JMC 490 Travel Writing blog
Hello, everyone. This is the location for JMC 490 Travel Writing class comments from now on. Feel free to post your opinions on travel, class readings, assignments or anything at all in this space. // GEORGE ESTRADA
78 Comments:
Thank you for pushing back the deadline of the Travel Article #1 to Saturday night, George! I'm posting the assignment I failed to turn in yesterday below.
Critique for the first Theroux piece
Sayaka Rifu
I remember this particular piece from one of George's class. The scene itself is not so dramatic but it's written dramatically. The reader can picture the scene without much difficulty because it's drawn out beautifully with detail. The gap in writer's thoughts and action makes the whole scene somewhat comical. He blurted out "Morning!" although he promised himself he is "not going to say hello until she does." This is not at all difficult to relate to. The writer experienced what every other people experiences in everyday life in a foreign place during his trip. The experience itself is not so peculiar but I think that the fact that he is in a place where he could see France across the Dover "looking like Brewster across Cape Cod Bay" makes it special.
Comment on Theroux piece: Rambler
Comment on Theroux piece: Rambler
Comment on Theroux piece: Rambler
Comment on Theroux piece: Rambler
Comment of Theroux piece: Rambler
Shannon Kissinger
I enjoyed this piece. I liked how he described the Dover cliffs. First like a battleship then a flotilla, finally like an offshore island. The contact with the women really interested me, since she was completely oblivious to him untill he said hello. It's amazing how people can get lost in their own thoughts when another human is walking by.
Theroux's passage about Mongolia is very well done. I really like his honesty about the local foods. It's good that he's willing to admit his disgust. Other writers might have tried to go out of their way to find something they at least partially enjoyed just to look multicultural or to try and show respect to Mongolia. But he unrepentently trash talks all the food because it is straight up disgusting, and I think he's showing more respect by admitting this than he would by lying to himself and his readers. I think most of us can probably relate to this situation of having nothing around to eat except things that look like they've been regurgitated, whether it's that you don't eat meat, you're having dinner at a friend's house, or you're spending time in a foreign country.
re: Rambler. This piece made me feel humble. Turning the most banal and mundane daily occurances into something that can entertain is a gift indeed. Now I will have to go out and buy the book, simply because I want to own it.
re: Christian's piece. I may be annoyed with the whole "Parisian youth" thing (simply because it's so goddamned worldy), but I have to take my hat off to masterful storytelling. There is no need for drama or action, because the flavor of the quiet moment carries the story on its own. Well done, Mr. International Male Model guy.
anonymous said...
I love you George with all my heart and soul!
This is Roe Pressley. I posted the somewhat lengthy critique of the Theroux passage, talking about his honesty in describing the food. I forgot I was anonymous at the time!
Also, I really found researching and writing this article fun and learned a a few important things from it. Most importantly, I learned how much I'm going to enjoy the life of a potential travel journalist. Thanks for the opportunity to take this class this summer, especially since I couldn't find it listed in the fall and spring semester catalogue. It's awesome!
-roe
first, the chapter title is clever.
second, I didn't like that the piece was adjective-heavy, but at the same time, it enhanced the exotic and schizophrenic nature of the experience.
third, the erotism in the description of the diced mangoes was nice, as was your description of yourself (esp. the fish-head/cheeseburger part). Mangoes and papayas are very sensual fruits.
fourth, bringing it back to the flavors of your ancestral homeland that your mother gave you was good. It seemed like a wholesome,calming touch in a rather manic passage.
[disclaimer: critiquing your professor is tough, despite the disclaimer given.]
From Shannon Kissinger
Re: 1st chapter from "I Have Tasted the Sweet mangoes of Cebu"
I really enjoyed the title : Mangoes Here, Man Goes here. I also really enjoyed the way George describes himself, "I am Filipino and I am American. I am both and I am neither' . To me that can be used by all Americans. We are two different people yet we are nothing at the sametime. I liked the way he described his mother preparing the mangoes. I would have liked to know what she did with the seed, though. I liked the descripition of the Philippines and of America. How both parties were bringing their own culture into this new realm they both were jumping into.
I also like the way his mother reminded him to never to forget his culture, but yet he still did. I liked how he used the metaphor of the sweet mangoes to illustrate it. So far i have enjoyed the book.
The first chapter was a good introduction into the rest of the book. But I think the questions at the beginning, though they create a good setting, hurt instead of help the book. I had an urge to answer the questions with "I don't know," and give up. But, realizing I will be graded on reading the book, I trudged on to find a more satisfying story.
I wondered, when reading, what Freud would think of your mom carving into the mango's "quivering flesh" as it dripped with sensuality. Otherwise, it was a very good descripton.
I appreciated the paragraph when you become caught up in the American Dream: "No time to be Filipino in the midst of all that America." But this almost became too much at the end of the chapter. The mangoes are pushing my buttons, too. I understand the meaning, the representaion of your roots, but I think it could be done in a much more subtle way.
My favorite line of the chapter was when you were describing your new love Liza. "Her long hair was black silk falling like rain over the terrain of her frail body."
Shannon Taylor
Belles du Jour
Whenever traveling in a new foreign place it is always interesting to meet the local people and get a view of their lifestyles. Theroux mentions seeing people from his tour but that is all we hear about his means of travel. It was interesting to learn about the city clean up day in honor of Lenin’s birthday. He drives through a disheveled city that is being cleaned by its citizens. He feared being robbed and yet stayed in the situation waiting for the story to unfold. When he walks with the women no one on the street notices him, but when he walks alone the women look at him with curiosity because they think he has money. That is probably why he got caught up with the two women in the first place without realizing it.
I find you English Girl
Theroux begins this piece by telling us what he imagines the place to be like and then as he moves along we see the truth. The part where he negotiates the price of the cab ride is something very familiar to me from my own travels. Negotiation of cost can be a big part of travel and takes some practice. He describes the city of Madras through its possibilities of prostitutes. His imagination gets the best of him when he is so intrigued by where the women live that he decides to go take a look. These are situations that could be potential stories to which any storyteller would want to explore.
Mangoes: Chapter One
I have already read this book through once and re-reading the first chapter was very insightful. Knowing the twists and turns of the book and how it ends up I thought that the first chapter was really well done. It begins with the place of interest and how it is making the author feel. Some of the questions asked are those that can be asked of any place that makes someone feel good, happy and at ease. Then it goes into the girl which is I feel the main subject and purpose of the story. The girl and the land are intertwined and that is expressed well in this first chapter. “She was a young woman of the Philippines, land of magic, myth, crushing poverty and mangoes.” The description of the girl is well done and I have a solid picture of a woman in my mind. I also sense early on that the author’s desire for this woman is very strong and relentless. As the author is back in his homeland headed to the girl, he reminisces about his past life in America. The author sets up the story of himself that he will tell within the text including his mother, school in Texas and life as a reporter. We learn that he was born in the Philippines but grew up on Oakland, California. The description of the mangoes and how his mother used to cut them is very powerful “dripping with sensuality.” One of the main themes of the book is brought up in this first chapter, “No time to be Filipino in the midst of all that America.” It was the girl who made him go back to his roots and realize that “I am both Filipino and American-and I am neither,” and that there is a story to be told. The author is made up of many parts and this is his journey to straighten them out and to understand how they all come together.
I think that the title of this chapter did a lot to pull me in. I love anything that involves a play on words or a warping of words, and this did it. It also goes on to show just how big a theme mangoes are in this book. Mangoes are in the title, the chapter names, your memories, your metaphores- they are everywhere. After a little reading I picked up on the fact that they physically and metaphorically represent the Phillipenes to you. This is great, but I think it might help to say this. It isn't essential, as the reader will eventually figure it out for himself, but it may be nice due to the frequency of their appearance. I also liked the vivid descriptions you use, especially about the cutting of the mangoes. Mangoes are my favorite fruit and it made me salivate to hear this. Plus it will help those not familiar with the fruit understand it better. I also liked your shift from questioning the present to remembering the past to self-reflection. It helps give the intro an element of dimension. If you had just talked about your pursuit of Liza there would be no personal context, and it would have been boring.
-Cassidy Nichols
Roe Pressley
This chapter was fun to read and really helped set a pretext for what's to come. The way the author describes his love for Liza in such detail is profoundly Shakespearean. It helps convey the point but to someone who has never been so in love it might come off as just a tad bit tacky. However, the love aspect adds important context for the story to come, letting us know that it will be about a lot more than a trip to find one's cultural roots. I like the smooth and effective way the author shifts back and forth in time. He describes his time in school and as a professional journalist and then goes back even further to his childhood. The way in which he describes the mangoes puts me right there in his shoes, tasting the sweet fruit myself. There's a lot of detail given to the description of the way his mother cuts the fruit. It gives me the idea that mangoes are very important in Filipino culture and makes me wonder if this might not be foreshadowing more details about mangoes to come. I like the way in which he relates the mangoes to his cultural roots and his struggle to realize them amidst the distractions of life as an American. The chapter was really enjoyable and makes me excited to read the rest of the book. Looking forward to it!
Both Critiques of Theroux pieces:
Shannon Kissinger
"I Find You English Girl."
I have always wanted to visit India. This piece, though, changes my mind. Being stationed overseas I was exposed to prostitution more than I care to think about and reading this just reminded me of Okinawa and Puerto Rico all to well. The writing is done very well.Theroux really takes you to the dilapitated shack that houses the whore-house, as well as the taxi ride there. I thought it was a well written piece, that's about it.
"Belles du Jour"
In 1989, I was fortunate enough to visit st. Petersberg, formerly Leningrad. This was when communism still reigned supreme in Russia. My grandmother and two cousins went there with me, on a cruise ship from Stolkholm, Sweden. Everytime we boarded or departed from the boat we were checked by securtiy. We were never able to leave the ship unacompanied. There were also armed guards around the ship, 24-hours a day. A very odd experience. This story reminds me of it, aside from the three women who wanted to use sex in order to get an overpriced personal stereo. I don't know about Theroux, some of his work gets me and draws me in, while other stories just don't cut it.
Joseph you are awesome! Way to buck the sappy trend.
Okay, I would be horrified to reprint this letter. In fact, I would be horrified to repeat the story of how I found Liza and how I gushed to my co-workers about her. But that is because I am a coward and care too much about what other people think. I have to take my hat off to George for his honesty and his moxy. It is amazing what infatuation will make you do or say.
On the other hand, George caused me to reconsider my (slightly negative) feelings about “mail-order brides.” I had a disturbing childhood experience with a mail-order bride from El Salvador, and have carried it around until I read this chapter. With love, it is the end, not the means.
Roe Pressley - Critiques
I Find You English Girl
The author is very effective in revealing certain qualities about Indian society without stating them matter-of-factly. Instead, he works them into the narrative - explaining the conversion of rupees to dollars, for example. Through the way both the driver and the pimp conduct business, We are tipped off as to how the greater Indian economic system works. Obviously haggling prices is common here. The robbing of tourists also seems prevalent, judging by the author's suspicion of the driver. Also, I get the impression that certain black market goods and services are less restricted here, particularly prostitution. The author's description of the brothel and its inhabitants are very good, especially the filthy bedroom in which business is conducted. I could place myself right there in his shoes and actually see all the reasons not to patronize this business. But at the same time, he plays on our expectations. Up until he walked out the door I wasn't quite sure if he was going to do it or not. Luckily, he made the right choice in the end and reinforced my faith in his moral character.
Belles du Jour
This is an interesting piece, and I can see why it is coupled with "I Find Your English Girl" for this assignment. On one level, the story is the same - the author gets an opportunity to have sex for money, seems to consider his options, and ultimately decides not to. But all the other elements are so different. When he first meets the girls, he doesn't know what they want other than to "change rubles." Still, something about them entices him to meet with them the next day. As he enters the apartment or house, he again imagines that he's being led into a trap to be robbed. Instead, he is propositioned for sex. Here, we get an example of how expensive things are in Russia. $200 for a cassette recorder! $170 for a quicky with a woman compared to less than $10 for an all-nighter with a teenage girl in India. This really puts the two cultures into perspective. Both countries seem to be pretty poor, but in one, things are dirt cheap for Americans, and in another, the exact opposite. I can't help wondering if this is due to the differences between a Communist system and whatever India is or was at the time. The author's descriptions of places and things seem different in this story. Instead, he puts most of his descriptive focus on the women. The opposite occurs in the previous piece, in which little detail is given to the people (except to emphasize how young the girls were) and much detail is given to the setting.
Cassidy Nichols
"I Find You English Girl"
I have to say it was a little weird to read about this. Maybe it's just me, but there's nothing that would make me choose a prostitute over a beach and good Indian food. Despite his choices though, the Theroux did a lot to illustrate the character of Madras without spelling it out. The story is an easy read that is entertaining and adds character and context to what may otherwise be a boring story about hardship in the developing world. He deals with the class/caste system in telling how weird it would be to find an English prostitute their. He also uses the story to tell of the extreme poverty in Madras and how this leads to negative dealings- mainly the child sex trade and their thug pimps. By using a story he illustrated a picture of the city that was more clear than a list of facts and statistics. Plus, it was enjoyable, and disturbing, to read.
"Belles Du Jour"
I have the same compliments about this story that I had for the previous one. I like how Thoreux uses his little adventures to paint images of the character and interactions of other places. Whereas CNN may report that various factors make electronics expensive in Russia, and there is an underground to get them, Theroux uses his stories to paint the picture. In this story he lets the reader know about the expensive prices of the electronics, the social pressures to have them, and the measures some women were willing to go to to get them. Furthermore, this was all concealed in an entertaining story. I felt as if I new what was going on in Moscow, how the city looked, what the people were like, and what was important, all from reading this 6 page story. Kudos to Thoreux, I like his style.
Critiques of Theroux articles
Sayaka Rifu
Belles du Jour
While the piece is effective in drawing out the state of Russian community without being dull and boring, it was certainly not a pleasent article to read. The author illustrated the awkwardness of peaking the grim reality of people living in a foreign country. The way the author described the odor of Tatyana's apartment was very realistic, and I felt depressed just reading the scene. The small things that the author noticed was sprincled throughout the whole piece such as English magazines and ridiculously high-priced casset players like bitter spice and made me feel uncomfortable. The word "vremya" had a hint of curse telling the reader that the women in this article had no time to spend for themselves even though they are young and beautiful.
"I find you English girl."
This piece was more unpleasent than "Belles du Jour." Again, I noticed the arthor did a wonderful job on telling the readers what the actual place smelled like. It even made me nausious. He has told a disturbing reality by writing his short and thoughtless adventure he took guided by his uncontrollable imagination and curiocity. Charcoal sketches on the wall of a filthy hut and smudged make-ups on adolescent girls' faces were making a vivid contrast with indian dishes laid out on a white tablecloth in a breezy seafront restaurant.
Okay, I would be horrified to reprint this letter. In fact, I would be horrified to repeat the story of how I found Liza and how I gushed to my co-workers about her. But that is because I am a coward and care too much about what other people think. I have to take my hat off to George for his honesty and his moxy. It is amazing what infatuation will make one do or say.
On the other hand, George caused me to reconsider my (slightly negative) feelings about “mail-order brides.” I had a disturbing childhood experience with a mail-order bride from El Salvador, and have carried it around until I read this chapter. With love, it is the end, not the means.
Joseph, you are awesome. Way to buck the sappy trend.
"Belles du Jour"
The opening market scene of this story presents these women, Olga and Natasha, as beautiful women crammed in the center of a struggling community, weighed down with several responsibilities. Theroux regards them this way, and treats them with the special hand that any man would in, say, America by taking them out to a cafe and offering tickets to the ballet. The arrangements they make to meet seem so conventional at first, but as he takes the car ride to the house Theroux slowly drags you into the reality of the situation. All of a sudden, you realize the motives of these women, and the role he once had is now reversed and manipulated. These girls are taking him for a "ride". There is a certain desperation, although it is not that of impoverishment, but of materialism. What was at one point a social interaction becomes a business transaction, and you can see he is not interested in taking sex from these women just so they can get some more American magazines and junky electronic knockoffs, or whatever. As the reader, beyond the fact that they turn out to be prostitutes, those women lose thier allure quickly when they start nagging him. Theroux conveys his loathing and consciousness of the situation really well, and you finish the chapter thinking, right on. Smart man.
"I find You English Girl"
Therouxs' willingness to find an English whore changes my perspective after reading "Belles du Jour", but for some reason it justifies itself. Not because I condone prostitution, but to seek the comfort of a woman who is not unlike the women he experienced growing up isn't so bizarre. He has a point when he ponders the purpose an English whore would find in coming to Madras, and that alone could spark any mans curiosity, i'm sure. He imagines her as some kind of castaway, and as a lone traveler he probably sought to relate, if anything.
I loved his descriptions of the passing suroundings from the cab, the richness of a town that is still bustling at night and the transition from lush hotels full of wealthy visitors, past the dark alleyways and onto a bumpy, secluded road that would lead him to this whorehouse. Theroux does just what I would expect from a good travel writer by soaking up anyting and everything; from the varying hues of light, to the person on the road doing their own thing, and the red pillows on the floor to the battered tables holding medicine bottles. Oh, and I loved how he described the awkwardness of the young girls with thier big jewels and bright makeup. I can imagine these adolescents, and thier veiw of this white man expecting an English girl. Could they feel his disinterest, and did they understand it? Great piece, I think.
"Mangoes Here, Man Goes Here"
I think this serves as a great opening chapter, as it addresses the elements on either side of his delirium. We are taken inside George's head, past his obvious desires and into this state of "stupid-happy". I found myself imaginging the feeling, almost drunken, I thought. Yet, you don't quite know the source of this delirium until everything, including the girl, the city and his American background, is tied together.
Of course, the biggest mystery is Liza; where had he originally pledged his love for her? and what has compelled him to travel to Cebu and do it again?
The woman is defined through her Filipino heritage, and himself through the United States and his American ways.
Of course, the connection between the mango fruit and Liza is quite apparent, and the reader is shown the legacy George is reaching for through these two things. Both served as reminders that he was something other than an American journalist and , although he had done so much to establish himself in the states, he was ultimately tempted by these fruits of the Phillipines. I'm not quite sure if thats an adequate critique, but thats what I got out of it. Great story so far!
k. mcqueen
Thank you for the comments to the first article George! Feel free to post my article as a sample. I understand that my writing needs improvement and I would love to have more feedbacks.
Comments to the first chapter of
"I Have Tasted the Sweet Mangoes of Cebu"
-Sayaka Rifu
The first chapter was a great introduction. Bits and pieces of facts that supposedly are going to be told in the later chapters were all laid out just enough to tingle the curiosity of the readers. This chapter made me want to turn the page and find more about your story. I think the brief introduction of how you grew up as a "Filipino-American" worked extremely well. I especially liked the phrase "I am both and I am neither." Stories of people with multi-cultural background always fascinates me. I also liked the title of the chapter as others commented above.
it's like my comments loop out to the far end of the galaxy before they land here. sorry for the repetition, but those comments took 2 days to appear. sweet jesus!
Buenos Aires--Theroux
This was a good short descripton of the popular South American city; one, as Theroux points out, with a distinctly international flavor. I was especailly interested in the dichotomous nature of the continent, the divided world. In Buenos Aires, the mention of Quito, the capital of Equador, is to speak of another world, a "hellish, small, poor and primitive" world. Buenos Aires has closer connections with Europe, thousands of miles across a vast ocean, than with Uruguay, across the Rio de la Plata. Theroux vividly portrays the nature of colonial South America.
Its faults, I think, are that it is short and lacks a strong personal story. I want to read more about the life in Buenos Aires, I want to know the experiences of the living in the city. With this article, I understand the culture but I can't imagine living there.
Melanie Moss
Theroux
The details of the long bumpy, dark road and of the disgusting state of the girls’ hut in “I Find You English Girl” are amazing. Though I had my doubts about the sanity and faithfulness of Paul Theroux, through this piece and “Bellus De Jour,” I found that Theroux still has the amazing ability to transport his reader to an exact moment in his life. I was curious of how he could put all Russian women in the same category at the end of “Bellus De Jour,” as if they were all thinking the same thing about his money. The writing in both pieces is amazing, the imagery, the sensory is awesome. The reader can smell the disgust as the fan turns the dense air.
Shannon Taylor
Travel is a Vanishing Act
I went through the table of context and read all the titles and this one jumped out at me. I have always thought of travel as not only an adventure but also an escape. A traveler vanishes from their home and the people in their daily lives and no one knows exactly where the departed is at any given time. This particular story was a perfect read to go along with our second travel assignment about the journey itself. Theroux’s story discusses travel writing and how many of them have left out the journey itself. The story begins at arrival not departure. He even gives example of stories that begin at the destination, which was very interesting. For me the story as well as the trip begins with the idea. How and why did I decide to take this particular trip? The journey to the destination is filled with excitement and anticipation as well as the journey home to tell the story. Theroux discusses being on a plane and always holding his breath during the landing wondering if they will crash. His life flashes before his eyes. He imagines that if he were to look around he would see a travel writer describing the scene below instead of praying not to crash. He remarks that maybe there is not much to say about a plane ride unless it is disastrous. “The journey, not the arrival, matters; the voyage, not the landing” (86). I really liked that the lack of discussion about the journey to a destination in travel writing was the inspiration for his own trip, focusing on the journey itself.
Mangoes
I would like to comment on an element in this book instead of one particular chapter. In describing his journey to receive a PhD the author has scared me out of ever going on to pursue a further degree. The way he describes the struggle to keep everything in his life balanced in order to write his dissertation was overwhelming and I had anxiety for him while reading, even though I already knew the outcome is successful. I also liked how in the middle of all that stress and chaos the letters from Liza keep him sane and focused, which keeps the story tied to the Philippines. What I didn’t like about this part of the book was that I felt the author repeated himself too much. He is constantly reminding us of what his workload is and what his goals are while in school. It was hard to forget everything that he was trying to balance because it was amazing that he was attempting to balance it all in the first place. However in describing his journey of writing his dissertation the author uses some wonderful language to describe his feelings. “I had descended into madness during my writing marathon and my soul was a wreck, so I needed this time to heal a bit” (15).
Roe Pressley
critique: "On the Frontier" (To the Ends of the Earth, p. 87 in my edition)
To me, the most pleasing element of Theroux's writing so far is that he can make the reader see and understand with only a few sentences something that takes many other writers paragraphs to accurately describe. His choice of words always seems perfect in context. The rhythm and canter keeps the movement of the reader's eyes synchronized with the rate it takes the mind to interpret the letters and words, which is a unique merit... this ratio might be slightly different from reader to reader, but with me it syncs up perfectly. As for this particular chapter, On the Frontier...
I randomly opened the book to page 87 and began reading. I soon realized the relevance of me reading this chapter, and I knew my opening of the book was anything but random. Theroux is describing Laredo, a town in Texas on the Mexican border. He gives a lot of detail and elaboration to the death-like stillness of the town, how everything is lit up but no one is around, no people, no cars, just lights and rain. This struck me as extremely reminiscent of my recollection of the town of Amarillo on the other side of the state, which I spent some time describing in the last assignment (I originally said more about it, but I needed to crunch space). His description of the town and the emptiness and the empty feeling one gets being there took me right back there. The only difference was the rain, of which there was none in Amarillo. Now that I think about it, it seems strange that their should be some on the southern border of Texas in the middle of the desert. Perhaps this has some symbolism toward the underlying theme of the chapter...or perhaps its just his accurate description of this particular time and place.
Theroux's cab driver informs him that all the night life is in Nuevo Laredo, just across the Rio Grande in Mexico. Here, one could find night clubs, bars, and a thousand hookers. Theroux went on to assess the situation from a sociological point of view, talking about the hypocrisy of a population that works and lives in a nice clean, moral town like Laredo only to abandon it by nightfall in a sinful exodus across the river and into the fleshy temptations of Nuevo Laredo. This struck a chord in me as well and reminded me of my trips to San Diego, particularly the one in which my dad and I first crossed over into Tijuana. Perhaps all Mexican border cities share certain qualities and cater to this type of crowd - young, booze thirsty sexual deviants looking for a quick fix of happiness. Like I said, I must have opened to this page for a reason, because this story has helped influence the subject of my next article... but that ultimately depends on what the assignment is.
See ya soon.
Roe
Roe Pressley
responses...
If someone replied to my description of Filipinos in this way, I would first take a look at the person who is saying it. I am a fairly skeptical person and I know there are a lot of extremists on either side of the spectrum who will go out of their way to start an argument. Depending on the case, I would grill this person and make sure they seem to know what they're talking about. In this case, I assume everything you said in response to my hypothetical statement was true since you obviously know a lot more about your culture than I do. But in other cases, I might know more than the other person, and in this case I generally want to expose their ignorance.
As for this particular situation, I would never be so shallow as to generalize any culture as "happy and smiling" or "sad and lonely" or "pissed off and mean," and I think anyone who does so shouldn't be a journalist.
However, it depends on how much context the writer is giving. If someone were to say, "People in this culture are very friendly and happy," it's a lot different than saying "People in this culture are very friendly to tourists." With the latter, it is not making quite as broad of generalization and it's leaving room for implication or elaboration on why they are so friendly to tourists. Basicly, I think it's okay for a writer to describe things as they see them, but only when it's relevant, and they should never misrepresent information. Clearly the writer misrepresented his experiences when describing the Filipinos. This could easily be fixed with a little cultural information and explanation of the reasons behind the smiles.
As for the question about accepting free things...
I pretty much agree with you that in the case of "soft news," especially when a writer's finances are unstable, it's okay to accept things like free tickets and hotel accomodations (though an all inclusive trip or cruise would be crossing the line).
When a writer accepts these gifts, it is his/her ultimate responsibility to write according to the ultimate truth. If the hotel had roaches, tell us. If the food tasted like crap, tell us that too. Give no service to the "wink-wink, nudge-nudge" schenanigans except lip service. Yes, lip service. I think when it comes down to it and you need to "act as if" to get a free whatever, go ahead and act as if you're going to write a magnificent report on every place you visit. Wink, nudge if you need to. You're already accepting free things. It's not that much of a step down to deceive the corporate scallywags who are giving it to you. I don't think there's any way they can sue you when you end up writing a non-bias article. It's your job, after all. Then it just comes down to your reputation as a writer and how much influence the scallywags have on it. I guess for me, I'll take it as it comes.
Roe
"I Have Tasted the Sweet Mangoes of Cebu"
Shannon Kissinger
I just finished this book, and i am pleasantly surprised that it is pretty good. Since Dr. Estrada wants us to critique it i will. The one problem i have with this book concerns the letters from Liza, and the conversations with the local philipino people. SO about the letters, i understand the need to illustrate her lacking in grammer skills but it gets kind of tedious when i have to reread one 20 to 30 letter over and over again to get to the point of what she was saying. I think that DR. Estrada should have printed one letter in original form and then for the sake of brevity made the rest of the letters in readable form. As for the conversations with local philipinos, in my opinion the author should have just written the dialogue out in readable english. I had the same problem reading dialogue between the author and some local. Keep it to readable form. I think it's easier for the reader and it will not detract from the story. But I'm just a student.
"The Filipinos are happy, smiling people."
Yes, I agree with the comments George made regerding this statement. If a writer were to generalize an entire people as happy and smiling without an explanation or some in-depth thoughts, the writer is not doing her job. Even if it didn't have the conotations George pointed to, there is no way that one could classify an entire population as happy and smiling. There has got to be one person who is angry and frowning simply because everybody else is happy and smiling.
But, on the other hand, to say that some Filipinos are happy and smiling would not call for the larger explanation George provided. If the writer were discussing her adventures to the market on a Philippine island and noticed that most of the Filipinos she encountered were happy and smiling, it would wrong not to add that.
It would be wrong to avoid the "stereotype" of Filipinos being happy and smiling fearing an overreactionary, overly sensitive reader might take offense. If the writer encountered happy and smiling people and the statement was not used to generalize an entire population, it serves the purpose of good writing to add the description and only hurts the writing to omit it.
In the culture of political correctness, we must not cower under the wrath overly sensitve readers. We cannot allow the reader to censor our work. But we also must be aware of the broader consequences. We must understand that what we write might have a larger effect than we initially assumed. And, therefore, it is up to the writer to make a sound, educated decision on what to write and what not to write.
"Social Responsibility"
I came across this issue surrounding subtle racism when writing about my experiences in Mexico. I certainly agree with the idea that there are seemingly innocent observations that can easily turn into assumptions and generalizations about the culture as a whole.
Of course, few people would be offended if they were described by others as "smiling and happy". However, I think as writers we must really articulate this smiling happiness from both thier and your own perspective, because the fact that you are satisfied with thier kindliness does not necessarily mean you understand it.
It is true that, in certain parts of Mexico, people from the states are welcomed and greeted nicely because much of the towns commerce relies on tourism. It is nice to walk around a foriegn place and feel welcome, but when it comes down to it, your position as a tourist can at some times feel weird.
Ixtapa, Zihuataneho is a somewhat wealthy tourist town pretty far down on the coast of Mexico. There is this aire of elitist attitudes from the wealthy visitors, as many of the tourists that return every year make demands to suit this vacationing ideal, which has somewhat "Americanized" the town. I can only assume the locals feel some resentment, since I never talked to anyone about it, but much of the traditional feel of Mexico has been pushed to the outskirts of town to make room for all of these dumb (in my opinion), little shops selling designer clothing from the states, and restaurants resembling T.G.I.F's. I don't want to exaggerate, there are still several traditional Mexican restaurants and stuff, but some of these "Americanized" features really end up contradicting or alienating the culture of Mexico in the town. I am going off track; I guess, my point is, if I were to describe the locals as "happy and smiling" (which, I think I wrote out exactly while attempting to write about Tijuana)I would be putting myself in that position of the American that they are catering to as a job, not because they like me being there; yet, to the reader I am conveying something very different. Furthermore, it does make a statement surrounding the economy in Mexico and my financial significance I have as a visitor coming from the states. However, the way I see it, if you take time to get to know the people and culture on a personal level, you have specific experiences to shape a valid opinon that, say, the town generally has a passion for living and are genuinely happy to share that with us.
I don't think it should be that difficult to describe a wonderful experience you had with the natives of an area without making implications surrounding the entire culture, as long as you can make specific tactful comments surrounding your own experience.
It is too easy to put my foot in my mouth, I will stop now :)
Shannon Taylor
I think that people read and view things differently from one another depending on their own life experiences. In George’s Filipino scenario the confronter has a point, but that is just one view. The author doesn’t know for sure why they are smiling at him, but neither does the confronter. He is just assuming that they are smiling for that reason just as the author is assuming they are smiling because they are happy people. I think the fault does lie with the author because that was too much generalizing of an entire people based on a limited cultural experience. If someone were to say all of that to me based on one line that I had written I would be upset that I hadn’t caught such a broad generalization in my own writing.
As far as accepting freebies I think that it is okay in the soft news situation. How else will the story get written if the paper has no money? Before accepting anything I would discuss it with my editor and find out policies concerning the gift. No matter what I had accepted if there was something negative that came out of the travel situation I would write about it, freebie or no freebie. There is a code of ethics that we must live by and are judged by, but I think that until we are higher up on the ladder we are not judged too harshly. After all we do what we have to in order to get the story written.
"Freebies"
I don't think I am yet fully aware of every aspect of the Journalists role, so initially I would probably come right out and say, "Yeah, I would take the freebies for sure".
I guess I see the travel writing profession as the more laidback among the Journalism trades, and if you are going to write about a place you have to get there somehow.
I can see where the problem is when it comes to certain companies or places seeking promotion, and how they would be helpful to the writer just to gain favorable reviews.
This "code of honor" among the elite press to not accept such opportunities does not sound like something a travel writer would follow; a hard news writer, hopefully,would.
If I am truly honest when writing about a place, whether it be good or bad, I dont see anything wrong with accepting a freebie. Then again, I think my values when it comes to getting stuff for free aren't necessarily mature, I am in college and broke as hell.
"prejudice"
Some people can read different things into almost any piece of writing. For example, I intended no prejudice in sharing my wonderful experiences in the Philippines. I merely commented about the friendly way I was greeted by the Filipino people, as they welcomed me, a stranger, to their beautiful land. If any prejudice exists at all it is on the part of the commentator who has inappropriately read meaning that never existed, into my comments.
"Freebies"
In certain place it is culturally unacceptable to turn down even the smallest gift, yet as a journalist it is difficult to ethically take any gifts at all. As a journalist, I do not find it ethical to accept gifts of any kind no matter the reason. I feel my standards are high and I would not sell out for a couple of plane tickets or hotel accommodations I would not want to risk my credibility, especially as a young journalist, on something that could have long-term affects on my career.
Cassidy-racism
Obviously this is a very difficult subject, not only for the sensitivity of the matter but the difficulty of addressing it. On one hand I realize that the scenario presented smacks of subtle racism and stereotyping, but on the other it is very difficult to avoid. The author's observations are what they are, and he/she has no way of knowing the truth. They could ask someone, but then they would merely be borrowing someone elses predjudices. The only solution that I see is to state how the people reacted around you, and state that that may be different from their normal behavior. In the end I think the only real solution is constant awareness of this problem, and consciousness of the uniqueness of your experience.
Cassidy-Free Stuff
I think it's ethically acceptable accept free stuff. It is not ethical however to return the favor by altering your work. If you have something negative to say, say it, and just be happy you got a free trip out of it. Then accept that it probably won't happen again. But hey, that's one more free trip than most people get. If you experience was possitive then both parties benefit.
The main issue that arises is the appearance of improper behavior. To the public and your employer this may mean a loss of trust. The trust of the public may be kept if the author acknowledges that the trip was provided free by company x, and then states that their loyalty lies with honesty. This doesn't have to be a disclaimer, it can be weaved into the story, "In the fall of 2003 company x gave me a free package to visit Kerala..." As for the trust of your employer, I believe it's their problem. They should never have hired a person they would have to second guess. It shouldn't be the authors responsibiliy to sooth their employers insecurities.
I feel the matter of stereotyping to be a very pertinent issue, especially in matters of journalistic writing- the goal of the journalist being to illustrate facts and observations in a succinct and (hopefully) engrossing fashion with as little biases as possible. Of course, when anyone attempts to write something, traces of one's point of view can be detected. However, I feel that a good journalist should always strive to attain the utmost of cultural relativism that he or she can. In matters of travel writing, where the personal voice of the writer is encouraged, it is somewhat difficult to separate a personal observation through the lens of an individual's unique experience, and what can be interpreted as a general observation.
It seems just as feasible for one person's experience in the Fillipnes to be characterized by warm, welcoming people as it does for one individual's experience to be characterized by a coveting people. Both observations perhaps lack an even further extended observation. This extended onbservation might infer that while this was the writer's experience with the people, this characteristic of the people is not all-encompassing. Both the "stereotypical observation" and the rebuttle don't take enough cultural relativism into account in formulating an accurate representation of the Fillipino people as well as the individual disposition of every citizen of the Fillipines. I would say that the rebuttle used against the stereotypical observation lands in equally hot water, as there is no one disposition for all citizens of any country. To make these observations on either sides of the spectrum harms the individuality of the country's citizens and perhaps robs the journalist's ability to really spend some one-on-one time with a variety of citizens and truly get the whole mulit-faceted picture- which is what good journalism is all about.
llw23@humboldt.edu
Regarding racism in travel writing:
If someone accused me of racism in my writing, and I was guilty of it, even unknowingly, I wouldn't be able to justify myself. I mean, literally, I wouldn't have anything to say for myself. The only thing I would do is maybe write an apology to the people I slandered and maybe ask the editor to print a retraction. Now if they accused me and it wasn't true -- and this has happened before but not in a travel piece -- then I would stand by what I wrote.
Regarding freebies:
I must admit that I have accepted freebies as well. About a year ago I was working for a summer newswriting class at my previous school and the Walt Disney Company gave my advisor some tickets to see Pirates of the Caribbean a week before it was out and he let me use them for an article. I don't think there was any strings attached because there were a lot of people at that screening. But if I were writing a travel piece, or any kind of piece for a news paper that had a pretty big budget for that kind of stuff, and the freebie was presented to me with the idea that I write a nice story about them, I would turn it down.
Roe Pressley
I really enjoyed reading Shannon Taylor's article about her trip to Ireland. The writing style flows nicely and is easy and fun to read. She weaves in good historical context, like the list of famous authors from Dublin, of which I was not previously aware. She also adds in snippets of information and tips for those who might want to go to Ireland, like the name of the tour bus line and the hostel. One thing I was curious about was the name of the night club. She keeps the narrative running strong through the whole piece while inserting facts and details about the places she visits. Also, I think the inevitable encounter with The Count was very well foreshadowed, especially when he wouldn't say how he got his name... I just knew he would turn out to be the bad guy! (Could "the count" possibly be referring to the number of girls he had raped or seduced while travelling in the past?) Anyway, I really liked reading this one. Good job!
As for today's questions:
I think I would be happiest if I found a happy balance between the corporate controlled mainstream press and the alternative independent papers. I strongly believe that balance is the key to many if not all things in life, and for me it definitely holds true in this case. My ideal job would not be making tons of money while writing cold emotionless drivel for the New York Times or USA Today or something of that stature where I cannot express any ideas of social or political critique unless it's so subtle only I would notice. But I also would not want to be trying to cover real issues and real news in an alternative magazine, next to some whack job's editorial piece about the evils of America, capitalism, the western world, Christianity, and Judaism while promoting the merits of Islam. So I would seek to find something in the middle, maybe even something that takes me out of the world of hard news completely - music or travel journalism, for instance.
If someone who worked under me wanted to use the exemplified photo and headline for the cover of my magazine, I would either laugh or spit in his face. Under no condition would I allow something so overtly racist and one sided to be on the cover of a magazine. This is not to say that I would not want the picture to be used. But any photo with this amount of shock value and implication needs to be approached very carefully. The last thing I would want to do is try to paint the whole culture as being this way. So the headline would have to somehow hint at this being an example of a minority of the native people. After thinking about this, I can't think of one off that would really do this culture and this photo justice. In this case I would tell the reporter to find a new cover picture, but I would still use the photo in the magazine, somewhere where it will have more context.
Shannon Kissinger said....
Concerning "prejudice'
I think that some of what is considered prejudice talk can be attributed to the preception of the person reading. Of course there is hateful talk, racist bigoted and prejudiced, but that still doesn't mean that some of it can't be considered miscommunication. I don't.......
Shannon Kissinger said.....
About "freebies"
Good God! I think there is absolutely nothing wrong with accepting freebies. just because you accept them doesn't necessarily mean that you have to write a favorable article.
Shannon Kissinger on.....
Betweeen a coperate high paying job or a liberal low paying job, I'd have to say that I would want to start out in a very liberal-minded magazine, like the SF Bay Guadrian, only making end's meat. Then I would want to get into a big Magazine such as Life. At least for a while. I'd be happy as hell if i could get a job writing articles review backpacking gear, and such; living on a big spread of land out just north of the Bay Area.
Shannon Kissinger about.........
As for the dilema with the National Geographic cover. I would question his idea of the severed head and the title. I would not be brash about, though. That sort of thing isn't exactly good for the magazines credibility.
Shannon Taylor
Ideally I would like to work at an alternative/independent press and make money, but oh well. I guess I would rather work for mainstream media because more people read it and my words would get more widely read. But I think that I would push the buttons and say things that might upset people and encourage them to write in to form a dialogue. If I were working at National Geographic I would be thanking my lucky stars and try to do nothing to compromise my position. However, I would stand up for what I think is unethical and wrong. I think that publishing that photo would be a bad thing, especially with that caption. I would resist the idea and try to find proof that the land is not all savage and that it could offend much of the population. I would possibly publish the photo within the article included with the written context of what the photo is about. It sounds like a pretty gruesome photo to have on the cover.
Sayaka Rifu’s article was very interesting and suspenseful to read. I could feel her pain in being a tourist in New York City, but her description of being a Japanese tourist in NY was something that I had never thought about. The comparison between the safety in NY and Tokyo was a nice touch. I thought another great touch was telling us about how many stations and routes the NY subway system has and the fact that it is the largest in the world. She also gave readers a great tip if they are ever in her same situation; follow others with luggage!
Roe Pressley’s article was filled with amazing historical context and background on the possibility of a dangerous situation. At first we read about the weather situation, which was described beautifully. I think that weather considerations are often an overlooked aspect of travel, which is ironic since weather can make or break a trip. I liked the concept of feeling like Lewis and Clarke, explorers and adventurers. The use of historical context was inspiring. I was wondering if these were facts that you learned while traveling. I liked how Roe explained that we were probably familiar with the French Quarter based on cultural things we have seen on TV. When describing race relations in the south and the crime rates I thought Roe used a good mix of data/facts and personal observation. When describing how the city is old I loved how Roe said you could smell its age, a wonderful mix of senses.
Sayaka Rifu
Ethical questions made me really nervous. I had stopped writing my second article a couple of times because I was worried if I was making a stereotypical comments about the people I have seen. It was interesting to read other people's comments.
Question from Tuesday: I don't think I could say anything if someone had confronted me like that. But if I'm scared to offend anyone, I might as well not write anything. I think that every writer should understand there is always a possibility of someone who is offended by the finished work in one way or another. Every writer must know that he or she is responsible for the finished work, and learn from feedbacks including the harsh ones.
I think that it's sometimes difficult to tell whether the article is crossing an ethical line or not. I don't know if it's smart or cowardly to step around a touchy topic.
As for freebies, I think it's okay to accept it. I even think it's okay to write a somewhat favorable article if the article is true enough - though I'm not sure where to draw the line. I think it is up to those who are actually going to see the place themselves to consider whether the article is true enough or not.
Question from Wednesday: I don't know if I could stop myself from snapping at the editor, especially if I am from the country that is being refered to as 'SAVAGE.' If I could stop myself from getting myself in trouble, I would point out other words that might replace "savage" and try to lure the editor away from that unacceptable headline. Even if the editor is not trying to offend anyone, the word savage has a negative connotation to say the least and it is going to make the whole magazine look stereotypical and racist.
And belatedly, these are my comments on the student works:
"Chartreuse and Old Glory" - By Roe Pressley
I really learned a lot reading this article. The current state of New Orleans was shocking, and I could read along and feel like I was having a tour of the city loaded with interesting descriptions of the places. I also liked the part about Chartreuse. It's fascinating to know what had triggered the author's interest. By reading this article, I learned what my article needed desperately, which were historical context and detail.
"Falling off the Bunk" - By Shannon Taylor
The style of writing was constant throughout the piece and even though some scenes could have been more realistic and dramatic, I really liked the style. It was almost as though I was on the bus watching the three guys and the author from near by seat. I didn't know the Irish and the British call cigarettes "fags" - that was one of the best information in the article. Lastly, I was *so* glad to read the part where The Count was kicked off the bed.
Coperate vs. Independent
I hate these hypotheticals. I would take the first job that I was offered.
"The Philippines, A Savage Land"
This is simply ridiculous. I would never allow that to go onto the front cover. I doubt anybody would allow that if they ever wanted to attract advertisers. And many readers would stop reading the magazine.
R.E. National Geographic
I'm surprised that an editor would consult with the writer of a piece before deciding on a title for the cover of a magazine. Another thing I'm surprised about is that an editor for the National Geographic would even come up with a title like that. Even if I was doing an article on the Ifugao people I would try to stand up for the people in the Philippines and voice my disagreement to the editor.
"Ethics"
I am a firm believer that if you truly believe in something, then it is worth fighting for. If I disagree with the editor and know that my role as editor is one of responsibility and accountability, I would speak up. I would explain my doubts about the picture and headline and the prejudicial portrayal of a nation where many people are not represented properly by the cover picture selection. I would suggest a different headline or different picture all together. As we learn from Spider Man, with great power comes great responsibility, this goes for being a super hero or the editor of a major magazine.
Sayaka Rifu
Asking for autographs:
I don't think it's unethical to ask for an autograph when a journalist was given a chance to interview his or her all-time hero. Using that one last minute to be a "fan," I think, is not unethical at all. Blind worship may be ad for reporters, but being a fan means you have more information about that person you are interviewing. If you could set that autograph aside and switch back to professional mode, there is nothing wrong about asking for an autograph.
Reeves Piece:
I think the statistics was inevitable. It provided the readers what they would want when reading these kind of articles. I would have used the statistics too, if I was to write this kind of article. It helps the readers to picture the whole situation. I don't know what to think of the author's opinion about American society being "racist." I would like to read actual examples to decie whether or not he is overstatingor not. If the author believes in such fact, he should write something to back it up. Then again, that kind of information might be too much for a travel book.
Autographs:
I don’t think there is much wrong with this scenario, or at least not enough to question ethical boundaries. I think the writer would be wrong and rude in asking for an autograph, only because she would be using her status as a journalist to obtain something of value.
The problem lies with whether the writer’s infatuation with the artist will influence or bias her article. The artist should consider the ramifications, consider whether the article would be compromised, and decide in the best interest of the reader.
Richard Rhodes:
I don’t think Rhodes was in the wrong in adding that the American society is still racist. In a travel book, the author has the privilege to add what commentary he thinks is needed. There have to be overall themes or ideas that pull stories together. Rhodes thought a strong theme would be racism.
Racism is a very sensitive word. What constitutes racism? Rhodes thought that he had some good examples of racism in today’s society. I don’t think, in this snippet, there is enough information to support his arguement, but I am sure information like that is available.
"In Patagonia", Theroux
I just opened the book to this story yesterday, and it really pertained to my introduction at the beginning of this course. The story begins with Theroux arriving in Esquel much later than he had hoped. He had wanted to arrive on Easter sunday, a significant day, but overslept and ended up arriving there on "no special date" after Easter had passed. Basically this story revolves around one thought: "Nowhere is a place". This is the realization Theroux has when he finds himself surrounded by an empty desert landscape, which he describes as having "no intermediate zone of study". There is nothing in between what Theroux calls the "Patagonian paradox"; within this empty, immeasurable space one would either have the perspective of a "miniaturist" or to find interest in the large empty space. The latter would identify the space by the sheer size of the area and the miniaturist would see thier surroundings through the little, pink flowers on the sparse plant life. I guess this realization of his really struck me, just to hear it in some other words than my own. The ultimate question is, what do you write about an empty place such as the one Theroux describes in this story? I find myself full of sensation when I come across an empty space like this, whether I would take the miniaturist perspective is dependent upon the situation, but it can sometimes be so marvelous to look for something amongst "nothing". I feel like if you can just step back and realize that you're existing in this place, and more importantly, this place exists without you, then there is something to be said about every single spot on this entire earth. This story really explores the principle of travel writing, and the honesty it requires.
"Mainstream v. Alternative Press"
First of all, I have to say as a young and inexperienced writer, any kind of social commentary intimidates me. I still have time to develop ways to deliver my strong opinions, and I will do so through my education, reading, personal experiences and my own writing.
I think that the responsibility of writing for the corporate-controlled mainstream press is HUGE, for so many reasons. Most importantly, we need fair and ethical journalists in these elite positions to keep a strong hold on an industry that has so much influence over our country, yet has been held so tightly in the grips of corporate control in order to carry out personal agendas. I don't think I am quite cut out for writing hard news, I suppose I just don't write that way very well.
George mentioned earlier, in response to one of his earlier ethical questions, that a "deep social critique is not the proper province of travel writing". I just love the idea of this, and I guess that leads to my answer to the current question; I belive I will seek a career in the independent or alternative medium of journalism. My goal as a writer is not to impose my opinions on anyone, but rather to pass on my experiences. Of course, there is personal opinion involved there, but I would rather compel a reader to visit the place I write about, read the book I refer to, try the thing that I tried or think about the things I contemplate.
Going along with the writers thoughts and letting them take me where they may has been the main allure of literature in my lifetime. I enjoy reading social commentaries as well, for sure; but my own writing, in a sense, will wander through this field of social commentary only to show what I see.
By the end of these blog posts, I always feel like I stop making sense. I suppose this is why I am taking writing classes in the first place. Just bear with me, i'm a babbler :)
"The Phillipines, a Savage Land"
I am trying to think about a topic that would require a writer to speak so generally that it would make it okay to create imlplications such as this, but ultimately, I think we can delve a little deeper into any subject to find an appropriate focus. Obviously, a picture of a severed head is pretty savage, that is a story all on its own. It does not need to be applied to all Filipino's, and that can be achieved quite easily by constructing your language strategically to represent the specifics you have encountered. I would oppose whoever it was I worked with at National Geographic that came up with the title for that cover, and be really pissed if I got fired for that!
I can't write further, these annoying little kids are taking over the computer lab to play some lame interactive computer war games. They are distracting the hell out of me, but I am outnumbered, therefore, defeated and I have to leave :)
Autographs
Once again, I am still naive to several aspects of the journalists role, but I can step back and imagine myself as the interveiwer. In order write a quality article based on an interveiw, I feel like I would have to find some kind of connection with the person. I know these connections will appear on several different levels, and whether I would ask for an autograph would be dependent on how comfortable that connection made me feel with the person. Is it looked down upon simply because it screws with the roles of each person involved? Are we supposed to treat the "interveiwee" as if they are of more importance than ourselves, or the other way around? I would like to be on equal grounds, just kick back and allow this person to get their message across while they allow me to gain the info. I need to construct a piece of writing. Now, I know that this concept does not apply to every type of writing, but take George's example from Reeves; he regards him as "another professional". I think that is awesome, and it really embodies what I think this interaction should be. The journalist and "whoever" are working together, in this situation why shouldn't the lines of communication be open enough to ask for a little autograph? If you're getting it to sell on E-bay, however, that is a different story.....
Shannon Taylor
What is the thrill behind an autograph anyway? I guess I just never understood. I would rather have my picture taken with my hero, but I think that would be crossing a major line. As far as a simple autograph I don’t think I would ask for one because I would want the interviewee to think of me as a professional and not a fan. The only case I can think of where I would possibly ask for one is in the same situation as George. If I was interviewing an author whom I respected and I had his book I might have him autograph that as a keepsake or a reminder of the interview. I see and understand the ethical dilemma here, but it doesn’t seem like that big of a deal. If my editor/boss had made it clear that this was completely unacceptable then I wouldn’t even consider it.
Roe Pressley
I think it's great that you got to meet Richard Reeves, someone you admired so much as a journalist. As for the autograph, I can't say I blame you.
Same thing with Paul McCartney. In my mind, meeting somebody of such magnitude would justify losing a touch of professionalism. I hope to some day interview many people whom I like and admire and I don't plan on letting many things stop me from getting autographs. I just won't got overboard with it. When journalists get autographs and then go out and sell them, that's different and definitely unethical. But for personal enjoyment, come on!
As for the contextual information about race and crime statistics...
This is a really touchy subject. On one hand, you have raw data and statistics that tell you that black males are more likely to commit violent crimes, no matter what sociological and political injustices are behind it. On the other hand, it isn't fair to institute a neighborhood watch program that is obviously going to single out black males, many of whom are innocent.
It is even less fair to do so when the overall population is 70% black, skewing the implications of the statistics. Does that mean we should single out white males in cities that are 70% white with 95% of the crime being committed by whites?
Well, maybe so. Maybe not. I don't know.
At any rate, it doesn't seem completely out of place in a travel book - this is definitely data that travelers often want to know when going to strange new (dangerous) cities. But it depends on how much further context he gives. Hopefully he goes into more detail than just oversimplifying it as "bad luck" in a "racist society." To leave it at this would be insufficent and short sited.
Shannon Taylor
Reeves obviously felt that the conversation between the husband and wife was worth writing about and naturally the statistics would have to be included. I think the conversation was a good lead into the statistics which are important facts to know about any huge city. I liked how he tied the two years of travel together (1831/1981) to show that not much has changed for the black man. Facts are facts and whether it is racist to include them I think really depends on the context in which they are presented. The fact is these people’s neighborhood was being robbed; who is robbing them is irrelevant. The statistics show that there was a somewhat good chance that the burglars were black. I think that the statistics were appropriate especially in giving context and depth to the couple’s conversation. If he had included the conversation without the facts I think I would have been a little more concerned. I think the couple’s issues were included merely as a way to include these statistics about crime in the city. I don’t think the comment about living in a racist society was inappropriate at all when there is evidence that it is true, but he should include some of that evidence not just crime rates by blacks. What about crimes against blacks and other minorities?
Travel is supposed to be so broadening... the only thing that gets broader are my hips, from eating restaurant food. lol
"Reeves"
I think in the context of the Reeves piece the remarks were not racist, the statistics allow the reader to draw their own conclusions. As journalists, we are not here to tell people what to think, but what to think about. By adding the crime rate details the author is allowing people to make up their own minds and offering a point of view as to the couple’s reactions to that information.
"George's book"
George, I will give you credit, your book thus far is well written and a fast read. I must detach myself as your student to read it fairly. I have found a few typos, which in a published work irritate me. I believe that such errors reflect upon the author’s credibility. I thought you could have done a better job describing Texas. You didn't really set the scene well; I understood much of what you were talking about because I have lived in Austin. Maybe I’m biased, but thus far I do not believe you have even begun to give Austin the credit it deserves. For example I would have liked to read a little about the Austin skyline as you walked from fraternity row to campus. I will be happy to continue to share my thoughts as I continue reading the book.
from GEORGE ESTRADA
Melanie, Thanks for the kudos and the criticisms on my book. If you have a list of the typose, please send it to me. I'd like to fix them for the second edition of the book.
from GEORGE ESTRADA: Some students said they had trouble posting here -- but things seem to be OK now. This site will be up through summer, so feel free to post any and all comments until the end of August.
Shannon Taylor
When I first read “I have tasted the sweet mangoes of Cebu” I was taking classes from George and I found it very uncomfortable to come to class after reading about his personal life, feelings and intimacies. I did not enjoy the experience or the book. I had a hard time understanding how it could be considered a travel book. I saw it as a desperate love story and the search for an identity. Now that I have read it again after taking the travel class I see more of a connection to the travel concept. George talks a lot about American society and ideals. the Philippines come into play mainly in connection with Liza. One theme I saw throughout the book was money being a huge American ideal. Early in the book we learn of his desire to achieve wealth, which he hopes to obtain through a Ph.D. along with wealth, and a Ph.D. comes respect another ideal George longed for. At one point while in Cebu he buys Liza a cell phone and felt good about being able to provide for the poor girl.
An interesting aspect of the book is George’s desire for a Filipino wife. We meet his last girlfriend Lauralee who was a white American. He even refers to her as a trophy girlfriend, an American ideal. He describes the anxiety and paranoia he felt while being with her in a mixed race relationship and doesn’t want to feel that way again. I think that the following is one of the more telling paragraphs of the whole book. “My response to all this was simple: I was the one who was oppressed here, not Liza. I was oppressed because I was a man with a dual ethnic/national identity that made me an outsider in both worlds. I had wasted too much of my adult life trying to be something I was not: a white American. And I had spent that entire adult life courting the grace of white American women, whose affection, I reckoned, would bring me the validity I so desperately craved” (193).
Tornado day left a lasting impression in my mind. It is the only real description we get of Texas weather and what a horrific experience. He even connects the divine wind with his dissertation and grad school, which was a great transition.
I particularly enjoyed the parts about Humboldt state and the descriptions of the classes he taught. It was the one part of the book that I could relate to. As much as George seems to be at odds with America and American culture he expresses great happiness upon returning home after several trips to the Philippines. On one trip to the Philippines he is talking with a bartender and he could see that the man wished that he lived in America. George then refrains from telling him the bad stuff about living in America such as the cost, the stereotyping of other cultures and the pressures presented in the media.
George doesn’t taste the mangoes until nearly the end of the book and ironically it coincides with finally sleeping with Liza. I found the description and history of mangoes to be very rich and interesting.
George does a lot of comparing and contrasting of America and the Philippines and the people of each. There is the issue of divorce in America being so widely used and accepted as opposed to the Philippines. He considers the transition for Liza coming to America and how different it will be for her. he makes a lot of assumptions about Liza based on what he had heard or thought of Filipino culture.
I don’t feel like this is a travel book. We get a limited sense of the Filipino culture through the courting of a woman. By his third trip to the Philippines George is irritated with the journey. He does a lot of traveling throughout the United States as he is looking for a job and we get more of a sense of American culture through his eyes. George is at odds with his joint cultures constantly colliding and keeping him from one true identity. I see this book more as a struggle between two worlds, a struggle to find love, peace and somewhere to call home.
From George Estrada to Shannon Taylor:
Thanks for the constuctive criticisms of my book. It seems that you took some time to really engage the ideas I put forth. I really appreciate it.
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