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Recently in students Category
Felicidades to my friend and Macondista colleague, Lorraine López--nominated for the PEN/Faulkner Award for her collection, _ Homicide Survivor's Picnic and Other Stories_! Lorraine's tightly woven stories are about mujeres who are at the end of their wits, who are imperfect, volatile, riding on a thin track of hope. With humor and compassion, Lorraine's keen literary precision dissects human failings, bad behavior, screwball triumph. She knows how to reveal the worst in all of us. Check out Lorraine's other wonderful books: The Gifted Galbadon Sisters and Call Me Henri.
I also want to give a shout out to my lovely film students who are doing a great job in their weekly discussions and writing. Last week, with just minimal preparation, they prepared and performed a strong oral reading of Chicano poet/activist Corky Gonzáles' " Yo Soy Joaquin." Then we saw the film adaptation of the poem (done in 1969). Their observations of the film version were insightful, fresh. The discussion became even more in-depth when I added the 23 minute " Yo Soy Chicana" (done ten years later in 1979) by Sylvia Morales. Morales had received a $5,000 grant while a film student at UCLA. And with that money, "Yo Soy Chicana" became a reality. Later, she received $10,000 for a Spanish version of the film. The students quickly noted the linear, heavily historical aspect to the Morales film while "Yo Soy Joaquin" ascribes to a romantic view with a non-linear presentation. Both are fascinating to connect.
Next week, we will be reading the play, _ Real Women Have Curves_ in preparation for analyzing how plays are translated to film. My friend and colleague, Joy Castro, will be entering into the conversation as a guest speaker. She has written on both the play and film version of "Real Women Have Curves"! Yay for collaborations and literary/film discussions! And by the way, if you haven't checked out Joy Castro's website, go GO-- click here! Check out her blog!
Sending you all, lovely readers, good wishes! And felicidades again to Lorraine López!
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It's that time -- the end of the semester when I am thinking so much about my students and our time in class. Here are some of the books we've read together---
 We've had such a jam-packed semester reading and discussing plays, attending plays, reading/discussing memoirs, novels, watching films, having a myriad of guests, laughing and learning together.
This is English 212--Lesbian and Gay Literature and the students in this class are strong and powerful individuals who are unafraid to read a wide variety of amazing literature. My thoughts keep going to one of our early readings this semester: Tony Kushner's play, Angels in America. In an interview, Kushner discussed his play saying, "The question I am trying to ask is how broad is a community's embrace? How wide does it reach?" Kushner is speaking of personal as well as political bonds. In Angels in America, it is only after these personal and political bonds are tested, deconstructed, destroyed, that then community is regenerated/recreated to include connections never before imagined. I think of our group knitted together within the fabric of literary analysis. And yet, within that fabric, our analytical discussions unravel our own preconceived notions or break open toward other avenues of inquiry. The authors we read have created works that problematize what it means to be human or what it means to be an individual within a constructed normative society.
Sometimes I wish this could be a year course. There is so much more to read, so many more films to consider with these works of literature. I always hope that my students will not stop but continue and many of them do. Today when one of my students gave me her final paper, she exuberantly told me how she had come across more books in her research and that she will be reading them over the winter break. Her effusive manner was contagious. I kept smiling the rest of the afternoon.
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Thanks to everyone who joined us today at CSULA! It was standing and sitting room only at our "The Historical Novel" panel. Profesoras y escritoras Graciela Limón, Alicia Gaspar de Alba, Emma Pérez, y yo were greeted by such generous and important questions after we read from our books and discussed why the historical novel genre is especially prescient for our twenty-first century. What we are all doing is returning la mujer to history--giving her voice. So important.
Las escritoras: Amelia Montes, Alicia Gaspar de Alba, Graciela Limón, Emma Pérez
Fielding questions from the audience
The audience!
After our panel, I also met many young Chicanas y Chicanos who are also dedicated to the "word" and I am posting their pictures here and will explain their projects (below). These young students, especially, were such a pleasure to meet because I see in them passion and commitment to the "word." They see that in the reading and writing of literature, they are participating in deepening their understanding of their humanity, of our culture. By writing, they are creating art and contributing to the transformation of their world. YOU are the future!
Who are these vibrant, young writers pictured above? In their book _Behind Every Beautiful Eye_, the section entitled "About the Authors," reads: "We wrote this book when we were freshman at the Los Angeles School of Global Studies (LASGS). We are a diverse group of students coming from the United States, Mexico, the Philippines, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Jamaica. We all have one thing in common--we know what it's like to grow up as teenagers in the neighborhoods of downtown Los Angeles" (357). This is a project that can happen in any city because Latinas y Latinos are in every state of the U.S.
And joining the Global Studies students are these vibrant young writers who call themselves, "Barrio Writers." They are the first "Barrio Writers" chapter in Santa Ana, Califas--a non-profit reading and writing program that aims to empower teens through creative writing, higher education and cultural arts. This winter, their first anthology publication (entitled _Barrio Writers_) will be out. Order a copy now at Barrio Writers BLOG!! I send a special gracias to Claudia Breña (standing next to me in the picture) who took time to talk to me about being a "Barrio Writer." Much success to Claudia and all the Barrio Writers!
A special shout out to Chicana Detective novelist, Lucha Corpi! She read from her story, "Hollow Point at the Synapses" just recently published in the anthology, Hit List: The Best of Latino Mystery (edited by Sarah Cortez and Liz Martínez). Lucha also discussed the importance of writing the mystery and detective novel. Gracias Lucha!
Felicidades to René Colato Lainez (above) fellow Macondista and children's author at the Latino Book Festival author booth today. He has two new books coming out: René Has Two Last Names (out October 31!) and The Tooth Fairy Meets El Ratón Pérez. I have seen René read from the El Ratón story--priceless! Bilingual books ROCK. Gracias René!
And finally--a big GRACIAS to mi carnala, Pat Alderete, Chicana author, who joined us for the day, took pictures, engaged me (as she always does) in important discussions about literature, writing, Chicanisma, barrio life, and the art scene in Chicana Los Angeles! Orale Pata. Gracias por tu presencia en mi vida! Abrazos!
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