My Response to Grace's Sherlock Blog

Grace I love this so much! I too am a BBC Sherlock fan (thank you to Netflix) and I thought this was great! I really agree with all of your points. I think you could take this further though. The next type of gaucho that Sarmiento described was the Bad Gaucho. This could be related to Sherlock when in Season 2 episode 3 he is accused of being an evil mastermind. People in the episode still seem to respect him (it would be an amazing feat in order to make up all of what he was accused of) just as people still had a frightened respect for Bad Gauchos. Furthermore, Sherlock could be compared to The Cantor gaucho. Sherlock is constantly playing the violin- he is a wonderful musician. He integrates his own deeds as the Cantor gaucho does in Season 2 episode 1. He puts his feelings for "The Woman" into his music and it makes it even better. Just some thoughts to add! Love the analogy :)

Blog # 3 Violence

      So I went over to Gabby's dorm room to have a pleasant discussion but then she just HAD to mention that we had to do our blogs this weekend- a fact which I had completely forgotten. So I went back to my room and procrastinated starting it by doing the dishes and listening to music. I was trying to think of something to blog about- maybe something relating to Sarmiento and Echeverria. Then the song "Violence Fetish" by Disturbed came on to my iPod. I started listening and I realized that I might be able to relate it back to the articles. I thought it might be fun to try anyways! So here goes-
    The song starts by saying

"Bring the violence
It's significant
To the life
If you've ever known anyone
Bring the violence
It's significant
To the life"

 

      So that I thought could relate to how Echeverria thought the Federalists and gauchos lived. When he described the scene with the child being grotesquely murdered no one in the town seems to care. Echeverria is trying to imply that these people are so used to blood and violence and that this indicates their barbarism. This goes hand in hand as the song is talking about how violence is significant to life- that it is very important and life cannot be lived without it.

     This next part of the song could be how the Unitarians viewed the Federalists and gauchos of Argentina.

    "How do you sleep
When you live with your lies
Out of your mouth
Up from your mind
That kind of thinking
Starts a chain reaction
You are a timebomb ticking away"
 

       If nothing else, the Unitarians viewed the gauchos and Federalists as an obstacle to progress. The Unitarians believe that they are in the way of making Latin America be like Europe. The Unitarians do not hold he majority in Argentina and they must all have been worried that the caudillos were in power and that the Federalist kind of thinking will destroy the country and any hopes it had for progress (being like Europe.)

       But then the song continues on and it could be viewed as how the Federalists think of the Unitarians. 

"You need to release
What you're feeling inside
Let out the beast
That you're trying to hide
Step right up and be a part of the action
Get your game face on
Because it's time to play
You're pushing and fighting your way
You're ripping it up"

 

      They might believe that the European "proper and civilized" way of life is incorrect- that they should act more as their instincts dictate and not have customs and manners in the way. The second part of the song quote could relate more directly to how Echeverria portrayed the murder of the Unitarian that came to the village. During the attack the Unitarian was "pushing and fighting" his way. He was trying to resist the Federalists at all costs. "You're ripping it up" could refer to the way in which he died- bursting with rage. He was ripping up his insides with rage until he finally died rather than be dishonored. Additionally the song says "Get your game face on because it's time to play" and this could reference how in the end the judge says "Poor devil, we wanted only to amuse ourselves with him, but he took things too seriously." They thought of it all as just a game.

     Then the final part of the song is again from the Federalist/ gaucho perspective.

 

"So tell me what am I supposed to be
Another g***amn drone
Tell me what am I supposed to be
Should I leave it on the inside
Should I get ready to play" 

 

    I think this could explain how the gauchos felt about changing to the European lifestyle. They thought it would turn them into European drones and they would no longer hold onto their native lifestyle and traditions. I believe the last line "Should I get ready to play" could be the Federalists proclaiming that tey were ready for war with the Unitarians if it came down to it.
     Well that's my attempt at relating the song to Echeverria's short story. Sorry if it is a bit of a stretch :).




    

Response to Lucas' Blog

      Lucas this is a very interesting idea! I too had never considered the idea that a nation may not be a good thing. How many wordily conflicts would be avoided if there were not nations? So many conflicts are a result of disputed borders or who is to control certain resources. How many lives would have been saved if we as "civilized" people were not so focused on the nation and the advancement of that nation? In high school we talked a lot about imperialism and the destructive force that it was, how would nations like the Philippines be different if imperialism never occurred? I think that the world would be a much more diverse place. A tad less organized too, but still. Maybe the world would be a happier place if everyone was left alone to do as they pleased in their own societies and were not so focused on becoming a nation.

Blog #2 My Thoughts on the Paper Topics

      I was sitting in the comfort of my living room at home, surrounded by my family. We were discussing ideas for movies to watch and I was lobbying for the Disney movie Aladdin. Disney movies have always been close to my heart. I am the youngest of three children and we used to watch Disney movies all the time. And our parents would watch them with us because, lets face it, Disney is not just for children. That may be the targeted audience, but they are entertaining for all ages because of the hidden jokes or sarcasms that children cannot pick up on.
      Anyways, as we were discussing what movie to watch I saw I had an email that said the paper topics for Latin American Civ were posted. I quick went to check them. I read the first paper topic and was relieved because it seemed simple enough to do- a very straightforward question. I saw the second question was instead, a paragraph and felt terrified instantly. Imagine my surprise when I read that the other option for my essay was to compare ideas in class to Disney songs!
      Then I realized that I had an unimaginable decision in front of me. Should I do the simpler option for the paper that could take less work or thinking, or should I do the paper topic that is based upon a deep love in my life? The internal conflict that this simple decision caused was incredible. When will I ever get another opportunity like this? Should I take the Disney question and hope that my great interest in the subject will get me through the hard work? Or should I just do the simpler question and make my life easier?
       If you cannot tell, I still have not made a decision. I'm planning on making a brief outline for both questions and seeing if that helps me decide. Hopefully it does, because if there was anything I learned from writing the first paper last semester, it was that I am the type of person that needs a lot of time to write my paper and even more time to revise. Just putting it out there that if anyone wants to switch papers and do some peer editing I am totally up for it and would greatly appreciate the help!


Blog #1 Why I chose Latin American Civilization

        It is safe to say that Latin American Civilization is by far my favorite class. Despite much opposition, I decided to take it. Everyone in my family told me I should take European Civilization because that part of the world holds more power and influence in our lives here in America. But I wanted to do something different.
        In school I never learned much about Latin America, save for the Spanish Conquest for gold and the United States' imperialist policies towards Latin America. I could not believe that this was all that was important about Latin America. There had to be so much more information that we just weren't being taught in school because they deemed it irrelevant to our culture today.
       Seeing as I am fulheartedly planning on studying abroad somewhere in Latin America, (despite my family's push towards Spain) I think this course will be very helpful to me in this regard. When I go to Chile or someplace in Latin America perhaps I won't be as ignorant as the rest of the world believes us Americans to be.