The Great Depression: Archival Timeline

My research paper topic deals with the use a child narrator in “Walker Brothers Cowboy” by Alice Munro. Throughout her short story, the work is told by the young daughter, and everything is told from her point of view (including scenes with her mother who seems to be in denial about their financial situation and scenes with her father at his new job after losing his last one. ) Additionally, it is important to note that this story took place in the 1930’s around the Great Depression, and that is what I focused on for my timeline.

Archives of Ontario: Letter: Toronto, Ontario February 1933 

February 1933  http://www.oldmagazinearticles.com/article-summary/women-during-the-1930s-great-depression#.WEGJtKIrLow

This is a letter written to George Henry a correspondent, and written by an older boy in a family in need. In the letter he explains how he is the only one working to support his entire family, and then explains the hardships his father has suffered despite always doing what he can to provide.

 

Return of the Lady- Newspaper article by Claire Howe 

1934 http://www.oldmagazinearticles.com/article-summary/women-during-the-1930s-great-depression#.WEGJtKIrLow

This newspaper article was published in 1934 and addressed how and what women were doing (or being forced to do) during the time of the Great Depression. The article tells of how the great depression forced women to stop fighting for their rights and slowed all types of progression, especially due to the fact the government was trying to force women to chose between a marriage license and having a job.

Dear Mr. Roosevelt letter 

March 25, 1935 http://newdeal.feri.org/eleanor/cvb0335.htm

During the Great Depression, many children took to writing letters to President Roosevelt’s wife, and asked for things like money, clothes, or any help at all really. This specific letter was written by an 11-year-old girl who was asking if Mrs. Roosevelt had any old clothes to hand down to them for Easter.

Dorthea Lange’s “Migrant Mother” photograph of Florence Thompson 

February 1936 http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2014/08/woman-famous-great-depression-photograph/

Dorthea Lange, a photographer best known for her photo’s during the great depression, took this shot of Florence Thompson, a mother of five children at the time who was struggling to find work and money. This photo was referred to as the symbol of the Great Depression.

Kellogg’s PEP Cereal Advertisement

1938 http://www.historybyzim.com/2013/07/odd-ads-of-the-past-pep-vitamins/

This advertisement was just one of many that tried to show why women needed to stay home during the depression and let men get the jobs. This is just a cereal advertisement, but it showed just how desperate the workforce was at the time, and the limited job availability.

Life During the Great Depression interview with Jay Spencer

December 7, 1997 http://newdeal.feri.org/sevier/interviews/413s.htm

This is a written interview from a man who had to raise his family during the great depression. Jay spencer, the man pictured above, recounts his time in this interview before, during, and after the depression and what he had to do to help his family.

Survivors Of The Great Depression Tell Their Stories by Neenah Ellis (Audio Clip)

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97468008

November 2008

Three great depression survivors recount their experiences as children going through that time period. Each of them talk about their parent’s struggles to find to jobs and how that affected the families.

Between ‘what we know and what we do not yet know’Alice Munro’s ‘Walker Brothers Cowboy’ Scholarship by Aloka Patel 

May 2014

This scholarship responding to Walker Brothers Cowboy present’s the argument of role reversal between the father and daughter (the narrator) due to the setting of the time which was the Great Depression. Patel argues that it is the narrator who is maturing and growing throughout, where as the father has more childlike behavior to situations concerning the emotional structure of the family, as well as their financial problems.

 

Works Cited

Patel, Aloka. “Between ‘what we Know and what we do Not Yet Know’1 Alice Munro’s ‘Walker Brothers Cowboy’.” Transnational Literature 6.2 (2014): 1-12. ProQuest. Web. 2 Dec. 2016.

 

 

Women: banded together, or are we?

Susana Morris’ scholastic journal article “Sisters separated for much too long- Women’s Friendship and Power in Toni Morrison’s ‘Recitatif’” presents the argument that while Morrison is trying to use her story as a racial allegory, the critical component of power structures in women’s friendships have been critically left out in other scholarship of Morrison’s story. Throughout Morris’ argument, she assesses how race is ultimately connected through class and gender. She says that it is extremely important to note that in the story Twyla and Roberta’s gender is left out, but for better reason than just to try to make the readers read with out prejudice bias. She states that Morrison leaves their races out because she wants to show the anxiety each girl feels about their friendship due to the power struggle each girl feels about the other. Her argument concludes by saying the point of “Recitatif” is to show how the girls attempt to dismantle gender socialization when they start questioning the concept of power in friendships, and then start to reject those notions. Morris also includes in her argument that she believes Morrison purposely made “Recitatif” a women filled story to show the inner power struggles between women and their interactions with other women, and then threw in gender as an important factor.

I definitely agree with this argument for several reasons. The oppression of women has been there for the very beginning of time, and is still present today. While I do think there is just as much racial oppression, women have been backed into a corner forcing them to turn on each other to somehow get a leg up on their oppression. While I can see why other scholarship about “recitative” focus’s on the race aspect and the interesting question on why Morrison left out the races of Twyla and Roberta, I definitely agree with Susana Morris’ argument that it was because of the bigger reason to show power struggles within their friendship because of their gender.

The journal article makes note that while in St. Bonny’s after the initial rejection of each other; the two girls do in fact bond together for several reasons including their fear of the old girls in the shelter. Then when the story jumps to their future encounters, that is where we start to see the power struggle due to their social classes.

I think it is important to note that while the girls seemingly had similar beginnings in the story, both starting at St. Bonny’s, by the end of the story the two women have reached different outcomes in their lives, and that provides for much of the tension and power struggle between the two. Gender is yet again an important factor in their power struggle, especially when the issue of bussing their children comes up near the end of the story. Twyla and Roberta have different views, and thus that shows their power struggle to be the “right” mother.

Lastly, I want to agree with Morris’ description of Maggie, the disabled older woman who works in the kitchen at the shelter. While I think all the girls in the shelter are seemingly vulnerable and helpless, the power struggle comes when Twyla and Roberta talk about the way they treated Maggie, how was also helpless due to her disability. At the end of the story, they realize Maggie was a link to the two girls’ struggle for power.

 

 

Morris, Susana M. “”Sisters Separated for Much Too Long”: Women’s Friendship and Power in Toni Morrison’s “Recitatif”” Project Muse 32.1 (2013): 159-80. Quick Search. Web. 30 Nov. 2016.

Dying to Live

Isabel Allende’s “And of Clay Are We Created,” tells an unfortunate yet inspiring story of a young girl, Azucena, who dies fighting for her life while stuck in a mud pit that was created from a erupted volcano. In the beginning of the text, it is noted that the village had known this volcano was going to erupt for some time now, but no one took note. A reporter, Rolf Carle, is then introduced and that is where readers begin to see the true purpose in Azucena’s character and what she brings to the reading.

Azucena shows characteristics of innocence and helplessness throughout the story due to her situation she is in. Throughout the story, she is shown clinging to Rolf as he is the one literally closest to her in this tragic time. She goes in and out of weakness and weeping, but Rolf is there, and he in constantly racking his brain on what to do to help this poor girl. Throughout his time of trying to save her and show her love, readers see that it is Rolf who needs saving from his own thoughts of his past.

While Azucena is stuck in the mud for three days, Rolf is able to recount certain chapters in his life that he seemed to have repressed. What first started as “news reporting” became so much more to Rolf, and Azucena seems to serve as the link to help Rolf overcome the pain in his past. He is no longer concerned with the news story, and can be noted as not even looking at the camera’s anymore. We see the notion of helplessness and vulnerability switches from Azucena to Rolf in the instant that he starts to recant his lives past experiences.

While the story may at first seem like it meant to be about Azucena, I think the point of this story is to see Rolf’s transformation as a character. In the beginning of the story, he is noted as a familiar reported who has been in on various catastrophes. He was described as “fearless” almost by the narrator. Then after being affected by Azucena, he is able to deal with several instances in his past that he had previously just stored away. It is almost as if the process of Azucena dying had to happen for Rolf to continue to live. Then the narration takes a completely different turn as the end of the story. When Azucena slips into the mud, and ultimately death, Rolf is described differently. He appears to have been changed by this instance. He is then the one that is viewed as helpless and innocent as he tells Azucena how much he loves her and places a gently kiss on her forehead.

Additionally, there is a tone of acceptance when Azucena dies. I think acceptance comes from experiences that truly change and impact you. The last line of the text is the narrator stating, “when you return from your nightmares, we shall again walk hand in hand, as before.” This line shows that Azucena made Rolf come to terms with various things that he hadn’t intended on coming to terms with, and then her death made that impact so much more important. Everyone deals with death in various way’s and the ending is ambiguous to how Rolf deals with it, but still shows the purpose of Azucena’s character. Without her, Rolf would still be living in a sort of denial instead of dealing with his past memories.

Acceptance or Lack Thereof

 

Alice Munro’s “Walker Brothers Cowboy” tells a story of a family who has fallen hard on their luck, and their subsequent actions following. The story begins with the narrator and her father taking a walk, and later reveals the current job change the father is undergoing. The father used to sell silver foxes, but is now a traveling salesman of sorts due to owing everything the family had to the feed company.

The daughter/ narrator seems to still think very highly of her father despite his job downgrade. She is very descriptive in the way she speaks about her father’s new job, which gives off a tone of acceptance. She even makes note of her dad’s song in which he sings while trying to sell certain things. Following her seemingly knowledgeable and accepting tone of her fathers new career, she delves into her mothers side.

The mother’s new life following the father’s career change is very different. This is where readers get the theme of rejection. The mother seems to be stuck in past, which greatly contrasts with her daughter who is very aware of the new circumstance’s the family is in. The mother is very nostalgic, and speaks of the times before even her son was born. She is seen saying, “Do you remember” several times, showing her lack of acceptance for their new life. This portrays the mother in a somewhat immature way, and elevates the narrator to an even more mature persona because of their differences.

The narrator and her brother can then be seen going with their dad while he is working. This seems to isolate their mother even more, along with her aloofness to the family’s situation. The narrator, her brother, and their father all seem to be moving forward together, both literally in their trip with the father to sell his goods, and figuratively in the sense the kids are supportive of their father, unlike the mother.

The later half of the book, however; does show the mother is not the only one clinging to the past. There is the introduction of Nora, who appears to be an old flame of the father’s. She is very opposite of the mother, and brings the father a lot of joy. While he is undergoing all these changes in his life, he too tries to cling to the past of his old love.

The daughter seems to be the only one aware of the present day, and is accepting of it. The ending scene of the family (excluding the mother) in the car on their way back home shows a lot about the daughter and her awareness. She realizes there are things that are not to be said at home, but she also realizes all the things in her dad’s life and does not comment about them in a positive or negative way, more of just an accepting “this is how it is” way.

The parental figures, which typically are shown to be more of a voice of reason, are the backbone for the “lack of acceptance” and nostalgic themes. The daughter portrays clarity, and accepts everything that has happened in her life, with every member of the family. Her observing nature make’s her stand out in this story, and is the backbone for the contrast of acceptance in this short story. Additionally, her perception seem’s to also lead into a tone of isolation in which she feels for being the only one to accept the present.

Works Cited

Munro, Alice. “Walker Brothers Cowboy.” The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Vol. F. New York: Norton, 2002. 913-23. Print.

Who Say’s You Can’t Be Emotional And Intelligent?

Sor Juana Ines De La Cruz’s work from “The Poet’s Answer to the Most Illustrious Sor Filotea de la Cruz” is an energetic text defending women’s intellect through her own personal story.

This 17^th century text uses intellect as well as raw emotion to convey Sor Juana’s innermost feelings about women’s ability and intelligence. There was what seemed to be a contradiction at first, about her own intelligence and how she was downplaying it in the beginning; however, I think her strong vocabulary and relentlessness in her argument shows that there is definitely no down playing her intelligence.

This text arguing for the advancement of women’s rights and education naturally is somewhat similar to Mary Wollstonecraft’s “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman.” While both texts clearly show women’s ability, as well as experience, of being intelligent; the two works are executed in very different fashions.

While Wollstonecraft’s argument is effective and very to the point, Sor Juana employs a more emotional and personal approach. Sor Juana uses anecdotes with vivid imagery such as finding inquiry from the yolk of an egg, or the spinning of a top in children games. The fact that Sor Juana uses these minute experiences to show her hunger for intelligence as well as her ability to turn everything into learning experiences underhandedly shows just how smart she is.

Additionally, one of the most important aspects of Sor Juana’s argument is her use of religion. This is one huge difference from Wollstonecraft’s argument. The main reason Sor Juana is successful for using religion, is her ability to pull passages from the bible and accurately apply them to her argument, and show her true understanding of them. A nun even advises her to further her talent’s on religious texts, but Sor Juana declines; however, it is evident she does further her education through the reading and analyzing of religious texts.

Throughout the whole story, there is this sort of contradiction of Sor Juana being intelligent and wanting to keep pursing that intelligence, but then also not feeling “worthy” enough to.

This notion shows the societal norms of the time, and also shed’s light on just how bold this text by Sor Juana is. Her message is ultimately effective because of how the text is beautifully and intelligently written and her endearing yet passionate tone.

Her other two works “Poem 145” and “Philosophical Satire” are definitely more direct in their approach of calling out the injustices of women in Society.

Both works set up the “trap” that women are inevitably going to fall into because of society, and how women are set up to fail from the beginning. The two works use a parallel structure to send out the message that you basically can’t win for losing. This notion can be seen through phrases like “ complaining, if they treat you badly; mocking, if they love you well.” These two texts rely less on personal stories and emotion, and more societal instances as a whole.

 

Overall

The past five days have truly been quite the experience. I really was not looking forward to blogging every day because I thought it would be boring, but I was so wrong. I looked forward to going home every night and writing about my experiences of the day, and the media interactions I had. Additionally, throughout my day I found myself being very alert to all types of media, and really seeing the effects they have on me. Also, until this assignment I didn’t realize how much media was truly out there, and how each individually affected me. I always think of television and social media sites when I think of media contacts, however this showed me almost everything can be a media contact or advertisement. I am much more aware of how media affects my life, and how dependent I am on the media for several things throughout my every day life.

 

Day Five

Today, I was especially affected by advertisements. I went sky diving today and within the shop, there were all kinds of different advertisements for the various types of jumps. All of them were very colorful and vivacious and honestly said nothing about the safety of it all. I had already had my appointment, so I didn’t need to see any brochures or advertisements, however once I was done they handed my several fliers to give to my friends. I noticed that on their advertisements, they portray sky diving much different that what it really is, and they portrayed the process way different. In reality, although the experience was amazing, the entirety of the process was very lackluster despite their colorful and exciting advertisements. This seems to reign true with a lot of things though. Especially with something like skydiving, a colorful advertisement entices you to do it, and once you’re there you can’t really back out which is why their advertisements work. Additionally after I jumped, all I wanted to do was post about it on instagram, Facebook, and twitter. I feel like this shows how dependent society is on social media, and how we get validation from the internet.

Day Four

Today, I was actually extremely busy and that kept my media contacts to a minimal. I noticed that I wasn’t on social media most of the day, I didn’t have time to watch television, and my radio contact was very small. I felt so unconnected from the world by just being without media for twelve hours. That is kind of a bizarre thought to think about, because media shouldn’t dictate our life, even though it clearly does.  I actually can sense how much I depend on my media sources to keep me in the know. This is a testament to what we learned earlier in the semester to the concept that media is all around us and we are a part of every bit of it. Now as I am lying in bed, I feel the urge to get some part of every source of media I can to feel a part of this society again.

Day Three

Today, I noticed how multiple forms of media all  come together for a common cause, in certain situations. Merle Haggard unfortunately passed away today on his 79th birthday, and  all forms of media took to morn. I heard several tributes on several radio stations (all types of genre), saw a ton of posts on the internet and social media, and also was talked about on television. Big events seem to really bring people together, no matter the occasion. In addition to this, I had the privilege of hearing my professor Hoyt Purvis speak to a room full of people that were their to honor him. He also briefly touched about the multitude of platforms there are for media and just how each role is so important. Withe the trending role of this country music legends passing, it was very easy to notice how media is truly pervasive, and then it was even more ironic to hear my professor touch on the same concepts.

Day Two

Today, I was very conscious of how much I was on social media, on the internet, listening to the radio, or just watching television that had numerous advertisements. Media truly is pervasive, and although I knew to put that down on our first quiz, today I was truly aware of what that meant. I noticed especially how social media has a way to place advertisements on your timeline that deal with your recent searches. For instance, today I was looking for a formal dress and then all of a sudden I started seeing numerous ads on the side of my Facebook page, and never really noticed until today how smart that is. Additionally, I had to drive to Bentonville and back today for a volunteer service, and switched a lot of my radio stations. I noticed that depending on what genre of music the station was, the advertisements kind of went hand in hand with that. For instance, the country music stations would advertise events such as cook-outs for certain events, or things relating to a country lifestyle.