Harry Potter

I thought our class on Thursday was a perfect way to end a fun semester. Throughout the course of this class, we have learned many ways to identify different traits, styles, and habits of Latin Americans. Whether it be in music, film, art, or literature, Latin American artists seem to follow some similar patterns of behavior. Not always, but in general, we can identify some trends that seem apparent in their work. Our skills were ultimately put to the test while we watched movies that many of us had already seen, but had no idea that they were done by Latin American directors. This time around, we specifically searched for those same patterns that we learned in this class.

I watched Harry Potter 3 for this assignment. Although I have seen that movie several times, I had no idea that it had a Latin American director. I may never have known or noticed anything that would have made it apparent. With that knowledge this time around, however, I was indeed able to identify a few specific things that may have been done due to Latin American roots or preferences. And to me, they all worked. I loved this movie, and I think he did a great job. 

I even found myself telling my wife and two of my siblings that go to BYU about the things I had learned about Harry Potter 3. They, being big Harry Potter fans like me, were surprised to hear that the director was Latin American. They then asked what kinds of things we had talked about in class about what he had done in this film. I told them about how many noticed that the werewolf was awfully chupacabra-esque. I believe that the chupacabra had at least some influence on how the werewolf was portrayed in the film. We also discussed how there were spanish names on the wall of the school, how the movie was much darker than the previous ones, and how the magic realism theme of Harry Potter fits perfectly into the Latin American culture. Overall, I learned a great deal during the class, and it was fun to be able to put our skills to the test. 

Home Sweet Home

"They will not know I have gone away to come back. For the ones I left behind. For the ones that cannot out."

The House on Mango Street, Sandra Cisneros, 110

This whole last chapter reminds me of the things teenagers say when they leave home, or when they want to leave home. In their inexperienced state of mind, the only logical and normal thing to do is get away from home and move on in life. There is nothing more their parents can do for them. There is no more room for rules and expectations. The only thing to do is get out.

This is not the exact case that Esperanza experiences in The House on Mango Street, but the desire to move away from a place that should mean more to you is very similar. It's hard to see in that moment, but our upbringing has so much to do with where we end up and what we become. Not only our upbringing, but where we lived, where we played, with whom we played, and much more. Mango Street will forever be a part of Esperanza, even though she may not have wanted to admit it. 

Finally, at the end of the book, she admits that she is only leaving Mango Street to return. Whether it will be for her or for the people that are "stuck" in Mango Street, it is a part of her. Mango Street is something that she will constantly think about throughout her life. Like the disgruntled teen, she will eventually realize that home, sweet home is the best thing that ever happened to her. Even if her life wasn't perfect, there always will be an element of "home" in Mango Street. Just as many of us discover as we leave home. 

Bless Me, Ultima

Since I already blogged about the last reading in Bless Me, Ultima, but we still have a blog due during Thanksgiving, I will be talking about a few specific themes from the novel that have stood out to me. Although I have enjoyed most all of the readings for this class (even the ones that most everyone else disliked), I did not enjoy Bless Me, Ultima at all. I am not someone who enjoys the whole mystical-magic-woman-who-knows-everything stories. I would never say that Anaya is not a great author, I just don't personally prefer mystical books like this one. 

I thought Ultima was unrealistic, and I could not relate to her very well. I think her role as a friend and mentor to Antonio was very well described, but the fact that she knew everything and could save everyone seemed very far from home. Another thing that sort of bothered me was the unrealistic maturity of Antonio throughout the book. I can totally see a 6-year-old with a wild imagination much like Antonio's, but I cannot relate to a 6-year-old boy who thinks so much about his eternal soul, the fate of others, and analysis of life in general. A narrative work of a normal 6-year-old would be much more childish with far less complex thought processes. 

Although my personal opinions about the novel are semi negative, I was able to relate to some of its themes. I can relate very well to two different types of family uniting to form the beginning of my immediate family. I have observed how my parents made it work very smoothly. I could relate to the careless childhood games and friends of youth, and how they affect the rest of one's life. Antonio was far more analytical than I ever was as a child, but I remember the fun times I had as a youth, and I am still the same person, but just older. Antonio learned that sooner or later, we all grow up. Things happen that we hope never will, but we make the best of life and carry on. 

Dreams of the Future

"Sometime in the future I would have to build my dream out of those things that were so much a part of my childhood."

Bless Me, Ultima, Rudolfo Anaya, 261

Like Antonio, I have definitely shaped much of my adulthood from things that happened to me during my childhood. Unlike Antonio, my childhood is filled with so many happy memories that have affected my life for the best. Poor Antonio obviously didn't grow up as a member of the church, so his childhood was plagued with several experiences that no child should have to endure. But even so, the things that we go through as children really do have a large effect on us as we grow up.

Although these experiences make their way into our lives without us noticing, how can we go about purposely building our dreams for the future from past events of our childhood? While Antonio saw many frightening things as a child, he can also take the positive interactions with his family and Ultima into account as he builds his dream for the future. If he becomes a priest, he can remember the way so many live, and know better exactly how to help them.

I choose to bring my childhood into my future dreams because of the positive experiences I had. I can use the lessons I learned from my family, my school, my friends, my bus rides, my sports teams, my leadership roles, and much more to become a better father, brother, husband, and person. I will choose to build my dream in the future with the foundation of the childhood that got me here. I may not have been as wise and mature as Antonio, but I certainly learned a lot of things that have helped me along the way.

Family Ties

"My mother was not a woman of the llano, she was the daughter of a farmer. She could not see beauty in the llano and she could not understand the coarse men who lived half their lifetimes on horseback. After I was born in Las Pasturas she persuaded my father to leave the llano and bring her family to the town of Guadalupe where she said there would be opportunity and school for us. The move lowered my father in the esteem of his compadres, the other vaqueros of the llano who clung tenaciously to their way of life and freedom."

Rudolfo Anaya, Bless Me, Ultima, 2

As the lives of Antonio's parents are introduced in the first chapter of this book, it becomes very apparent just how different his extended families are. As explained in the quote, Antonio's mother is a farm girl from the city who values city life and education opportunities. His father, on the other hand, is used to the life he has always known on the llanos. The two parents are obviously doing what's possible to remain a happy family, but the clear differences in opinions about life is obviously hard for them.

What's even more interesting are the non-coincidental names the belong to both families. The family name of Antonio's mother is Lunas, he father's name is Marez. The non-coincidence of these names are their Spanish translations. With mar meaning sea and luna meaning the moon, the characteristics of the families and their name sakes become more obvious. On an even deeper level, the observation that the moon controls the wild sea's tides brings up another accurate analysis of the book's characters. The Lunas family seems to be the ultimate controller of the Marez father, although his roots are independent like the sea. 

Fortunately for me, I married a person whose family doesn't seem to dictate the way I live my life. That is mostly because we all have similar opinions about life. But the concept of one's family imposing personal beliefs upon the other is real. Usually, this imposition isn't even to be rude, but just habit of tradition. The most famous families I first thought of to describe the immediate differences in the families of lovers, are the families of Romeo and Juliet. The Capulet and Montague families did not see eye to eye at all. Their story is obviously different from the story of Antonio's family, but the reality of two families trying to come together is difficult. However, it can be done. 

The Other Bonaparte

Pauline Bonaparte

As I read The Kingdom of This World, I noticed the name Bonaparte in several parts of the reading. I had no idea that this Bonaparte had any relation to the Bonaparte family. During class the next day, I learned that Pauline was, in fact, the sister of famous Napoleon. It made me start thinking about how much attention some people get in history books, but how little recognition others get. 

It is obvious that Napoleon accomplished enough in his lifetime to become as recognized as he is even nowadays. But, how strange it is that his sister, who was very present in Napoleon's life, is basically unknown to the world. Pauline was one of six children in the Bonaparte family. She was a princess. And she sold all of her belongings to stay with her brother Napoleon while exiled to Elba. Who would have guessed, right?

This book, and thinking about Pauline Bonaparte, made me think a lot about how the era and circumstances into which a person is born, has so much to do with the opportunities they have to become famous or influential in this world. Some people who do very little receive much appreciation and attention during their time and even after their death. Others, because they live during a time with too many people doing the same thing, receive no recognition. 

On that note, I began to wonder what kind of a life I would live. I would say it is easy to bet that I will never become famous or well-known around the country or even world. But there are certainly things that I can accomplish during my lifetime which could make a small difference. If I were able to achieve that, I think I would be happy, even if I don't make into the history books.

Everlasting Revolution

"In January 2004 Haiti observed the two-hundred-year anniversary of its independence from France in the midst of a national revolt."

Edwidge Danticat, Inroduction to The Kingdom of This World

Happy anniversary. 

Well, sort of. The very first line of the very first page of this book wreaked of sadness. I don't think it was supposed to be a sad sentence, but the idea it conveys is sad by principle. After a hard-fought beginning and surely a couple hundred hard years to follow, the happy anniversary present the people give to their country is war. I obviously don't know the reasons of this war, but as a human being, I can observe the tragedy with sadness. 

At a moment so happy as the two-hundred-year mark of independence, Haiti finds itself caught up in yet another revolution. Justified or not, it is depressing to see the unrest that still prevails in so many countries such as this one. While we don't see armed revolts or open rebellion to the government in this country, we certainly flirt with the line between peace and war. And that war is with ourselves.

As we approach yet another presidential election, we see a country torn by extreme ideas. It seems that you don't matter as a person, but as a number or a vote. You cannot just believe in happiness anymore, but only try to find the lesser of two evils. That is obviously a little bit of an exaggeration, but it seems that that is the way we are headed. 

I think it's about time for people to be happy for their country. I think it's a perfect time for people to be proud to be Americans and of the heritage of this wonderful land! It's time to sit back a little, and consider everything that has been done in order for Americans to live like we do. We have a lot of be grateful for, and, like the revolts in Haiti, we seem to drown out the specials moments of our history with contention and selfishness. And this is just as tragic as the story above. 

The Circular Ruins

"He walked toward the sheets of flame. They did not bite his flesh, they caressed him and flooded him without beat or combustion. With relief, with humiliation, with terror, he understood that he also was an illusion, that someone else was dreaming him."

The Circular Ruins, Jorge Luis Borges, 63

Talk about a "Sixth Sense" moment! While reading this story, I honestly didn't see that one coming! This story was well written in my opinion, in that the reader is concentrating on others things during the whole story. Suddenly, in the last line of the story, the reader understands a different dimension.

I compare this story to "The Sixth Sense" because the storyline is about the same. In the movie, we get to know the characters and their stories. Bruce Willis' character has his own problems in life with with wife. He is also trying to help solve the problems of the young boy who can see dead people. As the movie progresses, Willis gets very caught up in figuring out the boy's problem and fixing his own situation. At the end of the film, we find out that Willis is actually dead. That is the reason his wife won't talk to him, and the reason the boy can see him. Sorry for the spoiler, but this short story and the movie end very similarly.

I think this is the ultimate talent of writers and film makers. When they can properly twist the end of the story to make the entire thing seem different, you can't read it the same a second time. The Circular Ruins is especially strange, because it instantly makes you wonder if you are someone else's dream too. While you know that it isn't possible, suddenly you begin to think about the possibility. If that were the case, who would I dream up? What kind of person dreamed me into existence?

Repousa

Repousa, Jose Antonio da Silva, 1955

As I completed the reading for class, I could not help but notice this painting by Jose Antonio da Silva. I thought it was so beautiful and unique. The author's title for the piece is Repousa or Fazenda. It suggests a beautiful and restful place. It also infers the restfulness of a faraway farm. When I look at the picture, I just feel quiet and peaceful. 

Although, my mind instantly connected this lovely farm scene with a not-so-lovely scene that looks somewhat like this. This colorful, almost candylike, place could remind one of the story of Hansel and Gretel. For a refresher, young Hansel and Gretel are in the woods with their father when they become lost (long story short). Suddenly, they come upon a wonderful house made of cakes and candies. Hungry and tired, they begin to eat parts of the house. The rest of the story is well known and the kids end up living happily ever after. This peaceful scene just seems so simliar to the one in the strange German tale.

Just like the cannibalistic witch's cabin in the tale, these homes seems to be nestled deep in the woods. It is apparent that plants and trees are abundant. Several animals and birds are also visible in the painting. Each element of the depiction seems to confirm the quiet peace of this fazenda. It truly appears to be a restful place as the title suggests. Hopefully there is no background story of children being eaten by old women associated with this painting. Peaceful scenes like this on the outside often represent something fierce that occurs on the inside. 

Midnight Mass

"Conceição listened, with her head resting on the back of her chair, looking at me past half-shut eyelids. From time to time she wet her lips with her tongue. When I stopped speaking she said nothing. Thus we remained for several seconds. Then she raised her head; she clasped her hands and rested her chin on them, with her elbows on the arms of her chair, all without taking from me her large, perceptive eyes."

Machado de Assis, Midnight Mass, 97

The story begins. Young cousin comes into town. Husband is having an affair with married woman. Wife is found up late with young man. 

It almost seemed too perfect. Everything was being set up for the classic short story ending of ignored wife getting revenge on husband with young, innocent boy staying with the family. As young Mr. Nogueira sits up reading so he can attend the midnight mass of the city, Conceição, the lady of the household, approaches late that night to chat.

When she first arrives, she appears eager to talk, declining several suggestions for her to retire. But after Machado de Assis writes the paragraph cited above, it suddenly seems as if she is there for some other reason. Has the long-suffering woman finally snapped? Is that just how she is and nobody knew? Does she simply just want to chat? She continues the strange and seductive behavior for quite some time as the two converse. 

Instantly, the reader expects the inevitable and awaits the adulterous scene. Several short stories, especially those of Latin American culture, were referred to in class with similar plots. In all these, the deed was almost always done. I also thought about the story of Joseph of Egypt when he was similarly approached by Potiphar's wife. In his particular story, he ends up resisting a strong attack. But still, the expectation of the seemingly inevitable was there.

Well, Midnight Mass turned out to not follow the trend. Unlike many stories that begin like this one, the end was surprising. Just when it seemed like Conceição was going to pounce,  the scene ended with the two going their separate ways as planned. Nothing happened. The night appeared to never have happened. But the reader finds himself in a fix trying to figure out the complex and masterful character of Conceição.

"Son, saidst thou?"

She seized the hand of her husband and carried it to her lips.

"Thy blood lives in the bosom of Iracema. She will be the mother of thy son."

"Son saidst thou?" exclaimed the Christian with joy.

Kneeling down , he threw his arm around her and kissed her, mutely thanking God for this great happiness.

Iracema, Jose de Alencar, 78

The announcement of Iracema's pregnancy to Martim was obviously an important moment in the book, possibly even a turning point. At that moment, the reader realizes that this is the real deal, and that the love they feel for each other is going to have to become as real as it seems to be. Anyone, with any sort of a heart, can appreciate the subtle beauty of the announcement of a little one on the way. Iracema was not the first one to share this news and will not be the last.

As a husband, I will eagerly await these words when the time is right. And, like most loving parents, I will probably be overprotective and very proud of my mini me. But at that special moment when I am informed of its coming, I can't imagine what I might feel, what Martim might have felt. This passage of the book, in my opinion, offers a beautiful scene of an excited pair of parents-to-be. 

Throughout history, there have been some pretty big announcements of pregnancy, or something of the like. The biggest of these was no doubt that of the Savior.

"And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: 

for thou hast found favour with God. 

And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, 

and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS."

Holy Bible, Luke 1:30-31

John the Baptist's birth was announced in a similar manner. More recently, we have heard of other famous pregnancies. 

Reese Witherspoon. 

Jessica Simpson. 

Elton John. 

It doesn't seem to matter who it is. It's a big thing. Somewhere, in the jungles of modern day Brazil, Iracema's announcement was no less wonderful. It is something that seems to find importance in every culture. And it is something that will continue. 

Thus Have We Made the World

"We must work in the world; the world is thus."

"No, thus have we made the world. Thus have I made it."

Hontar, Cardinal Altamirano, The Mission

In a serious moment of reflection, Cardinal Altamirano in The Mission practically sums up the intense doubt in his soul of whether or not he had made the right decision with the missions. He knew that he had chosen the one that was more pressured, and even, perhaps, the lesser of two evils. But deep down, the Cardinal obviously pondered much on the topic, and the state of his eternal soul. 

I think the last few lines say so much about the take-home message of this movie. It also, however, goes infinitely beyond the scope of any movie. His confession of what the world had become was profound in many ways. While he, personally, was not to blame for all sadness in this world, he is one of the few that seemed to admittedly mourn the manmade status of our political world. 

We face the same challenges today. As political and religious powers continue to clash, the world finds itself still in the never-ending fall toward chaos. In a time where technology, engineering, art, freedom, and media are at an all-time high, global morals seem to be slipping at an all-time high rate. When everyone has a different definition of what is right, right becomes harder to find.

In a letter to Benedict Arnold in 1775, George Washington warned of this very principle:

"While we are contending for our own liberty, we should be very cautious not to violate the rights of conscience in others, ever considering that 

God alone is the judge of the hearts of men, and to Him only in this case are they answerable."

Governments in every country of the world would do well to remember this. And to remember the same lesson that Cardinal Altamirano learned after such a difficult decision and lesson learned. 

Flowers and Songs of Sorrow

"Nothing but flowers and songs of sorrow

are left in Mexico and Tlatelolco,

where once we saw warriors and wise men. [...]

We are crushed to the ground; we lie in ruins.

There is nothing but grief and suffering

in Mexico and Tlatelolco,

where once we saw beauty and valor.

Have you grown weary of your servants?

Are you angry with your servants,

O Giver of Life?"

Nahua poetry, Victors and Vanquished, Stuart Schwartz, 213

During this section of discovery and conquest, I have really been trying to put myself in the shoes of those on both sides of this story. Without me taking sides or claiming one side the victors and the other side vanquished, I think it is pretty easy to decide who you sincerely feel bad for in this heartbreaking story.

In the beginning, I tried to imagine being a Spaniard arriving in such a foreign land, seeing such foreign people and practices. I try to imagine what I would think and feel as I came upon this unknown people with peculiar cultures and resources. My mind would have been blown seeing the breathtaking landscapes and endless beauty. At the same time, I would have been frightened to see the strange actions of the unknown people, and to witness the horrifying sacrifices they performed.

Then, I imagine myself as a native, minding my own business. In mind's eye, I try to grasp what it might have been like to find strange ships at my shore. I wonder what they must have thought as frighteningly armed men wandered through my land with no apparent respect for me or nature. Honestly, the first thing I thought about during this section was Pocahontas, and how she and her people attempted to work with the strangers.

Finally, I remorse with the people who called Mexico their home. I honestly tried to imagine what it would be like if that happened to my life, my culture, my people. I don't even want to imagine it. The poetry included at the end of the reading was very insightful. It must have been devastating to witness the total destruction of a once-thriving community. It is certainly a sad part of history

The Woman is Knowledge

"Ruben Dario, like all the other great poets, considered woman to be not only an instrument of knowledge but also knowledge itself. It is a knowledge we [men] will never possess, the sum of our definitive ignorance: the supreme mystery."

The Labyrinth of Solitude, Octavio Paz, 66

There are so many apparent truths in what is said here. And while I really agreed with a few things that were said, I also found Paz's writings on women hard to read. I obviously am not a woman, and I still had a hard time reading literature about the objectivity and indifference toward the greatest creation of all. The woman was compared to or referred to as:

an alien,

the image of death,

and the goddess of destruction.

Paz also questioned what she thinks. Or whether she even thinks. He even wondered if she had feelings. To me, these are the strangest things one could ever think about a woman. I think it's pretty obvious that women think. I would also assume that most everyone knows that women, of all people, definitely have feelings. And those feelings are some of the most sincere and righteous feelings of anyone. When I think of my wife while reading this passage, her valuable thoughts and meaningful feelings and opinions come flooding to my mind. I value these feelings above my own. 

However, even though Paz says some peculiar things about women, I have to realize that we come from different cultural, religious, and family backgrounds. He is just relaying thoughts that many people share with him. And to be honest, there was much of the content in this passage that I agreed with. The quote listed above, for example, seems to be the perfect description of the woman. In my opinion, she IS knowledge. And it IS a knowledge that I will never possess. At the same time, however, she is such a mystery. Sometimes that innate knowledge befuddles the mind of the man. That is fine. She is knowledge. Just go with it, man.

A Timely Matter

"When man was exiled from that eternity in which all times were one, he entered chronometric time and became a prisoner of the clock and the calendar. As soon as time was divided up into yesterday, today, and tomorrow, into hours, minutes and seconds, man ceased to be one with time, ceased to coincide with the flow of reality. When one says, "at this moment," the moment has already passed. These spatial measurements of time separate man from reality." 

The Labyrinth of Solitude, Octavio Paz, 209

I have often thought about this very concept. Time is a funny thing. We love it and we hate it. When we are at Disneyland, playing our favorite sport, or with someone we love, we wish time would just stick around. It would be wonderful to be able to just stop it. However, when we are at work, in that boring class, or having having an awkward conversation, we plead for time to hurry. Shakespeare put it perfectly:


“Time is very slow for those who wait
Very fast for those who are scared
Very long for those who lament 
Very short for those who celebrate
But for those who love time is eternal”

I imagine the timeless society that Adam and Eve lived in. Although it may seem like it might have been lonely and boring, I believe it was probably very liberating and comfortable. No aging, no homework, no job, and virtually, no stress. They were not "prisoners of time." They were "one with time" and "coincided with the flow of reality." Paz references a life with no time, somewhere out there. He seems to infer the superiority of that mysterious world.

The author says much more about the topic, but the message I took away from the text was the urgency of life. Paz compares life to a race against time, and he is right. Poets have rhymed, artists and authors have written, and many greats have emphasized living in the present. If we do not do that, we have nothing. We will have lost another today which will turn into one more wasted yesterday.