Friday, March 18, 2022

Haley Scholars (Group 3) Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah's "Zimmer Land"

[Haley Reading Groups Spring 2022]

By now, we're seeing that Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah is a really inventive, far out thinker who takes tidbits from current events and our contemporary society and stretches those ideas to some really dreadful conclusions in a near or distant future. 

Along those lines, Adjei-Brenyah's "Zimmer Land" showcases an amusement park where patrons role play in environments where they ultimately shoot (with fake bullets) people who they view as threats. The protagonist of the story is a black man. He is the most popular target of park visitors who are interested in acting out situations where they kill an alleged threatening or confrontational black man. 

 Adjei-Brenyah's work isn't classified as horror fiction, but the implications of some of the stories are scary. 

Here are two questions: 

1.) After reading the story, what's one good question that you would be inclined to ask Adjei-Brenyah about his approach to storytelling in "Zimmer Land" or about how his mind as a creative artist works in general? (Respond with just one sentence)

2.) Why are you interested in that question, or what good or useful response do you think your question would prompt? (Respond with just one sentence)

58 comments:

Jasmine Johnson said...

My question would have to be 'What made him want to write about what he did or why did he choose to make it center around a play place" I think my questions would prompt a response that will give me more of a background on why he wrote this story

Ehijie Ilenikhena said...

My question would be," How do does he come up with all the creative stories he writes, where does he get the inspiration from?

Each chapter is unique, engrossing, and carries a different message than the last. These questions would allow me to see how where he gets his creativity to make these compelling stories.

Ehijie . I

Fatima Kante said...

1. why would he attempt to aim and shot at the innocent man?

2. why would he he shoot and why with a fake bullet is there a message and a reason for that?

Anaya jones said...

one question I would ask is what's one significant event in your life that inspired you to write this about what he did or why did he choose not to make it center around a place space. asking this will give me a better understanding. and better background

Indya Howard said...

One question I would ask is what does the fake bullet and targeting an innocent man have to do with the story like is there a deeper meaning than exactly what he wrote. This would give me a better understanding of the overall story as in the purpose was it to entertain or was it a story for me to reflect on and think about the deeper meanings.

Kemry H said...

The one question I would ask would be what happened to him or inspired him to write about what he did. I'm interested in this question because it would give me some background knowledge and possibly understand the story better.

Ivan Johnson said...

1. What did you experience in life that made you such a creative person?
2. I'd ask Adjei-Brenyah that question because I struggle with finding my creative edge.

Damya Evans said...

1.) How did he come up with the idea to write such a sad but realistic story sort of as a game?
2.) Zimmer Land happens quite often in real life but how did the author get the idea of turning these real scenarios into a game told in a story?

Niylah Edwards said...

What ideas and what is the process of writing these stories? Who inspires the stories?
I am interested in my question because the way he writes keeping you pulled in, and the creativity/realism you can feel is unbelievable.

Jonathan G said...

The one question I would ask is, has writing what you wrote about changed the way you see yourself. I'm interested in my question because this would fully help me understand his purpose and what inspired him to do so.

Jonathan G

David Gaines said...

David Gaines
1. My question would have to be what inspired him to keep writing?

2. I know that dealing with writer's block and other things like that are not easy so I would like to know what kept him going. That is what makes me interested in this question.

Chris Rhodes said...

One question I would be inclined to ask Adjei-Brenyah about his approach to storytelling in “Zimmer Land” is what are we, as the readers, supposed to get from this story, specifically black readers?

I am interested in my question because I genuinely want to know how he anticipates black people’s reactions and opinions to his story.


- Chris Rhodes.

Amber Dixon said...

A question I would be prompted to ask is what some things in your life that affected your ways of thinking or who.

This question interests me simply because everyone is influenced by someone or something, and his work is "unique" so I would be interested in what influences him to get better intel.

Alayah D. said...

My question would be, "What inspires the writing and creative thinking?" I would want to know the thought process and what it took to get here.

Tashauri Fuller said...

One question I would ask is how does he come up with his stories because they are so creative and I think knowing the background of the creation would help give a better understanding because I feel like it is a deeper meaning behind the Stories than we think.

Sierrea McNiff said...

My question for Adjei-Brenyah would be, "Are people using Zimmer Land as a murder simulation instead of learning about justice?"

I'm curious to know this because most patrons chose the gun option in the Cassidy Lane module.

Tamia Goodlow said...

1.) I would raise the question of why he even thought of shooting a black man, let alone a person, who isn't doing anything?
2.)As there are many instances in the real world like event, was the author trying to connect it and raise awareness in some way?
-Tamia Goodlow

Aunye Harrold said...

1. I would ask him if he has been through any specific situations and if not where he gets the creative ability to write the way he does.
2. I am interested in this question because I like to try and see the work from the same view that the creator sees it.

Colette Jackson said...

The question that I would ask would be " how does one process the idea of the story and how did they use their background to incorporate and create the story( if he used his life at all".

I would ask this because I feel as if most authors kind of based some stories off a part in their life but I could be wrong, I just think asking the author this would allow them to explain the story to me and I could put some puzzle pieces together.

-Colette Jackson

Josiah Olden said...

I would ask Adjei-Brenyah if this particular story was inspired by the many violent crimes done to black unarmed people. From the interaction that the protagonist has with the other player, it seems like he is referencing recent events. He also discusses how others view black people which was illustrated by the dialogue between the protagonist and the other player who is "protecting his home". I thought it was very interesting how he discusses this injustice in the form of a game.

Kennedy J said...

1.) What inspires your creative work?

2.) This would help me improve my writing for classes since I struggle with finding originality. Therefore, I'd need insight on how someone taps in to their creative side.

Jenaya A Gant said...

1. What did you experience in life that made you very creative and unique?
2. I'd ask Adjei-Brenyah that question because this story wasn't anything I would think of.

Marcus G. said...

One of the first questions I would ask is "How does he come up with these stories?" I find that how he writes is very interesting.

I am interested in how he can keep writing these because I have issues myself trying to come up with how to convert certain scenarios into other situations or in different realities.

Anonymous said...

my question would be what inspired him to write this story? This would give me better understanding and background of the story.

Alexi J. said...

I would like to ask Adjei-Brenyah if/how imagining, thinking of, and writing stories like these affects him? I'm curious because simply reading these stories makes me feel sick to my stomach and angry, so does he feel emotions like those or is this simply a way to cope/express himself.

Alexi J.

Aminah A. Haynes said...

I would ask Adijei-Brenyah what inspried them to make such a sad and realistic story and ask if any similar situation happened to them or to someone they knew.
I would ask this to get a interesting insight of their life and have a bunch of context to know about.

Jonathan Hinton said...

1.What elements of your ideas for your stories play into the genre and tone you end up writing for them?

2.It would show how creative applications of literary tools like genre and tone can be used to tell interesting stories about serious subjects in our world.

Tonia Estes said...

1. why is the ending of the story like that?
2. Sometimes the ending of stories have a deeper meaning so I’m just curious why does most of the stories end on a climax?

Tanija Harris- Ritchie said...

My Question is what inspired him to keep writing. I want to ask this question because nowadays some people give up on their dreams because they're not seeing results or they just feel down, I want to know what made him keep writing these creative stories and keep going throughout his career.

Tyler M Guthrie said...

1.)
After reading this particular story in the book, "Friday Black," I would like to ask. How did Brenyah feel while writing this fictional story called "Zimmer Land," understanding that the evils of racism are quite common in the world?
2.)
I believe that this question is quite appropriate towards reminding others just how important our equal rights are as human beings and why we should treat one another as such. What is good or bad, right or unjust. Without a law, there is little understanding of these concepts as complete chaos may result due to a lack of executing proper morals. Brenyah's message of this story is to hopefully remind the reader the reality of our world's history, more possibly so that history does not repeat itself.

Erin Myers said...

Natalie G.:

My question would be, What was the inspiration behind Zimmer Land? I would ask this because it sounds like a real life thing that happened in his life.

Erin Myers said...

Taylor G.:

When it came to writing this story, did anything you’ve experienced or seen have any influence on the story or was it solely from imagination?


The reason why I’m interested in that question is because I like to know the behind the scenes of how a writer comes up with their work.

Erin Myers said...

Taylor G.:

When it came to writing this story, did anything you’ve experienced or seen have any influence on the story or was it solely from imagination?


The reason why I’m interested in that question is because I like to know the behind the scenes of how a writer comes up with their work.

Erin Myers said...

Neville G.:

I would ask Adjei-Brenyah how he could make a concerning topic that happens every so often into an exciting story, basically turned into an amusement park. I've asked because he is so good at making the stories seem like they're nonfiction.

Stephanie H. said...

If I could ask you one question, I would ask what has been a significant event in your life that prompted you to write about what he did or why did he choose not to make it centered around a location. Understanding this is crucial. Detailed information is vital. It would be interesting to know what the fake bullet has to do with the story, like if there is a deeper meaning than what he wrote. In an effort to gain a deeper understanding of the overall story, I would ask whether it was intended to entertain or to give me a chance to reflect and consider the deeper meanings.

Arielle johnson said...

Honestly this chapter was pretty messed up. I mean on one hand yes a hypothetical park for all the sicko who think wrongly killing POC as they are portrayed in the disgusting fantasy sterotype pf thugs ans terrorist, it just goes to show how fucked up the world is that someone thinks THIS is a better idea, then solving the issues at hand. But I get the idea as it is basically saying nothing is gonna change the systems mind so why not appeal to the system. Only problem is will this stop a young black man from getting shot, or a young Muslim girl getting her hijab torn off? I doubt it as not EVERY racist sicko is going to come to that park and take out their frustrations on simulations. Bit whatever I think the chapter was good and interesting just messed up on so many levels

Tashauna F. said...

If I could ask one question it would be how did the author come up with these stories, did another author inspire him? Or was there a deeper reason for these stories when he made them? This would help use connections when reading the book.

TJ Hunter said...

I would ask him what experiences or things he has seen to make him be able to write stories like Zimmer Land. That way we can see what it's like to be a storyteller and look through his point of view with the creative process.

Erin Myers said...

Carmesha J.:

1. As a black African American man how did he feel writing this story talking about such racism.
2. what persuaded this creative story.

Erin Myers said...

Z'Kya D.:

My question would have to be, why the aim a fake bullet and shoot at an innocent bystander?
If winder if he was special or maybe represented someone. Does this have deeper meaning?

Stefani F said...

1)What scenarios living in this society inspired you to create these visuals and the messages behind them.
2)I'm interested in this question because it's intriguing to know the thought process behind the powerful messages and how they want the audience to perceive their mindset.
-Stefani Farrow

Zion H said...

1. My question would have been, why did they aim a innocent bystander?
2. Did he represented someone else?
Zion Henderson

Erin Myers said...

James G.:

My question would be what inspired him to write this story? This would give me better understanding and background of the story.

Erin Myers said...

La'Niya G.:

My question would be do he know anybody personally that has been through this . Im interested on the answer to this question because we'll know if thats where the inspiration comes from.

Erin Myers said...

Chloe H.:

My question is what inspired Adjei-Brenyah to tell this story? I want to know because it may help understand more of the story.

Unknown said...

1.One question I would ask is: What triggered him to write this story, did something happen in his life?

2.Im interested in this question because it gives us background information for a lot of event in the story, or it can show us how creative he is in his writing.

-Anjeal Jones

Brianna H said...

My question would be what made him write this story? I'm interested in this question because most people are inspired by something which causes them to write a story.

Chaz Hunter said...

When it came to writing this story, did anything you’ve experienced or seen have any influence on the story or was it solely from imagination?

Scott Freeman said...

My question to Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah would be, “Does he think by him presenting racism in different and intriguing ways that there would be some type of enlightenment or lightbulb go off among the people.”

My interested in my question because racism is an underlying theme in majority of his stories, so what is he trying to get the reader to see. Everyone knows racism is bad so, what else is he trying to inform.

Arielle johnson said...

The chapter was really surprising and quite morbid in a very deep perspective but I really am not surprised by the author take on the minds of racist and how they portrayed, and if it got bad enough I belief in a dystopia future that the u.s goverment would do something like this as a way to "appease" everybody

Erin Myers said...

Gianni D.:

The question I would ask is why does he write and who inspired him to write?
I would ask that because his stories are creative and I want to know who inspired
him to do what he does and I want to understand what drives him to keep writing
stories throughout his lifetime. For a deeper understanding and context, I am
interested in learning about their life.

Mar'Taejia Murphy said...

1.) a question I would ask is why would someone shoot or harm innocent black men , if he did nothing wrong to deserve this treatment?

2.) I would ask this to get a better understanding on why someone would do this , and what they would get out of this or gain for doing it.

Tamya Goodlow said...

1.) What was the inspiration, if there is one, behind "Zimmer Land"?
2.) I would want to know this because a lot of great stories have great inspirations and I would like to know who or what inspired this one.
-Tamya Goodlow

Erin Myers said...

Nadia G.:

1. I would ask myself "What am I supposed to feel or think after reading this story?" also "What made the author pick such topics to write about?"
2. I would want to know this because I really didn't feel anything. As a person of black decent Ive seen so much struggle and oppression that really I wished it'd just turn off and we all be happy. A lot of things don't bother me but it bothers my community. Sometimes I have trouble with emotion.

Erin Myers said...

Arielle J.:

So, I was kind of weirded out by the whole chapter in terms of the dystopia future that it is set in. Yet the whole idea doesn't surprise. It would make perfect logical sense that many people who are a part of the wrongful killings of black and brown people and uphold prejudice values that discriminate against them, somehow have this kind of inert nature to take our their strongest desires for well tearoom POC people and putting then down ( at least that's how the book portrays it) I think the author did a good job showing the truth in a very sadistic way

Unknown said...

1. What did the author experience in their lifetime to inspire these stories? and who did they grow up around?
2. I'm interested in this questions because the way he views his blackness is interesting and the way people interact with his blackness is interesting to me.

Erin Myers said...

Jameelah H.:

A question a would have for the artist that created Zimmer land is, is this how you really feel, do you feel like the character getting targeted every day?

I'm interested in that question because the 'job' he was assigned feels like every day work to black people who have not been asked to play in this sick game or work there. I would hope to know how he really feels everyday being a black target.

Erin Myers said...

Ma Kayla J.:

The one question I would ask him is what traumatic experience you had to write the story in this way. I believe it would give a better understanding of the background or premise to the story.