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This is a college level tranfer course, the second in a series where we will examine the poetics of life lived on the ground...as in rough and tumble, as in America at war with herself. This is a world art alone makes sense of, an artist's work is a gift freely shared like air...sympathetic systems aligned, the the fictive or imaginary worlds of possiblity simply an inhale or exhale away. This class is an opportunity to close your eyes and believe.
7 comments:
An alter-ego is mainly used in order to be able to start over. To represent yourself in a whole different way. For example, mostly online, you can really see what that person is really like. That nerdy looking kid in the hallway might actually be that funny, intelligent person you have noticed online. An alter-ego is mostly used to mask onesself in order to be themselves. Doesn’t make sense right? Well people really care about their image, what they are viewed as towards others. No matter what one says, it matters on an unconcious level. Usually when they are themselves and using their real name, they are less prone to do things that seem a little odd according to them. However, who said that if they did it, it would be weird? Those who judge them. However when you change your name, it is like changing yourself. You get a chance to do what you really want. For example, when I was a little kid, I was very quiet, very shy and didn’t make friends very well. When I went home and chatted with others, I was known to be a very funny, nice guy who is interesting. People tend to be more of themselves when they are not bearing a past in which restricts them.
For Felicia Pride, negra is her alter ego. Like she says, she is shy, nervous, scared. However, Negra, her new name, her new ego is someone who is none of those things. She does everything she usually wouldn’t do. It’s a mental thing, to be able to start over and not be restricted by what you made yourself to look like. You kind of get a second chance at it. Eminem, Slim Shady, Marshall Mathers are all the same person however when they look at each name, it is a different person. An alter ego is like a face, one which people perceive you as. It is normal to have more than one, maybe one at work, one at home, one out with friends or with your parents. It is unconciously what people do.
The Meaning Of A Name
Kimberly Peterson
Eng 1B Tues/Thurs
10/28/2008
9:35AM Tuesday
The alternative self. Negra, an alter ego. "Guru", an alter ego. Slim Shady, an alter ego. Shawn Carter, and many more, all alter egos. In hip hop, a lot of people create alter egos to help themselves just let go. They become different people in their songs, and they create these different personas of themselves.
I think its kind of funny really, not to be crude, but are they experiencing Multiple personalities, or is it the music? I've probably had an alter ego at one point in time, or another. I think she lives on the dark side, laughs in the face of death, isn't afriad of anything but fear itself.
I remember one of the times she helpt me out. I was on a hike, in a small strem, that entered through tunnels... with several members of my family. Everyone was about my age, or younger. The small tunnels were fine to walk through. Then we got to this huge tunnel, we couldn't see the end of it, for it was PITCHBLACK. Instead of turning back, I led the way. I know I could not have done that by myself, I used my dark side. Just as whenever Felicia Pride gets shy, she lets Negra take over.
Aerin O'Leary
English 1B
10/28/08
"Negra" AKA Felicia Pride speaks about her alter ego and the meaning of a name. Pride's alter ego, "Negra", is a name she has created for herself, translated to "black woman" she feels this helps her to feel more confident in times when she feels as though she is afraid or scared.
She talks about how hip-hoppers do the same thing by remixing and making it their own. This is interesting because a lot of the time rappers have names that few people understand the meaning of, or the roots and when it is discovered you see what truly lies behind a name and one sees that the artist themselves have taken on a different persona.
Creating a new self, or picture of oneself is not about hiding behind something but embracing the fact that we can be individuals and on a higher level become attached to ourselves through a different persona. Regardless of how other people interpret your name it is all about you and what meaning lies behind it. As Pride refers to it, "this is about embracing our multiple selves(the Me, the Myself, and the I)."
I thought it was a powerful paragraph in which Felicia Pride shows how you can have an alter ego and still consider it as representing yourself and only yourself. Rather than looking at the word "Negra" in its pessimistic view, she prefers to look to the word as it meaning: "black woman." This term made her feel strong, good about herself and that she can accomplish many things. She explains how hip hop artists has always adopted different and unique aliases for themselves. The name that they choose for themselves gives them a power within that allows the artists to reach to great lengths.
My alter ego is also someone that helps me step out of my usual timid self. With the help of the "other me" i can be a completely new person. Rather than being shy and quiet, I would reach out to others and make friends, start conversations, and stay tough for situations. But no matter what my alter ego is like, I still consider it as a part of me. That this is a personality that I possess but just afraid to show without the help of "me."
The term “Alter-Ego”, usually means that one leads a double life. But in the case of Felicia Pride, Negra is her alter-ego, a part of herself she pulls from her pocket whenever she needs to be confident, daring, or outspoken. In Felicia’s case, her alter-ego is just a dormant part of an amazing woman.
Felicia talks about how she uses Negra to help her overcome certain situations. She noticed that artists like Eminem and Beyoncé found a way to be themselves and to also have an “alter-ego” at the same time. I think that everyone has an “alter-ego” or at least a different way of acting around others. Depending on the person they are talking to, they may talk and act differently, but it’s not because they are leading a double life, it’s just because the situation has changed.
In some ways I have another alter-ego persona, but not as extreme as Beyoncé or Eminem. At ACLC I am reserved; I don’t really talk to anyone, I go to class and I leave. However, with my best friend I talk about everything and anything from politics to music, and I act crazy and sing like an idiot. The only reason I don’t do this with others is because I feel like I have nothing to share with them, that they can’t handle another side of who I am. With my mom I’m calm and thoughtful. In ways I have different identities, but in the end, what I’m sharing with other people is who I really am, it just depends on what kind of situation I am in. Like Felicia Pride, I am always Me, Myself, and I.
Faraj Fayad
Engl 1B
Oct-28-08
An alter ego is the second, third, or even forth side of the person. Its not only in music.One can have a personality when hanging out with friends and a whole different ego when in school or with the family. It goes on and mainly one has an alter ego to fit in and with their surroundings.
Felishia Pride's alter ego is the "negra" meaning "black woman," which she uses to become the strong, fearless and intellectual person that she usualy isn't. She uses that personality to approach people she doesn't know without being shy.
In hiphop there is a lot of alter ego going on. When rappers give them selves a "rap name", they are giving them selves a name to distinguish themselves from the person they grew up as. A different name means they can have a different personality. For instance Slim Shady is another name for the rapper Eminem, which allows him to sound different (crasy), in his songs.
The people around a person see the person's personality and some times give them names based on how they view that person or group. This happenes not only in hiphop but also in general. Ol' Dirty bastard's name was given to him by Wu-Tang Clan because they felt like there was no father to his flow when rapping.
To have an alter ego is to give yourself a new immage that you want to go by. A personality, that allows you to act different from the person you see yourself as. Some think of it as a way of showing a different side to their humor and persona.
Deon Johnson
English 1B: Tuesday/Thursday
The Meaning of the Name
Felicia Pride, The Meaning of the Name, is a pleasing piece expressing alter egos. Felicia describes hers, saying it’s, “fearless, daring, outspoken, and confident,” named Negra. She went on to name others; Sasha, Beyonce’s “romp-shaking, fearless diva,” and her husband “Jay-Z;” Shawn Carter Hustler alter ego.
As Pride did, I would like to introduce my alter ego, Kaleb. Kaleb is a confident, don’t-care-what-people-say-think or how they look at him person. Kaleb was invented while I lived in Walnut Creek, even though it’s one of my middle names, it’s not a name I genuinely go by. I thought since I lived around white collar Americans, I should, in some way, to fit in, go by that name, so I became Kaleb; at the shopping mall, grocery store, gas station, where and whenever. Kaleb also became, as I got older and mature, a person of self hatred and denial. I couldn’t believe that I thought, if I went by a common “white person’s name,” and be that persona I will fit in and be accepted; I didn’t and I wasn’t! I realize, if I wanted to love myself, and I mean truly love myself, I have to embrace and love who I am. I apprehend that I am enough, Deon Kaleb Mack Johnson, is enough and that he’s a pretty okay guy.
Alter egos are cool, for celebrities, but not for the average Joe. A person with an alter ego is said to lead a double life. Just as the theme suggests, Alter Ego is defined as one’s hidden self. There is who you are in everyday life, going about your business but this hidden self being the true you and the answer to your question “who am I?”.
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