May 20

Thoughts about using DH on my classroom.

In my blog today I want to discuss the “History of American Technology” website that interested me amongst the others mentioned at Sinclair’s article “Information Visualization for the Literary Scholar“. Speaking with the fact that dealing with digital humanities or generally using technology and websites as an independent and integrated material is something that I am not pretty familiar with. Back home- in SA- we are still working on printed materials as an educational references. Nevertheless, it is a great and accessible way of learning and spreading the knowledge. Saying this returns to its availability every time and every where. I think that phrase- the last one- becomes very familiar one that almost all people use it to describe DH! Besides that, it is really organized in such a direct way that makes it quick and clear to be used. For instance, The Ferris Wheel lesson has been divided into many parts that includes; Antecedents and Invention, 1893 Chicago Columbian Exposition, Impact, Documentary, Bibliography, Preliminary Work. And it is the same way with the other lessons or topics. Each part has its information without being mixed with other points, consequently, you can access a particular information very easily. Frankly, my humble experience cannot help me to deeply analyze the website; however, it will be one of my materials in the future in any classroom.

May 19

Jackson’s work.

Shelly Jackson’s text is an example of the hypertexts literature that is in some cases can be seen as new or difficult genre. What really interested me is how the web set works as it takes you from part to another very easily. It is obviously accessible every where and any time as it can be accessed using computers, which makes it more popular. Also, the way of explaining some points clearly is helpful point as it links some words that needs more explanation for instance to another link that has detailed information. So, instead of looking to a specific information in different places, it will be directly and easily available.

April 20

A Letter to the Author. Creative Response.

Dear Mark Nowak,

My name is Nourah, and I am a master degree seeking, English Literature, at Indiana University of Peen. Your book ” Coal Mountain Elementary” is one of the required books at the Postmodernism literature class for this semester.

And I am writing to you as a thank for such a stunning piece that highlights a real issue related to the labor and their rights. Being based on a depressing accident, truth story, make it more powerful to attract my attention, and some of my classmates as well. I like also the usage of all the available tools that includes articles, photographs, and official statements. That was a good idea in documenting the story with all of its belongings.

Nevertheless, such a helping things make me wondering if this can be considered a “pure book”, so that it is your book and you have all the Intellectual rights for it. Or, is it a smart and strong way of claiming your issue as an interested of labors rights?

Regardless of that, I enjoyed reading it as I felt being involved in some places. it was indeed such a touching book, as I believe that writing- in general- has to deeply deal with the society issues. Whether by reminding people of a certain event, or by producing a whole work based on that event.

 

Sincerely,

Nourah

April 13

Is It a Poetry or What?

Well! Frankly, I felt disappointing while I was reading for our class this week. I just read the first three parts, and then I decided to go over the rest without deep concentration.

I started with the first part that is “How To Be An Internet Artist” It is true it gives some guidelines for beginners to start their work, and be considered writers or as he said Artist. But, there is nothing new! Any person wants to publish his work, will do the same.

I struggled strongly with “OK Texts” because it is really difficult to know what is the purpose of it! I mean what is the connection between these questions and poetry! I don’t know! For instance,

Technological determinism will cause you great pain. Continue?

OK

Your health will one day disappear and you will die without

meaning. End session?

OK

It is about technology, which is one of the themes in Postmodernism, but it looks like questions and OK answers and nothing else.

The third part that is “This Could Be The First Day Of The Rest Of My Life”, is the most funny and contrary part. Regardless of the tittle that alludes; in somehow, of being prepared after the first two chapters, for writing. Thus, the writer has just considered himself a writer for the first time in his life. However, there is an obvious contradiction or hesitation in some places. For example, “First I had to go meet my agent who wasn’t really my agent anymore but, rather, my gallery director. Well, not exactly my gallery director either.”

Another example, “I improvisationally stole some of his ideas which weren’t really his ideas at all but something Robert

Motherwell” And so forth!

Really, it is the most challenging reading that we have done till now. I whish if I could meet the writer and ask him, What are you doing? What do are trying to say?

 

 

April 6

Creative Response to Citizen’s book.

 

At this respond, I tried to imitate Rankine’s style and major theme. I used the daily English; nevertheless, I avoided the pronoun You. My theme is racism, as hers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing dairies is my favorite! As a black person, all what has been recorded in my mind is how people dealing with me!

Being a black man, and having a taxi is my story that I want to tell or/ and write.

We were three cars, and all of us were taxies, I was the only black one. As you know, we have the policy that we stop in order, and the costumer should go with the first taxi in place.

She was a foreigner, and looking for a cab. She walked in, and became closer to my car.

Suddenly, she escaped me, and went to the second cab! I opened the window and was looking to her and showing that I am the first here! I was thinking she did not how it works because she is a foreigner.

The other driver did so, and told her ” Miss we are in order. You should go to the first cap”. She replayed: ” I don’t want to go with the black driver!”

My colleague stopped closely saying ” I am sorry! She wanted a white driver. She think it is safer”.

I am, in a cool smile, and looking for them both, Good Luck!

April 6

General Thoughts. And a Close Reading to III Passage.

Generally, through out reading Rankine’s book, I have notice that she upsides down everything that I have known about Standard- Academic writing. First of all, the usage of such a direct, English- spoken vocabulary, is like a basic in her writings. It is true that makes it easier to read, but it lost the fantasy language that I still believe that any literary work should based on. Second, she kept using the pronoun “You” in almost all her passages. That such a good idea, which pushes the reader to be involve in the passage itself by attracting her/his attention to be the addressee.

I choose one of the passages for a closely reading. That is passage III.

What attracted my attention- as I mentioned above- is the simple language and the You pronoun. There is obviously a connection between the two points that is ignoring any feature of the Academic writing, which the unique words and avoiding especially the pronoun You is a major point in.

I am not sure whether it is a poem, a passage, or a recorded speech! That is due to its style since I was not able to find any literary elements! There is no rhyme, plot, characters, structure, conflict, genre. What we have is only a kind of setting that is ” a distant neighborhood in Santa Monica “, and nothing else. It looks like a narrative story that the writer telling us about a bothering situation related to race and racism.

Talking about the racism, it is clearly the whole section is about it. So that, reading one passage can symbolize the rest of it. Also, from the first sight, you can figure out that is about racism issue via the picture the writer used.

 

March 30

Galatea. Close Reading.

Regardless of considering this piece a non-literary work, I find it enjoyable! At the first glance, it looked like a short story; however, I figured out later it tends to be a game!

She, obviously, has a certain limit of recognized verbs. That was clear that whenever I asked her about verbs like lough, cheese, she answered “I don’t recognize this verb”.

There is also a noticeable point that reflects something about cultural background, behavior or concepts, which is, English speaker generally apology of being unable to offered a certain things to the speaker. To be more specific, if we considered Galatea a real person on a real world and I asked her to cheese for instance, she would say I don’t recognize the verb, I AM SORRY! So, in my perspective, the writer, forgot to highlight such a pretty way of dealing with other that generally Europeans and Americans have, with the only exception if the person was angry, he/ she perhaps wont apology. And this rare, frankly. Highlighting such a cultural behavior, if the description works here, takes me to think that Galatea was nervous or angry while I was asking.

Not avoiding the apology is the only reason for saying she was angry, but also her answer of things that she recognize. Whenever I asked about different topics, she answered toughly!For example,

>tell me about patient

You don’t have much to say about that.

>tell me about happiness

You don’t have much to say about that.

“You might try speaking to me,” she prompts. “It’s not polite merely to stare. And I’ve gotten very bored, standing here.” (An attempt to engage the audience — the proactive element… you frame the words for your review, but you find that you can’t get as far as a complete first sentence. There’s something more here; anxious, chilly, visceral. Better pay attention.)

>tell me about peace

You don’t have much to say about that.

March 16

Close Reading to M. NourbeSe Philip from Zong!

Is social justice can be deeply discussed through literature? That was the only question, which was repeating itself in my mind while I was reading this article and/or piece.

Being interested in race and racism issues- which is clearly affect the social justice in any nation-, Philip introduced a unique piece of writing that is taken from legal documents.

“Zong case” is a cheerless incident that happened in 1781 where a ship -comprised 470 slaves besides the owners themselves- got lost due to navigation error. The result was, almost 60 person died because of being thirsty, and 40 others had the same fate because of either being thirst or frenzy! While others threw themselves into the sea, and simply drowned without any guilt unless being a Negro!

The whole story, in turn, indicates that race and racism- with all of this issue’s consequences- is an old complication that has been following people all over their history! And that is clear in this story that happened more than 200 years ago! Consequently, the writer, Philip, tended to write such a fragment peace as she wanted- I think- to get her audience involved with the analyzation of her work.

In my opinion, I think what she did is not fully clear. I believe if she addressed her issue and thoughts in a more direct way that would be fascinating! What she did, in my view, is something similar to what some Arabic writers do when they want to offer controversial, political or religious issue, they will try to play with words, hiding meanings and involving the public with their work. By doing so, they will serve themselves of any punishment or popular anger, for instance.