Blog Post #4

There is so much going on in this photo that captues the essence of what was going on back then in those days. No color is needed in this photo to show the tension between a military personnel and a gold miner in Serra Pelada. The people in the background look as if they are in utter shock but at the same time have a sense of pride and satisfaction that someone finally took the initatiative to stand up for them.The reason why i feel that this one person is not only fighting for himself but for everyone else too As well because back then there was never just an "I" it was always a "We". In the picture you also see a smirk on the officers face in a way of trying to test him. I felt like the officer was trying to underestimate him and dare him to do something. To be able to capture the tension between the officer and the miner is amazing

Blog Post #3

Wow, I have absolutely no words for this Excerpt called "Across the Wire" by Luis Alberto Urrera, it was simply amazing. Reading every minute of it made me picture in my head everything detail for detail. This helped me play things out in my mind and imagine it as if i were there. He would use many metaphors to give life to what exactly he as speaking about whether if it be describing a person, family, thing, or place. I guess this is the magic that Mr. Urrera is able to help create through just the usage of the words in this book. I felt that as I kept reading I began to put myself in their shoes and look at things through their perspective.  Through the small excerpt many lines popped out but there were three specific lines that did the Magic. The first one would be on page 739, when he states this, " Sometimes they find meat that is not too rotten to be cooked." This goes to show that times were more than tough they became a risk especially for their health. These people never had the choice to decide if they wanted food like this it. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

The second quote that stood out to me was on page 747, "The sky was black and brown---they were burning dogs at the end of the dump.It smelled like Hell." This quote alone is Absolutely mind blowing. He explains basically what to us seems out of the normal but for them there daily routine. This quote paints a very vivid picture in my mind. To just imagine how the smell of burning dog must be so pungent and sour. Then to imagine how hell must smell and even possibly look is just amazing. His usage of words is what takes this entire peice.

The last quote that took me off by complete surprise was on page 753 which was the narrator speaking of a family which felt threatened but the "I" brushed it off and beleived what he heard which then proceeded to the killings of the parents in such a gruome matter. "Jesuista's husband was held by the arms, and a sawed off shotgun was nitched under his nose and fired. It blew his head to pieces, leaving on the back of his skull, with the ears attached." I really didn't know how to feel after I read this, it amazed me to know that the way he described the families and made sure that in some type of way that you were able to relate the characters to someone. This makes the reader feel as if they know them and that's what's makes his writing so different. He's blunt and detailed and that is what many people run away from. After reading this small excerpt I will be purchasing the book as well.

Blog Post #2

       " He was a tall, tan, handsome man with such dark black sleek hair resembling that of the black panther, his dark cold eyes made you curious about his frigid past and this man this man was my Dad. Never knowing where to draw the lines between love and selfishness it brings me here to the beginning of forgiving my Dad. For all the times you cheated on my mom. For the times you lied and hurt me physically, mentally, emotionally, and took away my happiness from arms reach. "

~~This non fiction story was written based upon my accounts and experiences. I was inspired to write this vignette because i needed a way to get rid of the past. The only way i felt like i could do this would be by writing these accounts on paper and using them as an inspiration as a way of moving on by letting the past go.I feel that the piece alone describes everything that there is to know. Its about a bittersweet / love and hate  relationship between a daughter and father.I will actually not be using this peice for my final portfolio. The reason why is because it was a bit to personal which to a certain degree i do not mind but i feel that people might be sympatethic which is something that i am not seeking for. I coud of changed it up a bit probabbly by not making it so personal and putting it maybe in a third person view or even changing the sory and topic all together. I have written short stories before, many actually in high school. But there is a huge difference when you are writing a academic essay on a certain topic with strict regulations that have to be done on a paper versus a piece where u have the power to take it in any direction but with only very few restrictions. You as the writer have a choice with how exactly you wnt the writer to read and understand along with the type of flow you would like to add to the paper. By writing this paper it not only helped my vent my thoughts it also showed me that creative non fiction is what you make of it at the end of the day when the piece is done.I revised my piece by looking it over on my phone and from there whenever i had time i would check it thoroughly for mistakes and bad usage of words.  Im looking forward to the other papers up ahead.

Blog Post #1

Hey,
   Well to start this off, I would like to introduce myself, My name is Valerie and my major at Laguardia Community College is Criminal Justice. I am in my second year already and after this year in Laguardia I am heading over to John Jay to finish up my last two years in order to get my Bachelors degree. Since this would be my last English class i wanted it to be something interesting and also something that would fit right into my schedule as well.In my past i have taken Eng 101,102 and also have had some experience in high school with vignettes, non fiction stories including my own, fiction stories, journals, essays, and using my own observations as a way to create a story. The types of stories I am interested in reading are non fiction Crime, I've always been intrigued with this I can never fully comprehend and with unsolved cases I enjoy them the best. The other things that I enjoy reading are topics, themes, and morals that I can relate to as well. Which I'm pretty sure that many of my fellow classmates would agree with me on that. Other than that I'm looking forward to this semester and letting this course open my mind to bigger possibilities.