Each week, you will be asked to compose a written response that engages a series

Each week, you will be asked to compose a written response that engages a series of analytical and reflective discussion questions about the week’s reading and media assignments. These responses will vary in length between 2-3 long paragraphs and 3-4 short paragraphs, but you should aim for about 200-300 word responses for each question (roughly 600-900 words overall). You can write your response as a set of point-by-point answers to the questions below, or you could write a long response that addresses each question. Your response should integrate at least 3 quotes from the reading, with appropriate analysis. Your completed response should demonstrate the following:
That you completed the assigned reading in its entirety.
That you have taken sufficient notes that you can identify and analyze key concepts, arguments, and elements of research that the author uses to express and develop their argument. ‘
That you can reflect on connections between this reading and your developing understanding of the environmental and cultural entanglements among nature and world cultures.
Your quotes must include accurate MLA style citations for full credit. Example: “This is my brilliant quote” (27).
Weekly Instructions
Please spend 200-300 words (per question) selecting and answering 2 of the following 3 questions. Please note: your response to each question should make connections across the whole text to receive credit.
Please select and answer either Question 1 (gender and sexuality) or Question 2 (popular culture), and then select and answer either Question 3 (race, ethnicity, history) or Question 4 (redlining, class, tourism).
(Reminder: Please answer either Question 1 or Question 2)
Question 1: Childhood, gender, and sexuality in Rolling the Rs: What stands out to you about the novel’s representations of gender and sexuality in Kahilhi? Considering what you observed in Paris is Burning and/or Audre Lorde, why might Linmark choose to represent Edgar, Vicente, and Katrina’s experience of childhood, sexuality, social repression, and self-expression the ways he does in this novel? What might these representations be saying about homophobia, hypocrisy, secrecy, abuse, survival, and/or resistance in Kahlihi? Please analyze and discuss these themes across the novel (including in the final chapters), and discuss moments from at least two different chapters of the book.
Question 2: Popular Culture and Identity in Rolling the Rs: What stands out to you about the ways that characters use popular culture as a tool that helps them understand, accept, and/or protect their identity? Considering what you’ve observed about queer remixings of popular culture in Paris is Burning, why might Linmark choose to represent Edgar, Vicente, and/or Katrina’s relationship with popular culture the ways he does in this novel? What might these representations be saying about how media offers us access to self-discovery and/or an escape from our circumstances? Please analyze and discuss these themes across the novel (including in the final chapters), and discuss moments from at least two different chapters of the book.
(Reminder: Please answer either Question 3 or Question 4):
Question 3: Race, Ethnicity, History, and Memory: What stands out to you about the ways that experiences of race and ethnicity show up in the novel? How does Linmark’s representation of these experiences make reference to histories of US empire, immigration, racist ideology, class, and political domination in Hawaii and the Philippines? How do we see these histories of violence shape the characters’ social worlds within and outside of school? Please analyze and discuss these themes across the novel, and provide a close reading/analysis of how they show up in at least two different chapters of the book.
Question 4: Redlining, Class, and Tourism in Kahlihi: What stands out to you about the ways that redlining, income inequality, class, and/or tourism show up in the novel? How does Linmark’s work use these topics to offer a portrait of life in Kahlihi? How do these cultural factors the main characters’ social worlds within and outside of school? Please analyze and discuss these themes across the novel, and provide a close reading/analysis of how they show up in at least two different chapters of the book.