Pandora’s Box

Pandora’s Box enlightens the problems women go through in society, problems men will never really understand until they’re in a women’s shoe. The main character transitions from male to female and quickly discovers women are objectified daily. In the article Pandora speaks about feeling upset since men dont value her education, she is still not seen to have the potential she has. She states “Don’t you act like a boy on me; what do you think? I have a degree in museology, and I minored in comp. lit.” This shows how she is constantly degraded by men. The news article linked below explains why men tend to harass women at their workplace, it has a lot to do with them objectifying women and feeling superior to women in all ways. These two articles connect because they both bring light to the problems going on in society with men seeing women as less.

https://www.cnbc.com/2017/11/20/3-psychologists-explain-why-men-harass-women-in-the-workplace.html

Porcupine Love Alternative Ending

For once I finally know what I want. What I need. Antenita. Everything without her has been so routine, I’ve lost myself. My therapist called back, she’s booked when she gets back. But do I really need her? I’ve lost so much of time to a routine. This isn’t a way to live. I’m willing to risk it all. I quit my job, after all I kept calling in sick anyways. I have enough savings to get through the trip, but when I come back I’ll have nothing left. Maybe a trip there right now is a little crazy, so I propose something more permanent. I’m certain this is what I want. I emailed Antena, we both know this is crazy but we’re willing to start fresh and finally love each other the way we’re supposed to. I feel butterflies in my stomach. It’s decided, I’m moving in with her

The day’s finally here. My flight is at 9:45 AM, I couldn’t even sleep last night. I can’t wait to see her, to feel our fingers interlock, to love her. I quickly shower and get dressed. At 7:29 AM, I’m finally ready. 7:45 the cab gets here. 8:27 I’m at the airport. I call Antenita and verify my landing time with her, she’s picking me up. I daydream throughout the whole flight, all the memories were gonna make. I can finally love her and not get cold feet, I’ve seen my life without her, It’s not half as good. I’m proud of myself for finally being ready to commit. This ride felt faster than I thought it was going to. I’m finally here. I look around and she’s not there, maybe the plane landed early. No biggy. I call her but there’s no answer, text after text. I’m getting anxious. BOO! I hear behind me. She’s here! This is where my new life begins.

Guapo Poem

This poem shows the author growing to love himself after going through a breakup. He finally realizes all his traits are cute. All his traits are what make him himself. Guapo means handsome in spanish. Olivarez lets the reader know he has fianally completely accepted and appreciated himself when he said “ugly as all hell, but all mine. my chest so pale it glows in the dark. Guapo i say to the lanterns i carry. my red beard. i give myself all of the names i like. Young Josélito, Papi Churro, Lupe. shout out my hair while i still have it. shout out my hairline & how it makes me look like my dad. my face i got from my mom. we look the same when we are laughing. Guapo, i say.” This piece relates to the struggle that many people go through, I chose this piece since it reminded me of when I was younger and went to school. I have curly hair and whenever I would let it down some people would say things about it being too puffy and frizzy, as I grew though I started to take care of it and own it.

The poem Guapo and the movie Wonder both relate to each other since both main characters went through a rough time but in the end found self-love, including their flaws.

Photography Comparison

Both of these images portray everyday workers as heroes. The first image captures Paulino Cordozo working as a grocer loading trucks. Cordozo sends 300 dollars a week to his family back in Mexico, he is the provider. He is seen as a hero because he has sacrificed so much and works hard to give back to his family. The second image is titled “Zapata en el Sindicato”, Zapata was a Mexican revolutionist that fought for the rights of farmers and peasants and for their land to be returned to them. Both are seen as heroes in society. The pictures themselves paint them as heroes since Cordozo is dressed as the hulk, who is a strong powerful hero. This automatically lets the viewer know he is working hard for something. The second picture paints Zapata as a hero because a hard hat is placed in a seat in front of his picture, allowing the viewer to perceive him as important. These types of arrangements are usually done to honor people, and heroes are usually the ones honored.

Kimberle

Save me- XXXTENTACION

This song relates to Kimberle’s cry for help at the start of the story. She states “I have to be stopped,” Kimberle said. Her breath blurred her words,
transmitting a whooshing sound that made me push the phone away.” This shows she was really struggling mentally but needed somebody to save her, someone to make her feel safe. Similarly, this song is also a cry for help. XXXTENTACION state “Does anybody here wanna be my friend? Want it all to end. Tell me when the fuck is it all gon’ end? Voices in my head. Telling me I’m gonna end up dead. So save me. Before I fall.” Both Kimberle and X are feeling alone, both begging someone to help them, they don’t want to die but at the same time they feel that’s what they need.

Say- One Republic

At the start of the story the narrator mentions she has recently went through a break up. Instead of being genuinely upset about the break up, she’s upset because she doesn’t really know if she’ll be able to love someone again. She says “whether I’d ever care enough to understand another human being, whether I’d ever figure out how to stay after the initial flush, or whether I’d get over my absurd sense of self-sufficiency—I was haunted by those questions.” She doesn’t know if she’ll be lonely forever or if she’ll be able to love and accept all parts in a relationship. In the song the lyrics say “Do you know where your love is do you think that you lost it you felt it so strong but nothings turned out how you want it,” both people are reflecting about finding love, will they ever? These both connect in the idea that lonliness may be an option for both in the future, and currently it’s what they’re going through.

Life My Life- Far East Movement

Kimberle has a reckless way of living her life, from the start of the story to the end. She has a very “in the moment” way of thinking, which is showed through her actions. One of those being bringing girls home every other day while they may be targets of possibly being murdered. This is unusual to the narrator as she states “Not even a week had gone by when Kimberle brought another girl home…I was going to protest,” however the narrator starts to like the way Kimberle lives. She lives in the moment, she forgot about the books that were missing. Everything was about now. This song is also about living in the moment and enjoying life to the fullest, the lyrics go “I’m gonna live my life no matter what, we party tonight.” Both the song and the short story connect when they accept living for today and enjoying themselves.

Memories- David Guetta

The narrator recalls a time with Kimberle when her adrenaline was at a all time high. Kimberle has taught her the value of letting go and how much better it makes you feel. As she recalls, she states ” she gunned the car, hurling it down the black tunnel, the tires spitting rocks as she swirled this way and that, following the eerie spotlight provided by the moon . . .for a moment, we were suspended in air and time…“That was amazing,” I said, my heart still racing. ‘Just amazing.” This shows how letting go and living recklessly made her feel happy and so full of life. Similarly, this song talk about letting go and how that would be the best for him mentally. The lyrics go “I just wanna let go for the night. That would be the best therapy for me,” relating to the narrator in the sense that letting go makes them feel at their best.

Jenny- Studio Killers

As the relationship develops between Kimberle and her roommate develop, her roommate begins to have feelings for her. In the beginning of the story it seems they don’t get along too well, but at the end of the day they understand each other. As the story develops the roomate realizes she doesn’t see Kimberle as just her roomate, all the time they’ve spent together and all the threesomes they’ve been involved in have led her to catching feelings. She states ““Kimberle, don’t you ever think about what we’re doing—about us?” Finally confessing her feelings to Kimberle. In the song Studio Killers say “I wanna ruin our friendship, we should be lovers instead,” both of them have the same feelings and are both confessing it.

La Guera

What I learned throughout the semester

Throughout this class, I learned how tough it has really been for us as minorities. I’ve always known that Latinos have gone through discrimination and will probably continue to go through it, however, I did not know the actual history behind it. One of the lessons that stuck out to me the most was when we learned about The Young Lords, how they had to fight to get basic rights for those living in the Lower Eastside. It was very empowering to me how they did not care about the repercussions, they made it their goal to get education, food, and shelter for their community, even if they had to do it themselves. When we learned about Selena, I also learned how important it is to have a representative for our community, although I’m not Mexican, I am Hispanic, and will continue to be proud of the accomplishments of those in our community. At the time, Selena was the one representing us and it allowed us as Hispanics to be proud, and her impact is still felt to this day. These were my two favorite lessons of the whole semester.

Angela Robles, Anabel Guzman, Yanibelly Leonardo

Blog 1: Bomba & Plena

Bomba and plena are Afro-Puerto Rican beats that trace back to the early European colonial era, it was inspired by those that were enslaved. Bomba music was used as a way to express oneself spiritually and politically, with danceable beats and outspoken lyrics bomba helped build communities and identity. Instruments used in bomba are the drums, maracas and fua, these instruments create up to 16 different rhythms, bomba is not only music that moves people, its music Afro-Puerto Ricans are proud of as it was a catalyst for uprisings. 

Plena was inspired by bomba at the start of the 20th century, it is used to tell stories and spread messages. Although inspired by bomba it only has one rhythm and has a variety of instruments used to create the rhythm, but a preeminent instrument is the pandereta, which is a hand drum that comes in a variety of sizes. 

Bomba and plena are very dear to the Afro-Puerto Rican community, it has been around since the 17th century and continues to be a source of pride for many, it has even made its way to the cities in which they have settled, proving that it will always be cherished. 

This video is an example of the Bomba and Plena music style. This musical style represents the Afro-Puerto Rican heritage. This musical style was a way for Puerto Ricans to express their cultural roots, as a result, this musical style has traveled with Puerto Rican immigrants everywhere.

In the first part of the video, the first song is “Aguatile”, which the musicians play with the drums and maracas, while the girl dances. Then in the second part of the video, the song playing is “Don Pacheco” which the musicians play with the “panderetas”.

Blog 2: A Lower Eastside Poem

The main idea of the “A Lower Eastside Poem” is that one has to be proud of one’s root, no matter the flaws of the place one came from. Throughout the poem, the author describes the bad aspects of his hometown and ends every stanza with the phrase “scatter my ashes thru the Lower East Side”. In other words, even though the Lower Eastside is filled with “hustlers & suckers” and pushers making sales … smoking pot and cocaine dealers,” the author expresses that “I stand proud as you can see pleased to be from the Lower East.” As can be seen, it doesn’t matter that the Lower East is a dangerous place with many flaws, the author still wants to be there even after death. When people want to be cremated they want their ashes to rest in a meaningful place and the author’s hometown is that place(at least for him). Through the imagery of his hometown and the repetition of the author’s wishes, the main idea is clearly demonstrated. One should be proud of where one comes from, it may have its flaws but it is still one’s origins and it made us into who we are today.

Miguel Pinero claims the Lower East Side to be dangerous and flawed, yet his last wish is for his ashes to be spread around the Lower East Side. This hows how proud he is of where he comes from and that he clearly enjoys the community it contains, this video shows people just living their lives as they usually would. This video shows one side of why he was proud of his community and how they lived among eachother.