Site-Wide Activity

Leslie Wingard wrote a new post on the site Religion in Black Film and Literature (Fall 2020) 5 years, 4 months ago

Announcements: 1.)If you were in the Willie Cole group on the blog, please post about him and his POSSIBLE relationship to Hurston on our blog by Wednesday (tomorrow) at 10 pm. Add images or links to make your p […]
Patrick commented on the post, John Pearson as a Christ Figure, on the site Religion in Black Film and Literature (Fall 2020) 5 years, 4 months ago

One of the things that does point towards John’s Christ-like character is his “redemption”. To me, one of the biggest part of Jesus Christ’s identity is his ability to forgive sin, and of renewal/redemption. So […]
Patrick commented on the post, Language Is Powerful, on the site Religion in Black Film and Literature (Fall 2020) 5 years, 4 months ago

I think your focus on John’s mother and the importance of her language, as well as the effects it had on John and Ned, is a very good observation of an influential character. I wonder if this has more to do with […]
Eliza Cullen commented on the post, So Who's the Gourd Vine?, on the site Religion in Black Film and Literature (Fall 2020) 5 years, 4 months ago

It’s really good point you made at the end of this blog post about the expectations of Black women in the background of men’s success. It reminded me of the scene in the story when John is in court again because […]
Iris Filippi commented on the post, So Who's the Gourd Vine?, on the site Religion in Black Film and Literature (Fall 2020) 5 years, 4 months ago

Ty, you’ve shown us that this story is clearly sympathetic to Lucy’s position as much as it is to John’s. What kind of protagonist are we to interpret John as? Are his struggles an important commentary on his […]
Iris Filippi commented on the post, Language Is Powerful, on the site Religion in Black Film and Literature (Fall 2020) 5 years, 4 months ago

Inethia, I really liked how you emphasised the importance of John’s mother. Other students have though of John as a “Christ figure”, and I’m curious as to whether or not you can interpret some symbolism into […]
Iris Filippi commented on the post, John Pearson as a Christ Figure, on the site Religion in Black Film and Literature (Fall 2020) 5 years, 4 months ago

I’m sure that those characteristics can lead to some interesting parallels to Christ-symbolism, Lauren. I’m particularly interested as to how you think “mysterious origins” factors into his narrative, and what […]
Iris Filippi commented on the post, The Power of Education and its Economic Impact, on the site Religion in Black Film and Literature (Fall 2020) 5 years, 4 months ago

Excellent work, Mason. Writing is obviously an important theme in this novel, particularly within its historical context. Other posts have talked about the importance of crossing rivers in the story. Can you […]
Eliza Cullen commented on the post, John's Lack of Self Awareness and its Affect on his Life and Preaching, on the site Religion in Black Film and Literature (Fall 2020) 5 years, 4 months ago

I definitely agree with what you are saying here. It seems like John has no remorse or maybe does not even realize that the way he is acts is hurting the people in his life. He treated Lucy so badly when they were […]
Ty wrote a new post on the site Religion in Black Film and Literature (Fall 2020) 5 years, 4 months ago

The Article, “Worm Against the World”, highlights the importance of literature and language within Hurston’s novel, Jonah’s Gourd Vine. While I previously paid attention to symbolism and metaphors as they relate […]
Inethia wrote a new post on the site Religion in Black Film and Literature (Fall 2020) 5 years, 4 months ago

Zora Neale Hurston shows the power that words can have throughout all of her works. Gary Cluba’s The Worm against the Word: The Hermeneutical Challenge in Hurston’s Jonah’s Gourd Vine explains some of t […]
Carly McWilliams commented on the post, The Power of Education and its Economic Impact, on the site Religion in Black Film and Literature (Fall 2020) 5 years, 4 months ago

Mason, I agree that the elements of education in Jonah’s Gourd Vine are really interesting to consider! After reading the novel I was thinking about Lucy’s character and how education played a role in her life. […]
Lauren Brown wrote a new post on the site Religion in Black Film and Literature (Fall 2020) 5 years, 4 months ago

While not a central argument in the article “The Worm against the Word”, a snippet that immediately grabbed my attention and I think is compelling was the mention of John being regarded as a Christ figure to those […]
Carly McWilliams commented on the post, "A Culture of Orality" in a Troubled Southern Society: Understanding Where John is Truly Leaving for in "Jonah's Gourd Vine.", on the site Religion in Black Film and Literature (Fall 2020) 5 years, 4 months ago

Sam, I think you have a compelling case for your interpretation of the creek-crossing scenes! I want to add to your theory with some of the imagery present in each of the scenes. On pg 12 when John is crossing […]
Mason Poisson wrote a new post on the site Religion in Black Film and Literature (Fall 2020) 5 years, 4 months ago

After reading “The Worm Against the Word” regarding Jonah’s Gourd Vine, what I found most compelling about the article was how reading and writing were treated as such valuable skills during that period. More […]
Alyssa S. commented on the post, John's Lack of Self Awareness and its Affect on his Life and Preaching, on the site Religion in Black Film and Literature (Fall 2020) 5 years, 4 months ago

I wonder if there is a psychological reason why John doesn’t hold himself accountable. I know with many characters, you could pinpoint the moment in the story when certain tendencies began. It would be interesting […]
Alyssa S. commented on the post, "A Culture of Orality" in a Troubled Southern Society: Understanding Where John is Truly Leaving for in "Jonah's Gourd Vine.", on the site Religion in Black Film and Literature (Fall 2020) 5 years, 4 months ago

I appreciate your disagreement with this author’s view. I find your description to fit better with the way I’ve read the story
Alex wrote a new post on the site FYSM Border Crossings Blog 5 years, 4 months ago

Since I’ve been on campus I have rarely left my room because I’m immunocompromised. It isn’t extremely serious like some other people and I am thankful for that but I’m still wary. However, right outside of […]
maud utstein wrote a new post on the site Religion in Black Film and Literature (Fall 2020) 5 years, 4 months ago

In the novel ‘Jonah’s Gourd Vine’ (Hurston, 1933), main character John believes that he is a good person, a man of G-d even, despite hurting many people around him. His first fault began when he married a young […]
Samuel Boudreau wrote a new post on the site Religion in Black Film and Literature (Fall 2020) 5 years, 4 months ago

As John makes is way to Alf Pearson’s plantation, he hears a sound which rattles his conscience, as the rumbling of a locomotive thunders by (Hurston, p.15). Astonished, by the “fiery-lunged monster, John tries to […]
Load More