Blog Post Week 8 Prompt 2

    Throughout the novel, food takes a central role in the lives of the characters. Kyunghee and Sunja spend most of their days cooking or preparing to cook, and they eventually start making kimchi and selling it. While Lee mostly provides vivid descriptions of Korean dishes, she describes udon in the first part of the book and also provides some insight on how the two cultures clash over this particular area. After Sunja starts making large batches of kimchi in their house, Lee writes, "Like all the other Korean children at the local school, Noa was taunted and pushed around, but now that his clean-looking clothes smelled immutably of onions, chili, garlic, and shrimp paste, the teacher himself made Noa sit in the back of the classroom next to the group of Korean children who lived with pigs in their homes. Noa... was called garlic turd" (Lee 165).

    The first thing I want to note is that these smells are labeled as distinctly Korean, as Noa is grouped with all of the other Korean kids as a result of these odors. Secondly, it can be seen that Noa being sent to the back of the classroom is a punishment for the scent, suggesting that Korean cuisine and culture as a whole is seen as a bad thing. Furthermore, Noa is then grouped by ethnicity, which illustrates the divide between the two cultures. Overall, this quote shows the conflict between these two cultures as they struggle to coexist in Japan, as any public expression of Korean culture is looked down on by the Japanese. Reading this, I couldn't help but be reminded of similar intolerance here in the US. I think everyone has seen videos with a "Karen" asking someone of a different race or ethnicity to speak English, which demonstrates a similar demonization of outside cultures.

Blog Post Week 8 Prompt 1

    Coming into Thursday's symposium, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from the event beyond it being about the general topic of printing. However, I thought both speakers were really interesting and expanded my understanding of printing. When I hear the word "printing," I think of the traditional printer or printing press, but Lillian-Yvonne Bertram's work proved that it can be more. She used coding to generate new versions of Riot by Gwendolyn Brooks, and it was really cool to see examples of these generations. It was fascinating to see that a lot of themes present in Riot were still present in these created versions and her work redefined what printing can be.

    The second speaker in the symposium was Dr. Senchyne from the University of Wisconsin, who talked about his family's printing legacy and his role at the university. I thought it was really great that he tried to have all of his students use a printing press, and it seemed like most of them really enjoyed that experience. This was an event I wish could have been in person just to get to see or possibly use a press. I also thought his discussion of The Wisconsin Idea was interesting and how that applied to his field. My favorite part may have been the conversation the two speakers at the end. I thought it was interesting to hear their similar experiences despite fairly different mediums. Overall, this was a really awesome experience and I'm glad I got to attend!

Blog Post Week 7 Prompt 3

I think the structure that Lee uses in Pachinko is really interesting. I think it reminds me the most of Home Fire just because it looks at many different perspectives. The first thing that jumps out is that despite certain chapters seem to focus on particular characters (like Sunja, Isak, and Hansu), the whole novel is written in third person. Unlike Home Fire, the book isn't split into sections based on characters, and because of this, it makes changes in perspective very subtle. A couple of times while reading the novel, I only realized that the chapter was from the vantage point of a new or different character halfway into section. After The Secret River, it felt nice to get many different perspectives as it seemed like that was a common criticism of Grenville's work. Pachinko is split into three separate books, the first of which is called Gohyang or Hometown. Additionally, the story seems to jump through time starting in 1883 and continuing well into the mid 1900s.

So far I am really enjoying the novel, which was kind of surprising as it didn't seem like my cup of tea. I think I've found the characters are interesting and I have really enjoyed the historical context given by Lee. While I know about some of the events taking place over the course of the book (namely the invasion of Manchuria), it's been interesting to read this from the perspective of not only someone from East Asia, but also from characters that are dealing with a colonizing power. It will be fascinating to see how the experience of the Koreans compares with that of other oppressed groups that we have read about and discussed these last couple of quarters. 

Blog Post Week 7 Prompt 1

    As I was reading Pachinko, I was struck by the differences between Osaka and Busan, specifically Yeongdo, the segment where Sunja grows up. Yeongdo struck me as having a very small-town vibe, as it seems like everyone knows all of the other residents. Sunja describes some of the scenery, especially the rocky beaches. It also seems like Sunja never really ventures far from home, as most of her life takes place in the areas immediately surrounding her house, including the beach, forest, and marketplace. This tranquil scene is complicated by the presence of the Japanese, who are a source of conflict in Busan. 

    Lee's description of Osaka seemed like a sharp juxtaposition to the small, quiet village featured in the first part of the novel. The city seemed much more industrious and it felt like a number of the characters introduced thus far work in factories. Additionally, the author describes this area that seemed almost like a slum, where most of the Korean people live. Here, crime is rampant and the living conditions are dreadful, with 12 people living in a room with two beds.

    While I was comparing the two locations, I was trying to think of American equivalents. The best I could think of was Detroit vs. a small town in the Midwest. Despite the differences, the divide and conflict amongst the Japanese and Koreans is prevalent in both locations. It will be interesting to see how Lee continues to depict Osaka or see what kind of language is used to describe new areas.

Blog Post Week 6 Prompt 2

    Contact zones and how the Europeans and Aboriginal peoples interact has been one of the central storylines in The Secret River. Will often notes cultural differences between what he observes from the Native people and his own English customs, albeit mostly with a smug and superior tone. While Will gives his opinion on a number of cultural aspects, one that I want to highlight is on the topic of work/labor. 

    Will describes, "The Thornhill household sweated away under the broiling sun... and still had nothing but salt pork and damper. By contrast, the blacks strolled into the forest and came back with dinner hanging from their belts" (202).

    Here, Thornhill has a begrudging and even jealous tone when comparing his own labor to that of the Aboriginal people. The use of the word "strolled" implies an ease that the Natives seem to enjoy which is in sharp contrast to the backbreaking work being done every day by Will and his family. I actually found this envy ironic, as it seems like he is jealous of a people who he feels superior to. He also complains about the fruit of his work, saying he has nothing but salt pork and damper. In other words, Thornhill feels he isn't receiving adequate compensation for his efforts, something that so many people experience in London. Will can't even fill his stomach after working all day while the Aboriginals can do so with minimal time and effort. I think Grenville uses this comparison to further highlight some of the injustices of capitalism. I would like to see the Aboriginal perspective on this same topic, as I think it would be really interesting to see how they view Will working all day.

Blog Post Week 6 Prompt 1

    Will and his treatment of the Aboriginal people has been frustrating to deal with as a reader. Initially, I was certain that the interaction between them would end in a lot of death. However, I thought I could see glimpses of hope like his disgust with Smashers' behavior and giving water to the Native boy who was dying. I was hoping this was some foreshadowing of a happier ending, and then he does something despicable like attacking and attempting to murder the Aboriginals who took some of his corn. I haven't read the last part, but I'm curious how Grenville is going to end the book. Just looking at history, I'm guessing the ending won't be very happy.

    I honestly feel like Will isn't a bad person per se, but is more a product of the London society he grew up in. As was discussed in class, Will had to fight for every last crumb, stealing from those he could (namely his younger brothers) in order to survive. Will's entire mindset is to survive, which is necessary in London, but when this thought process is placed in Australia, it proves destructive. Instead of listening to Blackwood's "give a little, take a little," Will is very possessive of his belongings, even willing to kill to save some corn. Grenville could have easily started this novel in Australia, but she chooses to cover Will's upbringing in London. I believe this is to show how detrimental this capitalist, survival-of-the-fittest society is, and these effects can be fully seen when interacting with the Native Australians, a people with none of these societal characteristics.

Blog Post Week 5 Prompt 2

In New South Wales, there are a variety of perspectives on the Aboriginal people, ranging from Smasher Sullivan's sadistic behavior to Blackwood's philosophy of "give a little, take a little" The scene where Will watches the Native people cook the kangaroo people seemed to sum up the European's attitude toward the Native people. As Thornhill sees the Aboriginals cover the kangaroo in embers, he makes fun of them, claiming they have no idea how to prepare meat. He, of course, proceeds to dismally fail in his own preparation and cooking of the animal. Overall, it seems like the majority of the convicts look down on the Aboriginals, thinking themselves superior and more sophisticated. While this is racist, it is also ignorant, as some of the things that the Europeans look down prove to be useful. A specific example is the Native peoples' nakedness, which Will repeatedly frowns upon. He later notes how the Aboriginals can move nearly silently and more quickly, which is probably impossible in the European's thick clothes and shoes. This lack of clothing proves useful in their environment, making it easier to hunt. Will and the Europeans look at Native culture and see the differences as negative. While they should respect their culture regardless of its practicality, the felons never consider that these customs have specific functions that have helped the Aboriginal people live in Australia long before white settlers arrived. The example of the kangaroo demonstrates this irrational sense of superiority and knowledge. Will has never seen or prepared a kangaroo before, yet he somehow feels like he knows more about the process than the people who have been doing this for centuries. It makes no sense, and as a reader, I was happy to see that he crashed and burned. Maybe he and the other convicts will learn from the Aboriginals in the remainder of the novel, but I’m not going to hold my breath.

Blog Post Week 5 Prompt 1

    I think all of the research excursions were well done and I learned a lot looking at them. I was in the first DH group, so it was interesting to see all of the creative project ideas and formats (especially using the new tools). 

    I thought Logan's Neatline on the economics of the Slave Trade was very informative. One thing I learned is that many people (like the Queen) believed the Slave Trade was morally wrong, yet still decided to participate after hearing the potential profits. I also discovered just how lucrative the slave trade was for European, and I had no idea the massive amounts of money being made through the trading of slaves.

    Another project I learned a lot from was Caterina's timeline on Benin and their role in the Slave Trade. I didn't know anything about The Kingdom of Benin before looking at this timeline, so I learned a lot about their society and history. It was fascinating to see how they related to Equiano's experiences and the trading of slaves as a whole. I also really liked the use of the Timeline tool, and it provided some insight into its uses and functions.

    The final research excursion I want to mention is Rian's, which was another great use of the Timeline tool. I knew a little bit more of the Quaker's abolitionist efforts, but I still learned a lot from the project. I thought the inclusion of important figures and documents regarding the abolition movement was great. Overall, I think people did a great job and I was impressed by the vast array of content presented.