After reading many works by the author Colson Whitehead, I have come to realize that he not only has a very prominent and distinct writing style, but a writing style that I cannot say I’ve ever seen any author use in my lifetime. I read three pieces by Whitehead: One about the happenings in Central Park, one about Coney Island and the last about Times Square. To me, based off first impression, he is a very comical writer; he writes in the first person, almost like he’s in a train-of-thought and he’s making no revisions as he goes. He sees something, and writes it down. And if he sees something with greater significance than of the last thing he saw, he will quit whatever it is he was writing down before and shift his attention to the greater thing. This writing style, to me, feels more honest and real, and makes me feel as if I’m really present with the author. His writing style allows me to formulate a good visual. Whitehead’s personal language tends to be a bit sarcastic when it comes to talking about these places, not particularly because these places are (primarily) tourist attractions (which any true New-Yorker would despise of), but because of all the miniscule details that he observes.

For example, in his piece on Central Park, Colson Whitehead describes a hot, spring day in the city and adds (with what to me seems like irritation) that “everyone has the same idea”, which is to go to Central Park. Then, later in the piece, Whitehead writes that “our whole future depends on where we choose to sit”. When I first read this line, I laughed at such a nonsense statement and concluded that the author must be mocking how seriously some Central Park visitors take their experience. To me, it seems as if Whitehead is the Central Park “expert”; he gives off this energy that he is superior to every other human life  he encounters in the park, and it simply leaves me to hope I never come off to my readers in such a negative light.

When it comes to the other two pieces which I read by Colson Whitehead, the ones regarding Coney Island and Times Square, I got the same negative vibe from his writing. He doesn’t add many positive remarks about what he’s obserserving. To me, I see these places as beautiful New York City attractions, although I do acknowledge that I’m not quite a true New-Yorker as Colson Whitehead is/was, so my say in his perspectives is biased. However, to back up my statement, I would argue that many of the aspects of these attractions which Whitehead describes can be viewed in more of a positive light and the unfriendly attitude Whitehead has towards these details are simply by choice. Some of these details I’m talking about include the large amount of residents (or “neighbors”) on Coney Island enjoying their coolers and swimming on a hot day, or the bright, “heavenly” lights of Times Square. Colson Whitehead describes these things as a burden, almost. I can understand why he feels this way, but I also think these details are what makes New York the city that it is- such a beautifully unique city that deserves all the tourism and attention it does.

Now, the article by Randee Lipson Lawrence and Dennis Swiftdeer Paige titled “What Our Ancestors Knew” touches more on why we as a society tell stories in general, and why storytelling is so important in our world. The two begin their piece with some insight: The primary function of telling stories was originally to serve two purposes, which are (1) to entertain and (2) to educate people so they can become better humans. The authors add that the human life is composed of stories, which is why people naturally gain wisdom with age. They write that “telling stories is a way to make sense of our own experience and to communicate that experience to others”. I wholeheartedly agree with this statement; I’ve always been such a big fan of literature and storytelling, but somewhere along the lines in the public school system, reading switched from intrinsic to extrinsic and I lost my love for the hobby. I personally believe that people and places are always changing, and in this day in age, they’re changing rapidly. And, the best way to document these changes are by telling stories of their time. That is why storytelling is so vital in my eyes.

My hope is to contribute beautiful insights and perspectives on this city throughout the semester. Since I was little, New York has always been the most magical place on earth… and, yes, I really do mean more magical than Disneyland. Now that people ask me as I moved directly across the country for college why I love this city so dearly, my only wish is to be able to show them why through my writing and through my stories. I will explore neighborhoods like SOHO and Greenwich Village in attempt to uncover what it is about these neighborhoods that draw me to them. I will discover what it is about the New York Public library that makes it feel so safe and disconnected from all the chaos, even though it truly is the most chaotic library I’ve ever set foot in. I will get to the bottom of why bagels just really do taste better in this city than in any other city in the world. I will find out why… why I love this city and why all of this pandamonium is worth it.