Brown Bear Attack

You thought Tim Treadwell was putting himself in harm's way ... at least he didn't lock himself in a cage and wait for them to attack.

Reactions to "Grizzly Man"

As this semester comes to a close (and many of us are less than five days away from graduation), I found myself looking back on everything that we've read over the course of this, well, course, in hopes of finding some common theme, some through-line that would help to connect every text together to make a cohesive whole. And, ultimately, that's exactly what I did. Upon reflection, I feel that one of this course's largest themes was the idea of authorial control, what the writer decides to include, to leave out, or to fabricate from thin air. Before reading the books for this class, I had always assumed that taking any form of creative license with a work of non-fiction was darn near sacrilegious. Boy, was I wrong. With Truman Capote's game-changing "In Cold Blood," all that we have of the Clutters' final hours is entirely from the mind of Mr. Capote himself. He created entire scenes between characters, both living and dead, in an attempt to create characters whose deaths we would mourn while also giving us a sense of dread as the Clutters' killers get closer and closer to the farmhouse. In Steinbeck's "Travels with Charley," we discovered that, while the author did have a dog named Charley, he certainly didn't take him on the road-trip with him, and that the trip might not have ever occurred at all. In Hunter S. Thompson's infamous "Fear and Loathing," the narrator describes acid trips so bizarre that they jump off the page. But, what a surprise, they never happened. I think, to some extent, this theme stretches all the way to Werner Herzog's documentary "Grizzly Man." Clearly, Herzog did his homework, digging through over 100 hours of Tim Treadwell's footage to splice together less than an hour-and-a-half of footage that he felt represented not necessarily the man himself, but the narrative that Herzog had decided to create. One of my least favorite aspects of Herzog's doc, meanwhile, felt (and probably were) entirely staged. At one point near the middle of the film, a coroner presents Timothy's ex-girlfriend with the watch that he was wearing upon his death. The camera gets up close and personal, and the coroner speaks to the woman as though everything coming out of his mouth were predetermined and rehearsed. The scene lacks such authenticity that it took me out of the moment, and I was left feeling cold towards the film for the next ten minutes. Another scene in the film involves the same ex-girlfriend sharing the audio tape of Tim's death with Herzog. Herzog listens to the audio, removes the headset and tells the woman to destroy the tape. If Herzog's voice-over felt scripted, just wait until you listen to him warning the young lady to "never listen to this tape." It plays like a poorly-acted web series. These rehearsed scenes, however, are the closest the film comes to fabrication, thankfully. Much of the footage of Timothy Treadwell is ten times stronger than anything that Herzog himself might've created from thin air. One does have to wonder what is in those other 98 hours of footage, though. Did Tim ever fall deeper into the dark side, for lack of a better phrase? Was Tim ever attacked by bears previous to the encounter that killed him? Were there other hints of foreshadowing that Herzog-as-filmmaker decided to ignore? We might never know. But it is interesting to think about.

Hunter S. Thompson at his best

Similar to my dedication to Truman Capote, I sought out all of the insanity and excellence that Hunter S. Thompson exudes. Enjoy!

Farewell

Wow this semester flew by so fast, didn't it? Well I hope everyone is done or almost done with their final projects. All of us had really great ideas. Too bad we can't post them all after tomorrow :(

But best of luck to everyone!! Thanks for your thoughts and sharing additional media :)

-Marialuisa Gonzalez

More on HST

http://www.spikemagazine.com/0905-ralph-steadman-hunter-thompson.php

This is an interesting interview with Ralph Steadman on Hunter S. Thompson. Definitely a good addition to a resource file!

Hope you enjoy!

Lasting thoughts on Capote

Of all the quotes that I published last night/earlier today, the one that had the most resonance towards our overall discussions this semester is the one that follows:

I got this idea of doing a really serious big work-it would be precisely like a novel, with a single difference: Every word of it would be true from beginning to end.

With all that we have read from Capote, crazy HST, lovely Annie, and all of the sort, that idea of truth was perhaps the single most thread that connected all of them as it was that search of truth that drove all of their writing. While truth is the most objective element in the world, it is how these authors convinced us of a reality that made the selections interesting throughout the semester. It's not necessarily how much truth that goes into a piece that matters, but the combination of the thread of the story that is presented. As was highlighted by the film, Grizzly Man, and In Cold Blood and all the writings, it was how the story is told that made it truthful. This goes back to the quote from Capote that the truth would be present from beginning to end. Just like with a good story, it may be told out of order with prevalence being placed to certain facts, but that doesn't take away from the fact that the truth is there. It isn't necessarily important that all of the truth to the story is present, but enough that the core of the story is still honored and represented. 

Truman Capote Reloaded

As I'm finishing compiling my story for my final project, I had to look up some of my favorite Truman Capote quotes and share some of my new favorite author's quotes. Here you all go...

A conversation is a dialogue, not a monologue. That's why there are so few good conversations: due to scarcity, two intelligent talkers seldom meet.
Truman Capote

All literature is gossip.
Truman Capote

Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.
Truman Capote

Fame is only good for one thing - they will cash your check in a small town.
Truman Capote

Finishing a book is just like you took a child out in the back yard and shot it.
Truman Capote

Friendship is a pretty full-time occupation if you really are friendly with somebody. You can't have too many friends because then you're just not really friends.
Truman Capote

I believe more in the scissors than I do in the pencil.
Truman Capote

I can see every monster as they come in.
Truman Capote

I don't care what anybody says about me as long as it isn't true.
Truman Capote

I got this idea of doing a really serious big work-it would be precisely like a novel, with a single difference: Every word of it would be true from beginning to end.
Truman Capote

I like to talk on TV about those things that aren't worth writing about.
Truman Capote

I was eleven, then I was sixteen. Though no honors came my way, those were the lovely years.
Truman Capote

It is the want to know the end that makes us believe in God, or witchcraft, believe, at least, in something.
Truman Capote

Life is a moderately good play with a badly written third act.
Truman Capote

Love is a chain of love as nature is a chain of life.
Truman Capote

Mick Jagger is about as sexy as a pissing toad.
Truman Capote

My major regret in life is that my childhood was unnecessarily lonely.
Truman Capote

No one will ever know what 'In Cold Blood' took out of me. It scraped me right down to the marrow of my bones. It nearly killed me. I think, in a way, it did kill me.
Truman Capote

Sometimes when I think how good my book can be, I can hardly breathe.
Truman Capote

That isn't writing at all, it's typing.
Truman Capote
Read more

The quietness of his tone italicized the malice of his reply.
Truman Capote

To me, the greatest pleasure of writing is not what it's about, but the inner music that words make.
Truman Capote

Venice is like eating an entire box of chocolate liqueurs in one go.
Truman Capote

Well, I'm about as tall as a shotgun, and just as noisy.
Truman Capote

When God hands you a gift, he also hands you a whip; and the whip is intended for self-flagellation solely.
Truman Capote

Writing has laws of perspective, of light and shade just as painting does, or music. If you are born knowing them, fine. If not, learn them. Then rearrange the rules to suit yourself.
Truman Capote

Writing stopped being fun when I discovered the difference between good writing and bad and, even more terrifying, the difference between it and true art. And after that, the whip came down.
Truman Capote

Good Luck & Farewell Everyone..

As my last post for the semester, I wanted to say good luck and farewell to all my fellow classmates. I really enjoyed your thoughts and responses on the blogs and I wish you all the best in accomplishing your goals with the best of health and all the happiness possible.  I feel fortunate in being part of this class and grateful in being taught by Professor Urrea. God bless you all!

Favorite Reading..

While all the readings for this course were fascinating, I found Capote's, In Cold Blood, the most amazing piece of non-fiction literature that was depicted in a novel. I cannot imagine what he went through as a person in interviewing the killers of the Clutters. He gave life back to the Clutters through his novel, which detailed every bit of the pain that they suffered. I was deeply grieved by their pain and sufferings and moreover, I was shocked by the minds and faces of the killers.

Closing Thoughts via Spalding Gray

Reading up more on Spalding Gray after watching his inspiring monologue in class, I picked up his book "Morning, Noon, and Night", which begins with a quote by T.S. Eliot. I think it might be taken as one worth pondering further in relation to the readings of this semester: We shall not cease from our exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time. (T.S. Eliot, “Little Gidding,” Four Quartets) Thanks for a lovely semester, Marianna

Grizzly Man

I enjoyed watching Werner Herzog’s documentary called Grizzly Man. It depicted the life of Timothy Treadwell whose fascination of animals, especially the bears, led him to his death. In the film, Herzog, used actual footage of Treadwell’s encounters with the animals, as well as interviews of people who were close to him. Treadwell spent much of his time in Alaska, protecting the bears from poachers and risked his life in guiding the bears, as well as having human contact with them. In the end of the film, Herzog, shows Treadwell being followed by the bears, and strangely, it seemed as if Treadwell was worried by it, and knew that his life was endanger. I found Treadwell to be a disturbed person, who must have been suffering from some type of mental illness. The movie itself showed how crazy and profound Treadwell was along with all the people who knew him. I feel that Treadwell wasted his life away and felt really sorry for him. 

Fulfilled life and death

Most people would agree that a life full of life is a life fulfilled.  If you spend your time doing what you love and it makes you happy, what more could you ask for?  I wonder how many people on earth can actually say they are happy in the place that they are in their life.  Maybe as the years go on people change their minds about what they want to do, is it wrong to pursue it and give up everything that you worked for since?  I believe that everyone can do anything that they want in life and I'm a firm believer of letting life go where it needs to go because you will always end up where you need to be.  Tredwell was an adventurer and did what he loved.  No matter how many times I laughed during the film, in the back of my mind I thanked Tredwell for his belief in what he was doing.  Maybe he was crazy, but he was happy.  I think about the loneliness he must have felt and how comfortable he felt with animals versus humans.  Makes me wonder how bad humans can be that someone would rather live with bears for the whole summer.  Should we laugh at Tredwell because he believed in his purpose so much or should we laugh at ourselves for not believing in our purpose as humans?  Humans are capable of many things, big and small sometimes I think we forget this.

The Line of Words Fingers your own Heart...

Annie Dillard, I wish I wrote what you wrote.

The Writing Life the line of words fingers your own heart is such a great line in this book.  I would have to agree with Dillard on this one.  The line of words lies within your own self.  Her paragraph about writing with the blood that pours out from a line of words that are traveling through the arteries and muscles inside the body, I enjoyed.  The description of words flowing through the body and coming out as blood to write with is both dark and very awesome at the same time.  They can be stuck hidden and not exposed, but what good is that going to do? Dillard's dark side comes out when she says to poke through the spot as hard as you can till you see blood and write with it.  I take this to mean, give it all you got when writing.  I especially like the image of the spot never healing and it keeps spilling out the blood (as least this is how I read it).  Use the power of your words to continue writing.

Bear falling from tree...

Found this right after we watched the Grizzly Man movie..

http://www.peoplepets.com/people/pets/article/0,,20591051,00.html

Auction

I just read that recently Truman Capote's original typewriter sold for a little over $8,000. I'm not too much of an avid follower of these sorts of things, but did find it interesting the rates at which interesting and priceless things go for these days.

In my opinion, this typewriter should be kept or preserved and not sold, but then again, I'm not sure if that is a good price or not. To me, his work is worth a lot more. Any thoughts?

How to fight a bear

If only Timothy Treadwell had learned some moves from this guy.

http://youtu.be/bbm01JovNKo

A Fitting Death

Thought this may sound a bit insensitive, I think that Timothy Treadwell's death in the hands of bears was not only poetic but fitting. Really, I think it was the only way he could have died. He spent so much time with the bears, and in effect almost becoming one of them, that his death in their hands felt almost like a validation. As a crossing of the threshold to truly becoming a bear. And perhaps, for his own sake, Timothy Treadwell needed to die the way he did. Though at times he seemed like a crazy person, talking to the bears and animals as if they were unruly children, there was a certain beauty to him. They way he connected with the foxes was certainly amazing. And though at times he came off as creepy, there were other times that he was very funny and charismatic. It became very easy to sympathize with him.  But I cannot help but think of him in the future. I feel that if he would have changed even a little about how he felt about the bears it would have been devastating for him. More than once he said that preferred to live in the world of the bears than live in the world of the humans. I am glad he was able to do that. This was very clear too. When the tent collapsed in the rain, while the rest of us would have been miserable, he was content. That, to me, showed that he loved nature above all else. Maybe he liked nature because he seemed to be a failure in the human world; the bears would not judge him or anything. As his old girlfriend said, he finally found a way to be with them forever. His death at the hands of the bears gave his life meaning; it was through his death that we were able to find out his story.

Krakauer and Mt. Everest

Jon Krakauer’s writing interests me greatly.  I enjoyed Into the Wild and plan to read Into Thin Air as soon as I have some extra time.  I’ve read a couple of articles about the controversy that his work about the Mt. Everest disaster of 1996 stirred up and I feel like anyone who criticizes him for failing to attempt to rescue other climbers either doesn’t have a clear understanding of the situation that climbing Everest really is.  I found this slide show that is presented by the only doctor on the mountain during a summit attempt in 1996 in which twelve climbers lost their lives. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bgqc2m7aBzs

The slide show, along with the Discovery Channel show Everest: Beyond the Limit  paint a vivid picture of what an incredibly dangerous journey that attempting to summit the world’s highest peak is.  The summit of Everest is 29,035 ft, which is the cruising altitude of many commercial jetliners.  There is 1/3 the amount of oxygen in the air at that altitude and the temperatures are sometimes as cold as 40 degrees below zero.  Climbers attempting to summit are exposed to these conditions for 16-20 hours and as happened in 1996 are sometimes caught in storms that cause a complete whiteout.  If you get into trouble anywhere above camp 1 (the first of a series of four camps along the route to the summit) even a helicopter rescue is impossible because the helicopters cannot go higher than 17,000 feet; the air is just too thin.The climb cost more than $50,000 to attempt with a guide and doing so without a guide is suicide for any but the most skilled and lucky climbers.

The people attempting to climb Everest know exactly what they are getting themselves into and are aware that they might die in the process.  There are people who get lost in the whiteout and stray a few yards from the climbing path and are unable to call out or find the path again.  When you’re caught in a storm on the summit you would be foolish to do anything other than attempt to save your own life.  The experienced climbing guides in the slideshow actually tell one of the guides to abandon his weak climber in the hopes of saving his own life.  They reason that there is no sense in having two people die.  The experienced climber makes the decision to stay with the weaker climber anyway and both men perish on the mountain.  I think that some would call this man heroic, but I think he lacked the courage to make the tougher call to leave the inexperienced climber and attempt to save himself and instead just resigned himself to a slow and painful death.

I’m excited to read Into Thin Air soon and see what all the controversy is really about, but my feeling is that the people involved know the stakes and it is not selfish to attempt to save yourself in a dire situation like the climbers found themselves in that May.

Fear and Loathing

When I first started reading Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas I thought that I would love the novel.  The first scene on the highway with all of the drug and the bats swooping and screeching was incredible and I thought that it would remain entertaining throughout.  However, in the end it was a battle to finish the book.  The craziness just got to be too much for me.  It is possible that not having lived through the 60s and 70s that I just didn’t get it.  He is supposedly searching for the American dream and seemingly never finds it.  I suppose that this is a criticism of the American Dream itself; that it doesn’t exist anymore.

The extreme drug use blurs fact and fiction and seems to be a criticism of the generation of drug abusing hippies that seek enlightenment through powerful hallucinogenic drugs.  For me though, the drug-induced craziness destroys any semblance of narrative framework or coherence.  I’m not sure what I’m supposed to take away from the book, other than drugs are bad and the American dream is a myth. 

It seems like Thompson’s persona became too much for him to keep up with.  When you have a reputation for doing crazy things and being a hard-drinking, drug-taking nutjob where do you go from there?  He was obviously a smart guy with passion and a talent for writing, but his life confuses me and makes me feel sad for the way he ended it.

In Cold Blood

I think In Cold Blood was probably the most influential book that we read all semester.  The focus on ordinary people spawned the genre of New Journalism and encouraged writers to look into the lives of ordinary people involved in extraordinary events.  It also spawned a hugely successful genre of psychological crime through the vivid examination of the motivations and backgrounds of the killers.  There are two things about the novel that strike me as most impressive: that a dandy like Truman Capote was able to get such a wealth of information to tell the story that is laid out in the novel, and that he was able to make me feel bad for someone (Perry) who took part in such a maliciously violent act, especially when the Clutters were such a likeable family.

Just imagining Truman Capote coming into Holcomb Kansas in the 1950s and early 60s makes me think that he wouldn’t have stood a chance in getting enough details from the conservative and religious community.  The flamboyant writer surely would have disturbed the residents and it is a testament to him that he was able to overcome this handicap and create such a powerful work that was contingent upon thorough research and community cooperation.  It makes me think that Harper Lee may have had a much larger role in the research and construction of the book than she is given credit for.

The most impressive aspect of the book relates to the character of Perry.  The way that Capote presents the facts of his life (broken home damaged by suicide and alcoholism, the accident that left him disfigured) makes me actually feel sorry for his situation, despite the fact that he killed four people with no other motive than money.  There are rumors that Capote may have had a sexual relationship with Perry during his interview visits, it’s tough to know what to make of such rumors.  It is obvious that he seriously relates to him and wants the reader to feel sorry for him, but it seems unlikely that a sexual relationship would have been possible.

I was also impressed with the way the story was told.  The use of dialogue was fantastic and the restraint that Capote showed in holding back his own comments in certain places was masterful.

Grizzly Man: final thoughts

My second viewing of Grizzly Man left me with a similar impression of Timothy Treadwell to my first go-around with the film.  I was entertained and mesmerized by the scenery of Alaska and the footage of wild animals filmed close-up.  I saw Treadwell’s passion for the animals as more of a service to his own soul and a solution to the problems of his own life as opposed to a functional role as a bear advocate and educator of children.  I also clearly saw Werner Herzog manipulating the message of Treadwell’s life (masterfully) to represent a view of nature that was predatory and vicious.  I agree with Herzog’s assessment of nature as a vicious and predatory world of survival, but was struck by the juxtaposition of this idea with the utterly serene beauty of the untouched wilderness.

I can sympathize with earlier blog posts that are upset with Treadwell for not putting his passion into a different pursuit that might have been able to help humans that are suffering as opposed to bears that are already protected by laws and state wildlife sanctuary designations.  This point is especially salient in the context of having just read Across the Wire.  However, I also see Treadwell as incapable of interacting in a normal way with human society and think that was one of the reasons that isolation from society in a world of beauty and wild animals was so appealing to him.  He had found a way to stay sober and keep himself clear of the shady characters that inhabited his life in human society and thus invented a cause to take up (Save the bears from poachers).  He bought into this new reality so totally that he became paranoid as was clearly visible in his reaction to smiley faces on rocks and piles of rocks that indicated another human presence.  What seemed most odd to me about the invented cause of protecting the bears was that he wasn’t able to see that he was incapable of protecting the bears if all he was prepared to do was hide in the woods when any other human activity was detected.  He stays in hiding and cries about the fact that people are throwing rocks at his bear friends and was in no position to do anything else if he didn’t have weapons or the backbone to show himself and take a stand.

Treadwell’s spastic ranting and swearing, which was used by Herzog to show that he had lost his mind and was truly crazy, seemed like a result of isolation from society and human contact for such a long period of time.  He was unable to come to terms with the fact that his invented cause might be more selfish than beneficial to his wild friends and therefore displaced some of his anger at himself by screaming at the Park Service and the national government.  He took solace in this view of himself as a rebel that was fighting for a noble cause.

He knew that he was probably going to die at the hands of a grizzly bear, but seemed to be okay with that impending doom.  The one real criticism that I have of him is that he allowed Amy to accompany him, giving in to his longing for a real human connection.  If you’re going to live such a dangerous life in service to your own needs, do not endanger someone else who may not have fully understood the ramifications of such a choice.  He was selfish.

It does seem like a wasted life, but it was not my life that was wasted and perhaps he was happy with the way things came to pass.  One thing is sure, he left behind an interesting story and many hours of beautiful footage that gives the rest of us a glimpse into a world that we otherwise would have never seen.  Perhaps this vicarious experience will suffice for people that entertain the idea of doing a similar thing and his death will serve as a reality check that nature is a violent game of survival.

Krakauer Revealed

As we were discussing Krakauer's possible lies during his writing process, especially with "Into Thin Air," I decided to take on the book as a side reading project since I somewhat enjoyed "Into The Wild." I noticed several things that this reviewer noticed, however. Although I cannot criticize Krakauer for leaving out information, such as the fact that some fellow climbers were left behind to die, I did find it odd that he didn't seem to try to redeem or explain his actions to the reader. Being left unjustified, I am not sure of his intentions. First I believed that he thought his readers would believe his journey to be so rough that there was no other option, but then I realized that Krakauer's own moral compass may have been deserted for "survival of the fittest" while on this journey.

Through the lack of explanations, even upon re-thinking actions later in life, it seems as though Krakauer is not remorseful about his or the group's actions with saving themselves. The real debate now, at least for me, is whether or not situations such as these are a good enough reason to forfeit all of what we have been known and taught about right and wrong. Given the circumstances of these traumatic events, was there really more to lose than gain by aiding these people? Can struggle and the will to live temporarily turn you into something that you're not?

We all cannot say indefinitely that we know what we would do in this type of situation. Perhaps we would surprise ourselves with our desire to protect ourself, especially if we had no previous encounters with the individuals with us. Do feelings need to be involved to care about another human being, or is there a deeper connection that we can rely on to draw us together? Either way, it is clear that Krakauer did not feel responsibility for these individuals, and does not feel as though it is necessary to base his reputation on the fact. Any thoughts?

http://www.spectacle.org/1098/krak.html.

Across the Wire Concluded

Upon concluding "Across the Wire," I decided to see if other shared my passion for the novel. The narrative accounts presented within this text not only offer insight into a nonfiction part of the world that is often overlooked and ignored, but it also serves as a "call to action" that makes us wonder as people what we are willing to let others of our kind go through before enough is enough.

This specific call to action sparks the question and debate about whether or not nonfiction novels are seen to the public as "books" or "real-life." By this I mean that nonfiction is known to be real accounts, but with all of the authors that have been discredited, do people truly believe what they read anymore? Would people reading this novel understand the harsh reality of that world and want to change it, or would they think that it was an exaggerated tale, like any fiction novel in which the author takes their liberties in describing the world as they see it?

I would hope that these stories would inspire people to get more involved with charity work and involvement of their choice, and attempt to create a world in which people would never experience events such as this in their lives.

Jungle Cats

Yesterday evening, I watched a Disney film with some of my friends for a nature project in class. It was amazing to watch some of the majestic views and visions of nature taking its course. In a sense, it was a like a real-life Lion King being filmed without the animals' knowledge. It was inspiring and educational to watch the true laws of nature govern. The strong tend to survive and lead on, while the weak can often be abandoned or sacrificed for the greater good of the tribe. And while this may seem awfully terrible to us humans, it is simply the world where the strongest prevail, and every creature does what it must to stay alive and procreate as long as possible.

It definitely was a stark contrast to the nature displayed in "Grizzly Man." While Treadwell attempted to show nature in a domestic way, in which animals and human beings can live in harmony in the wild, and as if animals can learn to establish connects with humans in the general form, real footage of animals shows the near impossibility of this.

Can nature be beautiful and destructive at the same time? Absolutely. There are so many things we do not know, especially about the animal psyche. Perhaps we are not meant to know and understand these things, however. Perhaps we are separate for a reason, and Treadwell found that out the hard way.

Treadwell Impersonators

Treadwell's popularity no doubt brings scorn and mockery due to his crazy style of reporting and speaking with the animals he loved so much. And although I in no way find his death humorous, there are some well done parodies that imitate Treadwell's most famous moments on camera.

The following YouTube video displays "Squirrely Man," who changes the traditional gut-wrenching ending to a largely comical one, while holding true to the fact that death could have been avoided if simply outrageous behavior would have been held back. I hope you enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0lgVTOjfpw.

Across the Wire Concluded

Upon completing "Across the Wire," I decided to do some further research on how the general public received this book after publication. I came across an article, which I will link below, that reviews the novel. Here, the book is described as a "rare form of newspaper journalism," which I found to be very interesting.

While, stylistically, nonfiction novels can be seen as accounts of happenings, or storytelling for example, there can be works that deviate from this traditional "reporting" style, and instead transcend what even fiction novels can describe. Although I was taken through Professor Urea's life during the many stories and narrations of other families and individuals encountered that changed him forever, I always felt a sense of personal spirituality within the words. They seem to lift off the page, deviating from reporting form, and instead taking on the beauty of poetry. Hence, I do not find newspaper journalism here, but instead the kind of writing that I look for in my traditional fictional novel that has the ability to transport the reader beyond the story.

Needless to say, I was transported.

http://articles.latimes.com/1993-02-10/news/vw-1374_1_luis-alberto-urrea.

The Man Who Lives With Bears

Following our wonderful exposure to the entire documentary of good ole boy Timothy Treadwell, I felt the need to search out for any more phenomenal characters that lived that life and...here we go ladies and gentlemen, hope you enjoy ->

Frustrated with Grizzly Man

The juxtaposition of "Grizzly Man" with "Across the Wire" made me especially frustrated with Tim Treadwell. While we watched the first half of the movie, I kept thinking, "What a waste!" Here is a healthy man who has the means to live each summer off the land without working and spend the rest of his time touring and talking about how we can be nicer to bears. At the same time, people are suffering from diseases, exploitation, starvation, and abuse around the world. I can see how someone like him, healthy and resourceful and full of energy, could make an impact among his own species which is certainly suffering much more than bears in a protected wildlife area. I do understand his dream to connect with wild animals and recognize his idealism and desire to live freely, but I just don't understand how he convinced himself that this is the best possible use of his life, or the life of his girlfriend. Maybe they never asked themselves that question.

The Poverty of Across the Wire

"Across the Wire" touched me deeply, I think because of my socio-economic status and the never-ending debates about immigration. I am impressed and awed by how Urrea could write the story without, as he said, "shouting at the readers". The descriptions of living conditions infuriated me and I kept thinking that this just shouldn't be possible, this shouldn't happen to human beings ever, anywhere. Where I live is a solidly middle to upper middleclass area and if you asked anyone, they would say that they're just getting by and they're certainly not rich. I want to make each of them work for a week in Tijuana and then come home and re-evaluate their lives. I also want them to re-evaluate their stance on immigration. How can we not welcome people into our country when the misery there is so abject?

I've done some missionary work on Native American reservations, in the Appalachians, and in Puerto Rico, but have not seen the level of suffering or hardship described in this work. I know people who have spent their lives in missionary work and I deeply respect their dedication and willingness to immerse themselves in that environment.

The book also touched me because the author worked so hard to connect us with real people, flawed and beautiful and going on with life in the worst of conditions. Because Urrea showed us individuals, not generalizations, we can feel and suffer along with them, and I hope, carry their stories with us always to make changes in the world.

Treadwell's Impact on National Geographic

While doing some personal research on Treadwell, I came across this article in National Geographic.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/08/0812_050812_grizzly_man_2.html.

I am curious to know everyone's opinion on this article, as it seems to demonstrate both positive and negative ways to view Treadwell's main goals. While some experts seem to think that his mission ultimately taught nothing except "how NOT to act around bears," some think that his mission to educate the public and habituate the bears worked to a very large extent, and might have had a serious impact on the mainstream viewers and readers.

The main purpose of the article seems to examine whether or not the thought of habituating bears, or telling people that they can, is actually a good idea. Will this increase the amounts of people killed by bears, or will it lead activists to pursue more work from a safe distance?

The Grizzly Man

I enjoyed the first half of the Grizzly Man movie so much that I greatly look forward to the conclusion. Agreeing with what Professor Urea said the other day, I appreciate the formatting done with the film, as his ultimate death is not the only climax to the tale. The Grizzly Man may have been slightly crazy, but he did seem to have a genuine passion for bears and other wild friends, and ultimately did have some kind of connection with them. Despite the fact that he put himself, and later another, into the dangerous territory of the unknown, the bears' typical response to him was one that surprised me very much. It was almost as if they did recognize him as someone who was not a threat, almost being "one of them."

His obvious loneliness shows through his many subtle and direct references to women, or perhaps the "baby talk" with the bears, and seems to humanize him in the greatest possible way. After a while, as I anticipate in the ending of the film, all the times of loneliness and craziness will catch up to him, and from a psychological perspective, I think it will be interesting to see his progression over time. I can't help but wonder if he purposefully or subconsciously entered himself into situations that would allow for some kind of ending to his worry and restlessness.  Overall, I am intrigued by Treadwell due to how much I am reminded of "Into the Wild" character Alexander Supertramp. There is a sense of finality in their work, as I think "What could you possibly expect to happen? or... "This guy is obviously crazy!," but I also do feel a sense of pity for these individuals, as they do seem to seek transcendence of some kind for humanity, as well as a connection with the souls of what we do not know. There is something hauntingly beautiful about this journey, although slightly suicidal in a traditional sense.

I hope the conclusion of this film will demonstrate more of Treadwell's personal transformation.

Across the Wire II

Across the Wire still has me reeling from the experience.  I have always wanted to engage in some type of missionary-type work.  In the past I have always enjoyed volunteer work, especially when working with children, and thought that I gained just as much from the experience as the people that I was helping.  At some point in my life I would like to engage in a more serious form of service work that benefits people who really need it, such as the people of the garbage dump.

I do question, however, if have what it takes to do something like that.  As Professor Urrea says, poverty is personal.  The thought of getting lice and scabies is terrifying and revolting.  I feel like the shock of seeing people living in such poverty would make me emotional causing me to treat people with pity and unable to hide my disgust of the conditions, which seems like it would be offensive and not very helpful.  One of the events, that was a recurring thing, that would have troubled me and exemplifies this point is the accepting of food and drink from the people in their homes.  It would have been incredibly offensive to refuse the food, but the idea of taking someone’s last bit of food or coffee, especially when there is serious risk that I would get sick from it is a difficult situation to navigate. 

Another concern that I have (and meant to ask Professor Urrea about) is how to disengage from such work.  If I was able to overcome my fear and ineffectiveness I feel like I would have a hard time going back to a normal American life.  I wonder if Professor Urrea still visits Tijuana and how he feels going back there after achieving literary success and economic stability.  Realizing these difficulties makes Pastor Von an enormous hero or Jesus-like figure in my eyes.  I can understand how he has refused to learn Spanish throughout the course of his work in Mexico; it is probably the only way he can distance himself, slightly, and be able to continue.  Even for the people who do work there for a short time and never return, I’m sure the experience is something that never leaves them.

Maybe I’m not cut out for missionary work and should just focus on making a bunch of money so that I can be charitable.

Tijuana

I was in Tijuana about 12 years ago when I crossed the border......ahem....I mean, when I was coming back from my luxurious vacation. I was just passing; I did not stay for more than a couple of hours. And we really did not leave the coyote's...ahem...sorry got something in my throat, we did not leave our good host's house very much. But from what I remember it did not look very nice. Then again, I was about 12 years old and terrified out of my mind so perhaps I was not really paying attention, of even focusing on the pretty parts since my mind was not in a pretty state. Though, recently I saw a Rick Bayless episode (love that man) that painted Tijuana in a very good light. I will now try to go back and experience what Tijuana really is, whether it be good or bad.

Across the Wire

Reading across the wire was quite a shock. I've been exposed to such levels of poverty, though perhaps not to the extreme as in "Across the Wire". My home town of Taxco is well off because it's a touristy place, so there aren't many examples of extreme poverty. But once you get outside the city limits, the "suburbs" if you will, things change drastically. People living in what can generously be called shacks. Walls and roofs made of whatever they could find. They are really exposed to the elements. The roof barely keeps out the rain, and the wall barely stop the wind. Animals and insects could easily come in or out as they please. A bite from a scorpion, which is highly probably where I live, I should know, I've been stung by one, would mean death for some one living in these conditions. The anti-venom would be too expensive to buy. So they just wait it out and hope that the venom will merely cause immense pain and not death.
Though I have to say that they most of them seem really happy. I guess my dad had always been right when he says, La gente puede estar muriéndose de hambre pero siempre hay dinero para la pachanga y la cerveza.
When I went to Costa Rica I saw the same thing. I went for a medical mission trip, and I got to see some pretty messed up things.

I am the one on the right, with the terrible mustache

I guess these seem a lot better than what I imagine while I read the professor's book. But still, they were not the best living conditions. One of the natives told us that during the rainy season, of which Costa Rica has two, the streets get flooded or they become rivers of mud. They have to cross them to go to school. 

I think that my time in Costa Rica was the most memorable. I guess because my father was not there to show me the bright side. Also, I was there looking for the worst. We were taking care of people who had not seen a doctor for years. Some people were devastating to see. One little girl had a whole, like literally a whole, in her ankle because a cinder black had fallen on it. We asked the mother why she wasn't at the hospital since there was a lot of bleeding, she said that she was waiting for her husband to come home first to ask him what to do. We immediately told her there was no question, or else the little girl's ankle would get infected and they were not living in the best of conditions. Needless to say, we got her to the hospital. I was one of the people who found her; we were walking from house to house. I was flabbergasted. But what can you do. We did our job. Too bad her mother did not do hers. 

Across the Wire

Wow!  What a powerful book.  I’m really glad that Professor Urrea wasn’t too modest to put this on the reading list for the semester.  I’ve been interested in border issues ever since I started studying Spanish in high school, but this book exposes a side to things that are completely out of my scope, living in what can only be described as opulent luxury in comparison to the residents of the Tijuana garbage dump.  I liked the comments about Pastor Von slyly showing someone that thinks they’re not rich how wealthy they actually are in comparison to the people that he tries to help.  Where I grew up you weren’t wealthy if your parents didn’t drive a $40,000 car and you didn’t go on expensive vacations multiple times throughout the year.  As I didn’t fit into that particular group, I can remember feeling bad about my family’s financial situation.  The stories in Across the Wire, rightfully, put me in my place and make me ashamed for ever having such feelings, even if they were a product of my environment.

I have always understood that poverty exists and that I was lucky to live in America, but the chilling descriptions of poverty in this book make me want to rekindle a relationship with God or whatever force has blessed me and allowed me to live the type of life that I lead.  Simple necessities like food, shelter, medical care, hygiene and the means to go to school seem much larger after reading about the lives of people in the garbage dump. 

I was also very impressed with the way the stories were told.  While Professor Urrea is obviously there and recounting real stories and events he does an incredible job of making the people of Tijuana the subject as opposed to his experience in  Tijuana.  It was an effective choice to leave the story about his father until the end of the book, because I think the focus might have changed for the reader if the book led off with that sad tale.

I’m short on blog entries, so I’m going back in time a little bit to make comments about some of the earlier works that I didn’t post about.

One of my favorite books that we read this year was Steinbeck’s Travels with Charley.  I really enjoyed the writing and his intended mission to reconnect with America and find out “What are Americans like today?”.  The entire idea of setting out on a long road trip with his dog was incredibly appealing and something that I hope to do someday (when money and time aren’t such insurmountable obstacles).  I could really identify with the students at his son’s school and the many people he met along the way that wished they could do the same thing, but were too caught up in the demands of life to engage in such an extravagance.  His trip really is a luxury that few Americans could afford to embark on.  I can only think that it would have been even more appealing in an age without the Internet and inexpensive communication that allows people to stay in touch with friends and family and be exposed to vast amounts of information.

When I learned in class that he had grossly misrepresented the details of his trip I was furious and confused as to why no one had discovered these lies sooner.  I felt like his credibility, especially from the perspective of non-fiction literature, was irreparably damaged.  This knowledge destroys a lot of the charm that the book possesses.

Upon further thought I have changed my tune a little bit.  It still bothers me that he was not alone, spent nights in luxury hotels and had the company of his wife and other friends throughout the course of the trip.  However, as I said it was one of my favorite books of the semester.  He was sick and probably unable to pursue the journey the way he describes it and was smart enough to realize that it would have been far less effective to tell the story the way it really happened.  I’m beginning to think that the actual details of his travels are less important than the salient points he made about the trashing of the environment and the decline of localism.  He was still able to convey a powerful experience and I wonder whether I would care about the misrepresentation at all if this course wasn’t based on non-fiction literature.

Greetings Chicago

April 2012

Greetings Chicago,

       For three years I've resided within your borders and loved you from the very start.  I came to you in search of excitement and diversity and you delivered in excess.  I fled the Western Suburbs, escaping boredom and uniformity, and arrived in Wicker Park, that hipster haven on the Western edge of town, where music and arts abound, but yuppies are taking over. You gave me a new experience with a car break-in and diverse neighbors who will become lifelong friends.

       When I was young, I made my dad hang a poster on my wall.  The poster had an F-16 fighter jet with afterburners lit and didn't have a caption, but could have read:

       According to all aerodynamic laws, the F-16 is king.  It slices through the air with ferocious power and protects America with deadly force.  It acknowledges laws of aerodynamics but pushes the envelope to never-before-seen performance.

       Chicago is an example of how great America can be, and how it is worth protecting.