JE #9

1What aspect of the historical borderlands section of the course do you feel you've learned best? What do you really know now about the history of the U.S.-Mexico border that you did not know before you took the course?

I liked the discussion of the treaty of Guadalupe-hidalgo and looking critically at each part of the treaty. Having each group discuss what each part of the treaty did for Mexicans help contextualize the current border. 

I did not know the level of violence between Mexicans and Anglos before and after the construction of the border. I also did not understand the extent of hatred that exists between Anglos and Mexicans on the border.

2Which one(s) of Gloria Anzaldúa's theories about the borderlands do you feel you really understand? How does this theory (or these theories) apply to your own life?

All of her theories are complicated but I felt that the Shadow Beast was the one I feel most comfortable defining. The shadow beast as a monster/rebel is appealing to me because I feel it explains my reality. I see the rebel in myself everyday, what most people see as ugly. I found the same solace that Gloria talked about when she mentioned the tenderness of the rebel beast. Gloria legitimized my rebellious beast. The monster is a bit more difficult to understand, solely because the monster is so embedded in me and reassured by popular society. It appears beautiful but its the most damaging. It is the submissive and quiet side that everyone is attracted to. I see that as the monster.

3Which theory or theories of Anzaldúa's are you still having difficulty understanding? Please discuss the difficulties you're having?

"Mestiza Consciousness"

It is the most complex in my eyes cause its complicated by interacting with the many stages before reaching mestizA consciousness. Also, I feel that mestizA consciousness is one of those ideas that cannot be defined but must be lived. Its a subjective state of mind, it various from person to person. Therefore, defining "mesitzA consciousness" into the confines of a paper is near impossible due to its nature of being un-generalizable. 

5How would you rate your own level of border consciousness at this point in the course? Are you, for example, just coming face to face with your monstrous Shadow Beast? Are you "entering into the Serpent," or do you feel like you're falling into the "Coatlicue State"? How are the films and readings contributing to this experience?

I would level my sense of understanding Border conscious from a scale of 1-10 as an 8. I feel that this quarter I have encountered multiple snakebites that I have embraced and so I can safely say that I am "entering the Serpent. 

The readings were critical and informative, I feel that they have challenged me as an individual who tries to be conscious and critical in all spaces. The text has expanded my knowledge and vocabulary and Especially, upon discovering the term linguistic terrorism, which I found insightful. Initially, I knew that I was uncomfortable with language but I did not realize the extent it affected me. The films were also great. I feel that the film fresa y chocolate can be a great tool and resource to share within spaces that I am a part of including family and friends