Post by sadejoh35 on May 21, 2012 20:42:07 GMT -5
Although Tina Chang did not have what most would call an easy life, the tragedies she suffered may very well have been what led to her success as a poet. Chang was born in Oklahoma in 1969 to Chinese immigrant parents, but moved to New York when she was just a year old. Unfortunately, her father tragically died of cancer just a short while later, and so she and her brother were sent to live with their relatives in Taiwan for a short period. It is likely that this is where Chang began to develop into the gifted, thought-provoking writer she is now.
Shortly after her father died, Tina Chang starting questioning things; she began to think “What is language?” and “What is the role of words?” She thought more and more about shaping words and producing language. After two years in Taiwan, she and her brother moved back to Queens where she spent the rest of her youth. She later attended Binghamton University where one of her Professors told her she had what it takes to be a poet. However, she could not start her poetry career immediately, so she spent a while pursuing a few typical English-major jobs like teaching, advertising, and publishing.
In 1995, Chang enrolled in Colombia University and later received her M.F.A in poetry. Since then she has published two books of poetry, “Half-lit Houses” and “Of Gods & Strangers”, and co-edited a poetry anthology called Language for a New Century: Contemporary Poetry from the Middle East, Asia and Beyond”. Incredibly, she has also received awards from the New York Foundation for the Arts, the Barbara Deming Memorial Foundation/Money for Women, and the Ludwig Vogelstein Foundation, Poets & Writers and The Academy of American Poets. In addition, she has won a Dana Award for poetry and is the current Brooklyn Poet Laureate.
In an interview, Tina Chang stated “I write in order to capture what is no longer there”. She has dedicated her work to documenting anything from the two stone lions in front of her home in Taiwan, to genocides in Ethiopia, because everything is forgotten so easily. Chang’s writing leaves such a lasting impression on the reader because her poetry is meant to permanently instill an image in the mind of the reader. In addition, she creates an imaginary world where people are able to escape when they feel they are not satisfied with reality. Evident in her poetry is the pain she suffered from the loss of her father and the eastern cultural aspects stemming from her parents and relatives.
Tina Chang is like a runner who won a race after a poor start. Faced with tragedy when she was a mere infant, she uses her life experiences to become the person she is today. Chang certainly did not have any advantages in her life, with middle-class parents, constant moves, and the death of her father, but one would not guess that today. She did not feel sorry for herself nor did she give up on her dream. Today, Chang lives at home in New York City with her husband and toddler, and still manages to be an extremely distinguished author and poet.
Tina Chang is living proof that anyone, no matter the obstacles they face or the hardships they endure, can achieve their dreams. So please, give her a warm welcome.
Shortly after her father died, Tina Chang starting questioning things; she began to think “What is language?” and “What is the role of words?” She thought more and more about shaping words and producing language. After two years in Taiwan, she and her brother moved back to Queens where she spent the rest of her youth. She later attended Binghamton University where one of her Professors told her she had what it takes to be a poet. However, she could not start her poetry career immediately, so she spent a while pursuing a few typical English-major jobs like teaching, advertising, and publishing.
In 1995, Chang enrolled in Colombia University and later received her M.F.A in poetry. Since then she has published two books of poetry, “Half-lit Houses” and “Of Gods & Strangers”, and co-edited a poetry anthology called Language for a New Century: Contemporary Poetry from the Middle East, Asia and Beyond”. Incredibly, she has also received awards from the New York Foundation for the Arts, the Barbara Deming Memorial Foundation/Money for Women, and the Ludwig Vogelstein Foundation, Poets & Writers and The Academy of American Poets. In addition, she has won a Dana Award for poetry and is the current Brooklyn Poet Laureate.
In an interview, Tina Chang stated “I write in order to capture what is no longer there”. She has dedicated her work to documenting anything from the two stone lions in front of her home in Taiwan, to genocides in Ethiopia, because everything is forgotten so easily. Chang’s writing leaves such a lasting impression on the reader because her poetry is meant to permanently instill an image in the mind of the reader. In addition, she creates an imaginary world where people are able to escape when they feel they are not satisfied with reality. Evident in her poetry is the pain she suffered from the loss of her father and the eastern cultural aspects stemming from her parents and relatives.
Tina Chang is like a runner who won a race after a poor start. Faced with tragedy when she was a mere infant, she uses her life experiences to become the person she is today. Chang certainly did not have any advantages in her life, with middle-class parents, constant moves, and the death of her father, but one would not guess that today. She did not feel sorry for herself nor did she give up on her dream. Today, Chang lives at home in New York City with her husband and toddler, and still manages to be an extremely distinguished author and poet.
Tina Chang is living proof that anyone, no matter the obstacles they face or the hardships they endure, can achieve their dreams. So please, give her a warm welcome.