kristinberry

well i have all my blogs, but i just wanted to say adios...it's been a very interesting class and definitely a lot more fun than i first expected it would be. hope everyone has a great summer, and maybe i'll run into you san jo kids sometime.

Playing off Janet Stickmon's book, it was interesting to focus on identity this week in a different form. Although cheesy at parts, The Debut was an entertaining movie about a young Filipino American. It wasn't really all about searching for identity since he did not even seriously question the issue until later in the film. The term "white washed" is something that many people don't usually discuss. At my high school, it was a phrase that used by the entire community including Asian American students. No one really questioned it, and from my perspective, no one saw it as really negative. In The Debut, Ben didn't seem like he would have cared either until he began seeing his culture from a different perspective. Like Tomas in American Son, he probably refused to identify with his Filipino heritage and try to fit into another mold because of his disdain for his father. Ben's father is pivotal character in this movie since Ben really starts to appreciate his lifestyle when he hears him sing and his family member tells Ben that his father gave up his dreams to raise his children in the US with the hopes of an American dream. Back to the issue of "white washed" (sorry to digress)...Ben became angered at that term after his sister's debut when his cousin called him that. This shift was due to his sudden changing ideology.

I also thought the story line with Annabelle was interesting, yet I'm not too sure what to think of it exactly and its implications.

The movie Flip Side was also interesting and dealt with identity and culture in a similar way, but with the main character in tune with his ethnicity while his sibling questioning his own. Both of these movies show how important this issue with today's youth and I'm sure with people of older ages.

Having Janet Stickmon come to class the other day was a great experience and pesonalized Crushing Soft Rubies even more. After listening to her speak, it was easier to like her book...I can't really explain it logically, but now her writing style is easier to enjoy. Unrelated to the book, it was entertaining to hear her stories in class and I can see why she enjoys teaching so much.
The last half of the book was good, especially because Stickmon tied in everything regarding her understandings of race, race relations and the need to constantly evaluate oneself to understand oneself. Also, I enjoyed the descriptions of her wedding.
Going back to her visit to the class, it was interesting to hear her talk about her own conceptions of race, rather than just read about it. The idea of being stuck between two worlds was brought up again while she discussed visiting the two sides of her family, and not really feeling like she belonged. However, it took the engineering conference to make her finally realize not only that groups reflecting similar culture are important, but also she is equally black and Filipino. Regarding her previous thoughts on student groups based on culture/ethnicity, I think her message is very important to other students of color. Even though her message about joining these types of groups was not very clear, it was in the undertones of her work.

The first section of Crushing Soft Rubies was very interesting. I really enjoyed the descriptions of Janet's different relationships with her parents when she was young. These relationships are something that her readers can identify with and therefore feel more connected to the author and the rest of the story.
Of course I found the narration of Janet's mother's death very emotional. This combined with the responsibility needed to take care of her father was heart breaking. However, what I found especially interesting was her beginning analysis of her own race. When she went to a predominantly white school, she never saw race as an issue. Yet when she was surrounded by people of color later in life she began to realize differences and similarities. I am guessing these sentiments are shared amongst many people of color. I was enthralled by Janet's discussion of "blackness," especially among her Filipino relatives, and I am coming to understand that this is also common in many Asian American families I know.
Unfortunately, I found at times that the author gave too much detail, especially about how many extra curricular things she was doing. This pulled away from the real story of her relationships with her parents. Also, there was unnecessary detail about various situations while she was living with extended family. I understand that she was trying to give readers her sense of desparity yet I felt the writing could have been conducted better.
Overall, I am intrigued by this first section and am looking forward to reading more which I am hoping focuses on her identity and not irrelevant material.

It's all just a game so stop taking it so seriously. This problem isn't so big. She can't make rent and he's worried about the next meal. Tears transfer to the weight of the world. Words are words and don't amount to much. Actions take time but who lives to see their trees provide the sweet fruit. I'll just have to take mom's advice and be good. Go back to your old life hidden beneath the surface of ignorance.


Writing this poem was definitely interesting. It was a combination of random thoughts, and thinking about talking with some of my classmates in my ethnic studies class yesterday. I decided to bring in one image of the tree to give readers a visual, something I think is important. I feel awkward not only writing poetry, but also writing about poetry because I am not good at it and I don't study it often, but it was a good experience.

Eileen R. Tabois’ poems in Reproductions of the Empty Flagpole are very interesting to say the least. Her first six poems are centered around Greece, Greek culture, and Greek mythology. This is overall theme is very interesting to me since she is a Filipina poet who is apparently known for her work surrounding her own culture. Perhaps this connection to ancient Greek life is a way for Tabois to express another side of her, or maybe it is somehow related to Filipino culture. However, I have not quite figured out how it could be possibly connected in this way, but it must have some kind of significance since she has begun this book strategically with these essays. Some have mentioned the connection to colonialzation, or de-colonialzation, but I think there is another level there.
Because Tabois’ poetry is experimental, it is difficult for me to extract the deeper meaning. I must say her writing is quite creative, and I admit, I really do not understand her thought process and how she goes from one line to the next. However, I did enjoy her poem “Ethos” more than the others, probably because she spoke of Athena, a figure that I recognize. From what I got from this poem, Tabois is describing a well liked figure such as Athena and how there is more to her than meets the eye. Although her statue may be worn down, she is still a mighty power, and this must be sustained.
“Purity” was also interesting because it finally related the Greeks to her audience of perhaps disenfranchised people. Maybe Tabois is comparing Greeks to Filipinos, and calling Filipinos a pure people because they did not submit to the evils of expansionism.

After finishing American Son, I was pleased but not completely satisfied. I feel like the author avoids particular areas that is of certain discussion, such as the true meaning of the dogs and Tomas' relationship with his mother. This leaves many questions unanswered, one of my biggest pet peeves with books. Authors try to be mysterious by leaving the readers wondering what happens next, yet this is not the point to literature.
On the whole, I found the story entertaining and emotionally appealing. The tensions and silent battles between Gabe and his mother were very interesting and something many could identify with even if the surrounding conditions are different. However, the mother as a character was not appealing and I blame the author for that. The author makes her meek and unable to stand up for herself, making the assumption that that is how Filipina women act, or even how they are supposed to act. Even if this wasn't his intention, the feminst side in me picked up on these attributes right away. The mother could have been developed more without ruining the story.
The relationship between Gabe and Tomas was also interesting, and more realistic. Although Tomas had his tough side, Gabe in a way brought out his more sentimental attributes. Tomas related Gabe to the dogs and his mother, two things that made him come off of his high horse and back down to earth to show love. Yet it seems ironic that Tomas would want to bring Gabe into his dangerous world since he had been so ademant about protecting him previously, and even continued to do so. This part does not coincide with the themes of protection in the book.
Gabe and Tomas' mother was also protecting them, but sheltering them from her Filipino history and the life in the Philippines. By avoiding her brother's advice for so long, it is clear she wanted them to become more "American," and would live through any conditions to make it a reality.
I guess altogether, this was a good book, but as I mentioned before, did not incorporate further story lines that I felt was necessary.