NeuSmiles

  This week, we read and discussed the short story of “The Death of the Moth” by Virginia Woolf. This short memoir explored the perspective of Woolf observing a Moth, trapped and trying its best to escape to the outside. Although superficially this story may seem boring, Woolf, acclaimed as a genius, meticulously placed a hidden meaning into this. This may be the paragon of all literature related allegories, with Woolf placing these meanings left and right. The hidden meaning that was central to the story was the force of life and death. Although Woolf tried to help the moth by flipping it over and aiding it to fly, she saw how the moth slowly started to lose energy and stamina over time; its wings started to slow down and his efforts became so shallow. Woolf realized this one important thing: death is inevitable and the death force was imminent for the Moth. Although this is a very noble comprehension, it feels very unfortunate, like the main character dying after saving his or he...

  This week In English, we specifically focused on a piece that was contemporarily relatable to many of us. This was the short story “Words Don’t Mean What They Mean” by Steven Pinker. This was much different than the other pieces we had because of the authenticity and the shared experiences that could be connected to the audience. Specifically through the vivid examples used, I was able to create a more profound understanding of these terms. These terms, like a double entendre, pun or a malpropism, share an analogous intention, but possess a distinct meaning and effect which makes it so unique and interesting. These elements are so heavily emphasized in Korean Language and Culture, with every word holding the power to compliment or insult someone. While in a perfunctory (a word I had no idea on yesterday’s SAT) manner this may not seem so, even to native Koreans, one quick scrutiny can evince the tension present in the language. The use of Korean homophones, which is very similar ...

  This week, our class mainly focused on two pieces that were significant to culture and scrutinized key selections such as language and mood. The first writing, the “F Word” by Dumas, highlighted how being multifaceted in your identity proved to be ineffective and rather a disadvantage through the specific challenges she faced because of her name. The disguised motive that Dumas planted was the notion of just being yourself, ignoring external factors and implications that distract you from it. Dumas switched her name countlessly, but chose to stick with her forename, proud of her ethnic and cultural background. Right before changing back to her forename the very last time, she gave herself the name “Julie.” This was primarily for the comfort of herself and others, easy to pronounce and common. She ascertained that when changing her name to something prosaic, weirdly but understandably, more job interviewers were interested in her. Simultaneously both good and bad, sadly, this is t...

  This week, we read an allegory-like piece called Marrying Absurd by Joan Didion. The short story explored the idea of marriage–specifically centered around Americans–and the transformation of meaning on conventional sentiments related to marriage. Didion starts off by unveiling marriage culture in Las Vegas; she makes clear observations and expresses her notions and sentiments towards it. Throughout the short story, Didion conveys marriage in American culture through the persistent use of reported experiences and examples to assert her argument: marriage is hollow. Although to some it may seem like Didion is “mocking” individuals that abide in these cliques, in hindsight, she’s simply and frankly portraying how Vegas is the transparent representation of American culture. In an extreme translation, Didion is claiming how this culture is the epitome of venality itself. This process of hollowing however, was neither natural nor inevitable primitively. It was through the craving of ...

  This week, we read multiple pieces that encompassed and discussed concepts such as gender roles decided by society. One piece that really stood out was About Men by Gretel Ehrlich. She talks about the conventional views that were held as cowboys held—tough, dirty, aggressive—and debunks previously these as well as defines what a real Cowboy is. Physicality and Toughness are the 2 aspects that are expected in a cowboy but Ehrlich’s argument is that from her personal experience, they’re everything but that; they’re gentle, tender, and thoughful. She says “Instead of the macho, trigger-happy man our culture has perversely wanted him to be, the cowboy is more apt to be convivial, quirky and softhearted” (Ehrlich 571). In the modern world, men, not just limited to cowboys, are expected to “man up” and suppress emotions. However, it shows how recently, such pressure and generalized norms can affect mental health and well-being of a person. In studies and even just in real life, most me...

  This week, we explored various writings, most of which were related to contemporary society, and scrutinized the authors’ purpose and notions. Reading the Unmarked Woman , by Deborah Tannen, inveigled me and resonated with me deeper. Tannen’s main argument is that women constantly are evaluated and scrutinized with only their superficial identity. She underscores her argument how “no woman is unmarked” while men have the choice to be marked or unmarked. To define what being “marked” and “unmarked” is, Tannen first explicitly states that marked is “a staple of linguistic theory.” The intended message that Tannen aspires to convey is that being unmarked is the idea of standing by the societal norms and beliefs (being normal), while being marked is a symbol of contrast, a multifaceted identity. Her conclusion is that women will always be marked, and will never be able to opt out of this constant pressure and accept that it is inevitable in our reality. Although this is a valid state...