Author Archives: Karina Garcia

EC – Snatching Joy: Black Feminist Approaches to Digitial Humanities

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This presentation with Catherine Knight Steele was an interesting presentation but also one that was difficult to follow. Steele was providing a significant amount of information and examples throughout the entire presentation but what I thought was the clear message was seeing how society views the life of Black Americans through a “white lens”, meaning we see things (movies, TikTok, videos, media, etc.) in a more concealed way, which results into encouraging Black Americans into taking back or “snatching” their culture back.

She provides a significant amount of information through the use of TikTok, which is relatable as it is something that is almost embedded in the younger generation. An example that resonated with me was the use of certain dances such as the “Renegade” dance that was originally made from Black Americans but only became popularized due to other “influencers” who are Non-Black Americans. Steele makes this comment as she was able to say something along the lines of not accrediting the rightful creators. This is an ongoing problem as many things today that originate from Black Americans are not getting the rightful credit they deserve, and only become popular or apart of the “trend” because other Non-Black Americans are able to popularize trends.

Overall, I thought this presentation was impactful as Steele was able to provide relatable examples that multiple generations would understand or even know a bit about, and it leaves you with thoughts of how majority of things can be seen through the “white lens” she speaks of. Speaking for myself it left me with a number of questions about how media is constantly using a “white lens” meaning, in some forms of media such as movies there isn’t an actual representation of stories but instead are made into a way that will satisfy and leave people on a good and uplifting note. I believe it does encourage more of rightful accreditation and to be properly informed to begin as it is something that is lacked when all forms of media are being produced.

Week 10: The Ocean and Humans as One

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This week’s reading I decided to focus on Helen M. Rodzadowski, Vast Expanses: A History of the Oceans (Reaktion Books, 2018), “Introduction: People and Oceans” as it was an interesting reading but also played like a wakeup call in my head. A part that really stood out to me was, “Even events that took place at sea are often narrated as though the ocean is a flat, land-like place without its underlying depths, having two dimensions instead of three.” (Rozwadowski, 7), and in this I thought was important as the ocean is constantly portrayed as something so small and tamable that humans forget the reality of the ocean as something so deep and untamable that has played a role in human history for so long. This part of the story took me to another reading for this week, which is Steve Mentz, Ocean (Bloomsbury, 2020): “Deterriotarializing Preface” as it is giving seven words that change our view and understanding of the ocean. The one word that caused this parallel thinking between both readings was the word “Distortion” as Mentz states, “Water’s tri-dimensionality sometimes orients us on the buoyant top and at other times closer to the irresistible bottom.” (Mentz, xvii). Both citations contain the word “dimension” which sparks something in my head as viewing the ocean as layers, and why do we still view the ocean as something flat? Why can’t we see the ocean as what it truly is? Why can’t we accept that we cannot tame the ocean? It is a place of nature that continues to make up majority of the Earth and provide for living creatures. If we were able to grasp the concept of the ocean as three dimensional, I believe there will be more of a further understanding between the ocean and maybe ocean world along with human history.

Another point of the text that resonated with me was, “People have exploited the ocean for many reasons, starting with food and transportation, but also as the focus of myth and culture.” (Rozwadowski, 7). This put in perspective how much we rely on the ocean as much as we do land, the ocean is able to provide many of the things we seek for and depend on for constant living just as land does. I also thought it was interesting to add in “myth and culture” as many do not acknowledge this but there is a significant number of stories about mythical beings that come from water, but also many cultures who view themselves as one with the ocean. Going back to Mentz’s reading makes me see the different words this small passage is able to go along with most if not all the words he defines, but the one word that specifically stuck with my thinking was “Flow” as he states, “Thinking in terms of cyclical flows rather than linear progress makes historical narratives messier, more confusing, and less familiar. These are good things.” (Mentz, xvi). I thought the way flow was defined fit with my citation of Rozwadowski as it takes enough to acknowledge ocean as a part of our history, but more so if we realize our history isn’t something that is going to be constant, but it is changing as much as the ocean does and there isn’t a correct starting and ending point.

Both of these readings really struck me as makes me reflect on the class and how we are able to go from the history of mermaids, then to the environment, and back to the ocean. There is a constant change between all topics but there somehow always a shown connectedness between all three, almost as if it was a cycle. I think it is important not just in this class, but to the Earth as a whole to acknowledge the points being made in which we understand our history has always involved the ocean and that it is always changing, but to also see the ocean as a place that has been depended on for so long not just by humans but by all living creatures.

Week 9: The Blue Humanities

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This week reading was interesting and something that I was fond over because it showed the variety of ways in which the ocean/sea is used. Not in just a personal way, but to learn history, in other fields of study, also in literature and arts. There were several points that were made that had caught my attention but one that resonated the most would have to be in the last paragraph. “The manner in which this occurred and the significance it holds for modern culture and society is only just beginning to dawn on us.”. I thought the word “beginning” was impactful as it is implying that we do not know as much as we think we do, there is still millions and probably billions of things we don’t know about the ocean, but the curiosity of humans has caused this start to learn all those little bits of information that make up the ocean. I also believe the word “beginning” is being used to show the shift in which society has taken to the view they have of the ocean; we went from being fearful and almost terrified of the unknown water, to now finding a comfort of the ocean even just by viewing it from a distance.

Another point that stood out to me was, “people began to come back to the sea in search for a quality they felt to be missing in the new industrial environment, that something called wilderness.” (paragraph 10). Speaking from a personal perspective, I never truly saw the ocean as wilderness or nature since it has always just been classified as a separate but special place in my mind. When I think of nature, I automatically start to imagine the forest with trees, wild animals, in almost isolated places to be nature as it provides a reflection area for humans to reconnect to themselves. Being able to reflect and read that the ocean provides the same feelings and purpose as a forest does, in my head does classify it as nature. It is a space that provides us with more than what we need to be able to regain our own self-identity back when our day to day lives are drowning us and not allowing a simple break.

Overall, I do believe that our attitude change towards the ocean is what has caused us to be able to create career fields in subjects like marine biology, led to the knowledge of what we have now of the ocean, given us more opportunities to study the ocean further, gives us what we need for everyday living like food, but also are a significant factor of the personal comfort we gain that does not compare to other forms of comfort. There is more to thank the ocean for than we realize as it has always been a home for many in the times that we longed somewhere we felt like we belonged.

The Trouble with Wilderness

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A point that stood out to me interesting and almost a reality check was, “It is a place of freedom in which we can recover the true selves we have lost to the corrupting influences of our artificial lives. Most of all, it is the ultimate landscape for authenticity. Combining the sacred grandeur of the sublime with the primitive simplicity of the frontier, is the place where we can see the world as it really is, and so know ourselves as we really are — or ought to be.” (16). This stood out to be as is makes me question how invested people are with their lives that we forget who we are. We live in this almost fake world where main priorities are how many likes you get on a post, how many people saw what you were doing, and where essentially capturing your entire life by phone defines who you are as an individual, when in reality it does not. As defined the wilderness is “a place of freedom” and that is something we lack in our day to day lives, it is something we aren’t able to reach because we are being consumed by so many other factors like relationships, family conflict, managing personal schedules and so many other things that pile on top of each other that we forget who we are. The ending of the sentence “ought to be” makes me wonder if it was intended to leave the reader question who they really are? Have they lost themselves? It’s a real reality check as to question if you are still the same person you thought you were.

I enjoyed the idea that nature is the only place “in which we can recover the true selves we have lost” as I believe it is true. Almost majority of the places in which you believe you are free to yourself is not entirely true as there can be interruptions, distractions, and ultimately feeling that there is a time clock on how much you can be to yourself before the constant worrying of getting back to day-to-day life comes into place. Compared to being in nature you purposely set that time apart for yourselves, to have a peace of mind, and reset yourself internally so you are not being consumed with the life you are constantly living and that is slowly taking over you each and every day.

Week 7: The Little Mermaid

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Reading The Little Mermaid this week for the very first time was a real jaw dropper. Growing up this was one of if not the only Disney movie that I would constantly watch on replay and eventually became my favorite movie ever, so to wrap my head around this story for the first time is difficult. Noticing how the story I read and what I know of the movie stayed consistent for the most part, there was a dramatic change in the endings to both story and movie. There was no happily ever after in the original story, but instead there was an ultimatum for the little mermaid to either prioritize and pick herself or to continue to prioritize a man whom she did not know.

There was a point in the story in which really resonated with me as it reflects the idea of today’s society. The moment in which the grandmother had told her that “Our souls are not immortal.” (page 117) and then proceeds to describe the only way in which to obtain a soul is by making sure a man was fully committed to you but also only deeply in love with you is very hard to believe. This section to me made me truly realize that even in stories involving mermaids and the sea, men still found a way to have some sort of control over females and mermaids. The little mermaid went to an extreme extent to be with a man who did not know her but also that she was not certain that would love her, just to ultimately take that risk for him. At the end of the story in which she is given a final chance to pick herself over the prince, she still does not do so as she still puts him over herself even though he was already married to someone else at this point. This idea goes back to last week’s discussion as how it is perceived that women cannot be complete without a man. There is a saying that goes around and is frequently said which is “my life never started until I met you” which I believe applies to the story of The Little Mermaid as she had made it known that she preferred living on land with the prince since it did not compare to living down in the ocean with her family. I believe it also shows in a way how women in toxic relationships can be easily influenced to leave behind what they know, their background, family, and entire lives all for a single man who they have known for not so long. Reflecting on this story and comparing it to the world we live in today, truly puts into perspective that as time goes on, men will still be perceived as having more power and control over women.

Week Six: The Fejee Mermaid Hoax

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This week I decided to focus more on The Fejee Mermaid Hoax (Penguin Book of Mermaids) and it made almost a guide to how I would want to structure my discovery assignment to go. The way in which this one story has let so many other mermaid discoveries come to light was impactful but also made me wonder if there are so many people claiming what they have seen, why would it still be a debate? Throughout the pages we were supposed to read it was giving clear examples from different years and locations in which mermaid sightings took place and somewhat of a description of how exactly it happened. The last paragraph on page 243 in which there is a description of a Asiastic mermaid in London 1775 was able to describe them but in the way they didn’t want the mermaid to look human and even though she had clear human characteristics I felt as if they were almost trying to portray her as ugly so society can still feel fearful and possibly not confide in what was being said? They would describe her characteristics she held which all sounded human but made sure to incorporate her fishlike features just like “It’s ears are like those of the eel, but placed like those of human species,..” (page 243) which was strange because if they were originally being described as creatures who are human from the waist up and fish from the bottom down, how is it that these features are able to mix together if there has been a divide in their physical traits?

One of the important questions that resonated with me was the way in which there were connections between different species of animals which led to the question of, “…why may we not supposed that there is also a connecting link between fish and the human species?” (page 241). This was the point that made me even question and realize the similarities between so many animals and why is it that I couldn’t make those connections between humans and mermaids? My entire life the only mermaid figure I knew and loved was Ariel from The Little Mermaid but the Disney version which I don’t think truly represents the entire mermaid culture from what I have learned from this course. Knowing the picture of Ariel I have always had in my head and us as humans I was never able to piece how we are both similar in many ways because I felt an important point I learned as a kid through this movie was almost to fear the ocean since mermaids or other creatures that appeared from this movie live there and can cause problems, which almost delayed my realization that humans and mermaids are more connected to each other than society cares to acknowledge. This one section has sparked my interest to truly find or hopefully find any sort of bigger connections that human and mermaids but also the ocean have in common with each other, or even how it forms a cycle between each other.

Week 5 – The Faery at the Fountain

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Chapter 3 of The Romance of the Faery Melusine (Gareth Knight, translated by Andre Lebey, 19th C) I thought was interesting to read about since in the back of my head all I was thinking about was that they were hinting about mermaids or sirens the entire time. Reading the Legend of Melusina (The Penguin Book of Mermaids, 85-87) and it stating that her mother “condemned Melusina to become every Saturday a serpent, from the waist downwards” (page 86), which stuck with me because as I read Chapter 3 of The Romance of the Faery Melusine I unnoticed how stories were worded differently. In summary on page 25 it was almost as if Melusina was mind reading Raymondin which to me gives the idea off that she might be a siren, since in last weeks class one of the main discussions of a siren was that they have been somewhat presented as mystical beings that hold all the knowledge in the world which can include the thoughts of others. It was interesting that no where in this chapter it was clearly stated what mythical being Melusina could’ve been, but they made it a point to mention the beauty and knowledge she held that left Raymondin wondering “if he were still alive” (24). 

One of the biggest points I found interesting that was made within chapter 3 is the idea of blinded trust due to feminine beauty. Before even knowing Melusina’s name, Raymondin was able to fully confide in Melusina and the contract of marriage she has set up for the both of them which made me wonder how beautiful Melusina could have been that it left Raymondin unable to comprehend what is being said and the contract he is signing himself up for. It isn’t such a surprise that he was able to trust Melusina because of how differently things were done and said in the past, but it’s strange that Raymondin himself didn’t stop to question if she was even a mythical being since sirens were existent in that period of time. The idea of feminine beauty through this story has had an emphasis on me in that now I can only imagine the power that mermaids, sirens and so many other feminine mythical beings would have over the male population.

Week 4 – Oannes (The Penguin Book of Mermaids)

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Now beginning all the stories that have to do with mermaids, I felt the one of Oannes left me with the most questions. I thought it was interesting how Oannes was a figure of both human and non-human who came to give guidance to the people of Babylon since they were “like beast” (page 3). The specific part that stood out and left me with so many questions was “he instructed them in everything which could tend to soften manners and humanise mankind” (page 3). It was intriguing to read about how through one “thing” who was considered both human and non-human that many humans were able to believe in what he said, guided them through impactful things from life, and essentially gave them the basics to everyday living without any sort of questioning, so why overtime did this stop? Oannes was both fish and human, and yet humans were able to confide and trust every word he said without hesitation. The story of Oannes shows that at some point in the history of humanity, us humans were able to trust the unknown and fully believe in hybrid and mythical creatures as a guide to our living, what during our history did we stop believing in this? It’s a bit surreal to see the change in how at some point in life humans were very open to new things, and now the history of hybrid and mythical creatures are all being taught as a myth to generations now and making life a bit more sheltered to life outside of human kind.

After searching up Oannes and seeing how he was depicted, I thought it was interesting to see how they made it known he was both fish and man. In some pictures he was presented more as a merman but in others they make a clear distinction between a man almost looking like he was wearing a fish coat. The picture below shows Oannes as a mixtures of the two most common pictures, he is shown as a mermaid with a fish head like coat, walking up from the ocean and almost showing himself as a friend to men so they wouldn’t be alarmed with his physical being.

introduction

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My name is Karina Garcia and I’m a social work major. I decided coming in SDSU that I was going to pursue a degree in that field since I’ve been interested in the many different topics that go within one field but also the sense of urgency I have to help people in any way I possibly can. I thought the title of the class was interesting while I was deciding to enroll in it but now knowing that it is more of a focus on mermaids it has caught my attention as I have always questioned if mermaids and other creatures existed outside of the “mythical creatures” category.

I am originally born and raised in a city outside of Los Angeles and moved to San Diego right before I started high school and have been here ever since. I’m currently a full time student and also work at a car dealership. Outside of both school and work I enjoy spending most of my time with my dog, listening to music or spending time with my family.