jenbirdieblack's Recent Comments

  • Reply to blog post: Blogs and Education (Revisited) by robburton
    Comment written 1 months ago

    I have to admit, I was skeptical about blogging as a medium at first. While i enjoy blogging on Myspace - mostly for poetry - I wasn't sure how it would pan out for academic purposes. Ultimately, though, I am impressed, and even grateful. This scene creates a sense of comfort that allows a little more of the "self" to seep into our literary criticism.

    Thank you, Dr. Burton, for opening up this avenue to us. There absolutely are more positives than negatives. Maybe I'll be brave and read along with your class next semester so I can join in the positive fun :)

  • Reply to blog post: Nudity in the Floating World by ChicoDowning
    Comment written 1 months ago

    Wow is right. Nice finish to the semester, sir.  :)

  • Reply to blog post: Living Free of Shuman by chadwathen
    Comment written 1 months ago

    Again. Stunned into silence. A-mazing.

  • Reply to a comment on: Born Into Brothels: A Documentary Review by mcauzza
    Comment written 2 months ago

    I might be butting in here, but this topic interests me. Because of Zana's efforts, her absolute dedication to these kids, and commitment to their futures, she is showing them that someone cares about them, and cares about where they are headed. The children are surrounded by people, their own parents included, asking them when they are going to fall in line with the culture they are already part of; they are not telling them, pushing them, helping them to be or do something bigger and better. All it takes is one voice telling us we deserve better to really believe it for ourselves, and shoot for it. Zana is showing these kids that there's another way.

  • Reply to blog post: Abandonment Behavior by chadwathen
    Comment written 2 months ago

    I loved the way you narrowed down Jasmine's definition of being an American, " to be free from oppression and to have choice with little restriction, but ultimately to have hope." I have been trying to figure out how to put her essence in a nutshell, and I think you may have succeeded. I can sleep easy, now; thank you, sir  :)

  • Reply to a comment on: Morphing Marilyn's by lilred
    Comment written 2 months ago

    Cheri, I never even made that connection! That really adds a whole new level to Jasmine. A person's first name, or connected nickname, is casual and informal. Whatever anyone else calls you is irrelevant when it comes to documentation and other official orders; but a last name is permanent, stationary - you can't just move it around and alter it when you want to, and I think Jasmine realizes this, and knows the effect that kind of permanence has on her. She's just not a permanent kind of person.

  • Reply to blog post: by
    Comment written 2 months ago

    While your ideas are beautifully articulated, I think you're being a bit hard on Jasmine - and incredibly optimistic about your own society. You think people are not after their own self-interest? Really? Ok, aside from the public figures pocketing corporate profit, how about the general sense of competition underlying everything "American"? And I agree with Jasmine's statement that "In America, nothing lasts. Monuments are plastic...agreements are annulled." How high is the divorce rate now, 70 something percent? Not all divorces are for the better - some marriages shouldn't have happened in the first place. It's that blasted need for change that so many people possess that cause them to make hasty decisions just to get out of the box in which they currently feel trapped.

    I'm not saying that Jasmine has America pinned - she is an outsider, a new observer to the culture, and she is the result of many uncommon life experiences, so her story and worldview is not going to pertain to all of us, but even if you or I were to write a report on what it is to be American, at least half a dozen people in our class alone would counter us. Everyone is entitled to their version of America; this is Jasmine's.

  • Reply to blog post: Fun with Earth Day by ChicoDowning
    Comment written 2 months ago

    I love your voice in this article!! You presented the same information that everyone else presented, but actually kept my attention. Congratulations :)

  • Reply to blog post: Names by jmatteri
    Comment written 2 months ago

    I disagree with you in your belief that Jasmine owns all her names except Kali; on the contrary, I would argue that Kali is the only one she really, truly owns, because it is under that identity that she takes action on her own without anyone having control over her. She took her power back from Half-Face. Other than leaving Bud, I believe this was her strongest moment in the novel.

  • Reply to blog post: Liberty vs. Destiny by chadwathen
    Comment written 2 months ago

    I'm really interested in your claim that her "third eye" really was just that. It sounds more like your argument is that her scar was her means to freedom; because she was so hard to marry off, she got to marry for love (by the help of her brothers). I could be reading you wrong, but either way, I would like to hear your thoughts on this.

Friends

View All