Friday, February 25, 2011
Description Discussion
Both Vowell and Brad Manning describe their fathers. Examine words Manning and Vowell use to convey their feelings of distance from their fathers and also in their feelings of closeness. After commenting on their use of words, discuss some words that you would use if you were to write an essay about the relationship you have with your father. Tell us what these words say about that relationship.
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While reading Brad Manning's "Arm Wrestling with My Father", I was able to relate to his relationship with his father as a teenage son myself. Manning speaks less about the differences between he and and his father and focuses instead on the friendly competition that has defined much of their relationship. The distance between Manning and his father is not that of conflicting tastes and opinions, but rather the distance between his father's manhood and his own childhood. Manning lost every arm wrestling match he ever waged against his father as a child. Such is the way it should be in a challenge between a fully grown man and child, and this relationship was described when he conceded "Dad would always win; I always had to lose".
ReplyDeleteThough much of Manning's energy is focused on describing his father as some sort of unbeatable mentor figure, he always maintains that he and his father were close--only in different ways. He describes the close relationship between he and his father when he looks back at his sports practice: "at those times I could just feel how hard he was trying to communicate, to help me, to shoe the love he had for me, the love I could only assume was there". The arm wrestling match always brought the two together as father and son, even if the outcome always reminded Manning of the gap between them. Manning describes an outwardly simple, but truly complex relationship between he and his father. When he was finally able to beat his father in an arm wrestling match, he realized that it would never again be the same. When he had finally beat his father and became the man he was restlessly trying to be, he realized that his father was now an old(er) man. He regretted his victory and it marked a change in their relationship forever. Their embrace at the airport is a strong expression of father & son love that brings them together.
Vowell on the other hand, writes with a daughter's perspective. She never aspired to be who her father was, and had tastes and opinions nearly completely opposite her fathers. The 'distance' here is much more noticeable. Such examples include "There were times when I found the fact that he was a gunsmith horrifying.", "he hid out by himself in the garage making rifle barrels and I holed up in my room reading Allen Ginsberg poems, and we were incapable of having a conversation that didn't end in an argument". However, Vowell realizes that she and her father are similar when she realizes that they are both very passionate about the things they love. "All he ever cared about were guns. All I ever cared about was art"--what's more significant than the fact that they like different things is that they are the same in how they regard them. Manning uses such words that describe their competition to convey his feelings of distance and closeness. Such as 'struggle', 'accept defeat', 'stronger', "weaker", "love", "responsibility", "his words were physical". Vowell points out the many different tastes her and her father share, like the "Civil War battleground it was", "Democrat", "Republican". We see they're similar when she says "Oh. My. God. My dad and I are the same person. We're both smart alecky loners with goofy projects and weird equipment".
I relate more to Manning's story, which is to be expected since we're both sons. I can't say I've beaten my dad in an arm wrestle yet, but I have to admit it's never been a big pastime of ours. The relationship between my father and I is close, but like Manning's dad you won't find mine helping me with schoolwork or writing long letters.
In “Arm Wrestling with My Father,” Manning repeatedly uses words such as “competition” and “physical” to describe his relationship with his father. However, the author intends for the reader to see past the games and realize how the arm wrestling competitions describe a deeper relationship. In his first account of this father-son game, Manning describes himself as bitter, tense, and straining. Through the author’s experience of beating his father at arm wrestling for the first time, we see that the roles are reversed. Now the father is the one described as yielding, unsteady, and straining. The first accounts, the ones in which Manning loses, convey distance from his father. I believe that Manning is so sour about losing because he is at an age where he admires his father and wishes to prove himself to his father. Although the words in the later account are very similar to the first, this time they take on a whole new meaning. Now that these words are applicable to his father, Manning feels a sense of closeness rather than distance. The closeness comes from the realization that the relationship is about reciprocation, rather than striving to be in the actual “father” position. I believe that at the end, the word that best describes the relationship (and did all along) is protection. Not only does father protect son, but son protects father as well.
ReplyDeleteVowell, like Manning, expresses feelings of distance and separation from her father before reaching a point of maturity that makes her feel otherwise. A common teenage experience, Vowell describes the times when she found her father and his quirks “Horrifying. And just weird.” Other commonly used words are indicative of quarrels and physical division (bickering, arguments, partitioned, territories). I noticed that the words she uses are not too harsh. They are actually rather playful in my opinion. For example, I find it interesting that Vowell uses the word bicker in particular, because there are harsher words to describe arguments. The words describing physical division indicate that her father did respect her boundaries and accept their differences. For this reason, I think that Vowell’s feeling of separation from her father comes more out of a desire that they have something in common. During the cannon experience, Vowell finds this closeness. She discovers that, “We’re both smart-alecky loners with goofy projects and weird equipment.” Although descriptions such as “loner” and “smart-alecky” generally hold negative connotations, they are positive in the context of Vowell’s situation because they indicate commonalities between Vowell and her father.
My relationship with my father seems to be opposite of the experiences that Manning and Vowell had. Rather than growing closer to my father, we started off close and seem to be growing apart. Growing up, I would have described my relationship with my father as supportive and loving. I always thought of my father as my go-to guy. Whenever I needed to talk to someone, he would be the very first person to hear me out. What I admired most about my father was the way he handled everything that life threw at him. I used to look up to him immensely, seeing in him qualities that I value most highly. He was calm, easygoing, and best of all—forgiving. Recently, though, my relationship with my father has changed drastically as a result of family issues. Now I would describe our relationship as tense, uneasy and uncomfortable. Although I hope I will regain the respect that I have lost for my father, my feelings towards him remain negative mainly because I see him constantly running away from his problems. Judging by the way he acts, I feel like the values that he has instilled in me do not have much meaning to him.
As I was reading the two stories, both authors described their fathers as strong and authoritative figures. The two fathers have strong opinions and outlooks on life and so do the authors, their children. Fathers are portrayed to be very stubborn and imposing. Manning depicts his distance with his father as a “physical relationship.” It appears that Manning’s father did not really know how to express his affection for his son in any other way except for coaching to become strong. In “Arm Wrestling with My Father,” the author also describes his distance from his father whenever the two wrestle. The author feels ostracized because he was not nearly as strong as his father. Thus he felt like he was walking on needles when his father challenged him for an arm wrestling match. However, the author did not always feel distant from his father. As Manning matured, he saw his father in a different light. A particular wrestling match changed the author’s opinion of his father. For the first time ever, the father began to lose to his son and at the very moment Manning realized why his father wanted him to be strong. It was to make the author responsible. The author used words such as “arms that protected us” to demonstrate that his father’s strength was built to nourish his family. The protection also defines the son as well.
ReplyDeleteVowell describes a daughter’s point of view. Naturally, fathers and their daughters feel a bit awkward with expressing closeness to each other. The author uses word “bickering” to represent her relationship with her father during her childhood. I do not find it uncommon because it is natural to rebel and find father’s acts as “horrifying. And just weird.” Vowell also discusses how her house was “was partitioned into territories.” The father and the daughter are both stubborn individuals and they are alike in that way. The author and her father feel strongly about their arts and wish to be respected. It turns that neither of the individuals tried to invade the privacy of the other. However, such separation did not affect Vowell and her father negatively because they were able to form a bonding relationship later in their lives. Just like Manning, Vowell matures and learns that her father is not an alien from another planet so to speak. The author does not find her father’s eccentricity odd because she described herself and her father as “smart-alecky loners with goofy projects.” This quote can be applied to earlier description of Vowell’s childhood relationship with her father. They both isolated themselves and immersed themselves into their arts.
I honestly cannot describe my relationship with my father thoroughly because we have been separated for several years. From my childhood memories, I recall that my dad was always quiet and I am also not too big on words. Whenever I get to visit him, we are always able to talk about very random subjects even we are silent half the time. I never considered those moments as awkward or boring. It is just the way we are. My father can be very goofy at times and that sort of dilutes his quietness. When we speak on the phone, he always gives advice. Even though I heard the advices before, it is still nice to hear from another family member.
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ReplyDeleteBrad Manning’s piece truly touched me. Even though he had conflicting feelings towards his father, I think that partially that was due to his level of maturity. When he was younger the “competition” made him “too bitter to smile” because he aspired to win, just as his father taught him. Manning says that his father was always “ready to coach him.” This seems like his father would not have been impressed unless Manning won, but I don’t think that was the case. “His words were physical,” Manning’s father’s affection could only be shown through activity. Vocalizing affection was simply not a part of the relationship. The coaching, the arm wrestling, the hugs, were all part of the underlying love each shared for one another, Manning simply had to realize this in time. The end was beautiful, but was at the same time sad. Manning provides a touching description of his father’s arms and how they protected him all his life. When Manning finally beats his father it’s almost as if he had become capable to protect himself. It’s a huge symbolic transition in their roles as father and son. The growth process and the passing of time are represented in this transition. When this transition is complete his father has changed, become softer, almost humbled. Only then does Manning realize (on the plane) what it all meant, and how he wished he could hug his father again.
ReplyDeleteI found Vowell’s recount more humorous than the previous one. The democratic vs. republican struggle is simply amusing to me. There is more of a light aura to the entire piece. Hers tells the realization of the similarities between herself and her father by looking at their differences. I loved the sentence that read, “Oh. My. God. My dad and I are the same person. We’re both smart-alecky loners with goofy projects and weird equipment.” It was more sweet and cute than touching, at least for me. Throughout the story Vowell is comparing herself to her father; first amendment vs. the second, gunsmith and Aerosmith. This all leads up to her grasp that they are similar after all.
On the subject of my own father I must say I have been truly blessed. I share an outstanding relationship with him and always look up to him. He has been leading me ever since I was capable of following, especially spiritually. My life is centered around my beliefs, and my dad has been the one to encourage this. If I had to choose a word to describe him it would be wise. He is very soft spoken, but when he does have something to say it always comes from a place of intellect and sincerity. I don’t know the exact word to describe my relationship with my dad...I guess I would call it blessed.
In Brad Manning’s descriptive story “Arm Wrestling with My Father,” the most significant symbol is the arm, as portrayed by the title. But in his story, Manning intends the arm to convey two sides of his feelings. On one hand, Manning feels distant at times from his father. In these situations, the arm represents the “competition” (Par. 4) and the “physical” (Par. 2) communication that make up his relationship with his father. Manning constantly speaks of winning and losing, strength, and challenges, and he specifically describes how his father’s “words were physical” (Par. 3) in showing the lack of sentimentality in their relationship. Manning still portrays the love in the father-son relationship, again using the arm analogy. In describing the closeness between the two, Manning emphasizes “protection” (Par. 11). “Communication” (Par. 2), too, though at times rocky, shows his father’s attempt at extending his love.
ReplyDeleteFor Sarah Vowell, her relationship with her father in “Shooting Dad” contains much more friction. Words such as “divided” (Par. 1) and “bickering” (Par. 5) clearly illuminate an earlier view of the daughter-father relationship. Several war terms, such as “DMZ” and “totalitarian states” (Par. 7), additionally supply evidence to the poor connection between the two. Vowell’s father leans toward a conservative view and guns, while Vowell herself prefers more liberal ways of thinking and the arts; these two differing opinions provide the main conflict. Yet towards the end of Vowell’s story, she begins to realize that their relationship is not so unsalvageable. As Vowell says, they are both “smart-alecky loners with goofy projects and weird equipment” (Par. 29). Vowel begins to use words such as “accomplice” as opposed to the earlier “adversary” (Par. 29). “Noise” (Par. 31) also provides a similarity between the two that hints at their closeness; Vowell enjoys the noise of music while her father enjoys the noise of gunpowder. Both Manning and Vowell describe the distance in the relationships with their fathers but conclude by emphasizing the closeness and love between themselves and their fathers.
I personally cannot speak of any conflict with my father. I am proud to say that we have an amazing relationship. The most noteworthy word that can describe my relationship with my father would have to be “support.” He is always there for me, helping me along with both my academic, athletic, and personal journeys. My mom sometimes expresses her less-than-appreciated opinion that she thinks that I should shift my priorities some and concentrate less on the academic teams I am part of. My dad, on the other hand, encourages me to pursue the interests I love. Just the other day, when I realized the day before the regional competition that my partner and I were allowed to use another bird book for the ornithology event of Science Olympiad, my dad drove with me over to Borders and paid for the book I needed. On another note, I can talk to my dad about just about anything - my day, my feelings, my worries, my wishes. An aspect of my relationship with my father that is likely different from other peoples’ parallel relationships is that I feel like we converse on the same level. I am not the daughter that is there to follow that antique rule that “children are meant to be seen, not heard.” I talk to my father blatantly, expressing my opinions, both favorable and argumentative, without worrying about insulting his position as an authority in the family. Of course, that is not to say that there is not a high level of respect between us. But, again, best of all, my dad is always there to provide that support I need.
In his piece, Manning continues to say that his relationship with his father was ‘physical’ and that his father’s words were ‘physical’. Manning takes this as a competition to show physical dominance and lives a good part of his life mentally competing with his father. Manning says “Ours had always been a physical relationship, I suppose, one determined by athleticism and strength”. However, I think that in reality his father did not physically dominate the relationship to show his power and control over his son, but because he could physically, in person, show his care for him easier than writing it in a card or letter like Manning’s mom does. Only later does Manning realize, once he is the physically stronger one, that his dad’s physical ability was much more than an advantage over his son, but an advantage over the evils trying to harm his family. Vowell describes her relationship with her dad as being ‘separated’ and ‘partitioned off into territories’. There were topics that they did not discuss because both of them had very strong opposing opinions. Not until they both grow up and accept the fact that the other thinks different are they able to bond. Once they put aside the hatred of the other’s likes, they begin to see that they are ultimately the same. “We’re both smart-alecky loners with goofy projects and weird equipment.” If I were to describe the relationship between my father and me, I would have to use words like strained and trying, but also understanding and close. My father and I do not relate on the normal level when it comes to things like making random conversation, so when he drives me places or we are home together it is hard to make it seem normal to talk to him. However on the flip side of that, we relate so easily when it comes to interests, we could watch all six Star Wars movies in a row together, and then without a break watch all three Lord of the Rings. We can go to the golf course and play eighteen holes, not force conversation, and get along just fine. We relate in a different way that other fathers and daughters relate, in a much quieter way and when we try to be normal it becomes strained. When we just let it be, it is a beautiful relationship.
ReplyDeleteArm Wrestling with My Father is the narrative that I related to the most because I could relate with Manning when he describes the relationship between he and his father. It is clear that Manning has conflicted feeling for his father. Manning says that he and his father never "communicated in speech," but that they had a physical relationship. I think that Manning's feeling of confusion are caused by his maturity level. As Manning grows up and matures, he is able to see that his father is someone he wants to model himself after, not someone he wants to beat at everything. I could really relate to this narrative. Manning mentions that his father was always "ready to coach him." Being a gymnast as a child, my Dad was the person I looked to for approval of my accomplishments in the sport. He was harder on me than anyone else I knew. No matter how great I THOUGHT I was doing on a routine, he could find a million and one things wrong with it. It took me years to realize that he criticized me so harshly because he knew that I wanted to be the best, and he wanted to help me become my best. I always felt like I had to live up to his high standards of work ethic and accomplishments. Even though I now realize that I am my own person, I still look to him for example.
ReplyDeleteIn Shooting Dad, Vowell notes that the lives of her and her father are "partitioned off." She and her Dad are at first sight very different people. As the story continues, we can see that she and her Dad are actually the same person. Just like in Manning's piece, I beleive that Vowell's feelings toward her father change as her maturity level changes. I love the line where Vowell says "the older I get, the more I'm interested in becoming a better daughter." I felt like I related to this particular line because I feel the exact same way Vowell does. I feel as though the older I get, the closer I become to my own father. The peice is humorous because Vowell spends a good majority of the narrative stating the differences between her and her father, such as the Democratic vs. Republican war, or her Dad's love of guns vs. her own love for music. She finds out towards the end of the peice that her and her father are basically the same person.
As far as my relationship with my own father is concerned, I feel as though I have a very close relationship with my Dad. I look to him for advice on everything! He is my role model especially where the spiritual aspect of my life is concerned. My Dad has a work ethic that I admire and try to imitate. Because he was so critical of my schoolwork, gymnastics, and whatever else I was involved in at the time, I didn't realize how similar we really were, and always thought that I was simply never good enough to pass his standards. I realize now that my father and I are both perfectionists and reach for success in everything we do. I've learned that he criticizes to help me become a better person, and I now accept and apply his advice to my life. I'm grateful for the leadership and example he provides for me. These pieces made me realize how blessed I am to have the relationship with my father that I have, and that I honestly could not ask for a better one!
In Brad Manning’s essay I found a truth to not only the relationship between Manning and his father but to the fact that an understanding of that relationship came with maturity and a passage of time. I also enjoyed delving into the deeper meanings of the matches that Manning uses to describe his relationship. Manning starts by describing his early matches as “straining,” “intensity,” “strength,” “physical,” and “giggle.” This last word emphasizes Manning’s youthful immaturity towards his father. Manning’s bond to his dad was seemingly all about strength and improving his game. Even though Manning always lost he was happy to lose because he felt safe with such a strong father to protect him. Once Manning reached that maturity, he gained an understanding of his true relationship with his father and a deeper respect for him as well. Manning later describes his last match as “unexpected,” “sorry,” “legend,” “unafraid,” and “sustained.” Manning realizes that he has finally surpassed his dad in brute strength but I think he also realizes that the roles of protector and protected are being reversed, hence the unexpected and sorrowful feelings of his last match. I feel that a true understanding of our relationship with our parents should and will come once we are much older. Right now we are at the age of dependency but eventually when we have gone on with our lives, we might look back and discover a whole new reality. The best word usage I feel that describes Manning’s changing relationship is “I know I would feel less challenged than loved.”
ReplyDeleteI also liked Vowell’s piece because of the humor and relation to my life that it holds. Vowell is different from Manning in that she uses obvious comparisons rather than a symbolic representation of her relationship with her dad. Vowell first describes her relationship by comparing everything from likes and dislikes of guns and art, to the rather popular political competitions. She uses words like “divided” and “DMZ” to compare their strong opposite natures to a war zone. Even her title has some hint to their relationship. In the beginning Vowell might have felt at many times like she wanted to actually shoot her dad for not agreeing or understanding her. Later on, however, Vowell might say “shooting dad” to describe him for his life’s work and past time hobby based on a new-found respect for him. At the end, instead of focusing on their differences she concentrates on their similarities: “We’re both smart-alecky loners with goofy projects and weird equipment.” She also states that he is an artist a “driven, idiosyncratic one, too.” By stating that fact Vowell is also acknowledging her similarity to this. She is an artist who is driven in her own opinions even if they differ from her father’s.
If I had to describe my relationship with my father I would have to use distant. As much as I would like to be close to my father like so many other kids are it has always been hard. Ever since I was born my father was always gone for long periods of time on end. A year in Iraq, six months in Bosnia, etc. Because of this I have had the wonderful experience of growing up under my mother’s full attention and care. When my dad would come home it would still feel as if he was a stranger in his own home. Even now that he is retired from the military I find it hard to reconnect and make up for the lost fifteen/sixteen years of my life. Hopefully as time goes on and I grow up and move on I will be able to rekindle the bond between us.
Brad Manning’s father expresses his love for his son in a physical fashion. Manning sees him as a “protector” – very strong and powerful. Manning’s father uses “competition” to cover his true feelings (the arm wrestling, strong hugs etc) as if he is embarrassed of verbally expressing his love. However, Manning knows his father loves him. Throughout the essay Manning’s father exhibits a sense of “control” over his relationship with his son. It seems he is unable to let his true feelings show. Manning states he could “feel how hard [his father] was trying to communicate, to help [Manning], to show the love he had for [Manning].” By the end of the piece, this sense of “control” is broken. After Manning wins the arm wrestling match, his father feels the competition is over. Manning’s dad hugs him, and Manning can actually feel the difference in the hug: “In his hug, Dad had tried to tell me something he himself had discovered.” The emotional distance between father and son lessens in this moment because Manning’s father finally has the emotional strength to address his feelings, whereas before he only had his physical strength.
ReplyDeleteSarah Vowell parallels her and her father throughout “Shooting Dad.” Although Vowell and her father seem different, in actuality they are very similar, and Vowell realizes this by the end of the essay. Even though Vowell and her father have very different political views, they both share an interest in politics. She also compares her workspace to her father’s; she describes both as “messy disaster areas.” While her father’s shop was covered in his sketches of “his mechanical inventions” and “spiky metal shavings,” Vowell’s music room is “buried under piles of staff paper,” and an “obstacle course of musical instruments.” Even thought their interests/hobbies are different, they share a common thread. At the end of Vowell’s essay, she realizes that she and her father are “the same person.”
I can connect with Manning’s story more strongly than with Vowell's. My Dad doesn’t usually verbally share his feelings. He is much more of an “actions speak louder than words” guy. Even though he would never tell me that he is disappointed in me, I feel awful if I feel I’ve let him down. He never criticizes me for my shortcomings or failures, but he always encourages me and is willing to help in any way possible. I know I can always turn to him foranything. Although my dad didn’t receive a higher college degree, he is very smart, and he is a fantastic problem solver and great with his hands. He can fix anything. My dad has always encouraged me in all of my interests. I have gone through many artistic phases, and he is always willing to support me in them both financially and emotionally. He always offers his advice or guides me in the right direction, but he never explicitly tells me what I should do. He lets me make my own decisions.
Brad Manning describes the interesting relationship with his father in “Arm Wrestling with My Father.” Manning describes the relationship as being “physical,” all to do with actions and no words. They say actions speak louder than words, however, I believe in this case it is necessary for one’s father to express his love for his child in a way that he or she understands. Manning said he “could only assume [the love] was there,” stressing how distant he felt from his father. A child needs to know they are loved. At the same time, Manning was “happy to have such a strong father.” During Manning’s earlier years, he looked up to his father for protection, but this changes drastically as he grows out of his youth and his relationship with his father turns into a never-ending “competition.” He feels the need to live up to his father’s strength, and this impedes their relationship. At the end of the story, Manning uses words such as “wish,” “embrace,” “hug,” and “happy” to display the evolution of their relationship into one of love, not competition. They switch roles; Manning becomes the protector, while now his father is the one being protected. The realization that they love and need each other causes them to come together and forget their differences. Manning says if they had another match he would “feel less challenged than loved,” emphasizing this understanding.
ReplyDeleteSarah Vowell describes her relationship with her father in “Shooting Dad.” Unlike Manning, Vowell and her father display their disagreements outright and without shame. Vowell says they are “divided” and that “bickering” makes up most of their conversation. They even went as far to partition the house “off into territories,” with the living room and kitchen being the “DMZ.” All of these words evoke the distance felt between father and daughter. She describes the first time she shot a gun, and refers to the piece of artillery as a “bully, like a foe.” As Vowell matures, she finds that it’s easy to put their differences aside and focus on what they have in common; both are hard of hearing, one due to Aerosmith and the other due to gunsmith, and both are “smart-alecky loners with goofy projects and weird equipment.” When the cannon fires towards the end of the story, she uses words like “giddiness” and “Fourth of July smoke” to illustrate her newfound respect for her father’s work. Maybe Vowell does not agree with her father’s pastime, but now she understands his enthusiasm for something he loves and she grows to admire this about him. She also points out the change from her father’s “adversary” to “his accomplice.” She no longer fights against what he does, but now she is part of it. All of these words and phrases help to illustrate the change overtime of Vowell’s relationship with her father from one of distance and separation to one of admiration and compassion.
When I think of my relationship with my dad, words such as “laughter,” “goofiness,” and “kindness” fill my mind. My dad represents everything I want to be when I grow up. He would do anything for my mom and me, and I mean anything. He would give us the world if that were even possible. One thing that my father and I have in common is that we both carry our hearts on our shoulders. We are both compassionate and easily touched, and this makes us who we are. We are not ashamed to watch a sad movie together and cry, and this is why I value our relationship. Another reason my dad and I get along so well together is that we provide each other with much needed comic relief after a hard day’s work at the office or school. We are never too tired to laugh, and we share the same corny sense of humor. No matter what, we can be our honest selves with each other, and this is why I value our relationship.
Both Manning and Vowell use several metaphors and figurative phrases to describe their relationships with their fathers. Manning begins by expressing the distance he felt from his father. He says that “a handshake had always seemed easier to handle than a hug” and that they had a father-son relationship of competition. He knew that his father “was trying to communicate, to help [him], to show the love he had for [him],” but Manning could only “assume the love that was there.” Manning further describes the relationship he had with his father when he says, “Our communication was physical, and that is why we did things like arm wrestle. To get down on the floor and grapple, arm against arm, was like having a conversation.” Although this illustration of their relationship may seem like Manning is trying to convey the distance he felt from his father, it ultimately shows the indescribable closeness they shared. Neither son nor father could explain the communication, but it was something special that they shared that no one else could experience. Manning also describes the closeness he felt with his father when he describes his father’s strong arms. Not only did those arms defeat Manning as a little boy in arm wrestling, but they also protected his family. At the end, Manning describes their goodbye hug as a “different message.” He felt that his father’s “embrace was softer, longer than before.” This message that he sense revealed to Manning the love his father actually had for him and the love that Manning had for his father.
ReplyDeleteVowell immediately begins her essay by describing the distance she shared with her father. She describes their home as a “house divided” and a “Civil War battleground.” Vowell explains that she and her father “began bickering in earnest when [she] was fourteen.” She and her father did not agree on political issues, especially issues dealing with guns. Guns were the main cause of their distant relationship, but they were also the very thing that made them realize that they were closer than they thought. Vowell feels that she cannot relate to her father since she takes no interest in guns like her twin sister. But towards the end of the essay and as Vowell grows older, she “becomes interested in becoming a better daughter” and “figuring out the whole gun thing.” When she and her father are testing out the cannon he had built, she realizes that they had more in common than she thought. They were both “smart-alecky loners with goofy projects and weird equipment.” They also both love noise and are “both a little hard of hearing—[Vowell] from Aerosmith, [her father] from gunsmith.” Although Vowell and her father are so different in their interests, they are both passionate about their interests, creating a closer bond than expected from such a “divided house.”
My dad and I have a great relationship. I guess you could say that I am a “daddy’s girl,” but I’m not the typical kind. My dad and I are very similar in that we don’t always have a lot to say when we’re around each other, but we somehow connect and communicate in our own way. We have somewhat of an invisible communication that only he and I can understand. He is my crying shoulder and I always look forward to his warm embraces (they’re softer than my mom’s). I don’t really know how to describe the relationship between my dad and me, but I know that when we say “I love you,” we always say it with the upmost sincerity. I could spend an entire afternoon with my dad and we can always find humor in the same things, sitting on the couch laughing about something that my mom could never understand. I feel close to my dad in a different way than most. I know that he will always be there to support me in whatever I choose to do in my life and I’m thankful that God blessed me with such a wonderful father.
Both Vowell and Manning describe the distance they feel with their fathers as a result of different events. On one hand, Vowell and her father are separated by their opposing political and social views. On the other hand, Manning and his father are separated by their lack of understanding of how to become closer. But, both of the authors also show the evolution of their relationships with their fathers. Vowell's story shows how opening one's mind to new and different things can help us respect another's decisions or actions. Manning's story shows how a change in family rolls can evolve into respect and care.
ReplyDeleteI think that both authors did a good job of showing the transition in the relationships with their fathers. I especially like when Vowell realizes that both her and her father have their odd quirks (her, her microphone; him, his giant cannon) and that their odd quirks can bring them closer than ever before. I think it is important to remember that the relationship between Vowell and her father started out as something she thought of as completely divided. She took the stance that her father and her were nothing alike in any sense. But, as the story moves through time, Vowell realizes that she and her father are different in their similarities. This realization makes her change her perspective on her father and her relationship with her father.
I think that we have all come to that point where we can realize the truth in our relationships with our parents. I am very happy to say that I have an excellent relationship with my father. We have always been close, but since my family moved to Augusta, we have become even closer. I love to be around my dad and I think that if I could sum up our relationship in one word it would be safe. I always feel safer when he is around and I know it is because he will do anything to protect me. Although we never really "share our feelings" with each other, we always know that the love is there.
Sarah Beth stated something in her post that intrigued me. She pointed out that Manning’s father did not use his physical strength to show his dominance over his relationship with his son, but rather to show his care for him easier. I think this is true in many cases; some people have an easier time expressing themselves with actions instead of words. Not everyone is gifted in the speech department; for them it is hard to verbalize their feelings. Manning’s father must be one of these people, and so his relationship with his father was mostly “physical.” Just because Manning’s father does not specifically tell his son that he loves him and that he cares for him, does not mean he does not. He just shows this in other ways.
ReplyDeleteI also think it is interesting how Sonia described Manning’s father transitioning from physical to emotional strength. When he embraces his son, though he no longer has his physical strength, he allows himself to openly show his feelings, displaying his emotional strength. He is not afraid or ashamed to hug his son anymore. Because he has grown older, and now he realizes that he will not be there forever, Manning’s father takes advantage of this time with his son to make sure Manning knows how much he cares. Such a strong display of affection must have been hard for someone usually so gruff and macho, showing just how significant this action was.
Sydney, you stated in your post that guns were the main cause of Vowell’s distant relationship with her father, but I have to disagree with you on that one. I personally believe that gunsmith or not, Vowell still would have felt a separation from her father. In my opinion, Vowell’s “distance” from her father was somewhat a creation of her own imagination. Her father introduced her to guns at a young age, hoping that it might peek her interest and provide a father-daughter bonding activity. When she did not take interest, he did not force his interest in guns on her. The gun situation was simply an attempt to strengthen the bond, which should have produced enough respect and appreciation to bring Vowell closer to her father, rather than push her away. Although guns did not particularly interest Vowell, there are other things that she could have used to form a connection with her father. For example, both Vowell and her father hold an interest in politics, and she could have taken the opportunity to watch political events (inaugurations, speeches, etc.) with her father. Instead, Vowell chose to make guns and politics dividing factors in the father-daughter relationship. In a sense, I think that Vowell was so self-centered that she limited herself to the relationship she could have had. Any person who possesses some degree of interpersonal skills would figure out a way to combine interests. At the end, Vowell does come to this conclusion, as we see when she uses her microphone to record her father’s cannon. I think that Vowell’s father was bonding with her during her childhood, but she was too focused on not fitting in with her family that she blinded herself to his efforts. Her teenage insecurities prevented her from realizing that her father partitioning the house and tearing her political candidate off the refrigerator was his way of encouraging her to be an open-minded, intellectual, and world-aware child. It seems to me that he intended for his actions to make her stronger in her beliefs and teach her how to defend them, which is clearly good parenting on his part.
ReplyDeleteI really liked what Elizabeth said about Manning’s story. I can definitely say that Manning had to mature first before he could understand his father’s physical communication. I do not find the end sad when Manning wishes to go back and hug his father. Now the author has more anticipation to look forward to when he meets his father again and through a hug express his love for his father. Words are great for expressing love but sometimes actions speak louder than words. Every individual expresses love differently towards other people. I feel that in Manning’s case, the hugs, the arm wrestling, and the coaching are qualities that Manning must learn from his father in order to be able to protect his own family. When Manning almost defeated his father in the arm wrestling match, I think the author experienced a small explosion of comprehension. He made a significant transition with physical strength as well as emotional strength.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth, I really enjoyed reading your post! I would have to agree with you when you pointed out that Manning's feelings are conflicted due to his maturity level. Even though my father and I have a great relationship now, it took me so many years to realize what a blessing he has always been to me. My father also raised me to center my life around my beliefs, so I can relate to your point where you mentioned that your father is a role model to you. I also find the ending of Manning's story somewhat sad. I feel as though many people (including myself!) take many years to realize how beneficial a close relationship with their parents would be to them, and some even wait until it is too late.
ReplyDeleteMary, I completely agree with what you had to say about the statement I made. I don't think that I was trying to say that Vowell's disinterest in guns was the direct cause of their distant relationship, but more that guns may have sparked the beginning of their growing apart. Either way, I really liked what you had to say. I never thought about the fact that her father actually tried to have a close relationship with his daughter by exposing her to his own personal interests, hoping that they could share common interests. Of course, that is not how the story goes and I like that you mentioned Vowell's closed-mindedness. When I read the essay, the fact that she was not open to her father's interests and pushed away everything that he tried to share with her, never crossed my mind. Your post definitely gave me some insight onto the real cause of their distant relationship.
ReplyDeleteKatie, I liked how you mentioned that "the arm" in Manning's essay played two roles. His father's arm was used to portray the distance he felt as well as the closeness and protection he felt as Manning grew up. Throughout the whole essay, the arm is also used to show the love that the father was trying to extend to his son. Even when he defeats his son in arm wrestling, he tries to let his son win by starting it close to the floor. And as Manning grew older, he realized that the arm that was used to defeat him as a young boy, was the same arm that was used to protect his family.
Kirsten I completely can relate when you talk about your dad pushing you the be better because he loved you. I do believe that for some dads that is their way of showing what they want to show because they are incapable of it any other way. For years I was against playing golf because when I was younger and my dad tried to teach me the game he focused so much on what was wrong that I didn't believe there was any hope for anything to be right. So much was wrong that I quit and told him never to bring a set of clubs near me in my life. Now, being older I understand that it was only his way of trying to give me all of his great golf skills because he wanted me to experience the joy in it that he did. He wanted me to be better, like your dad Kirsten, and could only show it by critiquing me.
ReplyDeleteKirsten I completely can relate when you talk about your dad pushing you the be better because he loved you. I do believe that for some dads that is their way of showing what they want to show because they are incapable of it any other way. For years I was against playing golf because when I was younger and my dad tried to teach me the game he focused so much on what was wrong that I didn't believe there was any hope for anything to be right. So much was wrong that I quit and told him never to bring a set of clubs near me in my life. Now, being older I understand that it was only his way of trying to give me all of his great golf skills because he wanted me to experience the joy in it that he did. He wanted me to be better, like your dad Kirsten, and could only show it by critiquing me.
ReplyDeleteMary, I appreciated your observation that the words that Vowell uses in her story are “rather playful.” You hone in on the tone behind the words, and your remark verbalizes the impression that I got from the friction in the story that makes it more amusing rather than lamentable. Additionally, your assertion that “her father did respect her boundaries and accept their differences” pointed out another aspect of the story that I had missed the first time around that shows how their relationship must not have been as bad as Vowell makes it out to be at the beginning.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth, I liked your statement about viewing Manning’s victory in arm wrestling as a “transition in their roles as father and son.” After the victory, I can clearly see that Manning’s tone became much more like that of a responsible adult than of a child. He talks of taking care of his father, though his tone becomes much more morbid as he speaks of worrying that each phone call is the report of his death. Interestingly enough, the end of Vowell’s account ends with the consideration her father’s death as well. Why is it that both authors feel like their relationships with their fathers involve the aspect of death as well?
Both Kirsten and Erin, like most others, commented on the new insight into the relationships between the fathers and children following the maturation of Manning and Vowell. Maturing, in addition to its impact on relationships, is a significant theme in both of these pieces. Several of you all, like Mary and Erin and Caitlin, also mentioned the changing of the relationships with your fathers with the passage of time. It is very interesting how time can alter the elements of a relationship. I can only hope that time will bring me even closer to my family.
I completely agree with Caitlin how much of the relationship between Vowell and Manning to their fathers evolved over time. I feel that, as she said in her post, respect is a strong foundation to a relationship with any parent. In the beginning of Vowell’s relationship with her father, she didn’t understand or hold any regard for her father’s occupation. Even though I feel this could have applied to any occupation and that guns were not the cause of their distance as Mary pointed out, taking the time to try to grasp the meaning behind her father’s love and interest in guns opened her eyes. In Manning’s piece, the feeling of respect was also noted at the end of the descriptive essay. In the beginning Manning saw his relationship as physical and was in a constant, immature, loving kind of competition. However, after time passed and Manning matured, he gained a respect for his father, a respect that had him wishing he could give his father one last hug before his plane took off. This respect for a parent can create a bond that enables you to have a deeper understanding of one another. That can cause even little things to hold a more significant meaning in your heart. Like Elina pointed out in her post, oftentimes actions, like a hug, speak louder than words. I feel that until you gain a respect for your parent, these simple actions carry no meaning but the basic. I know that was how it happened to me. I used to giggle and smile stupidly whenever my mother said she loved me. I would answer back with a childish “awww I love you too!” Now, after all the emotion and stress we have gone through together something as simple as a hug or a little “I love you!” note on the refrigerator holds a meaning that gladdens my heart and soul. I hope one day I can say the same thing happens between me and my father.
ReplyDeleteElina, I like how you mentioned that Manning “describes his distance from his father whenever the two wrestle.” I found it ironic that even though the two are “close” physically, they are not emotionally connected or comfortable expressing their feelings.
ReplyDeleteI found it really interesting that many of my classmates don’t (as Caitlyn puts it) “share their feelings” with their fathers, but they still “always know the love is there.” I experience the same feeling with my father. I also respect Elizabeth’s “spiritual” relationship with her father. Although my father and I have very different religious beliefs, we respect each other’s viewpoints, but I think a “spiritual” connection would be very special, and I admire people who can experience this relationship.
Sonia, I really liked how you talked about how after Manning won the arm wrestling match against his father, he noticed his father had changed a little because that was something I really picked up on. Even though the distance was very slight because of the awkward way his father showed his love to Manning, after that win it seemed to lift a weight off his dads shoulders as he came to finally accept that his son was not only growing up but understood how hard he had tried over the years.
ReplyDeleteWhen you talked about how Sarah was so different yet so similar to her father, that was something that I also focused on. If you look at their opinions as deciding factors they are most definitely different but when you look at them in the way act it becomes obvious how similar they really are. The only barrier standing between them is just their inability to find some sort of meeting ground which is eventually found through the cannon.
Katie, I think others have said this, but I LOVED your mentioning of the two roles of Manning’s father’s arm. How it represents separation, but at the same time is represents closeness. You just said it very well. It went well with Sonia, what you said about the transition from physical to emotion strength. It’s as if Manning’s father’s “physical” strength created separation (in manning’s point of view), and then his father’s “emotional” strength is what displayed their closeness.
ReplyDeleteBayley, your description of your relationship with your father was really sweet. It just sounded precious. I don’t have anything very intellectual to say about it, I just liked how you described your closeness to your father. How the two of you can sit down and cry to a movie with no shame. That’s just really cool.
Concerning everyone, I found it interesting reading all the different types of relationships we share with our fathers. It mostly fell into two categories, it seemed. Those who talk openly with their dads (Katie, Bayley, Sydney) and also those who share a quiet relationship with their dads (Elina, Sonia, Sarahbeth).
I agree with Sonia, Manning's father is one who commits little to words and let's his actions do the talking for him. I feel that my dad and Manning's are alike in this way, and this character seems fairly common in male-family roles. Like she said, both short stories demonstrate the evolution of their relationship. In Vowell's case, it involved the daughter spending time with her father to realize that they were both similar in being very passionate about what they loving doing. In Manning's case, he simply kept acting the same way all throughout the story, and we're left to see the natural accomplishment in Manning's natural defeat of his father when he finally succeeds him near the end of the story, symbolizing his growth as a man,
ReplyDeleteI really liked what Mary said about the words Vowell using that were “not too harsh” because I think it is completely true. Her piece was very playful for all of its seriousness of subject matter. I think the way Mary put it: “Vowell’s feeling of separation from her father comes more out of a desire that they have something in common” sums up the entire story well. Both stories talk about feelings of closeness with fathers coming from a shared feature or activity. This often happens in our lives too. I know my father and I both love baseball, and watching the sport together has made us closer. We do not have to talk a lot during the game or explain things to each other, we just watch.
ReplyDeleteI liked the way Sarah Beth said “Not until they both grow up and accept the fact that the other thinks different are they able to bond.” I think that this can really relate to our everyday lives. One of my teachers in middle school used to tell us that there were three stages in our relationships with our parents: dependence, intolerance, and love. The last one came with our maturity. I think it is really hard to get to the place in a relationship with anyone, much less your own parents, where you know everything about them but still love them unconditionally. But I also think this is something we should all work towards.
For instructions on writing narratives, we received the information that our narrative should involve feelings or events that others could relate to. With descriptive, we have not been specifically advised to write about such relatable material, but, after looking back at the descriptive stories we read, I feel that, in order to have a truly superb descriptive piece, one must involve components that others feel a connection to. In “Arm Wrestling with My Father” and “Shooting Dad,” my peers were able to understand elements of the father-offspring relationships due to parallel feelings in their own relationships. For “Marrying Absurd,” as displayed in our discussions about marriage and dating, I found that, as a group, we agreed on many of the points that Didion makes in her essay, such as how, for many people, marriage is not meant to last, how it has become an emphasis on the now, including extravagant weddings, and not the later, meaning a focus on sustaining the husband-wife relationship. With “Indian Takeout,” nearly everyone could find at least one tradition, especially in relation to our holidays, that means something to the family. I appreciate how these descriptive essays have made me really consider some of the elements of my life, and the surrounding world, that I take for granted or pay little specific attention to, such as family relationships, dating, marriage, and traditions.
ReplyDeleteI would like to add another little note about narrative and descriptive writing. I am currently reading one of James Herriot’s books; you all probably recognize the author if not the books themselves – James Herriot is famous for his compilations of his experiences as a veterinarian. Since we have started working on the modes, I realize that that is all Herriot’s book is – each chapter is a short narrative mixed with descriptive elements. And I notice that his style is very effective. He can easily switch between sad stories, amusing stories, satiric stories, and happy stories just because each chapter is a different anecdote of his life.
I really like when Katie mentioned that in order to have a truly remarkable descriptive piece, we need to incorporate something, whether an event or emotion, that most can relate to. As Mrs. Field said in class the other day, oftentimes people mix the modes though they concentrate predominantly on one. I also liked how Caitlin mentioned the three step process of a relationship with your parents. I agree with the steps and I laughed when I realized how true they were. I am currently in the dependence stage and my sister is moving towards the intolerance, she can’t stand when we call her or bug her too often. The final stage: with time and maturity we can learn to love our parents as they love us. This goes along with what Sarah Beth said. “Not until they both grow up and accept the fact that the other thinks different are they able to bond.” I think this can apply to any person not just the relationship between us and our parents. With anyone it is hard to see past differences in likes and dislikes and customs and beliefs. I feel that in any case, in order to learn to love one another we must be able to see past all that. I know that sometimes I feel like a complete screw-up and I wish I was like my perfect parents. However I think back to times when they made mistakes or were afraid or worried about problems. They are human too. They learned to see past all my transgressions and errors. I think this is why I am so close to my mother. We accept each other’s differences and are able to connect on a much deeper level.
ReplyDeleteOn another note, an idea for a descriptive essay: I find it rather easy to pick someone in my family, or multiple people in my family or friends that surround me. Pick someone, and then think of the one feature about them physically, that stands out to you the most, that you recognize/associate them with the easiest. Use that feature to be what you describe and then find a way to use that feature to paint the big picture of who your person is and their meaning to you. I thought about feet and shoes of people: high heels, sneakers, sandals, bare feet, etc. In class Mrs. Field mentioned that she connected with eyes.
I noticed that a majority of the class enjoyed reading “Arm Wrestling with my Father.” I really did like that story but I feel that I relate more to Vowell’s “Shooting Dad.” Vowell’s words may have sounded harsh but to me those words have an exaggerating undertone. My opinion goes along with Mary’s words: “the words she uses are not too harsh.” I really like stories that contain a humorous background and wise revelation at the end of the story. While Vowell had a relationship that had clashing elements, I do not recall hearing opposition from my father. He always encouraged me to pursue my interests and I really appreciated his advice.
ReplyDeleteEveryone described their relationships with their fathers in the previous. I am glad that overall everyone has a good connection with their fathers. Too often, I see girls and boys alike screaming and being rude to their fathers. It breaks my heart when I see that.
I found that “Marrying Absurd” and “Shooting Dad” were almost satirical in nature. The heavy descriptive elements can be used to mock other people (as in “Marrying Absurd”), or to poke fun at the author (as in “Shooting Dad”). Despite the comical qualities of both pieces, each piece demonstrated something to the reader. “Marrying Absurd” is almost a call to action; the author insinuates that certain lost values need to be put back into our concept of marriage. In “Shooting Dad,” the author uses her own experiences to help the reader. On the other hand, “Arm Wrestling with My Father” and “Indian Takeout” use more sentimental tones. By reflecting on memories, the authors can make a point about the relationship between a father and a son or the relationship between a foreigner and his culture. All of the stories discuss something that has been lost, such as a relationship, values, or a cultural connection. Therefore, I think that in writing my descriptive essay, I will focus on using the tools of description to convey the significance of a missing element.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed "Shooting Dad" and "Arm Wrestling with my father" because I feel as though reading these stories made me step back and look at my own relationship with my father, and what I could change to be a better daughter. My favorite of the four narratives, however, was "Marrying Absurd." It is so sad to realize that the value of marriage has been lost over the last few generations. Having the in-class discussion that brought up the topic of marriage really supplemented the reading of "Marrying Absurd." I liked the fact that "Marrying Absurd" was very satirical, where as "Arm Wrestling with My Father" and "Indian Takeout" were more serious in their nature. Overall, I am so glad to see that a large majority of the class has open and loving relationships with their fathers. I believe that having a good relationship with our Dad is so important and beneficial to our lives. Like Elina mentioned, It breaks my heart to see children that can't understand or appreciate the love their parents have for them!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed Arm Wrestling with My Father" the best, possibly because my father and I's relationship is partially like he described his was. However when I read it, like Kirsten said, it made me take a look at my relationship with my father. Our relationship is, at the least, a good one, but it made me realize that when he gets on my nerves or messes with me when I'm not in the mood, he is only trying to show his love for me by relating to me. I also enjoyed "Marrying Absurd" because it pointed out thoughts that I have had on marriage for awhile. I think when I write my descriptive essay, however, I will not use a satirical method and I will lean more towards a very descriptive serious essay like "Indian Takeout".
ReplyDeleteWhen Mary said she would “focus on using the tools of description to convey the significance of a missing element” that verified a question I had. I was thinking back and trying to come up with something to write a descriptive piece on, and the one thing I wanted to describe was a time in my life when something was missing. I questioned whether I could describe that or not, but I can see now it’s possible. In Marrying absurd, the loss of moral value is the whole point of the story.
ReplyDeleteI think of the descriptive pieces, like a lot of my classmates, “Arm Wrestling” was my favorite. It’s the just the one that I found the most touching. I loved that the story revolved around the arm of his father. By the end of the story I could picture the father’s arm, but I couldn’t actually imagine the father.
Each of these descriptive pieces caused me to laugh at least once, whether it was due to their satirical elements or ironic humor. "Marrying absurd" seemed to be the most satirical pieces of them all, focusing on the insincere values our culture has on marraige today. It made me realize how ridiculous some peoples' values are nowadays. In "Indian Takeout," I really liked the metaphor she used with the "treasure chest" that they brought back and forth to and from India throughout the essay. It made me realize that some people really hold close ties to their culture and native background. I wish that I had a unique background instead of just boring English or American. I'm slightly jealous of people who can trace their roots to native Americans or Jewish people. I think they have the coolest traditions that I wish I could enjoy. The activity we did in class about traditions helped me to understand the authors' purpose for both of these pieces; our culture has skewed the values of some traditions, causing us to lose the value of holidays and marraige, but at the same time, some families hold onto valuable relics, such as the "treasure chest" in "Indian Takeout."
ReplyDeleteI also really liked how "Shooting Dad" and "Arm Wrestling with my Father" were extended metaphors. I think that both pieces were intended to reveal an absolute truth about the relationships we share with our parents, which can sometimes cause us to laugh. The three steps that Elizabeth shared made me laugh because I realized how truly real those stages are. Both of these pieces seemed to show the maturation of the authors as moved through these stages of life. I could relate to these stories more to the relationship I have with my mother instead of my dad. I've always been able to get along with my dad, but my mother tends to constantly get on my last nerve. I'm not sure when I will move to the finaly stage of love for her, but according to Manning and Vowell, my time will come, even if conflicting emotions are involved.
As I read your posts, a thought comes to mind andconnects to Elizabeth's comment. In each of these selections a dominant impression drives the piece. An arm, guns, the suitcase and Las Vegas morality. Be sure that your piece has such a vehicle.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the description mode because I think that reading is kind of like a window looking onto a world we cannot be in. But without description the curtain falls over the window and we can no longer see what is going on. I have always like really descriptive pieces because I like to feel like I am in the story. I know that a lot of people think that descriptive parts of stories, like In Cold Blood, are boring, but I think that those parts set the stage for later action. Without description, we would have a play with no stage, so to speak. One of my favorite descriptive pieces of all time is Harry Potter. There are paragraphs upon paragraphs of just descriptions of scenery, characters, and senses.
ReplyDeleteI think the four pieces that we read were all very different, which is what made the unit so interesting. While "Arm Wrestling with My Father" and "Shooting Dad" both focused on relationships with specific people, the other two stories focused on describing either an event or a memory. In "Indian Takeout" a sense of nostalgia is created by the description of a memory, or a group of memories, tied to the author's childhood. In "Marrying Absurd" the event of marriage in Las Vegas is satirized by the description of the absurdity of the people getting married. All of these pieces have a connecting element, though. That element is description (of course). It can make even the most boring story one worthy of a book. It enlivens and enriches our stories and our lives.
I think that when writing a descriptive piece, we should pick something simple to describe. This is because then we can focus even more on the little details. If you chose to describe the religion of Christianity, your piece would either be very long or it would not be very detailed. But, if you instead chose to describe your church building, your piece could be more detailed. I also think that descriptive pieces should have more than just description for description's sake. I think that we should describe something for a purpose.
This is the perfect mode by which to describe how an items symbolizes something.
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed reading all of the descriptive essays except “Marrying Absurd.” I’m not exactly sure why I didn’t like it, perhaps it’s because I didn’t feel any connection like I did to the other three essays. Reading “Shooting Dad” and “Arm Wrestling with My Father” really made me contemplate my own relationship with my dad. I’d never reflected on our relationship before, and in considering our bond, I learned so much about both of us. I have come to realize how much my dad truly means to me through this reflection.
ReplyDeleteI related very strongly to “Indian Takeout.” While living in Bahrain, a tiny island in the Persian Gulf, I experienced much the same situation that Lahiri did. On every summer trip to America we loaded our luggage with Persian rugs, perfume, fabric, and other special decorative items for gifts for my family. On the trip back to Bahrain we would pack boxes of American furniture, candy, clothing, toys, and (I especially remember) Dubble Bubble gum. Arriving back in Bahrain, my family would tear open the boxes and extract our “treasures.” My mom would keep all of the candy and gum in a special closet and sparingly dispense it throughout the year. Although the main element of a descriptive essay is obviously the descriptions, I think it is also important that the essay has some element of relatability, so the reader can really take something away from the piece.
Joseph Ebron
ReplyDeleteAs I reflect back on these pieces, I really liked that three of them connected to family. The father-son/daughter relationships described in “Arm Wrestling with my Father” and “Shooting Dad” really helped me reflect back on my own father-son relationship with my father. Those pieces showed me that the relationship with your father is one that is very special and should not be taken for granted. It also showed me that each moment that one shares with his father contributes to the closeness of the relationship as seen in “Arm Wrestling with my Father.” These pieces are evidence that the relationship one has with their father will influence many aspects of his life. In “Indian Takeout”, the connections that food made to culture really connected to me. The way that the family regards its culture is a way that we all should.
They showed no shamed and embraced their humble beginnings, a lesson we all can apply to our lives. Each of these pieces helps me appreciate my family and my culture.
I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptive mode. It allows one to share his or her beliefs and culture with others from different backgrounds. One thing I love to do is getting to know different people from unique places who have experienced things I cannot even imagine. As Sydney said, she has not lived in an exotic place or experienced any other culture but our own; I can relate to this. I have lived in Augusta, Georgia, all of my life, so it is very exciting for me to hear about others who have not. “Indian Takeout” piqued my interest for this reason. The description of the foreign foods in a big suitcase sounded delicious. And the thought that they could make it last for over a year, just so that they could have their favorite cultural cuisine, was impressive. My dad was born in England and moved around all his life because of the air force. I absolutely love hearing his stories from interesting places like Spain, Libya, and Germany. Learning about how others live and have lived will always be an interest of mine.
ReplyDeleteAs I begin to think about my descriptive piece, I think about features of people I could describe: noses, ears, eyes, or mouths. But I have found that what I want to describe most is something that a person leaves behind. I hope to write my piece on footprints. Everyone has a different footprint, whether big or small, long or wide; each is unique. I want to choose three people that have impacted my life, and detail their footprint. If my plan works out, I will have shown the mark they left on me, as well.
Bayley,
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like an interesting approach to your description essay. It made me think of Fahrenheit 451 and Grangerr telling Montague that his grandfather left his thumbprint on him.
I have enjoyed much of what the description mode has to offer from the Bedford reader, and understand its influence in writing even better now. These descriptive writings allow us to use our minds' eye to see people, things, and places we've never seen before. Because of this it significantly facilitates good writing. They can offer insight into foreign topics (ie; "Indian Takeout") or even relate to a reader on a more personal level. While reading "Arm Wrestling with My Father" I was able to relate to Manning has an only son. "Shooting Dad" was also a very good story, as it effectively describes the clashing personalities in Vowell's home and lets her readers see into the life of a teenage girl who struggles to find similarities with her father. In writing my piece I aim to use description to this effect.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, "Ryuji-Otogi" is me (Corey Bonsant). My display name has messed up for some reason.
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