Storytelling and Identity - Fall 2023

we are made of stories

Prep Note – 9/7/2023

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On September 7, 2023

In Javier, prep note

The novel “Writing Our Way Out” – is definitely a different kind of book than the kind that I am traditionally used to. My usual genre of books tends to be Fantasy, and while they may have dark themes or elements, or graphic scenes- there comes a level of profoundness and also seriousness and tension that arises when it is framed in a sense of a “biography” or “memoir.” Knowing all of their stories, to the current point, makes one think about how at large, it isn’t so commonplace for majority of people’s lives, but for many, it is. Even harder for others.

I’ve been fortunate to have had an environment where I’ve been able to be free of the struggles that they experience. But the overlap in their stories, whether it be struggle in family lives, violence, substance abuse, sexual harassment, and “the streets” – its striking because many of their experiences occur in their YOUTH for the most part. Every day was a fight or struggle, even if they didn’t realize it or not. Even if they were blind or “throwing” themselves into it similar to the fishbowl analogy. Even if they caught themselves up in “embracing” the lifestyle.

I did find interesting, was Dave’s stance through it all. He asks them eye opening questions that really promotes self-reflection in a way that many of them comment upon having never been touched upon. “You’re the only person whose asked that…” “Never thought about that before…” – and the extent to which Dave goes in order to keep in contact and meet with them, even as they are pulled in different directions adds an impressive layer of commitment. Each of the Prisoner has their own stories, and while they aren’t exactly trying to justify their actions- they are trying to open people’s eyes and also not only turn their own lives, but also the lives of others around. Some of them embrace this novel-writing story with full throttle, while others take their time in coming around.

Prep Note 09-07-23

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On September 7, 2023

In Brice, prep note, Uncategorized

Although I expected this book to address the crimes and actions of the convicts, I was surprised to hear the men’s stories from their childhood.  After the first half of reading this book, I realized that social structures and environments are almost certainly determining factors into how peoples lives develop. Prevalent issues such as divorce, drug use, lack of a nuclear family, and emotional/physical abuse had a life changing impact on the lives of the storytellers.  For most of the convicts, the struggle to belong to a tight-knit family unit was the origin of emotional trauma.  As a result of emotional distress, these men took advantage of poor coping mechanisms in their environment, such as drugs, prostitution and crime.

When it comes to storytelling, this book unveils the high degree to which storytelling allows people to self reflect on their lives.  As the book progressed and the convicts continued to share their stories they became more open with David Coogan as well as themselves.

Prep Note 09/07

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On September 7, 2023

In Julia, prep note

Going into this book, I didn’t know what to expect about the stories from these men. I knew some of them would be hard to digest, as all of them turned out to be, but I did not anticipate the severity of the long lasting effects that each incident (or incidents) had on all of the men. Story after story, I felt the repetition in their lives. I noticed patterns and themes they all had in common: lack of a parental figure, traumatizing upbringing, sexual abuse, early encounters with (hard) drugs, etc.. I also found myself unable to relate to any of the experiences they wrote of. I could only visualize aspects of what I have seen portrayed in the media. What genuinely brought me back to reality was the ages of each of the men when they experienced such traumatic events. I read many things about trying drugs, having sex, etc., and the men would end it by saying “and I was only 10 years old,” or some age around that.

Another aspect of this novel that I’ve appreciated thus far is that we don’t know who is convicted of what. I don’t have preconceived notions of any of these men. I feel as though I am able to listen to their stories more intently without judgment. Personally, I cannot imagine being in a situation where I was constantly berated, left with no self-esteem, and just no one who believed in me.

Having the images of the men, and of Dr. Coogan on the back of the novel helped me visualize the conversations between everyone, especially in the prison chapel. I’m not done with the book, but I believe that everyone should read it, or something like it, in order to gain some insight on life in prison and the stigmas that surround prisoners.

Prep 9/7

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On September 7, 2023

In Haven, prep note

A few very distinct thoughts have struck me as I’ve read the first part of this book.

First, how normal the men seemed. Because the book included their words and actions while they were in the room with Dr. Coogan, as well as their stories of how each of them got to that point, I was able to become invested in them very early on. The stories they told were about their past, but their interactions with Dr. Coogan and each other kind of gave me a sense for the people that those experiences built in the present. It was remarkable to me that they were able to be funny, to consistently have profound and deep insights, when all of them had experienced what 90% of the people I grew up with would label “trauma,” or “abuse.” This brings me to my second thought…

Second, how different their lives were than mine. I know that if any of those experiences (finding their dead mother, being abandoned at a young age, growing up in a single-parent household, an abusive household, or both) had happened to me, I would not have been able to handle it. All of those men lived in a completely different world than the one I grew up in. And when all of those gut-wrenching (to me) events happened, those men were only children. And yet, they survived. They carved out lives for themselves, and yes – more often than not they were centered around illegal or dangerous activity. Yes – those paths eventually landed all of them in prison. But their resilience, and the way they responded and adapted to harrowing events, and so much abuse and uncertainty, made me respect them so much. I’m not saying I approve of all of their choices, but frankly, I am in awe of the fact that they endured so much – and thought they hadn’t dealt with much out of the ordinary. They casually mentioned events that would have been some of the most traumatic in my (fairly sheltered) life.

A quick sidenote: It could be interesting to connect the Memory article to these men and their childhoods. I wonder which “stories” (not necessarily happily-ever-after stories, but just the ideas they were taught in general) they were told as young children? I remember multiple said that it wasn’t an option not to love/support/be proud of/almost worship their mother (it seemed like a no-brainer to them), even though at least one was physically abusive and multiple neglected their children. I bet we could look at how those self-stories could have impacted the creation of their identities.

And third (fourth?), how prepared and observant Dr. Coogan was. It seemed like he was almost watching the conversation like a therapist, waiting for someone to say something that hinted at a deeper meaning, and then instantly seizing on it and digging deep into it to help the men really reflect on themselves, their experiences, and their lives as a whole. His purpose was to help them understand themselves and their lives. That purpose was adopted and absorbed by the men in the class, and that meant that they wouldn’t let their comments be misunderstood either. That prompted them to further try to explain their thoughts/feelings, and eventually, that process would lead to somebody saying a sentence that just struck a chord with all of them, or maybe got to the root of everything they were discussing. Once again, it was remarkable to read about, but I don’t know if those realizations would have occurred without Dr. Coogan creating an environment conducive to self-exploration and reflection.

Prep Note 9/7/23

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On September 6, 2023

In kristine, prep note

I have enjoyed reading “Writing Our Way Out” because of the storytelling aspect of the book. At first, I was confused what this would be about, and later I wondered how the introduction of the writing class would transition to the ex-offenders’ stories. I like how David Coogan tells the story of how the writing class came to be and then seamlessly introduces each person’s story into the narrative. The stories are by far the most interesting part for me. Reading about lives that are vastly different from mine really opens up my eyes to what some people were born into and how that can affect how their lives play out. In many stories, family members and other people they knew heavily influenced their life outcomes in awful ways, which I found to be very disturbing. From sexual assault to physical and verbal abuse, every one of their stories had me empathizing with them and wondering what it would have been like if I had been born into such a life. I really admire how these people were so genuine and dedicated to this writing project that they were comfortable enough to have them published. Something else I appreciated was the portraits of all the contributors on the back of the book. Whenever I read books, I focus less on the descriptions and more on the dialogue. In this instance however, I wanted to view these people as real humans with real stories, so seeing their faces really helped me see the humanity in them. In the latter parts of the book, I hope we find out what happens to these people after they are released back into the world and if this project helped them in any way.

Prep Note 9/7

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On September 6, 2023

In prep note, Will S

I think that “Writing Our Way Out” is a really powerful book that has a bunch of emotional weight. The stories that the book contains are beautiful because they toe the line between being really tragic and somewhat up-lifting. The stories are sometimes really hard to read, with harsh subject matter and descriptions of traumatic events, but when you consider the people behind the writing, you can see how each person if really working to improve themselves.

One of the things that struck me the most about the narratives in the book was how young all the writers were when they first started going down a bad path. In the stories, kids as young as eleven or twelve years old were committing crimes and risking their lives on a daily basis. I think this is a perfect example of why it’s so important to experience stories like these. Not just because the process of writing and reflecting is therapeutic for the authors, which is of course a fantastic benefit, but because the publication of these stories helps educate the people that read them about some of the fundamental problems in our society.

Prep Note for 9/7/23

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On September 6, 2023

In Kaylee, prep note

“Writing Our Way Out” has been a great read so far. Coogan is a volunteer from Virginia who works with incarcerated men in a writing workshop. He went into the class with a plan and specific idea but quickly realized how hard it is to truly plan for a project like this. He worked with the men on their writing and invited them to tell their truth. He helps the men explore their childhood, family relations, and where they grew up. He wanted the men to dive deep into themselves in order to truly learn how they ended up in prison and in whatever situations they found themselves in. This book is great so far, but it is definitely a hard read. When some of the men talked about the things they went through and how they were treated, it made me sick to my stomach. It’s obvious that things the men experienced led them down the path they ended up on, and as the reader it makes you wonder what could have been different. Some of the stories are heartbreaking, and they truly humanize the men. Often, people in prison are disregarded in society and seen simply as criminals. These memoirs help show that these are real people with feelings and stories. 

Response to Class Notes – 9/5/2023

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On September 5, 2023

In Daily Class Notes, Wesley

https://blog.richmond.edu/storytelling2023/

Today’s class began with a focus on reviewing our prep notes, emphasizing the significance of reflection and self-improvement. One student shared an effective method for daily mood reflection, involving self-assessment through a series of questions and ratings on a scale of one to ten. Professor Dolson then underscored the importance of maintaining self-notes and recommended creating Google documents for this purpose. These private notes serve as objective observations rather than judgment. “the act of writing is an act of thinking,” as Professor Dolson aptly stated.

After this initial reflection, our attention shifted to the Memory article. We embarked on an exploration into its origins and purpose. We searched the meaning of “Chronicle Higher Education” and discerned that Britt Peterson authored the article driven by his personal interests and expertise in the field. The content of the article draws from psychological scientific research.

This led to a broader discussion on how our memories play a pivotal role in shaping our identities, as Professor Dolson highlighted, “we become partly who we think of ourselves, influenced by how we’ve learned to integrate those memories.” During this discussion, a student shared their earliest memory—an endearing recollection of his dog protecting him by catching a bee when he were three years old. Professor Dolson contributed her own early memory, recounting an incident involving the police visiting due to a chemical spill. These anecdotes brought to the forefront the role of fear in enhancing memory formation. Professor Dolson aptly summarized the essence of memory, emphasizing that it possesses context and is not merely a collection of facts but rather a collection of narratives.

The class then delved into an exploration of long-term and short-term memory. One student posited that the duration of memory storage depends on various parts of the brain, while another student, drawing on psychological knowledge from high school, noted that long-term memory can retain information permanently, whereas short-term memory people can only remember for a period of time.

Then, we were introduced to the work of Polly Wiessner, an anthropology professor at the University of Utah, through the article “Firelight.” The article illuminates how the absence of light around a fire can serve as a catalyst for storytelling. It liberates storytellers from the constraints of judgment because listeners can’t easily notice facial expressions. This sparks our curiosity about the intricate role stories play in connecting individuals across distances. Stories, we learned, are not just narratives; they are a means of cultural transmission, allowing us to understand our societal roles.

9/5/2023 – Class Notes

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On September 5, 2023

In Daily Class Notes

Today, we started by looking at some of our Prep Notes. Note: the personal assignments and pieces that we create for the class won’t be posted on the blog.

Journaling and portfolio keeping both have elements of reflection (the writing itself is reflecting on an experience). By the time we look back at an experience, we can’t get back to what we thought before an experience. The best way to capture that feeling is to record it in the moment (recommends a self-check-in once a week to see how we’re feeling in the course).

As you are writing a draft for an assignment, do not just revise in the same document. Save the first draft as a separate document from the revised version!

We have two spaces to consider: the blog (our group space), and our personal space. “Artifacts” for the portfolio can come from both spaces. Everything we consider in our reflections must be accompanied by evidence (our own writing from either the blog or a personal folder).

For some people, the act of putting words to the page is the act of thinking, so just writing your thoughts down in your private space can be useful.

Reach out and support your peers – we’re here to learn from each other, and we can’t do that unless we’re all present and engaged.

Regarding the articles we read for today:

Memory is a spectrum of emotions, how people react to a situation (memories have context, feelings). The feeling of the article was more interpretive, less scientific. The author adds to the meaning of the writing (in this case, Britt Peterson). We can also see when the article was published (June 2014). It talks about other writings, so it’s more of an “article” instead of a “journal article.” The author is important to the piece, but so is the publisher. The publication is The Chronicle of Higher Education, and the word “chronicle” implies a record of something through time, or a timeline. Looking at the mission statement, and the humans behind the company, can help us understand why these people would want to publish the article (audience, purpose, etc.). The purpose of the publishers can often be tied to the the purpose of the article itself. Peterson’s goal was to make a starting point for faculty and students by giving an overview of some of Fivush’s and Bauer’s research. Both were psychologists, but it’s not necessarily written for other psychologists (more of a general audience).

Parents can have a real influence on which memories their children are developing (asking open-ended questions more than yes-or-no questions), but also how they learn to process memories. The stories they tell themselves become essential to their perception of their identities.

Children are not turnips in a car seat! They have opinions, they sing, they talk to their parents, etc.

Asked to think about our earliest memories – themes can be fear, or protection, but the memory has context. Can be very visual (i.e. the house surrounding us, the people in the space). Another element of memory: experiences that have been “put away” in a certain way. The difference between long-term and short-term memory is how quickly you can retrieve the experience.

How do memories get from short-term to long-term?

Firelight article: Deborah Netburn, 2014, the LA Times (what does it mean to be a news outlet today?). The journal article is by Polly Wiessner, an anthropology professor at the University of Utah, and her work was highlighted by an editorial board. Her work was based on conversations between tribespeople which she recorded at day and at night. The group of bushmen are among the last societies that are still primarily hunter-gatherers, so anthropologists use them to connect to old hunter-gatherer societies.

Firelight has a biological impact on people’s ability to tell stories. For instance, the lack of light takes away a barrier of worrying what others will think, because people’s faces can’t be seen as easily. Stories serve the function of connecting people across great distances (and even across time). It was a way to place themselves in other places, as well as communicate societal/cultural norms to their audiences. Telling stories around a fire allows people to pass down cultural knowledge to a new generation.

How might life be different if there was a story connected to every element of life, and those stories were shared every night with a group that you’re building your community with?

Prep 9/5

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On September 5, 2023

In Haven, Uncategorized

I thought the Portfolio Keeping book was really interesting. One of my favorite quotes was about the importance of “keepers.” Lighthouse keepers, secret keepers, and portfolio keepers all have the responsibility to keep watch over the things they’re entrusted with. As the keepers of our own portfolios, we almost give ourselves the responsibility to take good care of our work. No matter which kind of portfolio we choose to create, we have to treat our work with respect. Acknowledging the shortcomings of previous pieces is absolutely necessary, but it also probably shouldn’t be a scathing critique. Whatever self-examination and reflection we do, I think it’s important to realize that early pieces, however cringe-worthy they may seem now, were our best work back when we wrote them, and we still owe the work, and our past selves, a certain amount of respect.

The memory article reminded me of something I’ve heard: “If you want to get a good picture of someone, ask them about how they were born.” Nobody remembers it, so they only ever know the stories they are told about it, and how they then present the story can say a lot about them. I think the same thing applies to family lore. One side of my family tells the stories of our ancestors, and the other side has basically forgotten their family stories. It might not be a surprise that I feel more connected to the storytelling side.

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