Week 10: CNI Reflection!
This class has been an awesome opportunity! Coming from a middle school and high school that are both very Eurocentric when it came to literature, it was really refreshing to engage with texts from a variety of different cultures and time periods. The most surprising thing has definitely been seeing how much in common there is between all the different texts. To see (read) the human experience- pain, happiness, sorrow, family, etc.- be represented in all cultures across centuries leaves me feeling an indescribable sort of connectedness. Between the reading and the research projects, I can confidently say I am more culturally literate and aware overall.
My favorite texts were Pachinko and Hay Ibn Yaqzan. Pachinko stood out to me. I am a sucker for longer books, since they tend to (if they are well-written) have a lot of substance and nuance to them. The amount of characters and societal commentary in Pachinko was astounding and made the book a really interesting read. It is not often I read a book for school and find myself actually engaging with it. As for Hay Ibn Yaqzan, it was a unique read. I don't often read philosophy (I have wanted to get into it more), so this book was a nice look into the genre. It was difficult, but had a lot to say.
The final part of this class that will stick with me is book history. I have never seriously considered how the actual physical production of a text affects its contents or message. To hear about Antigone's journey from a play that was orally passed around to a physical book was fascinating and showcased how texts can evolve to fit a time period or an editor's preferences. The trip to Special Collections was another insight into this. (I love the tiny books!)
This class has been a joy, and I am grateful to have been in it!
Hi Jalen, I also enjoyed the class. My high school also focused on European texts, so the focus on this class of learning about texts all over the world was really fun and interesting. Pachinko and Hay Ibn Yaqzan were two of my favorites as well, specifically because of how unique and interesting they are compared to the other books.
ReplyDeleteHey Jalen, I would have to agree with you. This class exposed me to much more diverse cultures that are not as Eurocentric. I too liked reading Pachinko and just how society progress (in some instances) over generations. Before this class, I had never really had to do so much academic research using credible databases. I used to just use the internet and judge for myself whether I thought they were credible. I am definity glad that I got to practice these new research skills throughout the quarter. I too have really enjoyed taking this class!
ReplyDeleteHey Jalen, I definitely can relate to you (as I'm sure most people in the U.S. can) that my high school was Eurocentric in terms of its reading selections. I read a lot of Shakespeare and German literature (such as The Book Thief) during high school. Personally, I also really enjoyed reading Pachinko because it offered a fresh view on society and it forced me to look at things outside of my perspective in the US.
ReplyDeleteHi Jalen! Great point on how despite the massive differences between these texts, they all have poignant themes that often intertwine regarding the general human experience. In a way, this class both expanded our horizons and brought everything closer together.
ReplyDeleteHey Jalen, thanks for sharing! I totally agree with what you said about coming from a eurocentric school. Something I appreciated about this course was the opportunity to engage with a variety of texts from a range of places and times. Definitely something that I think should be implemented in more english classes!
ReplyDeleteHey Jalen, I agree with you on Hayy Ibn Yaqzan being a book that stands out. I found its connection to literature, history, religion, natural science, and philosophy to make it a truly memorable text. Ideas of religious awakening and understanding of the world though unbiased observation are both topics that I found closely or directly related to other courses. I certainly won't forget what I learned from Hayy anytime soon.
ReplyDeleteHey Jalen! I agree, it was refreshing to be in an English class in which reading non-Eurocentric texts was the norm. It was enlightening and allowed me to see many new perspectives. I also was a huge fan of Pachinko. I think that has been my favorite book we've read both quarters combined. Even though it was long, the story was very engaging and I loved how the story was told from multiple generations' perspectives.
ReplyDeleteHey Jalen, I also came from a high school that was quite Eurocentric. The only opportunity I had to explore eastern cultures in depth was in an 8th grade history class. The teacher formerly worked in east-asian countries for the CIA so it was a very unusual situation. I share your newfound interest in book history. I found that to be one of the most engaging parts of the two quarters and actually did my final fall project on book history. My favorite text was also Hayy Ibn Yaqzan for the same reason, its uniqueness. I'm so glad we were exposed to such a wide variety of texts in the past two quarters.
ReplyDeleteHey Jalen! I had a lot of the same thoughts. I love how you described the connectedness of human experience across all cultures. I'm glad you were able to get your hands on some philosophy texts through this course! I also loved Pachinko, long books are definitely projects to read but they always leave me with such strong messages.
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