Bricolage: do an inventory of your
personal culture(s) and see if you can determine where the things you wear,
buy, eat, think, read, watch--come from. How globalized are you? What do
you disavow from your culture of origin? What do you stress? Explore your
hybridity and share with your classmates.
(See article by Michael Kimmelman, which inspired this assignment: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/18/arts/18abroad.html?ref=design
Here
are samples of my students’ bricolages taken from an earlier course Ning: http://worldlit295.ning.com/
“Various
cultural influences shape my tattoos. I have the words "nature" and
"god" tattooed across my wrists in Sanskrit, a space where Jesus was
allegedly pierced as he was crucified. On my upper arms I have an abstract
version of the African continent (abstract because it's supposed to mimic the
henna tattoos Indian brides have on their palms) with the Hindu symbol for the
sound of creation, on one arm. While the other has a short prayer to the Hindu
god Shiva surrounded by the lotus flower. This collage of symbols is evident of
what has influenced me as a human the most” (Dominick).
When
I'm walking around my neighborhood, or anywhere, the first thing that people
often recognize, is my hair. And most people classify my to the group or
culture of being a Rastafarian, "Rasta", which in my case, that's not
a culture or a group that I can say internally that I appeal to. Like most, I
don't really like to identify myself as being in a "culture", because
there are its limitations, and often just boxed into what comes with being in a
culture. And, I am totally the opposite at being boxed in. As an
African-American young woman there are so many cultural identities, that I can
be identified with, but I believe that it is the choices and options available
to you, that deciphers what kind of cultures that you best coexist with. For
me, I find that an "earthy-like" element is something that best fits
with me. My look, I attempt to be very different, and I stray away from the
norm of what Fashion is said to be like, I like my own originality. Even the
music that I listen to, I have no limits to what I listen too, I love the
words, in the poetic sense. (Victoria)
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ReplyDeleteI don't identify myself as being belonged to a specific culture or group because i like various type of music and styles of clothing. Even though I have a Creole Background that i inherit from my mother. At home i listen to jazz music, hip hop and r&b. I like different types of food also but my favorite is canjun style food which my mother cooks often. Jambalaya is my favorite. People often ask me if i'm Spanish because I have light skin or I resemble a Latin person. When people ask me the questions regarding culture "I tell them that I'm me" because my skin tone dose not define who I am as a person
ReplyDeleteNo doubt about it I agree with you 100%. It's great to be opened to various types of clothing, music, and culture overall. And it just so happens that I ate Jambalaya today!
Deleteopen *
DeleteThe truth of the matter is, if I like something then I will wear, eat, try, watch, or do it. I came from Trinidad & Tobago at age seven and I don’t think I ever adopted one specific culture. I am not strict with the cultures I engage in. For example, dancing, I am a dancer and we have to accept all kinds of dancing from jazz to salsa and the waltz to tap dancing. I don’t find it hard to talk to or engage with someone who might not have the same ethnic background as me. There are a lot of cultures I don’t know about and I am sure that each one is interesting in their own ways. But me, myself, I can’t categorize my self in a certain culture. Having an opened mind to cultures new to me is how I roll.
ReplyDeleteI would love to visit Tobago one day. I like that you are considerate to other cultures as well. I agree with you that there are a lot of cultures we don't know about, they are all unique.
Delete@Brianna Ellis I highly recommend visiting Trinidad as well. They're two islands but one country. =.)
DeleteJamaican sunshine,
ReplyDeleteA cool New York breeze
Two worlds intertwined,
Which one defines me?
Aspects of both
I do relate close.
Spicy jerk chicken,
Or French fries and coke.
Not accustomed to Jamaican hard-living,
A victim of American materialism.
Hip-hop is cool- I’ll give it a listen.
But much rather dance to a loud reggae rhythm!
I love my cultures.
Unique parts of each.
City-girl at heart,
With a mind like the beach.
I love the poem especially the ending I am at City-girl at heart, with a mind like the beach as well. I like how you define both cultures with simple representations of everyday life and actions.
DeleteThanks a lot hun!
DeleteDid you write that poem? Either way it's great and I love when people find ways to express themselves and their culture. Now I want some french fries and a coke!
Deletethis poem is awesome girl!.. i love the 3rd stanza great choice of words . "Not accustomed to Jamaican hard-living,
DeleteA victim of American materialism.
Hip-hop is cool- I’ll give it a listen.
But much rather dance to a loud reggae rhythm! "
love this !!!! i actually pictured a party and you getting down to some reggae.. this poem was awesome.
Thanks girls! & yes I wrote it. Lol at craving french fries and coke! Aww I'm happy I was able to express my true feelings, I love dancing to reggae. Hip-hop is for strictly head nodding!
DeleteI love love love love this :)
Deletethanks for the beautiful poem Brianna!
DeleteI was born and raised in New York City but I come from hispanics of Dominican Origin. Both my parents were born and raised in the Dominican Republic so a lot of their customs come from back home. It was always cool growing up listening to cultural music such as merengue and bachata, while enjoying all the delicious cultural foods of the Dominican Republic. One thing I am grateful of is the value my parents always gave to their culture, though we were born and raised here they have always maintained most of our Dominican roots. They taught me how to speak, read and write in spanish, actually still to this day at home all we speak is spanish. In the Dominican Culture women are taught to cook, clean and take care of the house/family and that is something we are taught while growing up. Dominicans love their music, the great sport of baseball and good food! That's something I think we can all agree on. I feel as though I have a mix of both my Dominican roots as well as my New Yorker state of mind. I find it really easy to alternate between the too. Though I love all my Dominican Values, growing up in New York it is nearly impossible to not expand your horizons! My taste for music is incredibly broad, I have tasted and enjoyed multiple cultural foods and enjoy sports other than baseball or basketball. I don't want to generalize because not all Dominican have the same interests but mostly those are what we are known for. So I guess it all depends on the environment I am in and who I am speaking to, more specifically the language I am speaking.
ReplyDeletethanks for your thoughts on DR roots!
DeleteI was born in Cali, Colombia with its sunny days, charismatic people and classic salsa filling the streets. I came to New York City when I was just 13 years old and encountered the cold winds, lots of noises and a whole new world. I am bilingual, biracial, and a bi-citizen. I had chosen the values that I feel to be true to my heart from both cultures. I speak Spanish and English, Watch sit-cons such as The Bing Bang Theory, eat Sancocho and Tamales, and like to maintained myself busy. I am always up to trying different things such as food, lounges, books, and scenery. I have friends from all over the world and I love the diversity of values, opinions and support. I can not place myself just in one culture because I feel I have embraced different things of all the cultures I have encounter in New York City. My heart always longs for sunny days and that will always be truth nonetheless I can not imagine my life without New York City's noise and buzz.
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ReplyDeleteWow that was a big change in your life from Colombia to NYC. I like that you adjusted well to the differences in cultures here, and chose to partake in them. Lol I would love to imagine my life without the noise and buzz, I'd trade it for the beach any day!
ReplyDeleteBrianna, you are not a true New Yorker lol
DeleteFood, clothes, music, dance - the culture of the world is contained within the manifold significations that these words hold; and yet, none of them can come to define me completely. The people by whom I am surrounded (who "come from" manifold cultures) are, perhaps, the bricolage that come to define me as bricoleur. I don't know of the "origin" of the food that I eat (what is the origin of chicken, beef, etc.?), nor the clothes that I wear (I feel that I dress "plainly", if I may be permitted to use that word which entails meanings that vary from place to place). What I do know, however, is that my mother is Puerto Rican, my father is Italian - but I speak only English well, and I haven't acquired any particular idiosyncrasies that "come from" these cultures. I am NOT Puerto Rican; I am NOT Italian; perhaps I am not even simply American - Cultural ontology ("being" a certain culture) cannot come to define me completely, or perhaps even partially. I am, and that is good enough.
ReplyDeleteI was born in Russia, and came to NY when I was only 11 months. I have no background of where I came from. Ever since I came to NY I was used to the "American" way. What I do in my daily is based on what I want to do and what I like. I wear, eat, buy, drink, read and watch what I like. But when it comes to food, we usually have traditional Russian food which I'm not a big fan of, I prefer eating out and trying new things. No one tells me how to do these things. I've been asked many times if I have some sort of Spanish background and when I tell them no I'm Russian, they looked surprised. I don't know what it is about my appearance that gives it off and I yet to find it. There is really nothing I don't like about my culture because I have no background of it and I was raised here all my life. Instead, I choose what makes me happy and what makes me, me.
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ReplyDelete“Cultural differences should not separate us from each
other, but rather cultural diversity brings a collective
strength that can benefit all of humanity.” Also:
“Intercultural dialogue is the best guarantee of a more
peaceful, just and sustainable world.”
Robert Alan (American writer, artist and social activist; 1922-1978)
Everywhere we go, we have somebody whom thinks there culture may be better than another. Except whoever thinks that is wrong. The quote above is mentioned for everybody in this world. It’s because we have different cultures that makes the world an interesting place to be in. Our curiosity will always have us wondering about the different cultures and will want us to learn a little bit if something. Everything we do, wear and eat comes from different parts of the world. We should all appreciate and not judge humanity and culture, but rather learn and understand the meaning. I come from Russia, Moscow. I came to America when I was only one year old. I was raised by my parents who are both very old school. They have taught me variety of things, especially how to be a good house wife (because that’s what tradition was like). Since I did come from a Russian and Jewish back round, my parents always judged and thought our religion or culture was better than the rest, which was much closed minded. Everything that I have been through in life has taught me that diversity is the best thing. I have explored the outside world which is full of different people from all over the world. The food, history, art, games, etc. I do not really have culture although I was raised with one. I can cook variety of different meals, I can clean, take care of a family. Pretty much everything a house wife does. I grew up to be very opened minded about everything as I searched for my identity. I was like the black sheep in the house which caused separation with family at a young age. It is the culture that is a good thing because difference is knowledge. I believe that culture is a beautiful thing, but can be a bad thing for many who are not open to them.
thanks for very philosophical posting!
DeleteI was born and raised in Washington Heights, New York City, or uptown however you want to call(i currently live in the Bronx,NY). I come from Dominican Parents and a very “Dominican life-style” where the smell of sazon filled our apartment on the 6th floor. Where the loud batachata and tipco would automatically make you want to get up and dance. I am bilingual. I love my cultural and I love the fact that I can say I am a Dominican- American. But I am always open to trying new foods, music and anything else because living in New York City its so easy to experience new cultures if I wanted to experience Chinese cultural all I have to do is go to china town. My point is that I am be Dominican because of my family but as an American I have more than one cultural because being an American is being muliti-cultuered. Like I said I try different things so I cook a lot of dishes from different cultures. I love being a New Yorker because we cant be identified under one culture or race, in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI love our food!
Deletelol at Julie our food is awesome!!!
DeleteI was born and raised in Astoria queens in 1991. My parents are from Ecuador and they both came to America in 1970. Both my mom and dad didn’t know any English when they came to New York however they learn a few words to keep up with the language different. My parents had four kids and they were all born here in New York. I’m the youngest one out of my sibling and this made it harder for me to learn about me Spanish history from my family. My mother didn’t teach me Spanish, she just spoke to me in Spanish and I had to learn all by myself. If I didn’t know a word in Spanish my mother didn’t make a big deal about compare to my older brother and sisters. I grew up learning span- glish and it made it very hard for me in school growing up. Also I couldn’t make any friends who speak Spanish because they say I’m not a true Spanish 100% blood. I didn’t really care about that until I got older, maybe around high school when I made friends who knew all about their native history back ground and I didn’t know how to write nor speak Spanish. The way I dress is like any normal person. I try to keep up with fashion so I can’t say I dress up like an Ecuadorian. My mother cooks dinner style from Ecuador and we go to church every Sunday. And while growing up the one thing I hated the most is when people use to make fun of me by calling me Mexican. Is not like I have a problem with Mexican but I knew that they are trying to disrespect me by calling me that. I had so many fights because of this and still today. I’m trying to learn how to get over it and not let it bug me to much but it will take time.
ReplyDeleteI always get ask if I was from the Middle East, at first it used to bother me a lot however I got over it. The Middle East has beautiful culture and the women are gorgeous so I reconsider. Not everyone fits an stereotype and people like to point it out however think of that its just their ignorance not knowing better. Most of South America countries have mixed people so must people actually look different.
Deleteinteresting issue about whether your family teaches you Spanish or not and how you feel about it!
DeleteI was born in Los Angeles, California and raised in Queens, New York. I’m half Salvadorian and Dominican. Where I live there are many cultures like Indian, Latin, and African American. The neighborhood always has different music playing of cultures, as well as different smells. To me I like my Latin culture as well as other cultures. I try to like new things sometimes I like it and sometimes I don’t. To embrace some cultures for example; I would cook Jambalaya while listening to bachata or reggaeton music. I’m not stuck in one culture, I’m every culture. Every culture inspires me. I don’t like to stick with one culture. We are all influence by different cultures. For me I like to be different in some ways and the same in others. Sometimes people think I’m weird because I like different things but I don’t care. I just like to do my own thing whether you like it or not. I’m a happy bi-cultural American woman
ReplyDeleteI was born in Manhattan(East Harlem), NY but grew up in Elmhurst Queens. My neighborhood was beginning to become more diverse racially and culturally by the time my family moved there in 1978. By the mid to late 80's Elmhurst and Jackson Heights were, according to some reports, the most culturally diverse neighborhoods in New York City and the U.S.. My friends ethnicity's ranged from Africa, Central America, South America, Asia, South East Asian, European, Central European, Scandinavia, and the West Indies; most were first generation Americans. All of this was normal to me and allowed me to see the world with a wider scope on issues such as race, politics, spiritual beliefs, and day to day human affairs. My ethnic background is Haitian and this has clashed with my American upbringing from differing sets of values culturally, outlook and perspective on life, and in general hopes and desires. I, as an American (New Yorker) have adopted many different ideas that suit me in taste. I have rejected all that directs toward hostility toward different cultures and so called "races" and have learned to carefully navigate sensitive topics regarding religion and beliefs.
ReplyDeleteIt’s taken me some time to break down, in my head, the various cultures that are a part of me. I think it is because they all roll into each other. My family, as most if not all, definitely has a culture of its own. Growing up, it was not said, but it was known that we weren't supposed to say how we felt if it could possibly show “weakness”. I grew up with my single mother
ReplyDeleteand divorced grandmother. Both of them were ferociously over protective of their children. The valued quality over quantity when it came to friends. Family is all you need. As much as I protested as a child and teenager, I find that I have taken on this mantra. Unfortunately, I feel like parts of this goes against who I am as an individual, but the things we learn from our
guardians and protectors are somehow ingrained. So I feel like I will spend the rest of my life trying to unveil myself. On the other hand, I also learned that women are strong and are not defined by anything except for what we believe about ourselves.
New York. Born and raised here there are so many things that have made me who I am. Having grown up in a strict Bible believing church, the New York experience has definitely helped me resolve some of the conflicts I've faced within my faith. The church and my family gave me a rigid set of morals and ethics. New York showed me the exceptions to the rules. New Yorkers are usually associated with tough, no nonsense exteriors. I guess from an outsiders perspective, this is correct, but there’s also a “to each, his own” attitude, which may not always be the same as tolerance, but it is more than what people have in other parts of the world and even in the U.S. I would say I put the "New York" on as a defense, usually while using public transportation..
New York also has one of the largest populations of Puerto Ricans and Dominicans which is definitely partially responsible for my attachment to this city. The melody in their voices brings me comfort and makes total strangers, family. The sounds of salsa in the summer makes me nostalgic and lends to the sense of freedom that comes with the season. Fall and the holidays aren't official until I hear my first Aguinaldo (Puerto Rican folk Christmas music), and Bachata and merengue keep me company on cleaning day. Saturday. I wasn’t raised with my Dominican family, but my maternal grandmother knew it was important for me to know both sides so she taught me. She taught me many things about everything through music, and so this is another culture that I feel a part of.
Being Latin American and of a variety of races has always peaked my interest. I've always enjoyed reading about the history of the indigenous, Africans, and Europeans individually and the clash that brought them together. It is a prime example of just how blurred the lines divided love from hate are sometimes.
I find comfort in traditional Puerto Rican food, especially what we call "comida de pobre" (poor peoples food). There is nothing like an avocado sandwich. I enjoy all sorts of food from salmon sashimi to falafels, but when I need comfort, I need typical Latin Caribbean cuisine and coconut water or cafe con leche.
The way I think , I believe, benefits greatly from having such a diverse background. I think it's easy sometimes for people to formulate very particular perceptions of people and culture, but when you know you're made up of every race possible, you become extremely diplomatic. At least I try to be.
I don’t think that there is any part of the these cultures that I disavow, except for a fore mentioned family behavior. I remember being really aware of things that I didn't like as I learned about them, so I just knew not to take on those traits. I do know that the greatest lesson I have learned from each of my cultures is about respect. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". This, I believe, is the ultimate culture.
thanks for rich detailed reply--merenge on cleaning day; comida de porbre! also the powerful women in your family and effect on you!
DeleteI was born in Ukraine and came to this country about 8 years ago. My parents are both Ukrainian and we speak Ukrainian all the time. Even though we live here for so long, my parents still don't know English that well. I would say that my English is not that perfect as well. When I came here, I didn't have any relatives or family living here except my parents so it was hard for me to get used to live here. Especially when you come to USA as a teenager and you can't communicate with people at your age. I wasn't able to learn English that fast because I had no one to help me to understand how to say English correctly. After spending two years in school I started to speak, however my accent still didn't sound as English. After 8 years you can still hear my foreign accent and in the first minute figure out that I was not born in US. I still feel that English is my biggest weakness because everyday I find out words that are unfamiliar to me. I wonder if there will be one day that I will be completely comfortable with this language. Another thing I learned when I came to US is how to respect other cultures, because in my country there is not as many culture varieties as in New York. It felt a little weird to work in the group with people with different country,different religion etc. however after meeting them I realized that these people are nice and they told me a lot of new stuff that I never knew before about their culture. Me and my family still keep our culture and try to be the same people as we were in Ukraine. We celebrate our holidays, do certain cultural activities etc. However if for example we celebrate Easter and Christmas, we go to church, get together with the family, but it doesn’t feel the same way as it would be in Ukraine. That’s because our holidays and US holidays are in different days and for example of Ukrainian Christmas I would have to go to college or work because I can’t miss it here. My family would have to teach me that If I'm a girl then I must have to know how to cook, clean and be polite. They always warned me that If I will not clean in the house or will be lazy, I will never be a good woman.
ReplyDeleteyou will be fluent one day! and accents can be nice too! interesting emphasis on acceptance, respect because of variety in US
DeleteI am a Mexican-American. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. I have to make the distinction that I was born to two Mexican parents here in NY, therefore I am Mexican-American. I grew up in a neighborhood that is predominately Latino/Hispanic. Puerto Ricans, Mexicans and Dominicans are the majority on my side of the neighborhood. As for what culture I identify the most with.. that's tough.
ReplyDeleteI learned many of my values and morals from my parents who were both born and raised in Mexico, and it goes on like that for about 3/4 generations until you end up in Spain and France where my ancestors originated from. I never identified with many of the Mexican-American kids in my neighborhood. In all honesty, I never identified with many of the kids in my neighborhood period. I certainly adopted some of the clothing, vernacular, and trends, but that was only because I know where I am from, and where I live, and I got accustomed to the physical presentation of many people in my neighborhood. High School was a relief because I was around more people with similar beliefs and interests, regardless of outward appearances. I would say I'm a mesh of the different cultures I've experienced. I pick and choose what I subscribe to and what I do not like. In all of the cultures there are many things I don't like, but I admire my parent's work ethic, the street smarts you get from living in the city. One thing is certain, I am proud to be Mexican-American and I will never hide my roots.
admire your emphasis on pride and your independent spirit!
DeleteI was born and raised in a 3rd world country called Albania that somehow recently became 2nd world. When I first arrived to the U.S a decade ago you could definitely tell that I belong to a certain culture. The way I dressed the way I acted, the way I spoke, my physique, was completely different from an average American boy who only cared for his fries and ketchup at the school cafeteria. But over time I adapted to it too. Globalization hit me and it hit me hard. Today my clothes are from all over the world. My shoes are always Nike so you can say I belong to the American shoe culture on that part. The way I dress is decent. I try to wear whatever feels comfortable and whatever fits my mood. I never try to dress a certain way nor copy others or even judge others by what they dress so I definitely don’t belong to a certain culture on my “fashion”. My music is mostly electronic which belongs to mostly European and American influence. One thing that you can judge me by is my hairstyle. I do have sometimes a crazy Mohawk which can quickly turn me into a soccer player without even asking. I do player soccer and I do come from a place where soccer is not just a sport but also history. I feel that the Mohawk makes me quicker, like an Aztec warrior hunting in the jungle for black panthers. Other then that I don’t really belong to a certain culture. I’m simply a product of Globalization just like everyone else in 2013. I am a mix of Albanian/European tradition and American opportunism.
ReplyDeletelove the details in your reply--esp hairstyle!
DeleteI was born in New York and lived here all my live. My parents are both born in the dominican republic. As a child I spoke mainly spanish. I am fluent in spanish and I think its something that still keeps me close to my culture. My mother taught me how to cook spanish food which is one of my favorite types of food. I love to listen and dance to spanish music. I dont feel torn between two cultures because I embrace both. I love all types of music reggae, hip hop, r&b, pop, country you name it. The way I dress and my sense of style is definitely something I have adapted from new york. Peoples first impression of me is that they think I am white and usually are very surpised when they hear me speak spanish.
ReplyDeleteme an you feel the same i embrace the fact i'm spanish... even tho i was born and raised here.. lol and hey our food is awesome! our sazon is amazing and our music is life! it makes you want to dance even if you wasnt in the mood to.. the beauty of being dominican is that were loud.... and we dont care lol.
DeleteI am a born and raised New Yorker. My father was born and raised in Peru and my mother was born and raised in Dominican Republic. It may seem as if I only have two cultures but I actually have three that I was raised by which is South American, Caribbean, and American.South Americans are a lot different than the Caribbean. For example, their food, they way they project themselves. From my own experiences, I feel that Dominicans have the warmest souls but I can't seem to say that about my Peruvian side. I probably identify myself more with the Dominican and American culture.I do embrace both sides but I also like to explore into other cultures such as Filipinos, my boyfriend is Filipino and there are alot of similar things they eat, say, or do that relates to Hispanics. I am very open minded when it comes to trying new things from different cultures which I guess I can thank New York for that. Being that it is the most diverse state in America.
ReplyDeleteyup--New York will do that! interesting that you find DR folks warmest souls!
DeleteWhen I was in 5th grade, I always wondered what my life in the future would look like. Funny, because of everything I imagined, I never pictured myself in America.I have to admit though, that this was the best thing that could have happened to me since I've become a rich ball of cultures. I was born in Colombia and came to NY 8 years ago, when I was about 12. I then started to adopt the language and have friends from different countries, Venezuela, Brazil, Albania, Poland. I started realizing there were things I could relate more than the ones my country offered. I started liking the foods my BFF's mother would make, instead of my mothers (she's from Bosnia by the way). "What did you put in here?" "oh, you know. some roasted potatoes and spinach soup." "NO WAY." I'd say. " My life is been a lie all these years!" ...I also adopted rock and I started watching Disney Channel. I started dressing according to what the weather dude would say, because in my country it was hot regardless of what day of the year it was! I've learned to understand different languages, before it all used to be gibberish to me if it wasn't Spanish. But now I can tell apart Polish and Arabic, or German and English. I've also have become a very accepting person of many religions, whether you have to cover your whole body, or be naked. I also highly support homosexuality and agree with it, even though in my country it is a total scandal. I definitively have to admit that here in America I've learned, adopted and accepted things that I would have never been exposed in my country.
ReplyDeletea rich post--thanks for sharing the openness that came with your American life!
Deletesorry I’m late my email was spammed but i was born in Haiti an came as an infant so I wasn’t too involved with my roots but growing up I stared researching my back ground, asking question to my parents on why they came here and chose to bring me here. I found out my country was the first independent country free from slavery and created our own language which is known as creole. I also get involved with my church as far as some of the Haitian traditions I try to do for example we drink soup every New Year and don’t eat meat on certain holidays. I’m very proud of where I came from and will still following and learning the traditions an pass them down to my kids
ReplyDeletethanks for posting! interesting to look into your traditions.
ReplyDelete