Some Thoughts on Being Some Thoughts on Being Readers Readers

I, Rigoberta MenchI, Rigoberta MenchÚ, Ú, An An Indian Woman in QuatemalaIndian Woman in Quatemala

The Reader’s PositionThe Reader’s Position

Most of the time, readers are called on to Most of the time, readers are called on to empathize, to feel one with the writer or empathize, to feel one with the writer or protagonist, depending on the genre.protagonist, depending on the genre.But, one critic, Doris Sommer, points out But, one critic, Doris Sommer, points out that not all writers want our empathy, our that not all writers want our empathy, our undivided identification. undivided identification. Especially, she believes, “minority” or Especially, she believes, “minority” or ethnic writers may not want hegemonic ethnic writers may not want hegemonic readers to feel comfortable in their shoes.readers to feel comfortable in their shoes.

Said said . . .Said said . . .

When some one at a conference asked Said When some one at a conference asked Said “How can we avoid mistakes, get closer to the “How can we avoid mistakes, get closer to the truth, and . . .” Said interrupted them and truth, and . . .” Said interrupted them and responded asked why Westerners suppose that responded asked why Westerners suppose that the “Orient” wants to be understood correctly. the “Orient” wants to be understood correctly. Why did we assume that our interest in the Why did we assume that our interest in the “Orient” was reciprocated? Did we imagine that “Orient” was reciprocated? Did we imagine that the desire was mutual or that we were the desire was mutual or that we were irresistible? Could we consider the possibility irresistible? Could we consider the possibility that our interest was not returned?that our interest was not returned?

How are we to take Menchú’s protestations How are we to take Menchú’s protestations of silence, even as she continues to talk?of silence, even as she continues to talk?Some readers embrace Menchú in an autobiographical Some readers embrace Menchú in an autobiographical reflex that presumes identification with the writer despite reflex that presumes identification with the writer despite her reluctance to be fully comprehended.her reluctance to be fully comprehended.

But, probably, instead, the reader should be wary of But, probably, instead, the reader should be wary of identification with Menchú; it is possible that she doesn’t identification with Menchú; it is possible that she doesn’t want us to identify with her, to feel one with her.want us to identify with her, to feel one with her.

As Spikvak points out in her essay on the possibility of As Spikvak points out in her essay on the possibility of the subaltern speaking, there is a complicated the subaltern speaking, there is a complicated relationship between the subaltern and the academic, relationship between the subaltern and the academic, the politician, the reader.the politician, the reader.– Doris Sommer, “Resisting the Heat.”Doris Sommer, “Resisting the Heat.”

SilenceSilence

Maybe her identification of “secrets” is her way Maybe her identification of “secrets” is her way of marking or highlighting her refusal to share, of of marking or highlighting her refusal to share, of information she is withholding, it is a trope of information she is withholding, it is a trope of refusal, to distance herself from us. While she refusal, to distance herself from us. While she wants us to identify with her cause, she does not wants us to identify with her cause, she does not want us to feel that we know or understand in want us to feel that we know or understand in any intimate way – in fact, she may be saying any intimate way – in fact, she may be saying that we CAN’T understand. Perhaps her that we CAN’T understand. Perhaps her identification of secrets is metaphorical or identification of secrets is metaphorical or stylistic, rather than actual or factual or “true.”stylistic, rather than actual or factual or “true.”

More Silence . . .More Silence . . .

The perhaps calculated result of Menchú’s deliberate invocation of The perhaps calculated result of Menchú’s deliberate invocation of information being withheld from assumed sympathetic readers is information being withheld from assumed sympathetic readers is that, paradoxically, these same readers are excluded from her circle that, paradoxically, these same readers are excluded from her circle of intimacy.of intimacy.

Her ideal readers would be her Quiché community – a community Her ideal readers would be her Quiché community – a community that can neither read nor write nor speak in Spanish or English.that can neither read nor write nor speak in Spanish or English.

She keeps control of her text by refusing us the privilege of intimacy. She keeps control of her text by refusing us the privilege of intimacy. We cannot tell her story for her, speak for her, because she refuses We cannot tell her story for her, speak for her, because she refuses to let us know her. She keeps her distance.to let us know her. She keeps her distance.

We must/should realize that our reading is imperfect, incomplete, We must/should realize that our reading is imperfect, incomplete, and there for that we owe her and her people a certain kind of and there for that we owe her and her people a certain kind of distance related to respect.distance related to respect.– Doris Summer “Resisting the Heat”Doris Summer “Resisting the Heat”

Interpellating the ReaderInterpellating the Reader

At the same time as the “silence strategy” forces us to At the same time as the “silence strategy” forces us to keep our distance and leaves Menchú in control of her keep our distance and leaves Menchú in control of her text, Sommer suggests that it might be a cunning text, Sommer suggests that it might be a cunning strategy for interpellating the reader as a supporter, not a strategy for interpellating the reader as a supporter, not a leader, in her cause. (interpellating = summoning you to leader, in her cause. (interpellating = summoning you to play a role)play a role)Sommer posits that Menchú’s “demure posture allows us Sommer posits that Menchú’s “demure posture allows us to imagine . . . A politics of coalition among differently to imagine . . . A politics of coalition among differently constituted positionalities.”constituted positionalities.”She argues that this “political vision adventurous enough She argues that this “political vision adventurous enough to imagine differences, yet modest enough to respect to imagine differences, yet modest enough to respect them, may be the most significant challenge posed by them, may be the most significant challenge posed by learning to read resistance.learning to read resistance.

Menchú’s text and genreMenchú’s text and genreRobin Jones – “Having to Read a Book about Opression”Robin Jones – “Having to Read a Book about Opression”

Autobiography – telling one’s own story.Autobiography – telling one’s own story.The process of creating a subject through writing The process of creating a subject through writing – especially important to women because they – especially important to women because they often feel and are identified as objects in often feel and are identified as objects in patriarchal culture.patriarchal culture.Some subsets of this genre – apologies, Some subsets of this genre – apologies, exploration, exemplars, simple recordings of exploration, exemplars, simple recordings of one’s life.one’s life.Women’s autobiographies, in particular, might Women’s autobiographies, in particular, might contain issues about women’s health, the family, contain issues about women’s health, the family, gender inequities – issues not found in men’s gender inequities – issues not found in men’s autobiographies.autobiographies.

Menchú’s text and genreMenchú’s text and genre

Ethnography – Sustained interaction with a group in Ethnography – Sustained interaction with a group in order to share knowledge about that group. order to share knowledge about that group. Sometimes it involves separating a community into Sometimes it involves separating a community into various categories in order to study separately domestic various categories in order to study separately domestic issues, religion, economics. issues, religion, economics. Raises questions of authorship – who is the author, the Raises questions of authorship – who is the author, the ethnographer or the subjects studied? Who should ethnographer or the subjects studied? Who should relate the information? Takes us back to Spivak, again, relate the information? Takes us back to Spivak, again, and the issue of “Can the Subaltern Speak?and the issue of “Can the Subaltern Speak?Raises questions of relevance – What does the Raises questions of relevance – What does the ethnographer feel it is important to study and how does ethnographer feel it is important to study and how does s/he understand the subject and gather information.s/he understand the subject and gather information.

Menchú’s text and genreMenchú’s text and genre

Testimonial – Various definitionsTestimonial – Various definitions– The genre rests on the positioning of the narrative The genre rests on the positioning of the narrative

subject as an individual, the voice of the community, subject as an individual, the voice of the community, the public voice of a political and moral conscious.the public voice of a political and moral conscious.

– A doubling of . . . oral history into a public plea.A doubling of . . . oral history into a public plea.– The testimony’s personal story is a shared one with The testimony’s personal story is a shared one with

the community to which the testimonialista belongs. the community to which the testimonialista belongs. The speaker does not speak for or represent a The speaker does not speak for or represent a community, but rather performs an act of identity-community, but rather performs an act of identity-formation which is simultaneously personal and formation which is simultaneously personal and collective.collective.

Menchú’s text and genreMenchú’s text and genre

– A novel or novella length narrative in book or A novel or novella length narrative in book or pamphlet form, told in the first person by a narrator pamphlet form, told in the first person by a narrator who is also the real protagonist or witness of the who is also the real protagonist or witness of the events she or he recounts. . . Usually involving a events she or he recounts. . . Usually involving a translator or transcriber and editing. The nature of translator or transcriber and editing. The nature of intervention of this editorial function is one of the more intervention of this editorial function is one of the more hotly debated theoretical points in the discussion of hotly debated theoretical points in the discussion of the genre.the genre.

– Who is Elizabeth Burgos-Debray? Why does it matter Who is Elizabeth Burgos-Debray? Why does it matter who she is?who she is?

– Who is Ann Wright? Why does it matter who she is?Who is Ann Wright? Why does it matter who she is?– (Who should earn the Nobel Prize? The recorder, the (Who should earn the Nobel Prize? The recorder, the

transcriber, the translator?)transcriber, the translator?)

Menchú’s text and genreMenchú’s text and genre

Which genre do you think this text most Which genre do you think this text most closely represents? Why? It has been closely represents? Why? It has been read in history classes, sociology and read in history classes, sociology and anthropology classes, women’s literature anthropology classes, women’s literature and women’s studies classes, political and women’s studies classes, political science classes. What difference does science classes. What difference does genre make in each of these contexts?genre make in each of these contexts?

How could Menchú have presented How could Menchú have presented her text otherwise?her text otherwise?

This from Stoll – This from Stoll – – She could have spliced the stories of others She could have spliced the stories of others

into her own without eliding their separate into her own without eliding their separate identities.identities.

– She could have used the customary way She could have used the customary way campesinos reported stories they have heard: campesinos reported stories they have heard: “dicen que” or “they say that.”“dicen que” or “they say that.”

– Burgos says that Menchú didn’t act in bad Burgos says that Menchú didn’t act in bad faith or lie, she “was moved by a feeling of faith or lie, she “was moved by a feeling of belonging.”belonging.”

Rigoberta Menchú and the Politics Rigoberta Menchú and the Politics of Lying – Daphne Pataiof Lying – Daphne Patai

What damage has Rigoberta Menchú’s What damage has Rigoberta Menchú’s means of telling her story done to the means of telling her story done to the cause of human rights and to the public’s cause of human rights and to the public’s willing grant of sympathy and support for willing grant of sympathy and support for those they see as oppressed?those they see as oppressed?

Do symbolic stories that tell some “larger” Do symbolic stories that tell some “larger” truth provide a sound or even a possible truth provide a sound or even a possible basis for advancing human rights claims?basis for advancing human rights claims?

Patai –cont.Patai –cont.

Patai says no – She says that anyone can make claims, Patai says no – She says that anyone can make claims, anyone can tell horror stories.anyone can tell horror stories.She claims that “human rights activism cannot depend She claims that “human rights activism cannot depend on postmodernist views of multiple narratives, on the on postmodernist views of multiple narratives, on the notion of the fictive self, or on the epistemological notion of the fictive self, or on the epistemological uncertainty of all truth claims.”uncertainty of all truth claims.”Patai observes that “some North American academics Patai observes that “some North American academics consider lies irrelevant as long as the larger political consider lies irrelevant as long as the larger political purpose they serve is being served.” One professor she purpose they serve is being served.” One professor she interviewed said “Whether [Menchú’s] book is true or not, interviewed said “Whether [Menchú’s] book is true or not, I don’t care. We should teach our students about the I don’t care. We should teach our students about the brutality of the Guatemalan military and the U.S. brutality of the Guatemalan military and the U.S. financing of it.”financing of it.”

Patai – some morePatai – some more

But, Patai insists that truth matters. She But, Patai insists that truth matters. She writes: “There can be no human rights writes: “There can be no human rights activism without confidence in the truth activism without confidence in the truth and accuracy of information. It is not and accuracy of information. It is not enough to shift at will from Rigoberta the enough to shift at will from Rigoberta the historical individual to Rigoberta the mythic historical individual to Rigoberta the mythic figure, and from her story as a reliable figure, and from her story as a reliable source of data to her tale as a symbolic source of data to her tale as a symbolic evocation of “larger truths.” evocation of “larger truths.”

Patai – the endPatai – the end

Patai concludes that the destruction of Patai concludes that the destruction of trust is the real damage done by lies. trust is the real damage done by lies. “When Rigoberta Menchú, winner of the “When Rigoberta Menchú, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, is found to have Nobel Peace Prize, is found to have invented, distorted, and misrepresented invented, distorted, and misrepresented the key elements in the story that is the key elements in the story that is responsible for her very fame and responsible for her very fame and reputation, the cause of human rights reputation, the cause of human rights everywhere is set back.”everywhere is set back.”

One final ethical questionOne final ethical question

Jones again – asks about teaching the Holocaust “How Jones again – asks about teaching the Holocaust “How do you discuss objectively and rationally that which is do you discuss objectively and rationally that which is often known as one of the most unnatural, illegitimate, often known as one of the most unnatural, illegitimate, and foul murders of a people.”and foul murders of a people.”Even if Menchú’s brother wasn’t burned alive in a public Even if Menchú’s brother wasn’t burned alive in a public spectacle, he was tortured and shot. Hundreds of spectacle, he was tortured and shot. Hundreds of thousands of people were indeed executed, thousands of people were indeed executed, disappeared, tortured, raped by the Guatemalan military.disappeared, tortured, raped by the Guatemalan military.How do we teach the literature of atrocity, without turning How do we teach the literature of atrocity, without turning them into some learning exercise that takes away from them into some learning exercise that takes away from the human power and dignity of the voices and stories of the human power and dignity of the voices and stories of the text? How do we keep these works from becoming the text? How do we keep these works from becoming “just texts” instead of the real (?) experiences of real (?) “just texts” instead of the real (?) experiences of real (?) people.people.