I like this piece because the image of a grandparent is one that is pure and loving. And although it seems the grandmother in this piece was all of these things, the story focused on her life before she was a grandparent. Because most kids only have this image of their grand parents as old, it is often hard to imagine them as young adults making mistakes. I love how this story offers a look into one family?s struggle with addiction and paints the grandmother as a person and not some fairytale figure. However, I would have liked to hear the author?s opinions on substance abuse and how the experiences of her grandmother have shaped her own outlook.
Being from a predominantly white neighborhood myself, I have often struggled with what being black meant. Like the author of the story expresses, its often hard for those who don't act "black" to fit in with other black students or trying to fulfill familiar expectations to be a model black person and the authority on certain issues. I think that the author beautifully expressed this and her desire to just be herself and not have to be attached to her race.
The production of this story is wonderful. It has amazing flow from personal experiences to that of the storyteller's friends to some information that is applicable nation wide. I think that this story is extremely timely because it seems that more than ever, America is populated with first and second Americans who experience that pull between American valued and customs and those of their family.
This peice is an artistic gem. The way that it was edited with the voices intertwining with the music made each word come to life. When speaking about race relations, it struck the delicate balance between emotion and informative. Bravo!
Anyone living in a major city is familiar with the homeless faces that populate it. This story give some of those faces a voice. While listening I was reminded that homeless people and youth especially don't all conform to the negative stereotypes that run through my head everytime I see these people. I feel as though a story like this would be perferct for a follow up, especially of the homeless teenager. Already I'm wondering how she is coping with school and not having a place to live. As a student myself, I know how hard it is already dealing with academics never mind having to provide basic nesessities for yourself.
I thought that this story is really intresting because not too often does an insider form a place of conflict take the change to tell the story about their neighborhood from a humanistic point of view. Some aspects of this story were unclear or incomplete. For example, the Surenos is the name of the gang. Who are they fighting against? Is it over drugs, territory? The boys who were interviewed all live in the same neighborhood. Why are they afraid of being split up? I don't know if I missed something, but once these questions are answered, then this story will be an A+. Looking foward to the next installment!
It's really refreshing to listen to a peice about dropping out that dosen't involve drugs or some other illicit activity. So many times when there is talk about a young person dropping out fo high school, it's because they made some bad decisions. But like in this peice, there are often other forces that affect one's perfornmance in school making it not a priority. I think that this peice is inspirational to those teens who are good people but just need some help handeling school.
Although short, this story is very funny. In this new age of on-line communities, this is a topic that almost every young peoson can indetify with. Although I myself am not involved with Myspace, the issue of "space invaders" presented itself to me in the form of other on-line blog sites such as Friendster and LiveJournal. With the world becoming more connected to eachother via the internet, "space invaders" is going to be something that will haunt each of us at one time or another.
The beginning of this story is very captivating. The narriators' voice offers a smooth introduction to the first hand account of hurricane Katrina. The story telling is very linear and takes the listener through the harrowing expericans of loss. But the title of this story is "21-year-old Katrina Survivor signing up for U.S. Army". His army enrollment isn't introduced until the last minute of the story. In my opinion, this is way too late. Based on the title, I was expecting to hear how his hurricane experiance caused him to enlist. Instead the majority of the story was about loss and moving on with a small portion dedicated to his enlistment. Although this peice tells a beautiful story, it fails to address the presented topic at a substancial depth.
Comments by natalia brown
Comment for "Grandma" (deleted)
natalia brown
Posted on February 12, 2007 at 07:30 AM
Review of Grandma (deleted)
I like this piece because the image of a grandparent is one that is pure and loving. And although it seems the grandmother in this piece was all of these things, the story focused on her life before she was a grandparent. Because most kids only have this image of their grand parents as old, it is often hard to imagine them as young adults making mistakes. I love how this story offers a look into one family?s struggle with addiction and paints the grandmother as a person and not some fairytale figure. However, I would have liked to hear the author?s opinions on substance abuse and how the experiences of her grandmother have shaped her own outlook.
Comment for "Being Black"
natalia brown
Posted on February 10, 2007 at 09:55 AM | Permalink
Review of Being Black
Being from a predominantly white neighborhood myself, I have often struggled with what being black meant. Like the author of the story expresses, its often hard for those who don't act "black" to fit in with other black students or trying to fulfill familiar expectations to be a model black person and the authority on certain issues. I think that the author beautifully expressed this and her desire to just be herself and not have to be attached to her race.
Comment for "A Communicative Divide"
natalia brown
Posted on February 10, 2007 at 09:36 AM | Permalink
Review of A Communicative Divide
The production of this story is wonderful. It has amazing flow from personal experiences to that of the storyteller's friends to some information that is applicable nation wide. I think that this story is extremely timely because it seems that more than ever, America is populated with first and second Americans who experience that pull between American valued and customs and those of their family.
Comment for "A Prohibition"
natalia brown
Posted on September 18, 2006 at 01:40 PM | Permalink
Review of A Prohibition
This peice is an artistic gem. The way that it was edited with the voices intertwining with the music made each word come to life. When speaking about race relations, it struck the delicate balance between emotion and informative. Bravo!
Comment for "Homeless Anchorage Youth"
natalia brown
Posted on September 18, 2006 at 01:29 PM | Permalink
Review of Homeless Anchorage Youth
Anyone living in a major city is familiar with the homeless faces that populate it. This story give some of those faces a voice. While listening I was reminded that homeless people and youth especially don't all conform to the negative stereotypes that run through my head everytime I see these people. I feel as though a story like this would be perferct for a follow up, especially of the homeless teenager. Already I'm wondering how she is coping with school and not having a place to live. As a student myself, I know how hard it is already dealing with academics never mind having to provide basic nesessities for yourself.
Comment for "The Boys of West 9th"
natalia brown
Posted on September 18, 2006 at 09:42 AM | Permalink
Review of The Boys of West 9th
I thought that this story is really intresting because not too often does an insider form a place of conflict take the change to tell the story about their neighborhood from a humanistic point of view. Some aspects of this story were unclear or incomplete. For example, the Surenos is the name of the gang. Who are they fighting against? Is it over drugs, territory? The boys who were interviewed all live in the same neighborhood. Why are they afraid of being split up? I don't know if I missed something, but once these questions are answered, then this story will be an A+. Looking foward to the next installment!
Comment for "Hopeless in High School"
natalia brown
Posted on September 18, 2006 at 09:29 AM | Permalink
Review of Hopeless in High School
It's really refreshing to listen to a peice about dropping out that dosen't involve drugs or some other illicit activity. So many times when there is talk about a young person dropping out fo high school, it's because they made some bad decisions. But like in this peice, there are often other forces that affect one's perfornmance in school making it not a priority. I think that this peice is inspirational to those teens who are good people but just need some help handeling school.
Comment for "(My)Space Invaders"
natalia brown
Posted on September 18, 2006 at 09:19 AM | Permalink
Review of (My)Space Invaders
Although short, this story is very funny. In this new age of on-line communities, this is a topic that almost every young peoson can indetify with. Although I myself am not involved with Myspace, the issue of "space invaders" presented itself to me in the form of other on-line blog sites such as Friendster and LiveJournal. With the world becoming more connected to eachother via the internet, "space invaders" is going to be something that will haunt each of us at one time or another.
Comment for "21-year-old Katrina survivor signing up for U.S. Army"
natalia brown
Posted on September 18, 2006 at 09:11 AM | Permalink
Review of 21-year-old Katrina survivor signing up for U.S. Army
The beginning of this story is very captivating. The narriators' voice offers a smooth introduction to the first hand account of hurricane Katrina. The story telling is very linear and takes the listener through the harrowing expericans of loss. But the title of this story is "21-year-old Katrina Survivor signing up for U.S. Army". His army enrollment isn't introduced until the last minute of the story. In my opinion, this is way too late. Based on the title, I was expecting to hear how his hurricane experiance caused him to enlist. Instead the majority of the story was about loss and moving on with a small portion dedicated to his enlistment. Although this peice tells a beautiful story, it fails to address the presented topic at a substancial depth.