Link to Passion Project Video and Spoken Word Poetry

My Video

Michael Lee -- Shelters

Reflect-Write-Share: Power

        Sofia and Harpo are coming into such conflict because of Harpo's expectations, and Sofia's determination to be herself.  She is strong-willed and stubborn, which does not go along with the image that Harpo has of the submissive, obedient wife.  While they both love each other, Sofia tries to resist Harpo's expectations.  She is disappointed that Harpo is so weak that he feels he needs to have power over somebody.  The fight is about Harpo's struggle for the power Sofia has over him, which he feels is not the way a husband-wife relationship should operate.  Throughout his life, Harpo has lived under the whim of Mr. _______.  He wants to finally be higher than somebody.  Sofia is far more powerful in this situation.  She is physically strong, and willful: her determination is in pursuit of a just cause.  Harpo, on the other hand, believes he has power in his position as husband, but Sofia renders this power null.

        Our table believes that the most powerful reaction Sofia could have to the mayor slapping her would be to stare at him in the face, and walk away.  This nonviolent courage elevates individuals over their oppressors in the respect that it fosters for themselves.  However, Sofia was too proud to do that, and her reaction to punch the mayor made a great deal of sense in the situation.  It was quite similar to her dismay in Harpo's attempted enforcement of his gender's role -- the mayor scornfully slapping Sofia showed his prejudice and haughtiness as a white man.  Sofia stood up to these traditions in both situations; however, she lost the battle in this scenario, because of white political power and the public nature of the resistance.  She won the battle with Harpo because of its domestic nature.  Institutional power is greater than individual power, and it's not a choice.

Language and Dialect: Everyday Life

        From recording everyday conversation at my soccer tournament in Rockford, language was largely used with little thought or meaning.  It was casual, indirect, sarcastic, superficial, facetious, and unfortunately, often insensitive.  Yet fortunately, these words only describe the banter of immature teenage boys, rather than that of mature adults.  Observing chatter among adults this weekend, there were substantially fewer diversions from Standard American English, and also in chatter between boys and adults.  The conversation I transcribed took place at Olive Garden, and had many micro-conversations, with little polite listening.  Some of the insensitivity included "Bro, your school's a jail cell," "You girls need to brush your stinky teeth," and "You are hobos without shoes on."  These comments were atypical for everyday conversation, but many of the other conversations that I observed had similar derogatory remarks.  Interestingly, in the conversation that I observed, there was also an omission of the verb "to be," like in The Color Purple.  There is also a good deal of hyperbole present, as well as idioms; for example, "Dude.  The pasta fagioli is to die for.  I get it every time."  Sentences, too, were often incomplete.  One person said, "The breadsticks.  Yes."  Overall, the conversation would have received an "F" on proper use of SAE.