Mythological Criticism the "Archetype"

Hello Fellow Bloggers!
In this weeks workshop #7another type of criticism was brought into light called Mythological. (p.2025)
Well, if psychological criticism examines the artist as an individual ,   than,"Archetype" in literature , is a typical character, an action or a situation that seems to represent such universal patterns of human nature.  It can also mean universal symbol, maybe a character, a theme even a setting.
A swiss psychologist, Carl Jung says that it's about "collective unconscious" which are experiences shared by a culture or a race.  This includes love, religion, death, birth, life struggle survival.  They are created in the literary work or other art form.
HERO is one example of Archetype: it's a character who predominantly exhibits goodness and struggles against evil in order to restore harmony to society, e.g. Hercules, Jesus rising from the dead..etc.
Mother Figure is also a Archetype: such a character maybe  Mother Earth who offers spiritual and emotional nourishment, and can be Stepmother who treats children miserably, like in Cinderella.

Nurturing Mother Earth

Hercules the Hero 

Re-Birth of Jesus Christ

Jesus vs Devil, Good vs. Evil 

Gender Criticism

Workshop 8 includes a reading that introduces us to "Gender Criticism" .
I can probably guess what that might be about just by the title.
On page 2033 it explains that this type of criticism examines how sexual identity influences the creation and reception of literary works. 
It doesn't surprise me that it began with the "feminist" movement...(Im pro-feminist)
Feminist critics believed that the culture was so completely dominated by men that Literature is saturated with unexamined "male produced" assumptions.....guys are good at that!
Well, reading further it also mentioned that the last 20 years showed expansion studies  even including gay and lesbian critics in the field whom described their discipline as the "Queer Theory"!

"You better weerrk"

Doc2: Analyze the poem that envokes your senses!

Our workshops are truly helpful in giving us a sneak peek of what's to come  for the week in class.  Im looking back and can't believe that we are already mid-way through the term and 3 days from finishing the month of February.

In our 7th workshop we explored more poems and now becoming more in depth with analysis and poems that invoke feelings. more later...

"Her Kind" has got class!

The poem "Her Kind" written by Anne Sexton reads to me like a women who wanted to break out!  Born 1928, she was raised during the turn of the century when the world wasn't quite ready for women to run for government and wear see-through tops.  Women were very traditional and expected to lead sheltered lives, obedient and quiet .
They are supposed to be viewed as submissive and pure of thought, not "dreaming evil" (line3).
Anne Sexton portrays herself as with two voices, the voice of the speaker and voice of outside society. Basically the speaker of "Her Kind"  is a black sheep of traditional society.
She speaks about her education and career instead of a domestic life as stated "a women like that is not a women, quite. I have been her kind."(line 6-7). p699.

Anne Sexton is this powerful woman that truly ignored all tradition for that time period.  This Mae West of the Literary world was subtle in her dominance and males felt threatened and helpless just by a being next to her.
She is saying , be different, be rebellious, go against the grain because society will eventually comply!

What can you say? The woman's got class!!

Anne Sexton
1928-1974

                             

Doc2: Analysis of Poems

As we progress in class and realizing how in depth a poem or story can be, "analyzing"  literary work is no joke!
In our Doc2 we are to choose one or a group of poems that we are reading.  Than choose a theme and literary elements you want to "analyze".   There is no right or wrong, but you must write it in descriptive ' scholarly' words to convey to the reader what your findings were and what you believe,  in no less than 1500 words.
As Sigmund Freud would say "we must be virtuous in our quest"....

Psychological Criticism (Literary sense)

Ok , I know this is a fancy word for something to do with the function of the brain.  right?
Well,  Doctor Sigmund Freud,  a Neurologist from Vienna, had learned a great deal from studying Literature.   His theory of human perception claimed that much of what we forget is stored in the unconscious mind including traumatic events that happened in childhood that were repressed.  He used one the ancient greek plays "Oedipus" written by Sophocles.  Freud paid respects to the playwright, Sophocles, for his deep understanding into human nature  that his characters displayed the complexity and depth of "real" people.

  Freud along with his other famous playwrights agreed that great literature truthfully reflects life.
Psychological Criticism is so varied that he broke it down into three categories: First it investigates the creative processes of the artist.
Second approach is the psychological study of a particular artist, it is to understand the motivation and behaviors.  The third: is analysis of fictional characters, this approach is the one most often used.  It is a modern insight about human behavior into the study about how fictional people act. (p.2021)

Whew, that wasn't too painful, was it?

The Thing I carry.....

In Literature  "symbolism" or symbol, is a physical object or place which carry an idea or an association that stand for something so deeply significant that sometimes it's too rooted to spoil the magic to explain. Symbols mean different things to different mentalities.  
For me, my automatic watch never parts my wrist.   It symbolizes the reasons why it was given to me as a gift during a once happy time in my life many years ago that will never come again.  Although it may represent happiness, it also symbolizes sadness. 
It is also a constant reminder that time is precious and once it's given, you can never relive those moments ever again because time stops for no one..... 

"To The Desert" by Benjamin Alire Saenz

The author starts the poem with : "I came to you one rainless August night.  You taught me how to live without the rain.  You are the thirst and thirst is all I know. "....  in this excerpt he conveys a sense of reflection, and appreciation for living without rain and having been raised in the environment.

Here the author conveys a sense of nurturing , encouragement and growth. He  talks about endurance and longevity :  "You blow a breeze and brand your breath into my mouth.  You reach---then bend your force, to break, blow, burn and make me new". (Saenz, p.691)

Reading it in the 3rd person in it's entirety, a feeling of nostalgia and some religious undertones. It is about finding GOD in a barren environment.  The poem exemplifies the idea that God is everywhere.  The author also uses the desert as a metaphor to spiritual bleakness and emptiness in one's own life.   A reply from God to the author stating that he can be provided for at the end.

Reference:
Gioia, D., and X.J.Kennedy,  Literature. (twelfth edition, 2010). p.691  www.pearsonhighered.com

LOVE: To write is to breathe. That simple and that complicated.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY! 

On February 14th many people exchange gifts or flowers with their special valentine.  This day is named for a Christian martyr and dates back to the 5th century, but has origins in the Roman holiday. Thanks to 'Shakespeare in love' who romanticized it through his written works and handmade paper cards became the 'tokens-du-jour' in the middle ages. 
The celebration of love continued through the ages and into the new western world.  
  We celebrate love on this day, but those of us few in numbers also celebrate the LOVE of other things, for me, writing.
Our Doc2 should reflect our passions for writing the story according to how we see it as individuals. You are your own mind, write what the story is telling you.  Go to the red zone, dare to write to get a "rise" out of the readers.  
Love is to burn for that desire, red means hot and stop, means "do not enter" if you dare! 
What are you burning for?

A Literary Voice

In my experience with recording scripts and short stories, you have to portray the character you are reading about in order to sound as if your living in the story.   
The Literary Voice can be described as two things:  

1)   Literary Voice is the author's style , the quality that makes his/her writing unique, conveying the    author's mind set, personality and attitude of the character he describes. 
2)   It can also be described a characteristic speech and diction through thought patterns of a "first person", or narrator.  Voice and diction has so much to do with the author's experience of a work of literature, and when I read to record, I am "re-living"  that experience through his character.  It is one of the most  important elements when he/she writes their work . 

Thesis Game

Hey everybody!   Today was a good day..
Prof. Hamon had the class take part in the "Thesis Game".   The class was divided into 5 groups of two and we were given 30 minutes to write a thesis along with 3 support statements based on the story we chose.   My partner and I chose "the very old man with enormous wings".   Once submitted to the prof. he read them out loud and asked the class to vote on the one that they would write their paper on and the team with the most votes wins an automatic "A" on their paper.  It was a really good learning approach to sharing ideas and learning from one another.  Thank you class for your votes.

"EL Boom"

Who knew?  Latin American Literature was so intriguing.  1970 brought about some serious international attention for the Latin Literature sector .  A new generation of fiction writers which brought in different european , multilayered cultures on styles of writing. characterization became complex instead of straightforward. Latin writers were more "fantastical" in their accounts with fractured time sequence. These young Latin writers were the catalysts of an explosion of creativity commonly called  "EL BOOM" that transformed Latin America into one of the centers of modern world fiction.

Our "Thesis" for DOC2

Ok, I didn't get it quite right on monday's class about the thesis... Im just want to make a brief note.
I went back to the link from "College of Arts and Sciences, UNC".  The link that Prof. Hamon so kindly provided us at the beginning of this course. For Mr. Hamon must include a author and title in the thesis.   
Thesis: tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion.

• A road map for the paper, telling the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper. 
• subject, topic, author, title and make a claim usually a single sentence somewhere in your first paragraph that presents your argument to the reader.  

This link is my go-to site for such reminders. hope it helps you as well.
 http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/thesis-statements/

Stock, Flat, or Round...what's your shape?

What's in a story without a memorable "character"??

Characters come from the hearts and souls of the writers who, for whatever reason, express their own life experiences.  

English novelist E.M. Forster had other character labels such as Flat:  with only one outstanding trait or feature a mannerism, physical feature or even an obsessive fondness with something...and  Round:  lots of facets and deeper personalities. 

Depending on the story and plot, my tastes tends to go with whatever the portrayal of the character him/herself.  In "Silence of the Lambs", I love ALL the characters!  Clarice's hunger for solving the mystery by using a criminally insane patient was brilliant.  Dr. Lechter playing head games and his british mannered, morbidly desire to dominate makes him insanely attractive (forgive the pun) .  These unforgettable characters will live forever in our own human existence and will set standards for future characters.  What's your shape???

A good theme equals a great story!

Hello Guys!
My readings give me the understanding  that a "theme" is whatever general idea or insight the whole story reveals. To me, it would be very obvious as to what a theme of a story would be.   In literary fiction a theme serves as type of "unifying device".   It aims for a more deeper and comprehensive statement. The character arrives at some realization or understanding. (p.199)

Where is the Humanity?

Hello Class and  hope everyone had a great weekend!
In reading this week's workshops, opened my eyes to the realism of Latin cultures.
In "A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings"…how can cruelty and compassion co-exist in such an environment. It's like the necessary evils in order to know the good.
It takes a look at the human response to the weak, dependent and different.
So many moments of cruelty and callousness are expressed throughout the story, it stuns me.
After the Elisenda's child recovers from the illness, for example, the parents decide to set the old man adrift with provisions for only 3 days a concession to the old man's plight but not a very nice one.
Once they can profit from showcasing him, however , Pelayo and Elisenda imprison him outside in a chicken coop for the visitors to pelt stones at him even taking a hot iron to him.   Things that make you ask yourself , "where is the humanity in this world?"

On a positive note, I like that his wings of an angel convey a sense of magical attraction for pilgrims and although his wings are dirty and bedraggled and bare , he is rich in spirit and hope, setting examples for us all.

We are starting DOC2, you ready?

Symbolism

In Literature  "symbolism" or symbol, is a physical object or place which carry an idea or an association that stand for something so deeply significant that sometimes it's too rooted to spoil the magic to explain. Symbols mean different things to different mentalities.  
For me, my automatic watch never parts my wrist.   It symbolizes the reasons why it was given to me as a gift during a once happy time in my life many years ago that will never come again.  Just as important,  it is a constant reminder that time is precious and once it's given , you can never relive those moments.  
 "The one thing that no one can afford to buy , yet no one can afford to lose...is time" ~~Steve Jobs.

Mira, Look! Love Latino Boom

It's not uncommon that Latinos and religion go hand and hand.
Our workshop this week assigned the reading "The Gospel According to Mark".
Although it was kinda of dull but very significant in history. An action story that emphasizes on what Jesus did as opposed to what he taught.  Jesus heals and restores the sick and the sight to the once blind.  Demons are driven from oppressed. The Gospel of Mark is one of the oldest and the shortest, Mark himself, who was the assistant to Peter wrote it.
This gospel describes the inenvitable resurrection of Jesus Christ.
It tells of a clear story of a divine person Jesus of Nezareth.  Jesus comes to life as a man to walk the hills of Galilee, lived among the people and eventually was betrayed by one of his own disciples and was crucified on a Roma cross.

"A Rose for Emily"; a love to die for.

In an earlier posting I wrote that a character is what makes the story come alive and memorable.  In my reading  "A Rose for Emily" , William Faulkner, the author, makes the female protagonist your classic outsider who is "Flat" because she is your stereotypical southern eccentric.  

She is also "Stock" in that she is fearless and somewhat reckless , she enforces her own personal laws of conduct by refusing to pay taxes and will not state her reasons for buying the poison and when the federal mail comes calling, she flat out refuses to attach numbers to her house.  Emily lives her life on her own terms. 

I consider her also to be a  "Round" character  in that she is a muted mysterious figure and subject to extremely bizarre behavior and the object of everyone's gossip and speculation.  

Is it obsessive love OR just plain lunacy when she kills a man to keep him enclosed to ensure he will never leaver her.  Necrophiliac is a sexual desire for dead bodies, but looking at it from a broader sense it also means "powerful desire to romantically control another".  Well, Emily is making sure that her man has nothing to say about that!!  LOL.

Yet she ultimately transferred her affections to Homer, ..tsk...tsk..poor Homer met his doom by loving Emily too. 

In my view, I don't blame mentally unstable Emily for her actions. I'm not promoting her horrific actions but the strand of hair is a reminder of her desperate desire to keep what she once loved.  Some of the perverted things people do in the name of love and happiness.    
 "True Love" comes once in a lifetime, how far would you go to preserve your love next to you? 

A Kaleidoscope of Equality

kaleidoscope: By definition reflections produce changing patterns that are visible through an eyehole when rotated.  
In Kurt Vonnegut's "Harrison Bergeron" definition of equality is a few of their constitutional amendments that rendered every American equal, meaning that no one is stupider, uglier, weaker, or slower that anyone else.  "Handicapper Teams" in place to ensure their  'special laws' of their own idea of equality are forcibly obeyed. Equality was a more complicated term then we all imagined.  Dr. Hamon brought that issue to light on monday.  He challenged us into using our noggins, raised some eyebrows and even got a bit exciting.  We know in a general sense of what "equality" is.   There is …..Social equality, Equal opportunity,Gender equality, Racial equality,  …etc..list goes on …..   As I discovered there are "kaleidoscopes" of equalities out there that are constantly changing.  Equality to me is a uniformity and equilibrium amongst each other.   What's your view?