For this week's blog post, reflect upon your experience interviewing your oral history subject. How did you feel about the experience? Do you think it went well - why or why not? What do you think you might do differently in future oral history interviews? What was interesting about your subject's story?

Doing my first oral history interview was awesome! I really enjoyed it; I got to learn a lot about Ali Al Sundani, the person I interviewed. Overall, I think it did go well. It was a bit of a surprise when I found out I would be the interviewer, but thankfully it all went fine. Our questions were well thought out, and we recorded the video and audio awesomely. In the future, I would definitely consider creating some more follow up questions. Also, I would take more time in my interview. I believe the most interesting yet sad thing about Mr. Sundani's story is the fact that he has only visited his family once in the seven years he has been here. Also, that he got his citizenship last year around April. I really enjoyed my first oral history project! 

Oral History

The article spoke about Houston's graffiti, and how it has a huge impact in the art world of Houston. The article mentioned several different famous artists such as Daniel Anguilu, NEKST, GONZO247, and many more. The author included some pictures of the artist's works and the history behind them. Unfortunately, the article mentioned how Houston failed in the past to keep track of the graffiti of Houston, and how it became popular over the years. The author briefly mentioned how Houston is working on making certain areas legal to do graffiti in. Also, she mentioned how Houston works on erasing and cleaning illegal graffiti within Houston. 

I found this article interesting due to the reason that we are the generation that decides whether we save the graffiti in Houston. This article mentions informs us about the community and how much effort actually goes in the murals and graffiti. I also found it interesting because of the artist's history, and how difficult it is for artists to continue doing their passion. This article informed me of a lot I didn't know when I saw graffiti!

Summarize the story to which you listened and provide a link to that story. Then write three follow-up questions that you would like to be able to ask the person(s) telling the story.

In the story, Alex is a young African American who grew up with his adoptive white parents. At a young age, he is taught color does not matter. However, one day he is driving with a friend. He is pulled over for making an illegal left turn, and the police ask him to get out his car. Then, the police finds out his friend, who is white, has a bag of cocaine and they arrest him. The police begin to search his car, and he kindly asks the police for a warrant. Three policemen beat him to unconsciousness and he is waken up in a hospital.  

How did your family feel about the event? 

Did you and your family try to send this case to court?

Do you still talk to your friend who was in the car with you?

Link: 

https://storycorps.org/animation/traffic-stop/

Marjane's Punk Phase

While Marjane is in Vienna, she goes through her "punk phase." Personally, I believe that she never really liked punk music and that she just needed people to accept her. Both, in the film and the book, the audience can tell Marjane is not comfortable with her new punk friends, but she slowly becomes more like them. However, this was not the real her because later in the book, she regrets being punk and becomes more like her new boyfriend's friends. Once again, she meets another boy she likes and pretends to be interested in the same things he is, but in reality she really doesn't care and like those things. She goes through this "punk phase" simply because she is trying to fit in. She is trying to fill up this love that is missing from her family and friends back from in Iran.   

Do a character sketch of one of the characters in Persepolis. This should include the character's name, age (or ages as the book progresses), gender, appearance, personality, and importance to the plot of the book.

One of the most important characters in the story is Marjane's grandmother. In the book, she is never referred by name, she is known only as Marjane's grandmother. She is already elderly, and she is very wise. Marjane's grandmother has short and white hair throughout the movie. Her personality is a huge inspiration for Marjane because her grandmother always speaks her mind especially about the events/issues that were happening in her life. Through the the story, her grandmother gives her advice that is mentioned in the story a lot. She tells her to always stay true to herself and always have dignity. This advice is tested several times in the story, and it comes to show how important her grandmother is in her life.     

Explain the differences between Marjane's personality before she left Iran and when she returned after being in Austria. Why do you think she changed so much? Use specific examples from the book to support your claims.

Explain the differences between Marjane's personality before she left Iran and when she returned after being in Austria. Why do you think she changed so much? Use specific examples from the book to support your claims.   

Before Marjane left Iran, she was very rebellious, in her way, and she stood up for what she believed in. For example, page 97, where she rebelled and joked around school, where everyone is strictly enforced to act proper and not joke around. However, everything changes once she returns after being in Austria. She begins to act differently and actually care about what people think of her. On page 379, "We had been considered the model couple for so long and by so many people that we weren't able to accept our failure...we were keeping up appearances in public." She cares what people think, and she tries to be someone she is not. It shows the difference between the careless rebel she once was, and the way she begins to care about what people think. I believe she changed because in Austria, she had no one and was seeking approval due to wanting someone to be there for her. In Iran, she had her parents and friends that comforted her while she was being herself, and she didn't need to seek approval form anyone. 

Why did Marjane's parents decide to send her to Europe. Do you think this was the right decision? Why or why not?

Marjane's parents decided to sent her to Europe because the war became more extreme. They feared for Marjane's safety and her future. Personally, I believe this was the right decision because if Marjane stayed in Persepolis, she could've died or been severally injured. Even though it was a hard decision, it was the right decision. Also, with all the universities closing and most schools closing, Marjane might have missed a huge part of her education. It would greatly affect her in the future and her career as an adult. So far, in the story we notice how Marjane would dangerously stand up for her opinions, and her parents notice. I think this is what motived her parent's even more to send her to Europe.