tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3051850324215622990.post6405672699323880784..comments2024-02-01T13:07:47.576-06:00Comments on Linda Rodriguez Writes: Fiction on the Fringes and a Great QuestionLinda Rodriguezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3051850324215622990.post-18430739947801019752013-09-01T00:49:20.366-05:002013-09-01T00:49:20.366-05:00You're right, Reine. This desire to swoop in a...You're right, Reine. This desire to swoop in and exploit a culture for your own purposes is understandably offensive to anyone. Building relationships and having/showing respect are a lot more work.Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3051850324215622990.post-18704236877864669272013-08-31T23:12:41.195-05:002013-08-31T23:12:41.195-05:00Typo... waiting to be told, rather than asked.Typo... waiting to be told, rather than asked.Maureen Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03499876353651763590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3051850324215622990.post-63119323183646772512013-08-31T23:10:23.704-05:002013-08-31T23:10:23.704-05:00Hi Linda,
It's important talk. There is a spl...Hi Linda,<br /><br />It's important talk. There is a split in the community that centers on proprietary elements. I was in a seminar at school where we proposed a new model for Native American/First Nations research. It focused, much as you propose here, on being a guest in the community and making long-term observations that involve developing relationships and waiting—waiting to be asked, especially. So many who would study are not patient and do not understand how to trust listening, observing, waiting and how to learn. How might the researcher not ask but rather live in parallel until one day they are able to know how to talk unobtrusively. If the researcher must be obtrusive with questions they set themselves up for useless answers.<br /><br />I like what you said about Tony Hillerman. He did not run in and try to grab knowledge away from the People. He learned by being in relationship and in place—two most sacred concepts.Maureen Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03499876353651763590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3051850324215622990.post-87918557085052068342013-08-30T08:09:59.005-05:002013-08-30T08:09:59.005-05:00Thank you!Thank you!Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3051850324215622990.post-13332321024170271432013-08-30T04:18:32.335-05:002013-08-30T04:18:32.335-05:00Good post. I’m a regular visitor of your blog and ...Good post. I’m a regular visitor of your blog and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the excellent site. I’ll be a regular visitor for a long time.venues in hollywoodhttp://eventup.com/venues/los-angeles-ca/all/neighborhood:hollywood/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3051850324215622990.post-72418587713277940412013-08-29T17:19:01.092-05:002013-08-29T17:19:01.092-05:00Absolutely, Sheila! I was so impressed with not on...Absolutely, Sheila! I was so impressed with not only our panelists and moderator, who were great, but with the entire audience. I've been in situations with discussions as thoughtful and nuanced, but rarely with an almost entirely mainstream audience. All of them were so engaged and so passionate. It just warmed my heart. Wish you could ave been there, too. :-)Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3051850324215622990.post-69083960094121343712013-08-29T17:15:16.115-05:002013-08-29T17:15:16.115-05:00Faith, that you were aware and sincerely trying to...Faith, that you were aware and sincerely trying to be accurate and diverse--and that you have a diverse group of friends that you can turn to--bodes well for your success at this, I think. I suspect the problem for many of these writers that were referenced is that they live in very homogenous suburbs and don't really ever step outside their comfort zones.Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3051850324215622990.post-26160274368231288262013-08-29T16:59:52.563-05:002013-08-29T16:59:52.563-05:00Fantastic post, Linda. I wish I'd been there. ...Fantastic post, Linda. I wish I'd been there. A writer I highly recommend is Zoe Farraris, who writes a series set in Saudi Arabia with Saudi characters. My background is in folklore & anthropology with a focus on the Middle East, and I think Farraris does a fantastic job expressing the complexities of a very alien (to most Westerners) society. <br /><br />I think it's important to remember, both as writers and as readers, that all cultures and societies are complex, and that even when we write about our own, some people will think we got it wrong. I think the diversity question that was raised reflects that - for the questioner, the writers who ignore the diversity of the environment get it wrong. But there are people who live in such places without really living IN them. I think back to grad school. My friends - not just classmates, but friends - were from all over the world, but I knew other grad students who had no non-American friends. Same university, same town, different worlds. Does that make sense?<br /><br />Great topic for further discussion! Thank you!<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07535695542961577318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3051850324215622990.post-1020513506118331452013-08-29T16:59:01.900-05:002013-08-29T16:59:01.900-05:00Interesting post. I just wrote a short story featu...Interesting post. I just wrote a short story featuring a group of friends who solve mysteries--a take-off on Isaac Asimov's old Black Widowers short story series. Today, it shouldn't be all professional white men. (Never was sure if the waiter Henry in Asimov's stories was black or white.) I have tried to draw on my friendships to build a diverse, believable group. Don't know if it works or not.Faith Wyliehttp://www.revelationkey.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3051850324215622990.post-61023743879510525972013-08-29T16:57:06.930-05:002013-08-29T16:57:06.930-05:00Thanks, Marilyn. I knew you must have some close c...Thanks, Marilyn. I knew you must have some close contact with someone since you avoid the stereotypes in your books.<br /><br />Isn't Rabbi Ilene a hoot? Our whole panel was made up of strong women writing about strong women, another reason we thought they put us on the fringes. ;-)Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3051850324215622990.post-11062363876278039022013-08-29T16:50:56.165-05:002013-08-29T16:50:56.165-05:00Good one. I write about Native Americans too--and ...Good one. I write about Native Americans too--and though I am not one, I not only have friends who are, but relatives too. My heroine, a deputy, doesn't know as much about her heritage as she should, though has learned more in each book. I have fictionalized the particular tribe and the reservation. Also, I met Rabbi Ilene at a different conference so I'm sure the panel was lively.Marilyn Meredith a.k.a. F. M. Meredithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04179984154939161530noreply@blogger.com