QUIZ - CRITIQUE 4 - Everett Morrison and Seibles

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Apr 3, 2024

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Quiz/Critique 4 1. While Daniel is buying the truck in Everett’s “The Appropriation of Culture,” he describes the Confederate flag on the truck as “The black power flag on the window. You mean, you didn't know?” In what ways does this statement diminish the assumed power of that flag? He twisted the meaning of a symbol they used against them, thus “tainting” the radical, racially biased sotherners’ ideas of the flag by associating it with African-American pride. We also can’t assume that Daniel is only doing this to dimish the flags power, because that is subjective. Same with proudly singing the song “Dixie”, a song labeled as the “anthem” to the confederate states. Daniel is an educated man and understands history, so there’s a possibility he could be making effort to associate the song and flag with southern heritage for all people rather than an instrument for discrimination. 2. Is Everett’s description of the disappearance of the Confederate flag in American culture plausible and unrealistic? Explain why. It was an interesting idea, to essentially ruin the symbol that some of the radical southerners held as their symbol of racial superiority. It’s also plausible that it could have inhibited more violence and oppression than there was previously. I don’t think it’s absolute dissappearance is realistic as it’s more of matter of State’s retaining their sovereignty, something that was being destroyed by an encroaching Northern legislation. The idea of the confederacy (rebels) and its motives are equivalent to other issues that we’ve seen in our current society, i.e., abortion rights, bearing arms. All of these issues are falling upon State legislation, as it should, who’s ideologies are dependent on representation of the people. This mainly happens when constitutionsl amendments are subject to bias or they colide with others, such as the 9 th and 14 th in regards to abortion, or the question 2 nd amendments terminology and purpose. The topic of the Civil War may have been about slavery, but it originated from the oppressive Federal Government based on their current state of economy and social structure. 3. In Morrison’s story “Recitatif,” why is Maggie such a significant character? Why are Roberta and Twyla so concerned with her history and their memories of what happened to her? Maggie is almost like a test subject, but not in an inhumane or inferior way. She is the variable Morrison placed in the story to expose the compassion that humans have (or should have) for eachother once we have gotten past the bias of image, stereotypes, and cultures. In the end, we “forget” what skin color people are and are just concerned for their well-being. 4. We learn a lot about character via appearance. Morrison leaves out which certain character identifiers from Roberta and Twyla? How does this affect the reader? The lack of specifying Roberta’s and Twyla’s race was a way for readers to reflect on their own inheritied ideas and judgements on race. If a reader were to correlate specific attributes of a character to draw an image of their face, the paint would be the reader’s own prejudices. 5. Out of these two stories, which do you feel is the most effective? How did the author make this story so effective?

They were both good, but I feel Recitatif was more effective mainly because of the symbolism behind the characters and the message he was portraying about human compassion and varying feelings one has between childhood and adulthood. 6. What aspect of either story do you feel is the most ineffective? How did the author make this aspect so ineffective? 7. Connect one of the two stories we’ve covered this week with another story we’ve covered from a different week via themes. What theme(s) do they share? Both “Everyday Use” and “The Appropriation of Cultures” had a similar theme when it comes to the meaning of heritage. Both stories were centered around actions and items of symbolic meaning and heritage, one story being quilts and household tools, the other being songs and flags. Both stories had an antogonistic character(s) who had alterior motives that one might say is superficial, while the protagonist, Danial and Mama, are trying to preserve somethings true meaning. The confederate flag being flown by an African-American was an act to resurface the meaning of southern heritage to all peoples that lived in those states, while Mama was willing to use and wear down the quilts to give them purpose just as they were used by their ancestors. 8. Name the crisis action, or the pivotal action or choice made by the protagonist in each story. “The Appropriation of Cultures” – the pivotal action occurs when Daniel signs the title for the trucks and is questioned about his intentions regarding the flag. When he says “I was just lucky enough to find a truck with the black power flag already on it” reveals his true intentions of relabeling the flag and its meaning. “Recitatif” – When Roberta and Twyla argue about Maggie’s race, and following that Roberta confesses her intentions regarding Maggie in the orchard. 9. What is the resolution of each story, or how the central conflict is resolved? “The Appropriation of Cultures” – the flags slowley spread around to trucks driven by black people and ultimately dissappeared as it became more prominent in black familes to represent their pride. “Recitatif” – when Twyla and Roberta come to the conclusion that they were just scared children, regardless of Roberta’s cruel thoughts with Maggie’s incident. They finally disregard the obsession over Maggie’s race and ask themselves if she’s okay. 10. Close your eyes. What are the two or three most important images for each story? “The Appropriation of Cultures” – the frat boys at the campus club. Daniel’s first action of singing the song “Dixie” showed his intentions for the remainder of the story. Their utter dissappointment to hear a black man proudly singing the song, followed by a loud applaus was not what they expected. -The confederate flag on the truck, being the most apparent image of the story. Daniel purchasing a truck he doesn’t needs just so he could own the flag was an interesting move, but really showed his devotion to “fixing” its meaning.

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