Respond to the arguments different people voiced about "street lit" in the article we read in class. Remember to use textual evidence in your response!
Some of the arguments that people voiced in "Street Lit" were the fact that Blacks would come to accept the poverty and violence they live in as a reality and that some urban writers were falsifying information about Black communities to entertain Whites. In "Street lit" Black authors were criticized for the things they wrote about as such as drugs , guns and rape ,but they were seen as negative ways of the Black community instead of a way of enlightening the world like Blacks intended it to be. In the text it states ,"They accuse walker of serving up despicable stereotypes for the viewing pleasure of white people which echoes the scorn McMillian heaps on urban novels." This is one of many examples of how the Black authors of urban novels intentions of enlightening the World were twisted and turned into ignorant thoughts that were untrue.
I agree with Akilah. The main cause of the controversy in the article resulted from the different opinions on street literature. Some of the authors argued that their pieces of work inspired the African American population because the stories were so familiar to them. Other publishers and editors believe that these authors are degrading the African American community and forcing them to believe stereotypical information. "Urban fiction not only outsells classics by black authors ... But also popular genre fiction" (2). One group believes that this "street literature" is degrading and also taking away the spotlight of other work that can actually inspire people better then street literature can. Another group believes that street literature is favorable because it's authentic and readers can relate which will teach them a lesson. It's a way to simply escape the struggles around them. Clearly, street literature has brought forth wide ranged controversy.
In the story Pulp Princess with Street lit put in stores people didnt respond very well. I think that people didnt respond well because of the lauage that was put in the book or certain comments that were made in the book about the life of a young black women struggling how to live in her community. In the text it states " Hensley admits ,vciting heartfulbletters the chain has received pleading, "why are you putting these books out ?" Also " clearly however there is no lack of readers who relate". These quotes points out how the book Street lit is an example on how people may respond especially the white publishers who are picky on what they actually put out and how it may affect some customer views that shop in the store and report books like this that they may see. This all relates to how street lit caused arguments between people in the story Pulp princess.
Some of the different arguments people voiced about "street it" in the article were how it was the truth spoken about the African-American group were over killed. Authors who spoke on this topic were criticized about the way they explained there urban area explicitly on what they faced, such as gun, drugs extra. The argument were the fact these stories where filled with downgrading blacks nothing was uplifting about blacks just negativity. In Miasha case she felt her stories where all about the truth n felt it was meant to be heard, she says "You are not going to tell me that where I'm from what I've been through is not worth reading... writing has become the creative soul's unlikely conduit to fame and fortune... Students gosh over street lit for "keeping it real"...we begin to accept this as our truth", (Pulp Princess, Broyard). Even though they argued about the down grading they felt the stories did to the public about the African American group, the purpose of the stores were to explain the real part about what they faced in everyday life as a child in a cracked-infested neighborhood. Keeping it real with the public by writing about it was just her outlet of the poverty.
The ellipses in the quote don't make sense because you consolidate the opinions of several different people on both sides of the debate into one quote. This makes it impossible to justify your quote in your explanation and the response seems confused. 11/15
In the story Pulp Princess many people argued that it was mockery and stereotypical what it is like to live in an urban community. One of the authors Miasha was criticized for her tone and for her writing style. How she was very blunt, and she was describing the urban community in gritty terms. In the text it states, "Terry McMillan excoriated publishers of urban fiction for their exploitative, destructive, racist, egregious, sexist, base, tacky, poorly written, unedited, degrading books"(2). So he judged one of the authors on what urban fiction is generally written about. But, I agree most of what is talked about in these novels are what we see everyday. The books does justify the stereotypes. these books justify the stereotypes because it what people think living in urban communities are about. but truthfully, its not all true.
The beginning of this post is strong but your justification is confusing. It's unclear whether you are stating that these books are based on truth or stereotypes. 12/15
im not typing all that again so.... i would disagree with most of the negative statements against urban literature. urban literaure sets an outlet to people of races, ages, and backgrounds. the author states, " of course , im not miasha's target audience. i live in gentrified Brooklyn ; im older; and im not black." you dont have to be like the young black wild characters to connect and enjoy the writing. anyone can connect with the writing which is what its for. miasha wrote to get away from reality. her writing was an escape. for some people reading is their escape.
I'm sorry your response deleted. You raise a good point about the books being an escape. I would have liked to read the longer version but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt this one time. 12/15
An argument that was presented in "Street Lit" were that the black community has learn to accept the life they're living. Which is poverty and violence. Which came to believe that some black writers were making up things to sale and entertaining readers. To give urban areas a bad name. In the book, "Street Lit", black writers are being scold harshly because of the the wording used and topics being wrote about. Such as guns, and sex. The article states, "exploitative, destructive, racist, egregious, sexist, base, tacky, poorly written, unedited, degrading books" because the book doesn't appeal to white writers they believe it isn't a good writing peace because they cannot relate to it. Can be the reason why others dont see their writing as standard.
Pulp Princess proves that urban fiction is not good for readers. Urban fiction often tells the negative side of the African American community. It's describes "sex and drug slinging" which ultimately creates a "stereotypical vision of the black urban experience". Because urban fiction never tell the positive things that take place in the community, one will be under the impression that urban societies are a bad place, where only mischief happens. For this reason urban fiction is not good for readers because it continues to put the African American community in a bad light, which creates racial tension between people.
I disagree with the belief that urban novels only feed the stereotypes about black people and are only negative for the community. Urban novels can also stop most blacks from making bad decisions and feeding into the negative environment around them such as selling drugs. For instance Vickie Stringer wrote novels and it helped her to stop drug trafficking. The text states,"Vickie Stringer self-published a novel...while serving a seven-year sentence for drug trafficking...now Stringer has her own six figure." The urban novels helped Ms. Stringer become a better person. This was the same case for urban novel author Miasha who wrote urban novels to help get out of poverty and stop the cycle of blacks selling drugs in urban areas. Her stories do more than feed stereotypes they help others as well. The text says," Her message is literal. She wants to demonstrate the consequences of making bad choices, she says," I know so many people who have this mentality of hustling men" she says, shaking her head." Clearly, urban novels do portray a negative view of blacks. However, it portrays the true situations that blacks face. The urban novels not only portray the truth but they show how choices and other solutions can stop these bad situations in the black community from occurring. Therefore, urban novels were also positive because they teach blacks lessons and tries to stop the bad situations in the urban communities one book at a time.
In the short story "Pulp Princess" by Bliss Broyard people didn't seem to respond very well to books published about living in a poor black community. People didn't respond well because many thought that it portrayed an idea that being violent and living in poverty and being black was all negative. Many thought that these books was making it seem okay to commit crimes and be bias and racist , In the text it states , " Later , in a letter leaked on the Internet , best-selling author Terry McMillan excoriated publishers of urban fiction for their :exploitative , destructive , racist , egregious , sexist , base , tacky, poorly written , Unedited , degrading books " . Many people thought these books shouldn't have been considered "literature" because they didn't express literary elements as other articles did. These books was found to be degrading and didn't help black people image and portrayed blacks in a negative light.
The article Pulp Princess has many established authors and literary critics arguing that Urban Literature supports stereotypes and doesn't accurately depict the urban life of a Black American. Urban Literature is a African American dominated genre, and describes the social, economic, and culture of African Americans. "Yet black literary authors question whether ghetto fiction is anything like a faithful representation of living poor and black in urban America. Novelist and African literature professor Eisa Nefertari Ulen occasionally works with Brooklyn middle school kids, many of whom live in the projects...when she asks if they know people like those in the books, they draw a blank. And so does she...'[Urban Fiction] is a glamorization of black pathology, ' Ulen says, 'and we begin to accept this as our truth' (Ulen). Many literary artists such as Ulen believe that Urban Fiction fails to accurately depict the life of an African American living urban in America.
Urban fiction, also reffered to as street lit, is a genre much defined by the socio-economic realities and culture of its characters as the urban setting. In the passage of "Pulp Princess", they talk about how urban books by authors like Miesha, aren't helping the black,community. Novalist, Elisa Ulen says "Urnan fiction is a glamorization of black pathology,and we begin to accept this as our truth." Black literacy authors question wether ghetto fiction is anything like faithful representation of living poor and black urban America. Street lit is being looked as a negativity to help make black community look better.
In the text "Pulp princess" the author shows theme as literary element because through out the text he speaks of Miasha as being a self motivated person meaning the theme here is to be yourself and ignore peer pressure.In other words don't give in to the judgement of others. In the text High selling authors dislike Miasha's genre of literature which is street lit. Terry Mcmillan states," exploitative, destructive, racsist, egregious, sexist, base, tacky, poorly written, unedited, degrading books." This shows that these comments can be degrading to an author like Miasha, but referring back to the theme Miasha is her own artist and will not be bothered by these statements.
It's good that you tried to analyze literary elements, but since this is a nonfiction article, it doesn't really have a theme. The main idea is related to the ethics of publishing these books and less about Miasha's personal story. 12/15
In "Pulp Princess", some people said that people will accept the rough situation they live in when they read 'street lit'. Because people can relate to the author and her stories,they should be inspired to do greater things like she did. Miasha grew up with "two crack-addicted parents" and she had to "learn how to hustle to survive". She began writing to escape from her problems.Then, she got her writing published and has "book contracts totaling $400,000" and has met people like Jamie Foxx, Kanye West, and Jay-Z. People should be inspired by her life story because she did not accept the poverty and violence, but embraced it and made art out of it.
I don't think that anyone in the article argues, "that people will accept the rough situation they live in when they read 'street lit." However you do have a point about Miasha's inspiring story. 12/15
In "Pulp Princess" even though some authors may agree to the fact that expressing their life gets the attention of the audience who agrees with them because they have some similarities other authors feel as though telling their story doesn't have a point in their writing or their points are shown in the wrong way. For instance the author Miasha telling her life ad an African American growing up in Chicago her lessons was " to do what you have to do to get by". Miasha gets her attention through her fans because many poor urban African Americans have the same ambition but other authors feel as though stereotypes of races in this case Blacks shows a bad view on people. In the text it says, " yet black literary authors question whether ghetto fiction is anything like a faithful representation of living poor and black urban America". This qoute question black authors to write about their life stories and how it shows nothing but all blacks being poor with crime and violence but no positivity of how things are changing for blacks that other viewers may want to read.
Kristina In "Pulp Princess" many people had the arguement that street lit sends out the wrong message to its readers. In street lit its basically about stories of back people growing up in the rough streets. They do not hold back in anything whether its in language or actions or anything. They tell the honest truth and thats what most people have the problem with. In the text they describe their feelings by saying, " I felt as if i was walking into a pornography shop, except in this case the smut is being produced by and for my people, and itis called 'literature'." Later, in a letter leaked on the Internet, best selling author Tery McMillan excoriateed publishers of urban fiction for their "exploitative,destructive, racist, egregious, sexist, base, tacky, poorly wriiten, unedited, degrading books" ( Broyard). They are basicalaly saying that the books are so poorly wriiten and bad for the readers. That the image they are giving off is not good. They are not writing good literature they are writing raw bokoks that do not help the readers, but yet just gives them something to read for the minute that would in the end hurt them.
In the article "Pulp Princess" some people argued that "street lit" was presenting the stereotypes of African-Americans in urban communities. The "street lit" is seen to be a representation of living poor and black in urban America. According to the African literature prof. Elisa Nefertari Ulen, "[Urban Fiction] is a glamorization of black pathology, ... and we begin to accept this as our truth"(2). Basically she believes that the urban fiction books are depicting a negative view on our values and culture, and African Americans are starting to prove the stereotypes to be true.
In the article "Pulp Princess" involving "street lit" many people responded negatively towards it ;because of the front cover of the book and how it was protrayed with violence and the use of the language through out the book. People didn't understand why books of the urban fiction were on shelves of the book store. For example it states "With titles like Bitch Reloaded and Sistah for Sale and covers of scantily clad women and flashy cars, these books stand out in stores even beyond their disproportionate numbers to dismay of some customers,Hensley admits, citing the heartfelt letters the chain has received pleading, why are you putting these books out?". This explains how others and Hensley looked at "street lit" as something that shouldn't be showed to the world and thought that the book wasn't appropriate to customers .
In the article "Pulp Princess" by Bliss Broyard, the author expresses many different view points of hardcore urban books in the urban community. Writers of these books believed that they were teaching the urban community about what not to do in the streets, however other critics believed that this is doing more harm to the urban community.These hardcore urban books which has very strong language and very graphic details involves much violence, sex, and downfalls that is more likely to happen in low income communities such as urban areas. Urban authors such as Miasha says that in her books, "she want to demonstrate the consequences of making bad choices", however many readers to not take heed to this and as Novelist and African literature professor Eisa Nefertari stated "we begin to accept this [urban books] as our truth". Urban books are written by authors who point out the most downgrading acts in the urban community. With this, it is making communities believe that what they are reading is the reality of the world and thus many critics are against urban books in the urban community.
Response would be stronger if you focused your claim more. The justification " it is making communities believe that what they are reading is the reality of the world and thus many critics are against urban books in the urban community" is more specific and direct than your claim, which merely states that there are different view points. 12/15
In the article "Purpl Princess" by Bliss Broyard, the author had express his feeling towards urban books about the urban community. The writers of those books believe they are helping those who have lived in the urban area and not to turn to the streets, however other people think that is doing more harming then helping. The urban books discuss about violence, sex and downfalls that many people in the urban area have faced. These books have showed all the hardships that people in an urbanized place have gone through and the author believe that it could influenced them even more. The author of one of these books Miasha says, " You are not going to tell me that where I'm from and what I've been through is not worth reading" All Miasha want to do is tell people what she have been through and maybe they can relate and they wont have to go through things alone. It leave people knowing that they have something to turn to when things get hard being in their urban community.
In the article "Pulp Princess" Bliss Broyard gives his opinion on how urban literature can have an effect on other writers and the community of readers. Some other authors mentioned in the article say that urban literature is harmful and is terrible writing. Readers of urban literature who have a connection to these stories understand more where the author of these books are coming from. "She wants to demonstrate the consequences of making bad choices." Miasha an urban lit author wants people to understand the things in her life that help develop the topics in her books.
in the story " pulp Princess " street lit is a huge expression towards the urban community and african americans and how they feel towards violence etc. and they just wans to see how other people felt and if they felt like miasha of how she expressed her self in the story in the text it states that " miasha's bookas are engrossing i read through sitting in a borders - and she ahs a talent for creating surprising plot twist ... " meaning that misaha knows how things are because she experinced it and she she what other people faced and she can relaet so i think that this was a good idea for her write and express what other people are feeling and connecting back to urban communities.
Some of the arguements in the text are that; the author, Bliss Broyard, feels that books made about the urban community would be a negative depiction of the urban community. The author off the urban books would make a depiction of the people in the urban community. turning ot the streets and that would influence readers to do the same. "They accuse walker of serving up despicable stereotypes for the viewing pleasure of white people which echoes the scorn McMillian heaps on urban novels." This shows how the authors of the white community wouldnt want urban fiction to influrence it s readers, they dont want urban fiction to allow the sudents to turn to the streets. but the african american community feels that urban fiction is a depiction of their life and the sturggles they had to go through in their life to sussceed.
Urban fiction can be harmful to readers because it degrades African Americans. Literature is used to convey deeper meanings, stories as well as past experiences. However, the new hype “street lit” is proliferating rapidly, as well as crating controversy. Writing by mostly black authors, it tells stories of hood activities: crimes, prostitution, murder and scandal. However, these books do not benefit one, nor do they enrich one’s mind. Terry McMillan agrees that urban books are: “exploitative, destructive, racist…tacky poorly written, unedited and degrading books” (1). Composed of mostly illiteracy, it is written for black people; this is not literature, it is degrading. Though it is entertaining, it not literature: there are no symbolic meanings or motifs. Urban books continue to degrade blacks as a whole because it is only written about crime and scandal. African Americans are much more than drugs, murder, narcotics and scandal, they are capable of learning. Therefore, urban books are harmful to readers.
In the article, "Pulp Princess" the author expresses her opinion on how she feel about urban fiction, however I disagree that urban fiction is harmful to readers. Most of urban fiction books talk about the writer's experiences growing up and the struggles they faced and does involve things like violence, drugs, and sex and downfalls. These are the things that most teens will experience especially if they're growing up in a city that is full of these negative traits. Urban writer Miasha states how "she want to demonstrate the consequences of making bad choices". However, because of that, many critics take things in the negative direction of how urban is a negative influence and harmful. That's not the urban writers intentions to teach people to be violent etc; they are trying to teach them a lesson and save them from making the wrong mistakes in life.
In the article it was talking about how the urban fiction is causing traditional narration to be disrespected on a public level. Some artists believe that the urban fiction is causing people to lose sight of what real written work is in America. This is shown in the article we read clearly. In the text it states, "Terry McMillan exoriated publishers of urban fiction...their explotative, base, egregious, and tacky"(Page 2). This is showing how some athors belive that the urban fiction is very disrespectful to the common world of what writitng really is. THey were using some really strong language to explain how these authors are going agaisnst what wrting should be by including everyday personal issues.
"Street lit" that focuses on African Americans, by the African Americans is seen as negative to certain people. Some see it as negative because of how it is portrayed to the public. An author, Nick Chiles, who is also African American, claimed "I felt as if I was walking into a pornography shop; except in this case the smut is being produced by and for my people, and it is called 'literature'." Due to the coverings of the books, they seem more exploitive rather than based on intelligence, as other books are. He believes that this is negative since it isn't up to the standards that other literature is considered as. It isn't seen as beneficial even though some of the situations pertain to African Americans occasionally. Some people relate to it, but it isn't appreciated. It gives a "bad look" to the literature world. "Street lit" has been and always will be seen as negative.
I agree with the argument saying that street lit is bad for the community because it does not depict the life of an African American poor person. This fact is harmful to the community because people will eventually believe what they are reading. Novelist Eisa Nefertari asked kids about the books and they are liked because they keep it real and she concluded that " urban fiction is a glamorization of of black pathology and we begin to accept this as our truth".In other words she is saying that the books are not accurate because what the students said they said that they Cannot fully relate to it therefor the book is inaccurate but the black community is believing this this is harmful because the black community is misguided.
some of the arguments that people voiced about the author (Miasha's) was that she talked about bad things which could possibly influence the reader. Miasha's talked about drugs and crimes. some people argue that because she is black she only talk about negative things that African Americans did instead of shining the light on some of the good things they accomplished. she also argued that there was noting inspirational about they pieces. she didn't end with a positive outcome which could be assumed as a negative view on the reader.
Meaning of "she didn't end with a positive outcome which could be assumed as a negative view on the reader" is unclear. She is doing well in her personal life, so what negative outcome are you referring to? Also you are missing text evidence. 8/15
I agree with the established African American authors about Urban Literature being harmful. This type of work discredits the established African American authors. They have went to college and stayed up countless nights editing and rewriting their work until it was finally perfect. While Urban Fiction authors are writing these books without editing, revising or even rereading their work, just to "get out of the hood". One established African American author named Terry McMillan commented on the "destructive, racist, egregious, sexist, base, tacky, poorly written, unedited, degrading" nature of the Urban literature books. This is just the opinion of one African American author, but he isn't the only one who feels this way. I completely agree with him on the books being poorly written and it truly saddens me to see how Urban literature is outselling the classics.
I think I somewhat agree and disagree with the established African-American authors, about Urban Literature being categorize as 'street lit'. The reason why I somewhat agree because, in a way 'street lit' kind of diminshes the respect that African-Americans authors try to obtain through their literature. But writing Urban literature that has derogatory language, violence, non self-respect, and creates stereotypes about the African-American community can cause the majority of the reading audience to feel that African-Americans are only violent, unintelligent, arogant, and rude. I understand that the African-American authors want to bring out the goodness of the African-American community, by showing that we don't just have men who only deal drugs or women who only partake in prostitution like how black men and women are characterize in Urban literature. But the African-American authors want to show the storyline of more real and powerful African-American people that others can connect to. Like, an intelligent black girl who struggles with being an honors student trying to get out the 'hood'. Or a strong black independent mother struggling with living a life of a single parent. But the reason why I also disagree with the established African American authors that think that Urban literature's upcoming author: Miasha is destroying the success of the African-American community today is because she's only telling the truth of the African-American community's hardships. For example in the text it states, "Growing up , all the couple's friends, everyone she and Rich knew, had the same goal: to escape. For the boys, the favored route was dealing drugs;for girls, it was attaching themselves with guys who dealt drugs". This was all Miasha knew while growing up so this was what she wanted to write about to let her audience know African-Americans struggle.
One of the arguments that were expressed in "Street Lit" was that urban literature depicts African Americans negatively. Many urban literature publishers are constatnly ridiculed because their texts are writen graphically and provocative. In the article on page 2 it states, "Later, in a letter leaked on the Internet, best-selling authour Terry McMillan excoriated publishers of urban fiction for their "exploitative, destructive, racist, egregious, sexist, base, tacky, poorly written, unedited, degrading books." Many critiques have found several problems with urban literature because they feel as thought they degrade African Americans and they lower the standards of african americans.
Through out the text "Pulp Princess" many authors expressed their personal arguments towards whether they was against or for street literacy.Street literacy is a type of genre that audience are predominately African Americans. I agreed with the fact that street literacy is filled with sex and explicit scenes that are being expose to African Americans of all ages.Blacks are picking up a book that exposes porn in words rather then visually. Terry McMillan states, " I felt as if I was walking into a pornography shop, except in this case the smut is being produced for my people, and it is called literacy". McMillan argues that Blacks are reading graphic scenes that does't represents a person's ability to read or write. He feels as though blacks are being sold useless books thats exposing them to nudity.
In the article Pulp Princess there were many agreements and disagreements that authors had about 'street lit'. Street literacy is a genre African Americans write that shows how it is living in a urban community. Some may say 'street lit' only talk about sex and violence, but I disagree with anyone who believe that. I feel that 'street lit' expresses the struggle African Americans face and how they fight to maintain stable. Miasha states, "Writing allowed me to get out all the pain and emotion of what I was going through, without embarrassment or judgment". This is coming from a African American girl who had both parents addicted to drugs and had to be moved in with her aunt. Miasha used writing to relieve her pain and stress because she was going through hard times at a young age. On the other hand I see why some authors say that 'street lit' is to extreme for readers because they think it is stereotyping the African American race.
I think that urban literature is not harmful to society because by people reading urban literature it's gives them a vision of how people who have no other choice or way to survive in the ghettos. Having the authors writes these books for all audience can show the perseverance the characters have in getting away and make a better life for themselves too. The author says how certain things about the urban literature can be questioned based on what they write about too. " Yet black literary authors questioned whether ghetto fiction is anything like faithful representation of living poor black in urban America." This justify how that the authors and their books they write help the reader have a mindset that they can have on a urban area.
One argument that Pulp Princess argues is that Black literature is helpful to young troubled American Americans. In the text, one of the authors Miasha struggled with her life. Going from school to school, was Miasha's life. Unable to behave herself when living with her mother, Miasha moves with her aunt. After moving into her aunt's house, Miasha started behaving better due to her starting to write urban literature. Miasha says, " Writing allowed me to get out all the pain and emotion of what I was going through, without embarrassment or judgment" (3) This quote shows that Miasha's writing helped her get her life together. Without Urban literature, Miasha's life would have been totally different then it was. Tianna David
in the article " street lit " is considered as a way to write how they feel about there community . In this story Miasha was using writing as a way to help her express her feelings because her life wasnt easy at all. Street lit is also considered as to being urban ficition.Urban ficition was be protrayed as being for african americans to be ghetto and talk about violence but it wasnt .This was talking about the struggles that this poor girl had been threw but all the sterotypes that are going on is making people not see how urban ficition is not a bad thing to talk about . In the textt it states Urban ficition is a glamorization of pathology , this is people thats trying to bring miasha down once again but she continues try and defend her self .It states " you are not going to tell me where im from .." miasha is bascially saying shes tired of hearing other peoples oppinion she knew by writing theses stoires was good for her. Good thing is she went to live with her father and began to enjoy a normal childhood that she always wanted
Somewhat misread the article. When you say, "all the sterotypes that are going on is making people not see how urban ficition is not a bad thing to talk about ." it is unclear and confusing. How are these stereotypes "going on"? 10/15
I do and I don't agree with the author saying that urban novels project stereotypes about the urban communities. Authors who right urban novels always right about specific events that occur in reality of urban communities. In most books it is the same event just slightly different. I disagree because authors write about their experiences and they project it into the public. So, its based on true stories. Even though it may sound like a stereotype. On the other I agree with author concerning "street lit" because in most urban communities, their are countless of depending on government support but not everyone, so you can not assume in every urban communities everybody depends on government assistance. But with authors who have not experience what it feels like to live in an urban community it sounds very stereotypical. In this portion of the article it saying how authors can create certain events to make urban novels seem better, without actually experiences them;it was kind of offensive because when people are reading it makes it seem like everyone s like that and its not true. It says, "and she has a talent for creating surprising plot twist and sympathetic characters, but after a prolonged ride through her fictional world i felt deafened, like I'd stayed up all night watching a Cops marathon on TV" (Paragraph 4). Its evident that this review because it used a simile to compare its feeling towards most urban novels. The show cops is an unrealistic display of how people are arrested and yes that show is a incorrect display of how people are arrested. Therefore, I am in between on the authors idea of "street lit" in urban novels.
I disagree Ulen's comment that "[Urban fiction] is a glamorization of black pathology." I think most urban fiction stories can be grim and scary anecdotes. The line in Miasha's "Street Lit" says, "I'm gonna kill you right in front of ya little boyfriend, and then I'm gonna kill him!...Pop! Pop!" This gruesome line doesn't look like something you would call glamorous. Urban fiction is made up of harsh narratives that can bring fear and nightmares to the readers, which is opposite from glamorous, which means lovely or enchanting.
I agree that 'Street Lit' projects black stereotypes, all the characters in street lit almost always have a drug problem and are living a criminal lifestyle, which isn't necessarily true for everyone growing up in the slums. In the text it says "while..students gush over street lit for "keeping it real," when [Eisa ] if they know people like types in the books, they draw a blank" (Broyard). Urban literature is glorification of black violence and pathology, by selling books like this it brings down black people because of the content of the books, in the text it also says "Nick Chiles recalls encountering row upon row of urban fiction at a Borders: " I felt as if I was walking into a pornography shop, except in this case the smut is being produced by and for my people, and it's called " literature."
You should provide more explanation of these quotes in your own words. Don't end a response with a quote -- always justify/explain it and how it supports your point. 12/15
I agree that "Street Lit" projects a negative light on the black community and black people that grew up in those black communities.Within "Street Lit", it talks about women and how they are incapable of depending on themselves in order to get ahead in life and instead as stated, "use men to keep themselves in Marc Jacobs handbags, Dior minidresses, and Range Rovers...have the mentality of hustling men". This corrupts the view many people have of black women and also adds on to the stereotypical belief many have of black women because not only do it show they cannot anything on their own , but it may prove that black women are sneaky and untrustworthy and only want for themselves.
Established African American authors and literary critics see work like Miasha's as inappropriate. They say that Miasha's work and those like it are too sexual. A literary author named Nick Ciles commented on going through an urban fiction section. He expressed, " I felt as if I was walking into a pornography shop, except in this case the smut is being produced by and for my people, and it is called 'literature'." People like Nick Chiles believe that urban fiction like Miasha's work is to raunchy and inappropriate to be called literature.
Good summary of this particular criticism, but your analysis doesn't discuss the full breadth and scope of the entire article (just a piece -- not the main idea) 13/15
Through "Pulp Princess", I've learned by those expressing their thoughts in the passage of how black authors tend to write about poverty, crime, and sexuality in an attempt to attract a white audience. One author in particular's, Miasha, writing is seen as inappropriate and provocative. Her writing depicts strong examples of sexuality and vulgar behavior and language. Her writing makes its audience believe certain stereotypes of the black community as Novelist and American literature professor Eisa Nefertari Ulen points out.. "[Urban Fiction] is a glamorization of black pathology," Ulen Says, "and we begin to accept this as our truth"(10). People within the American society begin to believe the stereotypes against black people because of books and authors like this who only write about such negative things in which the only people who may be able to relate are impoverished black people living in America. Professor Ulen believes that Urban Fiction is being dragged down into a genre that has no good depiction of the black community and is also becoming a genre that only tells tales of sex, crime/drugs, and poverty.
In the text " Street Lit" the author expresses many arguments speaking about different sterotypes that are towards african american people. I dont agree with any of the arguments that were expressed throughout this article because those sterotypes were looking down on certain races and it said somethings that didnt apply to all African Americans. One African American author spoke about how he thinks that urban fiction was just ghetto fiction and that it degraded women in a lot of ways. But that author has to respect that some African Americans have came a long way and they have expirenced a lot of hardships and then the author is not understading that people actually go through those personal struggles. Which is why is disagree with every statement that he said about urban fiction.
Your argument doesn't make sense. If he is saying the work degrades African American women, he wants to uplift and respect them, and he is not necessarily overlooking the hardships they've endured. I think you misread the article. 9/15
In the article that we read in class many people didn't seem to think that street literature was a very beneficial type of writing. in fact many critics thought that the writing was very stereotypical and expressed a type of writing that was un called for in the African American community. The article says, "Black literary authors question whether ghetto fiction is anything like a faithful representation of living poor and black in urban America". the other authors thought that this writing was a sort of an insult to the rest of them. the writing carried much more profanity as well as vulgar depictions of stories, which was thought to downplay the meaning of the books and all books like it a bad name in all. the stereotypes of the ghetto writing was what more established African American writers were trying to stay away from as they reached their audience. the established writers believed this kind of work to be on some level even inappropriate.
In "Street Lit" eone of the arguments that were expressed was that urban literature depicts African Americans negatively. I disagree with that statement. "Street Lit" was not was sterotyping black people. I honestly think that "Street Lit" was just telling the true side some struggling African Americans. Not ever African American grew up in poverty, but the ones that did they want people to here their stories. In the text it says "students gush over street lit for "keeping it real," that's basically what it is. Everybody starts to look at African Americans as sex, drugs and crimes, but that's not that there's to know about Africans Americans. Before other look at a urban fiction as a "black pathology" think about it as a cry for help. It's just people telling their struggle.
In "Pulp Princess", many individuals have there different opinions about urban fiction. One person being Eisa Nefertari Ulen, an African literature professor and novelist. She says, "[Urban fiction] is a glamorization of black pathology...and we begin to accept this as our truth". I disagree with Ms. Ulen's statement. I think that Urban fiction sheds light on events from a person's life. They aren't suppose to pretain to all African Americans. Also, it is fiction. It isn't fact. It is written to entertain and not to inform.
In the article, " Street Lit" many arguments were stated whether or not the production and selling of urban fiction is justified. An African professor named Eisa Nefertari Ulen states, " [Urban Fiction] is a glamorization of black pathology...and we begin to accept this as our truth". I do agree with this statement that many urban books are exaggerated and may seem true but doesn't really happen all the time. Urban fiction may seem as a fantasy book because some of the stories can be outrageous and unrelatable. I see Miasha point in how these books can help but however most of these stories is not always true and what really happen.
An argument made in Pulp Princess is that people shouldn't be ashamed of where they come from because many others can relate. It was mentioned that Miasha wasn't as comfortable living her childhood life because no one "she knew wanted to admit that they or their families were messing with drugs" . Writing was her outlet . It was her way to vent, and because of her, alot of people also are influenced. She stands as a voice for people who aren't yet ready to accept their fate. Yeah, it might "glamorize", but "accepting [her experiences] as our truth" is healthy. Accepting is the next step it takes to living life. Once one accepts, they can understand that they have nothing to do with their families, they can make the best of their life on their own,which is what black people fail to realize today.
I think that urban fiction books are not good for people because they are using bad language and violence. This is bad because people are becoming adapted to the language that is used in the books. The bad language will begin to mess up the people's communication. The violence in the books will teach people how to be violent and follow what they see in the books. This effects my community because there is so much violence happening. In the article it states, "Later, in a letter leaked on the Internet, best-selling author Terry McMillan excoriated publishers of urban fiction for their "exploitative, destructive, racist, egregious, sexist, base, tacky, poorly written, unedited, degrading books," (Broyard, 2). This quote is saying that people in our community are adapted to the problems in the books and how people speak by using curses and slang. It is bad because the violence is making people suffer in our community and the books are promoting violence.
In the article Pulp Princess the author explains how many African American authors argue that "street lit" literature shouldn't be written because they expose more than they should. Many say that it allows stereotypes to be proven with the experiences they share in their stories. In the text Miasha believes she should be able to have people connect with her who have experienced similar situations as her. The passage states, "I'm trying to be a household name... a substantial person in the entertainment industry, a Tyler Perry or Will and Jada" (1). She has goals she is willing to achieve. If one has a set mindset and the route to it doesn't greatly impact someone else then they should be allowed to go for it. She wants to become someone in life regardless of her struggles to get there. She wants to get there with sharing her experiences and I agree with her. If she's comfortable with sharing then she should. She wouldnt be lying so if people are amazed by her stories they'll probably be able to stop other African Americans from experiencing the same.
"They expose more than they should," is too vague. What exactly are they exposing? Your claim doesn't match the rest of the response which talks about Miasha's determination. 11/15
The arguments people voiced about ''Street Lit'' is that people are viewing the book as not an ordinary good book to read. Others view urban fiction books as something you can relate too, '' Yet black literary authors question whether ghetto fiction is anything like a faithful representation of living poor and black in urban America. I feel as though if you relate to what you're reading especially if you're black or a different race & the book stands out towards you then the book is a '' faithful book''. Since the author is black and people view or go by stereotypes then they are going to assume that every black person story is getting out of the hood and having a bad pass. That's not always the case, in the passage it says '' You are not going to tell me that where I'm from and what I've been through isn't worth reading.'' It's saying what the narrator been through isn't up to par with the other books in the stores but at the end of the day the story has a vid point .
Claim is unclear so most of this response is unfocused. You provide a decent summary, but the paragraph would be better if you took a clear stand on the topic and tried to argue your opinion. 12/15
Some of the arguments that people voiced in "Street Lit" were the fact that Blacks would come to accept the poverty and violence they live in as a reality and that some urban writers were falsifying information about Black communities to entertain Whites. In "Street lit" Black authors were criticized for the things they wrote about as such as drugs , guns and rape ,but they were seen as negative ways of the Black community instead of a way of enlightening the world like Blacks intended it to be. In the text it states ,"They accuse walker of serving up despicable stereotypes for the viewing pleasure of white people which echoes the scorn McMillian heaps on urban novels." This is one of many examples of how the Black authors of urban novels intentions of enlightening the World were twisted and turned into ignorant thoughts that were untrue.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Akilah. The main cause of the controversy in the article resulted from the different opinions on street literature. Some of the authors argued that their pieces of work inspired the African American population because the stories were so familiar to them. Other publishers and editors believe that these authors are degrading the African American community and forcing them to believe stereotypical information. "Urban fiction not only outsells classics by black authors ... But also popular genre fiction" (2). One group believes that this "street literature" is degrading and also taking away the spotlight of other work that can actually inspire people better then street literature can. Another group believes that street literature is favorable because it's authentic and readers can relate which will teach them a lesson. It's a way to simply escape the struggles around them. Clearly, street literature has brought forth wide ranged controversy.
DeleteAkilah: your claims are strong, but your quote doesn't support it because it is taken out of context. The quote is not talking about
DeleteAn urban fiction author but an artist they are comparing her to. Because of this, your justification is unclear. 11/15
DeleteZaniyah: good, clear, understanding of the different perspectives in the article. 15/15
DeleteIn the story Pulp Princess with Street lit put in stores people didnt respond very well. I think that people didnt respond well because of the lauage that was put in the book or certain comments that were made in the book about the life of a young black women struggling how to live in her community. In the text it states " Hensley admits ,vciting heartfulbletters the chain has received pleading, "why are you putting these books out ?" Also " clearly however there is no lack of readers who relate". These quotes points out how the book Street lit is an example on how people may respond especially the white publishers who are picky on what they actually put out and how it may affect some customer views that shop in the store and report books like this that they may see. This all relates to how street lit caused arguments between people in the story Pulp princess.
ReplyDeleteThis post shows a limited understanding
DeleteOf the text and has frequent errors in spelling, punctuation, and grammar that make it difficult to comprehend. 9/15
DeleteSome of the different arguments people voiced about "street it" in the article were how it was the truth spoken about the African-American group were over killed. Authors who spoke on this topic were criticized about the way they explained there urban area explicitly on what they faced, such as gun, drugs extra. The argument were the fact these stories where filled with downgrading blacks nothing was uplifting about blacks just negativity. In Miasha case she felt her stories where all about the truth n felt it was meant to be heard, she says "You are not going to tell me that where I'm from what I've been through is not worth reading... writing has become the creative soul's unlikely conduit to fame and fortune... Students gosh over street lit for "keeping it real"...we begin to accept this as our truth", (Pulp Princess, Broyard). Even though they argued about the down grading they felt the stories did to the public about the African American group, the purpose of the stores were to explain the real part about what they faced in everyday life as a child in a cracked-infested neighborhood. Keeping it real with the public by writing about it was just her outlet of the poverty.
ReplyDeleteThe ellipses in the quote don't make sense because you consolidate the opinions of several different people on both sides of the debate into one quote. This makes it impossible to justify your quote in your explanation and the response seems confused. 11/15
Deletei just typed this long paragraph and it went away -__-
ReplyDeleteIn the story Pulp Princess many people argued that it was mockery and stereotypical what it is like to live in an urban community. One of the authors Miasha was criticized for her tone and for her writing style. How she was very blunt, and she was describing the urban community in gritty terms. In the text it states, "Terry McMillan excoriated publishers of urban fiction for their exploitative, destructive, racist, egregious, sexist, base, tacky, poorly written, unedited, degrading books"(2). So he judged one of the authors on what urban fiction is generally written about. But, I agree most of what is talked about in these novels are what we see everyday. The books does justify the stereotypes. these books justify the stereotypes because it what people think living in urban communities are about. but truthfully, its not all true.
ReplyDeleteThe beginning of this post is strong but your justification is confusing. It's unclear whether you are stating that these books are based on truth or stereotypes. 12/15
Deleteim not typing all that again so....
ReplyDeletei would disagree with most of the negative statements against urban literature. urban literaure sets an outlet to people of races, ages, and backgrounds. the author states, " of course , im not miasha's target audience. i live in gentrified Brooklyn ; im older; and im not black." you dont have to be like the young black wild characters to connect and enjoy the writing. anyone can connect with the writing which is what its for. miasha wrote to get away from reality. her writing was an escape. for some people reading is their escape.
I'm sorry your response deleted. You raise a good point about the books being an escape. I would have liked to read the longer version but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt this one time. 12/15
DeleteAn argument that was presented in "Street Lit" were that the black community has learn to accept the life they're living. Which is poverty and violence. Which came to believe that some black writers were making up things to sale and entertaining readers. To give urban areas a bad name. In the book, "Street Lit", black writers are being scold harshly because of the the wording used and topics being wrote about. Such as guns, and sex. The article states, "exploitative, destructive, racist, egregious, sexist, base, tacky, poorly written, unedited, degrading books" because the book doesn't appeal to white writers they believe it isn't a good writing peace because they cannot relate to it. Can be the reason why others dont see their writing as standard.
ReplyDeleteIt appears you misunderstood the text. The points you raise aren't expressed in the article. There are also frequent errors
Delete9/12
DeletePulp Princess proves that urban fiction is not good for readers. Urban fiction often tells the negative side of the African American community. It's describes "sex and drug slinging" which ultimately creates a "stereotypical vision of the black urban experience". Because urban fiction never tell the positive things that take place in the community, one will be under the impression that urban societies are a bad place, where only mischief happens. For this reason urban fiction is not good for readers because it continues to put the African American community in a bad light, which creates racial tension between people.
ReplyDeleteGood job blending the quotes into your paragraph. Strong, clear response! 14/15
DeleteI disagree with the belief that urban novels only feed the stereotypes about black people and are only negative for the community. Urban novels can also stop most blacks from making bad decisions and feeding into the negative environment around them such as selling drugs. For instance Vickie Stringer wrote novels and it helped her to stop drug trafficking. The text states,"Vickie Stringer self-published a novel...while serving a seven-year sentence for drug trafficking...now Stringer has her own six figure." The urban novels helped Ms. Stringer become a better person. This was the same case for urban novel author Miasha who wrote urban novels to help get out of poverty and stop the cycle of blacks selling drugs in urban areas. Her stories do more than feed stereotypes they help others as well. The text says," Her message is literal. She wants to demonstrate the consequences of making bad choices, she says," I know so many people who have this mentality of hustling men" she says, shaking her head." Clearly, urban novels do portray a negative view of blacks. However, it portrays the true situations that blacks face. The urban novels not only portray the truth but they show how choices and other solutions can stop these bad situations in the black community from occurring. Therefore, urban novels were also positive because they teach blacks lessons and tries to stop the bad situations in the urban communities one book at a time.
ReplyDeleteExcellent response! Clear and persuasive. 15/15
DeleteIn the short story "Pulp Princess" by Bliss Broyard people didn't seem to respond very well to books published about living in a poor black community. People didn't respond well because many thought that it portrayed an idea that being violent and living in poverty and being black was all negative. Many thought that these books was making it seem okay to commit crimes and be bias and racist , In the text it states , " Later , in a letter leaked on the Internet , best-selling author Terry McMillan excoriated publishers of urban fiction for their :exploitative , destructive , racist , egregious , sexist , base , tacky, poorly written , Unedited , degrading books " . Many people thought these books shouldn't have been considered "literature" because they didn't express literary elements as other articles did. These books was found to be degrading and didn't help black people image and portrayed blacks in a negative light.
ReplyDeleteGood summary of the criticism described by the novel. Small grammatical and punctuation errors that don't impede comprehension. 13/15
DeleteJasmine Wills
ReplyDeleteThe article Pulp Princess has many established authors and literary critics arguing that Urban Literature supports stereotypes and doesn't accurately depict the urban life of a Black American. Urban Literature is a African American dominated genre, and describes the social, economic, and culture of African Americans. "Yet black literary authors question whether ghetto fiction is anything like a faithful representation of living poor and black in urban America. Novelist and African literature professor Eisa Nefertari Ulen occasionally works with Brooklyn middle school kids, many of whom live in the projects...when she asks if they know people like those in the books, they draw a blank. And so does she...'[Urban Fiction] is a glamorization of black pathology, ' Ulen says, 'and we begin to accept this as our truth' (Ulen). Many literary artists such as Ulen believe that Urban Fiction fails to accurately depict the life of an African American living urban in America.
Your context, claim and evidence are strong but your justification does not adequately explain the quote. 12/15
DeleteUrban fiction, also reffered to as street lit, is a genre much defined by the socio-economic realities and culture of its characters as the urban setting. In the passage of "Pulp Princess", they talk about how urban books by authors like Miesha, aren't helping the black,community. Novalist, Elisa Ulen says "Urnan fiction is a glamorization of black pathology,and we begin to accept this as our truth." Black literacy authors question wether ghetto fiction is anything like faithful representation of living poor and black urban America. Street lit is being looked as a negativity to help make black community look better.
ReplyDeleteYou don't adequately justify the quote and your claim is unclear due to grammatical errors. 11/15
DeleteIn the text "Pulp princess" the author shows theme as literary element because through out the text he speaks of Miasha as being a self motivated person meaning the theme here is to be yourself and ignore peer pressure.In other words don't give in to the judgement of others. In the text High selling authors dislike Miasha's genre of literature which is street lit. Terry Mcmillan states," exploitative, destructive, racsist, egregious, sexist, base, tacky, poorly written, unedited, degrading books." This shows that these comments can be degrading to an author like Miasha, but referring back to the theme Miasha is her own artist and will not be bothered by these statements.
ReplyDeleteIt's good that you tried to analyze literary elements, but since this is a nonfiction article, it doesn't really have a theme. The main idea is related to the ethics of publishing these books and less about Miasha's personal story. 12/15
DeleteIn "Pulp Princess", some people said that people will accept the rough situation they live in when they read 'street lit'. Because people can relate to the author and her stories,they should be inspired to do greater things like she did. Miasha grew up with "two crack-addicted parents" and she had to "learn how to hustle to survive". She began writing to escape from her problems.Then, she got her writing published and has "book contracts totaling $400,000" and has met people like Jamie Foxx, Kanye West, and Jay-Z. People should be inspired by her life story because she did not accept the poverty and violence, but embraced it and made art out of it.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that anyone in the article argues, "that people will accept the rough situation they live in when they read 'street lit." However you do have a point about Miasha's inspiring story. 12/15
DeleteIn "Pulp Princess" even though some authors may agree to the fact that expressing their life gets the attention of the audience who agrees with them because they have some similarities other authors feel as though telling their story doesn't have a point in their writing or their points are shown in the wrong way. For instance the author Miasha telling her life ad an African American growing up in Chicago her lessons was " to do what you have to do to get by". Miasha gets her attention through her fans because many poor urban African Americans have the same ambition but other authors feel as though stereotypes of races in this case Blacks shows a bad view on people. In the text it says, " yet black literary authors question whether ghetto fiction is anything like a faithful representation of living poor and black urban America". This qoute question black authors to write about their life stories and how it shows nothing but all blacks being poor with crime and violence but no positivity of how things are changing for blacks that other viewers may want to read.
ReplyDeleteClaim is a run-on and confusing. When your claim is confusing it weakens the entire response. 9/15
DeleteKristina
ReplyDeleteIn "Pulp Princess" many people had the arguement that street lit sends out the wrong message to its readers. In street lit its basically about stories of back people growing up in the rough streets. They do not hold back in anything whether its in language or actions or anything. They tell the honest truth and thats what most people have the problem with. In the text they describe their feelings by saying, " I felt as if i was walking into a pornography shop, except in this case the smut is being produced by and for my people, and itis called 'literature'." Later, in a letter leaked on the Internet, best selling author Tery McMillan excoriateed publishers of urban fiction for their "exploitative,destructive, racist, egregious, sexist, base, tacky, poorly wriiten, unedited, degrading books" ( Broyard). They are basicalaly saying that the books are so poorly wriiten and bad for the readers. That the image they are giving off is not good. They are not writing good literature they are writing raw bokoks that do not help the readers, but yet just gives them something to read for the minute that would in the end hurt them.
This response would be stronger if you explained your opinion on the debate. 13/15
DeleteIn the article "Pulp Princess" some people argued that "street lit" was presenting the stereotypes of African-Americans in urban communities. The "street lit" is seen to be a representation of living poor and black in urban America. According to the African literature prof. Elisa Nefertari Ulen, "[Urban Fiction] is a glamorization of black pathology, ... and we begin to accept this as our truth"(2). Basically she believes that the urban fiction books are depicting a negative view on our values and culture, and African Americans are starting to prove the stereotypes to be true.
ReplyDeleteWhat's negative about it? Why? Do you agree/disagree? Needs more development. 11/15
DeleteIn the article "Pulp Princess" involving "street lit" many people responded negatively towards it ;because of the front cover of the book and how it was protrayed with violence and the use of the language through out the book. People didn't understand why books of the urban fiction were on shelves of the book store. For example it states "With titles like Bitch Reloaded and Sistah for Sale and covers of scantily clad women and flashy cars, these books stand out in stores even beyond their disproportionate numbers to dismay of some customers,Hensley admits, citing the heartfelt letters the chain has received pleading, why are you putting these books out?". This explains how others and Hensley looked at "street lit" as something that shouldn't be showed to the world and thought that the book wasn't appropriate to customers .
ReplyDeleteWhat are their complaints about it? Your justification is rushed. 11/15
DeleteIn the article "Pulp Princess" by Bliss Broyard, the author expresses many different view points of hardcore urban books in the urban community. Writers of these books believed that they were teaching the urban community about what not to do in the streets, however other critics believed that this is doing more harm to the urban community.These hardcore urban books which has very strong language and very graphic details involves much violence, sex, and downfalls that is more likely to happen in low income communities such as urban areas. Urban authors such as Miasha says that in her books, "she want to demonstrate the consequences of making bad choices", however many readers to not take heed to this and as Novelist and African literature professor Eisa Nefertari stated "we begin to accept this [urban books] as our truth". Urban books are written by authors who point out the most downgrading acts in the urban community. With this, it is making communities believe that what they are reading is the reality of the world and thus many critics are against urban books in the urban community.
ReplyDeleteResponse would be stronger if you focused your claim more. The justification " it is making communities believe that what they are reading is the reality of the world and thus many critics are against urban books in the urban community" is more specific and direct than your claim, which merely states that there are different view points. 12/15
DeleteIn the article "Purpl Princess" by Bliss Broyard, the author had express his feeling towards urban books about the urban community. The writers of those books believe they are helping those who have lived in the urban area and not to turn to the streets, however other people think that is doing more harming then helping. The urban books discuss about violence, sex and downfalls that many people in the urban area have faced. These books have showed all the hardships that people in an urbanized place have gone through and the author believe that it could influenced them even more. The author of one of these books Miasha says, " You are not going to tell me that where I'm from and what I've been through is not worth reading" All Miasha want to do is tell people what she have been through and maybe they can relate and they wont have to go through things alone. It leave people knowing that they have something to turn to when things get hard being in their urban community.
ReplyDeleteStill some errors in grammar and spelling but your thoughts are clear and accurate. 13/15
DeleteIn the article "Pulp Princess" Bliss Broyard gives his opinion on how urban literature can have an effect on other writers and the community of readers. Some other authors mentioned in the article say that urban literature is harmful and is terrible writing. Readers of urban literature who have a connection to these stories understand more where the author of these books are coming from. "She wants to demonstrate the consequences of making bad choices." Miasha an urban lit author wants people to understand the things in her life that help develop the topics in her books.
ReplyDeleteResponse doesn't match claim. The author states her opinion very subtly and mostly discusses the opinions of others. 12/15
Deletein the story " pulp Princess " street lit is a huge expression towards the urban community and african americans and how they feel towards violence etc. and they just wans to see how other people felt and if they felt like miasha of how she expressed her self in the story in the text it states that " miasha's bookas are engrossing i read through sitting in a borders - and she ahs a talent for creating surprising plot twist ... " meaning that misaha knows how things are because she experinced it and she she what other people faced and she can relaet so i think that this was a good idea for her write and express what other people are feeling and connecting back to urban communities.
ReplyDeletePlease rewrite. 5/15
DeleteSome of the arguements in the text are that; the author, Bliss Broyard, feels that books made about the urban community would be a negative depiction of the urban community. The author off the urban books would make a depiction of the people in the urban community. turning ot the streets and that would influence readers to do the same. "They accuse walker of serving up despicable stereotypes for the viewing pleasure of white people which echoes the scorn McMillian heaps on urban novels." This shows how the authors of the white community wouldnt want urban fiction to influrence it s readers, they dont want urban fiction to allow the sudents to turn to the streets. but the african american community feels that urban fiction is a depiction of their life and the sturggles they had to go through in their life to sussceed.
ReplyDeleteYour explanation doesn't match the quote. Misunderstanding about how race comes into play. 11/15
DeleteUrban fiction can be harmful to readers because it degrades African Americans. Literature is used to convey deeper meanings, stories as well as past experiences. However, the new hype “street lit” is proliferating rapidly, as well as crating controversy. Writing by mostly black authors, it tells stories of hood activities: crimes, prostitution, murder and scandal. However, these books do not benefit one, nor do they enrich one’s mind. Terry McMillan agrees that urban books are: “exploitative, destructive, racist…tacky poorly written, unedited and degrading books” (1). Composed of mostly illiteracy, it is written for black people; this is not literature, it is degrading. Though it is entertaining, it not literature: there are no symbolic meanings or motifs. Urban books continue to degrade blacks as a whole because it is only written about crime and scandal. African Americans are much more than drugs, murder, narcotics and scandal, they are capable of learning. Therefore, urban books are harmful to readers.
ReplyDeleteIn the article, "Pulp Princess" the author expresses her opinion on how she feel about urban fiction, however I disagree that urban fiction is harmful to readers. Most of urban fiction books talk about the writer's experiences growing up and the struggles they faced and does involve things like violence, drugs, and sex and downfalls. These are the things that most teens will experience especially if they're growing up in a city that is full of these negative traits. Urban writer Miasha states how "she want to demonstrate the consequences of making bad choices". However, because of that, many critics take things in the negative direction of how urban is a negative influence and harmful. That's not the urban writers intentions to teach people to be violent etc; they are trying to teach them a lesson and save them from making the wrong mistakes in life.
DeleteAbby: good focused and specific claim. You explain your opinion directly. 14/15
DeleteShaakirah: also strong, well-stated opinion 14/15
Roderick C:
ReplyDeleteIn the article it was talking about how the urban fiction is causing traditional narration to be disrespected on a public level. Some artists believe that the urban fiction is causing people to lose sight of what real written work is in America. This is shown in the article we read clearly. In the text it states, "Terry McMillan exoriated publishers of urban fiction...their explotative, base, egregious, and tacky"(Page 2). This is showing how some athors belive that the urban fiction is very disrespectful to the common world of what writitng really is. THey were using some really strong language to explain how these authors are going agaisnst what wrting should be by including everyday personal issues.
Claim confusing because of errors in word choice. Why is it disrespectful? 12/15
DeleteTYEISHA H:
ReplyDelete"Street lit" that focuses on African Americans, by the African Americans is seen as negative to certain people. Some see it as negative because of how it is portrayed to the public. An author, Nick Chiles, who is also African American, claimed "I felt as if I was walking into a pornography shop; except in this case the smut is being produced by and for my people, and it is called 'literature'." Due to the coverings of the books, they seem more exploitive rather than based on intelligence, as other books are. He believes that this is negative since it isn't up to the standards that other literature is considered as. It isn't seen as beneficial even though some of the situations pertain to African Americans occasionally. Some people relate to it, but it isn't appreciated. It gives a "bad look" to the literature world. "Street lit" has been and always will be seen as negative.
14/15
DeleteSHAKIIM HL:
ReplyDeleteI agree with the argument saying that street lit is bad for the community because it does not depict the life of an African American poor person. This fact is harmful to the community because people will eventually believe what they are reading. Novelist Eisa Nefertari asked kids about the books and they are liked because they keep it real and she concluded that " urban fiction is a glamorization of of black pathology and we begin to accept this as our truth".In other words she is saying that the books are not accurate because what the students said they said that they Cannot fully relate to it therefor the book is inaccurate but the black community is believing this this is harmful because the black community is misguided.
Ashlei Daniels
ReplyDeleteblog post
2/24/14
some of the arguments that people voiced about the author (Miasha's) was that she talked about bad things which could possibly influence the reader. Miasha's talked about drugs and crimes. some people argue that because she is black she only talk about negative things that African Americans did instead of shining the light on some of the good things they accomplished. she also argued that there was noting inspirational about they pieces. she didn't end with a positive outcome which could be assumed as a negative view on the reader.
Meaning of "she didn't end with a positive outcome which could be assumed as a negative view on the reader" is unclear. She is doing well in her personal life, so what negative outcome are you referring to? Also you are missing text evidence. 8/15
DeleteI agree with the established African American authors about Urban Literature being harmful. This type of work discredits the established African American authors. They have went to college and stayed up countless nights editing and rewriting their work until it was finally perfect. While Urban Fiction authors are writing these books without editing, revising or even rereading their work, just to "get out of the hood". One established African American author named Terry McMillan commented on the "destructive, racist, egregious, sexist, base, tacky, poorly written, unedited, degrading" nature of the Urban literature books. This is just the opinion of one African American author, but he isn't the only one who feels this way. I completely agree with him on the books being poorly written and it truly saddens me to see how Urban literature is outselling the classics.
ReplyDeleteGood points. 14/15
DeleteI think I somewhat agree and disagree with the established African-American authors, about Urban Literature being categorize as 'street lit'. The reason why I somewhat agree because, in a way 'street lit' kind of diminshes the respect that African-Americans authors try to obtain through their literature. But writing Urban literature that has derogatory language, violence, non self-respect, and creates stereotypes about the African-American community can cause the majority of the reading audience to feel that African-Americans are only violent, unintelligent, arogant, and rude. I understand that the African-American authors want to bring out the goodness of the African-American community, by showing that we don't just have men who only deal drugs or women who only partake in prostitution like how black men and women are characterize in Urban literature. But the African-American authors want to show the storyline of more real and powerful African-American people that others can connect to. Like, an intelligent black girl who struggles with being an honors student trying to get out the 'hood'. Or a strong black independent mother struggling with living a life of a single parent. But the reason why I also disagree with the established African American authors that think that Urban literature's upcoming author: Miasha is destroying the success of the African-American community today is because she's only telling the truth of the African-American community's hardships. For example in the text it states, "Growing up , all the couple's friends, everyone she and Rich knew, had the same goal: to escape. For the boys, the favored route was dealing drugs;for girls, it was attaching themselves with guys who dealt drugs". This was all Miasha knew while growing up so this was what she wanted to write about to let her audience know African-Americans struggle.
ReplyDeleteNuanced response. 15/15
DeleteOne of the arguments that were expressed in "Street Lit" was that urban literature depicts African Americans negatively. Many urban literature publishers are constatnly ridiculed because their texts are writen graphically and provocative. In the article on page 2 it states, "Later, in a letter leaked on the Internet, best-selling authour Terry McMillan excoriated publishers of urban fiction for their "exploitative, destructive, racist, egregious, sexist, base, tacky, poorly written, unedited, degrading books." Many critiques have found several problems with urban literature because they feel as thought they degrade African Americans and they lower the standards of african americans.
ReplyDeleteResponse would have been stronger if you gave your opinion. Decent summary of arguments. 12/15
DeleteThrough out the text "Pulp Princess" many authors expressed their personal arguments towards whether they was against or for street literacy.Street literacy is a type of genre that audience are predominately African Americans. I agreed with the fact that street literacy is filled with sex and explicit scenes that are being expose to African Americans of all ages.Blacks are picking up a book that exposes porn in words rather then visually. Terry McMillan states, " I felt as if I was walking into a pornography shop, except in this case the smut is being produced for my people, and it is called literacy". McMillan argues that Blacks are reading graphic scenes that does't represents a person's ability to read or write. He feels as though blacks are being sold useless books thats exposing them to nudity.
ReplyDeleteStreet literature, not "literacy." Some errors in word choice make this response hard to follow. 11/15
DeleteIn the article Pulp Princess there were many agreements and disagreements that authors had about 'street lit'. Street literacy is a genre African Americans write that shows how it is living in a urban community. Some may say 'street lit' only talk about sex and violence, but I disagree with anyone who believe that. I feel that 'street lit' expresses the struggle African Americans face and how they fight to maintain stable. Miasha states, "Writing allowed me to get out all the pain and emotion of what I was going through, without embarrassment or judgment". This is coming from a African American girl who had both parents addicted to drugs and had to be moved in with her aunt. Miasha used writing to relieve her pain and stress because she was going through hard times at a young age. On the other hand I see why some authors say that 'street lit' is to extreme for readers because they think it is stereotyping the African American race.
ReplyDeleteGood analysis. 14/15
DeleteALVIN
ReplyDeleteI think that urban literature is not harmful to society because by people reading urban literature it's gives them a vision of how people who have no other choice or way to survive in the ghettos. Having the authors writes these books for all audience can show the perseverance the characters have in getting away and make a better life for themselves too. The author says how certain things about the urban literature can be questioned based on what they write about too. " Yet black literary authors questioned whether ghetto fiction is anything like faithful representation of living poor black in urban America." This justify how that the authors and their books they write help the reader have a mindset that they can have on a urban area.
Your justification doesn't match the quote (misunderstanding). 12/15
DeleteOne argument that Pulp Princess argues is that Black literature is helpful to young troubled American Americans. In the text, one of the authors Miasha struggled with her life. Going from school to school, was Miasha's life. Unable to behave herself when living with her mother, Miasha moves with her aunt. After moving into her aunt's house, Miasha started behaving better due to her starting to write urban literature. Miasha says, " Writing allowed me to get out all the pain and emotion of what I was going through, without embarrassment or judgment" (3) This quote shows that Miasha's writing helped her get her life together. Without Urban literature, Miasha's life would have been totally different then it was.
ReplyDeleteTianna David
Misses the main point of the article, but decent analysis of subpoint. 12/15
DeleteMisses main idea but decent analysis of a subpoint. 12/15
Deletein the article " street lit " is considered as a way to write how they feel about there community . In this story Miasha was using writing as a way to help her express her feelings because her life wasnt easy at all. Street lit is also considered as to being urban ficition.Urban ficition was be protrayed as being for african americans to be ghetto and talk about violence but it wasnt .This was talking about the struggles that this poor girl had been threw but all the sterotypes that are going on is making people not see how urban ficition is not a bad thing to talk about . In the textt it states Urban ficition is a glamorization of pathology , this is people thats trying to bring miasha down once again but she continues try and defend her self .It states " you are not going to tell me where im from .." miasha is bascially saying shes tired of hearing other peoples oppinion she knew by writing theses stoires was good for her. Good thing is she went to live with her father and began to enjoy a normal childhood that she always wanted
ReplyDeleteSomewhat misread the article. When you say, "all the sterotypes that are going on is making people not see how urban ficition is not a bad thing to talk about ." it is unclear and confusing. How are these stereotypes "going on"? 10/15
DeleteI do and I don't agree with the author saying that urban novels project stereotypes about the urban communities. Authors who right urban novels always right about specific events that occur in reality of urban communities. In most books it is the same event just slightly different. I disagree because authors write about their experiences and they project it into the public. So, its based on true stories. Even though it may sound like a stereotype. On the other I agree with author concerning "street lit" because in most urban communities, their are countless of depending on government support but not everyone, so you can not assume in every urban communities everybody depends on government assistance. But with authors who have not experience what it feels like to live in an urban community it sounds very stereotypical. In this portion of the article it saying how authors can create certain events to make urban novels seem better, without actually experiences them;it was kind of offensive because when people are reading it makes it seem like everyone s like that and its not true. It says, "and she has a talent for creating surprising plot twist and sympathetic characters, but after a prolonged ride through her fictional world i felt deafened, like I'd stayed up all night watching a Cops marathon on TV" (Paragraph 4). Its evident that this review because it used a simile to compare its feeling towards most urban novels. The show cops is an unrealistic display of how people are arrested and yes that show is a incorrect display of how people are arrested. Therefore, I am in between on the authors idea of "street lit" in urban novels.
ReplyDeleteGood nuanced response to a complicated article. 13/15
DeleteCorrection: 14/15
DeleteI disagree Ulen's comment that "[Urban fiction] is a glamorization of black pathology." I think most urban fiction stories can be grim and scary anecdotes. The line in Miasha's "Street Lit" says, "I'm gonna kill you right in front of ya little boyfriend, and then I'm gonna kill him!...Pop! Pop!" This gruesome line doesn't look like something you would call glamorous. Urban fiction is made up of harsh narratives that can bring fear and nightmares to the readers, which is opposite from glamorous, which means lovely or enchanting.
ReplyDeleteYou're focusing on a minor point and overlooking the larger main idea. 12/15
DeleteI agree that 'Street Lit' projects black stereotypes, all the characters in street lit almost always have a drug problem and are living a criminal lifestyle, which isn't necessarily true for everyone growing up in the slums. In the text it says "while..students gush over street lit for "keeping it real," when [Eisa ] if they know people like types in the books, they draw a blank" (Broyard). Urban literature is glorification of black violence and pathology, by selling books like this it brings down black people because of the content of the books, in the text it also says "Nick Chiles recalls encountering row upon row of urban fiction at a Borders: " I felt as if I was walking into a pornography shop, except in this case the smut is being produced by and for my people, and it's called " literature."
ReplyDeleteYou should provide more explanation of these quotes in your own words. Don't end a response with a quote -- always justify/explain it and how it supports your point. 12/15
DeleteI agree that "Street Lit" projects a negative light on the black community and black people that grew up in those black communities.Within "Street Lit", it talks about women and how they are incapable of depending on themselves in order to get ahead in life and instead as stated, "use men to keep themselves in Marc Jacobs handbags, Dior minidresses, and Range Rovers...have the mentality of hustling men". This corrupts the view many people have of black women and also adds on to the stereotypical belief many have of black women because not only do it show they cannot anything on their own , but it may prove that black women are sneaky and untrustworthy and only want for themselves.
ReplyDeleteGood job taking a stand on the article and giving a thorough, convincing example to prove your point. 14/15
DeleteEstablished African American authors and literary critics see work like Miasha's as inappropriate. They say that Miasha's work and those like it are too sexual. A literary author named Nick Ciles commented on going through an urban fiction section. He expressed, " I felt as if I was walking into a pornography shop, except in this case the smut is being produced by and for my people, and it is called 'literature'." People like Nick Chiles believe that urban fiction like Miasha's work is to raunchy and inappropriate to be called literature.
ReplyDeleteGood summary of this particular criticism, but your analysis doesn't discuss the full breadth and scope of the entire article (just a piece -- not the main idea) 13/15
DeleteThrough "Pulp Princess", I've learned by those expressing their thoughts in the passage of how black authors tend to write about poverty, crime, and sexuality in an attempt to attract a white audience. One author in particular's, Miasha, writing is seen as inappropriate and provocative. Her writing depicts strong examples of sexuality and vulgar behavior and language. Her writing makes its audience believe certain stereotypes of the black community as Novelist and American literature professor Eisa Nefertari Ulen points out.. "[Urban Fiction] is a glamorization of black pathology," Ulen Says, "and we begin to accept this as our truth"(10). People within the American society begin to believe the stereotypes against black people because of books and authors like this who only write about such negative things in which the only people who may be able to relate are impoverished black people living in America. Professor Ulen believes that Urban Fiction is being dragged down into a genre that has no good depiction of the black community and is also becoming a genre that only tells tales of sex, crime/drugs, and poverty.
ReplyDeleteGood summary of critics' arguments. 14/15
DeleteIn the text " Street Lit" the author expresses many arguments speaking about different sterotypes that are towards african american people. I dont agree with any of the arguments that were expressed throughout this article because those sterotypes were looking down on certain races and it said somethings that didnt apply to all African Americans. One African American author spoke about how he thinks that urban fiction was just ghetto fiction and that it degraded women in a lot of ways. But that author has to respect that some African Americans have came a long way and they have expirenced a lot of hardships and then the author is not understading that people actually go through those personal struggles. Which is why is disagree with every statement that he said about urban fiction.
ReplyDeleteYour argument doesn't make sense. If he is saying the work degrades African American women, he wants to uplift and respect them, and he is not necessarily overlooking the hardships they've endured. I think you misread the article. 9/15
DeleteIn the article that we read in class many people didn't seem to think that street literature was a very beneficial type of writing. in fact many critics thought that the writing was very stereotypical and expressed a type of writing that was un called for in the African American community. The article says, "Black literary authors question whether ghetto fiction is anything like a faithful representation of living poor and black in urban America". the other authors thought that this writing was a sort of an insult to the rest of them. the writing carried much more profanity as well as vulgar depictions of stories, which was thought to downplay the meaning of the books and all books like it a bad name in all. the stereotypes of the ghetto writing was what more established African American writers were trying to stay away from as they reached their audience. the established writers believed this kind of work to be on some level even inappropriate.
ReplyDelete-Saieder Ankrah
Good summary of the critics' arguments. Please proofread for errors in spelling/grammar/punctuation/capitalization. 13/15
DeleteIn "Street Lit" eone of the arguments that were expressed was that urban literature depicts African Americans negatively. I disagree with that statement. "Street Lit" was not was sterotyping black people. I honestly think that "Street Lit" was just telling the true side some struggling African Americans. Not ever African American grew up in poverty, but the ones that did they want people to here their stories. In the text it says "students gush over street lit for "keeping it real," that's basically what it is. Everybody starts to look at African Americans as sex, drugs and crimes, but that's not that there's to know about Africans Americans. Before other look at a urban fiction as a "black pathology" think about it as a cry for help. It's just people telling their struggle.
ReplyDeleteMANY typos. Please proofread. 11/15
DeleteIn "Pulp Princess", many individuals have there different opinions about urban fiction. One person being Eisa Nefertari Ulen, an African literature professor and novelist. She says, "[Urban fiction] is a glamorization of black pathology...and we begin to accept this as our truth". I disagree with Ms. Ulen's statement. I think that Urban fiction sheds light on events from a person's life. They aren't suppose to pretain to all African Americans. Also, it is fiction. It isn't fact. It is written to entertain and not to inform.
ReplyDeleteYou should explain her quote in order to disprove it. Your refutation is not very convincing because it is too rushed and undeveloped. 12/15
DeleteIn the article, " Street Lit" many arguments were stated whether or not the production and selling of urban fiction is justified. An African professor named Eisa Nefertari Ulen states, " [Urban Fiction] is a glamorization of black pathology...and we begin to accept this as our truth". I do agree with this statement that many urban books are exaggerated and may seem true but doesn't really happen all the time. Urban fiction may seem as a fantasy book because some of the stories can be outrageous and unrelatable. I see Miasha point in how these books can help but however most of these stories is not always true and what really happen.
ReplyDeleteClear and concise response. You could have developed the point about the stereotypical nature of the books a bit more for full credit. 14/15
DeleteJAQUAYAH W:
ReplyDeleteAn argument made in Pulp Princess is that people shouldn't be ashamed of where they come from because many others can relate. It was mentioned that Miasha wasn't as comfortable living her childhood life because no one "she knew wanted to admit that they or their families were messing with drugs" . Writing was her outlet . It was her way to vent, and because of her, alot of people also are influenced. She stands as a voice for people who aren't yet ready to accept their fate. Yeah, it might "glamorize", but "accepting [her experiences] as our truth" is healthy. Accepting is the next step it takes to living life. Once one accepts, they can understand that they have nothing to do with their families, they can make the best of their life on their own,which is what black people fail to realize today.
Good job taking a stand on the article instead of providing a repetitive summary. 15/15
DeleteI think that urban fiction books are not good for people because they are using bad language and violence. This is bad because people are becoming adapted to the language that is used in the books. The bad language will begin to mess up the people's communication. The violence in the books will teach people how to be violent and follow what they see in the books. This effects my community because there is so much violence happening. In the article it states, "Later, in a letter leaked on the Internet, best-selling author Terry McMillan excoriated publishers of urban fiction for their "exploitative, destructive, racist, egregious, sexist, base, tacky, poorly written, unedited, degrading books," (Broyard, 2). This quote is saying that people in our community are adapted to the problems in the books and how people speak by using curses and slang. It is bad because the violence is making people suffer in our community and the books are promoting violence.
ReplyDeleteCompleted with Ms. Love in office hours. 15/15
DeleteIn the article Pulp Princess the author explains how many African American authors argue that "street lit" literature shouldn't be written because they expose more than they should. Many say that it allows stereotypes to be proven with the experiences they share in their stories. In the text Miasha believes she should be able to have people connect with her who have experienced similar situations as her. The passage states, "I'm trying to be a household name... a substantial person in the entertainment industry, a Tyler Perry or Will and Jada" (1). She has goals she is willing to achieve. If one has a set mindset and the route to it doesn't greatly impact someone else then they should be allowed to go for it. She wants to become someone in life regardless of her struggles to get there. She wants to get there with sharing her experiences and I agree with her. If she's comfortable with sharing then she should. She wouldnt be lying so if people are amazed by her stories they'll probably be able to stop other African Americans from experiencing the same.
ReplyDelete"They expose more than they should," is too vague. What exactly are they exposing? Your claim doesn't match the rest of the response which talks about Miasha's determination. 11/15
DeleteRASHAD:
ReplyDeleteThe arguments people voiced about ''Street Lit'' is that people are viewing the book as not an ordinary good book to read. Others view urban fiction books as something you can relate too, '' Yet black literary authors question whether ghetto fiction is anything like a faithful representation of living poor and black in urban America. I feel as though if you relate to what you're reading especially if you're black or a different race & the book stands out towards you then the book is a '' faithful book''. Since the author is black and people view or go by stereotypes then they are going to assume that every black person story is getting out of the hood and having a bad pass. That's not always the case, in the passage it says '' You are not going to tell me that where I'm from and what I've been through isn't worth reading.'' It's saying what the narrator been through isn't up to par with the other books in the stores but at the end of the day the story has a vid point .
Claim is unclear so most of this response is unfocused. You provide a decent summary, but the paragraph would be better if you took a clear stand on the topic and tried to argue your opinion. 12/15
ReplyDelete