Post a blog entry about your reading of The Woman Warrior. Does the fact that the work is semi-autobiographical change how we read it? Is The Woman Warrior a work that deserves to be at the heart of the new American canon? (Think here about some of our earlier discussions about canonicity, and how the value of literary works is determined). We will discuss your comments in class.
Also, for those interested in seeing more from Maxine Hong Kingston's talk about writing, check out the following.
The fact that this is semi autobiographical changes a few things for me. It definitely calls to attention the nuances about Chinese culture I was unaware of. It also makes the conversations and relations she had with everyone more real to me. The dialogue felt more truthful because of that. I thought the parts that she was just narrating felt more like fiction than any other point. It was more believable. I could picture this person she was describing, hear their voice, and tell my own account to someone as though I knew them myself.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe this book should be at the heart of the Canon, but possibly be included in it. We have many books and authors included in the Canon that provide a clear perspective on specific ways of life or of specific backgrounds. This one obviously representing Chinese and Chinese-American culture. It would be included then to inform those who are not Chinese or Chinese-American, like myself who are ignorant to such things.
I think its important to read and study things outside your own history. The best example of this for me is that I find American history to be incredibly boring because that is all I learned about growing up. Therefore, Greek history, Fuedal Japan; I loved these topics more since they were unlike anything I learned previously. I could see my own American history represented everywhere I looked. I felt stuck. How do you expect me to learn, grow as a person, and be open minded when all I am taught about is more about "myself" and the rest of the world gets lost. I think its especially ironic that on the whole, this country doesn't make up a great part of the world's history. We're barely a dot on the timeline, and yet we deem ourselves at the forefront.
So yes, to make a long rant less long, I believe its important to recognize significant portrayals of other cultures and times besides our own and include them in a Canon of sorts.
Fin
Zachary
The book, "The Woman Warrior" is an interesting and thought provoking take on where the Chinese meets America period in time. I have learned through this reading the two people are completely opposite cultures. This certainly shows in Kingston’s writing. She represented the feminine outlook in Chinese and Chinese America very well. Even in her style of writing I could see that she wrote like a Chinese person would talk (esp. after I saw her speak on the video). This proved to be the hardest part of reading the book. Her subject matter was intriguing, but I personally did not prefer to read it because her tempo, word choice, and emphasis, I couldn’t get past. But that is just my outlook. I do not think it is a bad book by any means.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of this work being semi-autobiographical work did change how I read this story, but not in a bad way. I personally hold to the idea that the best stories are the true ones. But as far to include this to the American Literary Canon I am not sure. I could make arguments for both ways. On one hand, it displays a part of American History that is rarely spoken about. But on the other, it does not contain aspects that are very unfamiliar with the American culture and way of life, and it calls other races “Ghosts” which from a racial standpoint feels controversial. But overall it is a pretty decent book. I just can’t find it in me to praise it like other critics do.
What Canon is there to change? Isn't it growing and changing all the time? In my view, Kingston's contribution is decidedly American. Woman Warrior shows the experience of Chinese American immigrants; woman and their sexual oppression and liberation; and, mens' freedom in Chinese-American culture.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the literary quality, I enjoy Kingston's clarity and directness. It is not often that writers don't get in their own way: with verbiage in particular.
I am curious about which aspect of identity are present in "Reed Pipe". So far, she has presented negative and positive identities; these relate to culture, race, class and sex.
I praise Kingston well-spoken and clear writing style. And on behalf of myself, I welcome her to the American literary Canon.
I like to read about things I have never read before. I have been stuck in a 19th century Lit rut for some time. It's nice to break out with Maxine Hong Kingston's Woman Warrior. I think that what makes it so interesting is the fact that it is semi-autobiographical. There aren't many writers who are daring enough to use their own life in a story for the world to see. It is this daring, which Kingston possesses, that makes her novel an integral part of the literary canon. Isn't the point of the American Literary Canon to provide us with material that represents a group in the country that hasn't been represented before? Before Kingston there wasn't any work published about what it was like to be a Chinese American. That point alone proves that Kingston's novel should be included in the Canon.
ReplyDeleteAs for Culler's idea of "is it worth it?", the fact that it is written in a different way and about a different topic than we are used to proves that it is indeed "worth it".
Primarily, I think since this work is "semi-autobiographical," it definitely changed how I read the book. I felt a lot more connected with the story because it was based on real life experiences.
ReplyDeleteEven though I am not too educated on Chinese-American culture, or just Chinese culture for that matter, I think it helped me connect better, realizing that a lot of the stories were based on things that happened in Maxine Hong Kingston's life.
Even though I thought it was a good book, I'm not sure if I would qualify it for the American literary canon. Nor do I think if it was added, that it should be at the heart of that canon. Though the stories were thought provoking, and her writing style was unique, I didn't feel that it was extremely profound.
--Carly
I enjoyed the book for the most part, and I think the fact that Kingston inserts herself into it here and there helps the reader in a couple ways. First, it helps them to take it more seriously as it contains factual elements, and second, it allows them to learn about the Chinese culture from a first-hand account.
ReplyDeleteI think this book should definitely be in the American canon because it represents a Chinese background and gives great diversity to the canon. Like "The Bluest Eye" speaks from an African American point of view, "The Woman Warrior" is from a Chinese American. These two readings are both legitimate candidates for the American canon and give students a taste of cultures that are different from their own.
The last segment of Woman Warrior brings all of the concepts and ideas of Chinese Americanism out and together. Kingston has a way of separating the two worlds while keeping the foundation of the oppressed woman in tact. I have no problem with this title included in the canon, because it certainly serves its purpose. Te literature is in question though, the stories are unique and interesting, but are they all original?-- I realize that every story is inspired by something, but being autobiographical takes out a degree of creativity in my opinion. Love the speech.
ReplyDeleteIf I were choosing a new American Literary Canon, I think I would pass on "The Woman Warrior". It's not that I thought the book was bad, it wasn't terrible. I liked how Kingston made a collection of short stories that somehow intertwined. I also thought that she had incredible imagery in her writing. I just don't see it as life changing, unforgettable writing.
ReplyDeleteThe semi-autobiographical angle really didn't change my impression from the book. I think that every author injects parts of themself into their works. Should I respect it more because she told stories about herself?
I suppose that part of my negativity regarding the canon comes from the fact that we seem to need to represent everyone. I'm all for equality, please understand that. I just wonder if we would be reading it if it weren't for her minority perspective. Is this book really a wonderful book, or is it included to check off a woman and and Asian? I tend to think it is the latter. Could I put Kingston on the same exclusive list as Fitzgerald, Twain, Hemingway, and Capote? I don't think I could.
The semi-autobiographical aspect of "The Woman Warrior" did change the way I read the book. Instead of taking it as a work of fiction where not everything is a fact or loosely based on fact, many of the events and ideas were based on actual events that happened. That showed me that what happened in the book is really how life was for many Chinese-American people, instead of a completely fictionalized story of someones childhood.
ReplyDelete-Sam Spencer
First I would like to state I liked and enjoyed reading “The Woman Warrior” and thought it was very detailed and interesting. I think the fact that it is semi-autobiographical both adds to each of the stories but also gives us ideas and added insight to her emotions and ideas at the time she wrote it. I also think that it helps us as readers better relate to the culture shock that a person can feel from being on the extremes of a very conservative and subdued lifestyle to the more American view of being who ever you want with the ability and motivation of expressing yourself and being unique. Lastly I think that it would be a great new choice for the American literary canon. As I minority myself I can see the great value it brings as a look into another minority group. It also helps pave the way for all different cultures and minority to want to go out and voice their experiences and ideas from balancing two sort of identities. Lastly I think it would be a great new canon is just simply because it is new and different and can simulate new people with becoming interested in the literary arts.
ReplyDelete-micah vance
I thought "The Woman Warrior" was interesting, because I've had experience living with immigrants from China. This, combined with the autobiographical nature of the story, allowed me to relate to what was going on at some parts of the story (specifically the sort of culture clashing, I guess you could say), and just the overall behavior of the characters in the story.
ReplyDeleteAs far as whether it should be the heart of American Canon, I'm not so sure about that. While I thought it was a good book, and certainly provided an interesting perspective on the American experience, I don't think that it's so universal that it should placed at the center. It is because of the unique perspective within "The Woman Warrior" that I think it definitely has its place within the canon.
-Adam Neill
Woman Warrior was a good read because it explored a story that I had not encountered before in my English classes. The fact that it tells the story of a Chinese-American and her family's ancestry as well as how that past influences them now that they live in the US. I think that because it is semi-autobiographical is a positive because I felt much more invested in the story. Her history is not a faceless and broad exploration, but a personal one that also represents a larger group of people: Chinese-Americans.
ReplyDeleteI like that Kingston uses ghost imagery to talk about the how her cultural and family background influenced her as a young girl and beyond. William Faulkner employs ghosts similarly in Absalom, Absalom, which is included in the American Literary canon. I feel that even though Kingston's story only represents her history specifically that it represents a larger group of people in America and should be included in the canon. This is also because I feel that many things should be included in the canon. I feel that a wide variety of genres and ethnicities should have a place in American literature because the US is so diverse. It would be a shame not to include Kingston's unique voice and style.
I think when accounting for the fact that this novel is semi-autobiographical, it calls to attention that many of these experiences really happened. To me, this makes for a much more powerful story evoking equally more powerful emotions from the audience.
ReplyDeleteIt also gives us a first-hand view at Chinese culture; something almost all of us are completely unfamiliar with.
Personally, looking at this book as a semi-autobiography, I take the idea of identity from Culler's book and apply it to The Woman Warrior as an entire work. Throughout these stories you see Kingston and other fictional characters finding themselves (or struggling to do so) and "helping" others find themselves as well.
-Jeffrey Long
From Samantha Rhodes:
ReplyDeleteIn regards to the canon, in high school I printed off a list composed by College Board of the "101 Books to Read before College", which Woman Warrior was included in. It seems to me that the book is already in the canon, though not as familiar as other books that have maintained their canon status for centuries now.
While reading what others posted about The Woman Warrior’s validity as a great work or merely a book to fill the status quo, I ardently support the former. Kingston’s ability to relate, to tell a provoking and enjoyable story, use of extended metaphors and imagery, and the subtle references and humor qualify The Woman Warrior to represent the new American canon.
The autobiographical aspect of Woman Warrior allowed me to emphasize with Kingston in a remarkable way. Although I typically grow attachments to the characters I read, I felt that connection more vehemently with Woman Warrior. It was enjoyable reading a book, knowing it was based on true events and stories dealt with by a real person rather than a work out of someone’s imagination. I am impressed with Kingston’s ability to tell all despite that what she has to say may not be what people want to hear.
From Amanda Adams:
ReplyDeleteThe fact that this book is semi-autobiographical definitely changes the way that I read it. If it were not semi-autobiographical I would probably just be reading it as if it were a work of fiction; but the events being played out in the book are actual occurrences in Maxine Hong Kingston's life. I really enjoy reading about other cultures that are so different from my own in so many different ways.
I wouldn't necessarily say that this book belongs in the heart of the new American canon because, although I have found myself enjoying the stories being told in the book, I definitely would not choose this book to read strictly for entertainment. The only reason I am reading it is because it is an assignment for class
While I definitely enjoyed reading The Woman Warrior I don’t think that it is a book that should be at the heart of the American canon. It was a an interesting book to read because the subject about Chinese girlhood really isn’t one that is written about often so it was new and refreshing but at the same time it wasn’t a book that held my attention all that well either.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that the book was semi-autobiographical did add to the intrigue of the book because it intertwines Hong Kingston’s actual life story with fiction. Most authors do put themselves into their works but I haven’t seen it displayed this exact way before. While I could see how some might want to add it to the American canon, I do not see it at the heart of it.
-Elani Wilson
The fact that Kingston's novel is a semi biography does indeed change how we read it. Simply because as a reader we are forced to go deeper into the author and the book. In reference to this book we are to think about this history of Chinese Americans and the biography of the author to connect to her writing.
ReplyDeleteShould it be the heart of the American canon? I believe no, however, i wouldn't disagree that it should be a part of it. I believe Woman warrior can connect to a universal audience about the experiences of one cultural intertwining with another. A experience i'm sure everyone has at one time has gone through.
-Jordan Menefield
Blah... my entire comment just got deleted. It's something like this.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the first question, whether we read Kingston's The Woman Warrior differently knowing that it is semi-autobiographical, I would note first of all that the work is written in an autobiographical style and is called "Memoirs" in the subtitle. These characteristics urge me to read the work as an autobiography even before I know any outside information about Kingston, or whether the events of her life are comparable to those in the book. Now, the "I" in The Woman Warrior, the semi-Kingston, is interesting to me primarily for the convolution of emotions and experiences described in the book, not for any outside interest I have in the life of Maxine Hong Kingston. Knowing that the work is semi-autobiographical may perhaps lend more credibility what is described in the book, and perhaps this changes my reading, but not, I think, so much as it would to read an autobiography of someone I was interested in before approaching the work.
Whether the work belongs in the canon is, I should say first, a question I am much too far from qualified to answer. As best as I can figure, though, it seems that universality had been a principal criterion of canonicity -- that the work, though inevitably it deals with particulars, in fact relates something relevant to all humans. As many works once presumed to be universal have been shown to be in fact White, or masculine, or Protestant, or middle-class, etc., readers have become skeptical of whether any work is universal. The Woman Warrior is unabashedly quite particular -- while there is also inevitably much that is universal, the book is primarily specific to the Chinese-American girl. Yet this may no longer be a reason for the work not to be canonized. One thing that many people seem to agree on is that the work develops a rather unique voice, and perhaps if this voice is interesting enough, Woman Warrior has every reason to be in the canon.
- Henry Wilson
I felt the way The Woman Warrior was written was quite interesting. I have never read a semi-autobiographical book before. I felt that since the book was written in this style it was more credible and interesting to read. Although at times I felt the book was hard to get through, I am glad we were assigned to read it. Chinese-American Literature is not something I would have picked up on my own, and I feel more well rounded from reading it. I enjoyed the five unique short stories. I really gathered a lot of information about Chinese-American heritage through this book.
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