Although I may not have finished the novel the two voices that are apparent to me are those of a man and a woman. The narrator is interesting because she has all these different relationships with all sorts of women, that is reminds me of a man. Not saying that all men sleep around, because not all women sleep around. However, stereotypically men are the more sexually charged and permissive gender. One thing I found interesting is that the narrator does sleep around like a stereotypical man. The 2 voices of my blog will be between a stereotypical man and my personal reactions to the narrator.
I am a man. I love women. I love their scents, their tastes, and their bodies. I can have sex with a multitude of women and never truly have feelings for many of them. As the narrator left Jacqueline for Louise, I too understand being torn between two lovers. However, in the end it is about finding the greener grass. If I have to cheat on one to be with another, so be it. Like the narrator wanted to love Jacqueline as do I want to love someone. I’m not sure what it takes to love someone, but I assume I’ll know when I know.
I am a woman. I love men. I love their scents, their tastes and their bodies. I don’t understand the male species at all. Of course I believe sex can just be sex. I believe that people should experiment with different sexual partners just as the narrator has. I also loved her voice throughout the book. She was witty and aloof when it came to leaving lovers. I sometimes wish I had that ability. I would be lying if I said that women do not feel any kind of emotional connection after habitually having sex with someone. That is how I interpret the name. With every touch or person who we allow to experience our bodies leaves a mark. Whether it is on the inside or outside. We let them in and it is very difficult to erase the wording.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
The Rest is Still Unwritten (Skim)
I really liked the book Skim. I think one of the reasons I liked it is because there were no major climactic moments, the book was not trying to solve some major epidemic nor was it making a statement. It just, was. I also liked how this book was not necessarily dark but it showed the opposite of the “ideal” high school student. Skim wasn’t the captain of the cheerleading squad and she didn’t really have that many friends except Lisa.
I remember high school with bittersweet feelings. My freshman and sophomore year there wasn’t a day that went by that I didn’t feel ugly on some way. I never had the best clothes and acne was public enemy number one. Skim is a character that is in a transition stage. She’s not the prettiest or the thinnest girl in school but she is still trying to figure out where she fits in. Being a teenager is difficult enough, let alone Skim maybe a lesbian. A part that I am confused about is the relationship between Skim and Ms. Archer. Because in one scene they were kissing but Ms. Archer just kind of slips out of the picture and I wonder where their relationship stood in all this.
If there were no pictures I don’t think I would have understood the novel at well. One of the major things I thought the picture helped with was understanding Skim as a character. The graphics of her face added to the idea that she is in an awkward stage. Another thing I liked about the book are the colors. Although they were only black and white they reflected what was going on in the scene. In the scene where Skim is kissing Ms. Archer the picture is very white with lots of light. All the scenes where she’s walking alone are black. I think the author used this for symbolism. Being a teenager is hard; sometimes you feel I like you are the only person feeling empty and alone. However, there are times during that period where we start discovering who we are and what we like about ourselves. These periods make it easier to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
I have mixed feelings about the ending. I didn’t like it because I wanted to know what Skim’s future looked like. I wanted to know where her relationships went with the other characters, like Katie and Ms. Archer. I did like it though because it was her walking into the woods once again. Walking alone. I think it represents how we all keep walking along, no matter where we have been, we never really know where we are going. Life would be so much easier if we were characters in a book and the ending was already written. We would never have to fear what lies ahead, because we would already know how it ends.
I remember high school with bittersweet feelings. My freshman and sophomore year there wasn’t a day that went by that I didn’t feel ugly on some way. I never had the best clothes and acne was public enemy number one. Skim is a character that is in a transition stage. She’s not the prettiest or the thinnest girl in school but she is still trying to figure out where she fits in. Being a teenager is difficult enough, let alone Skim maybe a lesbian. A part that I am confused about is the relationship between Skim and Ms. Archer. Because in one scene they were kissing but Ms. Archer just kind of slips out of the picture and I wonder where their relationship stood in all this.
If there were no pictures I don’t think I would have understood the novel at well. One of the major things I thought the picture helped with was understanding Skim as a character. The graphics of her face added to the idea that she is in an awkward stage. Another thing I liked about the book are the colors. Although they were only black and white they reflected what was going on in the scene. In the scene where Skim is kissing Ms. Archer the picture is very white with lots of light. All the scenes where she’s walking alone are black. I think the author used this for symbolism. Being a teenager is hard; sometimes you feel I like you are the only person feeling empty and alone. However, there are times during that period where we start discovering who we are and what we like about ourselves. These periods make it easier to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
I have mixed feelings about the ending. I didn’t like it because I wanted to know what Skim’s future looked like. I wanted to know where her relationships went with the other characters, like Katie and Ms. Archer. I did like it though because it was her walking into the woods once again. Walking alone. I think it represents how we all keep walking along, no matter where we have been, we never really know where we are going. Life would be so much easier if we were characters in a book and the ending was already written. We would never have to fear what lies ahead, because we would already know how it ends.
Victoria Doesn't Really Have a Secret
When I began to flesh out what women find sexy I found myself reflecting on my own personal desires and experiences. The beauty about being a woman is being able to crave a multitude of things. We have PMS: we lust for chocolate; we desire to be touched: we seek out sex. My picture is of Victoria’s Secret Angels. I chose this picture to personify my definition of desire because I view desire as an idea. Victoria’s Secret has built a million dollar empire based upon the idea of desire. Women desire to feel sexy in their own skin. Of course if their skin is covered in silky lingerie, it doesn’t hurt either. Although these models are incredibly beautiful I am not sexually attracted to them. However, I desire what they represent. They are the quintessential woman to a lot of men not to mention the envy of many average women.
I heard about this theory that women dress up for other women, not necessarily to attract men. I can’t say I completely agree with that idea but my example of desire proves it somewhat true. Models aren’t just attracting men with their sexy outfits, but they are appealing to a woman’s desire to attract men. So when a woman goes out wearing a great outfit and nice heels, although they may be looking for a mate, they may also subconsciously want other women to envy them.
So I guess in essence there is no secret to Victoria’s boudoir style lingerie line. The only secret held is that we are all sexual creature and we desire representations of sex. The angels relate to an ideal woman that most men will never have to chance to even meet. I guess my example relies on the idea that we always want what we don’t have: for men it’s sex with a supermodel, whereas for women it may be cellulite free thighs?
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Rose Colored Glasses
I have never read a graphic novel before. I never really got into comic books however; I think that the visuals helped the story progress in some cases. Conversations among characters were easier to understand. I also feel that during the action scenes it intensified the situation. I think if there were no pictures though, I wouldn’t be able to connect the scenes together. I was able to empathize with Carla, especially when she became fearful of her new Mexican friends.
Another thing I really thought helped the novel was the language. It was at times profane, yet honest. When the language was written in all caps for example I could tell the scene was about to intensify. I also liked how there was a translation section at the end of the book. It made me understand the storyline more and also how to identify with the characters. Understanding the language, helped me understand the story line.
When I think how Abel might define the word “woman” I think of the name of the novel: La Perdida. It means “lost” in Spanish. This is evident in the last page of the novel. Carla describes how she sees her past self, full of hope for the future and a fresh outlook on life. She sees her past self stumble down an alley and not soon after gets lost in the darkness. The last page Carla thinks “I wish I could find her again, that girl.” I identify with the idea of looking back and wanting to make amends with that girl I used to be. We get lost in the idea of change and are tempted by opportunity that we sometimes forget who our past selves are. Although my situations don’t involve getting held up in a Mexican drug cartel or almost going to prison, there are still things I would change. I think that is how Abel would describe a woman. Someone who looks at the world with rose colored glasses, gets lost a time or two, but emerges from the dark alleyways as a stronger person. Women may lose themselves but always come back to realizing who we truly are and where we came from
Another thing I really thought helped the novel was the language. It was at times profane, yet honest. When the language was written in all caps for example I could tell the scene was about to intensify. I also liked how there was a translation section at the end of the book. It made me understand the storyline more and also how to identify with the characters. Understanding the language, helped me understand the story line.
When I think how Abel might define the word “woman” I think of the name of the novel: La Perdida. It means “lost” in Spanish. This is evident in the last page of the novel. Carla describes how she sees her past self, full of hope for the future and a fresh outlook on life. She sees her past self stumble down an alley and not soon after gets lost in the darkness. The last page Carla thinks “I wish I could find her again, that girl.” I identify with the idea of looking back and wanting to make amends with that girl I used to be. We get lost in the idea of change and are tempted by opportunity that we sometimes forget who our past selves are. Although my situations don’t involve getting held up in a Mexican drug cartel or almost going to prison, there are still things I would change. I think that is how Abel would describe a woman. Someone who looks at the world with rose colored glasses, gets lost a time or two, but emerges from the dark alleyways as a stronger person. Women may lose themselves but always come back to realizing who we truly are and where we came from
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