"Latino USA: A Cartoon HIstory"

When it came to this reading, it’s somewhat difficult to explain how I felt about it. Personally, I did not like it at all. There’s no disagreement that Stavans definitely had a good standing point and very interesting topic to write about. However, I don’t think he addressed it very well. I found the writing to be very confusing and didn’t make much sense. He was jumping from one topic to another and got quickly sidetracked changing the subject constantly. I felt that if he had more of a structure and he addressed topics one by one, it would’ve been a lot more understandable. It was a strong subject to write about and he definitely made great points. But it just needed a little more organization. However, when it came to the comic strips, I really enjoyed it. It was entertaining and informing at the same time. All comic strips are meant to be funny and most of them are very goofy and not serious. But this one dealt with serious issues and was still able to remain amusing. Overall, I would say I enjoyed the subject of the text as a whole. My only problem was the organization of the text, but regardless it was still interesting. 

"Graphic Memoirs Come of Age"

Although this reading was fairly long and a little complicated, I can say that I understood it and definitely liked it. I get what Bradley is saying when it comes to classifying such different types of reading into the same category. But I disagree with him in the sense where it seems as if he thinks it’s a bad thing. It came off to me that Bradley sided with the idea of actual novels and memoirs rather than using comic strips to explain one’s life. I admit to say I can definitely be wrong but it felt like he didn’t think comic strips could serve as the same purpose, and that they were more useful for funny stories or jokes. However, I believe they can be used for just as strong as a purpose that novels and memoirs go far. When it comes to writing, I think of it as a form of art. And when it comes to art, there is no one specific way to express it. Every single person has a unique way that applies to them as an individual. So if someone wanted to express their life experiences through comic strips, why not? It’s true that everyone has their opinions but no one should be limited to have to express yourself “by the rules.” If Bradley doesn’t agree with it, then he can stick to his type of writing while letting others write the way they want too. Even though I didn’t agree with everything Bradley stated, I can definitely say that he addressed great points in his text that can start up strong feelings about the different types of writing.

"The Woman Warrior"

After reading the chapter “White Tigers” in the story “The Woman Warrior” by Maxine Hong Kingston, and the critical analysis of the text “Empowerment through Mythological Imaginings in Woman Warrior” by Sue Ann Johnston, I realized that although it wasn't anything too complicated, there was much more to the story than I thought there was. In “White Tigers” the story that Kingston lived through was very similar to the myth of Mulan. She was trained to become a fighting warrior and then fought in the army to protect loved ones. Although this story was written as a memoir of Kingston, Johnston questions in her analysis whether this was written and fiction or non-fiction. I agree just for the fact that at times it does seem as if this really happened to Kingston in her past but then it also seems like it could never have happened just due to modern times. Johnston also see’s this story as poetic in a sense and I also agree with that. Although it wasn’t written in any type of poetic form, it flows throughout the story like a poem would. It’s telling a story but in a very organized and deep sense. “White Tigers” was obviously a very interesting text to read, but Johnston’s critical analysis of the story was so on point it was just as good.