Zorro

The graphic novel of Zorro by Wagner and Francavilla is the most innovative and passionate book I’ve read. With its intricate artistic detail and use of Spanish throughout the story, Diego, otherwise known as the capped crusader Zorro, really came out of the book. This story had many elements to it, including, a love story, and a quest for revenge, and a tale of the riches to rages and back to riches. More importantly this novel symbolizes the struggles between the peons and the oppressed minorities which are the powerless, compassionate, weak, scared, victimized and poor.  This includes poor Mexicans, Native Americans, Jews, and Romani (gypsies), against the Spanish colonizers as wealthy, unjust, power hungry, abusive, racist, hierarchical, and evil.

The controversy between theses two parties has been an issue for many years and Isabel Allende, author of the novel Zorro, brought the issue to light. The graphic novel’s illustrations were so intimate and clear, the words had become ineffective. Like the saying goes“A picture is worth a thousand words”, the book became the ideal obsession. I had no idea that the separation between the “real” Spanish and the others were as severe as it was portrayed in the graphic novel and the book. I’ve starting reading the book and Allende goes into so much detail about the unlawful activity the government exemplifies. I enjoyed the characters because it not only became relatable, but also gave a sense of security to how there is always somebody watching and protecting those who are demoralized.

Borges!!

Jorge’s Luia Borges’s short stories have been read throughout the world, and most recently in the classroom. His psychoanalytic writing styles have sparked an awakening within me to the fact that the concept and nature of time can create an alternate reality. Also he proves that the power of imagination can take on a form of its own to make it believable to the person creating to illusion. In Borges’s short story “Gospel According to Mark”, he criticized the Catholic Church in Latin America. After reading this, I agreed with his message of the lack of knowledge of within the church. We are so far in depth with the science aspect of the supernatural, instead of the faith segment. In the short story “Emma Zuntz”, Borges explained a reality that a girl created to avenge her father’s death. I’ve been in the position where I had intensified a particular situation and created a plan to set up an individual. I believe his writings are images of the truth where the struggle of intellect and ignorance, purpose of art and the power of the imagination co exist.

“Nadie rebaje a lágrima o reproche,  Esta demostración de la maestría, De Dios, que con magnífica ironía, Me dio a la vez los libros y la noche.” - Jorge Luia Borges

Nobody should think that I, by tear or reproach, make light Of the mastery of God who,
With excellent irony, Gave me at once both books and night.

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.