seminar notes on Paper Bullets

coming of age
identity and growth
the title “paper bullets” + fictional autobiography
-> bullets intend to hurt/feel/overpower
-> origami + paper bullets
-> is this fiction? is it real? does it even matter??
dedication: “for the way she makes me feel” – who is she?
-> “the way you make me feel” by MJ
so many pop culture refs in this book
preface: “occasionally in this text i’ve had to modify the truth a bit. please forgive me. i did it for you”
-> deliberately stretching the truth to reach a higher truth
samurai champloo does this -> “all of this is fictional, so shut up and enjoy the show”
intro – what is “it”?
-> life, pop culture, media
-> “blessed or cursed, i remember everything” ; “my every recollection filled with random names and phrases”
1970’s – the ME decade
-> significant bc of main character’s transition from me->world
chapters all named after flowers + each flower has a meaning to it
-> ex. sunflower=familial + pure love, daffodil=misfortune (1 flower)
-> all annual flowers
“sometimes in life, i think we’re supposed to drown a bit. sometimes, maybe a little more”
the meaning of FOB and assimilation -> conflict between FOBs and ABCs
-> more pressure from ABCs to assimilate to american culture than anyone else
“don’t ruin this image i’ve constructed” -> insecurity
home, family, belonging
parent/child relationships
-> do our parents ever think ahead before having us?