Like i have said in my times before that i use to think that commercialization and the public sphere took advantage of the individual and really use the negative to make money. Well Dave Eggers and "What is the What" has really change my mind, a little bit. They took a negative experience and brought light to the situation because of how they took Valentino's story and average Sudan negative that deals with disease and hunger. They brought this story to America and brought light and made me well info and interested in the situation. Didn't make Valentino the bad guy but made us connected without ever meeting him in person but me as a reader i feel like if we ever met, I could say i know him already. Things like that is what the world sphere needs to focus on. Sometimes we as Americans think we have it so bad, and i think this way sometimes too. But reading Valentino's story i can say that im very blessed.
Week #7 Extra Comment by holmm300
ReplyDeleteYes, I do agree that we are all blessed to have had the privelage of meeting Valentino and being a part of his ongoing plight. I could truly relate to him when he was being robbed at gunpoint and being in a completely new enviornment as I too was robbed in a savage way many years ago and I also was in a new city, but not a different country. I could identify with the angst of needing to stand up for himself, but with no avail. My blog is about some possible ideas that will continue making sure that more than our class get public and really make a difference. I also feel as if I know him too. Your blog is wonderful, caring, and correct about our blessings. Thank you for that.
I am on the same page really. I thought commercialization in the public sphere was just using people to make money off their situation. In this case however the commercialization of the Lost Boys plight actually helped them by increasing awareness of the tragedy and drawing charity out of the common man.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that you made the connection to commercialization, because I hadn't thought about it they way you have. I think commercialization has also helped me understand Valentino's struggle. I understand it differently, because I have not had to struggle. It irritates me that someone in his situation had to go through BS even in the U.S., because he came here for so much more than that. Without commercialization of this issue, many of us wouldn't feel inclined to want to help.
ReplyDeleteI feel that commercialization fits Valentino and Eggers novel quit too. Commercialization is not all about bad stuff being commercialized. There is plenty of room in this avenue to bring about good stuff like this novel. The commercialization of this book has brought awareness to many who never new about this issue and I include myself. Although it is commercialization to bring profit, the profit obtained is used for a good cause. The profits are going towards more promotion of the Lost Boys plight and other programs for the cause and for Valentino's schooling and foundations. The money is not being wasted on useless things. I feel that this is commercialization at its best. For the better good.
ReplyDelete