We started class with everyone coming up with words and phrases that were unique to our favorite TV shows, movies, video games, music artists, books, etc. We were looking for words and phrases that only fans of the piece would know. Then we wrote them on the board to see how many of the terms and phrases we all knew. For example, I wrote Apparate and Inferius (from Harry Potter) and smizing and go-sees (from America's Next Top Model).
We learned that there are some phrases that are a common part of our everyday discourse that originated from some form of entertainment and we also learn that there are some phrases that can be unique to any community including the fans of specific franchises.
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| This woman is fist-pumping. A commonly used phrase that became popular on the reality show, Jersey Shore. |
Elaine Richardson "Ill-Literacy Narrative"
We broke up into groups and discussed Richardson's piece. Our discussions ranged from the definition of sexual consent to the ways that people can be judged simply by whom they associate with. We examined the different ways that our backgrounds affect the way we interpret different situations. We talked about the different interpretations of the phrase "Hey Baby/Girl/Sexy" and how some men see it as a charming way to approach the opposite sex while a lot of women find it demeaning and uncomfortable. It suggests the man is more familiar with the woman than he is and there are a lot of sexual connotations to the phrasing. One one of our classmates talked about how in his hometown Richardson's brother's inability to express his love for his sister in public would have been seen as a weakness where in Richardson's neighborhood it was seen as a strength.
We discussed how small things from your background affect how you interact with others and when your backgrounds differ, miscommunications can occur. If someone grows up unaccustomed to cleaning up after themselves it can cause miscommunication between someone who hasn't. That person may believe that they shouldn't have to tell their roommate to clean up because he/she expects everyone to clean up after themselves. The roommate however may need someone to verbally tell them to clean up, at least until they change their own habits.
As you think of topics for your narratives, try and think of the ways that your backgrounds affect the way you interact with the world. Or you can examine how your interactions with people that are different from you have either improved or hindered your ability to communicate with others.
Homework
- Read "Why My Mother Can't Speak English" by Garry Engkent, pgs 32-39 in the Mercury Reader and "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris, pgs 64-68 in the Mercury Reader (Both due by Tuesday, Sept. 25)
- Read Part One of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot, pgs. 1-86. Make sure you read A Few Words About This Book and The Prologue. (Due Thursday, Sept. 28)
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