Cortazar!!!!

Magical realism has been defined and translated as being many things. Magical realism is, more than anything else, an attitude toward reality that can be expressed in popular or cultured forms, in elaborate or rustic styles in closed or open structures. In magical realism the writer confronts reality and tries to untangle it, to discover what is mysterious in things, in life, in human acts. This is best defined by Julio Cortazar, a brilliant Latin American author. His short story “The Continuity of Parks” describes a twisted tale of a man, lover, and a killer. In my opinion at first, the story was a little too farfetched and complicated, because I was lacked the knowledge of his writing style. After analyzing the story in class it made more sense. I related more to Cortazar’s story “Our Demeanor at Wakes”, because it reminded me of my grandfather’s funeral. It was a competition of who can show the most remorse and who loved him even more. My experience wasn’t at the extent of the stories, but it was a terrible event.

On the other hand “Axolotl” was confusing and difficult to understand. I do understand that the story is about isolation can be alleviated by art, but I don’t understand how’s it being expressed through a salamander. Julio Cortazar is an amazing, confusing and political minded writer, but not of my taste.

Marquez!!!

The magnificent writing styling’s of Gabriel Garcia Marquez has a way of explaining everyday issues using supernatural and sarcastic elements. In his short story “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings”, Marquez explained how people classify others as by what they wish it to be, but not for what’s it’s worth. As men and women, the conventional way of thinking and assuming that un worldly objects can only look and be a certain way, over powers the “bigger picture”. In the story, the old man was indeed and angel, but because of his appearance and his lack of compassion for spectators, caused people to question his existence. I believe that Marquez brought up very debatable points within the church. The controversy between having faith and seeing has been a challenge within these spiritual institutions, including my own. I thoroughly enjoyed how Marquez, in an inventive kind of way, called out the people and church on how we ignore the blessings in front of our very noses. In the short story “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings”, the child had overcame his sickness, the family became sustainable and people had a since of hope. Marquez also illustrated how people can create delusive stories in there heads and make it a reality, as done in his short story “The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World” .
Marquez is by far the best Latin American writer in my opinion. His sagacious way of writing is music to my ears.

Reveiw of the Polpol Vuh

Roynald Wright
Professor Benander
28 ENG 222
08 January 2011

　

Review of the Popol Vuh

　

Throughout time, an ancient civilization has become extinct. This civilization was the Maya. The Maya civilization is credited with the building of truly awe-inspiring temples, pyramids and cities. They are known to have developed and thrived within a complex social and political order. This culture has been noted for it’s popular Mayan calendar. A whole culture has been wiped clean from text books, but the stories still remain. One book in particular is called Popol Vuh.. The Popol Vuh discusses the development of the world and mankind, and the struggles the Gods had with the coping with the way the “wood people”.
Being an avid Christian, I do stand by what I was brought up to believe, but comparing the Bible to the Popol Vuh did create and on going battle of similarities and differences in my head. The book of Genesis states that in the beginning there was nothing but heaven and he (God), who commenced to creating the earth and all its creatures. Not shunning the Mayan belief , but in the Mayan translation of the beginning of times, there were more then one God, which discussed and deliberated about the creation of man. This created some controversy in my head. How can it be more than one God and is it possible? Both the Christian and Mayan people believe that man and animals were created to worship and honor the creator, but in the Christian faith , men were not made out of wood. Another similarity is when God was very disappointed in humans, he sent a massive flood upon the earth as did Huracan, the God of the sea in the Mayan belief.
I do not completely disagree with the Popol Vuh and its belief system, but I feel that this book is a little farfetched. It puts me in a mind set of Greek mythology, which in my opinion, both are great to read about for literature purposes, but only for entertainment. I’m open to all cultures, only if documentation is involved.