John's Blog

    The digital humanities component of this course has had a great impact on my learning because I found new ways to express information effectively other than an essay. I learned that not every research project can be best expressed in an essay form. Sometimes, a digital tool like Neatline can be more effective. For my final project in the fall, I had so many sources from different locations and times. In Neatline, I was able to express these sources through the timeline and map. My research had a more holistic representation by then because I was communicating my sources through multiple modes.      The learning curve to these digital tools can be quite steep. It was hard to get used to Neatline in the fall. As a consequence, I did not use it for any of my research excursions. Research excursions had a slightly more narrow focus so that contributed to my lack of interest in using Neatline for them. In other words, they had less need for a multimodal approach....

    The most unexpected thing about this course was what we read. I could not predict the geographic and temporal diversity we would be exposed to. This made software like Neatline suddenly very accessible and useful. Hayy Ibn Yaqzan  was a highlight for me. The first ten pages were so disorienting. I have never felt so hopeless in trying to understand a novel when reading that. Then, I passed over the mountain and eased into the story. I thought it was such a cool idea created by the author. I grew more interested as the man worked his way through logic to reach a greater understanding of the world. When he visited society, I was so surprised at how disappointed he was as well as how far ahead he was in thought.       In my own life, I often question whether being in a group or in isolation is the best way to learn a new skill. When learning individually, it seems one can be more creative and innovative because they are not restricted in any way by a ...

     Pachinko  has been an easy-to-read novel for me and I learned a lot from it. My cultural knowledge has increased the most. I never knew of the tensions between Korea and Japan before Pachinko . My previous understanding was that tensions between North and South Korea were high, but not Japan as well. The novel provides a continuous context of these tensions through the main characters' interactions with the world around them. The beginning of the novel was the only time this context was not provided since Hoonie and Yanjin lived such rural and tight-knit lives. Still, they had experiences of being marginalized. This was especially the case with Hoonie due to his cleft palate.       Once the novel shifted to Sunja's life, we were introduced to the tensions between Koreans and the Japanese. The example that jumped out most to me was when the Japanese boys approached Sunja and harassed her. Not only was this scene the introduction to the charact...

     Noa's girlfriend Akiko "would always believe that he [Noa] was someone else, that he wasn't himself but some fanciful idea of a foreign person; she would always feel like she was someone special because she had condescended to be with someone everyone else hated" (307).      Noa seems like an overly dramatic character. This passage provides an example of one of his outbursts. In some respect, he is in the right to be upset at Akiko. She seems to desire Noa's unpopularity because, by loving him, it makes her of a higher moral standard than her peers and family. Akiko still has a deep personal connection with Noa even though it may have been rooted in some selfish desires. She pushes him intellectually and challenged him to react more critically to what he read throughout his studies. Still, those selfish desires became far too central to Noa's representation of her character and personality. His breakup with Akiko triggered feelings of unbelonging that ...

     In the final part of Chapter 12 of our latest assigned reading, Yanjin is on her deathbed and reveals her true thoughts about Sunja. To Sunja, "her mother was unrecognizable to her; it would have been easy to say that the illness had changed her, but it wasn't so simple, was it? Illness and dying had revealed her mother's truer thoughts, the ones her mother had been protecting her from" (Lee 416).     This interaction is the second mother-daughter dialogue in the recent chapters. The first was Etsuko and Hana. In that interaction, the daughter was describing the mother's poor, selfish behavior. In Yanjin and Sunja's interaction, the mother was describing the daughter's lack of care for anyone besides her children. It is so difficult to navigate the correct side in each of these scenarios. Yanjin and Sunja's dialogue was very interesting to me. Yanjin accuses Sunja of not caring for her enough and not paying enough attention to her. For Sunja, her ...

  We've noted that many of the men's names in  Pachinko  are versions of Biblical names: Samoel/Samuel; Yoseb/Joseph; Isak/Isaac; Noa/Noah; Mozasu/Moses. Based on what you've read so far, what similarities (or differences) between one of these characters and his Biblical namesake do you see? Why do you think Lee chose these names for these men? From the interview we watched in class, I learned how much Lee was interested in the Bible. Every day before she would write, she would read a chapter of it. So, it makes sense that Biblical references like names would appear in Pachinko.  To me, Isak and Yoseb both seem like they could be inspired by disciples since "Joseph" was the name of one of them. Both of the brothers are depicted as extremely moral and conscious decision-makers.  Both characters display great resiliency as well. For Isak, this was in how he was able to survive the prison for so long and make it home to see his wife, brother, and sons before he die...

"The factory owner believed that if all Asian countries were run with a kind of Japanese efficiency, attention to detail, and high level of organization, Asia as a whole would prosper and rise" (Lee 182). This quote shows how Japanese culture is often perceived as highly organized, efficient, and detail-oriented. These values are all in line with striving for perfection in every facet of life. It can be seen this way by both people within the culture and onlookers. Lee contrasts Japanese and Korean culture with quotes like the one above against ones describing Koreans as dirty and poor by their Japanese counterparts.  This quote reveals a belief that Japanese culture is superior to other cultures like the Koreans. It suggests this through the owner's belief that all Asian countries should be run the same way Japan is. He sees other cultures, like the Koreans, as being inferior.  Lee may be describing the way that cultural beliefs and values can be sources of uniting and d...

     Hansu and Isak, while different, both seem to want the best for Sunja. The differences are apparent in Hansu's wealth and power compared to Isak's more humble pursuit of ministry. Hansu represents his affection through money. He promises Sunja that she will be able to live a comfortable life with their child. A house would be purchased for her and her mother to live in and he would visit periodically. However, Sunja clearly is opposed to this. The one thing Hansu cannot offer Sunja is honesty. He never told her about his other family. To be with Sunja, even in her own eyes, is a dishonest trait for Hansu to have no matter how much she may have liked him. Hansu at best is morally ambiguous. He sometimes seems to show real affection, but he ultimately seems like a selfish character.      That is the main thing that Isak can offer Sunja that Hansu cannot. Isak's intent to take her of Sunja is very genuine, yet in the eyes of some, foolish. He is more pass...

     In Busan, Sunja's life was even more cramped than it is now in Osaka. All of her surroundings are impoverished, and life is very difficult. She still has her family though. And for a lot of her life in Busan, her father was alive and made a very good impression on her. As a lodger, her mother always has bustling living quarters. Drifters come and go, and seaside workers take shifts sleeping in the rooms. Some slept during one part of the day and others during a different part. They were kind to Sunja, with some even sending her away with good wishes or gifts when she left to Osaka. She is content in Busan, of course, up until she discovers she had become pregnant.     The way Osaka contrasts with Busan can be easily seen in the vibrancy of the region. Osaka has many opportunities for people, and unlike Busan, the city is growing and changing. Isak and his brother's family suddenly replace Sunja's old family. Isak's brother's wife becomes like a "sister...

     In Chapter XII, Equiano chose to include several letters on why slavery should be abolished. One in which he wrote to the Queen. In this letter, he chose to take on a more emotional perspective of the negatives of the slave trade. In others, he instead appealed to the economic interest of ceasing the slave trade.       In relation to the entire book, Equiano made far more emotional appeals to the abolishing of the slave trade than ones of logic. I think this was by good design. To connect with his readers personally seemed like a central goal of his, especially in his letter to the Queen.      I think Equiano chose to include these letters to provide outside perspectives. He wanted to show the readers that he is not the only voice in support of what he desired. This also falls in line with how careful he is to point out the people in his life who helped him against adversity (especially when dealing with corrupt captains at sea). I ...

     Working on this project gave me a great amount of new information on the Atlantic Slave Trade. When learning about slavery and the Atlantic Slave Trade in the past, the two were never fully separated from one another. In many classes, slavery was the main focus and the slave trade was only briefly touched upon. Many of these classes were focused on American history, and never ventured further. So, my understanding before this project lacked much of what I learned about the slave trade.      I learned that the slave trade started primarily from economic interest brought on by improving technology in Europe. To trade, the Europeans used Iron Bars. Once this currency was introduced to the market, it disrupted African trading systems by replacing traditional currencies. The change in currency brought desperate slave-raids upon many West African regions in order to trade slaves for iron bars. No other currency was accepted for the slave trade. The only posi...

My research for the final project is going well. I have found multiple sources and the source Michelle recommended for me to use was extremely helpful. A "Gold Mine" is a great way to describe it.  I did a lot of research on the history of printing presses in general as well as the printing press in Goa. While my research on the generalities of the printing press is not as important for my final project, I found it useful to frame my work for researching the one in Goa. Right now, my draft for the final project is in the form of an essay. It is a few pages with both general history and specific history of the printing press in Goa. I hope to transfer the paragraphs of my essay to sites on Neatline. I still need a few more paragraphs and a bit more research on the Goa printing press. I have a decent amount, but more can be found. Finding scholarly sources can be difficult, so I might have to see what other sources I can gather information from. My main struggle right now is th...

I learned about the history within the Archives and Special Collections and my greatest takeaway was how popular religious texts were. In current times, religion is still worldwide, but many other subjects have similar levels of notoriety. In medieval times, the most common books were religious texts. In Europe, it was the Bible.  I also learned about colors used in books during ancient times. The colors were a lot earthier than they are now. They were made from dirt, plants, and dyes. Once books started to become printed through presses, many upper-class people began wanting custom manuscript elements implemented into their printed books. The ease of production the printing press allowed made older manuscript elements more sought after. Upper-class people did not like type since it was suddenly so abundant. The inventor of the printing press was named Johannes Gutenberg. Although, some Koreans were also using similar technology at the time.  In the collection, we were also ab...

     I first want to note how good the presentation looks. Compared to Neatline, I find the aesthetics more appealing. I think this software makes better use of gradients and contrast. For example, the grayed-out map with the one selected red point. Even though it looks more like Neatline, I found it to feel way more similar to a PowerPoint presentation when navigating through it. There was a forward arrow and a back arrow, nothing else. You could click on specific things on the map, but I don't think that was the intended design of the presentation. There is also a small map in the top corner that shows the selected area in a more zoomed-out format. This is a cool feature because it reminds you where you are in the world. I found myself sometimes feeling lost in my Neatline presentation because I would be too zoomed in and forget where in the world I was.      Neatline does offer a timeline and sidebar navigation system that StoryMap lacks. I miss these fe...

My reading of Equiano's narrative was first a little challenging. He did not start his autobiography talking about his life, rather he was talking about where he was from. In other words, his starting point was very zoomed out. Instead of using "I", he used "our" and "we". It reminded me a lot of the opening ten pages in Hayy Ibn Yaqzan . That story began very zoomed out like Equiano's.  Eventually, in chapter 2, he directly addressed the reader saying, "I hope the reader will not think I have trespassed on his patience in introducing myself to him with some account of the manners and customs of my country" (Equiano 61). This cleared things up for me. After he mentioned this, I found the narrative to be a lot easier to follow. I actually enjoy the way he writes. It is cordial and smooth. Only at the very end did it become mundane. But that was more because of the subject matter of war. I've read a lot about war and wanted to hear more...

     The second part of the micro lecture first discussed the stage adaptation of Grenville's novel. It also looked at a source that examines the controversy of both the adaptation and her novel. The source raises the question as to whether Grenville left the aboriginals without a voice. In the novel, there are very few times the aboriginal people even have dialogue, and in the play, there were even fewer.       Michelle also suggests that the stage adaptation emphasized this lack of perspective taken on by the aboriginals because they would stand on stage and never have any lines. It is also important to remember the time period this was written. 2005 was a lot different than 2013 when the adaptation was first performed. 2022 is far different from 2013. As our society evolves, Grenville's story seems more out of place. It seems like her perspective was not enough to cover both her family and the aboriginal's lives during this time.     ...

     I learned about Lorenzo Veracini, a "leading theorist" of settler colonialism. His view was that 'colonialism' and 'settler colonialism' are not just different from one another, they actually contrast each other. One way I learned they are different from one another is the time period they refer to. Veracini theorizes that "colonialism apparently refers to the late 19th-century European scrambles for Africa and Asia". Grenville's novel takes place almost a century prior, and to Veracini, the 'colonialism' Will and his family were a part of is different from the 'colonialism' of the late 19th century. It is also important to note that Veracini differentiates the setting as well. 'Colonialism' only refers to Africa and Asia, while 'settler colonialism' to the Americas, Australia, South Africa, etc. I also learned 'settler colonialism' can be seen as a 'variant of colonialism'. The key takeaway is...

    At the end of Part Two, we see Will introduce his dream of owning land to Sal. This is the catalyst for the greatest change in their relationship. It was the first time that they disagreed on that actually "mattered" (114). Sal was so against the idea that "she could not imagine it" and "did not want to" (114). Will obviously has a hard time accepting this. He saw the land in all of its beauty. To be a landowner would be a massive step up from his previous title as a felon. To have this land is everything to Will. Yet, Sal seems closer to reality as " her dreams had stayed small and cautious" (115). She recognizes where she and Will have come from. They should be grateful for what they have, and not take unnecessary risks. Will has a different perspective, believing her conservative approach "was because she had not felt the rope around her neck" like he had (115). Perhaps he dreams bigger because he wants to separate himself as far...

     There There and The Secret River both look at Settler Colonialism. The first difference that I notice between the two is how Settler Colonialism is being showcased. In There There , we hear from many characters about the difficulties of not being Indian enough or being too Indian. Many of them struggled with their identities. Their version of a home was not easily defined. Many were residents of the Bay Area, yet they did not feel very connected to their environment. Or, they felt connected to a version of the environment that no longer existed. In any case, their identity was challenged unfairly by their surroundings. Now, in The Secret River , our perspective is flipped.       We are no longer looking through the unjustly colonized, we are looking through the unjust colonizers. It is funny to use the term 'colonizers' in the case of Will and his family because they did not have much of a choice. I always thought of colonization as a very inten...

 Passage: "He stood up in the prisoner's dock, a high pedestal where he was on display as if naked to the whole court. His hands were tied hard behind his back, forcing him to bow his head. He kept trying to straighten up, to look his fate in the eye, but the pain in his neck forced him again to hunch. Up so high, he could feel the rising vapours of those below him in the court: all those bodies encased in their clothes, all those chests breathing in and out, and all those words, passing around through the air" (Grenville 65). This image follows the introduction of the Old Bailey Court. It was right before the trial began. What struck me about this passage was how high up he was above the rest of the court. In some ways, he seemed more like a spectacle than a prisoner. It is a dramatic placement. Even while now carrying the luggage of thievery, Will is in a position that can evoke feelings of awe relative to the position of the rest of the "bodies" in the courtr...