Monday, March 29, 2004
Post #7 - Out with the old and in with the new?
Research Paper - Thoughts - #2
How far is too far in embracing a new culture? Can one even go too far? On the other hand, is personal heritage so important that one should reject modern influences altogether? In the process of handling globalization and cultural homogenization, one should take society’s views into consideration while focusing primarily on individual personality and goals.
Upon moving to a new country, it is normal for immigrants to struggle with the transition. They must learn and follow a new way of life. Completely giving up everything they have grown up with must be extremely difficult, so they should carefully examine the advantages and disadvantages of adapting to the new culture.
If people choose to entirely reject the new culture, they have something to gain, but much more to lose. Those individuals will retain their old traditions, beliefs, language, and lifestyle, while bonding on a deep level with others of the same ethnic background. Unfortunately, however, they will be more prone to prejudice and misconceptions. While isolating themselves from the rest of the community, they may experience communication problems, inability to feel at home, difficulty making friends of other backgrounds, and conflicts with modernization.
Then again, if they choose to completely reject their old culture, they will be frowned upon by relatives. Losing touch of one’s roots can negatively affect one’s sense of self as well. At the same time, however, these individuals will fit in, communicate well, lower discrimination, and make friends of various backgrounds. Ultimately, everyone should strive to be more accepting and let globalization take its course. They should not lose there individuality in the process however and need to decide for themselves which aspects of each culture are most practical and worthy of keeping.
How far is too far in embracing a new culture? Can one even go too far? On the other hand, is personal heritage so important that one should reject modern influences altogether? In the process of handling globalization and cultural homogenization, one should take society’s views into consideration while focusing primarily on individual personality and goals.
Upon moving to a new country, it is normal for immigrants to struggle with the transition. They must learn and follow a new way of life. Completely giving up everything they have grown up with must be extremely difficult, so they should carefully examine the advantages and disadvantages of adapting to the new culture.
If people choose to entirely reject the new culture, they have something to gain, but much more to lose. Those individuals will retain their old traditions, beliefs, language, and lifestyle, while bonding on a deep level with others of the same ethnic background. Unfortunately, however, they will be more prone to prejudice and misconceptions. While isolating themselves from the rest of the community, they may experience communication problems, inability to feel at home, difficulty making friends of other backgrounds, and conflicts with modernization.
Then again, if they choose to completely reject their old culture, they will be frowned upon by relatives. Losing touch of one’s roots can negatively affect one’s sense of self as well. At the same time, however, these individuals will fit in, communicate well, lower discrimination, and make friends of various backgrounds. Ultimately, everyone should strive to be more accepting and let globalization take its course. They should not lose there individuality in the process however and need to decide for themselves which aspects of each culture are most practical and worthy of keeping.
Sunday, March 28, 2004
Post #6 - Bend it like Beckham’s Insight on Globalization
Research Paper - Thoughts - #1
Globalization promotes immigration and the blending of culture. Bend it like Beckham touches on the different ways immigrants and their children view these changes. Jess, an Indian girl who grows up in Britain, just wants to fit in and live doing what she loves without keeping secrets from her deeply traditional family. Because she feels obliged to satisfy her parents, she becomes torn between the two cultures she has been raised in. Eventually, her family finally allows her to follow her dreams.
This film, although optimistic about racial relations, highlights several tensions individuals like Jess and her parents are likely to face. Generally, individuals of the first generation desire to fit in with the new environment. The actual immigrants themselves, however, feel indebted to their previous generations to continue life following old traditions despite where they live. Jess’s family makes friends with the local Indians in an effort to hold on to their cultural background. They buy Indian groceries, watch Indian movies, and are even planning an Indian marriage for Jess’s older sister Pinky. Although they live in Britain and get along with their daily lives there just fine, they still consider themselves Indian before English.
Meanwhile, Jess tries to find her own identity. After growing up in England, she probably considers herself more British than Indian, but her parents expect her to follow their example of living an Indian lifestyle outside of India. Jess finds that extremely difficult to do because society’s standards are fairly different. She must choose between acting British and acting Indian. While making such decisions in a constant effort to please others, she loses sight of her own personal goals. Eventually, Jess realizes what she wants for herself and ends up breaking tradition to pursue it. Bend it like Beckham implies that society should strive for cultural acceptance while celebrating diversity and individuality at the same time.
Globalization promotes immigration and the blending of culture. Bend it like Beckham touches on the different ways immigrants and their children view these changes. Jess, an Indian girl who grows up in Britain, just wants to fit in and live doing what she loves without keeping secrets from her deeply traditional family. Because she feels obliged to satisfy her parents, she becomes torn between the two cultures she has been raised in. Eventually, her family finally allows her to follow her dreams.
This film, although optimistic about racial relations, highlights several tensions individuals like Jess and her parents are likely to face. Generally, individuals of the first generation desire to fit in with the new environment. The actual immigrants themselves, however, feel indebted to their previous generations to continue life following old traditions despite where they live. Jess’s family makes friends with the local Indians in an effort to hold on to their cultural background. They buy Indian groceries, watch Indian movies, and are even planning an Indian marriage for Jess’s older sister Pinky. Although they live in Britain and get along with their daily lives there just fine, they still consider themselves Indian before English.
Meanwhile, Jess tries to find her own identity. After growing up in England, she probably considers herself more British than Indian, but her parents expect her to follow their example of living an Indian lifestyle outside of India. Jess finds that extremely difficult to do because society’s standards are fairly different. She must choose between acting British and acting Indian. While making such decisions in a constant effort to please others, she loses sight of her own personal goals. Eventually, Jess realizes what she wants for herself and ends up breaking tradition to pursue it. Bend it like Beckham implies that society should strive for cultural acceptance while celebrating diversity and individuality at the same time.
Wednesday, March 17, 2004
Post #5 - We Just Want a Quick Fix
In White Noise, Jack and his stepdaughter Denise discover that Babette is secretly taking prescription medicine that even her doctor does not know about. Jack eventually gets his wife to confess to him that she registered to try a test drug called Dylar – a pill to eliminate fear of death. The medicine does not work, however, and has strange side effects, so Babette promises to stop taking it. Both of them do not tell Denise what the medicine is for, so she steals and hides the bottle. Later, Denise catches Jack searching her closet for it. She then tells him that she feared her mother was a drug addict and put the bottle in the garbage disposal.
Later, on page 258, Murray discusses how nostalgia results from inner anger. Sometimes when people are dissatisfied with their lives, they tend to long for comfort in things of their past. Many look to things in their present for comfort as well.
After Jack and Murray’s conversation, Jack returns home. His fear of death overwhelms him so much that he desperately wants to try Dylar. When no one is around, he casually checks the trash compactor bag for a shattered amber vial. He ends up rummaging through garbage for a quick solution to a deep emotional problem.
Jack, like most individuals, wants to be in control of his life. He hates being afraid and constantly clings to symbols of power, like his dark glasses and teaching robe. When he is at the mall and feels belittled, he compulsively buys things to make himself feel better. Similar to his mad spending to cope with low self esteem, he digs furiously for a pill to heal his fear. Unfortunately, he cannot realize that his problems have deeper roots. Instead of coming to terms with things that trouble him, he seeks the quick fixes that technology and consumerism have to offer.
Later, on page 258, Murray discusses how nostalgia results from inner anger. Sometimes when people are dissatisfied with their lives, they tend to long for comfort in things of their past. Many look to things in their present for comfort as well.
After Jack and Murray’s conversation, Jack returns home. His fear of death overwhelms him so much that he desperately wants to try Dylar. When no one is around, he casually checks the trash compactor bag for a shattered amber vial. He ends up rummaging through garbage for a quick solution to a deep emotional problem.
Jack, like most individuals, wants to be in control of his life. He hates being afraid and constantly clings to symbols of power, like his dark glasses and teaching robe. When he is at the mall and feels belittled, he compulsively buys things to make himself feel better. Similar to his mad spending to cope with low self esteem, he digs furiously for a pill to heal his fear. Unfortunately, he cannot realize that his problems have deeper roots. Instead of coming to terms with things that trouble him, he seeks the quick fixes that technology and consumerism have to offer.
Thursday, March 04, 2004
Post #4 - Family Life in White Noise
White Noise negatively portrays modern day families while satirizing divorce and children of multiple marriages. Also, the novel makes these children seem more intelligent than their parents. At other times, however, the book emphasizes excessive ignorance within families.
Jack Gladney and his fourth wife, Babette, have more children than they can keep track of; some from previous marriages and some of their own. Previous spouses come into the story several times, depicting divorce as a typical and usual occurrence. Unfortunately, the children also seem to believe that their situation is completely normal. Also, the children often feel that they know what is best for the world and even look at the adults condescendingly. Twelve-year-old Bee thinks that she is all grown up while fourteen-year-old Heinrich is skeptical and critical of everything around him.
Despite intellectual remarks every now and then, several conversations that the family has are littered with skewed facts and irrelevant tangents. From page 80 to 82, the Gladneys’ discussion illustrates everyone’s lack of knowledge. Jack later explains that the “family is the cradle of the world’s misinformation. There must be something in family life that generates factual error… Facts threaten our happiness and security. The deeper we delve into the nature of things, the looser our structure may seem to become. The family process works toward sealing off the world. Small errors grow heads, fictions proliferate.” Although his theory justifies old wives’ tales, it greatly underestimates individuals. Growing intelligence should not be blamed for broken families. In fact, scholarly and rational people should be able to plan and hold a family together fairly well. I honestly believe that White Noise’s pessimistic view of family life goes too far.
Jack Gladney and his fourth wife, Babette, have more children than they can keep track of; some from previous marriages and some of their own. Previous spouses come into the story several times, depicting divorce as a typical and usual occurrence. Unfortunately, the children also seem to believe that their situation is completely normal. Also, the children often feel that they know what is best for the world and even look at the adults condescendingly. Twelve-year-old Bee thinks that she is all grown up while fourteen-year-old Heinrich is skeptical and critical of everything around him.
Despite intellectual remarks every now and then, several conversations that the family has are littered with skewed facts and irrelevant tangents. From page 80 to 82, the Gladneys’ discussion illustrates everyone’s lack of knowledge. Jack later explains that the “family is the cradle of the world’s misinformation. There must be something in family life that generates factual error… Facts threaten our happiness and security. The deeper we delve into the nature of things, the looser our structure may seem to become. The family process works toward sealing off the world. Small errors grow heads, fictions proliferate.” Although his theory justifies old wives’ tales, it greatly underestimates individuals. Growing intelligence should not be blamed for broken families. In fact, scholarly and rational people should be able to plan and hold a family together fairly well. I honestly believe that White Noise’s pessimistic view of family life goes too far.
