Admittedly, I felt a tinge of panic when I came to the blog and found that others had written about something that I had also been thinking about. EVEN THOUGH in all of the classes I’ve taken with Dr. McCoy, she has given us permission, and even encouraged my classmates and I to go back… To remember what others have written on or spoken about… To build off of different ideas that are already taking up space. Sometimes there is a discussion already occurring that sparks a thought or a question within us that allows us to propel forward.
Every Storm Has Its Soundtrack
Something I’ve always connected to is music. Music is incredibly powerful, cathartic, and has a way of connecting people. We’ve studied natural disasters all semester, and after every hurricane we discuss, I find myself thinking about how crucial of a role music plays in helping communities heal and rebuild after. Often musicians will write songs after catastrophic events to raise money, raise awareness, and provide relief.
Grounding Myself in Any Way I Can
I was reading Katie’s post, entitled “In a Course Called “Metropolis,” I Almost Thought the Setting Didn’t Matter: Confessing, Reflecting, and Trying to “Do Better,”” and I thought “not only is this so eloquent and thought-provoking, but I actually have the exact opposite experience.” So, I decided I should document it!
“Atlas”
… Yes. It’s another poem. So much of my academic workload has been rooted in poetry this semester, I can’t seem to escape it.
I recently came across this poem by writer Terisa Siagatonu while I was researching for my creative writing class, and not only did I fall in love with the language, but I also noticed how clearly it paralleled the course concepts for our class.
Preserving Memory: Whose Job is it and How Do We Do It?
A few posts ago, I discussed Patricia Smith’s (literal) performance of Blood Dazzler, and I promised to highlight an interview I found of hers, but didn’t, because my post already seemed too muddled at the time. I apologize in advance, I just can’t get myself to move past it; Patricia Smith’s work is phenomenal.
That being said, here I am again! I was reminded of the video after reading Beth’s comment on my original blog post, in which she suggested that I further explore the desire of some people to “move on” from Hurricane Katrina. (I would really recommend going back and reading said post before continuing.)
Continue reading “Preserving Memory: Whose Job is it and How Do We Do It?”
“Great Expectations.”
I know many people have already talked about the significance of naming, but I’m still fascinated by it. I’d like to cycle way back to Helen, who suggested that names are a kind of “conscription into performance” setting “expectations that people inevitably believe will play out in reality.” This is something that particularly stuck with me since I read it, and I wanted to attempt to navigate the implications of that sentiment and its relation to my life.
More on Patricia Smith!
I suppose the time has come and gone (or at least shifted) from our focus on Blood Dazzler by Patricia Smith. However, I have been moved by her words ever since, particularly those of “Katrina” and “11 A.M., Wednesday, August 24, 2005,” in which Smith personifies Hurricane Katrina. This led to our classes’ exploration on the significance of naming. I’ll admit, I’m a huge poetry nerd, and since then, I’ve even been inspired by Smith to write several different poems on names and origins.
A Note on the Forgotten
I will be completely honest: when I was watching Levees, the one thing that didn’t cross my mind was the absence of animals. I mean, I love them, but maybe I was just so caught up in the powerful narratives of Lee’s documentary? As Beth said, Levees is “a work of art.” It’s supposed to move us. When Beth brought up animals in the classes afterward, I was stunned that I had forgotten about them. What happens to people’s beloved pets when they are forced to evacuate due to a natural disaster? I decided to look more into it.
Is it Possible to Remember and Forget all at Once?
“To forget would be not only dangerous but offensive; to forget the dead would be akin to killing them a second time.” – Elie Wiesel
For my first blog post (I’m shocked but also pleased with myself that I’m doing this now and not later), I’d like to delve further into the discussion we were having on Monday, in regards to memory and forgetting because it really sparked my interest. But first- Catherine already so-brilliantly tackled this subject in her blog post that you can (and should) check out here. I would like to further expand on this.
Continue reading “Is it Possible to Remember and Forget all at Once?”
Humanity… Where Do We Go From Here?
Though I wrote a sort of closing statement in my last blog post, there are still things lingering in my brain. It’s so bittersweet that this is my last post. I really enjoyed writing these, as it allowed me to use my voice. Most of my English courses require large amounts of extremely formal writing, understandably so, but I crave every opportunity where my writing can be more personal… More me. Continue reading “Humanity… Where Do We Go From Here?”