Welcome back to So Lit! This time, I’m introducing you to our second season where we’ll not just talk and appreciate literature, but we’ll also get in the crux of making it. Join me as I tell you the basics of Creative Writing. 

So for the first episode this season, let’s start with digesting the question: Why is writing hard?

"The Hunger Games" series by Suzanne Collins is a young adult dystopian fiction that was first published in 2008 and was later on turned into a movie in 2012. It's one of the most famous American literary pieces produced in the 21st century.

So for this episode of our Literature in Focus segment, stay with me as I read to you a literary criticism or a commentary I wrote and published in 2016 on my blog. This was the time that I just finished reading The Hunger Games and was still high with it.

If you want to read the original article I wrote, I posted it here: 

https://laracrasom.wordpress.com/2016/04/19/a-literary-analysis-of-the-hunger-games-series/

With America being recognized by many as the most influential country, it is also undeniable that their literature is also influential. Their many known writers--classic and contemporary-- are recognized all over the world. They have inspired and influenced a lot of readers and writers.

In this episode of So Lit, we'll wander around America by looking how their history determined their literature.

If you want to get to know more about the US and their literature and history, here are some articles from websites you may read:

"American History Through Literature 1870-1920. . Encyclopedia.com. 16 Oct. 2020 . (2020, November 10). Retrieved November 10, 2020, from https://www.encyclopedia.com/literature-and-arts/literature-english/american-literature/american-literature

American Renaissance. (n.d.). Retrieved November 10, 2020, from https://www.britannica.com/art/American-literature/American-Renaissance

Berke, A., Bleil, R., Cofer, J., Davis, D (n.d.). Writing the Nation:  A Concise Introduction to American Literarure--1865 to Present. Dahlonega,  Georgia: University of North Georgia Press.

Romanticism. (n.d.). Retrieved  November 10, 2020, from https://www.britannica.com/art/Romanticism

Shmoop Editorial Team. (2008, November 11). American Romanticism Introduction. Retrieved November 10, 2020, from https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/literary-movements/american-romanticism

Join me in the short reading and discussion of Haruki Murakami's Scheherazade and just like Habara, let's be enthralled to her stories.

For  more information about this story, you may click on these helpful links:

Men Without Women by Haruki Murakami. (2017, May 09). Retrieved November 04, 2020, from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33652490-men-without-women

Treisman, D. (2017, August 21). This Week in Fiction: Haruki Murakami. Retrieved November 04, 2020, from https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/fiction-this-week-haruki-murakami-2014-10-13

6, B., 11, R., 18, G., 18, B., 12, M., 18, K., . . . 30, A. (2014, October 09). Haruki Murakami: "Scheherazade". Retrieved November 04, 2020, from https://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/2014/10/06/haruki-murakami-scheherazade/

Murakami, H., Updike, J., & Treisman, D. (n.d.). Scheherazade. Retrieved November 04, 2020, from https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/10/13/scheherazade-3

We'll be taking our lit talks into something much bigger now. This time, we'll be going on a quick journey to Asia by looking at its literature.

If you want to learn more about Asian literature, here are some of the articles I can recommend:

Bersola, G. (2013, September 17). Asian literature. Retrieved November 04, 2020, from https://www.slideshare.net/kazumaki/asian-literature

Indian literature. (n.d.). Retrieved November 04, 2020, from https://www.britannica.com/art/Indian-literature

Kabuki. (n.d.). Retrieved November 04, 2020, from https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2090.html

Noh Theater. (n.d.). Retrieved November 04, 2020, from https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2091.html

What is Orientalism? (n.d.). Retrieved November 04, 2020, from http://arabstereotypes.org/why-stereotypes/what-orientalism

By understanding the literature created in the past centuries can we only understand, too, the significant role literature still plays in today’s society. But by studying the current literature can we only understand the changes, developments, the new ideologies that have probably risen or the new genres that have come to life to still encapsulate the pressing matter of the past that is still relevant today. By studying contemporary literature can we only see the movement. That’s the only way we know literature is continuously flourishing and thriving, and that the learners of the 21st century get to enjoy and understand the literature of their time.

In this episode, we'll talk about the themes and the forms that have evolved in our time.

For the references, you may also try to read these sources:

Comics 101, Part 3: What's the Difference? Comics vs. Graphic Novels vs. Illustrated Novels. (2019, August 26). Retrieved August 02, 2020, from https://www.ampkids.com/blog/comics-101-whats-the-difference/

In Focus: 5 AUs That Got Us Falling Deeper Into the Twitter Serye Hole. (n.d.). Retrieved August 02, 2020, fromhttps://lifestyle.abs-cbn.com/articles/8159/chalk/in-focus-5-aus-that-got-us-falling-deeper-into-the-twitter-serye-hole

Manusos, L. (2020, January 25). What Is Speculative Fiction? Definitions + Examples. Retrieved August 02, 2020, from https://bookriot.com/what-is-speculative-fiction/

Ocay, J. (2017, July 29). What is 21st Century Literature? Retrieved August 02, 2020, from https://www.slideshare.net/jahwella/what-is-21st-century-literature

Walton, A. (2020, June 05). Themes in Literature in the 21st Century. Retrieved October 04, 2020, from https://classroom.synonym.com/themes-literature-21st-century-8320321.html

What is Digital Fiction? (2014, April 25). Retrieved August 02, 2020, from https://readingdigitalfiction.com/about/what-is-digital-fiction/

In the last episode, we learned about the life and works of Nick Joaquin and we marveled on the beauty of one of his most notable work, "May Day Eve."

This time, we'll get to know another inspiring National Artist for Literature--Edith Tiempo. 

Being the only woman in the roster of the Philippine National Artist for Literature, Edith Tiempo's prolific style of writing indeed made her stand out. But she wasn't just a writer, she was a teacher and a literary critic who helped in cultivating and elevating the quality of the Philippine Literature. Let's get to know her by discussing one piece of writing that has immortalized Ms. Tiempo. In this poem titled "Bonsai," she explored the meaning of love. Albeit short, the poem has truly encapsulated the meaning of love despite it being abstract and something hard to define.

To get to know her further, you may also access these links below:

Bonsai by Edith Tiempo (2010). Retrieved  from https://readalittlepoetry.wordpress.com/2010/03/31/bonsai-by-edith-tiempo/#comments

Ignacio, I. (2008, March 11). Reduce love now for safety: An Analysis of Edith Tiempo’s Bonsai. Retrieved from https://writerscollide.wordpress.com/2008/03/11/reduce-love-now-for-safety-an-analysis-of-edith-tiempo%E2%80%99s-bonsai/

Official Gazette. (2010). Edith Tiempo. Retrieved from http://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/banner-artwork/edith-tiempo/

The Philippines, as you have already learned from the previous episodes, really has diverse literary pieces that mirror its life, times, culture, and identity. But behind these great works of literature are also great people with great minds and incomparable gift in writing and story telling. Some have even noticeably helped hone the "Filipino's sense of nationhood" through their works that they were regarded as the Philippines' National Artists for Literature.

So far, the Philippines has 17 Filipino writers who were conferred as a National Artist.

For this episode, we're going to talk about one of these 17 great artists and that is none other than Nick Joaquin. Definitely one of the best, Nick Joaquin had embedded his name so deep in the layers of Philippine Literature. So as you listen, you'll get to know who Nick is and what honed him to be a great writer. We'll also discuss one of his most notable works that catapulted Nick Joaquin on the pedestal of literature.

To get to know Nick Joaquin more, you can also visit these sites I visited:

Limos, M. (1970, January 01). The Fascinating Life of Nick Joaquin. Retrieved August 06, 2020, from https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/nick-joaquin-life-a00293-20190507-lfrm

PeoplePill. (n.d.). Nick Joaquin: Filipino writer (1917 - 2004): Biography, Facts, Career, Wiki, Life. Retrieved August 06, 2020, from https://peoplepill.com/people/nick-joaquin/

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2020, May 04). Nick Joaquin. Retrieved August 06, 2020, from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nick-Joaquin

The story of the Philippines' fight for freedom didn’t end when the Philippine flag was brandished on Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1898. Soon after, the Philippines was conquered by the United States of America as we were sold for $20,000,000 by the Kingdom of Spain to the US when they signed the Treaty of Paris.

In this podcast session, we will get to know how the Philippines was during the time of the Americans, and how this had honed literature of their time.

For the references, you may check out the following:

"Encyclopedia of Western Colonialism since 1450. . Encyclopedia.com. 4 Aug. 2020 . (2020, August 06). Retrieved August 06, 2020, from https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/united-states-colonial-rule-philippines

De La Salle Santiago Zobel. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://notes.dlszobel.edu.ph/files/2013-2014/DEAD%20STARS.pdf

Eleftherion, M. (2020, April 01). The Operating System:: Poetry Month 2020:: EILEEN R. TABIOS on ANGELA MANALANG GLORIA. Retrieved August 06, 2020, from https://medium.com/the-operating-system/the-operating-system-poetry-month-2020-eileen-r-tabios-on-angela-manalang-gloria-1e448370020b

Order of National Artists: Jose Garcia Villa. (n.d.). Retrieved August 06, 2020, from https://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/culture-profile/national-artists-of-the-philippines/jose-garcia-villa/

PeoplePill. (n.d.). Angela Manalang-Gloria: Filipino writer (1907 - 1995): Biography, Facts, Career, Wiki, Life. Retrieved August 06, 2020, from https://peoplepill.com/people/angela-manalang-gloria/

PeoplePill. (n.d.). Jose Garcia Villa: Prominent English-language Filipino poet (1908 -1997): Biography, Facts, Career, Wiki, Life. Retrieved August 06, 2020, from https://peoplepill.com/people/jose-garcia-villa/

PeoplePill. (n.d.). Paz Márquez-Benítez: Filipino writer (1894 - 1983): Biography, Facts, Career, Wiki, Life. Retrieved August 06, 2020, from https://peoplepill.com/people/paz-marquez-benitez/

Poets.org. (n.d.). Retrieved August 06, 2020, from https://poets.org/poet/jose-garcia-villa

Santiago, L. Q. (n.d.). Philippine Literature during the American Period. Retrieved August 06, 2020, from https://ncca.gov.ph/about-ncca-3/subcommissions/subcommission-on-the-arts-sca/literary-arts/philippine-literature-during-the-american-period/

Solmerano, E., Ondevilla, M., Palencia, M., Jerusalem, V., & Cruz, J. (2017). 21st century literature from the Philippines and the world (2nd ed.). Manila: Fastbooks Educational Supply, Inc.

The big bulk of Philippine folk literature is proof that the Philippines already has its identity even before the Spaniards came and colonized the country. But what’s the reason why the country was colonized by Spain?

For this lesson, we’ll be having a little back track-- a look back as to why and how the Spaniards colonized the Philippines, how they treated the Filipinos, and how these affected the literature of the Philippines during the whole 333 years that they dominated.

If you want to deepen your knowledge about this topic, you may also refer to these references I used for this session:

Borlaza, G., & Cullinane, M. (2020, July 31). The Spanish period. Retrieved August 03, 2020, from https://www.britannica.com/place/Philippines/The-Spanish-period

Handiog. (2014, October 11). "Dasalan at Tocsohan" ni Marcelo H. Del Pilar. Retrieved August 03, 2020, from https://handiog.wordpress.com/2014/10/11/dasalan- at-tocsohan-ni-marcelo-h-del-pilar/

Limos, M. (1970, January 01). Why the Spaniards Feared Marcelo H. Del Pilar More Than They Did Jose Rizal. Retrieved August 03, 2020, from https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/spaniards-most-feared-filipino-a2017-20190326-lfrm

Pacete, V. (2018, April 10). Pacete: The evolution of the 'indio'. Retrieved August 03, 2020, from https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/427659/Lifestyle/Pacete-The-evolution-of-the-indio

Solmerano, E., Ondevilla, M., Palencia, M., Jerusalem, V., & Cruz, J. (2017). 21st century literature from the Philippines and the world (2nd ed.). Manila:   Fastbooks Educational Supply, Inc.

Spanish-Filipino Caste System. (n.d.). Retrieved August 03, 2020, from http://www.thepinoywarrior.com/2012/01/spanish-filipino-caste-system.html

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2020, May 31). Treaty of Tordesillas. Retrieved August 03, 2020, from https://www.britannica.com/event/Treaty-of-Tordesillas