Friday, January 22, 2016

Blog #17: TEWWG Fishbowl Discussions

7 comments:

  1. In your food memoir I liked how you incorporated the Chinese American aspect, it was well done with your friend representing the American culture and your mom representing the Chinese culture. In your video I liked the scene where you show your friend making the dumpling, you making it and then your mom making it, in three consecutive shots. That was a great way to further showcase the diversity you were accomplishing. In the fishbowl discussion, the question on Janie being the most free even though her being an African American and a woman, was very intriguing. The question required complex thinking, it wasn't a simple yes or no question. Overall your contribution to the fishbowl discussion was significant and appreciated by the entire class.

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  3. I loved your comparison of the different symbolic meanings of hair in, "Rapunzel Explains the Tower", and Their Eyes Were Watching God. I thought it was really interesting you pointed out that hair could represent innocence in one piece of literature and sexuality in another. You offered a lot of different elements to the discussion in asking and answering questions, interpreting or adding to other group members comments, and synthesis of multiple sources. Great job!

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  4. Grace! I loved your dish! I thought it was delicious. One of my favorite things about your video was that it really reinforced what you were saying. You not only included your mom in the video, but the friends who you had your own dumpling party with. I also thought it was really neat that during the discusson you and the other members picked some of the same poems and themes out of your topic. I agree with Kara's comment about the hair, it ties back to one of the Foster's chapters we read for the poetry presentation. Nice job!!!

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  5. First of all, those dumplings were the best I've ever tasted! I'll definitely be using that recipe myself! I enjoyed your video and the memoir along with it. Incorporating your American friends when making the Chinese dumplings was a great idea as it coincided with your group's topic, developing one's identity. As for the discussion, I liked your embodiment of Rapunzel and the evolution of her thoughts and actions as her story progresses connecting to her changing identity. It definitely brought a new perspective to the significant subject of Janie's hair in "Their Eyes Were Watching God." Overall, you were a vital part of the discussion and provided your opinion and analysis knowledgeably and respectfully.

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  6. Hi Grace! I have to say, your contributions to the fishbowl discussion - and, naturally, your dumplings - were extremely impressive. I didn't get a chance to ask you about them, but I believe that I noticed the distinct mark of ginger in the dumplings, which, as someone extremely uneducated on Chinese cuisine, was something that I had not experienced before. To put it briefly, the "jaiozi" were amazing; but, sitting there during the fishbowl discussion and trying your dish alongside everyone else in the class really reinforced notions you brought up regarding the connections we make in preparing and eating food. Cooking and eating really are, as you put it, "place[s] where friends join together in a common pursuit..." Whether that is pursuit is eating, preparing food, relaxing, preparing to exercise, or snacking during a discussion on Their Eyes Were Watching God, there is an innate sense of togetherness that results from embracing food and embracing those with whom you embrace food. If I were to give one piece of constructive criticism - trust me, it is hard to find - I would say that when you find the discussion reaching an "awkward silence," don't be afraid to stir the pot and throw in a new point of discussion; it very well could be far off from what you were previously discussing and it may not necessarily be strictly "on point," but that is sort of the beauty of these fishbowl discussions - they are what you make of them. Again, amazing memoir, amazing discussion, amazing food.

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  7. Like everybody else I'd like to start off by congratulating you on a great presentation. You're dumplings were delicious and as Austin also mentioned they were a cuisine I'm not familiar with but am very excited to experience again. In you video I liked how you created a sort of character arc for yourself in which you realize the importance of these dumpling parties and vow at the end to make an effort to attend the next one with your mother. It was sort of a mini plot that I thought added to your theme of culture and how food and more specifically it's preparation bring people closer together. In the discussion your comments were very well thought out but my favorite would be the connection you made between Rapunzel and TEWWG. The comparison between Janie's Grandmother and the witch and Rapunzel started off an interesting conversation about a connection I wouldn't have imagined. And again, congratulations on a great memoir.

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