Post by Okwes on Apr 26, 2007 12:10:02 GMT -5
Momaday: Words are magical
Dr. N. Scott Momaday spoke to Venice High School
<http://www.venice-florida.com/Community/vhsmain.htm> students Jan. 25
as a part of Literacy Celebration 2007: Venice Reads. A member of the
Kiowa tribe, his works are based on Native American stories.
Momaday, the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, "House Made of
Dawn," discussed the importance of oral tradition -- passing on history
and events through storytelling. As a professor at the University of
California at Berkeley, Stanford University and the University of
Arizona, he has taught oral tradition.
Momaday said three important facets drive oral tradition. People should
speak with responsibility and not throw words away. They also should
listen with great care so they won't lose words. Finally, people must
remember what they've heard.
Momaday's demeanor was calm as he talked to VHS students, sharing with
them the power of words.
"Words are sacred. Words are magical," he said. "People have lost their
belief in the magic of words."
He said people often take words for granted because they are easy to
come by.
After the lecture, Momaday answered questions from students about what
motivates him to write and where he gets inspiration for his work.
"Writers write because they must. I write for the thing that is trying
to be born," Momaday said, comparing it to how a sculptor sees his work
in a slab of stone.
His own voice
Tarah Hart, 17, is a senior at VHS and is in the AP Literature program.
Hart read "House Made of Dawn" and liked Momaday's spirituality.
"I am excited to hear him speak in his own voice," Hart said.
Hart said Momaday brings the Native American culture to VHS, and kids
might not be familiar with it.
Noni Lavelle is the Literacy Celebration coordinator. She said a council
for the Literacy Celebration investigated authors for this year's
celebration and chose Momaday.
The Literacy Celebration program is funded by a grant from Gulf Coast
Community Foundation of Venice. It brings authors to VHS annually for
its Literacy Week program.
Dr. N. Scott Momaday spoke to Venice High School
<http://www.venice-florida.com/Community/vhsmain.htm> students Jan. 25
as a part of Literacy Celebration 2007: Venice Reads. A member of the
Kiowa tribe, his works are based on Native American stories.
Momaday, the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, "House Made of
Dawn," discussed the importance of oral tradition -- passing on history
and events through storytelling. As a professor at the University of
California at Berkeley, Stanford University and the University of
Arizona, he has taught oral tradition.
Momaday said three important facets drive oral tradition. People should
speak with responsibility and not throw words away. They also should
listen with great care so they won't lose words. Finally, people must
remember what they've heard.
Momaday's demeanor was calm as he talked to VHS students, sharing with
them the power of words.
"Words are sacred. Words are magical," he said. "People have lost their
belief in the magic of words."
He said people often take words for granted because they are easy to
come by.
After the lecture, Momaday answered questions from students about what
motivates him to write and where he gets inspiration for his work.
"Writers write because they must. I write for the thing that is trying
to be born," Momaday said, comparing it to how a sculptor sees his work
in a slab of stone.
His own voice
Tarah Hart, 17, is a senior at VHS and is in the AP Literature program.
Hart read "House Made of Dawn" and liked Momaday's spirituality.
"I am excited to hear him speak in his own voice," Hart said.
Hart said Momaday brings the Native American culture to VHS, and kids
might not be familiar with it.
Noni Lavelle is the Literacy Celebration coordinator. She said a council
for the Literacy Celebration investigated authors for this year's
celebration and chose Momaday.
The Literacy Celebration program is funded by a grant from Gulf Coast
Community Foundation of Venice. It brings authors to VHS annually for
its Literacy Week program.