READ it and COMMENT: how does your work on this specific task compare to this one?
What single aspect or argument got your attention the most?
I was very overwhelmed with the first assignment that I got from this course. Mostly because I was not prepared of how emotionally and mentally challenging a literature class could be. On the first day of class, I was confused when we started exploring other people’s culture (tribe) and I had to dig deeper and ponder on what it means to belong into one. I thought I would only be learning about Italian-Americans, watch italian films and read italian books but it seems that the course is much broader than that. I was perplexed at first when I was asked to learn about Black history, Irish immigrants, Chinese workforces, and Jewish pogroms and their effect in American Society. I thought to myself, “What is the relation of all these with Italian-Americans?” I wanted to learn about the culture that my stepfather grew up in and explore further the stories that they talked about around the dinner table. When we did talk about them in class, they were not the same stories that I have heard before. I wonder if my stepfather knew and just chose to not recount it because it was that part of the history when his people felt vulnerable and oppressed or maybe he too didn’t know about it. I feel that this course is rigorous mostly because of the extent of self-reflection I had to do before writing an assignment or participating in class as opposed to just typing or speaking words out of the surface of my brain based on what I know instead of what I feel. To me, it is a little exhausting because it is not something that I often do.
My work as shown on paper, wasn't as clear as this person's, however, my beliefs and thoughts were of similarity to that of the one above. I did not express my feelings as requested or explain the reason I felt a certain way in depth. This person (referring to author of paragraph), answered this question in its entirety.
ReplyDeleteAuthor notes that he/she wishes to grasp a better understanding of what it truly means to be Italian and in America; noticing that the stories are completely different when told by his/her grandfather. This comment caught my attention.
Written by Crystal Buchanan
ReplyDeleteI agree with the response to this paragraph. I too was not expecting to learn so much about other's cultures on the first day. I was overwhelmed , as I mentioned in the first assignment on how in depth the conversation was in the classroom. Most first days consist of reading a syllabus and leaving early. I was impressed and excited to start off the school year with this course.
ReplyDeleteI relate with the writer's intentions that this course would mainly focus on strictly Italian literature and film, however I've learned that is not the case. This class has brought together the discrimination and hardships of different races throughout not only American history but world history, and related them together. This has made it so that we realize that not only one group of people have been treated poorly, but many, and that it can possibly and hopefully stop with us.
ReplyDeleteDeanna Schneider
i agree with the paragraph, and how well thought the student placed her ow history from family into play. My work wasnt as well thought out because i learned a long time ago that some times expectance leads to disappointment. so i let the class fuel my mind and senses and it allows me to be open minded and let the class fill in the gaps or piece puzzles of knowledge i already have. Generally speaking it was good to see that she seen how so many lives where effected the same way. And that's what drew me once i seen the basics of what we were talking about i seen that if it happened to one race its only natural that it would happen to others because those select individuals seen themselves as superior. Until Man mean human kind see that we all are servants to one another from the rich to the poor, no matter where you come from this cycle will always contiune.
ReplyDelete-Diana Pope
The most interesting aspect of this analysis was that the person never heard any of the stories we learn about in class due to the fact that he has been immersed in the culture thanks to his stepfather. Often times, people sugarcoat the history and stories associated with their culture or nationality. That is because they don't want to be seen as weak or having bad experiences; however they are always prevalent. Unfortunately, I did not portray my own thoughts as eloquently as the author of the passage did. I did express very similar thoughts. I feel the same way about the class; it is a little overwhelming in the context and quantity of the text, but interesting.
ReplyDelete-Margaret Cagara
My work on this specific task compared to this one mirrors it because I wasn't expecting the workload to be this much. I too thought that the focus would be on the literature and films of Italian Americans, with discussions about what was conveyed. I didn't know that the class would be informed of the trials and tribulations of the immigrants of The Great Migration. There is so much ground to cover, there is so much that isn't told about their mistreatment hence the homework we are given every week.
ReplyDeleteThe single aspect that caught my attention was toward the end when she explains how her stepfather never once discussed the cruelty Italians endured. She thinks it could be because he repressed the idea of his people being persecuted. As if he wasn't proud of that time period where they were indeed vulnerable.
My experience with the assignment was very similar to what the author of the paragraph went through. I found myself a bit confused, but also uncomfortable looking through some of the ugliest parts of humanity. But it really put the whole course into perspective and gave it a context that was invaluable to learn.
ReplyDeleteI think the most compelling aspect of the paragraph was the point about the author's step-father. There could be so much personal history that now the author will be able to empathize with and connect with their step-father even more.
What i found most interesting about this post was the admission of self reflecting that the class makes you do as well as coping with the fact that what you were told as a kid may not be as true as you once thought it was. I also agree with the fact that i wasn't at all prepared to take take on a workload of this level mostly because i wasn't expecting it
ReplyDelete-Alex Deleon
I'd say we were both on a similar wavelength concerning our feelings towards the first dealings of class. I too thought the class would be driven by tons and tons of literature and films to watch, but we've already taken a path that encourages critical thinking and assessment. I agree that I was originally caught off-gaurd being asked to write about my feelings as opposed to cold-hard facts.
ReplyDeleteThe most interesting part of the argument for me was the analysis of her stepfather's stories. I sometimes feel the same when the fluffed up stories of old Ireland my grandfather used to tell me are proven to be misconstrued. It is interesting how different tribes tell their peoples stories with varying degrees of reality, sometimes in order to escape the horrors of the past.
I'd say we were both on a similar wavelength concerning our feelings towards the first dealings of class. I too thought the class would be driven by tons and tons of literature and films to watch, but we've already taken a path that encourages critical thinking and assessment. I agree that I was originally caught off-gaurd being asked to write about my feelings as opposed to cold-hard facts.
ReplyDeleteThe most interesting part of the argument for me was the analysis of her stepfather's stories. I sometimes feel the same when the fluffed up stories of old Ireland my grandfather used to tell me are proven to be misconstrued. It is interesting how different tribes tell their peoples stories with varying degrees of reality, sometimes in order to escape the horrors of the past.
The single aspect is that the way this course would be that we would be reading books of Italian authors and that was about it, but to be able to talk about Italian-American history and learn more about it, it's very interesting to see what else we will learn about Italian-American history.
ReplyDeleteAt the very beginning I had preconceived notions that this class would be strictly about Italian literature and movies and less about historical, social issues that surround the Italian community. I was surprised to read about the massacres that happened to Italians in the past. When the professor showed us cartoons that depicted Italians as apelike beings, I was disturbed.
ReplyDeleteI find the assignments to be too much because I am a single mom and also attending 3 other classes that is demanding on my time. There are also other challenges I am facing that is making my time at Brooklyn College more difficult.
This was written in a very organized format, which is something that my own response lacked. I too was confused at first when we were learning about the experiences of her cultures. I thought, what doe this have to do with Italians? but then I began to see the connection.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI think everyone can agree with what you said in your answer. I wasn't prepared for how sad I would feel when I read and saw images of how bad these people were treated. It's good that we learn these things because if we don't learn what happened in the past we are doomed to repeat it.
ReplyDeleteJust as this person has stated, I too was confused when we began with discussed other cultures in a class about Italian Americans. As an Italian American myself, I have heard stories from my parents about what it was like for their parents and grandparents growing up. I believe that the discrimination of Italian Americans is something that people don't know much about and history texts gloss over it, or treat it as it never even happened. I understand the connection that was made by showing examples of other groups that have also been discriminated against.
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