“Born Bad” was the vignette that surprised me the most. It astounded me by contrasting childhood innocence with unintended cruelty. The children’s innocent game became insensitive as they imitated their sick Aunt Lupe. The unexpected shift from innocence to unintentional cruelty was shocking, highlighting the complexities of empathy and understanding in children. “A Smart Cookie” intrigued me deeply. It got me thinking about Esperanza’s mom and all the things she could’ve done. Her dreams and talents, they were something else. Yet, here she is, living a life that doesn’t quite match up to all she could be. But what struck me most was her encouragement for Esperanza. She’s pushing her daughter to learn, to write, maybe hoping she’ll get what she didn’t. That mix of her potential and the limitations she faces, it just made her feel so real, like someone with dreams left unexplored. The vignette that puzzled me was “Geraldo No Last Name.” What struck me was how nobody seemed to care. He’s just another immigrant, and society doesn’t even bat an eye. Marin, this girl who knew him from a dance, can’t even explain who he was. It’s like immigrants are invisible, facing this indifferent, cold world. Reading that, I couldn’t help but question how society treats people who aren’t seen as part of the ‘in’ crowd. It left me feeling pretty shaken up about how we value some lives over others.
Daily Archives: December 9, 2023
This time I was influenced by Beautiful & Cruel. This story is made up of illustrations that tell the story of a young girl growing up in a Hispanic neighborhood in Chicago. It discusses themes of beauty, identity, and power relations from the perspective of a young girl, contrasting her feelings of inadequacy with the female empowerment she sees in her story. The words social expectations and self-awareness regarding appearance came to mind in this story, and I deeply empathized with the woman in this story who seeks power and independence as a woman. The same goes for men. People around the world say that a person’s inner feelings are more important than their appearance, but I believe that when we meet someone for the first time or see someone we have no relationship with, we unconsciously make judgments based on their appearance. felt. This may be a little off-topic, but this is also included my impression based on my experience as an Asian in America.
