My first year of college is definitely one to remember, so much that I learned that I will take with me throughout life, including the concepts that came along with taking this class. Originally I was nervous about taking a three-hundred-level English class, as this is my first year so I was unaware of what to expect, but Professor McCoy made this class during the semester a delight to attend. She made my first college Literature class so easy, and not overwhelming at all. The concepts that were learned and discussed in class will stick with me and they will make the rest of the English classes I need to take so much easier. In the duration of this class, we did tons of thinkING as well, constantly digging into the bigger picture and not staying at the surface. This semester during class we discussed tons of journey of discovery and questioning. Everyone within the class will have taken some part of the class in a different interpretation than others, but ultimately it’s the same concepts. This semester presented me with challenges that forced me to confront my own thoughts on certain topics I knew more about. The completion of this class will open up a gate for my next English class using the same concepts, this can be known as recursion; a concept that was taught in class using the author Ron Eglash, and his book “African Fractals”.
“African Fractals” refers to a fundamental geometric form or pattern that serves as the basis for the generation of intricate fractal structures. Fractals are geometric shapes and patterns that repeat at different scales, displaying similarity, meaning that each part of the fractal looks similar to the whole when magnified. The process is repeatedly applying a transformation of shapes, which, as a result, creates complex, self-replicating patterns. This process can be brought back to the idea of recursion between English classes here at SUNY Geneseo. In Ron Eglash’s words, “a sort of feedback loop, with the result of one stage brought back as the starting point for the next.”(Eglash, African Fractals). In class, we experience recursion every time we start a conversation on the topic of our previous class and use those ideas to lead into the current class topic of the day. Life as well constantly consists of recursion, and it never stops. As said before, recursion can be seen as a pattern of repetition or self-reference.
Within African American Literature, our class faced topics such as discrimination, bias, and unequal power dynamics when we were reading. These systems of racial oppression and injustice can exhibit recursive patterns as well. Patterns of oppression often have deep historical roots that perpetuate over time. For example, systems of slavery and colonialism have had long-lasting effects on societies, creating recursive patterns of disadvantage for certain racial groups that persist across generations. In our readings, we discussed these issues. In “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl” by Harriet A. Jacobs, recursion is constantly considered. Jacobs explores the recurring themes of oppression and the desire for freedom throughout the narrative. Repeatedly, Jacobs emphasizes how enslaved individuals resisted their oppression, whether through acts of defiance, escape attempts, or efforts to maintain their dignity and autonomy in the face of dehumanizing conditions. This is just one of many readings that discussed topics as such within our class this semester.
Not only does racial injustice occur in “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl” but also in “Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass”, another reading that we discussed in class. In class, we used recursion when discussing these autobiographies; it started with Fredrick Douglass and used his ideas and concepts to move into Harriet Jacobs. Again this can be considered recursion. Douglass’s reflections on his growth and development could be seen as a form of personal recursion. As he recounts his journey from slavery to freedom, he frequently reflects on his past experiences and the lessons he has learned along the way. This process of self-reflection and self-examination can be likened to a recursive loop, as Douglass continually revisits and builds upon his thoughts and experiences.
In “The Water Cure,” Everett incorporates elements of fractal-like complexity into the narrative structure and themes of the novel. The story unfolds in layers, with multiple perspectives and storylines intersecting and diverging in intricate ways. Just like in class, the complexity is grand and it takes time to delve into the bigger picture. So many layers of our class need to be examined for better understanding. There is a connection between the novel’s themes and the concept of fractals as a fundamental aspect of human expression and experience. “The Water Cure” and the concept of African fractals explore the idea of interconnectedness and how seemingly disparate elements are actually linked together in intricate ways. Again, like our class, everything we did was connected, from standing on a line in the hall to the actual readings throughout the semester. All Literature classes that I need to take will be interconnected. “The Water Cure” navigates the fractal-like patterns of power and identity in their lives. Just as African fractals demonstrate the interconnectedness of smaller patterns to form larger wholes, the characters in the novel may find themselves caught in a web of relationships and power dynamics that shape their identities and actions. Grief for example will forever be in his life because of the actions of Ishmael Kidder. Going back to the concept of “seed shape”, the grief that he faces will always connect back to him in his mind.
Within “The Water Cure” it tells a story that challenges perceptions and forces you to question the reality presented to you. This semester during class we discussed tons of journey of discovery and questioning. Everyone within the class will have taken some part of the class in a different interpretation than others, but ultimately it’s the same concepts. Much like the characters in Everett’s novel, we found ourselves navigating through murky waters, trying to make sense of conflicting information and societal expectations. Just as “The Water Cure” confronts its characters with uncomfortable truths and complex moral dilemmas, this semester presented me with challenges that forced me to confront my own thoughts on certain topics I knew more about.
Throughout the duration of this semester, there have been recursion. In the second half of class we would discuss a concept and then continue to pick back up with that concept in the beginning of the following class. This happened every class, nonstop. From the very beginning of this semester we discussed African Fractals and recursion as a theme. This semester presented me with challenges that forced me to confront my own thoughts on certain topics I knew more about. In the duration of this class, we did tons of thinkING as well, constantly digging into the bigger picture and not staying at the surface. This semester during class we discussed tons of journey of discovery and questioning as well.