Self as a Reader

Throughout this semester, we’ve been doing readings that consist of superheroes and graphic novels in order to push our boundaries as readers, as well as writers, analyzing texts in ways that many maybe haven’t done before. We’ve had the opportunity of reading comic books that challenge the social normalities, going against stereotypes. We’ve also had the opportunity to further develop as readers by looking for intricate details within the readings, breaking those details down into subgroups to comprehend the specific choices the author made when composing the piece of work, or many times coming up with ways it could’ve been articulated differently. However, because we’ve been reading books about superheroes, at first I found it quite odd only because I never really read a comic book and never built an understanding upon this genre. I later learned that a comic book is not just about superheroes, like I’d initially thought, but it’s about coming to an understanding with oneself and being able to articulate it in a way that connects with many others. Because of the similarity in genre and storytelling of the books we’ve read throughout the semester, there have been quite a few intellectual couplings present. Two text that had a couple of similarities were “El Deafo” by Cece Bell, as well as “Ms. Marvel: No Normal” by G. Willow Wilson. Even though both books consisted of superheroes, that’s not what made them similar. It was the way the superheroes were used throughout their individual story. Both authors developed characters who created, or in many cases turned themselves, into superheroes in order to cope with insecurities within their real lives.

Writing Situations

Writing for me is like the art of photography. In photography there are people who take pictures and people who tell a story. Those who choose to tell a story, can spend up to a lifetime in order to perfect the art of telling someone’s story through their own lens. The same with writing. There are people who write because writing it’s a requirement and a necessity and others who write to tell a story, a message that connects with other. When I say “writing” I don’t mean the physical action of knowing how to write, but instead the art of writing and having the ability to cohesively articulate their point of view to others. This semester I wrote a paper analysis of the “Daddy” poem by the poet Sylvia Plath. Within the essay I acknowledged my point of view regarding Plath’s specific word choices and use of literary devices throughout the poem:

“Plath’s use of pronouns and her use of rhyming words like “Jew,” “glue” and “screw” in order to verbally emit the sound of disgust further developing the idea of hatred towards her father (Poch 2014). Nonetheless, Plath’s use of diction depicts a combination of anger, sadness and fear and develops the conflicted feeling she feels towards her father.”

I had read the poem multiple times and every time I read it, I retained no information, new tones, new ideas that required me to read between the lines most of the time. This process allowed me to put myself in Plath’s shoes and see her story from her point of view rather than my own. I then began to articulate the literary devices that allowed her to exhibit an intricate and detailed poem about her perspective upon her father and why I believe she chose those devices.

Language and Identity

Throughout this semester, we’ve read fictional, but nonetheless impactful novels, along with rhetorically analyzing influential articles. Novels along the lines of “Ms. Marvel: volume 1” by the author Willow Wilson, “El Deafo” by Cece Bell, as well as “Soon To Be Invincible” by Austin Grossman. All the novels revolve around the idea of a character constructing a second identity in order to overcome the belittlement experienced throughout their lives. Regarding the works read, one of them was the articles was about the deaf Broadway actress named Lauren Ridloff. The article revolved around her deafness in a way that portrayed her almost incompetent. The author of the article used interesting word choices that made the actress seem as if the opportunity of the Broadway show was given to her rather than her earning the role. Furthermore, the process of rhetorical analysis forces the writer to to take a stand and either agree or disagree with the claim being argued. Even though that’s the purpose of articles most of the time, because it was my first time doing rhetorical analysis, it was important for me to pay attention to minor vocabulary choices made that affect the ways in which one interprets the message. Diction, or language altogether, is a crucial form of identity, because no matter how many people read the same article, novel, etc., all perspectives and interpretations will be different. I truly believe that perception affects perspective. The way we communicate, analyse and interpret ideas are all influenced with the way we view the world and how we interact within it.