Hello everyone,
I hope you all have been great!
For this week's class, I would like for us to, as a community, get to know more about each other through our stories and experiences with farming/environments/ecosystems. I would also like for us to in the process instill hope by embodying theory in action. Meaning concrete solutions.
We will more than likely do this through the reading. discuss our interests in regards to environments. If you haven't yet, please read the readings I sent. If you have no time to read the entirety, you can skip section 13.2.
This idea came mostly because I don't know the majority of the people in the class, and I am not sure I want to leave only knowing people's names and surface-level details. So..I started thinking of what it would be like if we talked about theory while engaging our bodies and our different knowledges and I immediately thought of this reading by Yessica Rostan.
I first read this in my ANSO 400 level taught by Prof. Francisco Villegas. I had seen it at the beginning of the course on the syllabus and thought of it as a strange reroute from the class’s focus, but when we got to read this, I was amazed by Yessica Rostan’s work. I had never heard or thought of combining all these disciplines in order to explore decolonization. When Rostan mentions not letting a single thing define our Humxn-Nature relationship, it made me think of the ways in which we treat nature as temporary, absent unless looked for, a background, or never process it as meaning something to our bodies.
That’s, how this class idea started.
I thought of how we see resistance as only possible through protests, or only through policy. We often fail to acknowledge the multidimensionality of action. For instance not thinking of nourishment or art as forms as acts of resistance and distributing knowledges to create awareness.
I wanted to spend class getting to know you all and your stories as well as exploring and acknowledging our own multidimensionality.
con safos,
Yuridia Luciana Gutierrez-Garcia
Calle 13's "Latinoamerica"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkFJE8ZdeG8
Regina Jose Galindo's "Mazorca" and "Tierra" at minute 4:50
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdCdZnVB6bw&t=913s
My Narrative
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dw90k1024tPjFBOpPyMXc1nnytcCdvfR/view?usp=sharing
QUESTIONS
1. How do you define environments and ecosystems/what is the first thing that pops into your head? How have these definitions changed throughout your life?
2. Based on what you enjoy and/or are good at, what are ways in which you can distribute knowledge, create community, build hope/agency, practice, etc?
3. Write a short narrative about a meaningful and/or personal interaction with the environment.
(This can be a story, poem, drawing, etc) Bring a hard copy to class.
NOTE: I want to encourage everyone to be open, that's essential in creating community, but remember you have control of your voice and power to decide what you want and do not want to share.
4. Share any books, visual art, poems, photos, links to talks, workshops, etc. that speak to hope, agency, or tools in regards to environments and/or ecosystems. Why do they mean such to you? If you can't think of any, what are things you would like to discuss in regards to the readings?
1. When I think of an environment or (especially) ecosystem, I immediately think of nature. But if I think about it a bit longer, I begin thinking about the environments that I've lived in, as well as the ecosystems of communities (human and otherwise) that I have been a part of. I think these have changed for me based on that I have become a part of different communities/ecosystems, so I have gained a variety of experiences that I am considering within those definitions.
ReplyDelete2. I really enjoy getting to know people and hearing their stories. This has always been a valuable way for me to practice creating community, as well as sharing/co-creating knowledge. As a writing consultant, I've thought about this theme quite a lot, as well, and it has been interesting to reflect on how to co-create knowledge (as opposed to distributing it) with the folks who come into the Writing Center.
4. I love this poem by Mary Oliver because I find it to convey this deep sense of connection with the natural world. She reminds me how humxns are a piece of the ecosystem(s)!
Sleeping In The Forest
by Mary Oliver
I thought the earth remembered me,
she took me back so tenderly,
arranging her dark skirts, her pockets
full of lichens and seeds.
I slept as never before, a stone on the river bed,
nothing between me and the white fire of the stars
but my thoughts, and they floated light as moths
among the branches of the perfect trees.
All night I heard the small kingdoms
breathing around me, the insects,
and the birds who do their work in the darkness.
All night I rose and fell, as if in water,
grappling with a luminous doom. By morning
I had vanished at least a dozen times
into something better.
Regarding the readings, I would love to discuss the theme of healing more deeply. I was struck by a quote on page 313: "We do not heal simply by talking about healing; we heal by actively sharing and co-creating strong Community connections between one another, seeing the ways in which we are connected."
1. How do you define environments and ecosystems/what is the first thing that pops into your head? How have these definitions changed throughout your life?
ReplyDeleteFor me, environments/ecosystems are the "around". That word, to me, signifies it could be anything, not just what we consider nature. What is "around" me in my room creates my personal ecosystem. What's "around" me at K College is my ecosystem/environment.
2. Based on what you enjoy and/or are good at, what are ways in which you can distribute knowledge, create community, build hope/agency, practice, etc?
I like to talk to people. and tell/share stories. That's something I like to use to create community and make things practice.
I also enjoy sharing food with those who I love. When I really love you, I sit you down and cook you a meal. I feel like the girl in the movie Like water for Chocolate (?) where she puts all of her emotions into her cooking. That's what I try to do for other people-- make sure they are eating love and care.
3. Write a short narrative about a meaningful and/or personal interaction with the environment.
(This can be a story, poem, drawing, etc) Bring a hard copy to class.
NOTE: I want to encourage everyone to be open, that's essential in creating community, but remember you have control of your voice and power to decide what you want and do not want to share.
I will do this :) no promises about quality
4. Share any books, visual art, poems, photos, links to talks, workshops, etc. that speak to hope, agency, or tools in regards to environments and/or ecosystems. Why do they mean such to you? If you can't think of any, what are things you would like to discuss in regards to the readings?
land as pedagogy:
http://whereareyouquetzalcoatl.com/mesofigurineproject/EthnicAndIndigenousStudiesArticles/Simpson2014.pdf
Leslie marmon silko's Turquoise Ledge
These are meaningful works to me because they ask us to think about the land and world around us in entirely different ways. When we have to pause and consider the autonomy, the strength, the thoughts of another being.
1. The first thing that pops into my head when considering these terms is the residual tightening of my chest as I think about sitting in middle and high school science classes memorizing definitions from notecards. The environment existed as an entity that was separate from that of people, but deserved to be saved. As I have gone through college, I have deepened my personal definitions of these terms to a.) realize they mean different things to different people and cultures and b.) place people in a more active place in these spaces.
ReplyDelete2. I think that I am a very active listener willing to support those who come to me to be heard. I also feel that I am dynamic and ever-willing to change my line of thinking on an issue or consider multiple perspectives. With this skills, I think I can build communities and spaces in which people feel comfortable talking about their struggles and potentially grow as they support one another. In terms of activism of any kind, I think this is necessary; causes cannot be properly supported and discussed if the those trying to participate do not feel heard or their opinions are dismissed.
4. In regards to the readings, I was really taken with the assertion that this colonial educational structure truly helps no one. Not only does it obviously hurt those deemed "minorities" that are oppressed by society, but even those who exist because of, and operate as part of a colonial structure are hurt because their individual agency in creating their own beliefs about biocultura are instantly suppressed and they are absorbed into the ongoing system of oppression. This feels like an important assertion for its ability to highlight just how few people actually comply with all the standards and assertions being made by this colonial framework, and how their agency to create their own system of beliefs--even as those who technically benefit from a colonial framework--and subsequently advocate for those of others is suppressed.
1. From my perspective, I would define the environments and ecosystems as the intrinsic harmony of nature that is in every aspects of our lives. The first thing that I think we is simply the oxygen that we breathe into our body and the food that is nurtured by the soil. I definitely have gained more gratitude for all the little things that we take for granted.
ReplyDelete2. I personally think that I am very approachable and easy-going. I show a lot of energy in the things that I am interested in, which influences the people around me to get excited. I hope that this character is something that I carry on throughout my life, and can make a positive impact in my surroundings.
4. I’d like to share this book called, “The Golden Spruce” by John Valliant. The book tells the story of a tree feller named Grant Hadwin, and highlights the ethics in his approach protesting against the logging industry during the 90s.
1. When I think of ecosystems/ environment the first thing that popped into my head was a food web. I remember making an arctic themed food web for my 9th grade biology class. Since then my definition has grown into a more abstract view, but it is still contingent on the intricacies of interaction.
ReplyDelete2. I am a very inquisitive person and I think that helps when getting to know people... especially more timid people.
4. I would like to recommend Born To Run... it tells a really amazing story about how the human body adapted and how that shaped our relationship to food. It also highlights indigenous communities in Mexico who still utilize this knowledge.
I use the words "ecosystem" and "environment" strictly in a more technical sense, as opposed to words like "nature" and "land". I normally use the former two to try and translate my love of nature into something that other people can handle more easily.
ReplyDelete1. When I was younger I always thought of environment/ecosystems in context of the outdoors and as "untouched" by humans. I realize now that ecosystems and environment are not necessarily disconnected from human interaction, but often shaped and changed by it. Environment often seems more personal to me, as it pertains to whatever situation/place mental/physical environment, while with ecosystem I think of a specific place (city, countryside, mountains, etc).
ReplyDelete2. I end up in many formal and informal teaching roles throughout my week, and the more I say and do in these roles, the more I realize the inherent and subtle power that these roles have. Through my words and actions I can teach new skills and review old skills, either by encouraging people in the progress they've made or discouraging people by the ways thy still fall short. Pointing forwards and encouraging typically works best, but is often more difficult to do. Through these roles, I can build or destroy community, encourage or discourage knowledge, and create spaces for others and myself to grow. Yet, this growth will not just be through "doing it right," but I realize I will mess up, and I need to be willing to admit my mistakes, asking for help on how to do something differently.
4. When thinking about environment, I always think about Frost's poem "Stopping By Woods". Although this poem has likely been overused, it has a particular significance to me because my high school choir teacher set it to music. It reminds me to stop and be still, and its okay to wonder about things I don't always know, and not actually figure out the annwer ("like who woods these are").
1. As with most of my blog responses when asked the definition of things or my background knowledge my mind goes to Biology and Psychology. I think of the environment being our surroundings, both living and non-living components while ecosystems include the interactions between and among these abiotic and biotic factors. With environment, I also think to psychology and the idea of nature vs. nurture and how we are shaped by our environment. Overtime, I think my definitions have become more detailed and my knowledge includes more depth and breadth as I have studied more disciplines.
ReplyDelete2. Here at K I study Biology, Psychology, and Environmental studies as well as have explored several disciplines beyond my three areas of study. I hope that I can bring those perspectives into conversations in this class as well as beyond K in my careers, hobbies, and relationships. I hope that my contribution to the sharing of knowledge in life involves building up communities and natural spaces to facilitate positive, reciprocal, and healthy relationships.
4. A friend of mine told me about an artist earlier this year named Dylan Miner. His work surrounds issues of Indigenous sovereignty, migrant and immigrant rights, labor rights, and ecological justice. He is very cool and his prints are available for free through this link: http://dylanminer.com/artworks. I have one hanging in my room that says “Defend. Protect. Renew.”
Additionally, this quote from The Lorax and the message of the work in its entirety, is my reminder to keep doing the work I am passionate about. “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better, it’s not.”
1) The first thing that pops into my head when I think of environments/ecosystems are the wooded mountains like those in Appalachia. I realize that ecosystems are diverse and look different across the world, but I'm sure my imbued connotations come from growing up in the Appalachian region and going into the woods to camp and hike every summer. Now that I'm thinking about ecosystem diversity, I'm thinking about the different forces that shape them. It's curious that we all live on one planet with a shared crust, and yet life looks so different. How could such diversity spring from one body? I think if I looked at it simplistically, I would say water and mineral distribution is the main cause, but organic matter has been shifting water and changing the mineral content in soils for billions of years. When I think of my own gut bacteria, an ecosystem in itself, I think of how it shapes me as an organism, and I can't help but make the connection between the ecosystems within my body and the ecosystems on the planet, and how they seem to change and animate the planet like a giant super-organism.
ReplyDelete2) One of my biggest loves is dance. I am not the most technical dancer, but it brings me joy and inner peace. For my SIP I choreographed a series of dances that explored the essential dynamic forces that make up our universe, in hopes of expressing my awe and relaying that which I am unable to express in words to the audience. Personally, this has helped me be more intentional in my interaction with nature, and I hope that I was able to share that with someone in the audience or with my fellow dancers. I think nonverbal art forms can be super powerful in shaping the way we perceive and interact with the world around us, and I hope that it can be used as a tool to shape the culture around us into one that is more respectful of the beings around us.
4) A song that really speaks to me in terms of responsibility is called Sea Change by the band Turin Brakes. Here are the lyrics:
Six billion backs against the wall
Now do we walk or run
This puzzle's falling into place
Once more around the sun
Remember when you were a kid
Those days were all so long
But if we don't do this
Somebody else will
Three billion backs against the wall
A prayer for everyone
We saw the changing at the sea
Another thing was done
Remember when you could rely
Those days are all but gone
And if we don't do this
Somebody else will
If we don't do this
Somebody else will
Somebody else will
One billion backs against the wall
At least our feet were dry
I was an island to myself
This storm would pass me by
Remembering the things I did
I knew I would survive
But if we don't do this
Somebody else will
If we don't do this
Somebody else will
Somebody else will
One billion backs against the wall
Now do we walk or run
One thousand backs against the wall
Now do we walk or run
One hundred backs against the wall
Now do we walk or run
It's just your back against the wall
Now do you walk or run
Remember when you were a kid
Those days are all but gone
If we don't do this
Nobody else will
If we don't do this
Nobody else will
Nobody else will
I would recommend listening to the actual song as well because I think the music really captures the storminess and inner (and outward) turmoil that comes when we try to ignore things that are not ignorable. While there is a sense of urgency, I do find hope in the message in the potential presented to us to work together collectively instead of turning our backs and expecting other people to solve our problems. I think with so much hopelessness and insignificance that people feel that often leads to inaction, it's important to be reminded of the power of our collective actions.
1. How do you define environments and ecosystems/what is the first thing that pops into your head? How have these definitions changed throughout your life?
ReplyDeleteMy definition of environments and ecosystems is something that has been shaped, reshaped, reinforced, and challenged in my time at K. Thinking back to my first-year-self, I imagine that I would have had an answer to this question that was based in biology. It has been through classes, their readings and conversations, specifically Political History of Western Environmental Though, Humans and Non-Humans, and Anti-Colonial theory that I now simply define environments and ecosystems as that which surrounds us. I don’t think that we can disconnect ourselves, or really anything, from nature or environment.
2. Based on what you enjoy and/or are good at, what are ways in which you can distribute knowledge, create community, build hope/agency, practice, etc?
I think of myself as a very relationship-oriented person. I love sharing, listening, and creating in community. I love to engage with others in the preparation and enjoyment of a meal. Also, being from Kalamazoo, I love to share my community with others—whether thats by taking a walk through Asylum Lake, exploring the Farmers Market, or sharing a meal at my home.
3. Write a short narrative about a meaningful and/or personal interaction with the environment.
(This can be a story, poem, drawing, etc) Bring a hard copy to class.
OK!
4. Share any books, visual art, poems, photos, links to talks, workshops, etc. that speak to hope, agency, or tools in regards to environments and/or ecosystems. Why do they mean such to you? If you can't think of any, what are things you would like to discuss in regards to the readings?
This poem came to me at a really pivotal time in my life. It didn’t just come to me, it tripped me. I was at a used book store with one of my life-long best friends and literally fell over this book. I had to buy it. As we sat and ate falafel, I came across this poem.
http://moralground.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/GarySnyder.pdf
First, I'm sorry for my tardy and short responses this week. I've been thinking about these questions a lot, just running out of time to write down answers! Looking forward to talking about these things in class.
ReplyDelete1. The first thing that pops into my head is the land where I live and that ecosystem which I know so well but is always and continuously a mystery to me.
2. I can write poems. I can be with the land and the plant people. I can help others form relationships with the plants and land as well.
3. Bringing a poem!
4. A poem by W.S. Merwin:https://merwinconservancy.org/2015/04/place-by-ws-merwin/
A song by Lyla June: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nr2VLI8jKww
For much of my life, environments and ecosystems were things I understood as all around me, as things that affected my life, but as distinct from my own being. Later in life, I gradually began to understand them as within and outside of myself, as mutually affecting and mutually determined and created. I now operate with an understanding more closely resembling the idea of assemblages - while not forgetting agency and some sense of individuality.
ReplyDeleteSome of the ways I have more recently been trying to build community, distribute knowledge, and build hope and agency is through both the student organization that I am a part of, and through my musical engagements. I enjoy - and am constantly challenged by - the project of creating community around social justice goals, theory, and practice. Doing so at K has been, and will continue to be, complex, slow-moving, and one of the ways I feel most empowered to work for change while still at this school. With music, I have been working to create groups/bands/collectives cultural and racialized differences. I’ve been doing this partially because it is exciting musically (blending styles and knowledges and creating new ones), partially because the people I am creating these musics with are good friends and it just seems to happen naturally, and partially because I believe art can be a powerful way of breaking down antagonistic boundaries, creating new communities, and utilizing resources - in this case musical ability - in ways that can create changes in antagonistically racialized contexts. At least, I believe these things can happen and I am working to actualize them, if not to continue actualizing them
In regards to the reading "Living Biocultures: A Framework for Building Sustainable Community Well-Being, Resilience and Innovation" I thought a ton about the ways in which Michel Foucault defines the relationship to land which centers the body as a machine.
ReplyDeleteFoucault looks at the power relationship between sovereignty and death as the regulation of life. There are two regulatory technological powers… the first being disciplinary technology of the body, and the second being regulatory technology of life. To Foucault, both technologies exist on the body, but one is individualized on the body and the other is one where bodies are “replaced with general biological processes”. Foucault also highlights how racism is enacted and intervenes in the emergence of biopower and their relationship to the State. Foucault describes racism as “the break between what must live and what must die”. Thus, biopower is is the enactment of power beyond the scope of human sovereignty.
(I will post the rest of my response later...) YURI, thank you for all your thoughtful contributions on this post. I have been grappling with them since you posted this the other day. I want to make sure my response is as meaningful as your contributions.
1)I think about food webs and roles when i think about ecosystems and what has changed is that I used to think of these systems as existing so far from me and now I consider them near to me and completely tied to me.
ReplyDelete2. I am good at talking and problem solving and I really want to use my strengths to talka nd create more creative solutions that are mindful and incorporate many stories. I want to build platform and to unite people to help each other out.
3. theere is a book about mycelium, cant remember the name, but it highlights how mushrooms talk to weach other and really communicate. This was so important to acknowledge that we are not the only sentient beings. I love all songs that really set a scene in naure like Ventura Highway by America. I think every poem written about the redwoods ever is life changing and I am so grateful to every book I have ever read about specism and the way that we separate ourselves, wrongly, from the rest of nature.