Respond to the Ise Lyfe's poem (poetry) beginning with "We Exist" from Pistols and Prayers the CD. We also listened to Prayer, Chyldhood, Just a Thought, Oakland Stand UP, and Pride.
In class today we:
2. Continued the group discussions.
3. Reviewed thesis sentences, organization, support; MLA --in-text citations, parentheticals; Verb tense when writing about literature
Sample thesis (handout--Three-Part Thesis sentence)
Although novelist JK uses her (life) experience as an immigrant as a basis for her character, Kimberly Chang, there the two diverge, as Girl in Translation is a hero's journey, where instead of scaling tall buildings, she slays dragons in sweat shops, rescues mute damsels in drag, and then takes her knight and rides off on her Ducati.
Notes continued
Introduction:
Background on Kim. How did she get to America. Other key characters in the saga: Ma, Aunt Paula (the ogre), Pa-ghost, Matt, (Annette).
Character profile of the superhero:
She's flawed or damaged, a product of her environment. . . (think about her fatherless son). There could be a sequel.
How does she fix other people's lives when she can't fix her own?
Problems she resolves. Each problem could be a paragraph:
Housing, language, culture: American & Chinese, generational gaps between Kim and her mom. The gaps elasticity: grows and shrinks. Look at the use of translation to bridge this bridge they keep repairing.
Super Hero Profile:
Self-sacrificing, sacrifices personal happiness for others, doesn't have many friends, secretive, protective of weak and vulnerable, brave. Believes in her mission. Is dishonest, yet genuine. (What she might lack in idealism, she makes compensates in actions.
A superhero has super power, Kim's is her math & science skills. The superhero might always be well-intentioned, but the outcome might not always be favorable or helpful.
In Kim's case, one could say, a superhero is not more mature than her age-mates, so she often makes mistakes based on her limited life experiences, and in this case limited English language fluency.
A superhero is self-reflective and respectful (most of the time).
Problems connected to heroism like loneliness.
Conclusion:
Takeaways:
What are the tangible takeaways? Is she successful? In what way? What does she have to show for her work? Is the world safer because of her?
We also looked at the larger story here that of America and its large immigrant population, people who have nothing yet achieve greatness as they translate their lives into marketable currency.
Homework:
Prepare for the essay on the novel, Girl in Translation. Bring in a detailed outline with an Initial Planning Sheet. You will have 1 1/2 hours to write and we will spend 20 minutes on a peer review and the rest of the time in revision. I hope you can turn the essays in tomorrow. We shall see.
We are going to see Pistols and Prayers on Friday, July 1, 2011, 8 PM at 408 14th Street. I will be next door at an artist reception at Joyce Gordon Gallery, 406 14th Street, Oakland, 5:30 p.m. until 7:45 p.m., where I have ten photographs from my trip to Senegal in 2009. The exhibit is called: The Visual Word: Poetry through Photography. The reception is free.
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27 comments:
D.L
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1B
29 June 2011
Free Write:
I think that Kim Chang would find much resonance in the poem “We Exist”, recognizing and identifying with the line saying that those born different often give thanks for it later, after the pain. This was most certainly true for her, how in the beginning she was often teased and picked on for her funny dress and her inability to speak English, yet later became highly successful and respected for her knowledge. Kim’s unique qualities that first made her an outcast soon became the qualities that made her desirable by many of the boys at Harrison Prep. She learned to accept herself as she was, rejecting the make up that she once sought so she could be like the other girls. No longer did she want to simply fit in, instead embracing her own identity, even after feeling all the pain of not being the same.
Lyfe, Ise. “We Exist.” Pistols and Prayers. 7even89ine Recordings. CD.
Gerardo Guzman
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1B
29 June 2011
“WE EXIST” FREE WRITE”
“Someone has to say something/So we are born”
The hopes of mankind are that each successive generation shall have progressed over the previous one. With the last two lines of Ise Lyfe’s poem, “We Exist”, those hopes are echoed. There are many injustices in the world and oftentimes they go unnoticed or ignored. Many who dare to take a stand against these injustices are silenced. It is up to the next generation not to allow this to continue; the status quo is no longer acceptable. Scenes from Egypt and Libya prove that in the 21st century tyrants cannot keep a people down without serious repercussions. We are granted life to be part of a community and protect each other.
James, Deborah
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1B
29 June 2011
Iyse Lyfe Pistols and Prayers, We Exist
Reflections on Poem
In language that can be understood by the younger generation, Lyfe voices the sentiments felt by many. “Proud to be black, but not proud of black people” voices the way that many feel about the black experience. The effects of the drug epidemic of the 70s and 80s is felt to this day in the black community by the absence of fathers and in some cases, mothers from the home and thus the formative years of young blacks.
In the novel Girl in Translation, Matt brings money he has earned on his second job to his father who has a gambling habit. Iyse Life reflects in his poem about his father asking him for money to support his drug habit. Matt claimed that his father was dead due to the shame he felt at his father being overtaken by a habit that promised a temporary fix and escape from the hard life experienced by life as a factory worker. Many blacks sought escape from their lives through the use of alcohol and drugs. Gil Scott Heron spoke of this phenomenon in his song “Living in a Bottle.” In his poem, Iyse Life speaks of the effects of his father’s and sister’s drug addiction.
I work in a theater youth program. Some of the children have parents who recently completed drug rehab. The lack of discipline and home training in these children is evidenced by their behavior and the incidences of ADD are horrendous. Most of the day is devoted in admonishing these children to “Pay attention, please keep quiet, etc.” I can only wonder at their academic experience, given what I am observing on a daily basis at the theater.
Michelle Kith
English 1b
1/29/2011
We Exist
We exist, we are all twins , we all fucked up the system in the system. Someone has to say something, so we were born. The poem is a look into how humanity is more about division than unity. When the artist states “ We Exist”, he means to say that humanity exist for a purpose, for a reason, and that is come together in unity, in a community with justice for all. The poet suggust that since we were all born, that we must say something, if there is unjustice. To live in community ignorant of the many issues society face, would align with his statement of “ we all fucked up the system in the system.” We all exist for a purpose, and that purpose is to nourish one self, and each other.
Ramel George Jr.
Professor Sabir
ENGL 1B
29 June 2011
Freewrite
The poem “We Exist” has a very immense meaning for human life. The poet Ise Lyfe really captures what needs to be done by people to change their surroundings, especially in the under privilaged communites. Growing up in the same city that he has, I can identify when he speaks about the guys in “fly clothes” and the socially concsious rappers that has positive messages instead of the nonsense that is played on the radio. The poem talks about how we all exist here on Earth for a reason. Lyfe states, “We all twins, a million twins.” This shows that we as a people, no matter your background or status, are all the same and have to work for the same cause to help each other. In one of the earlier poems he also spoke about how it would be easier to just be dead than to live up to everyone else’s expectations. This really reasonated with me because it has been difficult to live up to the expectations of those around me and that maybe I should not worry about their expectations as much as my own.
Lyfe, Ise. “We Exist.” Pistols and Prayers. 7even89ine Recordings. CD.
Virgil Gamble
Professor Sabir
English 1B
29 June2011
Free Write:
Response to Ise Lyfe: "We Exist"
Line: “We all fuck the system in our system”
This line stands for the resisting the sytem that so many black people have fallen victim to. This line stands for the injustices done to black people from slavery to our modern day social system. This line stands for the free labor and the economic benefit America received from our forefathers without a dollar or a penny or a thank you. This line stands for the injustice our forefathers of the civil rights movement went through: Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, Emmit Till… This line is a reminder why the education I receive is more important than “what’s good” on my block. This line puts to shame the behavior of a lost people, a relocated people. This line speaks true into the soul of a proud people.
Stephanie Chan
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1B
29 June 2011
We Exist Free-Write
The poem, We Exist by Ise Lyfe, gives an emotional explanation of our unwritten connections to everyone in this world. He says that “not biological but undeniably we are all twins, millions of twins” which means that we are related somehow in our daily lives. We overcome different obstacles that stand before us and we are all vulnerable to the same emotions. No matter where we come from or what family we are pre-destined to, we will all connect to someone else physically or emotionally and react the same to a given situation as somebody else. Ise Lyfe uses his poetry to inform others that we may not be alone as we may perceive ourselves to be. He teaches others about equality; we are so related to one another that we should not condescendingly talk to someone nor be afraid to speak at all.
Lyfe, Ise. "We Exist." Pistols and Prayers. 7even89ine Recordings. CD.
B.P
English 1B
Professor Wanda Sabir
29 June, 2011
From Ise Lyfe’s poem “We Exist,” he details about our existence and how we are all connected and similar despite external factors, and by covering ourselves up with social expectations on how we should be, we are living a fake existence. As Ise Lyfe explains, although we are all individuals with unique personalities and appearances, we are very much similar as humans born from the womb of another human. We have similar pains, goals, interests, appearances, but we constantly look to be different than the next person and believe that this next person is not the same in any way.
His constant reference to light and dark connects to his idea of real and fake; we hide ourselves in the darkness in order to be accepted in society, and although staying in the darkness is what seems to move us forward, in some ways, it doesn’t. Light is the idea of staying true to oneself, to accepting the fact that everyone was created under the same means, and that we all have similar interests despite factors that may separate us into categories.
Works Cited
Lyfe, Ise. “We Exist.” Pistols and Prayers. 7even89ine Recordings. CD.
Jennah Makalai
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1B
June 29th, 2011
Free Write:
Kim Chang can easily relate to the words of Ise Lyfe. He speaks of shows and venues as part of our lives, Kim Chang spent almost her entire childhood putting on a show. A show so no one would know about her home life, her work life, her family and her struggles. As she walks in to Harrison Prep for the first time she thinks to herself "I am a fraud..they weren't fooled at all"
"undeniably twins" speaks to how Kim is able to find similarities with people who she assumed were so different from her (ie.Curt, Annette). Even though they come from completely different worlds, there is an extremely human quality in each character that is demonstrated throughout the novel.
"drape ourselves in fly clothes" both of the time when Annette dressed Kim up for Curt's party. Fancy clothes, fancy make-up. This is finally when Curt felt comfortable making his first romantic move with Kim. Was it the fly clothes?
"we bring the light in to dark rooms" the Chang's apartment consistently depicts a dark image. Dark, cold, insect infested and dingy. Annette brings the light. The first time she is actually able to visit Kim's home, she is appalled and hurt that her friend never came to her for help. In turn, her Mrs. Avery helps the Chang's finally find a new apartment...the light.
Lyfe, Ise. “We Exist.” Pistols and Prayers. 7even89ine Recordings. CD.
Joanna Louie
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1B
29 June 2011
Response to “We Exist” by Ise Lyfe
I found the poem, “We Exist”, by Ise Lyfe , a powerful poem, one that our generation especially can relate to, as he includes artists from our generation. What makes me different from my biologically sister? Easy, I could write a book about what I believed separated us. Our entire life all we wanted to do was create an individual representation of ourselves. I doubt she enjoyed always being asked if we were twins and she thought that would end in 2008 when she graduated high school, when she began a new life, a new name for herself. Unexpectedly, I joined her at the same college two years later.
Who are we? What makes us unique? Under everything, we are all the same; we are “a million twins” living in this world. “Not biologically but undeniably”, Lyfe says. I had to think about that line for a moment when I first heard it. I could not agree with it more. I like his style, and the message he wants to give. It’s like we are all blank slates to begin with, all twins. Our characteristics emerge from the experiences we undergo. We really are the same, we are all twins.
Work Cited
Lyfe, Ise. “We Exist.” Pistols and Prayers. 7even89ine Recordings, 2011.
We exist—I was raised to believe that the creator, the goddess, the one responsible for our presence on the planet in this current incarnation was the only thing that truly exists, that it is the only reality. The rest is fantasy or just a temporary arrangement of molecules. So to consider the phrase, “we exist,” implies a certain occupation of space that I am not certain I want to claim. It implies responsibility to myself and to others who exist with me in this capsule where air and water and flesh are shared, even for limited time.
We exist, Ise Lyfe says and perhaps believes.
I was also raised to believe that despite the uncertainty of this existence, I have a responsibility to do a little harm as I can to others within the bubble capsule timeshare on the planet. It gets heavy and awkward and I sometimes want to check out of this existence. I completely understand suicide, the more one knows the more one is held accountable for—imagine the idea of everlasting life—what a thought. What if I mess up?
I think the idea of existence is more than a physical presence; it is an action, something that happens, like breath when one inhales and exhales and something else dies and something else lives.
WS
Stephanie Chan
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1B
29 June 2011
Blog Response:
I agree with D.L. and how he/she sees the connection between the Ise Lyfe’s “We Exist” and Kim from Girl in Translation. Kim faces adversities everyday and is limited to personal freedoms. She must face child labor while maintaining honor to her family by succeeding academically. She faces her expectations and it seems that she is pressured to mature more quickly in order to better her life. I feel that she may seem alone when she compares herself to her classmates. However, when I listen to “We Exist” I understand that there are many people similar to Kim who also experience adversity.
Jeffrey To
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1B
29 June 2011
Free write Ise Lyfe: We exist
The poem was really interesting, I like how the poet named different rappers such as Jay-z, Nas and Fila Lupa. I think I spelled the last guy’s name wrong because I do not listen to his music but I heard of him. I think the poet named these different people because rappers are considered poets. And the author got some inspiration listening to their music and lyrics. These rappers were talented when they first came out. I do not know anything about Fila Lupa but if his name sounds familiar he must be doing something right. I believe the poem we exist, has some connections with the rappers and poets the author named. I believe he is saying he exist from listening to these people. He exists meaning his life could be base on music and lyrics. He found life listening and relating to these people.
From my own personal experience, I found life in music too. Listening to music has a deeper meaning. There’s always a meaning or story in the lyrics. The lyrics and songs are base of something. To me, listening to Jay-z and Nas I can feel or tell what they are trying to say in their lyrics. Their lyrics define who they are and the struggles they been through. I found music to be the answer of some people’s problems. Listening to music help people escape from reality and calms them down. Music and lyrics can help people relate to the song or the writers, poet or rappers experience.
Lyfe, Ise. “We Exist.” Pistols and Prayers. 7even89ine Recordings. CD.
Virgil Gamble
Professor Sabir
English 1B
29 June2011
RE:Gerardo Guzman's post
It is true that tyranny still exist in the day and age and unfortunately I don’t think it will truly be pushed or removed from our society. It seems like human nature to oppress those different or that have different beliefs. This had been proven time after time in human history and unless something “magical” happens history shall repeat itself all over the world. You feel the pressure when you are oppressed but then maybe it becomes “easier” when you are doing the oppressing…what do you think?
Raymond Ye
Professor Sabir
English 1B
29 June 2011
Freewrite 4
The peom “We Exist” by Ise Lyfe implies that every man is created equal, but we are not equal in society. Every human is born as an infant with no food, no money, no clothes, and no knowledge. As the infant grows, it individualizes into a person different from anybody else. That person has his/her own taste in style, knowledge, possessions, career, etc. One example is the Oscar Grant situation, he was born the same as any other person and he grew up to be a man. Many people feel that he was only shot because he was black or because of the way he acted, so the situation could have been different if he was born another race or dressed differently. Therefore, if every person is equal, why does it seem to be that he was not treated equal?
Manuel Francisco Seminario
Professor,Sabir
English 1B
June 29th ,2011
Free Write
We exist a poem that was read in class ,a certain significance in the poem , such things some people don’t have, like the truth .” We exist” its based on part of the authors deep underground search in the underbelly of san francisco where by violence, poverty and a city government looking to exploit its residents. A lone voice shouts out to the world “We all fuck the system in our system. ”A stone cold truth that we must not deny . Not has this happened in a city like san francisco,but everywhere as well. The government with the help of subliminal messages and corrupt news to suit its self interest. In the words that full of injustice one man dares to shout “We exist” ,a simple two words that tell us all to stand together,unite,and stand tall . eaaA
A.L.
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1B
29 June 2011
Freewrite #4
“We are all twins, a million twins”
Kimberly Chang was the only Chinese girl in her elementary school. African Americans and a few whites surrounded her: she became an outcast because of that. Having no one to turn to at first, she was a alone until she met Annette. Her ethnicity and cultural background were the only two traits that differed from all the other kids at school. Like them, she did not have much money, did not eat well and she was poorly dressed. Right before she left to Harrison Prep, she even said that she actually felt at home at the elementary school, since almost everyone was like her.
“We exist” from Ise lyfe is about people with a lot potential but not being under the spotlight. People have a lot of prejudices, especially when they are culturally speaking, different from one another. Kimberly doesn’t fit in because, coming from China, she was taught to act in a certain way. People thought she was weird because her English was mediocre and she did not wear typical American clothings. She was the poorest of all, yet the smartest and the one to become the most successful of them all. People should not judge others solely on their appearances and manners; we are all different and we all are going to be successful on our own ways.
Lyfe, Ise. “We Exist.” Pistols and Prayers. 7even89ine Recordings. CD.
To B.P.
I liked how you wrote about the idea on “fake and real.” We all have our differences; we don’t have the same tastes for music and food for example. Yet, we are all bonded somehow by one mutual goal: to become successful in life. This is why we are all unique.
Ricardo Antonio Chavarria
Professor Sabir
English 1B
29 June 2011
Ise Lyfe
Ise Lyfe’s poem of self awareness brings a different perspective on urban culture. Similar to Ise Lyfe, Kimberly Chang shows a great sense of awareness. She shows maturity and begins to understands the culture around her. Kimberly grows up around a similar culture to Ise Lyfe. Belief in a higher being is also important to Kimberly and her mother. They attend the Buddhist temple regularly and pray to their gods. Another theme in Ise Lyfe’s poems is the desire to be free from responsibilities. Ise Lyfe realizes that the reason he cannot feel free is because of the responsiblities he thinks he has to others. If Ise Lyfe can let go of those feelings of responsibility to others he can be free at last. Kimberly Chang has big responsibilities as well, responsilibities that should be left to an adult. Kimberly constantly expresses her desire to be free, she just wants to be a regular teenage girl. I think it was the challenges of her life that build her strong character.
I am familiar to the themes discussed in Ise Lyfe’s from the culture of degrading women to the violence that is rampant in Oakland. Although I did not personally go through any tough experiences or challenges, I heard many stories from friends who were shot or lost someone to violence. Some of my friends from high school grew up with the types of song mentioned in the poem but I was more of a rock music fan.
Citation
Kwok, Jean. Girl in Translation. New York: Riverhead, 2010. Print.
Lyfe, Ise. “We Exist.” Pistols and Prayers. 7even89ine Recordings. CD.
Shipra Pathak
Professor Sabir
English 1B
29 June 2011
Free-write: Ise Lyfe’s poetry “We Exist”
Why do “we exist”? It is a mysterious question, questioning our existence. The word “Existence” symbolizes the meaning of our presence and the purpose of our life. In the poem “We Exist” by Ise Lyfe, the reason of our existence is explained by saying that “we are born to bring light into darkness.” To me, it makes me feel that we all are born to explore new dimension, or an unseen reality of life. Like in Girl in Translation, the author Jean Kwok has explored a new dimension of life and survival in the condemned building of Brooklyn which we consider not adequate for human survival. The poetry points out that we all exist for a reason but what is my reason of existence? it is question that I have not really thought about, but I should start thinking.
Work Cited
Lyfe, Ise. “We Exist.” Pistols and Prayers. 7even89ine Recordings. CD.
Shipra Pathak
Professor Sabir
English 1B
29 June 2011
Responding to Ramel George’s freewrite
I agree with you Ramel that in the poem “we Exist,” the poet is asking people to get up and do something to change their life. In addition, I think, Ise Lyfe the poet is calling the people to come together as twins, and change the system, the surrounding and community at large to make this world a better place for all of us to live together peacefully.
Great discussion. I think with all of you running the world, setting policies and making decisions in the near future, we'll begin to mend what is ailing our planet now.
S D
Professor Sabir
English 1B
29 June 2011
Ise Lyfe: We Exist
“We see each other in each other” What does that mean? We recognize one another because we are the same? Is it because we all are animated by the same energy? Ultimately we are all the same, we all experience emotions of love, joy, sadness and pain; we just don’t experience it all at the same time. In the end, Kim saw herself as her mother, a nurturer, loving, caring and humble, a provider. The love Kim had for Matt is the same love Ma had for pa; once Kim Had a child of her own she could understand her mother’s love and devotion for pa. Kim will forever see the love of her life in Jason; however her choice to keep her love child from his father was a poor choice.
Ise Lyfe. "We Exist." Pistols and Prayers. 7even89ineRecordings. CD.
T T
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1B
29 June, 2011
FreeWrite
I think that Kimberly Chang can identify mostly with the line “the outfits of those who rarely fit in and later thank God for that after the pain”in "We Exist". She had unique clothing made by her mother and her achievement in school which made her a social outcast from the other students, being bullied and tease but this did not stop her from achieving her goal in life; to move upward in society, giving her mother a better life. For the hard time other people have thrown at her, she blossom into a independent young woman with a successful career and truly thankful for all the things that made it possible for her.
Lyfe, Ise. “We Exist.” Pistols and Prayers. 7even89ine Recordings. CD.
B.P
English 1B
Professor Wanda Sabir
29 June 2011
I see what you mean Ramel George Jr. It is very true that when you said, “in one of the earlier poems he also spoke about how it would be easier to just be dead than to live up to everyone else's expectation. This really resonated with me because it had been difficult to live up to the expectations ….” Expectations in this century are very high, high enough that one would, as mentioned by Ise Lyfe, kill themselves just to be powerful and recognized. Being aware of that American dream, a popular social expectation, many try to reach that dream everyday, but only a very small number of people actually reach that fortune.
Work Cited
George Jr, Ramel. “Day 3, Week 2 Freewrite.” Online poster. 29 June 2011. College of Alameda. English 1B web forum. 29 June 2011.
Lyfe, Ise. “We Exist.” Pistols and Prayers. 7even89ine Recordings. CD
Joanna Louie
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1B
29 June 2011
Response to students:
To Michelle Kith:
I really like your view on the poem. You say the poem is “a look into how humanity is more about division than unity”. When I first heard the poem, I didn’t interpret it like that. I focused on how he says we are all the same we are “a million twins”. You raise a good argument, how you believe the artists thinks there is a purpose for our existence.
And to D.L.:
I really like how you connected Kim with the poem. In the beginning of her journey, she faces many obstacles before succeeding. “Those born different often give thanks for it later, after the pain.” Kim comes to NY being the outcast, then in the end, becomes well respected and recognized. Good things bloomed after the pain she experienced.
Work Cited:
Kith, MIchelle. “Day 3, Week 2 Freewrite.” Online posting. 29 June 2011. College of Alameda. English 1B Web Forum. 28 June 2011. < http://www.blog ger.com/comment.g?blogID=89094663691156474 02&postID=1111345929850101269 >
L, D. “Day 3, Week 2 Freewrite.” Online posting. 29 June 2011. College of Alameda. English 1B Web Forum. 28 June 2011. < http://www.blog ger.com/comment.g?blogID=89094663691156474 02&postID=1111345929850101269 >
Lyfe, Ise. “We Exist.” Pistols and Prayers. 7even89ine Recordings, 2011. CD.
SF
Wanda Sabir
English 1B
29 June 2011
Free Write
We exist through our ancestors; they are the people that were here before us. We are the outcome of what they went through. We exist to pass on our knowledge to the people that will come after us. We exist to spread love and make love so we can continue to exist. Ise Lyfe states, “After the pain not biologically but undeniably we are all twins seeing each other in each other a million twins.” Ah-kim came from Hong Kong into foreign land and didn’t fit in but gradually she starts to make friends and feel comfortable and that’s because we are all human no matter what the ethnicity. Ah-kim is able to move from one country to another and survive. We’re no different from each other all of us go through the same struggles.
Lyfe, Ise. “We Exist.” Pistols and Prayers. 7even89ine Recordings. CD.
Ricardo Antonio Chavarria
Professor Sabir
English 1B
30 June 2011
Respond to Jeffrey To
I agree with your statements on music. I cannot name anyone I know who does not like any type of music at all. It is music that attracts some people to each other. I think music reflects your mood or where you grew up, music can definitely say a lot about a person. Music is used throughout the world for different reasons. It is hard for me to imagine the world without music.
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