Book Reports / PRESERVING CULTURAL IDENTITY (in ref. to In "Renaissance Pears," John Seabrook) [NEW]

Here is the prompt:

In "Renaissance Pears," John Seabrook writes about different kinds of objects that become central to creating cultural identity - in this case, the ancient Fiorentina pear tree and Renaissance painting. Referring to Seabrook's essay and/or your own culture, do you think it is important to preserve the things that make up cultural identities?

RESPONSE:

The preservation of cultural identities allow us to maintain our heritage and educate people of other diverse cultures from different regions of the world. We can create links between various cultures giving us a better understanding of the world. It is necessary to preserve certain aspects which make up cultural identities because it allows us to distinguish cultures from each other. In a "Renaissance Pears" by John Seabrook, Isabella Dalla Ragione and her father Livio Dalla Ragione attempt to keep certain items such as fruits, and tools that are distinctive and are of origin form their homeland in central Italy from vanishing into the past. Livio Dalla Raginoe not only preserves fruit trees and agricultural tools, but his house as well. "His house is larger than it looks, with additions built over centuries; the original part is a thousand years old" (Seabrook pg 9). John Seabrooks metaphorically represents Livio preserving his culture by keeping the original parts to it but at the same time he has gained more knowledge as time has progressed and cultures have evolved he adds to his house. The idea illustrated is that the original structure of the house is still thriving, making it unique from every other house since it maintains it originality.

Isabella Dalla Ragione is set on an ongoing relentless pursue of keeping traditions alive and articles which best exemplify her homeland's culture. For example one Isabella Dalla Raginoe's objects that set her culture of central Italy aside from other others is the "Fiorentina" pear tree. "Until recently, the pear was thought to have disappeared from central Italy, where it once flourished." (Seabrooks pg 1). It is different from all other trees, this ancient pear tree belongs to a particular region making central Italy the exclusive home for the Fiortenina tree, not western or eastern Italy but central Italy. The preservation of identities is not only in central Italy, but worldwide were unique characteristics of people's cultural background allow us to be different. In the Hispanic culture we are identified by our language spoken. Many Hispanics from various regions such as South America and Mexico migrate to the United States of America were English is spoken. We are culturally identified by the language we speak in our homeland\s, making us different instead of being classified as just Hispanics we can be classified as Mexicans, South Americans, and Central Americans. People are proud of where they come from, they don't want to be seen as the same, they want to be different, which in turn can contribute things such as different ideas, traditions and practices together into a melting pot giving us these new traditions we have today but keeping the old ones at the same time.

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Book Reports / CREATIVE IMAGINATION; ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND [2]

prompt: what role does the creative imagination play in our lives? answer this question in regards to Alice's Adventure in Wonderland and the following topic of rules and breaking them.

my response:

Valdovinos, Edward
English 96
Professor Goodman
October 19, 2010

Our creative imagination plays a big role in our lives. It's led us to discoveries and creations that have revolutionized modern day society but despite this it has been one of our greatest flaws. Our imagination has given us the impression that we cannot live without rules or limitations. This in turn propels us into a mindset which leads us to perilous situations and renders us unable to find solutions to our problems. In ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND by Lewis Carroll, the main character, Alice, constantly gets involved many dilemmas and rather than solving her dilemmas, she continuously gets involved in them. Her imagination sparks ideas which lead her down a path of mischievousness. Lewis Carroll shows Alice as an epitome for society's "black sheep" showing the constant cost of our imaginative actions during the late eighteen hundreds where he himself breaks the rules of fiction and exaggerates the creative imagination of Alice.

The author's creative mind choice of diction gives a vivid image of Alice's imagination and how it gets her into trouble. "How she longed to get out of that dark hall, and wander about among those bed of bright flowers and those cool fountains" (Carroll 16). Carroll articulations of Alice's imagination show how immense it is. "Alice had begun to think that very few things indeed were impossible."(Carroll 17) Alice begins to realize one of society's most common ideologies that our imagination has no limits or boundaries. This seems to catalyze her actions to become. As the novel progresses she comes into contact with one of many issues to come. "the bottle was not marked poison so she ventured to taste it" (Carroll 18). As harmless as it may seem the repercussions of breaking a long instilled rule of society; to not drink something if you don't know what it is. Her thought that somehow that by her drinking the bottle she can be closer to what she depicted of what's to be on the other side of the door. Lewis Carroll illustrates her actions to have a severe consequence greatly exaggerating it by shrinking Alice to about "ten inches high".

Lewis Carroll continues to overstress some of the awful things of our actions due to an over active mind. "if it makes me grow larger...and if it makes me grow smaller...either way I'll get into the garden, and I don't care which happens!"(Carroll 19). Her mind's eye which is set on that very flamboyant garden keep's her going and going causing her to violate general rules that are of common sense and have been instilled to us throughout our childhood and into our adolescent years. She finds a piece of cake in a very random box with the words "eat me" marked on it and ate it. "'Well I'll eat it'" (Carroll 19). With her mind set on what she had earlier imagined she seems to not care of any repercussions and she decides to finish the cake.

The Creative imaginations role in society as well as in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is that of which we can think critically and analyze situations we are in. the role of Alice's creative imagination is what allows her to make decisions and break rules. An imagination without limitation has no end to one's actions. The need for rules and boundaries will lessen ones actions such as those that seem to get Alice in trouble. Alice herself realizes the need for them "half hoping she might find another key on it or at any rate a book of rules" (Carroll 17).

Creative imaginations imprint on society is enormous. It is what propels us forward. In Alice's case Lewis Carroll depicts her imagination as a magnet for breaking rules. Her in ability to control her imagination gets the best of her and puts her in bad situations. As she is an example of many children whom let their imaginations run wild and go against the boundaries set upon them. Lewis Carrols excessive fiction in the novel carefully illustrates Alice in a way where she is made to seem as a child with an over active imagination.

Writing Feedback / Choice, privacy, and books: The influence of literature on modern society [2]

Prompt:
Diane Ackerman writes "when i think about the essence of being modern, the changes in attitude that led to the life we now know, three things come to mind: choice, privacy, and books"

please choose a text that has been important to you in your life or to the culture around you. how does the text you have chosen illustrate Diane Ackerman's ideas of books being important to modern life.

My response/ thesis:

The expressions of personal ideas have long been oppressed throughout time. As works of literature have become available, the ideologies and beliefs of people have slowly evolved. These books, have given people the courage to break free from social norms and explore their own ways to pursuit happiness. During previous era's many toyed with the idea of loving whom they choose to, against all social law. These new innovative dogmas presented in Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles a novel depicting the Victorian period, are now commonly exercised throughout many Cultures. Tess Dubeyfield the main character of the narrative becomes rebellious in which her feelings change her way of life, becoming an epitome for modern day's society prevailing customs to change. Her inability to make a decision of whether to live with the love of her life or the mate set forth by her parents becomes a stepping stone for the later revolution of fixed marriages, giving people freedom of choice.

The work starts off with Tess being told of her obligations to the family forcing her to do something undesired, in the time period in which the story takes place is the Victorian era it is common for parents to set their daughters fate. By the implications of her mother one can already foresee her mother's intentions for Tess "He is a very handsome man .'said Mrs Durbeyfield' ". Her mother sets up the idea that Tess should wed Alec D'Uberville. But as time progress social norms begin to change as shown in this piece of literature opening gateways for people to act and think independently. " I do not think so. said Tess coldly I will think it over" , this shows Tess beginning to go against her mother by disagreeing. Her parents reinforce Victorian values by forcing the idea that she will marry Alec."No doubt he will marry her and she will be a fine lady".

As the novel progress Hardy paints a vivid picture of Tess toying with the idea of going against social norms but is brought down by the morals presented in the Victorian era where there is an ideal woman which obeys. " "No--no!" she said quickly, putting her fingers between his hand and her lips. "I would rather take it in my own hand." The imagery presented shows Tess's resistances against him hand feeding her, but Tess begins to think of what is the right thing to do and follows what her parents want of her and resist's Alec no more. She seems to feel an obligation to her parents and allows him to continue feeding her as painted. "Tess eating in a half-pleased, half-reluctant state whatever d'Urbervilles offered her". Haven there been works of literature such as this novel Tess might not have been in an uncomfortable situation making her own decision of whether to follow the ideologies present at her hand.

Tess later on comes in conflict with moral values vs. freedom. It becomes evident that she must break away but by breaking it defies all that is said to be correct and traditional. She knows she must follow her parent's wishes but she is in love with some which here parents do no desire for her to marry. Her inability to make a meaningful decision between the two seems to be because of her parents closed mindedness. Old days lack of freedom and choice lead to her death. She struggles with the dilemma as hardy paints a clear image of her parent's dominance over her. "he gathered blossoms and gave her to put in her bosom. She obeyed like one in a dream" Tess's is not only dominated by her parents but by Alec as he forces to put the flower where he pleases.

With people reading novels such as Tess of the D'Urberville promoting power of will and the freedom of choice change, society opening many doors for individuals to think critically for themselves. Tess begins to show her power of will when she resist her parent's predetermined destiny set upon her, refusing to marry Alec " I shouldn't care to do that". Her new profound idea for pursuing her happiness as opposed to her parents bring for the now modern belief that we are free to decide whom we love. "Her affection for him was now the breath and life of Tess's being" Tess rapidly falls for the heart throb of the novel Angel Clare and chose's to proceed with their relationship. This becomes a basis in which she see's ongoing customs and decides to change them "one of a long row only... just like thousands' and thousands" Hardy shows the occurring repetition but breaks the cycle with Tess as she puts forward her idea of freedom of choice .