In Market Heaven in Mexico
I really liked how the author of this article brought you into the scene with her descriptions. She opens with an array of descriptions that introduces the area and the sights around her before letting the reader in on the location, so they have a full sense of the market without predetermined judgements. She uses excellent verbs to describe the feeling one gets during sensory overload in a foreign place - "The aroma of charring meat besieged our noses," for instance - and these help the piece move along at a good pace without getting bogged down in overly lengthy strings of adjectives.
She also had a very snappy way of arranging sentences. A really fun piece of humor (and a linguistically interesting sentence) was the part where she was describing the nonsensical layout of the market - "Need a new tap fitting? Head past the cellphones, turn left at the dusters, right at the kid’s toys and they’re beside the cosmetics." This added a nice lightness to the piece, and made the reader feel as if they were meandering around the market, getting lost with the author. The phrases the author uses are quick and punchy, and make the piece seem young and fresh. She includes a barrage of images, but in this context, they work to add to her point about the apparent randomness of the market.
I think the author missed an opportunity to expand upon the history of the market. As it stands, it is a piece about the impression it made upon her that day, but it would seem that it is a long-standing tradition in Mexico. Whether it be in the beginning after she introduces the market, or during the parts about traditional crafts or food, she had a lot of chances to delve deeper into the past to place one of the markets or their wares into a historical context. I also thought the ending seemed a bit rushed and random.
I liked the description of the market. You could both see and feel the atmosphere, although I still have no idea what wee blighters are. I understand this piece is about food, but I'm not sure what it is trying to prove. It almost gets in its own way talking about all the different kinds of food that even the author didn't try, or at least that we know of. There was also nothing of the history of the culture of the Mexican foods, which is what the piece revolves around.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the descriptions because they drew me in, especially with the food, I could picture some of it and wished to taste it. I do agree that the ending was a bit rushed and more time could have been spent on how the markets came about. It did go back and forth between talking specifically about the food and then other parts of the markets, it probably could have been organized better.
ReplyDeleteThe descriptions are what makes this piece what it is. She has a way of using the right words to get the feeling, taste, and smells across. I also liked the second paragraph where she descripes the process of ordering food at the market. It was quick and funny. Her organization did leave something to improve upon. I was confused throughout whether this was one market or multiple. And left me questioning the history of the markets and what makes each market different from the rest.
ReplyDeleteHey, it's everything under one roof in market form. I liked the descriptions she used to explain how much of a "this and that" quality the place had. I agree, it's missed the cue to include the history. Of the place, of the food, of the objects. It all could've been expanded upon.
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