Serendip is an independent site partnering with faculty at multiple colleges and universities around the world. Happy exploring!
Play in the City 2013
 |
Welcome to the on-line conversation for Play in the City, an Emily Balch Seminar offered in Fall 2013 @ Bryn Mawr College, in which we are addressing the question of how we construct, experience, and learn in the act of play. How is play both structured by the environment in which it occurs, and how might it re-structure that space, unsettling and re-drawing the frame in which it is performed? This is an interestingly different kind of place for writing, and may take some getting used to. The first thing to keep in mind is that it's not a site for "formal writing" or "finished thoughts." It's a place for thoughts-in-progress, for what you're thinking (whether you know it or not) on your way to what you think next. Imagine that you're just talking to some people you've met. This is a "conversation" place, a place to find out what you're thinking yourself, and what other people are thinking. The idea here is that your "thoughts in progress" can help others with their thinking, and theirs can help you with yours. |
Who are you writing for? Primarily for yourself, and for others in our course. But also for the world. This is a "public" forum, so people anywhere on the web might look in. You're writing for yourself, for others in the class, AND for others you might or might not know. So, your thoughts in progress can contribute to the thoughts in progress of LOTS of people. The web is giving increasing reality to the idea that there can actually evolve a world community, and you're part of helping to bring that about. We're glad to have you along, and hope you come to both enjoy and value our shared explorations. Feel free to comment on any post below, or to POST YOUR THOUGHTS HERE.
NW
When I was reading NW by Zadie Smith something that really stood out to me was Natalie/Keisha’s identity crisis. Throughout her section of the novel, she struggles as she tries to figure out who she is and who she wants others to see her as. As she battles through this, she changes her name back and forth between Keisha (the name she used in her youth) and Natalie (the name she generally kept as an adult). The full extent of her identity crisis is shown in the last page of the book where it says that Natalie called the police and Keisha gave the anonymous tip about Felix’s death. Even though she is, at that point, fully in her adult life, she still struggles with who she really is and where she came from.
Frank's Death
I want to focus on Frank's death and how it relates to the theme of agency throughout the book. Frank's death helps Natalie's/Keisha's and Leah's stories move and is very important to the ending of the story (which involves both women). However, I want to know how Frank's death affects Frank's story. Frank is the character with the most agency throughout the story. He not only changes his life around by getting clean and becoming committed to the woman he loves, he recognizes that he needs to change internally in order to lead a happier life. What does the reader learn when Frank dies? Are we supposed to learn that a person with agency will die if they cannot escape poverty? I would prefer not to think so. However, to learn how Frank's death works with the theme of agency in the novel, I want to do a close reading of his death. I think once I understand why his murderers killed him, I will understand the consequences of his death much better.
NW
While reading NW by Zadie Smith was a truly perplexing experience, I found the story of Felix to be the most curious part of the novel. For example, did Smith put him in the book simply for the reader to get attached to him and kill him off in the end (sounds like a tamer Game of Thrones)? It also seemed as if he had two romantic attachments: Annie and Grace, both of whom he was unsure about. That sparked an interest in the romantic attachments of the other characters, like Leah and Michel and Natalie/Keisha and Grace. The relationships in this book seem to be very complex and I'd like to read deeper into how they got together in the first place and how they manage to handle each other.
NW
The separated parts of NW create the sense of separate stories that only come together at the end. They share some similar characters and settings, and even sometimes the same story, but yet they each have their own distinctive nature, made more evident by the structure. This makes it difficult to consider the novel as a whole, one way to examine the novel as a whole would be to look at the reoccurring themes and symbols throughout the novel. By examining the themes of identity, the need to the "good guy", and growing up we can see the similarities between the characters and their stories. The symbols of 37, the apple tree, Leah's dog, and many others, help to add more insight into the development of the characters. I hope to gain more understanding of NW and Zadie Smith.
Relationships NW
Throughout the novel, the continual theme of race and culture helped the novel's story grow and evolve. Race and culture also helped build Leah and Michel's unique relationship, which is what interested me most about the novel's many themes. The novel unfold's the relationships of the characters in a way society wouldn't define them as functional relationships, yet they manage to stay with their partner and continue the relationship. I'd like to look into more of the relationships between the characters and how race and culture play into effect, especially Leah and Michel's relationship.
NW
The romantic relationships in Zadie Smith’s NW sparked my interest. The novel focuses mainly on ones between Felix and Annie, Leah and Michel, and Natalie and Frank. Each is very complicated and filled with unique problems that revolve around common problems such as money and children. These characters make impulsive mistakes, judgments, and decisions that only hurt them in the long run. What confused me most was definitely Natalie’s listings and Leah’s relationship with Michel. Many times Leah speaks down to Michel and seems embarrassed by his poor English especially when surrounded by others. Their relationship is one of the most interesting ones as they are so different, not just based on race and culture. Their interests are completely divergent and neither are honest with one another.
NW by AA
I guess, like many others, I am curious about how Smith treated all the different characters who came from the same background, particularly with Natalie/Keisha. Her story really intrigued me the most; from the moment I met her in Leah’s section. What was most poignant to me was how Leah described the way Natalie would have had to really ignore or repress her origins in the neighborhood in order to truly be happy in the life she carved out for herself, which got me thinking about the ideas we’ve talked about with authenticity. I’m left wondering what Nat’s apparent inauthenticity is what left her feeling trapped, like she was always living her life for someone else rather than for herself, and how she’s seen accordingly. That idea also contrasts a lot with Leah, who’s living, for the most part, with only herself in mind, as shown when she gets an abortion despite Michele’s desire for a child. Nat is the “successful” one, and Leah is the one who never lived up to whatever potential she had, but both are rather unsatisfied with their lives.
This also comes back to the novel as a tool with which Smith explores existentialism with relatable characters in everyday situations, which lead me to think about the ultimate futility of the lives of these characters and, really, my own life.
NW thought
What defines people more their cultural exposure or what they want to be? What was happening when Natalie yelled at the black man smoking the cigarette in the park on page (337)? What defines Keisha/Natalie more, her cultural identity or her drive to be on the so-called right side? As she argues with him she calls him “man” at the beginning of her sentences and points out that she grew up in Harlesdon. Throughout the argument she is worried that the crowd might perceive her as ridiculous. If I wrote about this I would focus on Natalie in this scene or maybe compare Natalie’s and Leah’s upbringing and drive and how they ended up being as adults.
NW
Zadie Smith’s writing style throughout NW was varied. She seemed to change how she introduced ideas depending on which character in the novel was experiencing them. This made it somewhat more difficult to place a specific voice as the narrator of the book, but I overall liked how she did this. By changing her writing style, she also kept it interesting. 400 pages of any book can easily be turned into an overwhelming mess, but she, with sections like the one titled “some answers” keeps the reader engaged and guessing about significance.
can't help, can't change
I was struggling in ZW, in those people’s conversation when I read the book. Many times, they arouse the sense of agreement and belonging for me. I felt so depressed when I read the conversations between Felix and his ex Annie, when she refuse and ridicule the help Felix wants to offer and the optimism he wants to express. Felix wants to change and has hope. It’s like a light in a dark room, making me feel warm. But Annie is so cruel that her smashes the dream:” you are lucky that you are happy... and you want everyone to be happy and good because you are…does it never occur to you some people might not find life as easy to live as you do?” It’s so true! I am desperate when I read it because I am the person like Felix- who always wants to help, wants to change, to influence others in a way that I think is better, but perhaps they don’t like it at all. I can’t help anyone. I feel isolated because they can accept what I regard as horrible situation. Maybe I will further think this point and relate to the city- a indifferent and fragmented world collaged by the indifferent people.
To What Extent do We Choose our Own Futures
Anne said in class today that Zadie Smith stated she intended this book to have existentialist facets to it. She wanted it to be a testimony to the agency within us to make something of lives, as well as the lack of it in some individuals (like Leah). I am so curious as to the extent to which we choose our own paths. Because things like biology, societal/cultural pressures, expectations of your family, and where you grew up might have a hand in the direction your path takes. In NW, societal/cultural pressures and the geography of your childhood did play a role in the main character's futures. For instance, Leah slacked off and became a pot-smoking hippie in her days. She didn't work hard and didn't want to work hard. Society viewed her as the pot-smoking hippie she was and expected her life to not amount to much. And it did, according to Leah herself. It did not help, I think, that the poverty of her upbringing layered in her subconscious and made her think that she was destined to stay in this class?
Evaluation
I’ve lived in Hangzhou, a city that is clean, beautiful and cozy, like a paradise to live in. I’ve also lived in Shanghai, a city that is exciting, intense and ideal for ambitious youths. Now I’m in a new city. Upon my arrival, I was unarmed, and given a pair of glasses and a scribble board.
Since I’m unarmed, I submit myself to all the possibilities. When facing different people, things, and ideas, I don’t attack them with my gun—the helpless human nature of opposing things different from us, the malicious criticism that bursts out as fast as a bullet and hurts much. On the contrary, I’m open to challenges. I let the homeless guy I met challenged my perception of my role in the city. During The Quiet Volume, I like how the artist seems to read my mind and control my emotions. I’m not ashamed of letting others into my head because I don’t consider it a weakness of determination, but just my way of appreciating and understanding an artwork—to let myself be immersed and savor my feelings.
Play in Playcity
I’m now sitting in Collier Library at Bryn Mawr, writing my homework for fall break with three other girls in a study room. Just two days ago I was lying in an apartment of Manhattan with my friend reading Zadie Smith. And two weeks before that, I met Zadie Smith and got a signature on my NW. If I go a little farer back to August, two months ago, I was in my hometown in China, and I knew nothing about this place I’m now sitting, or the people I’m sitting with, or how to take the greyhound bus to New York, or who Zadie Smith is. But now here I am, writing this paper, trying to think something out of these two months.
Night Market
“Smells good.” “Keep up! It’s too crowded here. We have to stick together.” “That’s 5 dollars. Spicy or mild?” Noises of people chatting in various languages. A Latin jazz band played at the end of the street. A girl gave out questionnaires and orange bracelets that said “Latin Jazz for All”. I had to carefully avoid food dripping on the ground when I struggled a way through the throng.
It was Night Market in Chinatown. I went with several Chinese friends, hoping to find some reminiscence of my life back in China. Among many Mexican food stalls there were some Chinese ones, though not run by Chinese people. And it was the first time that I saw people in such density in America, so that reminded me of China, too. But it was just different, not what I expected of a night market.
Night markets, originated in Asia, are street markets for people to stroll, shop, and eat, and are more leisure compared to more businesslike day markets. Vendors gather every night. Besides food, there are many other every-day life objects: in residence neighborhoods, they sell pajamas and plants; in tourist sights, there are cultural products like paintings, stamps, and Peking Opera performances; around schools, one can find jewelries, card games, and comic books. Food relieves the weariness of shopping and walking around, and shopping is an enjoyable thing to do while eating. For many people, going to a night market is a relaxing and entertaining choice for a walk after diner.
Structure
In order to have a clearer picture of something as a whole, a person has to look at it deconstructed into parts. In the first half of this course I have looked at the city and writing in scattered playful components.
When we first went into the city, we road in by the Septa and saw the outside environment change from suburban, to a bit urban, and then underground as the train deposited us under the city. We emerged from Suburban Station to see some the city’s biggest landmarks within walking distance. We were given maps with landmarks and streets that we eventually attached physical memories to. These memories were not only made up of the landmarks and streets, but also of the homeless population and other demographics in Center City. By the end of the trip we had a clearer idea of Center City; and in later trips we gained a greater understand of some of the neighborhoods that branch off from there. We built up a clearer picture of Philadelphia by looking at its components of buildings, streets, and people.
Quiet volume deconstructed the way we think about words by playing with how we comprehend letters, words, sentences, and paragraphs. Visiting the mosaics in the Magic Gardens provided a platform for us to dismantle the way we view the city and ourselves, and the two interacting together. Then when writing, we were given room to recollect our raw and deconstructed thoughts.
Midsemester Evaluation
When I think about the last two months in this class, the first scene that appeared in my mind is that I walked into Mark’s class. After he finished the roll call, I realized I was not supposed to be there. Mark took me to the right classroom. Mark led me to a classroom with chairs in lines ( and later we made it a circle) and that’s how my Play in the City journey began.
Midsemester Review
Play in the City: an interesting concept. To discuss what play is, means, can be, and to then go out and try it in a city as varied as Philadelphia. I had hoped, going into this course, that when I walked out I would walk out with a different way of thinking about the world- a difficult demand to be sure. Thus far I have not been disappointed. Ant Hamilton’s Quiet Volume changed how I thought about libraries, reading, even silence. Isaiah Zagar’s Magic Gardens helped change how I think about silent art forms like mosaic and painting, and to the canvas and materials themselves. The trip into Bryn Mawr proved that these lessons I am learning apply everywhere. It is clear that my experiences in this course have changed how I think about the world, given me more tools with which to think about the world, and that can only be positive.
Midsemester Evaluation
When I was looking over the list of Emily Balch Seminars the first one that caught my attention was Play in the City. Not only because I was thinking about being a Cities major but also because I’ve always wished I knew Philadelphia better. This was going to be the perfect class: I’ll learn how to negotiate the city and how to write in college. Killing two birds with one stone (or class, as the case may be).
Much like cities all over the world our little Play in the City class welcomes people from everywhere. We have students from many states in the United States as well as some who have lived in Europe and China. There are students who have grown up in one place and some that have moved around their whole life. These varying backgrounds allow our group discussions to have more meaning as there are many different perspectives presented. We get to hear about how our adventures in the city compare to those had in cities all around the world.
“There were more people than back in China”
“I’m used to this. I grew up in D.C.”
“I was overwhelmed.”
Remote Ready Biology Learning Activities
Remote Ready Biology Learning Activities has 50 remote-ready activities, which work for either your classroom or remote teaching.
Recent Group Comments
-
artlily (guest)
-
Sources Correctionnightowl guest (guest)
-
Sourcesnightowl guest (guest)
-
Not Hannah HochSerendip Visitor (guest)
-
DisclaimerPhoenix
-
(No subject)Jessica Bernal
-
(No subject)Jessica Bernal
-
And for play in the city2, ICathy Zhou
-
Where's the "like" button.mlord
-
Source Editnightowl
Recent Group Posts
A Random Walk
New Topics
-
3 weeks 6 days ago
-
4 weeks 2 days ago
-
4 weeks 2 days ago
-
4 weeks 3 days ago
-
4 weeks 3 days ago
