Not a Cosmic Convergence Reflection

(1) The overall piece was definitely still confusing the second time around. Like we discussed in class, it was difficult to follow because it wasn’t the same format that we were taught to read. It was all over the place and all over the page which is not what any of us are used to. However, it was tremendously helpful to hear it spoken out loud with different voices. Initially, I read the entire piece in my head. It was easy to let the different sections and colors melt into each other which made the author’s message much harder to figure out. By reading it out loud and dividing up the different colors, it was easier to hear the patterns in the writing.

(2) I think if I were to have done the previous homework assignment after reading the text in class, I might have approached it differently. I probably would have added parts for different speakers and more conversation. I also would’ve added more stage commands such as “cue house lights.”

(3) Oral culture is incredibly different from written culture. In my opinion and experience, written culture is much easier to participate in than oral culture. It’s easier for many people to put on a false front and make comments on paper that they wouldn’t necessarily say in person. This is especially prominent in my generation with technology. Technology aids written culture. Many people today are much more comfortable with written culture than with oral culture because they can hide behind devices such as phones or computers. However, I do think there are still remnants of oral culture in today’s society. This form of communication may not be as popular but it’s still an incredibly important aspect of certain cultures. Some people place a strong emphasis on the preservation of their culture through folktales, songs, stories, and may other oral forms of communication. It’s a way to pass along information from generation to generation. It’s a completely different experience to hear a story firsthand than it is to read it on a piece of paper. It adds character, personality, and detail that paper might not otherwise capture.