Evan's ASTU Blog

On April 4th, 2014 the CAP conference was held in the CAP lounge at the Irving K. Barber building. The conference featured the academic work from several students. The work was displayed by panel presentation as well as well as a showcase. I participated  in the showcase, displaying my project which pertained to the UBC Rare Books and Special Collections. An interesting point to mention was the way in which the students from the different CAP streams came together to produce academic knowledge, and to share this knowledge. Although the different students came from different scholarly backgrounds (the different streams within the CAP program such as Law & Society, Culture & Media, Individual & Society, Global Citizens, and Philosophy & Political Science & Economics.  Although the different streams focused on many different academic works during the year, a common thread was seen throughout the conference. The presenters at all levels displayed a use of new technologies. The way in which different presenters utilised things such as computers and art to represent their academic contributions was surprising to me.

As many may traditionally view an academic setting as rigid and with  set guidelines on how to contribute to scholarly knowledge, it was refreshing to see unconventional uses of scholarly knowledge. Although we may simply signal this as a changing of the times (a progressive student body using progressive technologies), it would also be possible to mention this as a very creative student body. Some of the project included websites, art pieces, or even explored the use of social media. These students, rather than moving with the times, adapted to them by incorporating these new and useful technologies into their work. A project that stood out to me was the analysis of certain Vines and the social repercussions of these short videos. This may be seen as a prime example of a student using technology, rather than adapting to it.

When reading Cockeyed by Ryan Knighton and referencing G.T. Couser’s chapter Self Representation in Disability Memoir a question immediately came to my mind. Couser talks of  a disability memoir of emancipation, meaning that the memoir was from the perspective of one who find freedom and liberation within one’s constraints and hopes to bring others to this realisation.

However, what I began to wonder was: ‘Does everyone have a common goal’? When reading the chapter ‘Jungle Fun’ Knighton talks about the ‘aristocrats’ at the blind camp who have a very different goal of completing freedom and liberation in blindness.  They seem to think that one should try to disguise one’s blindness and rely as little on other people as possible. The opposite can be said of other members at the camp who have no shame and rely on others to help them with their everyday activities. It is very interesting to think that there are different goals throughout the blind community as to how to realise this ‘freedom’ within blindness of sorts.

It also raises the question: ‘How should we interpret these memoirs of disability’? We must be careful not to assume that the goals of one writer are the goals of all the populations, even if we agree with these goals. Personally, I believe that if I was blind I would prefer to follow a path more akin to Knighton’s. However, many might not share this view. Therefore, I believe it is important to recognise that there may be differing views. Although Knighton makes it abundantly clear that there are different goals to achieve ’emancipation’ of sorts, while some people do not wish to accomplish any sense of ’emancipation’ at all.

Due to this I believe that we must look at all different population and sub-groups like this. For example, just because one member of a certain community makes their goals and theories publicly clear, we must be careful not to assume that these views are shared by the larger community as a whole.

Crime may be considered a social issue in most cultures around the world. According to Nation Master (a international statistics gathering website) 11.88 million crimes were committed in the year 2002. Although it is a dated statistic, the fact that crime is prevalent in all developed nations is almost a certainty. However, we must also consider that crime or illegal acts are sometimes not always committed with malice, and that the individuals carrying out these actions have their own struggles.

Identity, and the identity of these persons committing illegal acts, is something that is apparent in the book “Missing Sarah” by Maggie De Vries. Sarah has some troubling identity issues that may have been part of the reason that she eventually ended up living a life of prostitution and drug abuse. From this, a further identity crisis was encountered. It is very interesting to think of these actions being a result of a confused identity. Identity may be seen as a very important aspect of any given’s person’s lifestyle and self value. However, when this is taken away or muddled by piers, what happens to the individual? Statistics for minorities in prison are much higher than their caucasian counterparts in America. Could this perhaps be a result of a lack of identity within different communities and the media’s portrayal of what an “American” looks like? If people do not fit this ideal “American type”, does a sense of conflicted identity appear?

Personally as an American/Canadian of Filipino/English ancestry, my self “identity” has not always been something that comes forth easily. However, in more drastic circumstances I wonder if there can be more severe consequences. If someone is not fully accepted by a larger community; do they possibly turn to alternative lifestyles (crime)? Although this may just be one of many factors contributing to crime rates (poverty, racism, unemployment, etc.), maybe this is one issue that has the potential to be resolved, letting people pursue their own identity in a “melting pot” culture. Although there may always be bigots and racists, perhaps the issue may be sensitised in time.

When reading the Carter article in class the issue of who is given voice in the archives is raised. When we visited the UBC Rare Books and Special books Collections we saw that there was, in fact, voice being given to many voices that one can expected to have been marginalised. One of the collections featured in the UBC Rare Books and Special Books Collections is the Colin Upton Comic Book Collection. The comics of Colin Upton are not mainstream in the slightest and bring up many issues that are prevalent in society today. Censorship is one of the issues brought up in several of his comics, most of which are critical of society as a whole.

The fact that these comics are present in the UBC Rare Books & Special Collections shows that Archives and the people that run them are making a conscious effort to include populations that, in the past, were shrouded in silence. Several of the other collections that we looked at during our visit to the collection also seemed to go against the mainstream such as the newspapers that were sold by the homeless of Vancouver in order to attempt to supply these homeless with a revenue. These are just two examples of collections that are giving voice to people in the Archives.

We also must consider the fact that these collections were supplied to us, and that they were pre-chosen for us. Although these collections were, in fact, pre-chosen; the fact that they exist in this archive shows that several people are actively attempting to give voice to marginalised populations in the archives. This is a step in the right direction if our ultimate goal is to bring even voice to several different populations, especially in archives.

When academic or scholarly conversation turns to life narratives, one cannot navigate the conversation from arguably the most influential (and definitely the most famous) life narrative of all time. ‘Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl’ is the story of a young girl who, through traumatic witnessing, describes the story of being pursued by Nazis during the Dutch takeover of The Netherlands.

Amazon summarises the book as follows: “In her diary Anne Frank recorded vivid impressions of her experiences during this period. By turns thoughtful, moving, and amusing, her account offers a fascinating commentary on human courage and frailty and a compelling self-portrait of a sensitive and spirited young woman whose promise was tragically cut short.”

However, one must ask the question, ‘WHY is this the most well known and influential life narrative?’ One must only look at the patterns of consumption of life narratives. Life narratives of trauma are vividly consumed by audiences striving to live vicariously through the experiences of others. Anne Frank’s work (more of a diary) is the most extreme of these cases. Taking place during the most pivotal time period in the twenty first century causes the novel to carry the reader back into the past; and walking in Anne Frank’s shoes.

Many life narratives are written due to people’s natural exhibitionism, but Anne Frank was not aware that her work was going to be published. The work is candid, and a verifiable window into the soul and story of a young girl swept away and robbed of her youth. The vast majority of those able to read the work would not have gone through anything even near what Anne Frank went through. This feeling of guilt and fascination may have propelled the immense readership communities of this book.

Another aspect that can be examined is the value of this work as compared to it’s contemporary counterparts.Other notable works from the period that are in autobiographical forms are Beyond Band of Brothers or similar stories. Most of them are by soldiers, encompassing a completely different (albeit important) part of the Second World War experience. The childhood perspective (genuine seeing as it is not written with retrospect) and the completely different view from those fighting in the battlefields make the work more relatable to readers. Although one may empathise with the soldiers who fought and died in the trenches and in the great battles of the Pacific, Africa, and Europe; in the end of the day a story about a young girl hiding from forces beyond her control will hit closer to home in the average household of the developed world.

There is no doubt in my mind that the work will continue to hold a great significance in world literature; and that it will be an everlasting glimpse into one of the world most shaping and influential events for years to come.

Growing up, one does not usually wish to read the books assigned to them in classes. The texts describing vague historical events do not tend to illuminate the mind of the average young boy and girl. Personally, growing up the books I sought to read were the life narratives of my heroes: sports figures & those in the inside loop. But are these life narratives a legitimate sub-genre? Are they even worth a read?

The debate as to wether life narratives of sports personalities are purely ‘trashy’ fiction to be read by the masses, or valuable insights into some of the most recognisable faces on this planet can be easily debated.

Paolo Di Canio, for those who are not supporters of football (soccer, futbol, as you will), Canio is an outspoken Italian sports personality who never fails to make headlines with his antics. His life narrative is a truly amazing insight to this man of outrageous temper and Italian flair His younger days of partying before training and the explanations for his actions immerse the reader in the world of a world superstar.

The opposite however, can be said for the life narrative of  several other ‘authors’. Many life narratives of sport have put me into a lull, and seem to drag on. This is when the debate as to wether life narratives of these (clearly non-qualified) authors are even worth a read. It is true that they offer little humanitarian, economic, or social influence, but are merely stories. It is also true that many may read said narratives solely to hear the ‘dirt’ dished out by the authors.

However, one must also consider the fact that these narratives are escapes. As a kid I wanted to read about my heroes and how they felt the butterflies in their stomaches before the final, or how they spent hours after training learning to take the perfect free kick.

My favourite life narrative of sport does not, however, come from a superstar. It does not come from an agent, an owner or a coach. It comes from the kit-man of my favourite soccer team Tottenham Hotspur. In Shirts, Shorts and Spurs ,Roy Reyland  details how the players that I grew up watching cried, screamed, and celebrated together. It details how Muslim players used to pray in his small and cramped kit room during Ramadan to avoid the wandering eyes of the press.

Considering this, I must argue that anyone is qualified to to write a life narrative. Even though the focus of this blog post is on life narratives of sports figures, it makes you realize that anyone with a story worth being told can create a captivating piece of work. Anne Frank was not a trained writer, yet her story (albeit diary entries) continue to shock the world today.

As a fourteen year old me spent all night reading about how soccer legends had sat in silence as the stadium roared around them before the big cup final, I was entranced. Sports life narratives are indeed a legitimate sub-genre and do in fact have value. Even though many may consider them not worth the time, these life narratives are clearly some of the entertaining pieces of life narratives.

“Yes we have banned Malala’s book because it carries the content which is against our country’s ideology and Islamic values,” Kashif Mirza, chief of All Pakistan Private Schools Federation, told the Agence France-Presse news agency.”

– NBC News Article – (http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/11/10/21393909-pakistani-private-schools-ban-malala-yousafzai-autobiography?lite)

The thought of such a figure having her story censored and unavailable in her own country is something that may come as a surprise to many. Nevertheless, Pakistani private schools have banned Malala Yousafzai’s autobiography I am Malala due to beliefs dominant in the local culture. The debate as to wether this is a wise decision is one that can easily be argued equally as strong from both angles.

One may argue that this censoring is a violation of the personal rights of students in Pakistan. The argument that students should be able to read this novel in an academic setting has valid reasoning. The book pertains to social, feminist, and religious problems that are currently plaguing the nation. One can easily argue as Kashif Mirza (Head of Pakistani Private Schools) did: “Through this book, she became a tool in the hands of the Western powers.” Although this may seem slightly paranoid or the result of a conspiracy theory, the book is published and distributed by Hachette Book Group, a company based out of France.

The opposite view that may be taken is that the officials in charge reserve the right to ban this book. Cultural sensitivity is a value that is becoming ever more important into a world of increased globalisation. The right of the Pakistani Public School board to follow the religious practices and values is something that must be respected to some level. Even if one were to disagree with the policy, one must certainly agree with the right to religious freedom. However, banning a book straddles the line of religious freedom and religious oppression.

Censoring life narratives is something that is not new. Whether for reasons that most can agree on (Mein Kampf in Germany) or one that can be hotly contested (The 1884 banning of Huckleberry Finn). In a country of increasing social change and conflict, the banning of Malala Yousafzai’s autobiography is something that will create a further divide. Liberals and conservatives are supplied with another tool in their arsenal of arguments. It is easy to dismiss the banning of the book as ‘another country censoring their citizens’, but one must look at the other view; that in banning this book the religious traditions of Pakistan were, in fact, upheld.

In the book description on Amazon (I am Malala on Amazon.com), the book is described: “I AM MALALA will make you believe in the power of one person’s voice to inspire change in the world.” However, what happens when this one person’s voice is silenced, and ceases to inspire change in her own nation?

World War II was a world shaping event that forever changed the aspect of not only literature, but all things global in nature. Shaffer and Smith examine the life narratives of trauma (and their effect and causation) in ‘Conjunctions: Life narratives in the field of Human Rights’. Literature (in particular life narratives) gained considerable movement with the end of the War. A ‘kairos’ of sorts allowed the consumption of life narratives to take place. The free time afforded to affluent post war populations and the abundance of life narratives in circulation culminated in the perfect mix for consumption.

In particular, Holocaust narratives were very apparent in this Post War climate. Events such as the Eichmann trial created a “transnational identity” (Shaffer and Smith 8). With this, people began to consume these life narratives more viciously. An example that one can never shun is the Anne Frank Diaries which are now such a big part of culture around the world that Anne Frank is now a household names. People were, and still are, fascinated with her story. The thought that people may not have had a thirst for these type of life narratives in the past can be hard to believe in todays age of voyeurism and public exhibitionism. However, the Post-War culture allowed for this to become a part of our Western Culture.

From there, this thirst for life narratives and other people’s stories took off. One need only go visit and online book realtor or the local book store to see the latest life narratives. Presidents, religious figures, and celebrities alike all have life narratives than line the walls of said establishments. Barack Obama’s life narrative can sit next to that of the Dalai Lama or that of David Beckham. This would never have been possible without the aforementioned Post-War culture that was developed.

As a culture, we must give thanks to our former generations for spurring on this need/want for knowledge of other people. Although one can easily get caught up in life narratives that have no intellectual value (Kim Kardashian for example!), there are an equal amount of truly riveting life narratives to balance out the scale. Winston Churchill’s childhood stories give an amazing insight into the character known around the world today. The story of Barack Obama’s childhood (and the fact that he WAS in fact born in the United States) are intellectually stimulating and give us more amazing insights.

None of this would have been possible without what Shaffer and Smith call the “remembering” (Shaffer and Smith 9) that picked up force in the Post War period.

William K is a very interesting character in the novel ‘What is the What?’ by Dave Eggars. He is a hopeful voice among a sea of despair and calamity. As the boys walk through the barren lands of the Sudan without adequate food or water, William K is a constant voice of humour and amusement. He is both comedic relief, and a useful tool in the story; telling of despair.

He is, in a way, a type of comedic relief. Though the situation seems desperate and there is seemingly nothing that can be done to help the situation William K provides hope. His outlandish lies provide a piece of like in the darkness that is the journey of the Lost Boys of Sudan. ”

“These are people from very far away. They look very different from us. But they are very powerful, with more and better weapons than any Baggara you could find. Can you imagine this? The most powerful people you can think of.” – Eggars 191

This is an obvious lie.These little snippets; the insights into William K’s thoughts, are often amusing. His obvious hatred for the other William in the village is another amusing but of William Ks dialogue. Whether or not the author/narrator used him as intentional comic relief can be up to interpretation, but the comic relief is certainly a welcome reprise from the drama of the novel.

The opposite view of William K can show that in fact he is the most tragic of all characters. Although he is the most happy and hopeful, he can be seen as the most tragic of the Lost Boys purely by looking at his demise.

“We were simply friends who lived in a village together and expected to always be boys and friends in our village. But in these past months, we had traveled so far from our families, and we had no homes, and we had become so weak and no longer looked as we had before. And now William K’s life had ended and his body lay at my feet” – Eggars 217

The way in which William K was hopeful, coupled with his tragic demise make for an interesting character. He shows that even the most hopeful and upbeat of the Lost Boys can fall victim to the harsh conditions. Even though William K constantly looked forward to the ‘servants’ in Ethiopia and all the things to come, he died on the way to his potential freedom.

William K is one of the more interesting characters in the novel. Each character representing something. The narrator Achack, the wise Dut, the mysterious man in the house in the desert, and William K the hopeful are all different types of characters. Overall, William K makes a large impact on the work itself, and his inclusion was very impactful to the message of Eggar’s life narrative.

.

Although I am in the very beginning of the life narrative ‘What is the What?’ by Dave Eggers a few things instantly come to my attention. These two things are the conflict and the structure. Both of these set the tone for the rest of the book, and both immediately draw the reader in.

The conflict (racially) seen thus far in this book is a type of that I have never encountered before, or even heard about. There is racism between different ethnicities (Caucasian, Asian, Black, etc.) , and even I have been the subject of racial abuse. However, I had never stopped to think about the discrimination from African Americans to Africans. In the part of this already compelling life narrative this issue is addressed. As Valentino’s (the narrator) home is raided and he is knocked out, several slurs from his African American home invaders caught my attention. The way in which they call him a ‘Africa’ (pg. 5) as a way of addressing him was very interesting. Another example of this was the way in which two boys on the bus pestered Valentino and said that he was “one of the Africans that sold us out” (pg. 18). By this he meant that he was descended from Africans who sold other African’s into the slave trade hundreds of years ago.

From an academic standpoint, this early introduction of racism sets the tone for the book. The way in which Valentino is immediately in conflict even when he has reached the ‘safe haven’ of the United States show that he is never truly at rest. This is emphasised by the way he wishes he was back in Africa (where he was in refugee camps) compared to being in the United States. This shows that the life narrative will not be a tale of immediate happiness, but rather a story of struggle.

The second thing that caught my attention was the structure of the work. The way in which Valentino tells the story of his home invasion while simultaneously ‘flashing back’ to his past and the things he has witnessed and experienced. The way in which the past and the present are shown simultaneously, and the way in which the reader is not confused with all the switching back in forth is extremely well done. As Valentino lies bleeding on the floor, he remembers his experiences back in Africa. He relates the things happening in his apartment in Atlanta to the happenings of his youth. This immediate introduction to his character and his hardship sets the tone.

The combination of the immediate introduction of conflict and the interesting structure of the life narrative sets the tone for the rest of the novel. The reader can expect a very engaging writing style (as evidenced by the structure) and also a very compelling story of hardship and conflict (as evidenced by the violence and racism).

You can find the book here on Amazon: http://www.amazon.ca/What-Dave-Eggers/dp/0676979491/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1381780168&sr=8-1&keywords=what+is+the+what

Citations: Eggers, Dave, What is the What?, Vintage Canada, 2007