Mark Twain

Brainstorming....

Start with "How to Tell a Story."

1. Symbolizes the difference between American culture. Distinguishes it from that of English or French literature. "How to Tell a Story" is symbollically different because America is seen as "humorous" while English and French is seen as "witty." It is not about the "matter" of the conversation, but rather the "manner."

- What does this signify? How is humour different from wit? How is manner different from 

matter? I suppose, it is not what is being said, but how it is said that is important. How is this relevant to California literature? Twain tries to create a new brand of literature that relies upon what? Audience participation? i.e. "The Golden Arm." 

- Issues of identity. Twain tries to form a distinctive identity for California. "Surrounded by 

the best storytellers." California as wholesome and honest. Not filled with pretention or fakeness. * The California people are honest. This is what makes the storytelling enjoyable. 

There is no show behind their stories. It is simple and plain and funny because of the way in  which it is told. Not because of a pre-rehearsed punch line. 

- What is the difference between "The Wounded Soldier" and "The Golden Arm"? Both 

require some form of a punchline at the end. One is humurous, the other is scary. One is 

funny to the teller whether it affects the audience or not. The other is completely dependant  upon the audience. The reaction from the audience will dictate the humor. Only meant to be funny if it is interpreted so....

- The stories are stories in and of themselves. They are either funny or not depending on the audience. Unlike British or French stories, these are open to interpretation. Open. Free. Can be whatever you want it to be...  This is the way in which Twain depicts California. A land of free spirited people. Elements of magical realism add to an excitement and newness found in California. i.e. "Jim Baker's Bluejay Yarn," and "The Notrioius Jumping Frog of Calaveras County."

Magic realism is a fundamental element to Mark Twain's early writings. He invents and reinvents stories. Even if they are told in their original context, they are still fanciful and unbelievable. Suspend belief. California as almost a fantasy. Where men can talk to blue jays and train frogs.

-"The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County." Both this and the Bluejay story act almost as parables. What do they teach? What are they trying to convey to the reader? I suppose betting would be a lucrative business during early California times. Especially with the onset of the Gold Rush. Perhaps twain was describing the ways in which a gambler will always eventually lose. Even the best of gamblers .Gamblers that rig the game and have "sure wins" will undoubtably meet someone more clever than they. Gambling will lead to no good.

-"Jim Baker's Bluejay Yarn." This is the story with the most elements of magical realism. What is the connection between man and bluejays? Bluejays are given anthropomorphic elements within the context of the story. Symbolic of man? The foolishness of man. Overstepping their boundaries? The way bluejays can laugh things off while man cannot? Man and bluejay both strive to attain the impossible? What is the significance of the bluejay? Is the bird indigenous to California? Perhaps it was exotic at the time? Representative of California? This story reminds me of Hercules trying to drink the ocean.... Relavent? 

Outline:

1. Introduction

2. California as a new and exciting place.

3. Distinguishing itself from its British and French counterparts.

- "How to tell a story"

- Punchlines

- Ambiguoty and interpretation.

- Freedom of thought. Freedom in general

4. Twain uses elements of magic realism to show a fantastic image of California.

- Bluejay

5. At the same time, Twain also warns against the dangers of California.

- Notorious Frog.

6. All of Twains stories are comical in nature. However, they are comical in an "American" or "Californian" way. Not dependant upon a punchline but rather the story itself. 

7. Conclusion

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Free Writer

De Ja Vu

So I'm back again. Same story, different day. I guess coming here to write helps loosen me up. Life has been kinda crazy lately. I fractured my thumb playing basketball; reached out trying to deflect a pass out of instinct instead of intention. Stupid mistake. I thought it was just spranged until about three days after, when the swelling didn't go down and the bruising turned blue and extended all the way to my hand. 

While on the subject of basketball.....

Derrick Rose is a monster. I hear that he keeps a journal of everything that works for him during a game. With that in mind, seeing as how I wont be playing for 4-6 weeks, I've decided I'll try to study the game more and see how to improve upon my own.

Goal 1: Getting my hesitation down. Hesitation and stutter step moves are so important to the offensive aspects of basketball its crazy. What's crazier is that they're so subtle. Changing speeds from slow to fast or fast to slow really throws a defenders timing off. While I was watching Rose cross up Andre Miller nasty like 7839201409 times on replay I noticed that the hesitation is what set it up. That, and the fact that Rose is stupid fast. He didnt even break stride during the crossover and the hesitation is so stop and go fast that the second the defender even begins to recognize it he's already gone. 

Goal 2: Footwork! Watching Kobe Bryant out of the three point stance is amazing. He'll oftentimes get his defender out of position before he even takes a dribble. Its a thing of beauty. I need to learn to be more mental in my approach to the game while playing. Reflex takes over too often and I lose track of what I'm trying to work on.

More to come after I've studied some more games :) 

So my roomates Uncle died during Thanksgiving weekend. I was shocked to hear the news. I dont even really know how to express my condolences right now.... It's kinda weird with all the tragidies going on around me, sometimes I think I'm heartless.... I can totally empathize with them, but the fact that it doesnt touch me on a personal level really makes me wonder whats going on inside my head or my heart or whatever it is that makes me feel how I feel. I'll oftentimes get more emotional during t.v. shows than in real life. Maybe I'm just deflecting real emotions for fake ones. Maybe by detaching myself from the situation I wont get as hurt. I dunno man but I just hope these people in my life know I care about em, even if I'm all smiles and jokes most the time....

Onto some brainstorming for my essay....

1. Morrison explores within "A Mercy" an America devoid of any ideological pretext. It is an America as "Tabula Rasa," still trying to discover an identity and motivation for its presence within the world.

2. Slavery is not racially biased during this time. Morrison explores throughout the novel how slavery becomes a socially justified behavior. Moreover, she tries to explain how slavery becomes racially prejudiced to a predominately black community.

Outline:

-Intro

1. Slaves as commercial gain and profit.

2. How slave trade becomes a predominately black enterprise. Reasons include fear and prejudice, underlined by the greed of property. All this is masked behind a veil of "mercy" for people who are seen as inferior. 

ex) Floren's time with the widow and daughter jane. The screaming child as symbolic of the salem witch trials.

ex) The Blacksmith's interpretation of Floren's as "wild." Outside influence which perpetrates a racial profile that all Blacks are wild and savage, unable to care for themselves. <-- Excuse which allows "whites" the freedom to justify their actions.

3. Descrepency between white and black slaves by the end of the novel. Mainly Florens and Sorrow. Sorrow is able to "find herself" within the birth of her child. Symbolizes the hope of white indentured slaves. Even if she is to escape, the reality is she is much more likely to become free than Florens, her black counterpart. Her skin will forever set her apart. Displacement of a people from their natural home will not allow for equality.

4. Conclusion?

- The patriarchically male dominated society has always justified it's actions behind an ideological belief that they are performing "merciful" acts. Whether it be enslaving a lesser race such as blacks or indians in order to "save" them, or keeping gender inequality in check, the "mercy" of male dominated society has given rise to horrid things in the name of "mercy." The title of the book, then, becomes a sarcastic critique about the lies and decent surrounding the justification of early American life.

Hmmmm..... I hope that'll be enough for ten pages.... I should be able to make it work as long as I can explain everything in detail.... as long as I have the energy to continue writing...

Ok gotta get back to work!

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Free Writer