Week 15

Part I

1. Alysia: felt that the town of Macondo and the Buendia family were both built on principles. As the town’s events affected the family, the family’s events affected the town. Strangely, this reminds me of how celebrities’ actions can affect people in a town they live in or visit.

2. Andrew: felt that a major occurring theme in “100 Years of Solitude” is that history is bound to repeat itself. It is made a point through Freire’s idea, that dialogue and education can make a change. However, with the Buendia family who was limited in both aspects, change did not happen.

3. Bryanna: believes there is a peaceful way to stop oppression and resolve conflict and that is through meaningful dialogue. This makes me think of how most problems and disagreements could be resolved by having a conversation that is open and constructive. Long standing oppression and conflict are a waste of time and energy.

4. Cory: thinks that one person alone can only change so much. This makes me think of environmental conservation efforts where smalls changes that an individual makes is not much, but if a group or society as a whole brings all their individual accomplishments together, then there is potential for great change.

5. Francisco: says that Latin Americans have been unable to carve out their own individual uniqueness, thereby destined to repeat their mistakes. I think this is true for any individual who does not address their mishaps and make adjustments to improve themselves. I feel self confidence makes people secure with themselves to be able to admit their mistakes and learn from them.

6. Jes: mentions how the people of Macondo become oppressed by other people’s influences. I feel this is true in any population because of how people want to fit in and be popular. Many individuals I know have become so oppressed in their life because they have lost their sense of self because they blend in with the rest of the herd.

7. Kristopher: tells of how Macondo loses its innocence when it comes into contact with other populations and towns. This makes me think of the way different populations of our ancestors came together, with different languages, customs, and appearances. Social interaction is important, but a strong and self assured foundation is needed to maintain independence.

8. Mandi: mentions how at the same time, oppression can be brought on by solitude. The Buendia family was completely isolated for many years which was their initial oppression. Then the influences and occurrences in the city and with the government cause even more oppression.

9. Martin: discussed the Buendia family’s initial struggles with their first contact with the outside world. As with most major changes in life, the primary reaction usually involves shock and struggle. The outside world brings many changes to Macondo and the family adjusts the best way they know how.

10. Paul: tells how there is a sense of the family’s destiny for greatness. Despite all their differences, the family tries to maintain their unity and independence from a changing world around them. I think a lot of families can relate to this, but manage to do so without all the oppression and conflict.

Part II

1. Alexandra: says that “Like Water for Chocolate” shows how two people’s love for one another transcends any societal boundaries.

2. Annacy: says that “Like Water for Chocolate” is the 1992 film based on the 1989 novel.

3. Debbie: says that “Like Water for Chocolate” has the theme of oppression throughout the movie.

4. Jamie: The storyline of “Like Water for Chocolate” begins in Rio Grande, Mexico in 1895.

5. Jennifer: says people throughout the world can relate to their family “oppressing” their beliefs.

6. Jessica: thinks that most people in the world can relate to the predicaments of forbidden love or oppression by a parent.

7. Kevin: thinks “Like Water for Chocolate” was a similar movie to the previous two watched for the class.

8. Mary: describes how Tita expresses her pain and feelings through cooking.

9. Ramona: believes that Freire would have commended Tita on rising above the oppression in her life.

10. Silvia: felt that the women of the era were oppressed by tradition.

Week 14

100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

100 Years of Solitude, written by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, traces the story of the Buendia family for over one hundred years and seven generations. The patriarch of the family, Jose Arcadio Buendia Macondo, founded the town they lived in and named it Macondo. The time span of the novel covers the family’s rise and fall throughout the nineteenth century.

The town of Macondo is like the founder Jose Arcadio Buendia; they are isolated, discontent, and hostile. Macondo and the Buendia family have been isolated for years which have stemmed seclusion and incest. The isolation of Macondo is eventually interrupted when the town comes into contact with neighboring towns and their people. The interaction with others opens a stream of violence, hostility, and discontent within the town limits. A civil war breaks out and many of Macondo’s government officials are murdered. This weakness gives way to an American plantain company that invades the town and begins exploiting the land and the people. Ultimately the people of Macondo became fed up with the plantation company and they instituted a strike. The Army steps in to maintain control during this time, but that led to more fighting and deaths. At this point a heavy rain and storm hits Macondo and the town floods. Again, Macondo becomes desolate and isolated.

The entire story parallels Paulo Freire’s ideas in Pedagogy of the Oppressed. The city of Macondo and the entire population, more specifically the Buendia family, never really had their freedom. They were always oppressed in their solitude which kept them very limited in life. The people of Macondo never seemed to join together and fight the oppression effectively. This seemed to be that the Buendia family was held back by their past experiences. Freire stated that the fate of our culture lies in our hands and that we must end oppression through progressive action. Even when the people of Macondo tried to progressively act they were oppressed through violence and destruction to their home. This was seen with the uprising to the plantain company that resulted in violence, the flood that destroyed their town, and the Civil War that devastated the lands. Freire also said that oppression repeats itself and throughout the century of the story, the Buendias were repeatedly oppressed. The progressive decline of the family and city led to a completely oppressed environment because of the geographical and psychological solitude that was experienced.

Jose Arcadio Buendia influenced the growth and development of his family members and neighbors. His sons inherited his impulsiveness, physical strengths, focus, and intensity. One’s influence on others is often underestimated and Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed influence on society was underestimated as well.

Week 12

“Camila”

“Camila” was a very interesting movie about a young girl from Argentina who was raised in upper class society. Camila was very bright, passionate, and outspoken and knew she wanted more in life than to marry a rich man who she didn’t love. She wanted to be proud of her husband, to desire him, and experience pleasure with him. Camila was instructed to abolish her dirty thoughts and was seeking the guidance of the church to help her overcome her sins. A new priest named Ladislao started at her church and he soon was assisting her in her confessions. Through being completely honest and comfortable with Ladislao, they both began to fall for each other even though they knew it was wrong. They went through the torture of doing what they could to be together, then getting too close and feeling too wrong that they pushed each other away.

Eventually Ladislao and Camila ran away together so that they could be happy and love one another. They started a school, raised animals, and shared in intensely passionate moments that only two people truly in love could share. In the meantime, Camila’s family and Ladislao’s church back home were furious and embarrassed by what the two had done. Shame had been brought on to their loved ones and a warrant was issued to find Camila and Ladislao and return them for punishment. Eventually Ladislao was recognized by another priest and the government was informed. Ladislao and Camila were given the opportunity to escape by one of their new friends, but they chose to surrender. They were brought back to their village where they received no trial and no family or friends came to their rescue. Quickly, the two were propped up and blindfolded in a firing range and they were executed for their treason.

The lack of justice in this situation was sad and disheartening. People do what they’re told when they are unable to stand up to what they know to be wrong.

Classmates

1. Alexandra said that "Love in the Time of Cholera" perfectly illustrates the oppression that Freire stood so boldly against.

2. Annacy said that "Love in the Time of Cholera" transcends many borders.

3. Bryanna said that the story that transcends borders in that the desire for love to conquer all and be eternal is in all cultures around the world.

4. Francisco said that the story demonstrates Freire’s theory, “liberation is thus childbirth, and a painful one.”

5. Jennifer thinks the movie is all about forbidden love.

6. Jessica says the story transcends borders mostly because it can make almost anyone anywhere relate.

7. Mandi says the story brings to light Freire's idea of oppression.

8. Paul says the story has universal messages and archetypes.

9. Ramona loved the setting in Cartegena, Columbia.

10. Sara said Freire believed it was wrong to divide people by status and class.