Grace Zhou's blog

From the P.O.V of one of Quaker reformers:

Eastern state was a place for prisoners to come to terms with what they’d done, and to pray in solitude for forgiveness.

Eastern state penitentiary is an exemplary pioneer in the pursuit of reforming prisoners through isolation.

The idea of reforming prisoners rather than just looking them up was revolutionary and enlightening, even though it tended not to work in the practices Eastern State used.

It should work cause the nature of human beings is kindness, so as long as they stay alone and contemplate, they will eventually find the way to their true heart.

Eastern state penitentiary was for the most part a failure: prisoners found ways to communicate and rebel, and often played or refused the help of their reformers.

ESP was a place where they believed prisoners in solidarity would be able to repent for their sins, so that upon their release they would live more wholesome lives.

Eastern state provided prisoners with ample time and silence to think over their wrong doings, confess and improve themselves.

Eastern state Pen was efficient in providing an isolated environment for convicts to think about their wrongdoings and give penance.

I am disappointed by the loss of the original mission statement (now they lost the part about isolation), but proud of how it affected other prisons throughout the world.

    People in NW are special. Different from most of self-interested people in economic world, characters such as Natalie and Felix are not rational all the time. Rationality-“wanting more rather than less of good” (Wiki) is the most important and obvious factor in modeling people’s behavior and decision-making. For example, what rational choice people prefer is to maximize profit and minimize cost. However, in ZW, it is easy to find the irrational behaviors result no benefits for the charters at all.

    At first, it seems that Natalie and Felix are the most rational people in the book because they know how to behave well to maximize their interests. Although born in poor family in the council estate in Caldwell, they are upwardly mobile. Felix met Grace, a girl “who is conscious” (Smith, 179) and motivates him to get rid of the demons in life such as drug and alcohol. It’s wise and beneficial for him not to dwell in life but move up to a next level. Also, for Natalie, she follows her plan cautiously and studies so hard. With her rationality, she marries to a man who is rich and beneficial to her academic life and career. Frank owns ability to help Nat maximize her self-interest. Everything Felix and Nat have done is “right” and wise. They make large efforts to become the person they thought is worthy of being and the person they think should be. They are happy and satisfied with the profit brought by their rational choices.

Last time my lens are too broad and complex- the differences and similarities between Nat and Felix, and the reason for their difference- self respect.

This time I want to narrow lens to the similarities of Nat and Felix（sex with others，same opening narration of the chapter） to illuminate that no matter how hard they are trying to change, they are rooted in their fixed class and why Zadie smith wants to create these similar characters. Maybe because their similarities may reflect and apply more broadly- for the people try to change but can’t. The reason may be social class is solidified, they can’t move on. Maybe I want to relate this to the social solidarity by Émile Durkheim.

   On one side, Felix was naked and did not intend to cover himself. (Smith 113) On the other side, Natalie was naked, shamefully. (Smith 389) It is interesting to find that Zadie Smith opens two seemingly separated stories of unrelated people with the same settings and portraits. In re-reading this book, I am shocked that there are many similarities between Felix and Nat. However, there are large differences or even contrasts between them, which seem like two people with analogical background turn to adverse directions in lives. Maybe, I think, Felix plays vital rule in this book by acting as another opposite Natalie.

I was struggling in ZW, in those people’s conversation when I read the book. Many times, they arouse the sense of agreement and belonging for me. I felt so depressed when I read the conversations between Felix and his ex Annie, when she refuse and ridicule the help Felix wants to offer and the optimism he wants to express. Felix wants to change and has hope. It’s like a light in a dark room, making me feel warm. But Annie is so cruel that her smashes the dream:” you are lucky that you are happy... and you want everyone to be happy and good because you are…does it never occur to you some people might not find life as easy to live as you do?” It’s so true! I am desperate when I read it because I am the person like Felix- who always wants to help, wants to change, to influence others in a way that I think is better, but perhaps they don’t like it at all. I can’t help anyone. I feel isolated because they can accept what I regard as horrible situation. Maybe I will further think this point and relate to the city- a indifferent and fragmented world collaged by the indifferent people.

    The sunshine sneaks into this old room through wooden shutters, spilling on the chairs, the wooden floors, the old cabinet；and the clean blackboard, the sophisticated computer and the new projector. The students are wandering around the room, seeking for the clues to dig out the secret of this place. It is only a classroom, I thought. I felt confused and embarrassed when silently walking around this small and “normal” area. “There are scars on the pillars on each side of the fireplace. Only on each side, maybe because people moved the furniture before and grinded the pillars. The heating and the air conditioner are on at the same time. I don’t know why. It’s strange.” It was the first sentence I said in this class. It was interesting to find something I never would notice or expected and guess the reasons for it. I started to involve. And now, this course just takes me deeper and deeper; I even don’t know what I will find or think in next minutes. This course helps me to understand the city, but makes me more unfamiliar with myself- I thought I am a well-planned person; everything is under control and in my expectation. However, I was wrong, I keep digging out the potential and having new ideas in the trips. I was amazed that I even enjoyed getting out of the comfort zone and get to know a “different” me.  

    This class keeps changing me and challenging my habit. 

    I thought play is an act that mainly brings me happiness and joy before; however, after this trip, I found playing is not always that enjoyable. On the other hand, sometimes, it can bring me both the excitement and uncomfortable feeling, both nervousness and surprise.

    In Flanagan’s work, she regards playing as a media to express subversive views- to break the rules. In the trips before, I never intentionally try to feel this. In other words, I just see the subversion in the mosaics by Zagar- the unorthodox expression of art with broken trashes and frameless piece of work. However, I never find the subversion in my playing in the city in those trips. The trip to old city and Chestnut Street this time leaves me an unforgettable and mixed feelings and thoughts.

Chestnut Street

1 I first notice bunch of advertisements and coupon with the newspaper. Macy not only has its own advertising book but even also occupy whole area of some pages in the newspaper. I recognized I even don’t know the shopping area in philly.

2. Then I found the article called “too bean or not to bean”, it really attracts me to explore the café market in this city. To be honest, I never went into any café in Philadelphia except Starbucks. I found Noble would open a new café in Chestnut Street, which caught my attention. It’s the place I first visited when I arrived.

3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chestnut_Street_(Philadelphia)

4. Then I searched this street and found there were many different places I could go on this street-

 It’s a modern shopping place- even Macy’s is near. (I really want to know those propagandas and sales have any effect on the people in real). http://www.visitphilly.com/itineraries/philadelphia/shopping-in-philadelphia/

 It’s a historical place- independence hall http://www.visitphilly.com/history/philadelphia/independence-hall/

It’s a special place- specialty store cafe and restaurant http://www.visitphilly.com/restaurants-dining/philadelphia/di-bruno-bros/

     Immersed in mosaic world established by Zagar, I was amazed. Because painting, drawing and doing art are too orthodox to describe what Zagar has done, I would like to believe that he is not working; he is playing. He is playing with the broken pieces, playing with the colors and playing with the audiences.

    What is playing?

    Playing is a subversive and artistic attitude.

I did some research about Dada, especially the artist Arp. There is some discussion about whether he's really create his work by chance?

http://www.francois-murez.com/compoarp%20en.htm 

some one analyze the art from Arp. To most of them,it's hard to believe Arp created his work really by chance. The golden section applys a lot in his work. When the people really try to create things like Arp did, "It doesn’t work. The squares never land where they should. We always feel compelled to adjust the spaces between the papers, moving them closer together or further apart." (http://artofcollage.wordpress.com/2012/04/25/collage-according-to-the-laws-of-chance/)