Santos and Mendoza

I am hesitant to share this material since I do not want to overly influence your initial exploration of our topic, but I also think it might help to have some orientation to focus our attention in the upcoming readings.

This discussion, composed of three emails between Jade and myself, explicitly began with my flippant response to her clothing / accessory paper (I highlight explicit because I, as explained in one of the emails, began thinking through them earlier). I mentioned that the goal of project 1 is to make students realize, to some degree, that culture influences the ways we think, which in turn structures the things we can write. I discuss her response in the second email below. She can choose to post the paper if she wants to--although I don't think you need to know what she wrote to access the discussion here.

I will discuss these emails later, probably in a few weeks, and relate them to the material in class. For now I hope you recognize that the ideas we will be discussing are open to interpretation, and that they have immediate impact on your life: in fact, today I had a debate with 4 other graduates students over whether or not we should be discussing culture in a composition class...

Santos

Santos to Mendoza:

Jade,

I just wanted to clarify that I enjoyed your paper and, although certainly teasing you, was not belittling your ideas. I enjoyed your paper for the fact that it did state a belief and support it with engaging arguments: if you are not saying something controversial, then you are probably saying something not worth saying.

I do believe your ideas on sexuality as empowerment is pragmatic: your essay offers women (of a certain class: short, attractive, shapely) practical ways of reversing power dynamics in workplaces saturated with male sexual desire. But is this the kind of answer we should work for? Should we teach people how to play the game, or should we work to change the ways the game is played?

These ideas tie back to our earlier conversation regarding culture, context, and composition and certainly will carry over into our examinations of the University. I am not sure how divergent our opinions will be (perhaps they are closer than I now think), but I want you to rest assured that I look forward to reading your blogs and enjoying class discussions. The road to knowledge is paved with confrontation. Til then

Live Well and Play Nice

Santos

Mendoza to Santos:

Santos,

Thank you for clearing up your goofy comments about my paper. When I was writing the paper, I was just writing a paper. I didn't think it was going to strike such a cord with you. A few things are exaggerated and not explained correctly. I didnt put too much research and deep consideration into what I was saying. I had a paper due the next day and you got a paper.

As for my opinions, I have a lot of them but I'm learning to pick my battles otherwise we would of had a brawl in class today. And in a few other class sessions too, for that matter. But anyways, I believe my email was about the current project and if it is okay that I send it via email. I read your reply twice and you didnt address my question. I'd appreciate if you would. asap

Hang loose

jade

Santos to Mendoza II:

Jade,

I, too, should be working on a paper right now (actually, its all but done--I just don't want to proof read it yet), so I'll respond to your response.I wouldn't say that your paper "struck a cord" with me, so much as it presented me with a "teachable moment." O.K., that sounds condescending, let me try that again.

I'll start in left field and bring it back:When you said the other day "I thought this was a composition class..." THAT struck a cord. Not because I expect you to immediately make connections between exploring cultural contexts and producing texts, but because academics constantly debate about what we should teach in composition. Is composition about grammar? Maybe its about thesis statements? Or maybe it has to be larger than that: maybe it has to focus on who we are as individuals and what "writes us" before we can approach how to write.

How does culture "write us?" I believe that we are not nearly as autonomous as many of us like to think: our social interactions limit what we can think, what thoughts are available to us, as much as they make thought available at all. Culture is a creative paradox: it both presents us with opportunities while limiting our opportunities. It focuses our vision while blinding us to alterity.

To bring it back to your paper, which I of course realize was written with a spirit of jest (being a big comedy buff that's one of the reasons I liked it so much... I don't compose 500 word emails over papers I dislike, its also the reason I showed it to my office mate--I hope that doesn't upset you). Again, your paper: So what does this have to do with black stillettos? Only that the environment defines what choices are open to a women (use sex / don't use sex); and, as with my example of "If you really loved me, then you would have called" the best strategy is attacking the supposition. You probably haven't read this far. I didn't want to write this much. I'm going to go now. See you in class.

Santos