week 10: I, Rigorberta Menchú
As discussed in the lecture video, I find it intriguing how the distance between reader and the text is facilitated in a literal sense as a well as conceptually (withholding certain secrets from the readers as well as that she is recounting a very specific experience within a select community.
The concept of 'knowledge is power' comes to mind, as Menchú decides what information should exclusively be known by herself and the community. In withholding specific secrets, she is asserting control over her own story (rightfully so!). Her own personal autonomy is exemplified through her choice of what facts to conceal and what she views as appropriate / important to share. Furthermore, I see the careful consideration of what knowledge to share as a form of communal solidarity.
It is so hard for me to hear that Menchú retelling her experiences led to her facing public scrutiny. In order to justify his criticisms, Stoll seemingly attempts to alleviate the partial blame he is directing towards Menchú due to his belief that she was manipulated. I would say this adds another layer to the problematic oppositional stances. That being said, in regards to Stoll apparently having found other members of the community who wished to discredit Menchú's accounts, I do not wish to invalidate their own personal experiences either (even though that is seemingly what is happening to Menchú).
On another note, perhaps the distance that is fostered in the recounting of her experiences was a factor behind Menchú's critics, and thus "even more iconic for the left" as professor Beasley-Murray would say. I only say this because I can imagine certain personalities would take their own form of offence when Menchú honoured her agency in the retelling of her story.
My question for discussion is rather broad - what kind of power / how much power does the act of personal storytelling hold?
Indeed, your question is broad but worth thinking about. I start then. Before thinking about discrediting or endorsing Menchú, I think we should stop to think about our own expectations about what we think is a literary work --like a novel-- and a text as this testimonio that in many aspects is a provocation to the academic discourses. And if so, we would have to think about the frameworks in which this personal storytelling is inserted to be interpreted, like those of the left of the 90s.
ReplyDeleteHi, Great post!
ReplyDeleteTo answer your question, what kind/ How much power does the act of personal storytelling hold? I think a lot. This testimonial made me feel very connected to the story as it was told with such a personal touch, even though some aspects were untrue. I think Menchu especially did a great job conveying her personal story and involving the community with it as well. I really think the framework of the personal storyteller affects the reader's thoughts and mood while they read.
Hi!! I think you bring up a great point when you emphasize the knowledge of power as a central theme to this novel. Her being able to disclose or console in her own level of agency in sharing her story is a powerful element of the novel, and we see that repeated throughout in regards to negotiating the book with the translator. To answer your question, I think there is a huge amount of power in storytelling. It serves as the base for sharing a message that the writer, in most cases, has full agency to convey a message to an intended audience. The great thing is that writers have various ways of conveying these messages, and I think Menchu tellling a story that is not only representative of Guatemala but also the greater part of LATAM has experienced in incredibly powerful.
ReplyDeleteHi KD! Great blog post! I loved how you pointed out the relationship between the reader and author, and the type of information that is being told and withheld. To answer your question, I would say having a story told from somebody's personal experience is far more powerful. Even if it comes to light that there were fabrications in the story, you don't exactly know the truth, you can only infer. There's an element to personal storytelling that can't quite be reached with stories told from other perspectives.
ReplyDeleteGreat blogpost! Really good reflection regarding the concept of "knowledge is power". I think this concept really suits this work, not just in viewing its contents but also in critically examining the implications it entails. To answer your question, I believe you have complete power when personal storytelling; however, that doesn't necessarily equate to it being perceived by the listener 'in the way you intend'. You can tell your personal story in any way you want, but the listener also has considerable power in what they decide to believe or not believe.
ReplyDelete- Daniel C
Hi KD! Thanks for the blog post. I like what you had to say about “knowledge is power” and that she is able to keep her agency and control through keeping secrets. I can imagine how vulnerable it would feel to have the world read into your traumatic experiences, so by being able to keep a level of privacy, I feel like she is able to keep parts of her self protected. I also cannot imagine how it would feel to tell your story and then have criticisms come up saying that it is not true. I am curious where the truth lies… maybe somewhere between the both of them… maybe solely with Menchú. I feel like there is a lot of power being the act of personal storytelling due to the raw emotion that is held within it. Being able to choose what you say, and giving your first person perspective on it would leave you in total control of the details that get released.
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