Write a brief reaction to this piece. Also, does this piece on Díaz inspire you to go out and look up some of this work? (of course if you haven't read some already) DUE: THURSDAY 11:59 pm
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ASSIGNMENT: POEM #2
Joe Brainard's great friend, confidante, and collaborator, Ron Padgett, once wrote of Brainard's work "His method had something childlike about it, and indeed Joe did have a taste for things that were free of adult overcomplication." Padgett also admitted "...[Brainard] had made a marvelous discovery, and many of us wondered why we hadn't thought of such an obvious idea ourselves." In the spirit of Brainard's spectacular long poem "I remember," which we will have read excerpts in class, you will be composing a similar poem made up of the following:
1. 20 lines minimum, each beginning with the anaphoric "I
remember" (More about this in class)
2. Typed
3. Due: Friday, April 11th in class (submit to Andrew)################################################
Here's a copy of the NY Times article "The Color of Mayhem, in a Wave of Urban Games."
39 comments:
SAMSON POSTED FIRST TO REDEEM HIMSELF OF BEING THE LAST POSTER IN THE PREVIOUS BLOG ENTRY
After I read this, I expected for Diaz to respond in a negative manner. You know, like getting angry at the interviewer and stuff.
Judging from what was typed from the interview, I could assume that Diaz is a pretty outgoing and "normal" person.
What was realy fascinating and struck me was how he used that statistic comparing extraterristrials and Latinos on television/film. Another thing that struck me about the interview was the thing they discussed about the psychic terrorist destroying New York.
His work sounds really fascinating, and I'm sure I'll look up on it sometime, and possibly when I scratch up some cash I could go buy something that he wrote.
Go to bed, Samson. You're posting way too early for this assignment. Just kidding; nice job. Take care and see you tomorrow.
P
I agree with Samson, because I also thought that Diaz was going to respond angrily. It's a strange question to ask and I don't think it really fit the interview. But, he didn't react back and instead just answered the question. I thought he handled the situation well and the comparison he made about them being a Dominican family that was the real risk rather than him being an uber-nerd.
To tell you the truth, I don't think I'll ever search for more of his work. But, who knows, I may look it up sometime in the future.
-Chance Bentley
I also have to agree with Samson. I expected his reaction to the question to be in an angry tone, but I think he was pretty okay with it. I think his response was intersting because we do rarely see diverse cultures in the media. As said in his reponse, I don't think the interview was so much focused on the character as being an 'uber nerd' but rather that the family was Dominican and that they were the real risk.
I don't think I will search for his work now, but maybe I will sometime later.
This has been said in the past few comment entries but i would have to agree with all of them bevause Diaz was very calm and didn't get angry in any way possible. It seemed as though he was taking this very maturally matter.
Although the psychic terriost destroying New York really struck which really grabbed my attention.
After reading such a piece there is a slim chance that i will go further into his work but as of now i leave it at this.
Diaz seems to be a very easygoing and relatable person, which personally, makes me even more interested in his new novel. I highly respect the fact that he didn't let winning awards get to his head. His way of thinking, in my opinion, was very relatable to my own life and way of thinking. I'm not one to live for winning awards and being the best, but if I ever did fall into the situation of winning some prestige award, such as Diaz, I would be quite flustered. Now I would have to make my other works better than ever, which in my case may not be possible because of extreme laziness. Overall, i am now very interested in Diaz's new book and look forward to reading it.
On another note, I’ve always been one to root for the underdog. And from what I can gather from this story, that is what the protagonist is. I feel that stories are so much more interesting when the main character is off the beaten path. Not your cookie cutter "depressed teen" or "popular and smart girl". I also feel that relating characters to the authors own life experiences adds an authenticity to the creation.
I agree with Samson and everyone else that felt Diaz would react angrily to the question. The way he handled the situation was very mature and through out the whole interview he seemed very easy going. I also agree with Jessi that he seems like a very relatable person in the sense that he didn't let winning go to his head but instead became worried that now all his other works would have to be even better. He sounds very interesting and I would like to look him up when I get the chance, but with my bad memory and laziness I'm not sure when or if I will.
Hey Paul, im posting even though i wasnt at school.
I have to agree with samson, just like most of us who replied. I though he was going to respond in a more negative way but he seemed pretty chill.
And thought it was funny when he said his idea of psychic terrorists destroying New York was funny.
Although he has a creative way of thinking and expressing it through books, i dont think i would look for his work just yet. Maybe later.
Okay well since everybody in this blog, has agreed with samson, I agree with everybody else.
I was also expecting Diaz to respond with a negative atittude, and maybe saying some negative comments to the report. But instead he was very calm and mature about the whole situtation.
I also think the interviewer probally didn't get what he wanted out of him, meaning he didn't get the reaction he wanted.
For an interviewer bluntly describe the protagonist in Diaz's book as a "nerd", I would assume his description would be based on prominent facts and descriptions directly from the book. The being said, I don't think Diaz took offense to the journalist's question judging by his response.
Diaz was quoted to say "I just felt that the real risk... was imagining a Dominican family as the center of the American experience". What I think he meant by this was that nerds are not normally considered the most central or average figures in American society, and even less so are immigrants. In my interpretation, Diaz meant it was riskier to create a Dominican protagonist than it was to create a "nerdy" one.
Any recipient of the Pulitzer Prize is worth my time, so I would definitely be interested in checking out some of Diaz's work in the future.
After reading that question, i didnt really expect Diaz to be mad about it because he chose to make the character a nerd. If he did that i dont think that he would have any problem as someone refering to the main character as it. He was just asking about what he thought would happen about making this character a nerd and i dont think that it is really offensive its just a question asking about the point of view of the author on his own work.
As everyone else said, he gave a good answer truthfully."It was imagining a Dominican family as the center of the American experience." That he thought was risky.
If it won the pulitzer prize it must be good right? so i suppose i would look into it, maybe when i dont have much else to do.
-joshua puentespina
Junot Diaz seems like a really balanced and easy person. When the interviewer asked Diaz if he was walking around saying "I'm the king of the world" I expepted Diaz to say something about being honored to win the Pulitzer prize, but instead he was talking about his family.
Personally, Diaz sounds like a 'normal' person. He went to his interview in a gray sweater and jeans, and he doesn't gloat or anything. He seems pretty relaxed about all of the questions the interviewer asked as well.
When the interview was talking about Junot's new book it sounds pretty intriguing. I would definitely be interested in picking up a copy of his new book.
-Zoe Galbraith-Knapp
I guess agree with Samson cause everyone else does. I thought that diaz would respond with and attitude cause the question is very odd and did not have anything to do with what they were talking about and he just answered he question like it was nothing so I guess he took it pretty well. Also I think that his response to the question was interesting its rare when you see different types of cultures and sub cultures in the media cause they don’t really focus on it. I don't think I will search for his work because I don’t wanna.
After reading this, I noticed how Diaz is really just an ordinary human being who's taking in all his accomplishments very slowly, and is still a regular person who worries. I thought that the interviewer was weird, because who says "uber" in an interview? But anyways, I thought that Diaz's response was just right, and he answered it good, and it's true there should be more diversity on television, because America has people from all over the world. What also struck me was how he used detailed statistics.
Uhhhh, as of right now I'm probably not going to look into his work. But who knows, maybe tomorrow. Or maybe even the next day, or the day after that, or the day after the day after the next. (=
- Hannah Amarila
I agree with Natalie in the sense that the interviewer must have had knowledge of Diaz's novel for him to use the word "ubernerd" to describe the protagonist. I also thought that Diaz must have been a little taken back when the interviewer asked that question, but the fact that he remained calmed showed him that he is most likely a well-rounded person who is not letting the fact that he just won a Pulitzer Prize get to his head. I really liked that he was able to stay true to himself and not sound conceited in his way of talking,and I just really think that he is someone that a lot of people can relate to.
I don't think that before I read this article that I would have wanted to look up any of his work, but this article has sparked a small interest, and I might someday.
When I read this article I thought that Diaz was going to be angry. Because of the interviewer and the things that he was saying about him. But it seems like that he answered them calmly and didn't care what he said. I like how they talk about psychic terrorist later on in the interview.
I will read more of his work later. It is very interesting.
That was Desmond Field who posted above this one.
I have just finished reading the Diaz piece. I thought that Diaz was going to be negative. The reporters seemed as if they were against his writing. But Diaz acted as if it didn’t bother him. I thought he would respond in a mean or bad way. But he didn’t he responded well and educated. So that was good.
This piece does make me want to look for more of this work. This is because he managed himself pretty well. This piece seems interesting. I would like to learn more about a Dominican writer, since I haven’t yet. I would also want to read more about his piece and how he managed himself in the writing, and how he expressed himself. – Candy Martinez
I would agree with what Samson said because everyone else is saying that and because I agree with too. The questions that were asked weren't related to what they were talking about, but Diaz answered the questions in a good manor and without an attitude.
In the future I probably wouldn't look this up because it doesn't interest me, but maybe I will. I highly doubt it.
-bart
I like the way this man handled his interview! most people couldn't help but gloat over winning such an award but Diaz was almost afraid. I am very interested in his book now just to see how this man could get so much back from a single story! he also was just so calm even when he was asked questions that suggested he let it all go to his head after writing one classic so I can tell if this guy comes out with another book it too will be of high quality.
- Shane Adams
Well I must say that I agree with both Natalie and Rachel, cause just like Natalie said "For an interviewer bluntly describe the protagonist in Diaz's book as a "nerd", I would assume his description would be based on prominent facts and descriptions directly from the book" its true and another thing I truly agree with Natalie about is because she said that "nerds are not normally considered the most central or average figures in American society, and even less so are immigrants."
Anyways, I found this interview weird but I truly found interesting how Diaz would think and answer the interviewer’s questions. I find Diaz to be a really interesting person and I must say I like his personality and I can really relate to him. After reading this article and since I love to read I will definitely check out his work next time I go to the library :)
What person wouldn't get happy after publishing a great book? I would NEVER go out and buy this guy's work. Honestly, if he isn't even happy to write the book, then why should we be? I suggest that nobody buy from this guy. But if you desperately feel inclined to have to read one of his works, then at least find a free copy off the internet. Don't support this guy by waisting YOUR hard earned money on a book making a mockery out of 9/11!
P.S.
I didn't really understand this interview or the significance of it. I was actually irritated by Diaz's witty remarks and his long, drawn out answers. For some reason I seem to be the only person to think this...maybe Paul Lopez can help me change my mind.
- Matthew McCauley
"such an uber-nerd?"
"an uber-nerd?"
"uber-nerd?"
Is this interviewer 13 years old?
I don't care how Diaz reacted. Whatever it doesn't matter. The question didn't seem attacking to me, and in previous and later questions the guy seemed like he was being respectable. Maybe he slipped a little bit in that question, but I don't care, a negative reaction from Diaz seems completely out of place. Unless I can read the tone of the interviewers voice I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt.
Once I finish The Brothers Karamazov (I still have 500 pages to go), Crime and Punishment, Ulysses and Thus Spoke Zarathustra then maybe I will pick it up.
So not for a long time.
Well I have no reaction towards the dialogue. Don’t I don’t see any thing wrong with calling the protagonist from a story “uber-nerd”. If the author decides to call the protagonist of the story like that he may have his reason/his own information on why he decided to name him like that.
Probably I would read some of his books because of the fact that some people got surprised by what the author called his protagonist. It makes me want to read it.
To be entirely (almost brutally) honest, I don’t have any interest in his work at all. He comes off as a bit…shallow, not to mention stereotypical. He assumes that every single American is simply a mirror image of the television they watch, and he pulls figures from nearly a decade ago, hardly ‘hot-off-the-press’ information.
I just…this is a very hard response for me, probably the most difficult one so far, because the article didn’t DO anything for me. It didn’t inspire anything other than terribly mild annoyance, so there’s not more that I can say without repeating myself. I have no real interest in reading this man’s work, there is plenty of interesting literature out there (in fact, the poetry presentations we recently had piqued my interest in many authors).
That’s just my opinion.
I agree with Kyle Woolsey, because i dont really understand why somebody would get mad at the interviewer... it seemed like he was kind of congratulating him in a way by asking if he was happy, saying he was king of the world, and other then that it seems like a normal interview. Other then that i think that it is good that after so many years the author finally got a break, because he seems like a modest and nice guy.
I dont think that i would go look for some of his work, because it doesnt seem like my type of thing, but maybe if someone gave it to me or something i would read it.
I agree with Samson. I thought Junot Diaz was going to react in a very negative manner but he didn't. I was surprised by his reaction because I thought that the interviewer's questions were very unneccessary. If I were Diaz I would of stopped the interview with him right away. His reaction to the interview showed that Diaz is a very calm person.
-yessenia<33
It is offensive to me that they use the words "uber-nerd" as if it's a bad thing. I assume when the interviewer says "nerd" they mean a smart person because the other definition is a stupid, annoying, or unattractive person. I don't see what's wrong with having a hero that is very smart.
I would only think that Diaz would get mad if he took offense from the question, but from his response it seems as though he agrees and thinks that it was risky having an "uber-nerd" as a hero.
I'm not really interested in reading any of his works. The interview doesn't shed that much light on what it's about and it wasn't interesting to me.
Samson is very correct. Diaz didnt not choose to go to the interviewers level, he desided to be the mature one. If i was placed in his shoes i would have said somthing and stop the interview right were its starts. But the way diaz replied to this relects on what a great personality he has.
I agree with what everyone else has written. As I began to read I thought he would’ve reacted in a totally different way, because of the way the reporters kind of seemed to act as if they were against his writing. But Diaz seemed to take no importance to it and answered the questions in a in a good mannered way.
This piece has interested me in a way. I hardly doubt that I would want to actually look deeper into writings like this. But, if I would to come across one I am sure I would take the time and read it just to see what its about. So maybe I will be looking forward to see more of this work.
-fanelie
I agree with samson and with everyone else who agreed with samson. Diaz did not seem angry at all with the interviewer & he seemed laid back in the interview and i didn't think that it would roll that way. Diaz took care of that interview very well and i would like to check out his work, i'm pretty interested in it.
Once I read the article, I really didn't have that much of a reaction to this piece. The interviewer just calls his character an "uber-nerd" and is curious about his other works that have not been out for so long. Junot Diaz is a relaxed person as far as I can tell from this article. The article is basically an interview with some background information. The interviewer's questions might have been a bit offensive, but having a problem with questions like that aren't really necessary.
I honestly think that all his responses to the interviewer’s questions were pretty straight forward. Diaz seems like a pretty chill down to earth guy. I mean, he showed up in jeans and a sweater. But I do have to agree with Kyle on one point. You’re interviewing a professional who just won the Pulitzer Prize and he says “uber.” I literally “lawled”. But in response to your blog, after the interviewer mentions the question, of having any doubts about having a hero who was such an “uber” nerd. I’m actually not surprised to see Diaz respond the way he did. I definitely expected him to respond like a “Pulitzer Prize” winner would.
-Nicklaus Dial
I think that the question wasn’t really offensive at all. The reporter was just asking because the normal hero is what, a strong attractive male figure (sometimes female). So having a “nerd” as a super hero is not usually seen. I think that the reporter meant doubts in a way that, why would someone buy a book where the hero is a “nerd”? I think that Junot had no reason to be offended, because the question wasn’t offensive. Then again I can see why some people may have had a reaction to this, it plays into a stereotype and can be taken unpleasantly, and people have the right to think it so, I personally don’t.
The way Junot responded regardless of the question stuck me as odd, he’s saying that just because the protagonist isn’t white, it means that their “extraterrestrial”? There are tons of books in the world, and plenty of fully diverse characters in all of them.
He saying that he already has someone who is Dominican and then having a “nerd” hero, that’s way too much to handle? I think he is over-reacting, while ethnicity is important, it’s not everything, the book isn’t totally crazy or weird because there is a nerd hero and a Dominican in the book.
I wouldn’t necessarily go out and get his book, but if I saw it, I would definitely pick it up.
I also agree with SAmson like everyone else did because even though he was called an "uber nerd", he seemed pretty chill with his close and is called "normal". HE reaction seemed reasonable
it shocked me on how he talked about the whole psychic terrorists destroying New York. but otherwise in his works is something that I am still thinking on right now to read next time.
sorry to send it so late but my computer was acting up last night
:[
Esly Galindo thought .....
I also agree with Samson because the interview was disrespectful .I’ am surprised that he didn’t was mad at all, from my perspective. I also think that the question didn’t have to do nothing about the kind of interview he was having. I think that he was positive about the interview. It didn’t seem that he cared about what the reporters thought about his work and that’s good because he should be proud of what he does. This interview makes me want know more about this Dominican Republic writer because it seems that he is a well mature writer and that he can handle his thoughts and feelings. :)
SORRY PAUL THAT i POST MY cOMMENT LATE BUT IS THAT MY iNTERNET WAS NOT WORKING LAST NIGHT SO i POSTED TODAY
Esly Galindo :) have a nice weekend!!!!!!!
I would also have to agree with Samson just like everyone else because the interview was pretty disrespectful and for that I would think that Diaz would react in a different way. I thought that he would snap and say some negative things towards what they had said. He did the opposite of what i thought he would do, he was very positive and seemed like he didn't care what they thought or said about his work.
-Alma Sanchez <3
(sorry its late Paul i was absent. hope u accept it :])
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