Author Archives: katherine lopez

12/3/21

Beware of Miss Abuelita

After reading Melissa Lozada-Oliva’s poem How to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse as an 82 year old Guatemalan Grandmother, what really popped out to me is the constant repetition of the red scarf that the Abuelita wears throughout the narrative. At first, I did not really pay attention to it, but after analyzing the content in which the red scarf appears I believe it used to represent something more. I believe that it was interesting that the scarf was the color red and mentioned for the first time after Abuelita spilled the blood of her husband with her knife. It seems to me that the scarf is used in the same way that warriors in some tribes and some gangs have the tradition to wear (or modify) their bodies with) something that symbolizes the number of lives they took. Hence, I believe that the scarf is the symbol of her strength and that she killed her opponent. It marks a new era in Abuelita’s life since it appears right after she discarded the thing that was holding her back. During her fights with the “zombies”, she never takes it off. Rather, she wears it in front of her where it is on display for them to see. It marks her as a warrior, one that is willing to fight and kill what stands in her way towards her goal. Her scarf marks her identity; that she is no longer innocent and she is no longer the prey. Instead, Miss Abuelita is the predator. 

11/26/21

Power and its Victims

I found that Tell Me How It Ends is a text that makes parallels with another literary piece that we visited earlier in the term, And We Sold the Rain by Naranjo Carmen. For instance, both introduce a government that has failed to deliver sufficient provision to its residents, causing many to flee. I believe that both pieces call attention to the matter that a power will always step up when there is an opportunity to in their government. In Tell Me How it Ends, that power was gangs. While in And We Sold the Rain, a foreign government chooses to establish economic and financial power over Guatemala. Thus, we can compare the two literary pieces to establish a resemblance that appears in both parties. For example, when there is a vulnerability present with a country, both choose to enact and exploit these vulnerabilities for their own benefit. Regardless of the means through which they choose to enact their power, both, in the end, threaten the well being of the individuals in which they reign over. Hence, this reveals a commonality present in the structure and principles of both groups. Although the two parties (gangs and governments) are separated due to social status and practical procedure, it is possible that their essence is united in harmony. Could this be bought out in anyone when they are given a position of power? This is only limited to certain personalities or is it possible in anybody due to a weakness in human nature?

11/2/21

Regan: A Night Predator (“Cinderella’s Secret Dream” )

Is it obvious that “Cinderella’s Secret Dream” is a story about four women, each in pain, and each trying to cope with this pain. However, the way in which each woman is referred to reflects the perceptions of the narrator herself. Regan, the narrator, often demonstrates her opinions and thoughts with her keen observations. But since she is narrating the story, one cannot trust the accuracy of her words. For example, she portrays Cleis in a beautiful light, often praising her beauty and attributing her behaviours as virtues. Meanwhile, she compares her own family members with the worst vices and attributes. Her hatred for her family could be a projection of the hatred she feels for herself. Throughout the story, she barely refers to herself, and when she does, she often does it in a dark light. I believe she uses her family as a means to outwardly express her own self-hatred instead of directly hating herself. Her low self-esteem is softly noted by the audience when it is revealed that it was her that used the worst description to portray herself. Interestingly, Regan compares herself to an owl multiple times, however, it is important to note that owls are predators. Similarly, Regan is a predator; she uses negative mental thoughts to “harm” her family and herself. In addition, Regan is similar to an owl because owls use the dark to prey. Likewise, the reason for Regan’s hatred is because she keeps her thoughts in the dark by not letting anyone know them. Thus, not letting anyone return feedback on the correctness of her thoughts. She is only able to prey on herself and her family because it is located in the dark (a place where no one knows; her mind).

10/28/21

The Hair god: “Broken Strand” Analysis

The narrative of a young, black, abused girl is framed in “broken Strand” to describe the grievous distress regularly and generationally occurring in the black, Puerto Rican community of Trastalleres. Yetsaida, the young black girl, is seen by the audience severely obsessing over the style of her hair –  a shallow topic if the proper context is not applied. She is a girl that has lived a faithful routine of verbal and physical abuse in her home life. As the abuse is the result of her father, she is unable to come into a position of influence in her situation.  Throughout the story, the audience witnesses her majorly talking in regards to her hair and her desires with what she wants to do with it, while she slightly skims through the topic of her abuse. Indicating that she uses her hair as means to cope with her troubles. She tries to use something, her hair, that is in her possession, something whose form can be molded at her whim – in order to gain a sense of control in her life since she is unable to change anything in her home. As a black girl, her hair is viewed as ugly and is a threat to her because of her internalized racism. Since her hair is a stable and constant item in her life, as well as a threat, she seems to be motivated to conquer it in order to gain a sense of power while being distracted. Interestingly, Yetsaida barely mentions her mother in her thoughts while becoming fixated with Miss Kety. Indicating that she does not see her mother as capable or willing to protect her, care for her, and keep her safe. She becomes drastically attached to a woman in her neighborhood – the hairstylist, Miss Kety. As her parents were unable to care for her, she unconsciously assigned the role over to Miss Kety. To Yetsaida, Miss Kety has the perfect hair – straight, red, and soft – all that she aspires to be. Yetsiada idolizes her, wants to be just like her, compares herself to her, and follows her path in life. To Yetsaida, perhaps, Miss Kety is viewed as the ‘saviour’ – the path for conquering her hair – her threat – if she can conquer her hair, she might be able to conquer her life.

10/15/21

Audio Imagery: “Thursday’s Widows”

Amazingly, I found the movie to include not only just visual imagery but audio imagery as well; which is something I believe I have not yet experienced. There were three scenes in which seemed like certain sounds were pulled out intentionally above the others so the audience can place particular attention to them: (1) Fireworks, (2) the sound of tennis racking hitting the ball during in which reminded Carla of the assault, and (3) the sound of Gustavo hitting Carla when he felt vulnerable. 

The sounds all contained a similar repetitive and frequent harsh banging sound that could lead the audience (at least to me) to naturally develop an unpleasantness and unbearable sensation when hearing them. In addition, it is interesting to note that these sounds each involved one of these “trophies” that is intensely valued by high society (e.g., beautiful wife/girlfriend, luxury experiences, statuses). Furthermore, each of these scenes that contained the sound included an insinuation of damage/violence being inflicted onto a person. For example, in the scene involving the firework, the cinematography carefully framed the firework appearing to almost hit Tano. And in the tennis competition, the sound of the tennis ball hitting the racket reminded Carla of the assault. 

Thus, the connection between these scenes leads me to conclude that the way that the characters indulged in these ‘trophies’ is damaging to an individual. Depending on one’s worth and identity in these societal prized items would lead an individual to more harm. It was clever for the director to use the sensation of hearing in order to present this analysis to the audience.

 

10/7/21

When Will they Get it Right 

What struck me with interest was the difference between the lawyer and the police. Both were in a position of power to influence the lives of people yet only one was concerned with the lives themselves. So what caused this difference? 

First, let us note that the defense lawyer, Miguel Prado, seemed to be the only character who empathized with the victims of the crime. He was the only one who did not delight himself in the amusement of the tragic case at any point, unlike Zozaya. Furthermore, Miguel was helping the family (Lupe and Juan) deal with their case when it was obvious that they would not have enough money to pay for his service, as they could not even afford to buy many more simple things. Meanwhile, the police with far more resources than Miguel, demonstrated a lack of care to provide the victims and suspect with a non-negligent level of work for their case; such is an abuse of power.

Hence, one can conclude that when authority is not submitted to the needs of the people in their jurisdiction, they will use the people to serve themselves. Miguel was the only character that was concerned with benefiting the family of the victim and his client; he was submitted to their needs. Ultimately, this small piece of literature can be interpreted as a commentary for the larger scale leadership of the country and government. Possibly that the government in Mexico in that era was mostly concerned with profiting themselves using what resources they had (such as the people) to the extent that the people themselves suffered as shown through the living circumstance of Lupe’s family. Only leads one to ask; when will they get it right.