Thursday, May 22, 2014
Anzaldua: Chapter Six - Tlilli, Tlapalli / The Path of Red and Black ink
Discuss Anzaldúa’s view of writing and the artistic creative process. What is the connection between creative expression and personal transformation? How does this relate to her phrase of "I change myself, I change the world'? What is the connection between personal change and social change?
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Anzaldua view in writing does not separate different aspects of writing into multiple fragments but rather believes that writing should not separate the “artistic” from the “functional,” the “secular” from the “sacred,” but rather believes that all of these factors should be intertwined and expressed in unison (88). Through writing Anzaldua also show the connection between creative expression and personal growth; when engaging in her writing Anzaldua is creating and projecting her self, it is only after she has finished expressing her thoughts that a period of reflection occurs and personal growth takes place by reflecting on her own projections she can gain understanding of her own self. Through her writing she discovers her self but in the process she also discovers the world around her, because people are reflections of society the way they look and explores themselves is similar to the way people explore and look at their own environment and so when personal change occurs it can be relatable to the way global change can occur because of global similarity; as Anzaldua states “I playing with my self, I am playing with the world's soul,” (92).
ReplyDeleteGabe, I like the ideas presented at the beginning of your response. However, you have run on sentences and the information is a bit redundant. Towards the end, I am unsure of how Anzaldua's discovery of self relates to her discovery of the world around her. Your reasoning is "people are reflections of society", but what role do people play in A's life?
DeleteGabe, I found it interesting that Anzaldúa believes writing should not be separated into multiple fragments, but should be expressed in unison. This makes a lot of sense, as unity plays a large role in validating and ultimately transforming ourselves, which is a major outcome in the creative expression process. I also found it interesting when you stated that creative expression leads to an understanding of one’s self which leads to personal growth. These ideas also seem to be in accordance with the Humanist approach in psychology, which holds that a sense of unity and understanding of ourselves is needed to obtain personal growth, which are things that can all be accomplished through the writing and artistic creative processes.
DeleteYou present a lot of great ideas but they need to be expanded. I agree with Lucero in the way that you have run on sentences and by the end of your response I am unsure of Anzaldua's position. I think your placement of quotes and context is appropriate and was used to enhance your response. I feel like you had a game plan going into this response but by the end you lost direction. Maybe while writing, go back and reread the question to keep yourself on track.
DeleteIn Chapter 6 of Borderlands, Anzaldua expresses her perception of writing and the artistic creative process as a way to explore Self and validate identity. Sometimes, "writing produces anxiety" (94) as it forces the writer to confront both the positive and negative aspects in their life. However, writing down experiences doesn't define who an individual is. It defines who an individual was and gives the ability "to transform the storyteller and the listener into something else or someone else." (88). Writing, like any form of creative expression, "is dedicated to the validation of humans" (89) by transforming "living in the Borderlands from a nightmare into a numinous experience" (95). If artists are not satisfied with previous actions and decisions, they can become aware of that through creative expression and use it to inspire personal transformation without diminishing their story's validity. That is, so long as there is no "lack of belief in [his/her] creative self [because that's] a lack of belief in [his/her] total self"(95).
ReplyDeleteThe "writings" of others as well as their actions is the formation of knowledge and how it is passed on through generations. Art work and personal transformation of an individual inevitably effects the people they are surrounded by. There is inspiration to validate self in seeing others take ownership of their experiences and being able to act accordingly. The inspired individual now knows that s/he can also produce creative "work [that] has an identity; it is 'who' or 'what' and contains the presences or persons" (89). It validates the human. S/he can act and speak against injustices portrayed in their work. Their actions, too, will inspire others, and one by one create a wave of social change. It is important that people continue to "write" and teach others to do the same in order to progress. Those, like women in many countries, who are never taught to "write" grow up without space for personal transformation, validation and social norms of oppression remain.
Wow, a perfect response youve written. You defined the personal experience one needs and creats through artistic expression accurately; it is a journey of validation. I loved the support of how messages/experiences of art are passed down and around.
DeleteI really enjoyed your response. You presented your thoughts very clearly and chose quotes that really supported your views! I like how you included that the work of one person can inspire social change because that is a big part of creating art. Great job!
DeleteIn chapter six, Anzaldúa defines art and creation as a metaphysical experience. It is an experience "dedicated to the validation of humans" (Anzaldúa 89) through invoking a greater connection between gods and ancestors. By expressing "the myths in me, the myths I am, the myths I want to become" (93) creators and veiwers of art become "hopeful, happy, secure, and it can have negative effects as well, which propel one towards a search for validation" (89). The feelings that art should create is a divine power. This power is meant for good and to inspire. By artists going through this personal transformation, that is art, an experience in itself is passed for others to follow accordingly in a never ending chemical reaction.
ReplyDeleteI like your ideas i just feel like you didn't explain them very well. How or why would others follow as you said in your last statement?
DeleteWhile your response has good ideas in it, I would agree with the other comment. If you elaborated more on how art carries such a divine reputation, then, your response would be much stronger. Still a good response, though.
DeleteAnzaldúa’s process requires that she is genuine and in touch with herself. She strives to get closer to who is she is in order to transform. Anzaldúa is not afraid to change her beliefs and reprogram her consciousness. Acknowledging her mistakes and contradictions helps her learn from her pain. Anzaldúa chooses, “words, images, and body sensations” and animates them “to impress” them on her consciousness (92). Anzaldúa prefers “the world of imagination to the death of sleep” (87), meaning she would rather live “in a state of psychic unrest”, because it is “what makes poets write and artists create” (95). Anzaldúa believes Western art is not communal, but individual. Through retraumatization, and internalizing discomfort, Anzaldúa makes “sense” of her pain, therefore creating meaning, resulting in a personal transformation (92). This pain heals her. “Then it comes out. No more discomfort, no more ambivalence” (95). Anzaldúa states, “I change myself, I change the world” (92). She believes that “lack of belief” in her “creative self is a lack of belief” in her “total self” (95). Blocks, or Coatlicue states, are a fundamental part of Anzaldúa’s cultural identity because these “painful periods of confusion” are the result of “cultural shifts” (96). The connection between personal change and social change is the decision to act, and not react.
ReplyDeleteYou explained how Anzaldúa views art very clearly, and I love how you stated that lack of believe in her creative self is a lack of believe in her total self. I think you should shave explained the connection between social change and personal change a bit more though.
DeleteAbby,
DeleteI really enjoyed reading your response, I think you have a very good understanding of Anzaldua's artistic process and what art and writing mean to her. You also provided good textual support to back up your points Good job.
Art is not simply a tangible object that is to be observed. According to Anzaldua, it is "a hybridization of metaphor, different species of ideas popping up here, popping up there....interrelated and imbued with spirit" (Anzaldua 88). Since art takes on its own spirituality and identity, it is essential that the artist is also in sync with their own individuality. Artistic images are the key to unlocking the thoughts of the unconscious mind and only in this process can an individual truly be healed from the unknown conflicts that haunt the mind internally. When Anzaldue writes, her words are the "dialogue between my Self and el espiritu del mundo" (Anzaldua 92). Her words carry the power that give her the strength to transform herself into the individual that she wants others to perceive her as. Western culture cannot silence the imagery that is created by Anzaldua's writing and with this power, Anzaldua continues to preserve the ancestral culture that "did not split the artistic from the functional..art from everyday life" (Anzaldua 88). Social change is only attainable when individuals are able to reflect on their own identities and accept themselves for who they are. An individual cannot change the negative aspects of the world if they are not willing to change themselves for the better.
ReplyDeleteI really liked how you would present a new idea and then support it with quotes from chapter 6. It really added a sense of validity to your ideas. If I could suggest anything, it would be to better connect individual change with social change, possibly by directly stating that individuals make up the masses. Other than that, really good response!
DeleteYour ideas were great Gustavo, I especially like the closing statement. Good job
DeleteMario Torres
ReplyDeleteWriting is an art. Being a musician, I can totally relate to Anzaldúa's creative process. She says she has this ability to "transform the storyteller and the listener into something else or someone else" (88). And it is true; with all art, the creator turns into something different. They become some majestic being that the listener looks up to. The creator is expressing their true self, and the listener admires this expression because it is beautiful to see the truth. The artists that really make an audience move are the ones with a desire to master their art. There are artists who practice for performing and recognition, and there are artists who just desire to be the best they can be. The former only gets "good enough" to display their art before an audience and they don't realise their full potential. But the latter does not care for recognition and will only perform when their art is perfected and worthy (in the artist's eyes) of being displayed.
I like that you talk about two different types of artist. Anzaldua is probably the "latter" one because she writes for a spiritual transformation and not for recognition/fame.
DeleteIn chapter six Anzaldua writes about her experiences with the arts. She believes that brings everything together and at some point it all intertwines. She makes the statement “Modern Western Painter have borrowed, copied, or otherwise extrapolated the art of tribal cultures and called it cubism, surrealism, symbolism” (Anzaldua 90). Art is a form of expressing emotions and thoughts and it’s done through putting yourself into the art. Once you have committed to being identified with a certain piece of art you are then transformed by the art. These connections become solidified through labels that are given for social media to through out to the world. This scatters one idea that is connected with a certain image or person and sends it throughout the entire world to see. This connection of art and self is now one single thing it is no longer one or the other it is the label it has been given.
ReplyDeleteMelanie Hernandez
ReplyDeleteMr. Saldivar
Latino Literature (4)
May 25, 2014
In chapter six, Tlilli,Tlapalli- The Path of the Red and Black Ink Anzaldua focuses on the arts and how they are both viewed and created differently in western and indigenous cultures as well as the role that art and more specificly writing has on her personally along with a description of her writing process. Anzaldua points out that art is treated differently in non-western culture because in indigenous culture “ the religious, social and aesthetic purposes of art were all intertwined” (80) were as in western culture these elements are all kept separated. Anzaldua believes that this is a mistake because pieces of art lose their meaning when they are not displayed in the appropriate settings because many pieces take their power from the energy of their settings. Anazaldua also acknowledges that the best pieces of art are “dedicated to the validation of humans; that is it makes people hopeful, happy, secure and it can have negative effects as well, which propel one towards a search for validation” (89). For obvious reasons Anzaldua sees a special power in writing and writers-“ the writer, as a shape-changer, is a nahual, a shaman” (88). Of her own writing she notes that “I am the dialogue between myself and el espiritu del mundo..I change myself, I change the world”. (92) Anzaldua recognizes that writing is powerful and can be healing both for the writer and those enjoying the writing.
I agree with the ideas you present and how you describe the differences in western and indigenous views of art. However, I think you should describe more how art is connected to personal transformation and social transformation. Also spell check and the first sentence is a little bit long.
DeleteIn chapter 6 of Borderlands/La Frontera, Anzaldúa writes about how she "preferred the world of the imagination to the death of sleep" (Anzaldúa 85) because it is through her stories and imagination that she is "transformed" and healed (Anzaldúa 92). She explains that "an image is a bridge between evoked emotion and conscious knowledge [while] words are the cables that hold up the bridge" (Anzaldúa 91), so when she falls into the coatlicue state, she becomes sick when she both writes and does not write. "But, in reconstructing the traumas behind the images, [she] make[s] sense of them, and once they have "meaning" [with her words] they are…transformed…[and that is when] the writing heals her" (Anzaldúa 92). By changing the way she thinks and sees those traumatic experiences, she can change her perception of the world around her. By making this personal and internal change and sharing this process through her writing, she can help others make these same changes.
ReplyDeleteGreat response, I would sonly suggest to push further the idea of chaining the world the world through self change, but other than that it was good response.
DeleteYou did a great job explaining how the writer is transformed through her writing and i really liked the way you incorporated quotes to support your ideas. Your response flowed very well.
DeleteInteresting response. I agree very much with your response, and I love your last statement. It analyses the piece very well.
DeleteIn chapter six, “Tlilli, Tlapalli”, Gloria Anzaldúa views writing and the creative process as an internal experience that profoundly affects the writer, but also produces effects on the audience as well. Anzaldúa first starts off by saying that the “ability of story to transform…is shamanistic” (88), emphasizing the fact that she believes her work is not “dead”, but rather a “metaphysical” being with energy (89). The process of creating is described as a painful one, Anzaldúa saying it starts off with a “state of psychic unrest” that is “like a cactus needle embedded in the flesh”, where the pain must be “ma[de] worse before it can get better” (95). The writing process serves as a way for Anzaldúa to heal, as well as deal with the complexities her Chicana identity brings. She comes to a heightened state of understanding that changes her so that her experience “living in the Borderlands [changes] from a nightmare into a numinous experience” (Anzaldúa 95). Her works, what she likes to view as “performances”, not only allow her to change, but are able to affect everyone else who sees them as well (Anzaldúa 89). Once the writer goes through his/her “Coatlicue state”, which is characteristic of pain followed by personal change, others are able to experience this enlightenment through experiencing the performance. This provides for the possibility of minds to change, thus resulting in social change.
ReplyDeleteJasmine, I think you did a great job tying together what you had to say with relevant quotes form the text. I agree strongly with your last statement regarding the fact that minds have to change first in order for social change to occur.
DeleteIn chapter six: Tlilli, Tlapalli, Anzaldua describes the art of writing and art in general as it relates to her and her culture. She starts by stating that she likes to think of her art “as performances and not as ‘dead’ objects (as the aesthetics of western culture think of art works)” (Anzaldua 89). Anzaldua does “not split the artistic and the functional” therefore art is what constructs her identity. Writing is her form of expression, the language she uses to speak and communicate. She argues that western culture does not give enough value to art as it should but instead just protects so it is not damaged. On the other hand tribal art is treated “not just as objects, but also as persons.”(Anzaldua 90). Anzaldua becomes one with her art, the images and soundtracks she creates in her head. These images then gain meaning and therefore she gains knowledge learning more about herself and targeting her unconscious. By empowering herself she empowers the world. She has the ability to change the world with her dreams that overall are her stories in writing. A transformation in herself results in social change.
ReplyDeleteAngie,
DeleteI think you did a very nice job contextualizing the chapter. I especially like how you reflect on how Anzaldúa gains knowledge from her transformation, and how this promotes social change. I was having difficulty phrasing Anzaldúa's criticisms on the western culture regarding art, and I think you gave good examples through textual reference.
In chapter six, Anzaldua presents art, particularly writing, as a means of identity expression and a way to transform ones identity. In writing one must view the positive and negative elements of their life even when they do not necessarily want to because the "'stories' are acts encapsulated in time, 'enacted' every time they are spoken aloud or read silently" (Anzaldua 89). Art is "dedicated to the validation of humans," it invokes feelings both good and negative, to assure people that they are part of a larger people. Artists use their art to validate themselves by receiving feedback from the viewers of their art. During the creative process Anzaldua goes through self reflection, she chooses the words and images she wants in her psyche and "animate them to impress them on my consciousness, thereby making changes in my belief system and reprogramming my consciousness" (Anzaldua 92). With this change of self she changes the art (writings) she produces and invokes the social change in others that she wants to see in the world, "I am the dialogue between my self and el espíritu del mundo. I change myself, I change the world" (Anzaldua 92). Anzaldua acknowledges the power art (writing) holds and utilizes it to portray her ideas to produce the viewers/readers to make a change within themselves.
ReplyDeleteI think you did a great job explaining how the interconnectedness of works of art is created by individual interpretation and how this relates to the writings of Anzaldua and how they constantly help her change and reach out to help many people better understand their identities.
DeleteIn chapter 6 of Borderlands, Anzaldúa views writers to have the potential to serve as a type of shaman, one that uses the story to transform themselves and the listener “into something or someone else” (Anzaldúa 88). The work created during the writing and artistic creative process seems to have a mind of its own, and rather than being controlled it seems to reveal the unconscious conflicts of the writer. It is something that must be cared for, and is “infused with spirit” (Anzaldúa 89). It is noted that the ancient Aztecs viewed writing as a means of attaining communication with the Divine powers. In a similar manner, in the process of Anzaldúa’s creative expression, she undergoes a type of trance where she “invokes images from [her] unconscious” and attempts at restructuring them and making sense of them. A large number of these images are internal conflicts that she does not initially want to face, though confronting them is a large part of the transformation. It is through finding meaning in her traumas that she is transformed, as her thoughts are restructured and she has a new awareness of them. These unconscious thoughts and transformations often involve shifts in her perceptions on life. These shifts and creative states greatly amplify her connection “with the world’s soul” (Anzaldúa 92). For this reason, when she changes herself she feels as if she changes the world, due to her strong link to it. Many times, these changes in herself are a part of larger cultural shifts, and how she faces her uncomfortable thoughts and feelings of cultural ambiguity. These shifts compel her to write, and in doing so opens up “a piercing light of awareness” on such cultural issues. This knowledge of newfound personal change allows her to share her awareness with the world through her various works, influencing her readers “every time [her works] are spoken aloud or read silently” and ultimately leading to social change as a whole (Anzaldúa 89).
ReplyDeleteI thought it was interesting how you stated that the artistic creative process has a mind of its own and reveals the unconscious conflicts. Many times the unconscious mind can portray things that we otherwise want to hide. In order for her to begin to change herself she has to look deep into her unconscious and examine conflicts within herself.
Delete
ReplyDeleteIn Tlilli,Tlapalli- The Path of the Red and Black Ink, Anzaldua establishes that “I write the myths in me, the myths I am, the myths I want to become” (Anzaldua 93). Writing is a form of healing, it is a way that a writer can give their identity a sense of purpose and understanding. Writing allows for others who read the text to also reach a complete understanding of themselves. It is only through writing that Anzaldua is creating her “own face”, her “own heart” (Anzaldua 95) she concludes that this form of art is “making meaningful experiences, whatever it may be” (Anzaldua 95). In comparison to art in the Western culture, art in the indigenous culture, like many other concepts and ideas allows for people to understand their identity. “White America has only attended…in order to exploit it, never to successor in it or to be nurtured in it” (Anzaldua 90) the Western culture does not make sense of writing as a form of art, since they do not nurture themselves in it. Through her writing Anzaldua allows for her thoughts and ideas to change, thus changing the world by having those who can identify with these ideas also be changed by them.
I liked you response, but the only part I was having trouble with was the western culture not making sense of writing as an art form since they don't nurture them selves in it part. What do you mean when you write they don't nurture themselves in it? What would be nurturing themselves in it?
DeleteWriting is a cycle of reflection and reliving through which the writer can make "meaning out of the experience" (95). Through writing our experiences are relived and Anzaldua describes are able to escape from the secular or "heal from mortal wounds" (92). Writing allows the individual to sacrifice themselves to the critical, yet healing aspects of their conscious through which their "soul can be transformed" (97) unconcerned with mortality or any linear technicalities that prevent reflection. Staying true to the cyclic nature of reflection, writing promotes this transformation in other people, providing them a space where they can sacrifice themselves, spurring a series of personal and social changes.
ReplyDeleteGreat response. I didn't realize writing was presented as a means of healing and reliving until I read your response. The quotes you chose supported your argument well.
DeleteIn Chapter 6, Anzaldua explains that art is a “hybridization of metaphor”, meaning that art is the reflection of ones individuality. Art allows the individual to reflect on their past experiences and pain in order to “transform” these experinces into a healing process. Anzaldua explains that her words are the "dialogue between my Self and el espiritu del mundo" (Anzaldua 92). Her words allow her to shape and validate her own identity as any creative expression "is dedicated to the validation of humans" (89). With this new transformation of self, it allows others to gain confidence in expressing their own identity and reflect on their experiences that shape their identity.
ReplyDeleteI like your response. I enjoyed how you synthesized the text and stated that by transforming herself, Anzaldua is giving others confidence. However, I think you should've mentioned how this causes social change.
DeleteAnzaldua describes the creative process as a process of merging the artistic and the functional, the sacred and the secular as well as the art with everyday life. In the process “of art we’re all intertwined” (Anzaldua 88), she describes art as being a blend and not a separation of cultures. Art ends up taking its own identity due to the merge of all the concepts being blended together. This is why many artist paint, write or perform to find themselves. Their art takes form of the artist’s environment and experiences which results in the art piece and the artist sharing the same identity, it becomes “a ‘who’ or ‘what’ and contains the presences of persons” (Anzaldua 89). For there to be social change the change has to begin internally. By changing one’s views and validating them through actions it becomes easier to influence people around you. Personal transformation takes place when they exit the Coatlicue State. They obtain raw knowledge in this state; they observed the information and portray it to the world through creative art. At the end, it is up to the individual analyzing the art peace to begin the Coatlicue State and begin the process once again.
ReplyDeleteAnzaldua describes the writing process as something that is very spiritual and rooted within herself as part of a greater life force. Writing for her isnt simply putting words on paper but rather a ritual requiring her flesh and blood and her existence in order to allow the projected images within herself to come to life. Anzaldua "picks out images from my soul's eye, fishing for the right words to recreate the images." (93) in order for her writings to be as alive and existential as herself. For those living within the borderlands, writing is a way to " make meaning out of the experience." (95) that the constant "psychic unrest" creates. In order for people to create personal change they have to first reflect internally to come to a realization and come to terms with who they are. That is the start of creating social change because it has to be rooted within individuals so that the effects of social change can actually have basis.
ReplyDeleteI liked the quotes you used to support your claims, everything was well connected. i agree with what you said about how the writing process is not only putting words on paper but having a spiritual and self rooted base for writing.
DeleteWriting is form to express one's thoughts and allow for other's to understand the complexities within one's mind. In chapter six, "Tlilli, Tlapalli", Anzaldua explains the creative process that goes into her writing, as she uses writing to explore herself and come in contact with her true identity. Anzaldua explains that, 'In the etho-poetics and performances of the shaman, my people, the Indians, did not split the artistic from the functional, the sacred from the secular, art from every day life" (Anzaldua 88).According to Anzaldua that, "The ability of story to transform the storyteller and the listener to something or someone else is shamanistic" (Anzaldua 88). Shamanism allows for an expert in art to reach altered states of consciousness in order to come in contact with one's spirit and channel these energies to the world. These energies push Anzaldua to not only have an affect her but on others. Anzaldua believes that if, "[she] changes herself, [she] [changes] the world" (Anzaldua 92). Therefore Anzaldua believes that creative expression through, "The religious, social, and aesthetic purposes of art...all intertwined" (Anzaldua 88), a personal transformation is allowed to be reached and results in a fight to influence as well as transform others. This then not only becomes a personal change but as well as a social one.
ReplyDeleteLuis, your response was very well written. Your perspective on how shamanism creates change in the world was interesting to read and very insightful. Good job!
DeleteAnzaldua describes her artistic process as something that is internal for her. He is very spiritually influenced as she "allows the voices and scenes to be projected on the screen in her mind...writing invokes images from my unconscouis (Anzaldua 91, 92). Her unconscious stems from her experiences and the preservation of those raw emotions at the time. Anzaldua describes borderland writers as those writing off the pure emotion in "making meaning out of [their] experiences" (Anzaldua 95). Most of her writing she describes as "venting on paper" because she becomes physically weak from the overload of emotions (92). Her ability to change the world comes first with her being able to see herself in her stories. Anzaldua claims that invoking emotion in people that have not witnessed the experience only comes when they can be emotionally driven by the story.
ReplyDeleteThe quotes and context you give is well done and has good connection with each other to emphasize your points. The analysis is there, but should be emphasized a bit more. Try to give more analysis and connect it to the context, good response overall.
DeleteIn chapter 6 Anzaldua depicts the creative process as of process that heals and brings joy. When creating, or in Anzaldua's case writing, a person taps into their unconscious mind and "invokes images...residues of trauma" (92). When a person creates they put a part of themselves into their creation; but before they can put forth apart of themselves they must have control over whatever they have put into their art; there lies the potential to heal. Creating forces a person to take the images and traumas and "make 'sense' of them" and "once they have 'meaning' they are changed" (92). The creative process leads to personal change because once the the traumas are confronted and put into a piece of art it is released to the world and the creator has gotten a resolution and no longer holds on to it. Once the creators goes through this process the art is released to assist another in the same process so by working on oneself an artist does their part in helping the world be a less angry and ugly place.
ReplyDeleteI like how you flowed in between your quotes and your own interpretations of the chapter and what it ment to you in regards to the creative process.
DeleteI like how you analyzed the chapter and a style and language similar to Anzaldua. At first it was hard for me to differentiate what was your ideas and what was hers. Good job on answering the prompt
DeleteFor Anzaldua, writing was not just a hobby or means of income but quite necessary for her existence. Her internal struggle was reflected by her writing, and only through writing about her experiences was she able to go through any type of personal change. Without this personal change, she never would of reached the level of consciousness that she did. So it is through creative transformation that she reaches personal transformation. When she says "i change myself, I change the world", she means that only through self-reflection and growth was she able to enact any change in the world. This self-reflection and growth incidentally comes from her creative exploits. Through writing, she gets in touch with herself and her own demons, which she can deal with through writing. She even writes about becoming physically when she doesn't
ReplyDeletewrite. When she changes herself, she produces art, which in turn has the capacity to essentially change the world. The art she produces will always remain a part of her, a breathing limb, not like Western art. She says "white America has only attended to the body of the earth in order to exploit it." She considers white Americas art dead and stolen, as she thinks that they are not in touch with their spirituality and others.
In Chapter 6 of Borderlands by Gloria Anzaldua, Anzaldua describes her work as being more than just words; it is a process of reflection and transformation almost like a shamanic ritual. The author, who in this case is Gloria, is the shaman who guides the ceremony and enlightens the participants (readers). According to Anzaldua, she exposes her unconscious thoughts in her writing to form images for “images are more direct, more immediate than words, and closer to the unconscious” (Anzaldua 91). The fact that her writing comes from her unconscious demonstrates that she is part of her writing and therefore her work is alive. Her work is merely a reflection of her own personal demons which hunt her and the only way to fight these demons is through her writing. Once she enlightens the reader the odds of changing the world increase. However, the reader only changes when Gloria changes because her writing is a reflection of her thoughts; therefore Gloria must change her thoughts first and then she can change the world through her writing. This writing process forces the author and the reader to reflect and transform for “it is this learning to live with la Coatlicue that transforms living in the borderlands from nightmare into a numinous experience” (Anzaldua 95).
ReplyDeleteWhoa. That response was art. The way to connected the Shaman anecdote to the rest of the chapter really put everything in perspective. I also like how you kept the art making process specific to Anzaldua, yet it still seems to function universally.
DeleteYour response was thought out extremely well, but how did you choose to connect the Shaman to the text? You also made the quotes flow with the text.
DeleteAnzaldúa believes that art is both a spiritual process and entity in itself. In reference to creative expression, she says that “in reconstructing the traumas behind the images, [she makes] ‘sense’ of them,” (92) which changes her as a person. By changing herself in this spiritual way through this process, part of that spirit is in her art and writing as well. The people who participate in her art in the future are therefore affected by her spirit within the art. Her art evokes emotion in others, which causes them to act on that emotion, which results in social change. Thus, Anzaldúa was highly accurate in stating “I change myself, I change the world,” (92).
ReplyDeleteI think you really explained the whole “I change myself, I change the world” quote well. nice response!
DeleteIn "The Path of Red and Black Ink," Gloria Anzaldua discusses the writing process as a process of nature, synchronized with the Earth. She believes that modern Western artists and writers have "cut themselves off from their spiritual roots, and they take [tribal people's] spiritual art objects in an unconscious attempt to get them back" (Anzaldua, 90). She believes that creating art is very personal and natural, and should be organic as opposed to how many western artists make their work. She believes that western art and its aesthetics have "become a conquered thing, a dead 'thing' separated from nature and, therefore, its power" (Anzaldua 90). She becomes physically ill when she doesn't write for an extended period of time, making her form of writing connected to survival, making it a process of nature. She puts pieces of herself into her art, creating something new for the society. Her writing makes her a part of society and a part of nature, thus explaining her phrase of "I change myself, I change the world."
ReplyDeleteI really liked how you described the organic nature of art and the sort of natural presences and blending power it has. I wish you explained the last sentence or so more because the rest had a lot of insight.
DeleteRamon Herrera
DeleteI really like how this whole response has a sort of theme going on. It focuses on the natural aspects and life and death within the chapter. Those elements together create a pretty good image of that helps the reader see what you're trying to say. Nice job.
Anzaldúa’s view of writing and the artistic creative process is a way to be able to find oneself and express a person's own life and experiences. Having the ability to bring their images and perspective for others to see and for that to be possible one must be able to explore themselves and be in unity with themselves. As Anzaldúa says "I write the myths is me, the myths I am, the myths I want to become" she expresses that the story she tells are part of her being and is expressing her own life to others (Anzaldúa 93). The connection between creative expression and personal transformation is a process that goes right along each other, as one is able to creatively express themselves they are transforming their own personality by adding to their own story and finding who they are as they are "picking out images from my soul's eye, fishing for the right words to recreate the images" to be able tell their stories (Anzaldúa 93). When Anzaldúa says "I change myself, I change the world' she is expressing the fact that every person has a different perspective of the world. So when a person changes them self they are changing how they view the world, and in effect changing how the world is to them and their reflection of it. The connection between personal and social change is the impact that the person has on society as they change their being. Changing the person they are changes the effect they will have on society and what they do. Ultimately changing society as a whole and how it reacts and its being.
ReplyDeleteAnzaldua interprets art as a form of her own expression and story of her physical and spiritual presence. She believes that art is not just an object as western culture deems but, "an identity, or presence of persons or gods or ancestors," (Anzaldua 89). It is a meta physical thing that blends the energies of life. It resembles, and tells the story of her culture and her history and her self reflection. Art is used to self validate an individual's identity. It holds the power of deep reflection that further heals the wound. Anzaldua uses the analogy of the cactus to demonstrate the real power that art has to healing the struggles. When a cactus spike is in you it creates pain and unrest. But you have to dig deep in the wound only to get in out. This is what she explains art as, something that allows an individual to dig deep into yourself and transform your sense of self in your surroundings. Because art allows Anzaldua to gain consciousness about her self in the communal conflicts she has a better understanding of the problems facing the world and can help others reach that level of consciousness. Art is not individual it holds a communal presence.
ReplyDeleteThe quote in your second sentence is very effective, but more evidence to support your answer would help. However, everything else is very well thought out.
DeleteStory telling is a mode of communication where borders and boundaries are broken down to construct unity as Anzaldua mentions “Nudge a Mexican and she or he will Neal out of with a story.”(87) By expressing yourself through means of writing one may gain the confidence to express themselves personally. What you do your own time affects your personality. An example of “ I change myself, I change the world.” Is becoming socially and politically active in the Latino community. By becoming active of an individual’s culture and struggles that group faces will be gained to improve one’s knowledge. In return you become a voice or an advocate for those who are still lost trying to change themselves to change the world.
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting point of view. I did not associate her creative expressions as a way of giving her confidence. Very simple but plausible explanation. Good Job.
DeleteI agree with Azalia in that your interpretation of the text is very interesting and unique. However I don't see how Anzaldua's elaboration on the process of writing and creating art deals with a call-to-action for becoming socially and politically aware in the Latino community.
DeleteI really enjoy what you have to say Anthony and I agree with you. My only comment is that I feel like you go off on a tangent away from the novel's message. I am by no means saying your tangent was bad, but I would've liked it seen related back to the text.
DeleteAnzalduas creative process has room for her thoughts and spiritual thoughts which help her create a piece of art or literature. With the things she creates she changes herself with what she makes but also others because it gives others something to view and think about as well. With her creativity she pushes out her ideas and gives them to others.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I believe your points are valid, I believe they would be far more effective if you would have provided any kind of contextual evidence to support your claims. Also I believe that you could have developed your ideas further in order to give a more analytical standpoint but in the simplest forms your answers to the question were applicable and interesting.
DeleteGloria- i think your response directly answers most of the questions in the prompt. However, i think you should elaborate more on the significance of writing and how it directly relates to "I change myself, I change the world'?.
DeleteRamon Herrera
ReplyDeleteIn chapter six, “Tlilli, Tlapalli”, Gloria Anzaldúa focuses on writing and the creative process as an internal experience that profoundly affects the writer, but also produces effects on the audience. Anzaldua points out that art is treated differently in non-western culture because in indigenous culture “ the religious, social and aesthetic purposes of art were all intertwined” (Anzaldua 80) where as in western culture these elements are kept separated. The process of creating is described as a painful one, Anzaldúa says it starts off with a “state of psychic unrest” that is “like a cactus needle embedded in the flesh”, where the pain must be “ma[de] worse before it can get better” (Anzaldua 95). The writing process serves as a way for Anzaldúa to heal, as well as deal with the complexities her Chicana identity brings. She comes to a heightened state of understanding that changes her so that her experience “living in the Borderlands [changes] from a nightmare into a numinous experience” (Anzaldúa 95). Her works, what she likes to view as “performances”, not only allow her to change, but are able to affect everyone else who sees them as well (Anzaldúa 89). Of her own writing she notes that “I am the dialogue between myself and el espiritu del mundo..I change myself, I change the world” (Anzaldua 92).
For Anzaldua, creating a story is both, a spiritual healing and a creative process. She states, "When i don't write [...] i get physically ill. Because writing invokes images from my unconscious and because some of the images are residues of trauma [...]" Writing, for Anzaldua, allows her to escape her terrors in a creative way and when she doesn't write her terrors haunt her.
ReplyDeleteI think you nailed the idea of Anzaldua's personal experience with writing, but what about expanding it to the rest of the world? The connection between personal change and social change
DeleteIn chapter six, Tlilli Tlapalli/The Path of Red and Black Ink, Anzaldua discusses writing and the artistic creative process as an out of body experience. Anzaldua states, "For me it is alive, infused with spirit" (89). The creative process is something very spiritual, something very real, and it is what allows her to transcend beyond her mind. Creative expression is also a form of transformation, "In reconstructing the traumas behind the images, I make 'sense' of them...It is then that writing heals me, brings me great joy" (Anzaldua 92). Creative expression allows us to understand and cope with our internal struggles, ultimately allowing us to have a stronger sense of self. This stronger sense of self causes us to view the world differently, creating the opportunity for change. "I am the dialogue between my Self and el espiritu del mundo. I change myself, I change the world" (Anzaldua 92).
ReplyDeleteIn writing their is a larger unity with the individuals with the world. Storytelling is in human nature. We understand and think through story, and we unite through story. We have a universal spirit that storytelling taps into which is what Anzaldua is saying when she says "I am playing with myself, I am playing with the world's soul, I am the dialogue betweens self and el spiritu del mundo," (Anzaldua 92). Storytelling connects all peoples, so when Anzaldua says writing transforms her, that "When I write it feels like I'm carving. It feels like I'm creating my own face, my own heart...My soul creates itself through the creative act," (95) she is not only making, or remaking, herself, she is transforming and shifting the collective cultural soul. She is shifting our collective human narrative with every piece she makes, changing this idea of story, the one idea that connects us all as humans.
ReplyDeleteAnzaldua views art as an extension of oneself, spiritual to a point and as a “hybridization of a metaphor” (Anzaldua 88). Since she believes the art is an extension of oneself, her writing becomes more than a story, it becomes an extension of herself and allows her to extend her existence. The things she creates become her way of communicating with the universe as it becomes a conversation “between my self and el espiritu del mundo” (92). When she writes both she and the universe are effected as she speaks and tells the universe her story but in doing so she is also able to look introspectively and better understand and transform herself. This is exactly what she means when she says “I chance myself, I change the world”. Since the process she undergoes in order to create a work of art is a spiritual and mutual journey between her and the world around her she is unable to undergo a change in herself without changing her view of the world around her. The world doesn’t actually change but the way she perceives it does. This however is unlike the connection between personal change and social change as when she experiences social change, yes she may change the way she sees the world around her but she also changes the way people perceive the very same world through observing the art she creates. If enough people can see what is going on around them and believe strongly enough in any rooted idea, it can create a large social change. Her personal change can start social movements by enlightening others.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your first sentence. I like how you related her telling the universe her stories to how she transforms herself.
DeleteAnzaldua views the creation of art--whether literary, performative, or visual--as more than simply an act of creation. "...the work has an identity; it is a "who" or a "what" and contains the presences of persons..." (Anzaldua 89). By classifying her works as living entities, Anzaldua compares the artistic process to motherhood. This analogy continues later in the piece. "These continuous multiple pregnancies are going to kill her." (Anzaldua 96). Each act of artistic creation changes Anzaldua, initiating personal evolution. Each act of artistic creation also has the potential to initiate that kind of change in viewers, causing social as well as personal change on a global scale.
ReplyDeleteAnzaldua believes that the creation of art is synonymous with the creation of a living being. They are ideas that must be fed," the work has an identity" (89). This living art transforms the witness, allowing them to actively participate in the art, as it serves for a purpose in daily life. Western culture fails here and continues to fail despite attempts to recreate or display ethnic art; ethno art functions, rather than festers. That being said, creation of this art involves a sacrifice and there is a cost to creative expression. This is personal transformation, because things, memories, visions must be reconstructed to give them meaning and allow healing. To reconstruct requires a shift in perspective which may be gained in the Coatlicue State, a painfully real experience. Though this too serves for the purpose of healing it forces inspection of one's own conscious, a place where getting lost is easy," nothing defined or definite, a boundless, floating state of limbo where I kick my heels, brood, percolate, hibernate and wait for something to happen" (94). Therefore to create art, it is necessary to go through this process and change yourself. Having now gained the ability to transform the self, it is easier to, " modify and shape primordial energy and therefore able to change [...] and others" (97). The newly created art, as a living entity, seeks to function in the lives of those in common society and, "invoke emotion and conscious knowledge " (91). Creation of art is a road to personal change which invades the routines of other to embed social change.
ReplyDeleteAnzaldúa uses writing as a way to release herself. Anzaldúa says,"...my people...did not split the artistic from the functional, the sacred from the secular, art from everyday life." (Anzaldúa 88) She explains how her art is not an object but a person. Creative expression is a result of personal transformation. This is idea that you must open your soul to get powerful messages across. The way Anzaldúa describes how the Indian mask in an American museum is transformed because of the presence of power missing. The power in any form of art is not the aesthetic but how it is udes and how the power is invoked, such as the mask being worn during a dance. This relates to Anzaldúa’s phrase "I change myself, I change the world" because her personal change affects how the world looks at her therefore changing society's perception of her. Personal change can give a sense of disempowerment or impowerment either way it affects a social change. You add on to either side of a social construct all of which or constantly changing.
ReplyDeleteMaria Anzaldua often creates images in her minds that she attempts to become a voice for through her writing. Maria Anzaldua primarily writes to confront her personal issues of identity as a Chicana and as a lesbian and to gain a better understanding of herself in doing so, "That's what writing is for me, an endless cycle of making it worse, making it better, but always making meaning out of the experience..."(Anzaldua 95). In doing so, Anzaldua is in a state of constant evolution as she recreates her identity every time she writes. When stating, "I change myself, I change the world", Anzaldua relates this to the way her writing is able to connect with people who face similar issues of identity and change general societal views toward the issues.
ReplyDeleteFor Anzaldua writing is both a creative and healing process. She states that being a writer is similar to being a Chicana in that both are "queer"(95) and face conflicts. She notes that Western cultures see art as a "validation of itself" and an object. In viewing art this way, Western culture fails to see the art as "persons...witnesses of the work in a ritual. To Anzaldua, writing is an art in which involves the entirety of mind and body of an individual. "I cannot separate my writing from any part of my life"(95)." Writing feels like I'm creating my own face, my own heart"(95). With this quote, Anzaldua proves writing to be a personal process regardless of social and environmental factors.
ReplyDeleteIn Chapter Six: Tlilli, Tlapalli/ The Path of the Red and Black Ink, Gloria Anzaldua develops a connection between creative expression and personal transformation in order to explain how changing herself changes the world. Anzaldua explains that the colors [red and black are] symbolizing escritura y sabiduria" (Anzaldua 91). She explains how she follows that path when she enters a trans where she is "the dialogue between... Self and el espiritu del mundo" (Anzaldua 93). When she lets herself feel the spirit of the world and writes these stories down, she creates inspiration from the world for others to feel. This personal change invokes change in others, whether she writes about the mountains or the serpiente.
ReplyDeleteI really like your transitions and how well your quotes pertain to your idea. I think this would have been more effective if you would have expanded more on how her personal change invokes the change of others.
DeleteAzalia,
DeleteI liked the quotes you used to support your response, but I would have liked to seen you expand more on your ideas. Also, talk about how personal change invokes change in others.
In chapter six of Borderlands by Gloria Anzaldua she expresses that writing and the artistic creative process is more than just putting something down on paper but it is an elaborate process that requires her to, “have to trust and believe in [her]self” (Anzaldua 95). The expression of stories is what inspires the writer to write her stories the transformation occurs when, “looking inside myself and my experiences, looking at my conflicts, engenders anxiety in me” (Anzaldua 94). When writing becomes a reflection of not only ones fantasies but ones reality it helps speed up a transformation. This relates to her phrase of “I change myself, I change the world”, because that is exactly what she does through her literature. The change in one persons mentality influences those around them and continuously spreads if the way of thinking is the overall societal consensus.
ReplyDeleteI like the transitions you made from going to one theme to the next. It felt very fluid and precise on to the points you wanted to make. I felt that at points you could've elaborated more on the quotes that you put in the response but other than that, it's pretty solid
DeleteDiscuss Anzaldúa’s view of writing and the artistic creative process. What is the connection between creative expression and personal transformation? How does this relate to her phrase of "I change myself, I change the world'? What is the connection between personal change and social change?
ReplyDeleteAnzaldua's view of writing and creative process is that in order to create something great, the Coaxihuitl state is reached. "The ability of the story to transform the storyteller and the listener" (88) are what make the meaning actually worth the process of telling others what the imagination is thinking.Creative expression through the "encapsulated in time" (89) are what make the transformation from the Western stories to the stories that were once full of the indian roots, ones that beamed with colors, soul, and meaning. Once the state is realized then a transformation into art will be made.When she says if she changes herself, she changes the world, she is referring to the transformation and straying from the norms set forth on what art should be, to why it is. With this, she can create new concepts and bring back life to her stories and other artistic pieces, allowing many others to do the same. Personal change can then create social change through art that stands for something, a concrete meaning more than just an abstract one.
Fabian Ramos
ReplyDeleteMr. Saldivar
Latin American Literature-4th Period
May 26, 2014
In the sixth chapter of “Borderlands/ La Frontera”, author Gloria Anzaldúa presents writing and the artistic creative process as a means of either validating an individual or calling for the validation of an individual. The act of writing seeks to validate the individual by requiring the writer to “trust and believe” in their self, as a lack of belief in their “creative self” is a lack of belief in their “total self” (Anzaldúa 95). Creative expression is the projection of the state of the self, and only through the self can the “human soul be transformed” (Anzaldúa 97). Therefore, the fruit of creative expression yields a “transformative power” (Anzaldúa 97). In stating “I change myself, I change the world”, Anzaldúa reiterates the validating abilities of creative expression. Through expressing herself, Anzaldúa is able to not only validate herself, but initiate a search for validation in the audience.
The creation of art comes from when one enters a in a trance of where the person connect with the soul in order to do this other sensation of the body have to be blocked" I need to be alone or in a sensory-deprived state(92).In the process of creating art she disconnects only to form greater connections with the images of her soul"Picking out images from my soul's eye,fishing for the right words to recreate the images"(93).To create art that does not have to be seen or heard to be appreciated but rather felt to create the impact intended to.Therefore create and contribute to the world creation of art far from superficial.Where it has the affect on the person condemned by the secular world in which they live and liberate the spirits of with in.As the images of the souls from memories come together to reach consciousness once more of the inside of one self.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed that you mentioned that the art does not have to be seen to be appreciated but rather felt. I think that point really exemplifies what Anzaldua was trying to make the reader understand.
DeleteIn Chapter 6, Tlilli Tlapalli-The Bath of Red and Black Ink, Anzaldua explains that art is a reflection of one’s identity. Art is a means of self-expression in which one could create whatever they wish and do not have to be limited to any rules or standards. By creating pieces that help to release a person’s thoughts and feelings a new sense of purpose and understanding is awakened. With this new sense of self validation a “dialogue between myself and el espiritu del mundo” begins (Alzandua 92). This personal growth and change makes room for openness to social change. This is because in the artistic process in order to understand yourself you also must understand your place in the world around you. This leads to new discoveries and interactions with your world that you may have not encountered before.
ReplyDeleteGood point that societal change starts with the individual. Anzaldua took the burden of being a forward thinker. Someday her philosophy may be common place.
DeleteIn chapter 6 of Borderlands, Anzaldua explores the creative process as an outlet for the negative and positive aspects of everyday life. Due to the close relation of art and identity, “it is all on”, no distinct separation can be made (Anzaldua 95). Art is not just an object it is a part of your flesh and soul, therefore discrediting art as nothing but, is doing the same to oneself. By writing anzaldua creates a new understanding of not only herself but also her environment, this new knowledge allows personal growth. Social and personal change can be linked to Anzaldua’s statement “I change myself, I change the world” (Anzaldua 92). People are a product of their society, and in order to change a society, there must be a transformation independent from the society. Since people are seen as a representation of society, her writing can reflect the life of others. Art is a way to shape oneself and others into something supernatural and unimaginable, and without passion and obsession for it, the trans formative ability of art will be lost.
ReplyDeleteAnzaldua thinks that creative expression is something in her nature that which is a form of healing to herself. She describes this as a more spiritual phenomenon in which she can release herself in this Coatlicue state. She believed that with writing and wisdom, which derive from tlitti and tlapalli, she can obtain this divine sense that can connect emotion and conscious and thus a more collective change. With writing she can she her conflicts and arrive to the state where she accepts them and then is able to cause this social change as it would reoccur with others and a repetition of the matter. It isn't until there is a realization of who one is that they can move forward and create this change
ReplyDeleteThe comment appears rushed, you have a lot of spelling errors which prevented me from finding a central argument. Your thoughts seem to be all over the place, I don't follow.
DeleteIn Anzaldua's book Borderlands/ La Frontera the author writes about writing as a way to prove things to herself. Anzaldua says putting her words to paper is like "creating my own face, my own heart." (95) Until they are on paper her ideas are like "a cactus needle embedded in the flesh," (Anzaldua 95) but when they are out there is no more "ambivalence" there is a clear decision and meditated thought on what Anzaldua has written. This chapter further explains the Coatlicue state and relates it to a writer's block. The periods of block end in complete ideas and another piece of the author's self coming back into place. Once these words are on paper they can change the world. Anzaldua was inspired by bilingual books, her works will inspire others.
ReplyDeleteIn Chapter 6 of Borderlands, Anzaldua talks about how writing and the artistic creative process are used to validate ones identity. Writing allows the writer take some time for self reflection and look back at what has happened in their life, whether is being good or bad. Through writing Anzaldua is also able to show the connection between creative expression and personal transformation. Her personal transformation is expressed when she reflects on her past while writing. this directly relates to the phrase "I change myself, I change the world'? If one is able to change the hardest person there is to change, themselves, they have the power to change the world. The connection between personal change and social change is that social change is made up of many different people. If one person is able to change that causes a chain reaction and eventually leads to a social change.
ReplyDeleteIn The Path of the Red and Black Ink, Gloria Anzaldua describes writing and artistic processes as fueled by the imagination, and separated “from everyday life” (Anzaldua 88). She argues that through the imagination, writing has the power to shape the reader as well as the writer because both are participants in “the drama”. Writing gives the writer the ability to create an alternate reality through their own creative expression while at the same time, transforming themselves because they are “the dialogue” and they have the opportunity to “change the world” with their words (Anzaldua 92). This explains the reasoning behind Anzaldua’s belief that if she changes herself she can change the world because writing often times helps you realize new things about yourself and about the world through exploring new bearers and new lenses. Once given a new lense and realizing social and personal issues, writing can offer a new way to spread resolutions, all it takes is thought and knowledge in invoke change.
ReplyDeleteAnzaldua compares writing and the creative process to having a cactus needle piercing your flesh. You continue to pick at it until you cannot handle it anymore and finally dig down to take it out. As Anzaldua describes it, "an endless cycle of making it worse, making it better, but always making meaning out of the experience, whatever it may be" (Anzaldua 95). This refers to how writing can cause discomfort, a way for someone to express anything they need to, and then the relief of the creation of the art; suspension and resolution. Writing is also a way of healing and creating. Anzaldua describes how when she writes, she feels as if she were "creating [her] own face, [her] own heart" as well as "learning to live with la Coatlicue," which in chapter 4 she describes as a state of pain, only to lead to healing (Anzaldua 95). These Coatlicue states are products of cultural shifts, causing Anzaldua internal conflict that both impair her ability to write and give her more reason to. By overcoming this block, she is able to write books like Borderlands. She is able to talk about the cultural shifts that oppress but at the same time create the mestiza.
ReplyDeleteSort of simler to how she had stated earlier in the book. About the beauty of the scar and the healing process.
DeleteThe connection between creative expression and personal transformation is a connection between heart and soul. Anzaldua says “of art we’re all intertwined” (pg. 88) proving to be the basis of creativity; your expression must be personal in order to have creativity and to transform oneself. Creativity is born when you are able to actively display a part of your life through a medium of artistic expression. Anzaldua has done this through writing. Her writing has become a medium for her to express her ideas and transform as an individual while also helping to transform her people and community. This is reflexive of the statement “I change myself, I change the world” (pg 92) When somebody is unable to be creative they are unable to personally transform and loose a depth to life that only those who understand culture change could understand. Anzaldua understands that if she is able to undergo personal change through creativity that she will then be able to better help social change to commence, thus is the connection between personal and social change. In all the complete essence of ones self can be contained in their creativity, without it they are but a hard piece of clay, unable to be molded by the hands of change.
ReplyDeleteIn Tlilli,Tlapalli- The Path of the Red and Black Ink, Anzaldua describes writing as a healing event. Writing and art allows a person to be themselves and fully aware of themselves. It relives painful experiences and is a spiritual healing event. Anzaldua says, "For me it is alive, infused with spirit" (89). It creates something real to her that she connects and transforms with. By stating, “I change myself, I change the world”, Anzaldua validates her writing and its effect on modern society. It creates social change to transform social norms.
ReplyDeleteJessica, I like your response and the way you describe writing as a spiritual healing event where one can relieve painful experiences however i think you should expand a little more on how exactly, writing changes or transforms the world.
DeleteIn chapter 6, Anzaldua speaks about how writing is used to prove one's identity. Through her writing, Anzaldua is able to recall her childhood, such as times she spent telling stories to her sister. Writing is a form of creative expression, and through the "hybridization of metaphor, different species of ideas... full of variations and seeming contradictions," the writer experiences a personal transformation. (Anzaldua 88) Anzaldua says "I am the dialogue between my Self and el espiritu del mundo." (Anzaldua 92) By this, she helps the reader understand that she is finding her place in the world. When she says "I change myself, I change the world," she understands her impact on society. When she changes herself, she experiences something personal, but social change is what comes from that personal change.
ReplyDeleteI like your analysis of the line "I change myself, I change the world". Your idea of Anzaldua understanding her impact on society through her art is really interesting and I hadn't thought about it like that. I also like your specific reference to the stories she told to her sister. It adds good context. Really good overall.
DeleteIn chapter 6, Tlilli, Tlapalli, The path of Red and Black Ink, Anzaldua describes writing and the artistic creative process as a merging of the “artistic” and “functional” and the “secular” and “sacred” (Anzaldua 88). Her writing comes from something rooted within her and she uses it as a way to express and explore herself. “I change myself, I change the world” refers to how Anzaldua uses writing as a way heal herself and it “brings [her] great joy” (Anzaldua 92). Once the self has been healed, it allows the individual to look at the world through a new lens and see it as art itself, filled with opportunity for change.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you mentioned how once one heals themselves they can look at the world through a new lens. I truly believe one must look within themselves before attempting to change anything externally.
DeleteArt is its own identity. It is an expression of the soul and the craft of the hands. Although it is something concrete and visible its meaning isn't always obvious. According to Anzaldua the artist portrays his/her identity through art, it is a way of expressing oneself while allowing others to interpret the meaning. When she writes, she creates a voice for herself and for others that can relate to her pieces.
ReplyDeleteI really like how you explained Anzaldua's view of art, especially the line "it is an expression of the soul and the craft of the hands."
DeleteIn chapter 6 of Borderlands, Gloria Anzaldúa explains how art is used by an artist as a form of self-discovery, and how an artists personal change is then reflected through spirituality to spark a widespread social change. She says that “when I write it feels like I’m carving bone. It feels like I’m creating my own face, my own heart,” (Anzaldúa 95). She puts a part of herself into her artwork, and her “soul makes itself through the creative act,” (Anzaldúa 95). This journey of self-discovery connects an artist spiritually to their work. Through their spiritual connection, they are “playing with the world’s soul” (Anzaldúa 92). The “dialogue between [an artist’s] Self and el espíritu del mundo” (Anzaldúa 92) forms the connection between the personal self-discovery of an artist and the transformation of the world. Therefore, through using her art to change herself, Anzaldúa changes the world.
ReplyDeleteMaddie, I really enjoyed reading your response. I did not think to respond to the prompt in this manner, and I find it refreshing to read a different insight. However, I think you could have expanded a little more on how artistic creativity relates to personal transformation.
DeleteIn Chapter 6, Anzaldua portrays writing is not different from art in fact writing is an art. Writing is the ability of a story to transform the storyteller and listener into something or someone else" (Anzaldua 88). The process this individual undergoes when writing provides an understanding and validation of their identity. The reader of this art also come to an understanding of his/herself. Anzaldua is a reflection of her sorroundings and by understanding who she is, she also discovers her sorroundings. Anzaldua believes that by writing about who she is , she is changing others as well by making them understand who Anzaldua is and also discovering their own identity."I am the dialogue between my self and el espíritu del mundo. I change myself, I change the world" (Anzaldua 92).
ReplyDeleteIn chapter six of Borderlands, Anzaldua discusses her thoughts regarding writing and the artistic creative process. She argues that writing is a spiritually intense task because it provokes personal transformation. Anzaldua proclaims, "writing produces anxiety. Looking at myself and my experience,... engenders anxiety in me" (Anzaldua 94). This quote reaffirms the idea that the creative process and personal transformation are connected, because writing causes the need to look at one's past, in order to write the future. Anzaldua then goes on to state, "I change myself, I change the world" (Anzaldua 92). This quote provides evidence that the author believes that her writing is a real as she is, and vice versa. It is evident that Anzaldua believes in the "man in the mirror" concept, in order to evoke social change, one must first change themselves.
ReplyDeleteIn chapter six Anzaldua reflects on writing, the artistic prosees and how it allows her to change herself as an individual. sometimes writing resulted in "producing anxiety "(Anzaldua 94) as it forces writer out of their comfort zone. other times it allowed for a sense of security. No mater what dealing the writing create it always leads to a greater understating of ones self by forceing a person to reflect on their views, experinces
ReplyDeleteWriting for some has been a way to express ones ideas. For Gloria Anzaldua in Chapter Six she explains how writing for her is a spiritual task that allows her to find herself. She clearly relates art and identity as through her art she allows for the negative and positive aspects of herself to flow out. She views wriritng as a healing process reflecting the personal change that occurs within her. Through this she is able to to mirror this change onto others. Not only through people who read this but also herself as she leads a path to social change.
ReplyDeleteVincent, I really liked your writing on the relationship between ones self and their art and the path it leads towards personal discovery. However, I felt you needed to put more context and analysis into how this personal art may be used to change society.
DeleteThroughout Borderlands Anzaldua has attempted to write about the separation between the rational and spiritual mind and how the borderlands seek to combine these two. Anzaldua says, “In the ethno-poetics and performance of the shaman, my people, the Indians, did not split the artistic from the functional, the sacred from the secular, art from everyday life.” I believe that Anzaldua is saying that in order for art to truly process as art it must live in between the border of the rational and the spiritual and combine the two elements. Creative expression allows for the release and the acceptance of the personal transformation. “When I create stories in my head, that is, allow the voices and scenes to be projected in the inner screen of my mind, I ‘trance’”. Through this quote Anzaldua is saying that there is spirituality stored in the rational mind and through creative expression that spirit may be released. This relates directly to Anzaldua’s phrase of “I change myself, I change the world” because it shows the release of personal beliefs and spirit being thrown into and shaping the external world. Anzaldua argues that art is the medium in which our personal spirituality may enter the physical world.
ReplyDeleteIsabella Aimone
ReplyDeleteSaldivar
Latin@ Lit period 4
5/26/14
Chapter six is defined by internal struggle that then manifests itself into searching for identity of one's self. The writing style suggests change from who Anzaldua was, into who she defines herself as now. Through exposing "the myths in [her], the myths [she is], and the myths [she wants] to become," (Anzaldua 93) Anzaldua effectively exposes her search for self validity in her writing. She views writing as a form of self expression as well as self discovery. By starting small with writing, you are ultimately changing yourself. By creating a piece of artwork you expose your emotions and feelings for the public to see. This form of self expression often leads to a feeling of openness and freedom. Once this feeling has been spread onto artwork, people who view the artwork also get the sense of freedom and enlightenment. The small acts that we as individuals ultimately effect a wide range of people. If you want to see a change, you need to be the change.
Anzaldua believes that during the writing or artistic process, one can also create their soul. This can be done when one chooses "words, images, and body sensations" to "animate and impress them on (the) consciousness, thereby...reprogramming (the) consciousness." (Anzaldua 92) Essentially this means that while someone is thinking creatively, they can look closely at certain things and formulate new beliefs based on these new intrinsic observations. By changing yourself you are also changing the world because you are changing the way you look at the world. For example, Anzaldua experienced this by transforming"living in the Borderlands from a nightmare into a numinous experience." (Anzaldua 95) Personal change can lead to self awareness being spread to others which can result in social change. Images, words, and stories have the potential power to cause this transformation on a massive scale.
ReplyDeleteIn chapter 6 of Borderlands, Gloria Anzaldua talks about the writing process. Of course, like most writing, it is personal to the author. For Anzaldua personally, it not only is writing academic, but for her, it is also spiritual. Creative expression relates to personal transformation in the way that writing is a creative outlet for some people. They are able to write about certain issues or topics that they are passionate about, in order to create some sort of societal awareness about it. Through the writing process, people can also learn a lot about themselves. Anzaldua states, "When I write it feels like I'm carving. It feels like I'm creating my own face, my own heart...My soul creates itself through the creative act" (Anzaldua 95). When she claims,"I change myself, I change the world" (92), Anzaldua means that when people change their perspective, they are also able to change the way in which they view the world. Anzaldua also talks about the art of storytelling. She states, "The ability of story to transform the storyteller and the listener to something or someone else is shamanistic" (88). People also usually write to inspire and motivate people to change social norm and social injustices. But for Anzaldua, the process also requires for her to be in touch with her spiritual side.
ReplyDeleteI really like the way your response focusses on how writing helps ones find themselves. Kind of how Gaspar talked about carving our spaces to self-validate ourselves. Good job with your response.
DeleteAnzaldua describes the artistic and writing process as something that is simultaneously cathartic, creative, and something both personally and socially momentous. She expresses confusion with the Western idea that art, in any form, is something that is separate from one's life or experiences. She points out that projecting your own qualities is an excellent way to add credence to any social campaign and ergo it is impossible to attempt a social change that possesses ideals that you do not believe in yourself.
ReplyDeleteFor Anzaldua, as well as her Latina culture, creation and art are not separate from reality and the "secular" world. "The religious, social, and aesthetic purposes of art were all intertwined." (Anzaldua 88). Artwork is treated like a human, and every piece has a presence. The presence of an art piece causes an inherent change in the world because there is a new life presence. She creates art and the art changes how she thinks. By changing herself, Anzaldua is making a change in the world. Her art is her sacrifice to the world around her.
ReplyDeleteYazmin Caballero
ReplyDeleteMr. Saldivar
Latin@ lit 2/6B
In Chapter 6 of Borderlands, Anzaldua describes the writing and creative process as one entwined with its author's self, containing similar flesh, bone, and beauty. Although her art is capable of having a structure and flesh, it often does not come in a specific order, shape, design, language, or image. "I make 'sense' of them," the artist is the translator, they are the mediator between their inner art shows/imagination/stories/ and nightmares, that are then "transformed... and have meaning"(Anzaldua 92). Both the art and the person go through a change, a transformation, as Anzaldua explains the process of writing and creativity to be a give and take process, where both ends up different in the end. Anzaldua states, "I change myself, I change the world,"(92), this relation between personal change and social change is possible once the work is recognized. Since the art is a piece of its creator both become changed, and when an audience experiences the art they witness the change, and they too become transformed.
In Gloria Anzaldua's Borderlands, Anzaldua creates her own art and truly feels validated when doing so because to her it is like "creating my own face, my own heart." (95). She has the power to say exactly what she needs to say and how to say without being influenced by external forces. Thus, when she looks at her art retrospectively, she knows where she can change her thoughts truly and she is able to accurately state "I change myself, I change the world" because when she changes her thoughts, she changes her art, and her art influences so many and makes a large social impact on society today.
ReplyDeleteIn Chapter 6, “Tlilli, Tlapalli / The Path of Red and Black ink” Anzaldúa writing and the artistic creative process are all synonymous, she even states herself, "For me it is alive, infused with spirit" (89). Anzaldúa believes that each part—art and spirituality— is just as vital as the other to take place, neither one is more influential than the other. Anzaldúa documents the infused experiences of her indigenous people as seen in chapter 6, “In the etho-poetics and performances of the shaman, my people, the Indians, did not split the artistic from the functional, the sacred from the secular, art from every day life" (Anzaldua 88). Evidently, according to Anzaldúa the spiritual journey must be infused with the artistic experience in order to bring about personal and social change. When Anzaldúa states "I change myself, I change the world” she is virtually saying that personal change is also directly correeltated to social change. This parallel between social and personal change is most evident when Anzaldúa states "I write the myths is me, the myths I am, the myths I want to become" (Anzaldúa 93). She is ultimately saying that people are capable of producing any change that they wish as long as they intertwine the spiritual with the artistic process.
ReplyDeleteDiscuss Anzaldúa’s view of writing and the artistic creative process. What is the connection between creative expression and personal transformation? How does this relate to her phrase of "I change myself, I change the world'? What is the connection between personal change and social change?
ReplyDeleteIn chapter 6, Gloria Anzaldua describes how writing roots from our imagination and is completely differently "form everyday life" (Anzaldua 88). This imagination every individual has, as she argues, has the power to form the reader and writer. Writing and the artistic process give the writer the ability to create their own world with their imagination with no restrictions. They have, as she states, the control to "change the world" within their writing because they are "the dialogue" (Anzaldua 92). And this is how she changes herself within her own writing, because she has control over it and it is in her lens and her experiences of life. Through writing she believes it exposes you to different perspectives and gives you new ideas about yourself and the world.
I really liked the argument you presented about the different perspectives giving you new ideas about yourself and the world. I think you answered the question but you could have supported your answer a little better. Overall, I think it's a good idea.
DeleteIn chapter 6, Anzaldua presents the idea of writing being more than just an expression on paper but more so a form of art. Anzaldua romanticizes the act of writing as a spiritual journey that we must indulge in to bring about personal and social change. Writing is a task that incorporates the use of all senses, and Anzaldua claims this is what makes it a form of art. According to her, words are "tangable" and as "concrete as flesh" (Anzaldua 93). But it is only "tangable" to those who write in red ink or "la tinta de [la] sangre" (93). Writing in the ink of blood symbolizes the full indulging of all spiritual sentiment when connecting with the writing that allows the writer to discover a personal change; this is the only way to be completely honest with yourself in your writing. By being honest with yourself you create a piece of writing that is more relatable to the audience therefore also creating a social change.
ReplyDeleteThe idea that writing and art requires the whole of one's self is an interesting one. The fact that you can discover one's honesty while simultaneously giving everything to the writing is thought-provoking and written well
DeleteAnzaldua relates writing, and creativity as a whole, to her Indian roots. The Indians “did not split the artistic from the functional, the sacred from the secular, art from everyday life” (Anzaldua 88). The artistic and creative elements are rooted in the everyday life. This works the same way when Anzaldua describes her completion of the book. She “see{s} a mosaic pattern (Aztec-like) emerging, a weaving pattern, thin here, thick there” (Anzaldua 88). Anzaldua illustrates an inherent connection between artistry and everyday occurrences. She also discusses the need “to trust and believe in myself as a speaker, as a voice for the images” (Anzaldua 88). Her writing is so engrained in her personal everyday life that it is her “…obsession. This vampire which is my talent does not suffer other suitors” (Anzaldua 97). She lives her life through her writing; it allows her to change and shape herself and the world in order to match the world she envisions in her mind.
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