What is unique about Anzaldua's approach to the idea of exile is her attachment to a number of cultures simultaneously. She feels bound to several different communities and seems fascinated by the notion of a borderland. This theme of being able to "continually walk out of one culture/ and into another" is important both in Anzaldua's writing and in her attitude towards her own lifestyle. She describes the life of the mestiza, the one who resides in the borderland, as having a constant "struggle of flesh, a struggle of borders, an inner war". Everyday is a balancing act for someone "cradled in one culture, sandwiched between two cultures, straddling all three cultures and their value systems". Identifying so strongly, as Anzaldua does, with two very different ways of living, thinking, speaking and interacting is a constant challenge. It is almost like having a dual identity, and it can be difficult to figure out how to behave in a way which is consistent and at the same time faithful to both cultures (in Anzaldua's case, Mexico and the U.S.). As she puts it, " all reaction is limited by, and dependent on, what it is reacting against". Because she feels so at home in either culture, any way of behaving is a conscious decision on Anzaldua's part, and not necessarily natural. She can seem foreign in either culture, or knowledgeable and rebellious, or completely comfortable. She has the capacity to fit in on either "shore", while knowing that this ability also isolates her in a sense from fully belonging to either place.
Many people in today's highly mobile world could probably empathize with some of what Anzaldua is feeling, especially regarding the idea of "straddling cultures"-- for many, this particular struggle is an unavoidable part of life.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Complex Bodies
In Gloria Anzldua's: From the Borderlands /La Frontera: The New Mestiza the focus of the work pertains to the many varying, conflicting cultures existing in a single body, detrimental to one's body, mind and others. Anzldua brilliantly coveys her perplexities as an American/Mexican/Indian/lesbian/feminist woman in between cultures as she demonstrates these hardships in her abrupt language switch from English to Spanish, prose to poetry, etc. Attempting to refocus her confused perspective and to halt the collisions within her, she dissects the cause for major [war invoking] differences between humans.
"The answer to the problem between the white race and the colored, between males and females, lies in healing the slip that originates in the very foundation of out lives, our culture, our language, our thoughts. A massive uprooting of dualistic thinking in the individual and collective consciousness is the beginning of a long struggle, but one that could, in our best hopes, bring us to end rape, of violence, of war"(Anzldua 6).
As humans we are stuck in a world of competing and conflicting difference that interferes in our daily lives, thoughts, actions, beliefs and so forth. To be American does not signify one concrete nationality, but engenders and reveals multiple cultures struggling to maintain wholeness in a broken head-strong society. To be American, is to be Mexican or Irish, or Italian-maybe all, as well Jewish/Catholic, homosexual, trilingual, as well African. How does this work, how does one maintain the ideals/traditions/beliefs/and cultural acceptances of another while dealing with every other aspect of their heritage. Anzaldua mentions the limited acceptance of cultural difference between cultures-but it differs when that cultural difference manifests itself in one body. For example: a Catholic woman cannot consider herself Catholic if she also claims homosexuality. Anzaldua reconstructs the many different images of herself into one picture by trying to identify the 'self' the core center of her being, and by doing this she is able to maintain the controlling differences between cultures.
Gloria Anzaldua brought to face the many problems that exist in a single person and how that person strives to adapt to a dominate culture. The struggles and wars in this world are created by people confused on the inside interacting with other humans internally and externally striving to make sense of an unclear existence.
"The answer to the problem between the white race and the colored, between males and females, lies in healing the slip that originates in the very foundation of out lives, our culture, our language, our thoughts. A massive uprooting of dualistic thinking in the individual and collective consciousness is the beginning of a long struggle, but one that could, in our best hopes, bring us to end rape, of violence, of war"(Anzldua 6).
As humans we are stuck in a world of competing and conflicting difference that interferes in our daily lives, thoughts, actions, beliefs and so forth. To be American does not signify one concrete nationality, but engenders and reveals multiple cultures struggling to maintain wholeness in a broken head-strong society. To be American, is to be Mexican or Irish, or Italian-maybe all, as well Jewish/Catholic, homosexual, trilingual, as well African. How does this work, how does one maintain the ideals/traditions/beliefs/and cultural acceptances of another while dealing with every other aspect of their heritage. Anzaldua mentions the limited acceptance of cultural difference between cultures-but it differs when that cultural difference manifests itself in one body. For example: a Catholic woman cannot consider herself Catholic if she also claims homosexuality. Anzaldua reconstructs the many different images of herself into one picture by trying to identify the 'self' the core center of her being, and by doing this she is able to maintain the controlling differences between cultures.
Gloria Anzaldua brought to face the many problems that exist in a single person and how that person strives to adapt to a dominate culture. The struggles and wars in this world are created by people confused on the inside interacting with other humans internally and externally striving to make sense of an unclear existence.
Reflections On Exile
“Reflections on exile by Edward W. Said provided me with a totally different aspect of what exile is how people that have been exiled live, feel and attribute to society. I must say before reading this article, exile was never a topic that I spoke of or even considered. In fact, I was unaware that exile took place in places such as America, Paris and Mexico City; I was under the influence that exile took place in exclusively rural countries and more frequently found in heroic novels or movies. I was particularly interested on the topic of exile of Haitians in America; I feel that Said used that example as well as Muslims from India and Bikinians in Oceania to show that the extremity of exile varies. The most unusual case was that of exiles being exiled from other exiles.
Said initially describes exile as an “unhealable rift forced between a human being and a native place, between self and its true home”. After reading the text readers learn that it the experience is much more profound in that exile is not necessarily a negative experience but can be seen as an alternative. He even comments on my prior notions on exiles being identified with heroic and “triumphant episodes” in literature, stating that they are only “efforts meant to overcome the “crippling sorrow of estrangement” that they face. Interestingly enough many exiles become novelist, poets, chess players and political activist. The most fascinating of these professions are the exiles capability to become writers and contribute to the world of literature. I am particularly fond of the example Said gave of: Conrad, Joyce, and Darwish’s writings and how they give deeper insight to the life and experiences through stories and poetry by pulling from there’re own experiences.
Said initially describes exile as an “unhealable rift forced between a human being and a native place, between self and its true home”. After reading the text readers learn that it the experience is much more profound in that exile is not necessarily a negative experience but can be seen as an alternative. He even comments on my prior notions on exiles being identified with heroic and “triumphant episodes” in literature, stating that they are only “efforts meant to overcome the “crippling sorrow of estrangement” that they face. Interestingly enough many exiles become novelist, poets, chess players and political activist. The most fascinating of these professions are the exiles capability to become writers and contribute to the world of literature. I am particularly fond of the example Said gave of: Conrad, Joyce, and Darwish’s writings and how they give deeper insight to the life and experiences through stories and poetry by pulling from there’re own experiences.
"Biculturalism and Exile"
Recent Immigration trends to the United States have rapidly changed and modified the meaning of exile. In the article "Feminist Literary Theory and Criticism" by Gloria Anzaldua, Anzaldua clearly demonstrates that exile can be felt in one's own homeland, and as a result of biculturalism. She touches on the difficulty that arises when a person has to try to blend in, into two different cultures, and not feel like he/she is betraying or hurting either one of the cultures.
The article by Anzaldua is quite striking, because it seems to hint that biculturalism creates a double exile and longing feeling. The writing itself seems to reflect that mixed and double exile feeling (a new feeling that is the result of those immigration trends) throughtout the article there is a constant stomping in the punctuation, and the obvious use of English, Spanish and Mexican slang create this feeling of dualism and difficulty.
Also, she brings up another interesting point that, combines the feeling of exile that Said talks about and the "companionship" or diaspora feeling that Durham talks about. Even though Anzaldua continously points out that "ambiguity"in cultures and feelings are a difficult matter, she hints that this new culture may be able to embrace both feelings, and therefore needs to be recognized.
The article by Anzaldua is quite striking, because it seems to hint that biculturalism creates a double exile and longing feeling. The writing itself seems to reflect that mixed and double exile feeling (a new feeling that is the result of those immigration trends) throughtout the article there is a constant stomping in the punctuation, and the obvious use of English, Spanish and Mexican slang create this feeling of dualism and difficulty.
Also, she brings up another interesting point that, combines the feeling of exile that Said talks about and the "companionship" or diaspora feeling that Durham talks about. Even though Anzaldua continously points out that "ambiguity"in cultures and feelings are a difficult matter, she hints that this new culture may be able to embrace both feelings, and therefore needs to be recognized.
The Meaning of Exile
The meaning of words such as exile, diaspora and nomadism is politically fueled according to Peter's. The way he describes it, depending on how one wants to be viewed will be the deciding factor in what word is used to decribe their current situation.
In contrast is the exiled person who is forced from his homeland. Unlike Said's essay which lumps all people away from the homeland as exiles, Peters describes three distinct words with almost the same meaning, however the emotions felt by those people these words describe are completely different. The exiled people are those who have been forced from their homeland. In my observations Said and Peters seem to be in agreement, however Peters describes diaspora and nomadic life as estranged people who choose this life while Said lumps them with the exiled. In my opinion I believe that Said's essay was more moving becasue of his personal experience and the way he describes the abandonment one feels being alone in a country. I do think his argument loses ground when he starts to talk about those who have chosen a life outside of their homeland as exiled as well. Peters would disagree because in his definition an exiled perosn may not return to their homeland however a nomadic person lives outside of their homeland by choice and a person choosing a diaspora life lives communaly out of their native environment. Therefore Peters says the exiled is alone, which agrees with Said, however the nomadic have chosen this lifestyle and those in a diaspora way of life live together, therfore the aloneness is not felt.
In contrast is the exiled person who is forced from his homeland. Unlike Said's essay which lumps all people away from the homeland as exiles, Peters describes three distinct words with almost the same meaning, however the emotions felt by those people these words describe are completely different. The exiled people are those who have been forced from their homeland. In my observations Said and Peters seem to be in agreement, however Peters describes diaspora and nomadic life as estranged people who choose this life while Said lumps them with the exiled. In my opinion I believe that Said's essay was more moving becasue of his personal experience and the way he describes the abandonment one feels being alone in a country. I do think his argument loses ground when he starts to talk about those who have chosen a life outside of their homeland as exiled as well. Peters would disagree because in his definition an exiled perosn may not return to their homeland however a nomadic person lives outside of their homeland by choice and a person choosing a diaspora life lives communaly out of their native environment. Therefore Peters says the exiled is alone, which agrees with Said, however the nomadic have chosen this lifestyle and those in a diaspora way of life live together, therfore the aloneness is not felt.
Exile: The Best of Both Worlds
In the reading entitled, Reflections of Exile, written by Edward Said the line which stood out to me the most was, "Exile is sometimes better than staying behind or not getting out: but only sometimes" (Said 178). According to Said, exile is not something to be ashamed of, instead exile gives some of us a second chance, or a new beginning. This made me question what causes an indidvidual to be in exile. In my opinion, the political, social, and economic elements contributes heavily on the alternative of exile. In the reading, we were given many examples of poets, and other distinguished professionals, for example, Rashid Hussain, and Faiz Ahmad Faiz who experienced what is felt like to be exiled to a different land, among different people, and different cultures. But the simplest example involving the Armenian boy strucked me the most. I acknowledged that due to the political, economic, and social distress he and his family endured in his homeland drove them onto the path of exile. Violence plagued the streets, the loss of his maternal grandfather, the lack of money, and living in fear where politically the government was weak, this was the norm.
Above all, exile is as Said described, "It is the unhealable rift forced between a human being and his native place, between the self and its true home: its essential sadness can never be surmounted"(Said 173). But I would like to challenge this statement, by saying that for many individuals out there exile is a new start, a clean page to reinvent themselves, or a second chance to get away from all negativity. In addition, everything comes with a price, so the symptom of being home sick, and feeling alienated is just apart of the package. But all's well that ends well, in the end individuals in exile become apart of the society they are placed in, and begin to blend their native land their new homeland into a comfortable mix. For instance, in the Armenian boy's case (Noubar) he began to enjoy his life in Seattle but his ways and thinking was almost 85% Armenian. In any situation you should make the best of it, in his case he enjoyed living in his little Arseanittle world,(Armenia+Seattle= Arseanittle). He had the best of both worlds.
By Cindy Gobin
Above all, exile is as Said described, "It is the unhealable rift forced between a human being and his native place, between the self and its true home: its essential sadness can never be surmounted"(Said 173). But I would like to challenge this statement, by saying that for many individuals out there exile is a new start, a clean page to reinvent themselves, or a second chance to get away from all negativity. In addition, everything comes with a price, so the symptom of being home sick, and feeling alienated is just apart of the package. But all's well that ends well, in the end individuals in exile become apart of the society they are placed in, and begin to blend their native land their new homeland into a comfortable mix. For instance, in the Armenian boy's case (Noubar) he began to enjoy his life in Seattle but his ways and thinking was almost 85% Armenian. In any situation you should make the best of it, in his case he enjoyed living in his little Arseanittle world,(Armenia+Seattle= Arseanittle). He had the best of both worlds.
By Cindy Gobin
Opinion on Being an Exile
In Edward Said's Reflections of Exile, he wants to let the reader understand that exile is not to be suggested as something bad, rather it is consider as an alternative. Before reading this essay, I viewed the word Exile as something not really discussed, and a person being not able to return to his native land. What intrigued me most about this essay is that he spoke with several writers in regards to exile, and most writers' responses were that they felt incomplete in their life. Even after being successful like Rashid Hussain, and Faiz Ahmad Faiz, who felt this way.
I never knew how many writers were from exile and refuge, and how much they have contributed in literature, and society. Women in my opinion were the not neccessarily exiled, but in a way they were because of the fact that they were held from contributing in society and voicing their own opinion. Overall, exile is not really a topic that is discussed, but if it was, it should not be denounced as a bad thing. If you look at it, nearly everyone that has migrated from their country to the U.S. has a agenda or reason as to what they came here for.
Keldy Ortiz
I never knew how many writers were from exile and refuge, and how much they have contributed in literature, and society. Women in my opinion were the not neccessarily exiled, but in a way they were because of the fact that they were held from contributing in society and voicing their own opinion. Overall, exile is not really a topic that is discussed, but if it was, it should not be denounced as a bad thing. If you look at it, nearly everyone that has migrated from their country to the U.S. has a agenda or reason as to what they came here for.
Keldy Ortiz
Lukacs' Theory of the Novel
One passage in Edward W. Said's "Reflections on Exile" that struck me was his discussion of Georg Lukacs and his Theory of the Novel. Said explains that Lukacs argued that the novel itself is "the form of 'transcendental homelessness'" (181). I found it very interesting how the novel was contrasted with classical epics. In the epics, there is only one "world": one set of values, identities, etc. The novel lends itself more to a representation of the thoughts of an exile. In many European novels, the reader is exposed to "a changing society in which an itinerant and disinherited middle-class hero or heroine seeks to construct a new world that somewhat resembles an old one left behind forever" (Said 181). There is a stark contrast between the genre with a strong sense of limitation and finality, and the one where alternatives exist for the benefit of exiles.
It never really occurred to me how influential the minds of exiles, particularly exiled writers, have been. Said asserts that a great deal of exiles are intellectuals and novelists. The vision that such writers have based on their experiences creates a whole new way for them to write and to capitivate a reading audience with hopes of a world where they do belong. I was wondering if anyone in the class can think of any writers whose novels are based on this theme of exile and the idea of other worlds existing, in contrast to the "finality" of epics?
-Patrick Kennedy
It never really occurred to me how influential the minds of exiles, particularly exiled writers, have been. Said asserts that a great deal of exiles are intellectuals and novelists. The vision that such writers have based on their experiences creates a whole new way for them to write and to capitivate a reading audience with hopes of a world where they do belong. I was wondering if anyone in the class can think of any writers whose novels are based on this theme of exile and the idea of other worlds existing, in contrast to the "finality" of epics?
-Patrick Kennedy
Exile Jealousy
In "Reflections on Exile", Said mentions the idea of exile jealousy:
...the exile jealousy insists on his or her right to refuse to belong.(12)
I am a little confused by what Said means by this. Can anyone explain?
...the exile jealousy insists on his or her right to refuse to belong.(12)
I am a little confused by what Said means by this. Can anyone explain?
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