Tool Kit

One of the issues Smith and Watson brings up is the narrator I vs. the narrated I. In other words, they are dissecting how narrators of (auto)biographical writing present themselves in their writing as opposed to their actual persona. Some narrators talk themselves up to be a hero in a story, where others might degrade themselves to make them more relatable to the common reader. In Circling my Mother, Mary Gordon the narrator writes critically of her narrated self. This is apparent when she is describing the scene of taking her mother to the doctor and then having to take her shoes off for her. "I phoned an agency to hire a nurse to tend to her feet every day. I could do it once, but I couldn't endure the possibility of having to do it again and again. The possibility of that made the idea of life unbearable" (219). I am sure the common reader would have a similar gut reaction, but Mary Gordon makes herself out to seem like this horrible person who couldn't even tend to her mother. However the truth of the matter is when medical necessity required added help, anyone would agree to utilize it.

What portrait is she painting?

In one word I can sum up the portrait of Mary Gordon's mother: honest. She is not trying to make her out to be a terrible person, nor is she equating her to an angel. She's just honest. I think that is the direct result of the fact that a relationship between mother and child is one of the most intimate human relationships we have on this earth. Personally, there is no one I value more on this earth than my other. And my relationship with her is the best relationship I have in my life. However, we're not perfect. I call my mom out on her flaws and she likewise. But it's done in a way that truly could only be done between a mother and daughter. Even with rockier mother/daughter relationships, there is still a great level of intricacy. It's a unique bond that words can't really justify. It's just a natural relationship that overtime progresses in its own unique way. Mary Gordon is a writer. If she were a painter, she would paint a portrait of her mother. The execution of every hair follicle would be precise, no freckle would go unnoticed, and every detail would be precise, painting her mother exactly for who she is. Writing is like a more intimate painting. She can't draw the physical being of her mother, so instead she writes it. Every detail. Every success. Every failure. Every good, bad, happy and sad moment in her life. Because Mary Gordon is a writer who loves her mother, and that's all that needs to be explained.

Aspects of Negro Life

In our discussion of the Harlem Renaissance, I really enjoyed our discussion of the painting "Aspects of Negro Life." The Statue of Liberty in the center of the painting represents freedom being the central focus and the idea of the American Dream. However, it looks as if someone slashed through the painting as to represent the brokenness of the American Dream and that it is not as easily attainable as some may think. The gear represents progress towards moving forward, but at the same time that cycle can carry you back down.  I think the painting is a perfect depiction of the sign of the times.

A Letter to Fifteen Year Old Self

Dear fifteen year old Claire,

He's not going to date you- it's okay to start obsessively stalking somebody else's Facebook. It's nothing against you. Sometimes people just aren't supposed to date. Okay? Don't worry. I know high school sucks and I know how miserable you are at school. And I'll be honest, it still sucks after freshman year. But not nearly as much. You'll find your friends. Not a huge crowd, but the right mix of people who understand you and get you. Just wait until college. You'll have the absolute time of your life and it makes it all worth it. You're not gonna have highlighted blonde hair and braces for ever, don't be nervous. And FYI, you'll learn this soon enough, Miley Cyrus isn't gonna be your role model and you really, really should have put more thought into choosing a confirmation name. However, it is always a great story to share. Life gets so much better when you're not forced to play volleyball anymore. You're going to have moments of regret and second guessing. Especially when the team wins state your junior and senior year. Just be proud of yourself that you followed your heart. Nana will always give you a hard time for quitting volleyball and not joining the choir, but over time you'll learn to laugh and make jokes of it.

In short I just want to say: stick true to who you are, believe in yourself, and never stop laughing. These three magic steps will bring you more happiness than you can imagine.

xoxo,
Gossip Girl

Girl, Interrupted

Girl, Interrupted gave a sneak peak into a global issue: mental health. Claymoore is a small mental health hospital with a host of interesting characters. As far as entertainment value for a movie, there is plenty of that. Some viewers get a kick out of Angelina Jolie's vulgar mouth and some are turned off by the dark and twisty characters. However, no matter how you feel about the situation, you can't deny that mental health is a pressing issue in our healthcare, and it is something that can't be ignored. It is important to educate everyone on mental health awareness so that they can help those in need instead of shame them for their disabilities.