Tag Archives: week 16

Week 16: Takeaways

Posted on by
2

This course was my first introduction to the topic of mermaids as far as on an academic level is concerned and while I initially had in mind the idea that they were used as a symbol of lust, desire, and vanity, I now realize that my viewpoint in regards to the mermaid was not entirely accurate due to the wide variety cultures that depict merfolk in many different ways (I thought mermaids were strictly a part of Western culture). After close reading Undine, Melusine, The Little Mermaid, and the tales of Mami Wata, I was quite astonished to find out that all of these stories have such a strong message that is being told through illustration (serpent, fish, and unclothed humans) and symbolism to demonstrate how dynamic the relationship between humans and nature is.

After realizing just how significant the mermaid is not only in terms of mythology but in the Environment, it further made me confused as to why more people do not see the mermaid for what it is – a being that has been depicted to warn, to guide, to protect, to yearn, and to go as far as to self-sacrifice if it will help others. Now as we covered throughout the course, the paintings and images that were shown also depicted the mermaid as being vain (the mirror and comb) this very fact is something that makes the viewer realize how mermaids are no different than the “two-legs” since communities are bound to have a variety of different characters even if they are from the same place and brought up in the same environment. However, this same treatment was not so common in the mermen with their portrayal typically showcasing a more “wise” and “powerful” role in society. Although mermaids are still to this day associated with children and fairy tales, I now know what they truly represent; not strictly used to teach a lesson, but to build a bridge between the known and the unknown.

Final Takeaway and a Thank you

Posted on by
1

To be fairly honest about the class, its very similar to other literature classes I’ve taken. So my understanding of literature has not changed much. However, this was the first one (outside of fiction writing classes) that inspired and motivated me. The discussion on how many writers, like Hans Christian Andersen, took inspiration and built off what came before was interesting. I personally wasn’t aware the little mermaid was influenced by the story of Undine. Tidbits of information like this alongside the teachings that humanity’s old myths and legends, such as mermaids, survive to the modern day through transformation and changing perceptions. Creating new meanings able to resonate with new people and then they might go on to create something themselves based on what they’ve learned. I’m sure as heck going to do so. While the class wasn’t about ‘how to write fiction’ like the short fiction class I’ve been taking alongside this one. It has helped me with a mental block I’ve always had whenever I tried to sit down and write my novel as someone who wants to be a published author. Originality. The saying of ‘nothing is original anymore’ is a often seen advice for authors, and while true, there is still a demand for it. This class made me stop trying so hard to meet this demand, rather, just take an idea you like and build off it. Do it slightly different even. I enjoyed this class more than I thought. Talked more in class more than I originally wanted to. Made me appreciate the stories about mermaids as well and are now a source of inspiration for my novel’s idea. Sure, there are some areas I wish I did better but overall? I’m happy I decided to enroll and stick around.

Thank you everyone and Professor Pressman.

Final Post

Posted on by
2

Before starting this class I was unsure how vastly mermaids and merfolk stories correlated to our environment. Furthermore, my understanding of mermaids was limited to the more widely told Western stories such as “The Little Mermaid.” I entered this class with an open mind, ready to learn, and as each week passed I found myself bewildered by all that merfolk tales communicated about the world, and how we impact it and are impacted by it. It is due to this class that I have seen how humanity and the environment are so interconnected. Whether that be through history, language, societal expectations, and how people identify. 

I believe the moment that the class really was around week six during our reading of Melusine. I really started to understand exactly how people’s views on the environment shape our understanding of our world and how we tell stories. This insight also comes from our class practice in close reading, which indisputably helped in my understanding of the texts that we read. My close readings, especially from Melusine on, are what has helped me most in my learning of this class. There is an art to taking what is simply on a page and making observations and an understanding of it. 

Moreover, I appreciate that we were able to look beyond Western stories for learning about merfolk and the environment. As we have learned from this class, our tellings of history are flawed because we do not have perspectives beyond the ones we deemed were worth telling. Yet history is not just what is in the textbooks we receive in school, history is in art, architecture, and especially literature. So to be able to get a more rounded view of merpeople folktales and the environment of other peoples and cultures, is the opportunity to learn a history yet unheard by a majority. It is from this class that I have learned about what it means to read stories in critical and thoughtful ways. I have learned to look beyond the conventional perceptions of stories and question what the story is asking of us.   

Final Thoughts

Posted on by
1

At the start of this class, my knowledge of mermaids was very limited since it mainly consisted of Disney’s The Little Mermaid and H20: Just Add Water. Within the first week of class, I learned that mermaids have a rich and complex history that has been circulated for centuries. Literature such as Melusine, The Deep, and many others showed me that natural environments are as alive and vivid as humans, removing the passivity of nature and anthropomorphic ideology that was taught to me in previous classes. This helped me open my eyes to see that not only do humans hold history, but that nature itself is an archive of history that allows us to learn so much about a society when we look at its environment and the stories they tell about it. Looking at literature and stories about mermaids as a way to learn about the environment helps us connect to nature, since they are able to exist as a mediator between humans and nature as a result of their hybridity. These beings become more than just a mythical creature and transform into a representation of the problems that affect humans and the environment. 

Using mermaid literature from a multitude of different cultures also helped engage the idea that there are voices and histories that have been silenced since they don’t line up with a traditional Western idea of history. Looking at these other tales then gives marginalized communities a chance to be heard and recognized, since their history is often deemed as “folklore.” In turn, we are taught to look at the environment as more than just a backdrop and see that it is a place full of life worth conserving and learning from. Rather than simply learning from history books, we can look to nature as a way to discover more about ourselves and events from the past. Whether it’s the Ocean or a forest, this class has shown the importance of connecting to the environment and being grounded in nature as a form of learning. 

Besides highlighting how awesome mermaids are, the course has ultimately taught me that humans cannot and should not see themselves as separate from the environment around them. We exist in the context of our surroundings, and our actions have a direct impact on our environment. Subsequently, we must look at nature as being part of our lives since it’s something that we interact with daily. Seeing nature as a separate entity only serves to further destroy it since it is only viewed as a resource and not as a place full of history.