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For my next #FVR #WLBookAudit, I'm going to start off by frontloading some concepts (I can't help it, I'm a teacher at heart.)
I'll be talking about the White Gaze and the White Savior trope. So #langchat friends, if you're already familiar feel free to scroll to the review
I'll be talking about the White Gaze and the White Savior trope. So #langchat friends, if you're already familiar feel free to scroll to the review
The White Gaze/White Centering:
According to Layla F. Saad of Me and White Supremacy, it's "the centering of white people, white values, white norms & white feelings over everything and everyone else."
This includes telling the story from the white perspective. #langchat
According to Layla F. Saad of Me and White Supremacy, it's "the centering of white people, white values, white norms & white feelings over everything and everyone else."
This includes telling the story from the white perspective. #langchat
The White Savior Trope:
Also according to Saad, is "based on the premise that BIPOC people & countries are inferior in worth, capability, intelligence, and self-determination as compared to white-dominated countries & people w/white privilege." #langchat
Also according to Saad, is "based on the premise that BIPOC people & countries are inferior in worth, capability, intelligence, and self-determination as compared to white-dominated countries & people w/white privilege." #langchat
The next book I'm reviewing includes both White Centering and White Saviorism.
Las Aventuras de Isabela is a level 1 book, written by Karen Rowan and published by Command Performance Language Institute.
It has a total of 2,200 words, with a unique word count of 200.
Las Aventuras de Isabela is a level 1 book, written by Karen Rowan and published by Command Performance Language Institute.
It has a total of 2,200 words, with a unique word count of 200.
8-yr old Isabela and her mother travel to Mexico, and Isabela documents the trip as they go by taking photos of everything. Isabela "isn't a normal girl" because she doesn't sit quietly and wait for her mom.
Isabela and her mom have many adventures...
Isabela and her mom have many adventures...
They visit some churches and go horseback riding, and ride a tour bus. Along the was Isabela takes pictures, and her mom repeatedly comments that she doesn't behave like "a normal girl."
On one of these adventures, mom goes shoe shopping...
On one of these adventures, mom goes shoe shopping...
Isabela thinks shoes are ridiculous, so she waits outside. As she waits, she spots a poor mama and her 5 shoeless children.
Isabela walks over to them and takes a picture of the baby's shoeless feet. The poor mama asks 8-yr-old Isabela to buy them all shoes. #langchat
Isabela walks over to them and takes a picture of the baby's shoeless feet. The poor mama asks 8-yr-old Isabela to buy them all shoes. #langchat
"estoy triste porque la familia no tiene zapatos. Los niños caminan en la calle, pero no tienen zapatos.
Los zapatos son ridĂculos para mĂ. Los zapatos son ridĂculos para mi porque tengo muchos zapatos. Los zapatos no son ridĂculos para la familia. La familia no tiene zapatos."
Los zapatos son ridĂculos para mĂ. Los zapatos son ridĂculos para mi porque tengo muchos zapatos. Los zapatos no son ridĂculos para la familia. La familia no tiene zapatos."
Translation:
"I'm sad bc the family has no shoes. The kids walk in the street, but they have no shoes.
Shoes are ridiculous to me. Shoes are ridiculous to me, because I have so many. Shoes aren't ridiculous to the family. The family does not have shoes."
"I'm sad bc the family has no shoes. The kids walk in the street, but they have no shoes.
Shoes are ridiculous to me. Shoes are ridiculous to me, because I have so many. Shoes aren't ridiculous to the family. The family does not have shoes."
So Isabela has a great idea--her mom can buy shoes for the whole family! For only 40 pesos! Isabela takes photos of the whole thing. The children don't talk.
Mom asks Isabela if she wants shoes, but she declines because she already has so many, and shoes are ridiculous.
Mom asks Isabela if she wants shoes, but she declines because she already has so many, and shoes are ridiculous.
So then Isabela and mom take the family to the market to eat tostadas, beans, and ice cream.
They in silence. The children do not talk. The mom does not talk. The family doesn't have much $$. They usually don't eat tostadas and beans and icecream. They usually don't eat much.
They in silence. The children do not talk. The mom does not talk. The family doesn't have much $$. They usually don't eat tostadas and beans and icecream. They usually don't eat much.
After that, the story moves on to other adventures. Isabela visits a panaderĂa where she hears that stray puppies are available nearby, and they go find her one. The story ends with Isabela adopting a puppy & deciding to become a photographer.
Sadly, Las aventuras de Isabela won't be in my #FVR library next year because of the issues of White Gaze and White Saviorism in the story.
The story is part of an interconnected trilogy with 2 other #CI novels that I WILL be keeping. I'll review those tomorrow.
The story is part of an interconnected trilogy with 2 other #CI novels that I WILL be keeping. I'll review those tomorrow.
Let me know what you think about Las aventuras de Isabela by filling out the #WLBookAudit survey. https://forms.gle/t5HgerRHY2U8FKpz9
I missed adding this up-thread, but this is another important excerpt from Layla F. Saad's book "Me And White Supremacy" dealing with the Shite Savior trope and how it is linked to white supremacy. #langchat #WLBookAudit
Hahah, I just noticed my typo above, Shite Savior instead of White Savior.
It's not wrong, though. I'll keep it.
It's not wrong, though. I'll keep it.
