Dr. Gail Brekke | Prairie View A&M University (original) (raw)

Conference Presentations by Dr. Gail Brekke

American Culture Association , 2023

The Anti-Ironic Beast Mother Duck was brewing a pot of tea, when she was startled by Laddie barki... more The Anti-Ironic Beast Mother Duck was brewing a pot of tea, when she was startled by Laddie barking furiously. She immediately put down the kettle, and hurried out to the backyard. If Laddie was barking, there was always a good reason, and this was not a the-boys-are-on-the-roof-again bark. This bark was urgent, and required immediate action. Baby Jon was busily scooping up teaspoons of dirt and flinging them into the air. Dirt was raining down on his head, but this was not what Laddie was so upset about. The little Sheltie was ferociously running back and forth between Baby Jon and the most enormous creature Mother Duck had ever seen, determinedly barking and nipping at the animal's forepaws. A white crane-like bird was flapping noisily above the entire scene, squawking and cawing loudly. The large creature was standing still, but his eyes were darting back and forth. Despite Laddie's best efforts, the creature seemed unaffected by the Sheltie's deafening behavior. Mother Duck rushed between the animal and Baby Jon, who had begun flinging dirt onto the creature. Laddie continued to bark and rush back and forth, intent on defending his young charge. A small white feather floated down and landed on Baby Jon's head. Mother Duck deftly scooped up the toddler, and then began to shoo away the animal. "Shoo! Shoo! Go away! There's nothing for you here! Shame on you, to come tromping into my garden and creating such a ruckus!" exclaimed Mother Duck, while flapping her apron at the animal. The animal blinked lazily at her, his expression unchanging, and inhaled deeply. His breath whooshed out noisily. "You're holding my dinner," the beast responded, pointedly looking at Baby Jon. Mother Duck instinctively shielded the child from the beast. Baby Jon waved his dirty teaspoon delightedly at the bird overhead. "He most certainly is not your dinner!" exclaimed Mother Duck. The bird immediately repeated, "Not your dinner! Not your dinner!" and swooped around the small gathering; he executed a remarkable loop mid-air, and continued, "Run away! Run away! The beast is coming!" The beast (as Mother Duck had begun to think of it) gave a half-hearted swipe at the bird with his enormous paw, but the bird easily dodged out of reach and finally settled down on the fence, and began to busily peck at some small ants. The beast swung his head back towards Mother Duck, and remarked, "He's right, you know. I'm quite undiscerning." Mother Duck shifted Baby Jon on her hip, while Laddie paced back and forth in front of her, alternately growling and glaring at the beast. The beast studied the little Sheltie, then thought better of it and refocused his attention on the two people in front of him. "I will not run away in my own yard; go find your dinner elsewhere", said Mother Duck calmly, and stared right back into the beast's eyes. She seemed unafraid of the beast, but still prudently kept her distance. "I've already found my dinner; my breakfast is holding it."

Popular Culture, 2023

American Culture Association, 2021

Magic food, or food or drink that produces magical powers when eaten by the consumer, is a popula... more Magic food, or food or drink that produces magical powers when eaten by the consumer, is a popular motif in religion and in folklore. Food is a readily available item in any culture, and one of the few items people innocently ingest. In children’s literature, magical food is encountered in both classic and modern stories. Magic food in children’s literature is significant, in that characters in tales must have a means to obtain magical powers that is easily accessible and believable.

Popular Culture, 2022

A satirical look at Hell, and what happens when a child appears there.

HICE, 2022

Talking with the Animals: An exploration of animal -child communication in Adolescent Literature ... more Talking with the Animals:
An exploration of animal -child communication in Adolescent Literature
Humans, children and otherwise, have always enjoyed conversing with animals. Animals fascinate children at an early age, and many household pets have found their way into the hearts of their human companions. The average family pet (cat, dog, fish, or bird) takes on the personality of a family member, and children accept their furry stepsiblings as deserving of love as other people. Children also believe that animals are as capable of emotions as people are.
Literature has reflected this relationship throughout the centuries with stories of animals and people talking to each other and enjoying fantastical relationships. Eliza Thornberry always seemed able to help her animal friends, and Mowgli enjoyed equality, and sometimes superiority with his wolf, bear, and other animal counterparts. Animals also enjoyed speech with each other, and not just the grunting, squeaking kind. The rats of NIMH shared many human characteristics, including not only conversation, but also emotions and critical thinking abilities.

The Monograph, 2017

Their Eyes Were Watching Janie: Evolution of Criticism in Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Wa... more Their Eyes Were Watching Janie:
Evolution of Criticism in Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God

One of the most powerful influences over how a work of literature is viewed is the passage of time; countless examples exist of authors who were either unappreciated or mocked during their lifetime, only to be rediscovered long after their passing. A work may present a viewpoint that disagrees with the political tastes of its time, or else suggest ideas that would be considered offensive. With the passage of time, however, not only do political ideologies vary tremendously, but certain issues may become more relevant as the years pass. Such is the case with Zora Neale Hurston’s novel Their Eyes Were Watching God. The work was highly polarizing during the time it was released, primarily for failing to conform to the traditional model of contemporary African- American literature. While it achieved a moderate success, it was largely forgotten compared to Hurston’s contemporaries’ works. As time progressed, however, the work was rediscovered by author Alice Walker and the novel, along with Hurston’s other works, was reevaluated as a significant work of African- American literature. The dramatic change in the book’s assessment is significant not only for the degree to which the book’s status was reversed, but also for the relatively small amount of time that passed between the book’s initial evaluation and subsequent revival: its status has changed from an obscure and forgotten book to a classic example of the genre. An examination of the book’s criticisms over time indicates not only how the work was regarded, but simultaneously demonstrates a fundamental shift in what types of work would be considered significant to the genre. Through examining Their Eyes Were Watching God’s criticisms, one can examine not only the novel’s rediscovery, but also the way in which the view of African- American literature has evolved.
Richard Wright’s criticism of Hurston’s work, for instance, serves to demonstrate both his personal view of the novel, and presents one of the most pressing questions regarding African- American literature: to what degree should a work of art be political? From Wright’s perspective, novels are a valuable tool to communicate a message to a large audience about political issues, and he sought through his work to bring to light the prejudices facing African- Americans.
In addition to Alice Walker’s reevaluation of the novel as a time capsule of African- American culture, others have examined the book from a feminist perspective. While the novel’s overall focus on racial politics is far less overt than Hurston’s contemporaries’ works, Their Eyes’s handling of gender politics offers a key perspective on the problems that faced African- American women in Southern African- American culture.
In tracing the critical assessment of Their Eyes Were Watching God, one can discern a fundamental shift in critiques of the book. Richard Wright and other critics were unsure how to treat its honest portrayal of the Southern African- American culture, and as a result the book fell by the wayside. While it did have its share of praise, it failed to live up to the perceived aesthetic of the canonical African- American novel, as it did not deal heavily with the issue of white versus black politics. Due to the heavily politicized nature of the African- American novels of the time (due in no small part to the Harlem Renaissance), a movement evolved to depart from the southern subservient culture which persisted after slavery. Simply put, the novel was before its time, preserving a culture which was not seen as worth preserving. The question now becomes not whether the work is worthy of preservation, but to what degree Janie and Eatonville should serve as role models to be emulated, or as figurative subjects to be studied.

Americanization in Reyna Grande's The Distance Between Us Reyna Grande's memoir, The Distance Bet... more Americanization in Reyna Grande's The Distance Between Us Reyna Grande's memoir, The Distance Between Us, chronicles her life growing up as a Mexican-American immigrant, caught among loyalties to family, country, and culture. The memoir is just as much about Reyna's parents as it is about Reyna, as the reader sees through the author's eyes the changes the family goes through on their own immigration. The book serves not only to chronicle Reyna's life story, but also to illustrate the difficulties of growing up in a

The Monograph, 2019

The Power of Quilts: Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use” and The Color Purple In Alice Walker’s “Ever... more The Power of Quilts:
Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use” and The Color Purple

In Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use”, Mama’s daughter, Dee/Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo, returns home to visit Mama and Maggie. Dee asks her mother if she can have two old quilts, and Mama refuses, stating the quilts had been promised to her younger daughter, Maggie. While this exchange ends the story, it doesn't end the thought that the quilts are something more than two blankets. The quilts, pieced together by Mama, Big Dee, and their mother (the grandmother), represent the past, and the heritage of that particular family. But the quilts in “Everyday Use”, similar to the quilts in The Color Purple, can also be recognized as a symbol of power, and of voice. The quilts speak to the characters, and also give the characters the power to speak the truth clearly.

The Monograph, 2020

Strong female protagonists are not uncommon in classic adolescent literature. Alongside such pr... more Strong female protagonists are not uncommon in classic adolescent literature. Alongside such protagonists as Tom Sawyer and Tarzan, female main characters, including Pollyanna, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, and Laura Ingalls, are more than capable of holding their young readers’ interest. While female protagonists undoubtedly have more female readers than male readers, the works they are found in are not considered strictly “female adolescent literature.” In other words, adolescent literature is not usually classified according to gender, though one could make the point that Little Women, for instance, is more of a “girl’s” book than a “boy’s” book, while Tom Sawyer undoubtedly appeals to more male readers than female readers. At any rate, classic adolescent literature is defined as literature written for the young reader (usually over the age of ten) that has withstood the test of time. With this definition in mind, Little Women, Anne of Green Gables, and Pocahontas: The Indian Girl of the Forest easily fall into the category of adolescent literature. In addition, all three of these works appeal to the young female reader in part because of their use of a strong female protagonist.

The Monograph, 2021

Generational Storytelling in Asian-American Literature Garett Hongo, in his short story, “Kubot... more Generational Storytelling in Asian-American Literature

Garett Hongo, in his short story, “Kubota,” remembers his grandfather recounting his experiences as a Japanese-American living in Hawaii when the attack on Pearl Harbor occurs. Though his grandfather was only detained for a few days by the FBI, other Japanese-Americans on the Hawaiian Islands did not fare so well, and were interred for years. The author recalls his experiences years later while living in California; whenever he speaks of the interment camps, his Japanese-American friends are silent. Hongo concludes, “the Japanese-American children around were burdened in a way I was not. Their injunction was silence. Mine was to speak.”
Hongo is unique in his community: his family was spared the struggle that so many of his friends endured of living in internment camps. His grandfather insists on telling his experiences, while the other Japanese-Americans wish to forget about the effects of World War II on their community. The teenaged Garrett is bored with his grandfather’s stories, but listens dutifully, anyway: “It’s a ritual payment the young owe their elders who have survived.”
What starts as a simple remembrance of his grandfather in a short story becomes an exploration of generational story-telling. Hongo’s grandfather cannot forget (nor should he) his experiences of World War II. The memories of each person, though, are different. What one man remembers, another man chooses to forget. It is the grandfather’s stubborn insistence that his story be told and remembered that illustrates the importance not of the story, but of its teller. After his grandfather’s death on December 7, 1983, (National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day), Hongo dreams of his grandfather, releasing a small paper boat into the ocean in Hawaii, decorated with the names of the dead. Years later, Hongo is telling his grandfather’s stories to the next generation.

The Monograph, 2022

Critics’ Dependence on Duality in Gloria Naylor’s Mama Day Gloria Naylor’s Mama Day, published ... more Critics’ Dependence on Duality in Gloria Naylor’s Mama Day

Gloria Naylor’s Mama Day, published in 1988, is a novel that takes place in two primary physical locations: Willow Springs and New York City. Three narrators tell the story, but much of the work is comprised of dualities. Even the three narrators seem to appear as two pairs: George and Cocoa, and Miranda (Mama Day) and Abigail. It is through this use of duality, not only in narration, but also in setting, theme, and character, that Naylor succeeds in crafting a story that utilizes a balanced approach between two worlds. Researchers and critics of this story are quick to report the pairings of various devices throughout the story. It is also interesting to note that some critics mention the use of triplets in some aspects of the work, including Susan Meisenhelder and Paula Gallant Eckard.
Meisenhelder is unable to separate the dualities in Mama Day. Most critics run into the same phenomena; when discussing Mama Day, it is difficult to discuss one single item. Naylor’s brilliance is seen in her ability to draw permanent connections between narrators, settings, themes, and characters. Meisenhelder even refers to George and Ophelia as “two lone lovers” (410), a feat impossible to accomplish. She also notes that the quilt is about “past and present, joy and pain, triumph and despair” (413); there are always two ideas, never one. Duality is not simply a part of this story; it is the story.
Meisenhelder also notes that attempts to separate the duality into two single parts results in disaster. She uses the example of George trying “single-handedly” trying save Ophelia. His efforts result only in failure. Duality is survival; individualism to the exclusion of others is death.
Mama Day understands, encourages, and lives with the duality of her life, and with the duality of the world outside. She is the character in the novel who accepts and teaches that duality is as vital to life as is breathing, the in and out rhythm of respiration reminding the reader that there are two parts to all aspects of living. The dual role that Mama Day and Abigail play, the relationship between Mama Day and Cocoa, and the Ying and yang of Mama Day and Dr. Smithfield all contribute to the duality of the story.
The setting of Willow Springs has the characteristic of dualism within itself. The dualism of hands, the bridge, Candle Walk, and sacred and secular time is also mentioned. Lindsey Tucker’s article, like other critiques, also espouses the idea that duality in Naylor’s novel is unavoidable.
The critics, regardless of their points, must use duality when discussing Mama Day. Duality is present in many aspects, but the ideas of communal narrators, dual settings, duality themes, and dualism both within and between the characters themselves, all combine in Mama Day to create a novel that expresses the idea of a balance between two worlds.

Proceedings of International Conference on Social and Education Sciences, Dec 2019

This paper proposes the addition of two new terms, "afinite" and "unfinite" to supplement the cur... more This paper proposes the addition of two new terms, "afinite" and "unfinite" to supplement the current terminology of "finite" and "infinite." The restrictions of the current terminology used in science, math, and linguistics result in inaccurate conclusions. The new terms are defined both linearly and through the medium of a Punnett Square, and explained through both theoretical and applied uses. Articles using only the traditional terms reveal the shortcomings of using two narrowly defined terms. Using four terms, instead of the traditional two, results in more accurate and truthful knowledge. This paper does not attempt to determine whether specific theories, including Cantor"s set theory, Baye"s Theorem, or Chomsky"s Discrete Infinity Theory are correct or incorrect: it simply argues for the addition of two new terms in order to more accurately define ideas.

Books by Dr. Gail Brekke

International Society for Technology, Education, and Science (ISTES), 2019

ISBN: 978-1-952092-00-8

Edited by: Mack Shelley & Valarie Akerson

Articles: 1-14

Conference: International Conference on Social and Education Sciences (IConSES)
Published: ISTES Organization, Monument, CO, USA

Dates: October 7-10, 2019
Location: Denver, CO, USA

Conference Chair(s):
Prof. Dr. Mack Shelley, Iowa State University, USA
Prof. Dr. Valarie Akerson, Indiana University, USA

Papers by Dr. Gail Brekke

American Culture, 2024

Conversation with a Demon: Insights, Observations, and Conclusions In this paper, the author at... more Conversation with a Demon: Insights, Observations, and Conclusions
In this paper, the author attempts to discover more about the characteristics, lifestyles, and aspects of demons. Using a fictional conversation with a demon, the narrator learns that demons are not necessarily physical beings in other realms, (such as Hell or Purgatory) but rather an energy that occasionally erupts and births a demon. The demon on Earth, then, is a different form than the demon in Hell. The history, motivations, and depictions of demons in literature, movies, religion, and other popular media (such as YouTube channels) are discussed. Demonology is also referenced, and a reference page will be included.
The paper is organized as an initial contact with a demon, a discussion of the history and motivations, depictions of demons, and the future of demons in American culture, and to a lesser extent, worldwide. No judgement of demons is rendered; rather, a detached view of the demons’ existence is described. New insights regarding demons will be provided.

The Monograph, 2024

When segregation was officially outlawed in 1964 in the United States, hidden rules still applied... more When segregation was officially outlawed in 1964 in the United States, hidden rules still applied, and children unknowingly obeyed these unspoken laws of conduct. The insidious nature

The Monograph, 2023

Fighting With (and not against) Fanon Presenter: Gail Brekke Date of Presentation: 11:30 AM, Febr... more Fighting With (and not against) Fanon
Presenter: Gail Brekke
Date of Presentation: 11:30 AM, February 16, 2023
NAAAS Conference 2023

Frantz Fanon’s book, Black Skin, White Masks, discusses the dilemmas (unwilling) colonized people face. The book is divided into eight Chapters and also includes an introduction. The Negro and Language is the topic of Chapter One. Since I also hold an advanced degree in linguistics, I was curious to see how Fanon would describe the language of the oppressed, and possibly the oppressors.
This book was first published in 1952, also the approximate time Chomsky was doing his research. Fanon handled the subject matter competently, and also discussed, in everyday terminology, how the language on both sides changed significantly when two opposing groups came into contact with each other; Fanon observed marked language change within specific groups. This underscored the point that when a culture/country/group is colonized and/or oppressed, the group itself can undergo radical change. He also notes that the language changes signal a new hierarchy within the oppressed group, and that group may, in turn, identify (and sometimes even try to impress) the oppressors. These observations reveal that when an unwilling people are colonized, that group’s culture is changed forever, both from within and without.
Fanon attacks colonialism as manipulative (160) and national consciousness as deceitful. He also realizes that a national culture is imperative for any true rebellion to succeed.
It is the descriptions of the true cases he encountered that continues to haunt the reader. Fanon is a very descriptive writer, and his words impress upon the reader just how cruel man can be to fellow man. Beatings, tortures, outright lynchings are described with (almost) clinical detachment. The reader identifies both with the victim and the perpetrator. This last section of the book drives home Fanon’s belief that colonization is not only dreadfully wrong, but dreadfully brutal.
Fanon’s insights are fairly non- judgmental, and his conclusion sums up his findings perfectly: “Every time a man has contributed to the victory of the dignity of the spirit, every time a man has said no to an attempt to subjugate his fellows, I have felt solidarity with his act” (226).

This paper proposes the addition of two new terms, “afinite” and “unfinite” to supplement the cur... more This paper proposes the addition of two new terms, “afinite” and “unfinite” to supplement the current terminology of “finite” and “infinite.” The restrictions of the current terminology used in science, math, and linguistics result in inaccurate conclusions. The new terms are defined both linearly and through the medium of a Punnett Square, and explained through both theoretical and applied uses. Articles using only the traditional terms reveal the shortcomings of using two narrowly defined terms. Using four terms, instead of the traditional two, results in more accurate and truthful knowledge. This paper does not attempt to determine whether specific theories, including Cantor‟s set theory, Baye‟s Theorem, or Chomsky‟s Discrete Infinity Theory are correct or incorrect: it simply argues for the addition of two new terms in order to more accurately define ideas.