Thursday, December 17, 2009

Thoughts and Reflections Made During The Radical Romance Adventure

Week 1:
This week I had been able to learn about the radical romance. It is very impressive how the media portrays it. Also, the clips we watched during the two session brought a better understanding of how sex, gender, and romance is portrayed.

Week 2:
First, this week I learned a lot of how society defines what is the ideal and the norm. Unfortunately, many of us had been victimized by these norms and ideals. As I saw American Psycho, I was able to confirm how we unconsciously are dragged into what society wants us to become. Now I would like to agree with Jeffrey's argument, our perception to certain things had changed throughout time. Now, we are more accepting to certain things that probably 50 years ago were not even discussed. I believe that throughout time, our perception of certain things will change.

Week 3:
Similar to Elizabeth, we were able to learn a lot just by focusing primarily in Cat On A Hot Tin Roof. To begin with, this play helps us have a better understand the overall them of this class which is radical romance. There are many things in this play that portrays what many people are going through at the present times. For instance, the lost of a loved one, as Brick lost Skipper, affects many people. Some people could go to the extreme of becoming emotionally "dead" as Brick. Also, another thing that attracted my attention is how Brick and Margaret are together but not because both feel the same intensity of love, but because it benefits them in other aspects. Lastly, the argument of whether or not Brick is gay or he had a "bromance" with Skipper. Analyzing the play, there are many things that hint that there was more than a friendship between the both as Margaret stated in act 1, " ...I'm naming it so damn clean that it killed poor Skipper!- You
two had something that had to be kept on ice, yes, incorruptible, yes!-and death was the only icebox where you could keep it..." (pg. 59). Overall, this week was very interesting and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof was a play that made me realize many thing regarding sex, gender, and romance.

Week 4:
I some how agree with Doug, now on days people are obsessed by being what we
(society) thinks is appropriate. For instance, on Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, we are able to see how Big Daddy considers materialism far more important than the affection of a father. He believed that by giving his son Brick thousands of things, that his son will be happy. As time goes by, many don't take into consideration emotions. Things are done because it will benefit the individual and because it is the "norm". As Doug brought up, it is logical to say that any man would love to marry Fox not because of her persona, but because she has a desiring body. Everyday society is converting our relationships with less emotional and affectionate and making them more business like relationships. Overall, this is a vivid example of radical romance!

Week 5:
I would like to agree with Megan, the ethnography assignment was very interesting! To begin with, when you begin observing and analyzing certain observations of things or places, it is very interesting the things you come up with. For instance, my observation was done at the gym I attend. At first, it was difficult to observe because I don't go to the gym to "stare" at people, but then after looking at certain behaviors and attitudes, it made me interested to observe more things. I believe that this assignment also allowed me to have a better understanding of what radical romance is. Although, people at the gym were not having a romantic dinner with violins playing next to their table, some behaviors seem to occur everywhere! Although I was not able to attend class this week, and have no clue of what happened, my experience creating this ethnography was very interesting and fun, most importantly educational.

Week 6:
This week we read two literary works, one written by Shakespeare and the other by Anne Waldman. To begin with, the soliloquy written by Shakespeare, to my understanding, seems that it is portraying how women lived and acted. Another thing is that this soliloquy is given by Katherina, in which resembles a radical woman. The reason for that believe is because the way it is presented (diction) seems as if women had adapted to live a certain way, but had not being able to get out from that living style. Barker introduces a philosopher by the name of Luce Irigary which states the following, "... she represents a bold attempt to assert the specificity of the feminine but her detractors she posits an essentialism that mirrors patriarchal discourse itself." (Barker 289). Comparing this statement with my idea, I could see that women are realizing that they had been put into a position that they must do things as society indicates for them to do. Looking at Waldman's article called Feminafesto, it also demonstrates the subordination
of women towards men. Throughout this article, I was able to see how she
emphasize that there is no difference between a man and woman, that all what matters is the person itself, not its gender or sex. Analyzing the diction of this article, it could also be said that she is a radical woman because she is imposing equality between men and women, something in which women throughout time had failed to do so. I believe that the sentence that summarizes her thoughts is the following, " That just sings its wisdom. That the body be an extension of energy, that we are not defined by our sexual positions as men or women in bed or on the page." (Waldman). Looking at both literary works, we could see how both relate on opening the eyes of the reader to the reality of women subordination and the need for equality.
Work Cited
Barker, Chris. Cultural Studies. Los Angeles:SAGE Publications, 2008
Waldman, Anne. Kill or Cure: Feminafesto. Penguin Books, 1994

Week 7:
I agree with Russell, the Rules of Attraction did a magnificent job by pointing out to very important points of the book. Also, the questions were very interesting and very analytical. I was able to better understand this text as I was able to here my classmates interpretation of certain things of the book. I believe that this book reflects upon what is considered as radical romance since the spark of a "romantically" attraction towards someone of your same gender is radical. I believe that many of the things described in the book illustrate the living experiences of many young adults of this time. Overall, this text allowed me to have a better understanding of radical romance.

Week 8:
This week was pretty interesting! To begin with, the essay was pretty challenging since I did not understand the prompt, but after the professor better explained on Wednesday, I had an idea of what should be done. The second thing is that, this week's discussion was pretty good! We saw clips from Annie Hall and went over Foucalt's essay called The History of Sexuality. I believe that when it comes to sexuality, just talking about it seems pretty uncomfortable because our society does not talk about it, although many involve themselves in sexual behaviors in a daily basis. Also, talking about homosexuality was pretty interesting, and from that I got an idea to write my paper about. Overall, I believe that this week we were able to get out of our comfort zone and talk about radical things affecting our society as we speak.

Week 9:
Adding to what my classmates mentioned, during the post-Mao era, Hua Guofeng took. The Chinese congress considered as the culmination of the cultural revolution during the time frame of August 12 through August 18, 1977, the same time in which the voting was taking place at the Eleventh National Congress. The Third Plenum seems as a major turning point in modern Chinese political history. Also, during this time the term four modernizations of China rose. Overall, it seems that the Chinese had fought to built a strong government during this period of time.

Week 10:
I would like to agree with Elizabeth, it was very interesting on how the group selected scenes showing her and a man having sex. Although the movie is not just her having sex, but these scenes seem to help us have a better understanding of the main
character. From the scenes I saw, I could see how the main character lacks of attention and love. The fact that she needs to be with a man (when having sex) and her obsession to be in a relationship without "love" seems very radical. This character seems very radical because she is not ashamed to do things that many women, especially in China, would not do. For example, the scene when she is teaching her friend on how to please herself sexually. Although I am just using examples from the erotic scenes of the film, the movie overall shows a young girl that goes through a lot just to seek happiness and love. This is what I got out of the film. Also, good job "Summer Palace" group! You guys did great!

Week 11:
Watching Sex and the City was very interesting. At first I was not sure why the professor wanted us to analyze chapter 13 from Barker's book using this show as reference. After the discussion on Wednesday, I was able to have a better understanding of the chapter itself and how the show sheds light to Barker's ideas. I believe that this show is very radical because it shows how these four women are dependant and do not need a man in order to survive. Although I am not familiar with the show as much, it seems that these women are pretty "open" in their conversations, therefore their personality itself is radical. Their life is the contrary from what society makes women seem like as the housewife that stays home to nurture and to care of home. Again, they are dependant women that have careers and a promising future. Analyzing Barker's ideas about gendered culture and Sex and the City, we could see how society constructs "gendered places". For instance, in the scene I used for my reflection, meet in a restaurant where it is comfortable to talk. For us that is normal and rational. The women never meet in the gym or in a field to talk as men do. Overall, it is very interesting how this very popular
and award-winning show reflects upon the radical of the American Society.

Week 12:
It sucks that I was not able to participate on Monday's activity prepared by the Sex and the City group! From what I had read, it was very interesting, therefore would like to congratulate all of its members. Aside of that, I believe that Sex and the City illustrates clearly what the radical women really looks like. It is interesting to see how these women are able to survive in a society that implements the importance of a women to be dependent to a man. Of course the shows illustrates otherwise. Overall, these are my thoughts about the show and how it helps us understand better the overall theme of the class.

Week 13:
I agree with Jessica, the topic about the whole origin of the word "slut" is very
interesting. I think that Wednesday's meeting with Professor Wexler was very helpful. It help me a lot to better understand the assignment and brought me ideas about my final paper. I will be writing about the radical man. How do men differ from the stereotypical man that society depicts. I found this topic very interesting because by analyzing all the clips we had watch and the excerpts that we had read, we could see that many of the men are more sensitive kind of feminine oriented. Overall, the meeting was extremely helpful.

Week 14:
First, I would like to congratulate the My Space group. You guys did really good. It is funny how you guys brought up questions that I had asked myself. Also, I think the comparison of My Space and Facebook was very interesting. I have both a Facebook and My Space and I could really see a difference. For instance, My Space is more liberal because you could personalize your profile, meanwhile for Facebook you could not personalize as much. Another good point that was brought up is that if these social networks are affecting the way we interact with people. I honestly think that there is a negative impact because people are more willing to meet someone online than face to face. Adding to my thoughts about these social networks is that you cannot honestly rely on what people say unless you really know the person. I, myself, had put fake information because I believe that some things should remain personal and that should be share with those you care about outside from the virtual world. Overall, excellent presentation.

On Monday, we watched Bruno! I was really shocked with the things I saw! I honestly
think that this movie is not influencing any kind of positive feedback to the gay
community. I know gay people that do not act nothing like Bruno. Overall, I think the purpose of this film is to entertain, nothing else.

By reading all my classmates reflection, I think that labeling a character as a hero or villain is very difficult. To begin with, the characteristics that define a hero or villain differ from person to person. For instance, for us Americans Osama Bin Laden is consider a villain of the American society meanwhile for others in his country or his followers consider him as a hero because he is fighting for his religious believes. Sometimes I might think that a character from a novel or a person could be characterized as a hero, but many people might refute to that opinion. I believe that it will be easier if there was a universal definition of what identifies a hero or a villain. Meanwhile, we could have an infinite argument about who is the hero and who is not. Overall, it is very interesting how people might view an individual that should be honored and followed meanwhile others
would like to see this individual imprisoned or dead.

Week 15:
It is crazy how this semester went by sooo fast, but I honestly enjoyed and learned a lot taking this course. Although, at first I did not understand a thing of what was being discussed, know I feel very knowledgeable about the material discussed during class. This week we were talking about language and how different cultures speak and how society shapes us. It was interesting to know that although a large population might speak the same language, their surroundings might influence different pronunciations, terminology, or accent. Summing up my thoughts on this final post, I was able to understand or learn about things that I was ignorant about. I am able to understand myself better as an individual and those who surround me. It was interesting to see how everyone is influence by their surroundings and how we are "shape" into what is the ideal. Now after learning so many things, I could say that the overall theme of this class, which was radical romance, is that
the way you express your feelings regardless of any norm or rule established by society, culture or religion.

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