Villanueva/hooks

SUMMARIES
Villanueva
In this article Villanueva uses memories as well as, poems to describe his feelings about being latina and american. He is sort of in the middle of discourse communities, and feels that he does not belong. As much as he wants to belong to an american discourse, others label him as an outsider even though he is techically an american citizen. Then as he tries to belong to his Puerto Rican roots, he finds that he cannot remember a discourse that he was surrounded by growing up.

hooks
In bell hooks article, she describes trying to write an autobiography on herself to release the memory of her childhood. She describes not being able to belong but yet, not wanting to let go of herself. This article is another example of an internal conflict. When hooks was finally able to accept these memories she realized that she didn't want to erase the hold she had on these memories but to rescue her childhood self.

CONNECTIONS
Being that these two readings were right after one another they obviously connect. Both of these authors are feeling conflicted inside with themselves but also conflicted about their childhood. It's as if they both cannot coexist. This sparks the feeling of not belonging in a discourse. If you don't know yourself then how can you exist within a discourse community. I also connected this reading with the three we discussed Wednesday. You cannot just learn a discourse you have to experience it to be fully involved.

OPINIONS
I enjoyed reading both of these readings because of the personal experiences written. They make me feel almost sad that they are struggling to belong. It makes me think about where I belong in discourse communities and reflect on that.