Supposedly "Dead Until Dark"

For the past four weeks I have dredged through the literature requirements, practically forcing myself to read as the subject matter held little interest for me. But I can honestly say that this story kept my attention more efficiently than the others. Not at first, though. Even on the first page as Sookie is describing her physical appearance my stomach dropped. Of course she is blond-haired and blue-eyed, because how on earth could a woman be beautiful otherwise? That is such a Westernized ideal sense of beauty, and my feminist side simply can't ignore that the author slipped that in there. I understand, she is from the south, wears floral dresses, and that having her look like that drives home the "girl next door" vibe. But was it really necessary? Did Charlaine Harris think the audience wouldn't have picked up on that if she was a brunette? And the story as a whole very closely resembles one that we have read previously that I greatly disliked: Twilight. She is the helpless girl who is drawn into the seductive and intriguing nature of her vampire saviour, they have a relationship which is complicated by their differences and the fact that other vampires, and other people in general, want her dead. Same trope, more adult content.

I was still holding some animosity toward the book, but as it progressed I couldn't help but become entangled into the mystery of the story. The murderous endeavors made me question my own understanding of how and why these young women were being strangled to death, and who wanted them dead. I initially thought it was the main character's brother, Jason, but at the end I realized that was what Harris had intended for me to think, so I could be surprised by the appearance of Rene outside of Sookie's house in the end. Which I was, so it was completely effective. It's difficult to refuse the alluring nature of a good mystery. I would be lying if I said I didn't completely love the chase to unravelling the whole thing.

Confessions of a graphic novel reader

I've only read a few graphic novels, and have never been very interested in comics (aside from the ones in the back section of the newspaper), but Anita Blake took me by surprise. I fully intended to hate it, but who doesn't love viewing a hyper-sexualized woman kicking ass and taking names? As far as the vampire theme is concerned, well, I've already voiced my opinion on that subject. Dead, or rather undead, human-like creatures that have to suck others' blood for sustenance just doesn't really do anything for me. I understand the phenomena, desiring the undesirable/unattainable, but I can't say that I rank that as an important trait while searching for a partner. Why would I want to be with someone who, in comparison, would make me seem weak, unintelligent, and subject to the ebb and flow of human emotion? Anyway, enough of that tangent, and onto my reaction to the story.

I thought it interesting that the graphic novel was originally based on an actual novel. Honestly, it explains some of the inconsistencies that I noticed while reading. For example, in the text Anita Blake is characterized as this strong, independent, sarcastic woman who won't let anyone, dead or alive, tell her what to do. So while she is making bold comments toward her captors who fully intend on killing her, her body language is expressing something else entirely. Her eyes are looking downward, shoulders hunched, and she looks as if she is about to cry. How odd, that the person drawing felt that she should appear so fragile. Do they have a prejudice against women being powerful, or do they secretly yearn for the "bad guys" to win? Whatever the case, it makes the story less intriguing and more frustrating.

It was also completely unnecessary for Anita Blake to be half naked in nearly every scene, exposing her wide hips, large breasts, long healthy hair, full lips. Okay, I get it, she's fertile. Comics live in the realm of men, and are subject to their whims and fancies. Which explains the shower scene where Little Miss Prude is nude aside from her breasts which are conveniently covered by her hair. That's another thing that bothers me about the story line. Anita shows no interest in sex, is actually rather repulsed by the idea of it, yet goes around wearing tattered shirts that threaten to bust open. What a tease.

As a whole the story was quick paced, easy to read, and held my interest. I enjoyed being able to view the scene as it unfolded, and the graphics were extremely well done.

A Short Commentary on Fledgling

I was curious about why Octavia Butler decided to title her book Fledgling, so I did a little research on my favorite reference site, good ol' dictionary.com. Apparently, the term refers to a person who is inexperienced. How fitting. The story begins as a first person narrative in which the speaker is unaware of who they are, where they are, and what it even means to be alive. Ahh amnesia. While it is certainly an interesting way to start the book, it is also an easy ploy to instantly grab the attention of the reader. I suppose I was feeling a bit skeptical after having finished Twilight, so I was unable to approach this reading assignment without having doubts. And then, a mere twenty pages in the book, a grown man is having sex with a child. I have to give Butler credit, at least realizes how effective shock value is at piquing one's interest. And of course we find out later on that the protagonist is actually in her fifties, regardless of her physical appearance. But at the moment of the actual sex act, the characters as well as the audience were unaware of that fact.

While I found myself drawn into the plot line due to the fast paced movement in action sequences, and page after page of dialogue (which always proves for a quick read), there were no instances of eloquently constructed prose. However, unlike Meyer's unwitting subscription to gender coding and issues of the binary relation between females and males, it can be noted that Butler purposely dealt with countering stigmas. The main character, Shori, has black skin pigmentation from genetic encoding of human DNA, and because of this, there are others in the Ina population that want her dead. This is an obvious example of how racist ideologies have become institutionalized into the culture to the point that they influence those who belong to a more conservative mindset to seek to erase the "problem". This correlates to the issues that African Americans experienced in the slavery era, as well as the Jim Crow period, and unfortunately, that they still experience today.

The novel also deals with other stigmatized subjects, including sexuality, sexual orientation, and gender. Again, she does so by making them a part of the main character's personality. When Shori decides to invite a woman to become one of her symbionts (a human being that she receives nourishment from, as well as emotional comfort), her first, Wright, questions her motives, jokingly asking whether she "swings both ways". The joke is lost on Shori, proving its unimportance. For her, one's gender is irrelevant, and being sexually attracted to a person of the same sex doesn't have an impact on who she is as a person, or rather, as an Ina.

In general, I can say that I enjoyed reading this book. I wouldn't read it again, nor would I recommend it to fellow readers, but it was entertaining, none the less.

Reaction to Rebecca Walker's essay "Lusting for Freedom"

“I never felt any great loss of innocence, only great rushes of the kind of power that comes with self-knowledge and shared intimacy.”

This reaction to something that is so morally taboo shows strength of character, not only for the author, but also for women, in general. Sex shouldn’t feel like a debasement of character; as living creatures we are programmed to desire and yearn for it. First sexual encounters shouldn’t be viewed as losing one’s virginity, but instead be seen as a monumental experience in this business of growing up.

“Unfortunately, moral codes and legal demarcations complicate rather than regulate desire. And judgments like “right” and “wrong” only build barriers between people and encourage shame within individuals.”

Our society still incorporates the Puritanical roots of our Pilgrim ancestors, even after hundreds of years of growth away from that mindset. We have the ability to practice any religion, and speak outright about issues without facing fatal consequences, but we are unable to escape this shield of guilt surrounding sexuality.

“Sex can look like love if you don’t know what love looks like.”

As young girls develop into women, most will have to endure the unfortunate aspect of the duality between sex and love. While both can coexist, and in many cases do, there are instances where sex is divorced from love. If the proper precautions are not taken to protect oneself from the harshness of reality, sex can definitely be mistaken to be more than it is.

“I peeled back endless layers of contorted faces, checking out fully the possibilities of the roles I took on.”

Discovering oneself is a practice that takes dedication and years of searching. Rarely does anyone know who he or she is in entirety until they have experimented with different personas, tried on others’ masks to find the one that fits most comfortably. The process is similar to being in a play; the actor assumes the personality of the person he or she is attempting to convey.

Sexuality is stifled by the taboos that exist in our culture in an attempt to discourage children from engaging in sexual relations. Yet regardless of these barriers, people will continue to have sex, as the act is encoded into our baser instincts. In her essay Lusting for Freedom, Rebecca Walker describes her own experiences developing her sexual identity, and relates that back to the larger culture’s expectation of femininity. Relating this academic piece to the novel Fledgling uncovers some topics that are not noticeable on the surface. Yet the whole book pivots on this issue of sexuality in relation to race, age, gender, and sexual orientation. The protagonist encompasses all of those issues as she is unaware to the social organization of the culture while being a young African American girl who is also undefined by strict sexual ideals.

Rant on Twilight

I can finally say that I have read Twilight. This does not mean that I am now obsessed and feel the urge to run out to Hot Topic and garnish myself with memorabilia. I understand why there is such a hype surrounding the novel, but I don't believe that I would categorize myself in that distinct group of people. Not to say that liking Twilight is bad. But I'm not a prepubescent teenage girl coming to terms with my hormones, nor am I a middle aged house wife desperate to escape my mundane existence with mildly erotic fairy tales. I find myself on the outside, able to recognize the distinct charm of Edward Cullen, but not being charmed myself. Yes, there was a time in my life where I was allured by the ever-so-sexy temperamental bad boy, who professed his love for me but also tried to control every facet of my life, and was distraught by his inability to read and also control my thoughts. No, those days are over. And while I sympathize with Bella on her social awkwardness and love of literature, I am not a pathetic whiny child who faints at the sight of blood and devotes her entire life to a man who mentally and potentially physically abuses her. With that introduction, I find it's only fitting to delve deeper into a sociological and cultural criticism of the "phenomenon" known as Twilight.

Beginning the novel was particularly difficult, as I had promised myself that I would never jump on that bandwagon, that I'm just not the bandwagon type of girl. But I was initially surprised by the moderately well-written style of Stephanie Meyer. While her prose is nowhere near mind-blowing, it isn't awful for young adult literature. It could always be worse. I tried to allow myself to get lost in the story, strip myself of the critical lens I am so used to implementing. And for a while I felt how most women must feel; almost giddy with anticipation. When would Edward notice her? Why was he so mean? Did that secretly mean he liked her, even liked liked her? Then I realized I was acting foolish, and decided I should be true to myself, the cynical, overly-analytical critic that I am.

Let's talk about the scene in which Bella nearly fainted at the mention of blood. Keep in mind that she didn't actually lose any blood herself, just the idea of losing a few droplets made her woozy. Am I supposed to empathize with someone that pathetic? And then, to top it off, this weakness required not one, but two men to save her. Alright Twilight, let's instill patriarchal values in young girls, and remind them that they are unable to fend for themselves. Be like Bella and cook dinner every night and the big strong men will take care of you. That's what gets me. A seventeen year old actually knows how to cook intense meals? Okay, so let's try to believe that's true. But then her dad doesn't even stay around to wash the dishes, he just goes back to watch the TV while she handles the after dinner clean up. And this goes on every night. Maybe in a few years Edward will come around and settle on a bride price for Bella. I mean, that must be what she wants, fantasizing over the details of Jane Austen novels. The whole thing makes me sick. More than fifty years of work correcting the oppressive status imparted on women, and this novel comes around and glorifies the dichotomy between men and women that places men on the top of the hierarchy.

I guess it's safe to say that I didn't like Twilight. Sorry, I tried.

Introduction

Well, I suppose this is the part where I tell you a little bit about myself, why I decided to take this course, etc. Alright then, here it goes. To reduce it to the most basic elements, I have always loved books. There's just something about getting lost in another world where someone gives you the general outline and you are able to fill it in with your own imaginings. I remember summer vacations when all of the neighbor kids would be outside playing and I preferred to stay inside reading. Nerdy, huh? Yeah, I guess so. But that's just me. I came to college with big plans to be a theatre performance major, but after a year of that I realized I was evading my destiny. I think I was always supposed to major in Creative Writing, regardless of the fact that job prospects are limited if existent at all. In 7th grade we had this assignment to job shadow someone who had a career we were interested in. I chose my parent's friend who had worked at Slippery Rock as an English Professor. I think it was then that I knew that was who I wanted to be, to have that life, surrounded by books, inspiring others. We'll see if that actually happens, but it would be nice. As far as this course is concerned, well, I have to admit I was a bit skeptical when I got the email detailing the course load. I hate to sound like an elitist, but after years of reading incredibly dense, intelligent pieces of art it's kind of hard to step back into young adult fiction. I've been taught to view literature with an extremely critical view, so now when I'm reading I can usually find something on each page of Twilight that makes my blood boil. Oh I guess I should save that rant for the next blog entry dealing with my perception of that book. Okay then, I guess that's it. If you really want to know more about me feel free to check out my profile.