David Foster Wallace Theory and Alice Munro.

In what ways could Wallace’s theory about education be applicable to the writing of Alice Munro? Justify your conclusion. 

   

David Wallace Foster addresses that true freedom is acquired through education in the ability to be adjusted, conscious and sympathetic in his literary piece this is water. "Control over how and what you think.”

This is achieved by our choice on the different perspectives of the world that we ignore because of our default mode during a typical day out. Wallace expressed through This is water that we can control our thinking and show our freedom instead of letting the thoughts set out for you crosses that experience out of your mind.

Achieving freedom through consciousness is determined by the ability to experience different perspectives of the world, through the example Wallace has provided in the grocery store on a “typical day out.”

Wallace also provides the important of fictitious thoughts as they strengthen your mind with experiences. Wallace explains this through the check out at the grocery store and imagining the lives or situations that the people nearby him are in, Of course, none of this is likely, but it's also not impossible — it just depends on what you want to consider.” This makes us sympathetic as human beings and adjusted which Wallace has also considered. Our ego is one of our many flaws as we constantly center ourselves without even doing it intentionally. There is no experience you've had that you were not at the absolute center of.

Wallace’s theory about education fits in to Munro’s writing as in all her stories I’ve read, she creates character and human development. Showing the human sympathy such as the example Alfrida. It was only revealed at the end about who she really was. And it shows us as readers the capacity to see beyond popular fiction. It encourages her readers to be more compassionate of the characters within the story, getting different perspectives. Her stories evoke emotional intelligence through developing empathy through the lives of not just the main character but through several characters of the story, such as the moons of Jupiter. Perhaps another reason for Munro to constantly keep her reader conscious through the  story through emotional intelligence is the ability to physically understand the role of the character within the short story as Munro cleverly places the reader within the characters mind through the narration. Overall, the ability of emotional intelligence according to Wallace’s Theory is that of being able to emphasize the emotional sympathy of the lives of multiple characters within a story.

London Adverts~

Hello From London, England!

I got the opportunity to go to London for two weeks and I’m really enjoying it so far! I went to the Harry Potter Studio’s and I went to see the Theatrical Play wicked as well!

The reason why I’m telling you this is because while I spent my time seeing all of that and even riding all the underground subways, I got to see a lot of different adverts that were placed all over! It was really different than what I would see in Abu Dhabi or Malaysia, and I thought it would be interesting to share! The pictures are added below (I've tried to rearrange them but I couldn't, so they're not in order. But I've captioned them!)

Many of them were taken from the underground station, however I wanted to exhibit three. The first advert that I took a picture of was the Mr.Dizzy character with the blue background. I did some research and found out to my speculation, that Mr.Dizzy does come from the “Children’s book series” illustrated by Roger Hargreaves who is in fact an english authour. When I was younger, I remember purchasing many of these books in England (Such as Little Ms.Sunshine, and Little Ms.Bossy etc…) which were very short stories about their little adventures. The quote on the advert is “Mr.Dizzy had a funny turn on the journey to work. Luckily, he got off the train at the next station where he received help quickly. If you well unwell, don’t board the train.”-Mayor of London.

I do think that this is a very smart way of advertising this advert, because many Brtish Citizens would regonize these types of figures from childrens books as they are recognizable and iconic, and are still selling well today! As well as the designer took into account that this would be put into the train station, so it was marketed for the situation of the underground. Its very special to the london adverts because these are english characters.

Secondly, I saw this other advert, which says “Let the music transport you.” My first thought about this was about letting msuic from all ages trasnporting you internally, however, as this was put in an undergrond station , I though it was really interesting, because you’re underground in one are in London, and as you exit, your in another part of town.

Also, I didn’t get to take a picture of it ( >:( ) However there were many adverts about the theatrical plays that were going on in London that were really enticing as you went up the escalator. They were position going up diagonally to mimic the viewers going up the escalator near the wall it was hung on. Each of them were inviting you which a question specific from that play. For example, for wicked it was  “Are people born wicked?”

I felt that this was a very interesting thing to see, because it was advertising theatrical plays, which is very classic thing to do while you visit.

Lastly, I saw this advert in the Harry Potter Studios. Some of you might not be fans of Harry Potter, and I understand, but its England, and its one of the things you have to see! Even if you don’t like the films, you should go and see how they designed even the smallest of things, (for design of advert purposes, seriously!) like this advert I’m about to share with you! As soon as I was leaving, I saw the advert on the wall, of the lady with the purple background, and I honestly thought to myself that I have never ever seen that in the films. (It was I just didn’t notice it)

However, I didn’t understand why they put something so basic, just because it was in the film, but being the art student I am, I wanted to reaad about how and why they designed it anways. The Graphics Department were challenged with trying to design a muggle world advert for the perfum divine magic. Personally, I find it interesting, because for a quick analysis, this was made for the muggle word, which features a very sophisticate and beautiful women in pink, highlighting her face, for their taget audience who are female, as this is difinately a feminine perfume. The aura of the bilboard was however could be ironic as although its for the muggle world, it has an attachment toward the wizarding word in the whisicle atsmophere of the poster. This was the longest of any graphic prop they had to make.(The designer credits attatched.) The created 150 names for an original brand name, but Divine Magic was the only one not taken. As well as they hand picked the model to suit the perfume.

Divine Magic-Credits.

Second-Let the music transport you.

First-Mr.Dizzy, Underground Advert

Third- Divine Magic

✸ Malaysia ✮ England ♥

Hello from Kelantan, Malaysia!

Being an international student has blessed me with being open minded and understanding of many different cultures around me. Although I am Malaysian, I am also half English, and I got the chance to go and visit my family in London too.

A lot of people back home in Malaysia ask me how can two cultures coexist together. Also, which one do I call home?  Well, Malaysia being the country I grew up and was raised in for a good 13 years of my life, I  call Malaysia home.

Although being a culture hybrid, there are some things I’d like to share about language and culture. First of all, is language barriers. I’m sure everybody get them. The capital state in Malaysia is Kuala Lumpur, however for a bit of my summer I’m staying in Kelantan, my mother’s hometown, in which the people here have a very thick slang and accent compared to the city. Growing up with my mother and aunts who are native kelatanese, I have been exposed to Kelantanese at a very young age, so until this day, I still understand Kelantanese. However I don’t know how to speak it, because I only practice classical Malay. 

This is obviously extremely frustrating. Growing up away from my home for literally only 4 years (this year being my 5^th) of my life, I have not forgotten my own country’s language. How could I? 

I do not feel in any way distant from my country. However being half of a different culture has its consequences. Sometimes I will try to speak Malay to the cashier lady/man, or one of those market stall sellers, and they respond to be in English…and theyre Malaysian. Many people label me as a “Matsalleh” (cockasian) which in my opinion is a complemet, but it feel really embarrsing because your taking me for somebody I’m not. Like my identity is two different things, but they coexist.

Next, I made my way down to London, England and stayed with my family. I haven’t been back for so long, and to just be around British citizens and hear the slang that they use is very different compared to the ones I use. They would talk about the weather often, (well, at least my family did) and talk about going down  to London and eating crisps and not chips, and eating chips and not fries.

The humour in England is also very different to what I’m normally used to! Surprizingly, its amazing what words and their connotations can be so lost in translation, even in English! (Seriously, their humour is not the same) Their daily life seems to different compared to mine, even just by their language. Its interesting to see that. I wouldn’t know how to use this terminology even if I tried!

All in all, sometimes I try to learn a completely different language. As a way of separating myself from my culture and race. Isn’t that funny? To remotely “try” to adopt a language and culture that you’re not supposed to be a part of? Strange.

Although there are struggles with language,and being able to see it very clearly,  at the end of the day, I can only be who I am.

Practice IOC

https://soundcloud.com/user-672683554/practice-ioc

Significance of an Author

The personal history of an author can have a significant influence on the way meaning is constructed in his/her writing. Comment on specific instances of such influence in Things Fall Apart.

With reference to things fall apart, the personal history of Chinua Achebe can have a significant influence on the way meaning is constructed in his writing such as how the author depicts and maintains a cultural African voice, expressing the realities of the society he illustrates and the importance of the historical values and context. This is all because the biography of an author is a fundamental in which the author expresses these realities through personal experiences or accounts.

Topic sentence 1: “Achebe maintains a cultural voice, however still chooses to express both sides from the Igbo community as well as missionaries, which on account is provided by Achebe’s religious background. “

-This paragraph could discuss Rev Smith and Mr.Brown and the way Achebe utilizes these characters.

Topic sentence 2: “Secondly, the society of the Igbo community is dependent on the authors background in the social context of which he grew up in, as it depicts a sensible and realistic view and narrative.”

-This paragraph discusses how the community is authentic and Igbo proverbs are utilized.

Topic sentence 3: “Lastly, the personal history of an author can influence a piece of writing is because of the social and historical values that Achebe grew up with, such as the missionaries.”
-This example could be used for the missionaries invading and the change of religion. Achebe personally looks in to religious concepts to convey the theme of the story.

Gender in Things fall Apart

With reference to Things Fall Apart, discuss how an understanding of gender influences how the text may be understood. 

Thesis statement: With reference to Things Fall Apart, an understanding of gender influences the text within the novel through the appreciation and further understanding of the Igbo culture as their culture evolves around structures gender expectations. This is illustrated through the portrayal of their social status, and characterisation of abilities which helps as a literary device to develop the plot and characters through the course of the novel and evidently influences our critical analysis of Igbo cultural practices. 

Topic sentence: “The igbo community established gender roles and expectations through society, which provides an insight into their lifestyle.”

-This paragraph discusses about: Boundaries between woman and man (Yams are a king crop, Ezima cannot carry the chair to the wrestling match etc..)

-It will be largely emphasised on how women are respected within the society.

Topic Sentence 2: “The role of woman significantly develop and expose other characters such as Okonkwo, and Nwoye which illustrates how women are utilised in family relationships."

-This paragraph discusses how women, specifically Okonkwo’s wife are literary characters and that help develop other characters.

Okonkwo’s harmartia- Ikemefuna’s death, and Nwoye’s feminine interests.

The aim is to express how our understanding of how gender influences our understanding of character relationships.

Topic Sentence 3: “Lastly, the role of women is a recurring theme throughout the book which evidently influences our critical thinking of the Igbo communities cultural practices.”

This paragraph highlights the intended audience of the novel as it is for a western audience however still maintains a cultural voice For ex.-The role of wives within a family – The exile to his Motherland –Mother of the spirits etc..

These events/characters influence out perception because we are a western audience.

Tragic Hero

Why would Achebe, taking into account the cultural context, choose to characterize Okonkwo using the tragic hero archetype?

Chinua Achebe has created a character such as Okonkwo as a tragic hero archetype throughout the book. Okonkwo is a character that is flawed in many ways and ultimately leads to his downfall. It is interesting to see how Achebe has portrayed his main character this way instead of a perfect un flawed character to form a more authentic and cultural voice.  A tragic hero is characterised by Aristotle’s 5 mains points. 

Firstly, Okonkwo is flawed, in which his harmatia is laziness and the fear of becoming like his father.  In fact, his hubris is his hamartia as well. Achebe has describe Okonkwo as a character that is defined by his flaws and as an audience, it makes him more relatable. Relating to the context, the colonization of Nigeria is exhibited to be their downfall. Okonkwo interestingly, never seems to realize his mistakes and never makes his critical discovery. The most important plot in the story is when Okonkwo has to personally kill Ikemefuna, in which he tried to not illustrate feminity and this leads to his exile. In the end of the story, he ends up committing suicide showing the audience that he is powerless.

Achebe took into the account of a flawed character to personally relate the story to us and we are all human being with flaws and to make the reader understand and feel the same way in the position of Okonkwo. Perhaps this is to show a non bias account of the colonization of Africa. Literature often does not emphasize enough coverage of the African culture, which perhaps could be why Achebe has utilized Okonkwo in such a way that he can make Okonkwo flawed not to look like a super being.