Week 6 [Magical Realism]

 Part one: One fiction writing text reminds us that “like dialogue, setting must do more than one thing at once, from illuminating the story’s symbolic underpinnings to such “practical” kinds of showing as reflecting emotion or revealing subtle aspects of a characters life” (Burroway 165).  In the following examples, pay attention to how setting manages to do more than one thing at once!

1) Setting reveals place and atmosphere.  As we read this passage from Annie Proulx’s “What Kind of Furniture Would Jesus Pick,” underline or BOLD words that are being used to establish the mood of an isolated ranch wife, beset by the wind:

The house lay directly in line with a gap in the encircling hills to the northwest, and through this notch the prevailing winds poured, falling on the house with ferocity.  The house shuddered as the wind punched it and slid along the sides like a released torrent from a broken dam.  Week after week in winter it sank and rose, attacked and feinted.  When she put her head down and went out to the truck it yanked at her clothing, shot up her sleeves, whisked her hair into a raveled fright wig.

Which passage is more effective and why?  On the southern bank of the Bayou Teche…or…The bugs hung over the black water in clusters of a steady hum…

I definitely think the second passage was much more effective. The second passage had such a good use of description to the point where it was very easy to imagine or understand what was going on. Details and a prominent setting really do create a better experience for the reader. 

2) Setting can be in harmony or conflict with characters.  As we read this passage, decide whether there is harmony or conflict.  Again underline key words and be ready to defend your decision!

…He opened the door himself and started down the walk to get her going.  The sky was a dying violet and the houses stood out starkly against it, bulbous liver-colored monstrosities of a uniform ugliness though no two were alike.  Since this had been a fashionable neighborhood forty years ago, his mother persisted in thinking they did well to have an apartment in it.  Each house had a narrow collar of dirt around it, usually, in which sat a grubby child.  Julian walked with his hands in his pockets, his head down and thrust forward and his eyes glazed with determination to make himself completely numb during the time he would sacrificed to her pleasure.  (Flannery O’ Connor, “Everything That Rises Must Converge.”)

In this passage I believe the setting caused more conflict than harmony with characters. Although they describe the neighborhood to be solid and attractive it is not satisfying Julian. Instead there is  contrast between his emotions and then description of the setting. Julian is feeling down and sad whereas the setting is more positive. 

3) Place also establishes the characters of the story by providing a glimpse of their world.  What do you know about this character from the details?

Dennis believes it tells everything about Kenny:  photo-realist motorcycles, chrome and highly evolved threat, grace the walls, along with a frail Kafka razor-bladed from a library book, a sin so small and unprecedented that Dennis uncharacteristically forgot to mention it to him.  If Kenny’s motorcycle  paintings are depressing, surely jug-eared Kafka promises complexity, contradiction, hope?  (Elizabeth Tallent, “Prowler”)

I can definitely understand Kenny from specific key details but I do not really think it has much to do with the place. Kenny seems to be someone who is internally suffering whether that is from depression, loneliness, and or isolation. In the story they hint at suicide by mentioning the “razor blade”. 

4) Our relation to place and weather is charged with emotion.  We project our inner feelings out onto the world we experience.  What emotions is this character feeling?

In our back room, which is on the northern end of the house, and cold for sitting in that close to dawn, I sat and watched the texture of the sky change.  It was going to snow, and I wanted to see the storm come up the valley.  (Frederick Busch’s “Ralph the Duck.”)

The character seems to be excited. He wants to watch the sky change and is also waiting to see a storm. It is hard to tell because we aren’t given any dialogue from the character, but we can understand that he is filled with excitement through his actions. 

5) Finally, setting can play a larger symbolic role.  The best stories “reach out to the universe” as our text says.  How is this passage resonating with the theme of the story?

Although the old woman lived in this desolate spot with her only daughter, and she had never seen Mr. Shiflet before, she could tell, even from a distance, that he was a tramp and no-one to be afraid of.  His left coat sleeve was folded up to show there was only half an arm in it and his gaunt figure listed slightly to the side as if the breeze were pushing him.  He had on a black town suit and a brown felt hat that turned up in the front and down in the back and he carried a tin box by a handle.  he came on at an amble, up her road, his face turned toward the sun which appeared to be balancing itself on the peak of a small mountain.  (Flannery O’ Connor, “The Life You Save May Be Your Own.”)

The passage gives off a comforting vibe. I believe the theme of this story revolves around judgment. Regardless of the “Desolate” setting the lady doesn’t see this man as a threat. Even if he is missing half of his arm this lady is not intimidated or scared of this man and this is very comforting because it shows that she isn’t quick to judge and can see good in him.  

After reading the story “St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves” (349-)

• How does Karen Russell make the impossible/possible by creating a storyworld that uses magical realism? 

List an example detail that established the reality for you.

Magical realism relates to real world elements while adding magic. Knowing this the first example that comes to mind is when Maria uses a tranquilizer dart on Mirabella. Changing animals into humans, this is the magical effect adding to magical realism. 

• What else makes this story unique from the ones we’ve read? What do you think you can learn from it as a writer? Discuss whether the ending was satisfactory or not. Why?                  

This story is so unique because it all revolves around magical realism. It has the plot of a realistic story with real human characters but there is a magical effect by adding the imaginative magic of animals. I think the reading was very satisfactory because of the key details. The details made a surreal setting and the magical effect of animals was very refreshing because I haven’t read many stories like this. 

Part two: Life is a mystery, you honestly have no idea what your future will be like. No one truly has their path laid out for them because anything in the world can happen to prevent it. My name is Cory, Cory Paul. I am an 18 year old student at Parkin High. I live in Colorado, and am not very fond of it here. It is super boring and all I ever do is stay inside stressing about my future, or I’m at the McDonald’s located on highway 24 working. Ya my life is a blast…

Just last month high school started again, and I am dreading it. It is my senior year this and most people say “Senior year is so fun and a year to remember”, but let’s be honest no year of school is fun. I’m constantly waking up for no reason but to go over to a building and learn about chemicals, numbers, and human body parts. In addition to that, I am slowly chipping away at my bank account and am always being forced to interact with snotty rich kids that I have no respect for. School just really isn’t my thing and I know that, I am always thinking about what I’m gonna do after high school and it worries me. I have super bad anxiety and am always thinking, I get these habits from my dad as he suffers from major anxiety. 

I was on my way to the first hour when I noticed there was a club opening up for Video production. Honestly I love videography. You can be so creative and imaginative, it is a lot of work but the outcome is always worth seeing. I decided to sign up for the club and then carried on with the rest of my day. The rest of my classes were very stressful because they all assigned homework and tests within the same day. Now all I am thinking about is how am I gonna manage my time to study for these tests? I have to score well for college, but why? I went to bed that night thinking “I don’t wanna go to college” especially because I have no interest within any profession and I don’t wanna pay money for nothing. I couldn’t sleep because I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life, “what am I gonna do if I don’t go to college”. I don’t wanna work a 9-5 all my life, I need to figure this out. 

Finally, the first day of Video production. The class was very compact and there were only 4 other students in the club. The school had provided us with amazing Nikon cameras, I was so happy and excited to just hold the camera in my hand. It put me in a very good mood, until I got to my next few clases that is… 

It was test after assignment and assignment after test, my head feels like it is gonna explode. I went home that night stressed out of my mind knowing I did horrible on many of my tests and assignments. My mom asked “what’s wrong Cory?” And I responded with “ya like you care”, oh I forgot to mention that my parents don’t give a single shit about me and control my life. They make me get a job and they’re making me go to college. I know this sounds like good parenting but not when they force you to apply to McDonald’s so that they can get free food, and force me to go to college but expect me to pay it all off by myself. 

Aghhh!! I can’t take it anymore. All my life I’ve wanted to be something more, something different. I don’t want to obey the social construct of this society. After thinking long and hard I’ve realized that videography gives me that opportunity. The opportunity to be my own person, with my own videos, my own editing, and my own outcome. 

So one thing led to another… and I am in LA now. The land where you make it or break it. A wonderland of opportunities just waiting to be taken. Oh and I stole one of those nice cameras our school supplied us with. I wasn’t joking about my passion and this way I will be escaping the already set life I had been living for years. After a few weeks I had developed friendships but I’ve also run into some of the fakest people I’ve ever met. Just last week I had a friend named Rico, initially he was very nice and was very willing to help me. I told him I came to LA for videography which might have come off a little deceiving but it was true. Regardless, the moment he found out that I wasn’t famous or making that much money he ditched me. Left me in the dirt, blocked me, without leaving a text or a call. Rico isn’t the only one who has done this to me, there have been two others, but now I have a good idea for who is genuine and not nowadays. 

Fortunately I have met one friend. His name is Chase, he is amazing, kind, and caring. He is now 27 years old and works for many YouTubers as a cameraman and an editor. I am so thankful for him because he helped me and looked after me when no one else would. After coming to LA, I had nowhere to sleep, I barely had money, and was scavenging for supplies so that I could save the money I already had. After a week of being in LA Chase approached me at a Best Buy, he told me he had seen me here quite often and asked what a young man like me was doing sitting out in front of a Best Buy everyday. We talked for hours and I learned that he had been in my exact situation, he has a passion for videography and came to LA with nothing but ambitions. Sometimes I think it was god who brought us together. 

After showing me many tips and tricks of videography Chase sent me off to embark on my own journey. He gave me his contact info and hoped to connect with me soon. After a few months of grinding videos left and right I had made it. A group of creators by the name of FaZe had reached out to me and offered me a place to stay in their million dollar mansion, they loved my work and was wondering if I was willing to help them out with videos. I moved in and was so excited. I got along well with everyone initially, I mean it is my first day what are they gonna do, punch me?

After working with them for a few months I had made about three hundred thousand dollars. I was doing well for myself but I noticed there was tension between me and many of the other members of the house. After a couple of weeks I had been kicked out, it was shocking. I thought my life and career had just drifted away in a mere day. That night I had received many messages asking what happened to me and why I wasn’t a part of the FaZe house anymore. Then I saw a video posted by FaZe with my name in the title. My anxiety at this moment was through the roof. They lied. They didn’t just lie but they painted me as a fake monster. They are claiming I had been stealing files and was taking ideas from creators when in reality I kept my head down and did whatever they told me. After that video came out, it went viral. I was getting so much hate and was losing followers and subscribers like crazy. I went into a dark place watching the career I had built drift away. 

A few months had passed and I got a call, I was hungover on my bed with a blunt on my stomach. I was a mess, and it was safe to say I had given up. I realized it was a Chase, he called me. I quickly called him back. He was telling me he knew the truth and that there was no way the rumors were true, he inspired me to not give up and carry out my dream. And that I did, that I did. 

After putting my head back down and grinding videos I had never felt so good. I was becoming more creative, making videos no one has ever thought of. Regardless of what people thought I had done they loved my content and my platforms began to grow again. I was more inspired than ever and continued to grow and do things by myself. I’ve learned to not trust or depend on people in life and especially not in LA. 

After about a year I had become famous. I had millions of subscribers and fans that were so excited to watch my videos. I had millions of dollars saved up and was ready to head back home. I was very nervous about going back because my family had been trying to contact me for years but I had been ignoring them, I hadn't talked to any of them in a whole year. 

After I landed in colorado I took an Uber home, I opened the door of my home and was surprised to see my mom awake sitting at the dining room table because it was one in the morning. 

“Cory? Oh my god it is you Cory!!!” 

She gave me a very enthusiastic bear hug and asked me how I had been.

“I’m good mom, it is good to see you”

I noticed her expression had changed and it was almost like she remembered something. 

That night my life changed. I found out my father had committed suicide. I cried myself to sleep for days on end thinking it was all my fault, that if I hadn’t left he would still be alive. I went missing on the internet for weeks now. My fans were expecting videos and posts and they started to get worried. My dad had been so stressed out with bills and the thought of me, he couldn’t take it anymore. I’m not mad at him, in fact I understand. I’ve had my fair share of times questioning my life. 

From that moment forward I came to my feet as a man. A man with morals, I was swallowed up by the thought of making money instead of holding on to what means the most to me. From that point on me and my family had been closer than ever. 

Exercise: [Bear at the door] 

A plain is falling, someone outside with a mask, someone is doing dong ditching, Zombies outside of the house.

I was so excited to go on our honey moon to Hawaii. I’ve been dreaming of this for years now. Spend a week in paradise with the love of my life. Me and my wife were on Delta airlines. We had been up since four in the morning and have been waiting for four hours now. Our flight was supposed to be at seven am but it is now eight. Apparently there was some problem with something. Eventually we got onto the plane, I was so exhausted I decided to take a nap. In what felt like hours later my wife woke me up with aggression and panic. 

“Wake up John!! Our plain is going down” 

I was still waking up and trying to process what was going on. 

“John if we die, I just want you to know I love you” 

In that moment I knew she wasn’t kidding, the plane really was going down. I kept thinking what do I do? I have the power to fix this, but then I will reveal my identity. I am the hero of our city and everyone I out to find my identity. I thought to myself “no I can’t, I will ruin everything”, but as we got closer to the plain I knew I had to. I have my wife a hug and said “I have to go”. I broke a back window and jumped. My anxiety was through the roof. I had never felt this strong of wind, it continued to intensify as my eye lids were starting to go to the back of my head. I made it under the airplane and used my super strength to withhold the plain from crashing. And from that day on I haven’t seem her since. I had to leave.