After
studying aspects of Post-Colonial Theory, brainstorm a list of questions to ask
of our memoirs in order to apply a postcolonial theory to them. Share your top
two questions. Make sure to read through all of the comments before you post so
that you do not repeat questions. For your 2 comments, your job is to help each
other refine the questions we plan to ask of our memoirs.
Examples:
- How does the text represent aspects of oppression similar to that of colonialism?
- What person(s) or group(s) does the work identify as "other" or stranger? How are such persons/groups described and treated?
- What does the text reveal about the politics and/or psychology of anti-colonialist resistance?
- What does the text reveal about the operations of cultural difference - the ways in which race, religion, class, gender, sexual orientation, cultural beliefs, and customs combine to form individual identity - in shaping our perceptions of ourselves, others, and the world in which we live?
Brain on Fire by Susannah Callahan
ReplyDelete1) How does society view Callahan knowing the fact that she suffers from a disease? Is she looked as different in a negative way? Or is she socially accepted by her community?
2) In what ways does Brain on Fire relate to the Post-Colonial Theory? Are there specific moments in the book where Callahan is seen as being the “other?” Or is Callahan the one viewing the people in her society as the “other?”
I like your first question because it's pretty similar to what the protagonist in my book is experiencing. I feel that the sickness or disease that the protagonist in my book holds just places a negative effect on him because different wrestlers in the book won't look at him the same way.
DeleteI think Susannah is seen as the other because in society you have to be completely fine to be normal, health included, and since the author has an illness she does not fit in that norm resulting in her being seen as the other.
DeleteI like how you propose the idea that is may be Callahan who is viewing the people in her society as the "other". It is a good way to really see how Callahan views society.
DeleteBook: 6 Minutes Wrestling With Life: A Family's Tragedy To Triumph
ReplyDelete1. Does society look at the protagonist differently just because of the sickness he had during his wrestling season?
2. Is the protagonist looked at as "other" by different wrestlers just because he has a sickness that's interfering with his wrestling career?
In my opinion, I would feel like the other wrestlers would look down on him because of his illness
DeleteI believe that statement is false.^ Based on personal experience, I usually have more respect for wrestlers with illnesses who continue to try and wrestle.
DeleteI think society would look at the protagonist differently just because of his sickness during the season. They may think he was brave, depressed, etc. But they will still look at him differently than they would to a normal wrestler.
DeleteI think society looked at the protagonist differently because of his sickness. People often judge by first impressions, so the protagonist would be judged by his illness, which might have been thought as interfering with his wrestling career.
DeleteI totally agree with you Derek, remember that time when Almas wrestled the amputee, they both gave it their all and kudos to both men. Jessica they would look at him differently but in the lenses of respect and admiration. You have a point Lin, he will be judged before hand but within the ring he will be revered!
DeleteUndocumented by Dan-el Padilla Peralta
ReplyDelete1) Is Dan-el the one who sees America as an exotic other, or does America look at him as an other? Does one happen first? At what point do these happen?
2) How does Dan-el's dual idenity play out in his narritive?
Ooo I like these questions. I especially like the first one because it's something that I think every immigrant has faced at some point or another. According to Post-Colonial Theory, the same way that we see someone / a group of people as "other", they see us as "other" too.
DeleteI like the 2nd Q, because I think that both his identities could create some sort of identity crisis in the book
DeleteI like your first question because it makes the reader really think where the other is coming from.
DeleteI like how both your questions relate back to the post-colonial theory.
DeletePush by Sapphire:
ReplyDeleteWhy does Mary view Abdul as an "other"?
What does this book reveal about the different mind sets of the different races?
I like how your second question brings into consideration all the mind sets and races that can have different lenses.
DeleteBrain on Fire by Susannah Callahan
ReplyDelete1. Is Susannah looked at as "Other" because of her brain illness or is it the opposite? Is she now looking at people as if they are the "Other" and she is the "Normal/Typical"?
2. Based on the text, Is "othering" natural ? Susannah's sense of "other" seems to increase as she suffers through her brain illness... Is "othering" something that our brain does subconsciously?
I think "othering" is natural. As humans, we tend to treat people differently when they aren't similar in some way to us. It is interesting though, we don't seem to realize until we look back on it through a different lens.
DeleteI like how you used the "Other" perspective in your questions. It makes the reader really think about the question.
DeleteUndocumented by Dan-el Padilla Peralta
ReplyDelete1. Is Dan-el viewed as another at private school since he isn't wealthy like his peers?
2. Does the community that Dan-el lives in influence his perception of certain people?
Communities are very influential on the mind, so perhaps it does shape his perception of others.
DeleteI guess that the character's mind can have a slight change by the community he lives in and the people he hangs out with.
DeleteI think the community can influence a lot of his perception of certain people.
DeleteI like your first question. How about questioning how is Dan-el viewed as the other except of whether or not if he is the other.
DeleteYour first question is interesting because it already assumes that there is something inherently othering in a poor kid going to private school on scholarship.
DeletePush' Sapphire
ReplyDelete1' If Precious was white would her situation be considered not as frowned upon?
2' Are Ms. Rain's actions towards students reflective of those usually seen by teachers or do they make her an "other"?
I think that if Precious were white I think her situation would be still be frowned upon, maybe even more.
DeleteI love how you propose the categorization of Ms.Rain as an other because of her character rather than her race, color etc
DeleteA Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius - by Dave Eggers
ReplyDelete1. How is Toph looked/treated as the 'other' since he is an orphan?
2. What makes Dave so different from everyone? How does his characteristics and they way he acts differ from everyone else? What makes him stand out?
I would imagine people would treat him with more compassion since he is an orphan, because they feel sorry for him.
DeleteI agree with Darwin, because Toph is an orphan people will tend to automatically feel sorry for him.
Delete'A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius' - Dave Eggers
ReplyDelete1. In what ways does the mom get treated as an "other"? Is it only because of the cancer or does it go deeper than that?
2. Are the children considered as "others" because of their Mom's sickness? How does the outside world treat them differently to other children?
Are there any other oddities that exist with the mother which may make her a candidate for being an other?
DeleteI think the mom is viewed as other because she is sick. Some may think of her as rather helpless because of her condition, which is not always true.
DeleteThe children feel that they are different bc of their mom's disease and I think pity plays a role in how they are treated by others
DeleteI definitely think that sometimes when one has a certain condition that limits them, people view them differently.
DeletePush - Sapphire
ReplyDeleteIs Precious considered an other not because of race but of class?
Can the relationship between Precious and her mother serve as a legitimate analogy between former colonies and their respective colonizers??
I like that your question digs deeper into the possibility of a connection between the colonies and their colonizers
DeleteI agree with Mayra. You highlight crucial issues that craft the way people interact and make relations to each other.
DeleteNight by Elie Wiesel
ReplyDelete1.) During the holocaust, did the jews see themselves as completely different from Germans as the Germans did?
2.) How were leaders able to manipulate people into believing that jews should be seen as an "other"? Did fear play a role in that manipulation?
I like that for your second question you don't only ask a question you give a possible answer for that question.
DeleteI like your second question too and this ties back with what we have learned in class, the four system... economic, political, military and ideology... so i feel like the leaders put fear within the eyes of the 'others'.
Delete"Night" by Elie Wiesel
ReplyDelete1.) During your experience, when did you come to a realization that you were considered as "the other"?
2.) Did you feel like you ever gained a sense of a community of "others" along with the ones you were imprisoned with?
I try to avoid that topic in anything I do whether it is a particular sport or other activity when being considered, "the other". I think of it as a negative connotation. I personally want to be different from others no matter what it is. I believe that everybody is unique in their own way.
DeleteHow is it a community of "others" how do you know?
DeleteOrange is the new black: My years in a women's prison? By Piper Kerman
ReplyDelete1. Was Kerman's experience in prison different than others?
2. What must Piper learn in order to adapt to, or even survive, prison life?
"A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" by Dave Eggers
ReplyDelete1. Due to the fact that Dave's mom died, are his siblings and him considered to be the "other" because they're far from the "norm" living on their own?
2. How is Dave an appealing character?
Brain on Fire by Susannah Cahalan
ReplyDelete1. Is Susannah being "othered" by her own colleagues and family because of her disease?
2. While Susannah is ill she is seen as the other, but what will happen when she gets her treatment and gets better? Will she be considered as a normal person again?
Orange Is the New Black: My Year In A Women's Prison by Piper Kerman
ReplyDelete1.) Is there a code of behavior women have to follow in prison?
2.) Did society's perception of women in prison influence the way Kerman thought women in prison were going to be like?
"6 Minutes Wrestling With Life: A Family's Tragedy to Triumph" by JohnA Passaro
ReplyDelete1) Do other peoples opinion hinder your own opinion when making the biggest decision of your life or do you just simply ignore the "others"?
2) How is the Protagonist who has a huge match coming up going to prepare for his match, is he going to overcome the various obstacles he is facing by adapting to his surroundings and learn to accept them or is he just going to give up like the others that did before him? I really hope he makes the right decision.
I think you should ask your questions in a way that better incorporates the post colonial theory of the "other." For example, for your first question you could ask, when making the biggest decision of your life, can your opinions be hindered by a sense of being the "other", imposed by those around you?
Delete"Undocumented"
ReplyDelete1. How does Dan-el's "otherness" affect his journey?
2. How is Dan-el's identity shaped by his race and gender?
Your questions are interesting. Another question you might also consider is how does his journey affect his otherness? Reversing the question might soud silly but both his journey and his original sense of other can affect eachother in different ways, and at different given moments in order to create a character change or lack of change throughout the story within a given life-span. It's almost like a nature vs nurture debate in science.
DeleteIt would also be interesting to focus on both the unique and "other" qualities of Dan-el. I think that "uniqueness" and "otherness," while being very similar in definition, are just as dissimilar in connotation, so they should be analyzed separately.
DeleteUndocumented By: Dan-el Padilla
ReplyDelete1. Where has being categorized as 'other' worked as an advantage and disadvantage for Dan-el?
2. Why is Dan-el identity something that stays the same, despite the dramatic life changing experiences he undergoes?
I think it's interesting to focus on how being an 'other' can serve as an advantage, since we often indulge in hypocrisy when looking at the "injustice" of assigning labels, for we don't stop to think how much we truly categorize.
DeleteBrain On Fire By Susannah Cahalan.
ReplyDelete1) As a journalist, do you think that perhaps the perspectives Susannah inhibited in her writings while working for the post could of been biased to some extent if we were to read them? Considering she's a white, blond, educated American, I'm curious about how her writings at work looked like? Do you thibk she might of been a very opiniated writer? If so then what might of that looked like in terms of her views on the other in comparison to her own sense of self?
2) As Susannah's condition progressd, she sensed a period of isolation and exclusion in a sense, she was paranicked with the thought of everyone talking about her, particularly on TV, at the news group she worked for, no one could be trusted. Do you think that this was Susannah experiencing "otherness" for the first time, or is this type "other" not included as part of The Post Colonial Theory?
Brain On Fire By Susannah Cahalan
Delete1) Can a psychiatric disorder be labeled as something unique, as opposed to an unfortunate outlier? What are the positive attributes of Susannah's mental illness, if not to her, then to society?
2) If someone is not aware that they are an 'other,' are they? Before Susannah's mental decline, did her being an 'other' even exist? Moreover, if her mental decline was apparent to all but her, would she still be considered an 'other?'
Orange is the new black: My years in a women's prison By Piper Kerman
ReplyDelete1. According to Kerman she mentions how she was treated when she first arrived in prison. She states that welcoming groups were present for each individual depending on their race... Which race is superior in a prison, if any? How did that race become superior, if it did?
2. Being an inmate she was able to comprehend that even when individuals don't have enough. they are willing to share and try to help new inmates survive. With this in mind... Is there equality in prison where every inmate, female or male, do not try to sunjugate another or will Kerman find out soon enough that no matter where you go someone will always be subjuagted?