Critical Summaries Portfolio and Reflection

Summary #1: 

 Food Blog - The vibrant background and History of Puerto Rican Cuisine by Deborah Alvarez-Vargas

Link: https://rolls.bublup.com/view/005-w-0ad9e012-a179-4305-b9b7-0a37933fef14/carousel

    In her 2017 article, The vibrant background and History of Puerto Rican Cuisine, Deborah Alvarez-Vargas shares how African, Indigenous, and Spanish influence has shaped the island's cuisine. Vargas describes a number of dishes, including Pollo Guisado (stewed chicken), Yuca en Escabeche (Marinated Cassava/Yucca), and Mofongo. In the pre-Columbian era of Puerto Rico, Tainos lived off of the land and sea. In the article Vargas describes natives as  "very skilled fishermen" because there were no cattle or “large animals inhabiting the Island.” She mentions that Tainos took advantage of the island's fruits and root vegetables which influenced dishes like Yuca en Escabeche (Marinated Cassava/Yucca) because of their common usage of root vegetables in dishes used to sustain native communities throughout the island. Spanish influence is another major part of Puerto Rican cuisine.While under rule of the Spanish Empire, natives were introduced to the foods and spices such as beans, garlic, cilantro, and olives. In addition the Spanish introduced meat and the cooking method of stewing, which is why we now have dishes like pollo guisado (stewed chicken.) Lastly, Vargas highlights how African customs introduced one of the island's most popular vegetables and cooking methods. When African slaves were brought to the Island by the Spanish, they introduced Plantains and the frying method. This was incorporated into dishes like tostones (fried green plantains) and maduros (fried yellow plantains.) She does this with the intention of breaking down how and what each culture has contributed to Puerto Rican cuisine. I feel like what she does best is highlighting the complexity of Puerto Rican cuisine. Vargas makes it a point to give accurate examples that show how all three cultures come together to create "Comida Criolla" (creole food). One thing however that she does not discuss in depth is the historical “why” as well how these foods and methods were incorporated into what we now know as “Puerto Rican Cuisine.”

Summary #2:

Song - La Fiesta de Pilito by El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico 

Video link: https://youtu.be/aXXtKuUUJS4

Lyrics of focus: 

… Si el año pasado tuvimos problemas

Quizás este año tengamos más

Si el año pasado tuvimos problemas

Quizás este año tengamos más

… Pero no se apuren que la Navidad

A la vuelta de la esquina está

Pero no se apuren que la Navidad

A la vuelta de la esquina está

… Vamos p'aquí, vamos p'allá

¡Todo Puerto Rico!

… A comer pastel y a comer lechón

Arroz con gandules y a beber ron

Que venga morcilla, venga de todo

Y que se deschavetó el compay

Olvidemos todo, ¿ok?

Y a gozarlo todo

Family gatherings become a place of joy and unity for many. Sharing meals, dancing, and participating in other seasonal merriment is a large part of many Latin American households. One thing we all share in common is our love for music and one song associated with the holiday season is El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico’s La Fiesta de Pilito. The song is a classic usually played during the Christmas season in many Puerto Rican households. The first verse of the El Gran Combo starts off by saying “ If last year we had problems, Maybe this year we will have more...But don't hurry, because Christmas is coming.” Right off the bat we can tell the message they're trying to communicate is despite all the problems one may be facing they won't have to worry because a time of celebration is near. A few verses later they say how Christmas is right around the corner and that “All of Puerto Rico! ... To eat cake and to eat roast pig, Rice with pigeon peas and to drink rum, Let the blood sausage come, let it all come, And let's forget everything, ok?..Let's forget everything, ok?” This ties into the inquiry of the class because of how Puerto Ricans associate certain dishes with seasons and celebrations that bring them joy despite the stresses and problems of life. I feel like this song is a good example of how food and music tie into Puerto Rican Culture and our traditions. El Gran Combos main goal to remind us to take a break from stress to enjoy life.

Critical Summary #3:

Food Blog - Pastelón, Puerto Rican Plantain Lasagna by Jorge Garcia  

link: https://blog.amigofoods.com/index.php/puerto-rican-foods/pastelon-puerto-rican-food/

Canva Presentation: 

Critical summary #3

Reflection: 

    I feel like the strategies that helped me to identify the different genres was who wrote/sang them and what platform they were using to get their point across. I feel like this gives me an idea of what kind of content I was looking at which then led me to be able to analyze the sources as well as apply critical aspects. I feel like because there were so many parts to this assignment and a lot of research and trial an error involved that I became stressed. I feel like the preparation was what really freaked me out because of the fact that I had to make sure I was choosing sources that I could analyze and later add a bit of my own input. In the words of Lyndsey this assignment was  very "college." One method that really helped my process was the 10in 1 method that Lyndsey introduced. It helped me gather potential main ideas and topics that I could focus on in my summaries. Unlike the last assignment I found myself paying close attention to whatever text I was writing about to make sure I was giving my most authentic response. I feel like it helped the development of my ideas it made me think critically about articles and sources that we would've otherwise skimmed over and called it a day. Assignments like this are the ones that I feel do a good job at making us practice our researching methods and how to think past the basic meaning of texts.