Study Term

Cultural Assimilation and Social Isolation

Courtney, Anthony, Punit, Amanda, and India

last week

Indian-American experiences
(Jared, Catherine, Torrin, Javier)

Exam 4 Review

1) Change
2) Security

Discussion Question: Week Thirteen Reading

In Wildwood by Junot Diaz we see how Lola changes from trying to be a model daughter for her mother to a "punk" due to her mother constant complaints. Do you think where Lola lives have any cultural influence to why she chose to be rebellious? That Lola's change was because she was in America, where examples of "punk" attitudes exist among her peers and the media? If the family had lived in Santo Domingo do you think Lola would have continued being the model daughter instead of becoming punk if the culture was to listen to her mother?

Claire, Eugene, Reem, Theodora

11/21/11

The family looked Indian but dressed as foreigners did, the children in stiff, brightly colored clothing and caps with translucent visors (pages 43-44).
How does Lahiri illustrates the cultural gap between Indians and Indians Americans?
(Jared, Catherine, Torrin, Javier)

Journal Entry for Monday Nov 21st

Compare and contrast the sense of community characterized within the stories; specifically the traditions of community from stories set in India Vs. the stories set in the United States. How do cultural traditions, like Halloween or Indian Temples, effect the stories characters sense of identity? How far ( if at all) do you think these traditions or sense of community and cultural identity blend the cultural barrier? If you believe they do, in what methods does Lahiri choose to communicate this? Finally, do you think that Lahiri wanted to develop the idea of what binds the sense of community and cultural assimilation or rather what disrupts it? Can you find any textual evidence to support your opinion?

Courtney, Punit, Anthony, Amanda, and India

Discussion Question: Week Twelve Reading

In Yezierska's "America and I" and Eaton's "In the Land of the Free" we see how immigrants dislike America because of the hardships that the characters face upon coming to America. How is Panna in "A Wife's Story" by Mukherjee view of America different than the characters in the other two stories? Does she seem to be facing any hardships? What are some things that makes her like (or dislike) American life?

Claire, Eugene, Reem, Theodora

Question #10 11/13/2011

In Sherman’s “Because My Father Said He Was the Only Indian Who Saw Jimi Hendrix Play ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ At Woodstock,” the narrator comments several times throughout the novel about the loss of her own heritage. Her mother is seen as still embodying their Native American heritage as she can dance the traditional dances, but her father, in many ways, embodies the changes brought on by the assimilation of American culture. Which side does the narrator prefer? Her Native American heritage or the Americanized life of her father? Why would a culture that views itself as always being at war with American culture adopt so much of it?

Jared/ Torrin / Javier / Catherine

nov 7

“Your father doesn’t believe in joining the American society,” said my mother. “He wants to have his own society.” (page 3037).
"In the American Society", Gish Jen explains how the father wants his daughters to be part of his society which is a twist of the American society. How is the father unable to accept the American culture?

Jared/ Torrin / Javier / Catherine

Discussion Question: Novemeber 7 Reading

When reading "In the American Society" by Gist Jen we see how hard it was for the Ralph to let go of his Chinese culture and adopt an American lifestyle. The way he ran his business as a hierarchy and expected his employers to be subservient to him is how businesses were ran in China, but in America the employees refused to be treated that way. When Ralph tries to appease his wife by going to the country club's party, he is forced into assimilating by having to wear the American clothes and awkwardly tries to fit in with the people at the party. At one point a party goer taunts Ralph.
When it comes to immigrants trying to assimilate, is it their refusal to accept a new culture that hinders their ability to assimilate (like Ralph at the beginning of the story) or is it because of society's reluctance to accept immigrants into the America culture that prevent immigrants from assimilating (like how Ralph was treated at the party)?

Claire, Eugene, Reem, Theodora