Monthly Archives: April 2023

This is it

I’m glad this is over! Let me say that again: I’m glad that I did not (nearly) break the contract until the very last moment of this course, and I am astonished by the new perspectives that have opened up to me as a result of the fantastic combination of readings and the guidance from both Professor Jon and Daniel. What a ride it has been! Never have I ever imagined in my wildest dreams that I, myself in a position to do so much reading in such a short span of time. To be frank, I’m quite proud of myself for accomplishing this feat, and feel like an educated person, once again.

One of the aspects that I wholeheartedly enjoyed throughout the course was the opportunities given to “play” with the elements encountered within the text together with my personal experiences—creating sparks between elements that would have been parallel to each other otherwise. Reading allowed me to feel, flow, think, unthink, connect, and disconnect in a way that creates a unique, surreal, and personalized experience for me; and I very much like it since I never once experience this from any of my engineering courses.

This personalized experience of reading was unique to each of my classmates as well, and it was fascinating to see how the same piece of text could evoke different responses based on individual backgrounds and pretexts. I learned a lot from my classmates in this regard, and it was interesting to see how our readings varied based on our individual perspectives. One of the biggest takeaways from this course is that I have gained a better understanding of the power of literature and its ability to transcend time, remaining relevant even as the world changes. Although there may be gaps in understanding due to the historical context of the texts, it is remarkable to see how the themes and ideas remain pertinent to our modern lives.

Overall, I am grateful for the opportunity to have engaged with these texts and to have learned so much about myself and others in the process. The experience has left me feeling enriched and eager to continue exploring the world through the lens of literature.

To end the last blog post playfully: If you had to choose one of the characters you read about to be stranded on a deserted island with, who would it be and why?

The Taiga Syndrome

In her novel, The Taiga Syndrome, Cristina Rivera Garza weaved a web of mystery and intrigue, inviting readers on a journey through the unknown. From the very beginning, the repetitive use of the word “That” left the reader uncertain about the credibility of the narrator, creating an aura of skepticism that persists throughout the book. The semi-retired detective, who was described as a failure from the outset, adds to the doubt and questioning of the story’s conclusion. The final line of the book, “That, as always, I told the truth. Yes. That I had,” (78) only adds to this uncertainty, as the repetition of “That” suggests that perhaps the truth is not what it seems.

Yet it is precisely this ambiguity that makes the book such a profound and thought-provoking read. I believe Rivera Garza’s intention was not to present a straightforward fantasy story where the readers follow along the journey of the main characters, but rather to evoke the imagination and allow the reader to also partake in the journey. As the narrator said in the book, “My new method was to recount a series of events without disregarding insanity or doubt. This form of writing wasn’t about telling things how they were or how they could be, or could have been; it was about how they still vibrate, right now, in the imagination.” (13)

Another theme touched upon in the conversation video between Professor Beasley-Murray and Professor Rivera Garza was the inevitable mediation between the relationship of writing and experience, as well as the ways in which language can both convey, distort, and obstruct message/meaning. This theme is echoed in the narrator’s musings on journals, which she describes as “written in an intimate code capable of escaping the reader’s – and often the writer’s – understanding.” (20)

Yet despite these weighty themes, The Taiga Syndrome is also a masterful work of atmosphere and description. Rivera Garza’s prose is delicate and vivid, evoking the smells, sounds, and movements of the natural elements with a keen eye for detail. The result is a book that transports the reader to a world both familiar and strange, where the boundaries between reality and imagination blur and shift with each turn of the page.

In the end, The Taiga Syndrome is a book that invites us to question everything we think we know – about ourselves, about language, and about the world around us. Its use of repetition and ambiguity creates a rich and complex narrative that leaves an indelible impression on the reader, long after the last page has been turned. It is a book that demands to be read slowly and savored, as each new revelation and twist deepens our understanding of its enigmatic and haunting world.

Question: How does the novel’s exploration of the mediation between writing and experience, as well as the limitations of language in conveying meaning, resonate with broader cultural conversations about representation, translation, and communication in today’s world?

My Tender Matador

As I delved into the pages of Pedro Lemebel’s My Tender Matador, I was immediately drawn into a world of raw emotion and vivid imagery. Lemebel ingeniously weaved together a fictional (hi)story that not only tackled the issues of identity, politics, resistance, and social justice but also explored the complexities of gender and sexuality. It was a powerful and poignant read that left me with a new perspective on these topics.

Despite being set in 1980s Chile, Lemebel’s portrayal of the themes in the novel is still very relevant today, on a global scale, where issues of gender and identity continue to be at the forefront of social and political discourse. Throughout the novel, Lemebel painted a vivid portrait of a society that often fails to recognize the humanity of those who fall outside the narrow confines of societal norms of gender and sexuality aspects. This is perhaps most evident in the event where the Dictator and his soldiers overlooked Carlos’s planning of the ambush on their journey to the rural house.

I was also particularly struck by the language of destruction used in the novel, which portrayed masculinity and triumph in a way that was both intriguing and concerning. The character of the Queen of the Corner, in particular, stood out to me in her response to Carlos’s confession of his past amorous encounter with a male friend on the beach. I believe the way she spoke about the “brutal way they talk about the urgency of sex, like bullfighters‒Me first, I’ll stick it in you, I’ll split you in two, I’ll put it in, I’ll tear you to pieces‒with no tact or delicacy” (80) can be a powerful critique of the destructive language we often use in our daily conversations to describe triumphant achievements such as “You’re killin’ it”, and “Smashin’ the game”.

It is intriguing to consider the ways in which we use such language of destruction in our everyday lives. Whether it be in the context of sports, business, or personal relationships, the language of domination and victory is often used to describe our achievements. This begs the question: do we need to resort to destructive means in order to achieve success and triumph?

Perhaps we are living in a battleground of sorts, where the language of war and conflict permeates our daily lives. A prime example of this is the term “target” which is commonly used to describe audiences, and sales goals, in professional settings. It is worth considering whether this language is necessary for achieving our goals or if it perpetuates a culture of violence and domination.

Question: Can the pursuit of triumph and success be achieved without leaving a trail of destruction in its wake? Or is destruction an inevitable cost of achieving one’s goals? In a world where success is often equated with power and domination, is it possible to achieve greatness without sacrificing our humanity and the well-being of those around us?