered which religion was
correct, read “If any of ye have doubts, ask and ye shall receive”, searched
through prayer and then found an answer.
Smith would have never found his
answer and thus restored the true church if he hadn’t questioned what the
correct thing was. Like Tony and Smith we all must question to be able to find
our correct answers. So as we go through life every day, searching for answers,
perhaps sometimes we should stop and recognize what a gift it is to have
questions, doubts, and wonders.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Dreams of our fathers
"Hell, Andy," Gene said softly, "we can't build our lives on their dreams. We're men, Andy, we're not boys any longer. We can't be tied down to their old dreams." (Bless me, Ultima, page 71, Rudolofo Anaya)
This quote comes from a part of the novel where the boys are
discussing what to do with their lives. One of the sons suggests they continue
in doing their father’s dreams. The other brother objected and offered his own
dreams. These dreams were much more broad and different than that of his
fathers. This was fascinating to me for two reasons.
The first is the cultural
aspect. I often see that in Hispanic
families it is of bigger emphasis to have the children have the same career as
the father. Especially in very traditional Hispanic families. This quote is fascinating to me because it
shows the break in the traditional Hispanic culture of having the next
generation has the same career and plans into the more modern generation of
having separate dreams.
The second reason it was so fascinating to me is because it
is an aspect that even out of the Hispanic culture is so relatable. As an example, recently, I was at dinner with
classmates. As we talked about our majors a friend said, “I think my dad was
disappointed when I switched from biochemistry to economics because he wanted
me to be a doctor.” Someone at the table then asked my friend what his father
did. He replied, “he is a doctor.” So
often our parents influence us to think we should be what they were. Or even
more often, kids feel the need to be what their parents were. This is often a
common theme in many novels. An example is in Les Miserables, Marius is
questioned by his uncle and others about joining the revolution instead of
following his family’s foot steps in being wealthy and leading.”
“Have you asked of yourselves, What’s the price you might pay?
Is it simply a game for rich young boys to play?”
In conclusion, I agree with the quote and Marius’s example
from Les Miserable. The most important thing is to follow our own paths that
make us happy. That will be what we are most motivated to work hard for and
thus most successful in.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Wed March 20th- Music as medicine
"Ay que bonita es esta vida."- Jorge Celedon
When I showed up for class on Tuesday March 19th,
I was so tired and stressed. Professor
Mack quickly livened up the class by having us tap to music and watch many Spanish
and Brazilian music videos. It is amazing how in the course of that hour and 15
minutes, I suddenly began to feel energized and excited.
This is a personal example of how music can completely change
people’s moods to be energetic and full of hope, even when they do not start
off this way. I think this is a large part of the reason that music is so happy
in Latin America and is constantly playing. When I’ve visited Colombia, a lot
of people there have told me that since they are very economically limited,
playing music and dancing wherever there is room, is one of their only ways to
let loose and simply be happy. This is showcased in one of the most famous
songs from Colombia is, “Esta Vida.” The chorus of is this song truly shows that.
“Ay que bonita es esta vida
Aunque aveces duela tanto y a pesar de los pesares
Siempre hay alguien que nos quiere
Siempre hay alguien que nos cuida
Ay Ay Ay que bonita esta vida
Aunque no sea para siempre
Si la vivo con mi gente
Es bonita hasta la muerte.”
Aunque aveces duela tanto y a pesar de los pesares
Siempre hay alguien que nos quiere
Siempre hay alguien que nos cuida
Ay Ay Ay que bonita esta vida
Aunque no sea para siempre
Si la vivo con mi gente
Es bonita hasta la muerte.”
Furthermore, besides lightening the mood, many believe music
can not only make you feel better but can actually make you better if you are
ill.
Both of the following articles show support of this belief.
All in all, music is amazing in all its powers. But I think
they are especially strong in Latin American countries because the people there
have so much need, that music can be an outlet for them to satisfy that need. It
is amazing how music can change a situation.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Society as punishment..?
Maria Candelaria, (film). Directed by Emilio Fernandez.
Maria Candelaria was hated by society from the beginning
simply because of who her parents were. Society rejected her and took harsh
actions against her. From the beginning of the movie, I kept thinking of a
somewhat similar story, The Scarlett Letter. In the Scarlett Letter the people condemn
Hester Prynn for being pregnant out of wedlock but do not bother to find out
who the father is.
In both Maria Candelaria and in The Scarlett letter the
townspeople embody the worst of society in showing the overly harsh judgmental
characters that can come in large
groups.The
norms that society places can sometimes by completely unfair and even cruel.
Both these stories show this perfectly. Additionally, these stories show the
danger of group mentality.
Another similarity I saw was the artist and the reverend. Both
made bad choices of their own. The artist chose to go on and paint Maria in a
way she clearly did not want to be painted. The revered chose to sleep with
Hester Prynn. Both then made the choice of keeping silent until the woman
involved in their conflicts was extremely hurt.
The big difference in these two tales of how society can
harm brought me my biggest question though. The biggest difference was that Hester
did indeed choose to sin and slept with the Reverend. On the contrast, Maria
Candelaria did not sin because she chose not to take off her clothes. This made
me wonder…
Was the town of Hester Prynn less evil for judging her since she did do something wrong?
I would argue NO. Maria Candaleria shows how even something that
is extremely visible like a picture is not proof enough to show something did
someone. More so, both these stories show harsh, unfair punishments on both
ladies. Society punishing others of their crimes more often ends up bad versus
good. So taking this to a more individual level, each of us should try not to
judge, or even worse, punish others for the deeds we are unsure of.
Monday, March 4, 2013
February 6,2013
The Guitar Player by Jose Ferraz de Almedia Junior
I love music. I know everyone says this, but I feel like I
love an exceptional amount. I especially love music that plays a big emphasis
on the guitar. This is why this painting was my favorite. The painting and
specifically the aspect of music being involved makes me thing of the long story
and memories that could be behind this painting. A huge part of the reason I
love music so much is because of the strong emotional tie songs can develop for
memories to me. An example of this the song “Home” by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic
Zeros.
At home, in Texas, I lived very close to a beach. Often my
friends and I would have a bonfire and play guitars and sing there. This style
of music and the words reminiscing on home, always make me think of Texas and
wish I could go back. This is a small personal example of how music can create
such strong memories to a certain place, people, or memories.
Another reason why I was fascinated by this painting and a
reason I believe I love music so much is because of the strong emphasis Spanish
cultures place on music. This is true for all parts of South America, Spain, or
even Spanish communities in non-Spanish countries. I’ve seen this in the part of Colombia where
my extended family lives and where I was born. The people there are very poor,
thus can’t do activities like go out to restaurants or on vacations to
celebrate, so rather they turn on happy music and then dance and celebrate.
In Colombia, this is one of the most famous celebrating and rejoicing about life songs.
In Spanish
culture, playing the guitar or simply listening to music can be one of the only
ways to express emotions and convey a message. This is why I believe this
simple painting expressed so much.
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