Poor, poor Okonkwo. Or so he would want us to believe.
The joourneys and decision of Okonkwo, are an example of how an oral society can work towards ones benefit.
As a strong man, Okonkwo has beat the odds. Coming from nothing to create an life of great wealth and prosperity only to carry his past, as if it is a mountain, on his shoulder as he moves through hsi everyday.
This burden that he carries is exactly what prevents him from truly achieving the success he believes he has already attained. One example of this is the expectation that any prosperous man is able to rule his women and children. Yet, as is typical for Okonkwo, he takes this to its extreme. On the occasion of the "week of Peace" he severly beats one of his wives. This is seen to have potential for impacting the prosperity of the entire village as they are preparing for harvest. In fact, it has been many years since anyone has not kept the "peace" during the designated period. Although Okonkwo explains himself and pays a sort of pentince, he remains confident that he was correct in his behavior.
Although we are given many examples of the struggle tha Okonkwo has with hinself, we are introduced to a compassionate man as he comes to the aid of Ezinma when Chielo was taking her to Agbala. He came as a protector, father and husband. He did so in a manner to not show weakness yet, he made himself present and was willing to offer such protection as needed.
In this village the orality of its communicaiton offers hope and dispare, love and hate and creates above anything a desperate fear of things that the community cannot control. The legends and stories offer very little peace as one event folds into the other there is always a fear that what has happened before will repeat itself. As if constantly looking over it shoulder the community experinces prosperity and joy but will not allow itself to experience too much except for fear.
Okonkwo is living his life this way as well. Exahustingly attempting to rid himslef of the shadow of his father while not really understanding the man that he, himself is to be.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Ong 2
This portion of Ong's work brought to light the fact that although oral communication has many attributes, it is constantly disappearing. With this disapperance one must respect the value the written language holds.
But what gets lost along the way and who's version should one follow? I think we see this in everything from recollection of history to the telling of current events.
Historians are in a constant battel with what has been written, what artifacts remain and what stories were told in order to understand a village or community. Unfortunately, they are subject to what they are allowed to see by those that have left breadcrumbs behind. What you discover in the end is all that you have been permitted to discover.
The written language arguably becomes an artifact that sustains itself beyond the oral language. However, we risk discarding what is no longer necessary simply out of necessity to absorb new knowledge or data. Yet, a division will continue between oral cultures and those that use writing as their language. Communication is compromised and we all lose something in the end.
But what gets lost along the way and who's version should one follow? I think we see this in everything from recollection of history to the telling of current events.
Historians are in a constant battel with what has been written, what artifacts remain and what stories were told in order to understand a village or community. Unfortunately, they are subject to what they are allowed to see by those that have left breadcrumbs behind. What you discover in the end is all that you have been permitted to discover.
The written language arguably becomes an artifact that sustains itself beyond the oral language. However, we risk discarding what is no longer necessary simply out of necessity to absorb new knowledge or data. Yet, a division will continue between oral cultures and those that use writing as their language. Communication is compromised and we all lose something in the end.
Ong 1
Orality, use it or lose it!
In an oral cutlure the oral componenets that define and refine the culture weave status and history into the culture of which it resides. It is a heavy burden for the messanger to be accurate, articulate and purposeful in the message. Or is it? Perhaps one of the biggest challenges for the survival of an oral culture is to sustain momentum in the dialogue. As your knowledge continues to change, so must the message and stories to support such an evolution.
As we look at our society today one cant help but be burdened with the role of the listener. In a most recent Presedential Campaign, President Obama used some basic oral skills to get across his message and articulate the "dream". The repitious manner of spreading the simple words of HOPE and YES WE CAN, hypmatized a nation. Hearing the enthusiasm in his voice, the rhetorical messages and the tone were essential to his mantra. In a written society all of these would have simply been lost.
Oral culture have the commitment to pass on the messages that sustain their society and in so doing have the challenge of keeping the message alive and accurate or it will simply float away and be lost forever.
In an oral cutlure the oral componenets that define and refine the culture weave status and history into the culture of which it resides. It is a heavy burden for the messanger to be accurate, articulate and purposeful in the message. Or is it? Perhaps one of the biggest challenges for the survival of an oral culture is to sustain momentum in the dialogue. As your knowledge continues to change, so must the message and stories to support such an evolution.
As we look at our society today one cant help but be burdened with the role of the listener. In a most recent Presedential Campaign, President Obama used some basic oral skills to get across his message and articulate the "dream". The repitious manner of spreading the simple words of HOPE and YES WE CAN, hypmatized a nation. Hearing the enthusiasm in his voice, the rhetorical messages and the tone were essential to his mantra. In a written society all of these would have simply been lost.
Oral culture have the commitment to pass on the messages that sustain their society and in so doing have the challenge of keeping the message alive and accurate or it will simply float away and be lost forever.
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