Reflection Time: First Semester (Barbie Doll)

I chose to reflect on “Barbie Doll” by Marge Piercy. Even though the character in the story “was healthy, tested intelligent, / possessed strong arms and back, / abundant sexual drive and manual dexterity…everyone saw a fat nose on thick legs” (Piercy 7-9, 11). Although the girl in the poem posses good qualities, they are personality traits most associated with males, and therefore, undesirable for a girl. All the criticism the girl receives causes her to commit suicide and mutilate her body. At the funeral, while everyone is looking at the girl in the casket, they say, “doesn’t she look pretty” (Piercy 23)? They can only find beauty in her mutilated body, and compliment her when it is too late.

Growing up, I often faced problems with anorexia and body image issues. I was often bullied, like the girl in “Barbie Doll,” for not looking like how others wanted me to look. I got teased for being a bit overweight and not having blue eyes and blond hair like everyone else. When I began to lose weight, I still saw myself as fat when I looked in the mirror. It took me a while to be confident in myself, and embrace the other good qualities I have. We often judge a book by its cover instead of looking beyond the surface. In a world that focuses on images rather than personalities, we are forced to conform to what others want in order to escape judgment. 

Reflection Time: My Choice

My Choice Reflection

            Ender Ady really captivated me with his poem “I Should Love to be Loved” with his style of writing. He is able to distinguish his character’s relationship with others from the very beginning of the poem by saying, “I am neither infant nor happy grandfather
/ Nor parent, nor lover
/ Of anyone, of anyone” (1-3). I really liked how he casually eliminated relationships that his character could have in each line at the beginning of the poem. By taking away these basic relationships, Endre Ady’s character appears alone, and lost.

Further portraying Endre Ady’s character as lost, Endre Ady repeats himself twice at the each of each stanza. At the end of the poem, the character says, “I wish to be of someone, I wish to be of / someone,” which not only sounds like an echo, but also a desperate call to find someone who will care about him. Since he has no one, Endre Ady’s character just wants to find someone who will show the slightest bit of interest in him because he wants to be finally noticed.

Finally, throughout the entire poem, Endre Ady has his character desperately try and be noticed by those who are around him. He says, “I should like to show myself to the world, /
So that someone sees me, so that someone sees me. / This is why I sing and I torment myself” (9-11). Endre Ady has his character make obvious cries for attention because he wants the reader to get how desperate his character is to be noticed, and how he is done living his currently lonely lifestyle. Endre Ady displays his character’s entire life by using different writing styles such as repeating himself. 

Going Back to His Roots?

Is Gogol finally starting to become more confident in his heritage? In chapter 8, it really seemed like he was getting back to his family roots, and Moushumi is helping him step out of his rebellious phase. Gogol seemed to be really humbled by his father's death, and it probably made him realize how important family is, and how uncertain life can be. Gogol seems to be spending more time with his family, and even though "he is invited to join [his coworkers], he always says no" when they ask him to go out for drinks (190). Gogol not going out to party and him staying at home with his mother and sister show how deeply Ashoke's death hit Gogol, and how he is trying to rekindle the relationship between him and his mother.
Additionally, the relationship forming between Gogol and Moushumi is helping Gogol become more confident in his heritage because he has nothing to hide. Unlike all the other girls he has wooed, Moushumi is the first woman who know Gogol by his true name. Gogol and Moushumi grew up together, so he has nothing to hide and can be completely himself. Even when they go out to dinner, "they sometimes slip Bengali phrases into their conversation in order to comment with impunity on another diner's unfortunate hair or shoes" (211). Gogol speaking his native language is a huge stepping stone for him. Gogol communicating with Moushumi in Bengali is the first time in a while we have seen Gogol not embarrassed about who he is or his past.
So what do you think? Is Gogol embracing who he truly is? Or will he just go back on the American path?

American or Indian?

I knew Gogol, or should I say Nikhil, would be faced with the challenge of embracing his Indian heritage, while fitting in to American culture and find out who he truly is. He becomes almost obsessed with his image after finding out who he was named after, and goes as far as changing his name. Instead of thinking about how changing his name will affect his parents, Gogol "thinks of how many more women he can now approach" with his new name and sense of confidence(103). He thinks that people will be able to take him more seriously with a new name; however, "the only person who tormented him, the only person chronically aware of and afflicted by the embarrassment of his name, the only person who constantly questioned it and wished it were otherwise, was Gogol" (100). The self inflicted pain Gogol causes makes him more similar to the man he so desperately doesn't want to be named after.

Additionally, Gogol faces challenges embracing his heritage in personal conversations, and fails to identify with his culture. When Gogol is asked "why [isn't he] a member of the Indian association," Gogol comes up with an excuse and says "[he] just [doesn't] have the time" (119). With his new name, Gogol believes he is more American than ever, and is extremely self conscious of being viewed any other way. I think that eventually Gogol will embrace his Indian heritage, but it will take a while for him to get over his insecurities of being judged and being viewed as the odd one out. As for now, Gogol despairingly tries to be viewed as American.

Cultures Clashing

To begin with, I actually really like what I have read so far of the namesake. I know a little too much about Ashima, yet I feel a sense of empathy. We all experience those situations where we feel helplessly alone, or out of our comfort zone. Ashima just is dealing with that on a much larger scale.
Much of Ashima's loneliness stems from the extreme differences between American culture and Indian culture. Even her marriage is completely different than anything we would expect in the U.S. Her husband was a suitor who visits her house one day, and then "one week later the [wedding] invitations were printed" (Lahiri 9). I mean how crazy is that? However, to Ashima, it is completely normal. Also in the hospital, she hears a man say, "I love you" to his wife, and all she can think is, "words [she] has neither heard nor expects to hear from her own husband" (3). Her reaction further shows the difference in American and Indian cultures. We are so used to hearing people express their love publically, like on Valetine's Day or through social media, that we forget in some cultures, feelings are often harbored rather than expressed. American's fear what we don't know, so everything has to be made public.
Additionally, Indian traditions differ from American traditions. Ashima is forced to face a
clash of traditions at the hospital when naming her new baby boy. While the doctor suggests naming her son after a family member when Ashima and her husband fail to receive the letter from her grandmother, "[the] tradition doesn't exist for Bengalis, naming a song after a father or grandfather, a daughter after mother or grandmother. This sign of respect in America and Europe, this symbol of heritage and lineage, would be ridiculed in India" (28). Even the small differences in traditions make Ashima feel like an outcast and long for her homeland where everything is familiar.

After reading the two chapters, my question is will Ashima's baby boy face this culture clash growing up? Will he be stuck between making his parents happy by embracing his Indian heritage, and trying to fit in as an American?

Self Inflicted Pain

Let me begin with saying that the Underground Man is one depressed guy, who really likes to inflict unnecessary pain upon himself. Maybe his depression comes from the fact he is stuck in a corner all day, or how he is so caught up in his own thoughts. Not only is Dostokevsky's book a bit difficult to read, but his main character is quite dislikable.

The frustration I feel towards the Underground Man stems from the fact that he his own anguish, and does absolutely nothing about it. The Underground Man begins the book by talking about his liver problems, and deciding not to go to a doctor out of spite, and exclaims, "my liver is bad, well then--let it get even worse" (Dotoskevsky, 3)! Is he just trying to anger the reader, or have them feel some sort of pity towards him? Well either way, it is extremely annoying.

The Underground Man also reveals he is kind of a scapegoat for others in chapter 2. He admits "that [he] was always the most to blame in everything, and what [was] most humiliating of all, to blame for no fault but [his] own but, so to say, through the laws of nature" (8). This actually made me feel a bit bad for him. I mean maybe him being blamed for everything is what caused him to become so insecure, and spiteful of everyone.

Finally, the Underground Man inflicts self-suffering by his intense distrust of humanity. He asks the question, "but, after all, here is something amazing: why does it happen that all these statisticians, sages and lovers of humanity, when they calculate human advantages invariably leave one out" (20)? Out of all his sorrow, the Underground Man brings up a good point. When he mentioned this, I realized in any situation, one person is always left out.

Even though Notes from Underground is a challenging read, and sometimes a bit irritating, I like how the Underground Man makes me engage in the text, reflect on my own life, and think about the pain I inflict on myself.

"Single Story" Essay

The Full Side of the “Single Story”

One side of the story creates a “single story” that often takes full priority over the other side.  African obtains the “single story” of poverty, and those in dire need of savior through media and past history. We overlook the culture of this continent, and just associate it with a morose image including barbaric, unintelligent, and staving people. The media also tries to define beauty as a specific image, instead of achievement, charity, or intelligence. Achebe sets out to show the other side of the “single story” that displays Africa as a continent full of barbaric, unintelligent, and starving people, while the Dove Beauty Campaign sets out to show the other side of the “single story” that reveals the truth behind the media’s image of beauty, and encourages others to look beyond just the surface. .

Although most think of the single story of Africa as barbaric, Achebe uses Okonkwo to present a civilization that completes the other side of the story. Okonkwo’s fear of appearing weak, and his ability to think with his fists rather than his brain helps the reader grasp the truly complex tribe that surrounds him. One year, Okonkwo beats his wife during Peace Week, “and that was also the year Okonkwo broke the peace, and was punished, as was the custom, by Ezeani, the priest of the earth goddess” (Achebe, 22). Even though we expect the Ibo people to act barbaric and uncivilized and ignore Okonkwo beating his wife, they actually have a whole week dedicated to being caring and peaceful, and punish those who break it. Achebe has Okonkwo act in an inhumane way in order to portray an image of peace that surrounds him. [The tribe] also mentions how, “age was respected among his people, but achievement was revered” (8). Achebe uses Okonkwo’s fear of appearing like his unsuccessful father to express the importance of achievement and titles, and the worry of being considered weak, or unsuccessful.

Additionally, compared to Okonkwo’s inability to rationalize his thoughts, the intelligent Ibo and Mbanta people rationalize to make the correct choices for not only themselves, but for the future generations. In a Mbanta tribe meeting, one of the oldest members of the tribe mentions how “[he] fear[s] for [the] young people because [they] do not understand how strong is the bond of kinship” (167). The member of the tribe worries that the youth of the tribe does not understand the strong bonds of human relations. The ability and complexity the tribe’s people have to find and express a problem, and work to fix it, remains overlooked, and replaced with the “single story” of unintelligence and simplicity.

Finally, the people often portray Africans as starving, and in poverty. Achebe uses Okonkwo’s wealth, and yam growing success to show the other side of the story. During festivals and feasts, the tribe serves numerous courses that included meat and yams, and “the meat was shared so that every member of the umunna had a portion” (166). The tribes make sure everyone eats, and not starving contrary to common belief. However, even though the tribe contains a complex and fascinating background, the white men who spends time with them “[choses] the title of the book, after much thought: The Pacification of the Primitive Tribes of the Lower Niger” (152). Achebe wants to show that even though the tribe presents a whole different story, the missionaries cannot put the stereotypes they hear aside, which keeps them from learning the truth about the different tribes. Achebe uses Okonkwo and the tribes to complete the story of Africa.

            Similar to how Achebe tries to complete the story of Africa, the Dove Beauty Campaign tries to complete the story of beauty by showing what remains overlooked. Just like how Achebe uses Okonkwo to represent the extreme stereotypes, the Dove Beauty Campaign shows how commercials use extreme methods through Photoshop to make the models look perfect, and represent the image most associate with beauty. The Dove Beauty Campaign sets out to expose the truth behind the unrealistic image of beauty the media portrays by showing how the companies manipulate the photos. Just like the white men who visit the tribes, we accept the appearance on the surface, and do not challenge ourselves to look beyond what others say.

Furthermore, the Dove Campaign captures how the media affects us. To obtain the perfect image we get presented with, women and girls sometimes develop unhealthy eating patterns, an obsession with exercise, or plastic surgery. Ads surround us with words or phrases such as “diet” or “become a better you,” which creates us to focus on our insecurities, and diminished our self-confidence. As the Internet and television become more prominent in our lives, girls at a younger age see these images, and develop body image issues at a younger age. The media’s image of beauty portrayed causes us to point out or flaws, instead of embracing all we have to offer.

            In conclusion, Achebe tries to complete the “single story” of Things Fall Apart by portraying a society full of civilized, well-fed, and complex people, and the Dove Beauty campaign strives in creating a more realistic, and healthy image of beauty. Judgment and the inability to learn more than what the surface presents causes a single story to form. Judgment comes from jealously or insecurities. We quickly pick out the flaws in others, instead of seeing their good qualities. Negative experiences also shape our opinions, and hamper our ability to see beyond that one incident. Media focuses on these negative experiences, and zooms in on the “single story.” Instead of accepting the “single story,” we should challenge ourselves to reach deeper, and learn more about the people we judge so quickly.

Things Fall Apart: Ancestors

While reading Things Fall Apart, the quote "A man's life from birth to death was a series of transition rites which brought him nearer and nearer to his ancestors" (Achebe, 89) in chapter 13 really struck me, and lead me to think about how our past shapes our future.

The first reason the quote grabbed my attention was while the whole clan was trying to become closer and closer with their ancestors, Okonkwo does the exact opposite. His actions are geared towards appearing strong and dominant, so he does not resemble his father. Additionally, he will do anything not to appear weak, even if it means breaking Peace Week and disappointing his ancestors with his unruly actions. Okonkwo's fear of resembling his father keeps him from embracing who he really is, and becoming close with his ancestors.

The second reason why I found the quote interesting was I could easily relate it to today. Our lives are often shaped by the actions of our ancestors, just like Okonkwo. Whether we meet the expectations set for us, or start a whole new set, the present is shaped by our past.

Additionally, as we mature, we get closer to our ancestors. That can be interpreted two different ways. The first would be that as we get older, we get closer to death, which, in turn, brings us closer to those who died before us. The second, and happier, interpretation is as we get older, we have to go through transitions that resemble those our ancestors had to face, such as marriage or working, which brings us closer to our past. It seems that no matter how hard we fight against our past, ultimately we must face it at some point our life time.

"How an Obese Town Lost a Million Pounds"

 In the TED talk video I watched, the Mayor of Oklahoma City, Mick Cornett, discussed how he got the entire city to lose 1 million pounds in just 5 years. His video stood out to me for two reasons. The first reason was that I too had lost a substantial amount of weight a few years back, and wondered how a mayor could motivate an entire city to do it and what method he used; and the second reason was because the title really stood out to me. I mean a million pounds? That's a lot!
Cornett discovered that Oklahoma City had a problem when reading "Most Obese Cities" in Men's Fitness. Instead of pushing the problem aside, Cornett took action. His solution surprised me. He simply shaped transportation around walking instead of driving. The small change he made led to Oklahoma City being feature in the "Fittest Cities" in a copy of Men's Fitness five years later.
Cornett really inspired me. He could have easily overlooked the article, or simply have no interest in helping the citizens of Oklahoma City slim down. However, he took interest in the health of the citizens in Oklahoma city, and didn't let the daunting task scare him. Reflecting on his actions made me realize how often I do the exact opposite. In situations where I am not sure whether I will succeed or not, I tend to find ways to get out of them in fear of failure. I learned from Cornett that when you face a challenge head on, the result can be extremely rewarding.