Week 6: Writing and Reading from Diverse Positions

I think this week focuses on breaking the normal traditions. We watched Circumstance and we also had to read Marriage of a Thousand Lies both display LGBT+ and trying to break out of the South-Asian culture roots. I think some parts I really enjoyed of this novel is the dynamic between the characters. I felt like as thought I didn't relate too much to the characters, I understand being gay and trying to be accepted. Especially the struggles of trying to conform or understand who you are. I can relate more situational rather than personal.  I can also understand how both portray two girls that are unsure of what they want I correlate more to the experience of these characters like Lucky. In the same circumstance I also felt the same way, the visuals and understanding the emotions helped me get more of a grasp on Sindu's novel. Do you go to do what you want to do? Or do you follow what others want you to do? I think these are the questions that are similar for both the novel and the movie. 

In class we had SJ Sindu come in and talk about her experiences writing and her development as a writer. Sindu took a lot of time and writing to understand her own character. The development of going through her drafts and a lot of time thinking, getting multiple feedback from different groups people. As an artist and a writer, she tries to consume as many novels as she can. She also talks about perception of time and how she reflects on her work and how timing can be warped just like her novels. Sindu makes weekly goals of working and not trying to overwork herself. In some ways she feels that working on deadlines are important but also making yourself healthy and happy. I feel if there is one thing that Sindu has in common with her own character Lucky, is pushing the traditions and her own roots. The research that she does is always so thorough as she read original Hindu text, looking into cults and police reports.  We talked about identity including race and sex and are both very important topics to discuss and I'm glad we went over it today.