Sometimes the best way to understand how we got where we are now is to bring light to the past and relive it. Through writing a memoir, you are not holding on to, or glorifying past events, but summing them up to more easily move forward.
In the several articles by Jerry Waxler, he explains the structure and purpose of memoirs; How they give readers incite to others lives and allow the writer to vividly recall memories. Sometimes revisiting the past is painful, but in ways it can help find meaning in ones life. In the NPR Audio interview with Antoinette Franklin and her niece, survivors of hurricane Katrina, they discuss the memories they miss from their home town in New Orleans. Antoinette shows us clearly in our minds what she saw and felt, making us feel as if it is our memory, some place we should miss too. Jerry Waxler Brings this point up many times also, In one article he states: "When we read a good novel, We immerse ourselves in the here and now created by the author, and forget everything else.When you read a person's life, you feel connected to the experience." Waxler strongly believes that writing a memoir is therapeutic and helps an individual better understand themselves. I can honestly agree with that statement, because there are times where I need to reflect and write down all that has happened to me and how I feel about each event. By simply reading what I have on paper, I can truly see how I have evolved and Why I am where I am in my life. Waxler says in many of his writings that you don't have to have a spectacular or dramatic story to tell, just simply showing the wrinkles in your life, no matter how old you are, is enough to connect with a reader.
We live in an age full of tabloids and magazines splashed with the headlines of celebrities' unrealistic lifestyles; people are bored with it and are more intrigued to read about the lives of ordinary people, may it be through a blog or memoir. I myself find the lives of normal people, such as the victims of hurricane Katrina, more fascinating because I can more easily relate to them. I also learned something I wouldn't normally learn on a day-to-day basis because it is a personal experience, rather then a topic that can be easily brought up in a conversation. Through both articles, I can clearly see how much memoirs help connect people to others in this world.
A few things I didn't quite understand were how to go about writing a memoir if you truly don't have anything intriguing to discuss. Also, What is the difference between an autobiography and a memoir, and what makes for the best memoir; written more like a novel, where you remove yourself and the reader sees it like a story, or like a diary, where it is very personal and you put the reader in your mind.
3 comments:
I like that you mention reading about people who you can identify with through humanity not celebrity.
That is a fantastic perspective.
I thought this reflection brought up multiple points that are well worth considering when understanding memoirs. I absolutely agree with the statement made about the media and other public interferences with people lives today. This can make it a lot more difficult to truly understand oneself and I don’t believe that it is until one can think for themselves that this is possible. I also appreciated the question of whether a memoir should be written in novelistic or journalistic forms for a certain affect. Personally, I would rather read a memoir that will stimulate my emotions than grasp my attention for the time being. Novels tend to be lengthy and less affective when one rambles on about an experience and lack the effort of connecting with a reader's senses.
You are so right in asking the question how will we write a memoir if we really have nothing interesting to talk about. Although I believe that reading any type of work about someone’s life is interesting. Just to get a sort of “sneak peak” in to a persons life seems exciting. Everyone goes through different things and everyone has different emotions; so when you say that writing memoirs can help people connect to others around the world; you are making a very true statement. Also I as well am slightly confused about what the difference is between an autobiography and a memoir. When in fact they both discuss your life and or important parts to your life. However it could be possible that memoirs involve far more emotions then just your average autobiography.
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