Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko, The True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, and George Washington Gomez by Américo Paredes are the focus of this paper, which provides an analysis of each book. This essay will argue that the concept of cultural identity is complex and multifaceted since it is generated by various factors including history, geography, and personal experience. This will be done via an analysis of how these works represent cultural identity.
Description
This paper examines how three examples of contemporary Native American art portray different aspects of cultural identity. This course will study how these works portray the complexities of cultural identity, as well as the ways in which history, location, and the experiences of humans all affect cultural identity. The theoretical foundation of this article will be constructed using postcolonial theory and cultural studies, with a particular focus on the manner in which both fields of study dispel widespread cultural myths about Native American identity.
Timeline
Week 1: Choose a Subject and Read Relevant Materials
Week 2-3: Read and record information from sources.
Week 4-5: Create annotations for source materials.
Week 6-7: Compose a research paper
Week 8: Edit and revise the research paper
Annotations
Bhabha, Homi K. “Postcolonial criticism.” Postcolonlsm. Routledge, 2023. 105-133.
The seminal work “Postcolonial criticism,” written by Homi K. Bhabha, explores the legacy of colonialism and its influence on contemporary forms of intellectual and artistic expression. According to Bhabha, one of the challenges for postcolonial theory is how to account for the intersection of power, history, and culture. According to him, postcolonial criticism is a critical strategy that aims to undermine and expose colonial discourses that are ingrained in cultural forms and practices. Bhabha maintains that colonialism is a continuous process that has lasting repercussions for modern society as well as contemporary culture. This argument is based on the research conducted by Michel Foucault, Frantz Fanon, and Edward Said respectively. The work of Bhabha has been crucial in the development of postcolonial studies and is often brought up in discussions on cultural politics, representation, and identity.
Hua, Xiaochen, Guangwei Hu, and Feifei Liu. “The cultural representation of Chinese-speaking groups in US-produced Chinese as a foreign language textbooks.” Asia Pacific Journal of Education 43.1 (2023): 126-143.
Hua, Hu, and Liu investigate the depiction of Chinese-speaking populations in Chinese-language textbooks written and published in the United States. These textbooks are used to teach Chinese as a foreign language. They argue that the cultural image that is presented in language textbooks has a significant effect on how students see native speakers of the target language. A qualitative investigation into the depiction of Chinese-speaking groups in four Chinese textbooks that are commonly used in American schools reveals varying tendencies in the depiction of Chinese-speaking groups. These tendencies include an emphasis on the Han majority and the marginalization of ethnic and linguistic minorities. According to the authors of the study, these representations have resulted in the standardization and oversimplification of the cultures and civilizations of Mandarin speakers. The novel Ritual, written by Leslie Marmon Silko, which investigates the connection between language, culture, and identity for indigenous peoples in the United States, is relevant to the discussion of this topic. This research brings up some very serious concerns about the continuation of cultural stereotypes in language textbooks, as well as the need for more varied and inclusive depictions of a range of different ethnic groups.
Motzafi-Haller, Pnina. “Writing birthright: On native anthropologists and the politics of representation.” Auto/ethnography. Routledge, 2021. 195-222.
Motzafi-Haller uses the experiences of “local anthropologists,” or researchers who are also residents of the communities they study, as a lens through which to explore the politics of representation in anthropological literature. She contends that these anthropologists face unique challenges and ethical conundrums in their field of work, especially with respect to issues of power and representation, and she cites many examples to support her argument. Motzafi-Haller uses examples from her own research on Bedouin settlements in Israel to critique traditional anthropological approaches, which see research participants as passive objects of study. Instead, she advocates for a technique of study that is cooperative and participatory and that includes direct interaction with the people who are being researched. Sherman The work of Sherman Alexie, titled The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, which tackles the challenges of identity and representation that indigenous peoples face in the United States, need to be studied in light of the information presented in this chapter.
Ruhanen, Lisa, and Michelle Whitford. “Cultural heritage and Indigenous tourism.” Journal of heritage tourism 14.3 (2019): 179-191.
In this article, Ruhanen and Whitford investigate the complexities of Indigenous tourism, with a particular emphasis on the relationship between cultural inheritance and the expansion of visitor numbers. The authors believe that indigenous tourism, despite having the potential to be a tool for preserving and promoting cultural heritage, also poses a number of risks and challenges for indigenous people. These include the possibility of having a negative impact not only on the environment but also on neighboring communities, as well as the commercialization of cultural practices. The authors emphasize the need for ethical and environmentally responsible tourism practices that respect the rights and interests of Indigenous peoples, as well as the value of community engagement and collaboration in the development of Indigenous tourism. In light of the information presented here, the work of Leslie Marmon Silko titled Ceremony, which discusses problems pertaining to cultural legacy as well as the consequences of colonialism on Indigenous peoples, would be worth looking into.
Schwartz, Joan M., and James R. Ryan. “Introduction: Photography and the geographical imagination.” Picturing Place. Routledge, 2021. 1-18.
The book Picturing Place by Schwartz and Ryan begins with an introduction that investigates the connection between photography and the geographical imagination. The focus of this section is on the ways in which photography has been utilized to convey and produce various perceptions of space and location. The authors investigate how photography has played a role in the formation of cultural and national identities, the documentation of social and environmental change, and the disclosure of aspects of everyday life that were previously unknown or hidden. The authors also discuss how photography has been utilized by artists and activists to challenge prevalent myths and create alternative futures. The novel George Washington Gomez by Américo Paredes, which examines themes of identification and belonging in regard to the border between Mexico and Texas, should be looked at in light of this introduction.
Spivak, G. C. (2023). Poststructuralism, marginality, postcoloniality and value. In Postcolonlsm (pp. 57-84). Routledge.
In this chapter, the authors investigate the ways in which poststructuralism, marginality, postcolonialism, and value are all connected to one another. She argues that the Western-centered approaches to the development of knowledge are inadequate and stresses how important it is to take into consideration the perspectives of individuals who are excluded from the process. The impact that colonialism has on current ideas of value and economics is the primary topic that Spivak investigates in her work. She contends that the globalization of capitalism is largely attributable to the exploitation of indigenous peoples and the resources they had throughout the time of colonialism. This chapter makes use of the book Ceremony written by Leslie Marmon Silko, which investigates the impacts of colonialism as well as the movement for indigenous sovereignty and self-determination.
Sinha, Mrinalini. “Gender and nation.” Feminist Theory Reader. Routledge, 2020. 155-168.
Mrinalini Sinha explores the topic of gender and nationalism in her essay “Gender and Nation” for the Feminist Theory Reader. The paper is titled “Gender and Nation.” Sinha contends that gender and nationalism are mutually constitutive concepts, and that gender stereotypes and assumptions are often exploited in the process of building national identities. She believes that this is the case. Sinha analyzes the ways in which women are often exploited as national symbols as well as the challenges that women experience while attempting to balance their gendered identities with their national identities. In addition, Sinha analyzes the ways in which nationalist aspirations may appropriate feminist movements, as well as the need for feminist theory and practice to fight against these intersections. This research provides a useful framework for analyzing the gendered aspects of nationalism as well as the challenges that women face when trying to maintain a healthy balance between their numerous identities.
References
Bhabha, Homi K. “Postcolonial criticism.” Postcolonlsm. Routledge, 2023. 105-133.
Hua, Xiaochen, Guangwei Hu, and Feifei Liu. “The cultural representation of Chinese-speaking groups in US-produced Chinese as a foreign language textbooks.” Asia Pacific Journal of Education 43.1 (2023): 126-143.
Motzafi-Haller, Pnina. “Writing birthright: On native anthropologists and the politics of representation.” Auto/ethnography. Routledge, 2021. 195-222.
Ruhanen, Lisa, and Michelle Whitford. “Cultural heritage and Indigenous tourism.” Journal of heritage tourism 14.3 (2019): 179-191.
Schwartz, Joan M., and James R. Ryan. “Introduction: Photography and the geographical imagination.” Picturing Place. Routledge, 2021. 1-18.
Spivak, G. C. (2023). Poststructuralism, marginality, postcoloniality and value. In Postcolonlsm (pp. 57-84). Routledge.
Sinha, Mrinalini. “Gender and nation.” Feminist Theory Reader. Routledge, 2020. 155-168.
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