Author: Branden Guerrero

Final Reflection

Branden Guerrero

Final Reflection 

Overall, this semester my writing has improved. Looking back, my writing could have improved significantly more if I applied myself much more, but I’d also argue that important change is also the change that happens gradually, not only the change that happens exponentially. What stands out to me is honestly how poor some of my writing feels now, for two reasons. One; I have been surrounded by good writing throughout this semester, so my standards have gone higher, and I genuinely think that I could have made my writing better at the time. I think that I do not have a distinct writing style. It usually reflects the writing that I am currently reading, except not as profound. However, what I’ve realized about myself as a writer is that I enjoy having a bit more of a comedic flavor to it as often as I can as opposed to a more serious flavor. These 15 weeks have been tough, since I am not a great writer, and I have also been getting accustomed to a new and heavier work schedule, but it has been a 15 weeks of improvement, thanks to having a great professor. 

A piece that I am most proud of is my analysis on The Thirteenth Night. Firstly, I really enjoyed just reading the story itself as it was difficult to pay attention to at first, until I got deeper, and I ended up loving the story. I also found out the importance of learning more about the author, their past and what their life was surrounded by during the time of them writing their story. The story had a lot to analyze, and I personally enjoyed how I was actually able to find resources online that could help me dissect what was going on. I believe my writing could have been better, but the amount of effort I put into it made me proud. 

One of my greatest challenges during the semester was actually trying to get myself to give my best effort since I knew that un-grading would be used. I think that un grading is an amazing way to ensure that students are focusing on the education itself and improving at their own pace, but for me, it also gave me an excuse to not try my best since I was under the impression that I could get full credit even for minimal effort. More specific to the subjects, I actually find the ones about critical race theory the most difficult since it is not a theory that I have been exposed to as long as the other theories. 

Feminism in Ichiyo

Branden Guerrero

I believe that the female character “Oseki” is a representation of what the majority of women during those times had to go to. Within the text alone, you could infer that Oseki’s situation is not an isolated incident but instead something that the women of that time had to go through and was expected to go through. In addition of Oseki being a representation of the women, I believe that she also represented their thoughts and emotions as well. The power that women held at the time was through their husbands. They were expected to marry a husband, to stay home and support all of his needs. As we can see with Oseki for example, at one point it is said that she would be leaving without permission from Isamu.

Marxism in the Thirteenth Night

Branden Guerrero

The similarities that Isamu and Roku share in terms of social class is that they were expected to be successful because they are men. The differences however, is that unlike Isamu, Roku did not hold up to that expectation. Although he started off early in life with a good reputation, his life began to go downhill after his engagement. He is now in a place where his partner and child have left him and he works until he is tired only to survive. Isamu’s social class would be considered higher because he is working in a successful job and bringing home money. One final similarity is that although they are both in different social classes, they both seem to be miserable because of how much work they have to do.

What I think Oseki learns from her run in with Roku is that staying in a situation where you cannot see yourself lasting, simply out of obligation, will do nothing for you in the long run to help you see the change that you want. As Roku was said, “But it wouldn’t have mattered what beauty of a wife I had. Ono no Komachi, Lady Hsi Shih, Princess Sotoori herself dancing before my eyes — my bad habits wouldn’t have changed.” (Ichiyo, 11) I believe that this quote can relate to Oseki because she feels miserable in her marriage, but feels that she has to stay out of obligation to everyone who depends on Isamu’s success. Trying to endure the marriage and doing it simply out of obligation will not change the fact that she is miserable and will continue to be miserable if she attempts to endure.

Discussion Post Topic 2

Branden Guerrero

The race of the writer does matter when the narrative deals with issues of race. It matters both in the sense that they must be careful with how they say things depending on what race they are, and to know what perspective their writing is coming from. Knowing that the story “Desiree’s Baby” was written by a white person puts the story into perspective. I would say that nothing in this story was in bad taste, and only reflects the thoughts that were common during the times where racism was simply a social norm. Although the story expresses through the characters that having black blood was something to be upset about, the author somehow does so without being extremely offensive, which could have been done by going into more detail about how much black people were seen as lesser than. Also, a white person writing about the experience of a black person during those times is a very risky thing to try, since no relation is really there between the character in the story and the author, which is another reason why race matters when an author is writing on a narrative concerning race.

Discussion Post Topic 1

Branden Guerrero

Standing in shock, Armand set the letters down with weak, shaky and sweaty palms. He looked around, seemingly spaced out in deep thought as he contemplated. The people that he looks down upon and treats as property are people that he shares blood with. The baby that he helped create had black blood not because of the mother, but because he as the father carried the blood, and seeing how he treated the mother of his child for what he now knows came from him. The only emotions he could feel for a while was confusion and denial, as his entire life has been Armand began pushing everyone away from his life, for he would rather live the rest of his life alone than let anyone realize the truth of the composition of his heritage.

I believe that he would have felt denial because upon finding out that his baby was colored, it seemed that their was no doubt in his mind that it was the mother and not himself. His accusations were so strong that he even wanted her to leave after “finding out” that she was not fully white.

“A quick conception of all that this accusation meant for her nerved her with
unwonted courage to deny it. “It is a lie; it is not true, I am white! Look at my hair, it is
brown; and my eyes are gray, Armand, you know they are gray. And my skin is fair,”
seizing his wrist. “Look at my hand; whiter than yours, Armand,” she laughed hysterically.
“As white as La Blanche’s,” he returned cruelly; and went away leaving her alone
with their child.” (Chopin, 3)

This interaction between Armand and his spouse shows how strongly he feels about black people. He turned so quickly and strongly on someone that he had a child with just because of the fact that they may have black in their blood. This leads me to believe that if he were to find out that he actually was the one with black in his blood, he would most definitely not accept it right away, and would not want anyone to know because of how shameful he believes it to be.

Government

Branden Guerrero

In the following quote, a similarity is drawn between how the government treats Native Americans and how gymnasts were treated. “Cathy the gymnast complained about the government, how they screwed the 1980 Olympic team by boycotting. 

Sounds like you all got a lot in common with Indians.” Thomas said. Nobody laughed.”  Page 108, from “This is what it means to say Phoenix, Arizona. Like the gymnasts, Thomas and Victor can relate to the gymnast in that aspect because they as Native Americans were also screwed over by the government. In The Trials of Thomas the Builder, Thomas is treated unjustly. It seems as if the government did not actually have any desire to listen to what Thomas had to say, and instead just wanted a confession of his crimes in order to punish him, despite what he had to say being important. 

In the first story, no one seems to want to or even tries to listen to Thomas’s stories. He is ignored and looked down upon. However in the second story, people are actually listening to his stories and it is moving them. He is no longer going unheard.

Writing as Activism

Branden Guerrero

Writing is still indeed a viable option for activism for BIPOC in the present day United States. If the question is yes or no, then I believe that the answer is absolutely, but it will of course have to adjust to the current times and audiences. From what I hear from my fellow peers and others in general that are around my age, a lot of them claim to have a disliking for reading, and in my honest opinion, a lot of the readings we are required to do in school regardless of how important they were for history, end up feeling boring. It is definitely possible, but it cannot come from an unexperienced writer. It has to be someone or with the guidance of someone that truly knows how to capture the attention of today’s generations.

“I am from…” – Branden Guerrero

Branden Guerrero

I am from piled sheet music, from 

Budget D’Addario violin strings, and 

I am from the laboring streets, popcorn ceilings and cold, cracked walls

I am from both the palm trees and flocks of pigeons, the starless night sky.

I am from gossip at the table on holidays, from lies and deceitfulness, from Alberto, Myriam, and Maryann. 

I am from unrelenting excuses and laziness, from 

“Speak with your chest”, and “Look me in the eyes when I talk”.

I am from liking alone time to the point of it being religious, avoiding social interaction at all cost

I am from the New York, and Puerto Rico, rice and beans, from my grandfather leaving my grandma for another woman to whom he married and left his wealth to, I am from ashes (Awkwardly enough, my building  recently burned down so we lost the pictures along with many other possessions)