Our class discussion drew on our reading of Sherman Alexie's The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Thomas King's Truth & Bright Water, and the 1998 film Smoke Signals. Themes: Borders as human constructions. Belonging as something that necessitates that there are those who don't belong. Varying definitions of success. Questions: How can humor …
Continue reading "GS 554 — Elaborating on Native American Perspectives"
It isn't difficult to wax poetic about England. In fact, it's disturbingly easy. Everywhere you turn, England presents you with a monolith of feeling and thought. We aren't here for very long, but everyday has been crammed with important sites one after the other. It's overwhelming, to tell you the truth. I've been joking with …
This past year was my first year of college. I did not have a typical first year of college. This is the last class I need to become a sophomore. I began my career at CC last summer during C block, before I had any sort of orientation for college. I got off to a …
Always wash your feet upon returning home. Look up. Have class in a rose garden at Hampton Court. Have class beneath The Globe. Eat chocolate beetroot cake and twirl. Race through the glorious Regent's Park to make it to a massively bizarre performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Open Air Theatre. Under the …
Class in Hampton Court Rose Garden. Can you believe it!
Sometimes traveling I feel like life transcends reality. Today was one of those days as we made what our professor termed an “enforced march” out of town. In reality, it was a beautiful twenty-minute stroll through lovely fields. At this point, many members of our class, including myself, were unsure of our final destination. We …
Today was another free day! We decided to see as much of London as possible. We left the hostel bright and early and walked to the National Portrait Gallery. Once we were "all-portraited-out," we decided to walk to Buckingham Palace. After consulting the map, we discovered that walking along The Mall seemed like the easiest …
We all know that the only food London is really famous for is its fish and chips. Having recently found out that I am lactose and gluten intolerant, I wasn't sure how easy eating in London was going to be. Here's what I've found: Eating out is actually fairly easy. Besides its fish and chips, …
The beginning of our examination of indigenous perspectives of education included a discussion of information from the text Education for Extinction: American Indians and the Boarding School Experience 1875-1928 by David Wallace Adams. Chris Teuton delivered a myth-challenging "Indians 1491" lecture. Areas of focus included: indigenous population numbers, intertribal trade, disease and its role in …
Continue reading "GS 554 — Native American Perspectives: Education for Extinction"
The following are some highlights from our discussion of Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye: Themes: The complexity of the role of black women in art, literature, Civil Rights, and continually evolving hierarchies (both in the family and society). The projection, condemnation, and internalization of anger as a result of feelings of unworthiness. The cyclical nature …
Continue reading "GS 554 — Reimagining the Gendered Classics: The Bluest Eye"
