La Facultad

[cottingtonl]

In today's discussion in class we brought up what Anzaldua describes as "la facultad," meaning "the capicity to see in surface phenomena the meaning of deeper realities." She says thats  it "is an acute awareness mediated by the part of the psyche that does not speak and the one possessing this sensitivity is excruciatingly alive to the world." She refers to the people who have it, and that those who are pushed out of society will become more sensitized to having it, but what she doesn't explicitly say is if having this capability is innately in everyone and only more sensitized and used in minorities? Or does la falcultad only reside in those who are oppressed exclusively? this is referred to on page 60.

[xiey]

I do think Anzaldua believes that this capacity to see in surface phenomena the meaning of deeper realities mostly resides in those who are oppressed, because only when one went through and suffered from oppression one can get more sensitive and hold a comparison in mind. This comparison is crucial. It refers to difference between the defined nature/normality in real life and the inner consciousness invoked by the psychologically or physically unsafe.

[Mikki Franklin]

I agree with the other comment. I believe that La Facultad is mostly for the people who are oppressed becaue they experience it stronger. “Those who are pounced on the most have it the strongest-the females, the homosexuals of all races, the darkskinned, the outcast, the persecuted, the marginalized, the foreign" (60). They are the ones that really know what it feels like in developing their own la facultad.

[bellm]

The comparison we made in class to double-conciousness, I think, is very applicable.  Like double-conciousness, la facultad gives those who possess it an advantage in knowledge over those who do not.   I believe that we all possess some of this skill.  In one way or another, we are all living on a border someplace in our lives. Those who are firmly on the outside probably are more aware of "la facultad". The way Anzaladua writes about this concept leaves it unclear if it is a positive or negative aspect of oppression. 

[Aleasha Andrews]

I feel like everyone is today’s society is oppressed or feels some kind of marginalization. Therefore if this oppression or marginalization become very prevalent and those who are victims of it can experience this la facultad. I also agree that it can be related to “double consciousness”, but along with that, I also believe everyone can have some sort of double consciousness in one way or another. Therefore, I do believe it applies to everyone if they choose to apply it to their own lives. I do not necessarily think it is a good thing or a bad thing, I believe that it allows a realization about social standing. With this awareness, one is able to break down barriers in their own life. 

[Tyler Manning]

This ability that Anzaldua describes is certainly an asset to all who posses it because it allows them to develop a more comprehensive look at the world through specific situations. Ironically, those who posses this power are often those who are oppressed because this oppression has forced them to develop a different perspective than those who cannot relate to them. It is possible for anyone to possess la facultad if they take the time and effort to broaden their understanding and appreciation of all different types of people and ideas.