Monday, October 15, 2012

Tuesday, October 16th

Agenda:

We watched a short clip of an interview that aired on PBS in 2010 with Alice Walker, novelist, poet and essayist who is best famous by her novel turned movie, The Color Purple. This clip can be viewed here.


We then discussed and took notes on the following:
1. How does Alice Walker describes the value of conversation?
2. In light of topics that may be described as sensational or depressing or hard to read about at night, how does Alice Walker describe the way a written text serves as more feasible means of initiating conversation?
3. Alice Walker describes with vivid imagery the danger of not being heard. What is wrong with  subjects that highlight hardship not being "heard"?

In section 3 class, a discussion about the function of capitalism was initiated. Before addressing the question in the comments below, re-watch the video being careful not to put words in Alice Walker's mouth or oversimplify the argument. (She starts her overview with the problem with capitalism in minute 12:23. Re-CONSULT THE VIDEO BEFORE RESPONDING! She also goes onto say the chief downfall of human kind is greed, stated separately from capitalism.)

Homework:

1. Address the following question in the comments below. If someone has made a comment that reiterates your sentiment, post your comment as a response to their comment thereby creating a conversation string.

How is Alice Walker's take on the importance of writing different or (exclusive or) same to that of Tobias Wolff's take on it? (150 words)

2. Bring the actual copy of your short story collection (IRB2) with you next class.



30 comments:

  1. Alice Walker's view on why writing takes up such a major portion of our lives is slightly different from Tobias Wolff's view. Tobias Wolff believes that writing should not be overly sensational or depressing, although you may feel these emotions during the beginning, Instead, it should shed light to an overly dark matter that is a well-known problem in the world, such as divorce and murder. In contrast, Alice Walker believes that writing is a way to express one's feelings without the social awkwardness of speech. When you relate problems to a person through a conversation, listening is one of the most important things. By listening well, you are having a conversation of good quality. However, when talking about major problems, the conversation can quickly become awkward and listening becomes a more difficult task. By writing your thoughts in words in the form of a story, your readers can listen while reading. They can also take a pause in order to contemplate and meditate about what was written in that book, which alleviates the stress and relentlessness of a fast-paced conversation.

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    1. Dear Daniel!
      I think your comparison of Tobias Wolff and Alice Walker is very solid but I would have to say that both writers convey the same point. The two writers both wants people to write about something that can not be easily shared to one another other than the form of writing. What I mean by this is that in comparison to Tobias Wolff and Alice Walker, they both want us to relate something that everyone knows about but does not take any actions. As mentioned in the video, Walker wants us to take small actions. She says that sometimes inspiring or changing one person's life is a good start. Both authors wants us to convey dark issues in a way where it is both sugar-coated and fascinated with good writing but is serious enough to allow people to realize about the dark issue. This is what I believe Wolf and Walker is trying to show their audience.

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    3. Dear Daniel and Michael!
      Michael, I like how you talked about how they're both conveying the same point. However, I would add on by saying that Tobias Wolff prefers sugar-coating serious issues while for Alice Walker, not so much. She wants the reader to think about what they just read and have the serious topic lingering in the reader's head for days which is why she told her interviewer, "I'm sorry you had to read this at night." Because of the serious nature of her writing, she felt bad for the interviewer since it was not something that he should have gone to bed thinking about. She also says that its much easier to write about these issues because it would be much too awkward in voice conversation. On the other hand, as Daniel said, Tobias Wolff prefers to leave the reader in a much more relaxed state after reading the short story by making the story seem less intense. However, I believe the downside of this is that it does not make the reader want to go out and make a difference in the world. In this way, I believe Alice Walker's writing is more effective since it will stay in the reader's mind for a much longer period of time.This is what I believe is the difference between Tobias Wolff and Alice Walker's writing styles.

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  2. Alice Walker defines writing as a superior tool in order to get our ideas out without actually using speech. According to her, writing is pretty much letting out your emotions on a piece of paper for others to read your thoughts. She states that one of the main components when relating problems through a story is listening. Without one listening, it leads to mayhem and causes more stress on the person who is trying to deliver the message. For example, it will make the communicator want to speak louder and louder and therefore may lead to anarchy such as “war.” Good listeners can really enhance a great conversation and they can make it much more interesting. However on the other hand, Tobias Wolff says that writing shouldn’t be classified as depressing or sensational. Although you may feel those emotions as you read, it is just meant for the reader to feel those emotions but in reality they don’t really feel those emotions.

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  3. Alice Walker’s view on the importance of writing differs greatly from Tobias Wolff’s view. Wolff believes that a story’s purpose is not to make people afraid of something, but rather to make people realize something… at least for the short story. However, Alice Walker believes that the purpose of writing is a way to tell experiences. It should be interesting, and it should be chilling to the bone, so that people will actually learn from the story. It’s also the greatest way to convey a message. When you talk to people, it’s hard to stop talking for some people. The listening aspect is something that our current society is missing, and reading a book forces you to listen to the author and what she’s saying. The controversial issues that she highlights in her books are controversial for a reason. It would be incredibly difficult to talk about these things in real life, but if you write it in a book, it’s easier for people to think about the issue, to contemplate it as they finish the book. It leaves an impact, an idea within their heads, and that is why Alice believes that the story is meant to convey a message.

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    1. Also remember the difference of intention between Wolff's definition and Walker's. Wolff suggests that story telling is a medium to create experiences so that one can be affected by thereby suggesting that being affected, even by the grotesque and gruesome, is a marker of clarity, the acknowledgement of the kind of truth that includes the type of information more often closeted than confessed. Whereas, Walker suggests that the exposure to stories that are hard to read at night is a gesture of making at attempt to be affected, an active process in which the reader is given the space to emote but with the hope that it also stirs the reader into action.

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  4. There are slight differences between Tobias Wolff’s view and Alice Walker’s view on writing and why it is important. For Alice Walker, writing is a way to bring rather disturbing subjects “to the light.” She said that she realized in her own life that some subjects she came across were so horrible that she couldn’t believe that humans were capable of doing such evil things. These dark sides of humanity silenced her for years, and have silenced the rest of the world as well. She said that one of the reasons she believes people write it because they encounter horrible things and they realize that it is something that they cannot necessarily say out loud. She expresses these topics in writing, which can also give space and distance to the reader so that they can take a step back and react to the information that they have been hit with. After reading the piece, they can sit back and contemplate what they read, and then think about what their role is. On the other hand, Tobias Wolff seemed to emphasize the notion that a piece of literature should not be necessarily classified simply as just depressing or sensational. Even if one does feel a sense of depression or sensationalism while reading the piece, these emotions should not be the central tenet of the reading experience. Instead, writing should be something that illuminates a dark subject that is not widely known, but should not portray it in a way that they are sugar coated or hidden “in resolute chipperness.”

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    2. I agree with your claim. Tobias Wolff strongly emphasises his point that short stories should be frank. Frank in the sense that the short stories' function is to display the honest truth and not the covered and coated stories that hide the reality, nor the uncomfortable situations written only for spotlight. Alice Walker on the other hand, has slightly different intentions in her writing. Like you say, I believe Alice Walker describes writing as a form of conversation. One - as you suggest as well - that can allow a comfortable distance between the reader and writer. I also agree with the idea that Alice Walker uses her stories to bring light to situations that we tend to be silent about. Her love for the people possibly brings about a sense of duty to call for help in their stead. I wouldn't necessarily say 'evil things' only because, like the example of the woman cutting her children, these 'evil things' aren't always intentionally malicious. Like the woman, it seems like it is a form of her lifestyle and nothing 'personal'. One similarity between the two writers, however, is their general ideal that short stories should tell the reality and, as Tobias says, they should not be mistaken for a simple want of attention.

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    3. Yoonjie and Hyunna,
      I think my stance in this prompt is nearly as similar as yours. Both writers want to shed light on the "awkward" and "depressing" topics nobody really wants to talk about. In his writing, "Introduction," Tobias Wolff says that he wants to show his readers the reality of life that everyone should be aware of, instead of weaving "upbeat stories that flog you with transcendence," which I believe Alice Walker agrees with. Especially Alice Walker, she wants the world to realize the horrible she has seen when she travelled to parts of Africa, and by writing some of the horrors she has seen with her own eyes, she is able to inform her readers but also give them distance and time to contemplate and react to the idea. She wants her audience to take into consideration that we could help one women in the Congo, for example.
      I think one slight difference between Alice Walker and Tobias Wolff is that as Yoonjie said, Walker's primary purpose is to "bring light" to rather disturbing matters that calls attention to readers, for their thought and consideration to the topic, and perhaps to take small action. On the other hand, although Wolff writes also for the call of reality, he also writes it for the art (I'm not saying that Walker doesn't, but it seems that Wolff implements the aspect of art more than Walker.)

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  5. Alice Walker’s take on the importance of writing differs much from Tobias Wolff’s. Alice Walker believes that in order to clearly state ideas to other people, people should write what they want to say on paper. Writing ideas on paper helps support people’s claims because if people instead talk to eachother about a touchy subject such as genocide, the conversation could get awkward and the person would have a hard time proving his claim. However, writing something down would avoid the awkwardness of the subject because they are not speaking to eachother. Tobias Wolff thinks otherwise. Wolff states that people’s writing should not be shocking or depressing, but should instead give us the big picture about life. Although shocking and depressing emotions may be felt by the reader throughout the story, Wolff believes that these feelings should not take over a story.

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    1. To Sean,
      I would like to back up your claim. While it is true that Walker believes that people write to state their ideas, another reason she believes people write is to relay a horrific incident to the reader base. This is a surrogate to everyday conversation, where such tragic incidents such as rape or the issues in the Congo are not a conventional thing to talk about. It is simply too horrific to describe in verbal words Walker feels that by writing, writers can easily and comfortably tell others (their readers) about the incident in an effective manner. I support your points on Wolff's opinions, but I would like to add some more to your argument. Wolff also wants to get across the fact that some of the tragedies are mature content, but as a mature audience, we should be able to handle them without being overly dramatic and effected by such incidents.

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    2. Dear Sean.

      I support your claim about the difference between Tobias Wolff’s message about short stories and Walker’s message. Walker states that people write in order to convey their ideas and their messages to readers, but another detail about this is that they can avoid the awkwardness of talking about subjects such as genocide and rape by writing it down on paper, thus avoiding conversation. Tobias Wolff, on the other hand, states one of the things to look out for when writing a short story is to avoid being sensational, i.e. making too huge of a deal over such subjects. He states that a good short story should be able to maturely handle depressing or shocking subjects because we the target audience can handle such matters without making a fuss over them. Simply put, Wolff believes that although these emotions can be present in the story, they should not be the principal focus.

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    3. Brian Lee, your last statement "Wolff believes ...not be the principal focus" --makes me happy.

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  6. Both Tobias Wolff and Alice Walker are very driven writers, both motivated by the hope that in the end, you will take away something that other mediums cannot as well portray. Where they differ is what they believe specifically will move you. Alice Walker talks in her interview about how works of writing tell things that are difficult to speak about or frowned upon, such as her work about the prevalent humanitarian issues in much of the world. She writes to make a difference by informing the reader on a topic, and motivating them with the sad and terrible facts about the current happenings in the world. Tobias Wolff on the other hand writes to emotionally move the reader. He writes with the intention of the reader being emotionally changed, either by the depressing or sensational nature of the story. While they both write to make changes happen, it is the significance of the change, whether personal or worldly, that varies between these two great writers.

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    1. Both Alice Walker and Tobias Wolff’s writings are there to trigger a change. As Alice walker describes that her writing is to inform the reader of what is really going on in the world, either expose them or give them comfort for not being the only person in that situation, she provoked the thought of “Now that you have this knowledge, what will you do with it?” Tobias Wolff’s take on it is that a short story can’t be sensational or depressing because with it doesn’t aim to be that way. With sensational, it hides the reality and avoids the real problem. Just like Alice Walker, his depressing is informative as well. Sometimes for readers, reading about an unspeakable hardship is encouraging for an action because they can relate for once. A lot of the time, we relate writing as being more like entertainment then an expressing. The real truth about writing, as described by both authors is that writing is the one way to truly say what can’t be said.

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    2. I have to agree that both authors' main objective with their writings was to create a change. It's a very bold task to take on the social norm and fight it with only pen and paper, however I think that both these brave writers along with many others are doing this for the greater good. Alice Walkers style of handing out the information and letting the audience deal with it themselves, is something that I greatly admire. It's almost as if she's laying the entire deck of cards out on the table, all of the info, and saying "Alright, here's everything, do with it what you please." Tobias Wolff's point of view expresses the fact that sensational stories or depressing stories are just sensational/depressing in someone's eyes, it's not a stated fact that they are sensational, it just seems that way compared to most people's lives. Whereas Alice Walker's point of view on sensational/depressing stories is purely informational, she does state that a reason why she reads depressing stories is because she love humans too much to understand why they would cause these actions, and it draws people to read along. One of my favorite quotes from this interview had to be the part where she said that she could not understand "Humanities inhumanity to humanity". Not only does it have a nice ring to it, but it really makes you think what kind of creatures humans really are.

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    3. Juan, I'd be interested in knowing your take on humanity and whether it coincides or disagrees with that of Alice Walker. Are we unable to see our beauty and moreover haven't really tried looking and therefore most moral corruption may be attributed to the materialism and the desire to seek substance outside of the self?

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  7. Both Alice Walker and Tobias Wolff have completely different views of the importance of writing. Through the short story by Tobias Wolff, Wolff describes that you should never feel excessively depressed or shocked through a piece of literature. Although at sometimes feeling depressed or sensational could be the only answer. Wolff continues to say that through this, problems in the world such as hatred and murder should not have a depressing effect, however it should be shed with “light” over these dark subjects. In the other hand, Alice Walker states differently to that a piece of writing is very difficult to adjust to the “light”. Visualizing horrid subjects, Walker couldn’t believe that humanity was cruel. She states that this led her to realize how these brutal things had muted the rest of the world. She believed that writing is mainly to express the reader’s feelings and make a good conversation. Making a good conversation all begins with listening, instead of talking. However because humanity is impatient, people tend to talk and not listen when they are talking about major problems. Furthermore, Alice Walker describes that this is where writing takes place and writing your thoughts down can help your readers sit back and listen to your thoughts. This allows the conversation to run smoothly and lessens unnecessary stress.

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  8. Alice Walker and Tobias Wolff are similar in their purpose of writing. The two authors both write memoirs, to teach something to the audience. However, I think Alice Walker’s memoirs are way more intense. Tobias Wolff writes about how he regretted choosing his love over the bass, because forgot about the girl by the end of the summer, but he remember the bass for the rest of his life. He expects the reader to learn about life-skills such as weighing my choices so that the readers can make a decision that they do not regret in the future. Meanwhile, Alice Walker writes to show serious world problems. She writes about the dramatic intense scenes, which are even “scary to read about at night”. She teach her readers about the part of the where it is not civilized and people struggle, and go through pain to survive even for a day.

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  9. Similarly to Tobias Wolff, Alice Walker asserts that people should stay sustained with the matter of life and death. Not only that, but the community should gladly accept the described horrific acts as truth and should "contemplate" about such controversial ideas that are too difficult to talk about. Contrary to Wolff's claims in the Introduction, however, Walker agrees and understands when people are shocked and feel depressed when reading gruesome scenes. She acknowledges that these texts are hard to read casually and without alarm, but like the title of her novel, "Overcoming Speechlessness," suggests, Walker seeks to challenge readers to voice out their opinions. She highlights the need to aid those who are suffering. The author depicts those who are either simply apathetic or too awestruck to react as "silence." Such silence should be shattered, and the unfortunate should be given a voice. With that being said, she provokes sympathy within the audience during her interview by mentioning the opportunity "to make one woman or one child safer at night." A heart-warming quote, but it is also one that does make us feel rather guilty.

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  10. Alice Walker is a very intelligent woman who thinks writing is a key method to convey ideas so disturbing and grim that it’s not easy to talk about such topics out loud. She wants writing to be straightforward and hit the reader hard yet not drown them with such harsh situations. Her idea of a good conversation is when the listener actually hears the words being spoken, takes it in, and makes himself or herself a better person. When real life conversation doesn’t get through while dealing with such severe themes, writing can. That is the point Alice wishes to say how powerful and important words can be. Tavis never adamantly states his opinions on writing as he is the interviewer yet he seems to very agree with Alice. He reads Walker’s book, Overcoming Speechlessness, about body mutilations and he himself says it was hard to read yet he got through learning about things he would’ve never talked about with someone during an interview or casual talk. He’s an example that Alice Walker is correct in which words get through to people.

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  11. There are differences between Tobias Wolff’s view and Alice Walker’s view on writing and why it is important. Tobias Wolff believes that writing should not be depressing or serious. More like, how it should be more related to your own problems in the world. For example, divorce, murder, love, or relationships. On the other hand, Alice Walker views writing differently than Tobias Wolff. Alice Walker believes that writing helps express one's feelings without any awkwardness in a conversation. In her video, she mentions that listening is very important while making a conversation with someone. However, talking about your own personal problems can put you in a difficult and awkward position. So, listening becomes a more difficult task than writing. Alive Walker summarizes that by writing all your thoughts on a paper in worlds to form a story, the audience can imagine the scene, the situation, and the tone of the story.

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  12. Both Tobias Wolff and Alice Walker agree that sad and depressing literature are taken in by the reader so that he or she can learn something. The two authors agree that the world is not perfect, and is filled with many flaws. Wolff explains that an author should stay true to his audience, and write in a candid voice. Leaving out or simply not mentioning the flaws of the world is the same as lying to the reader. It would make the story unrealistic. Walker’s disappointment of the world is similar to the thoughts of Wolff. However, she explains that the change in the world is caused by peoples’ greed. As people become more and more busy, they do not have time to reflect their lives and find what is missing in the empty void inside them. They instead fill this void with whatever they can. Walker explains that by reading these depressing situations in literature, it should compell the reader to want to help these suffering people. Amy Walker encourages readers to take action in the problems we see in the world.

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  13. Alice Walker’s idea on writing is both similar and different to the ideas of Tobias Wolff. Both writers agree that a piece of writing (short stories) should not separate truth just because of the horror that accompanies with it. However, Tobias’s reason for this statement is that grown ups deserve to read the terror they already know. He hopes that the readers would understand that they are not alone and that other people are also feared by the topic that frightens him or her. On the other hand, Alice Walker believes that her story of truth, though somewhat not delightful, will teach others of the devastating lives some are going through in this world. She understands that the people of the first world countries are trapped only in their fence, knowing only happiness, which surrounds them. The enlightened author wants to show them how grateful they should be, knowing the story of the other side of the planet.

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  14. They both have similar views on writing. They believe that writing should allow the reader to think about a topic and figure out what they feel about it, rather than just being shocking and straight forward. They both see it as a way to express how one feels about a topic that is difficult to talk about in person. As Alice walker says in the video, it creates a space between the author and reader, creating less awkwardness and an opportunity for the reader to think about what the author is trying to say rather than just listening. Tobias Wolff says that a writer should not hide any flaws. They should show the true nature of humans, even if it is gruesome and horrific.

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  15. When Tobias Wolff explains about how writing should not be depressing but Alice Walker says writing is supposed to express and be able to show the emotions of the writer. Writing should be something that helps the writer be able to connect with the reader. When Travis asks about Overcoming Speechlessness he was talking about how it was not about overcoming being quiet or shyness but there is a deeper meaning to the title. Alice says that it is about how in Africa for women nowadays is a dangerous place to be. She says that there should be a voice for these women's and Overcoming Speechlessness is that one voice that may be able to help them.

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  16. Tobias Wolff, by saying that writing allows the reader to face “what in truth we are afraid of anyway”, and adding on that this “inscribe themselves forever on the reader’s moral bring, an bring the world into sharper focus” , and Alice walker by saying in her interview that we have a need to address these issues so that those that need to hear from us, can hear us, shows the reader that they are similar in the fact that they acknowledge that humans have a tendency to stray away and ignore the uncomfortable aspects of life and they both strive to bring these issues into sight. Alice walker however, adds on the fact that by writing what you cannot express by voice, you give the reader time to digest the information, time to take a breath, before choosing to take action. They both also say that writing is not supposed to be depressing nor sensational. However they are different in that Alice Walker says this because that, making it too depressing would repel readers from the issue even more, and making it too sensational would change the truth to what we want it to be, rather than what it is. On the other hand, Tobias Wolff says that the not “lesser writer” strives to balance the depressing and the sensational so that the reader can sympathize better with the victimized.

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    1. A beautiful line in your answer that I agree with: "making [the short story form] too sensation would change the truth to what we want it to be, rather than what it is". Nicely worded.

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