For this post, you will have a choice of two different topics of which to respond.
Option #1: Many families have unique traditions like Lahiri's family tradition of carrying loads of food back from India. Think of a tradition that is unique to your family or to another group to belong to--for instance, a holiday celebration, a vacation activity, a way of resolving or avoiding disagreement. Describe that tradition, focusing on the objects used, the activities involved, and the feelings associated with it. (This is a chance for the class to get know "who" you are).
OR
Option #2: First, Do you find the Las Vegas wedding industry and its clients, as described by Didion, to be ridiculous, depressing, amusing, harmless, or something else? Explain your impression. Next, Describe another ritual or social custom (for example, a graduation, military induction, presidential inauguration, religious service). What does the conduct of this custom tell us about our attitudes toward it?
When pondering the concept of African-American culture and the unique traditions utilized today within my family, I was kind of stuck in a way. Personally, I did not realize the unique traditions that my family follow as being under the category of ‘unique’ but, I did some research and found that traditions are defined by an inherited pattern of thoughts, actions, beliefs, and customs. For example, in my family, the elders are seen as patriarchal in the family because the mothers, aunts, uncles basically descended from them. My grandmother is one of five siblings, so it’s imperative to honor her as much as possible. Every Sunday after church service, my family including my mom, dad, uncle, sister and her children head to my grandmother’s house for a Sunday dinner altogether. Table discussions vary from our past tedious weeks to who’s bringing dessert next Sunday. An overwhelming feeling of joy and honor engulf me. I’m happy to be with my family in a peaceful setting yet, honored to be in the presence of a great historical epitome. My grandmother grew up on a farm where her mother and father worked for the owner. Having recently moved to Columbia County, her small family knew little existence of any relatives in the area. Eventually, she began to research and found tons of family members throughout Georgia that she never even heard of. Now, every June, at Clarks Hill, she organizes with my aunt a reunion for every person connected to the Bennett family regardless of the differences of last names. My grandmother wanted to make it a point that family is salutary to who you are today in life, without family, there is nothing of any greater value. Family is all you have which is why it should be on the top list of your priorities to always be in connection with them. In Lahiri’s family, salvaging food from India was significant however, in my family; always being in connection with you blood is vital and treating the elders with respect is your duty to them for all that they’ve sacrificed in order to remain as one unit still today. I feel tremendously grateful to one of tons of grandchildren to my grandmother. For I know that if it wasn’t for her sedulous acts to bind our family as one, it would not be where it is today. Family is something that I am truly blessed to have.
ReplyDeleteEvery year around Christmas time, my family goes up to New Jersey to visit my aunt and uncle, our cousins, and other friends. My Aunt Mimi cooks more food than you can imagine, and yes, it's all gone by the end of the night. A main feature of our meal though, is the gibna, or feta cheese. Yes, pounds and pounds of gibna is consumed during Christmas dinner every year in my family. Everyone is also very loud, so it's basically my aunt yelling, "You need more food! Here! Eat!" and everyone else replying, "No! Mimi! This is enough!" With that she interjects, "But you look thin!" Which, trust me, the majority of the people in my family are not thin at all. Nonetheless, this all happens in the very obnoxious language that is Arabic, so everything looks and sounds like a chaotic mess. Now, what we don't tell all of our family up north is that we visit them to also pick up our imported cheese. So we drive every year to the same store about 45 minutes away, and somehow, every year we always end up getting lost. The 45 minute trip turns into an hour and a half of madness because everyone is trying to talk over the other person to tell my dad, the driver, which way to go. After we finally find our way, we get the gibna and take about an hour to load it in the car (we usually get about 7-10 pounds minimum). After a very fun, but tiring trip, we head home. The whole way back is full of on and off complaining from my older brother that the gibna smells terrible. After we finally arrive home, we invite all the family to come feast for New Year's. Of course, we tell them we have gibna. And so begins the chaos all over again. Nevertheless, it's fun to spend Christmas with people you love and start the New Year with family, no matter how crazy it gets.
ReplyDeleteAnyone who knows me well is aware that I am obsessed with keeping everything around me tidy and organized, especially my room because when it’s not I can never seem to concentrate on my work. No matter what I’m doing, if something looks out of place or dirty, I will be the first to go clean it. I know it sounds strange, I get picked on by my friends about it all the time, but it’s just something that has become habit. I think I first began to develop this habit when my mom got into a car crash. She was bedridden for about a year so naturally, all the daily responsibilities were in my hand. I was only in sixth grade so my grandma had to come and teach my dad, my brother, and I how to cook and do other household jobs. This was not an easy task and we had many arguments but in the end it really got my family into the habit of working together and made us stronger and closer as a family. My mom has somewhat recovered since then but the daily routines we had developed in that one-year are still a part of our lives. Now, Sundays have become a “family day” for us. We start off our mornings with breakfast together and then we all work do our share of chores. Then, after having lunch we all decide on something do to, most of the time we go to my cousin’s house where we all watch football but, no matter what we do that day, we’re always together. Finally, after dinner we always end our Sunday nights by watching a movie together. Although our family day does not consist of anything out of the ordinary, it allows us to have a day to catch up and bond without having to worry about school or work.
ReplyDeleteThe people in my family are always busy, my parents work seven days a week, several hours a day, and I am always working on my school work. Sadly, because of our busy lifestyles, we seldom eat together as a whole family. But, despite our conflicting schedules, I look forward to that one day of the year where I know for certain that I will share breakfast with my mother.
ReplyDeleteFifteen days after Chinese New Years, many Chinese families celebrate Yuan Xiao Jie, the day that symbolizes the end of the New Year celebration. To celebrate this day, families would eat Tang Yuan, a small round dollop of rice dough filled with sweet black sesame sauce or salty peanut filling for breakfast. Although it is tradition that the entire family eats together for this celebration, my family celebrates it differently.
A few years ago, I woke up late, and missed eating Tang Yuan with my family. I was ashamed at myself for sleeping in the one day where my family was supposed to share breakfast together. I was upset, completely immersed in the fact that I missed breakfast with my family. However, the next morning my mother calls me down, and to my surprise I found two bowls of Tang Yuan, one for my mother, and one for myself. I learned that morning that my mother skipped eating Tang Yuan with my father, my grandparents and my brother, so that the next day she could share it with me. Every year since, my mother and I have shared Tang Yuan sixteen days after Chinese New Years.
Like Lahiri’s parents, my own parents are still deep-rooted in the Chinese culture, having immigrated to the United States themselves. One tradition that is familiar to me is the celebration of Chinese New Year, which usually ends up around January or February. The date varies each year because it is based on the lunar calendar instead. On this day, my parents spend the entirety of their time preparing for the “new year” by cooking. We arrange our kitchen table to face the wall on which my mother’s incense lies and father’s family “plaque” is. Upon this table, my parents meticulously line up small, red, plastic cups (that have Chinese on them of course) on the edge of the table that is closer to the wall. On both sides of this line of cups are red candles, well-used from the past years. The rest of the table becomes occupied by multiple dishes of food throughout the day. Some of these delicacies include congealed pig’s blood (red), fried fish (red), “nian gao,” which is a fried, red paste of glutinous rice, an abundance of random fruits that are either red or dyed red, and some other random red foods that I have yet to figure out what they are or translate. I have no explanation for why everything is red, besides knowing that red is the color of luck in China.
ReplyDeleteAfter the table is finally set up after some grueling wok-cooking, we pour wine into the plastic wine cups, light the candles, and my mother, the more religious one out of my parents, pays her respects to my family ancestors by kneeling on the ground and praying before the table that has been essentially made into a shrine of sorts. Most of the time, I am also called to do this. Once this is done, we take some kind of large, metal container outside and light a fire in it, to which we proceed to burn papers in to represent our offerings to our ancestors. It makes more sense when the papers are printed to mimic money, but this isn’t always the case.
By the way, the mentioned process is also done the night before Chinese New Year due to the time difference at our restaurant downtown with all of the employees. However, multiply the table of food at my house by three or five, because four is an unlucky number.
There’s also the plus of a couple hundred bucks slipped under my pillow at night in little red envelopes called “lai see” every year.
As described by Didion in her short story, I believe that the Las Vegas wedding industry as well as its clients are quite ridiculous. Didion exemplifies Vegas marriages as absurd and rushed. The fact that one hundred seventy-one couples were married in one night in Vegas illustrates the significantly decreased importance placed upon each marriage. Marriages are sacred events; they are not simply three to five minute events which are used by young men to better their draft status. Each and every marriage should be valued; each deserves a special time and ceremony. In Vegas, however, the marriages are rushed and Didion even describes how "the hostess has already transferred her interest to the group waiting outside." Also marriages in Las Vegas tend to appeal to a younger population that run to Las Vegas to elope. These decisions are mostly split-second, and they often result in an unsuccessful marriage. My view of Las Vegas marriages as ridiculous is furthered by Didion's ironic tone when describing them. For example, she states that people expect more when they are married yet they are content to marry in a small chapel or even office in a city that has "no past and no future." I believe that weddings in Las Vegas are ridiculous because they force people to rush through events which should be thoroughly thought out.
ReplyDeleteAnother ritual that is treasured within society today is graduation. Whether from high school or from college, graduation represents a coming of age in which adolescents are expected to begin making their own decisions. Graduation is a large part of growing up in America today. By graduating you are telling society that you are a respectable, responsible adult. Usually to celebrate graduation, students throw parties. These parties acknowledge the accomplishment of graduating. This specific conduct illustrates that as a whole society values graduation. Other rituals which are usually associated with graduation include graduation ceremonies, turning of class rings, and throwing the caps up in the air. These joyous events further support the fact that graduation is a positive occasion. Also, however, the graduation ceremony is may also be solemn and a guest speaker may be present to give a speech that dissipates moral standards within the graduating class. This solemn nature indicates that although graduation is a very celebratory event, it also represents one's transformation into adulthood and should be taken seriously.
While Augusta, Georgia provides a safe and peaceful environment for my family, it lacks much of the flavorful aspects of the Oriental cultures. As a result, almost once every month, we would travel to Atlanta to purchase various goods that are not available in Augusta. While the shopping is fun, the actual "quality time" spent with my family is both horrendous and amusing.
ReplyDeleteDue to the difference in cultures and customs, my parents would often bicker and debate. For instance, once my father brought up a topic of which culture has better entertainment. My mother insisted that Chinese opera is the best while father disagreed claiming that Vietnamese songs are much better. Meanwhile, my sister insisted on Miley Cyrus. Musical performance broke out in the midst of the heated argument and that was when I realized my personal musical talent is not due to genetics.
Our Atlanta trip also includes various aspects of competition, mostly between me and my sister. Our car driving home always carry numerous Oriental food and snacks. Because I'm a food-lover, my sister Karen and I would often quarrel over who eats what, which eventually made my parents completely angry and annoyed. To punish the both of us, my caring parents would eventually devour everything, leaving their starving children with water and sandwiches.
While the trip to Atlanta can be fun, it's also quite hectic. My mother always insisted on waking up at 5 to arrive in Atlanta at 8 so to prevent "traffic." As a sleep-lover, I purposely did not set my alarm clock in hope for getting more sleep. By the third time, my mother caught on to the scheme and left me alone at home. In order not to miss the fun in Atlanta, I wittily told my mother that there was a dangerous interloper in the house and so my family sped back home. After learning the truth, the family shunned me for a week. Thanks to that particular incident, I got to experience the agonizing boredom from being shunned.
First period sages, your reponses are wrought with the traditions and attitudes that identify you. I am touched by your candid portraits and gateways into the customs you seem to treasure so deeply. Thank you for sharing: Taylor, Sunday dinner at your grandmother's sounds like the very essence of what makes families rock-solid (I love the extremes of your conversations, from the tedium of the week to dessert assignments for the next gathering); Hannah, the NJ roadtrip sounds like something out of a Chevy Chase movie--and, I can't wait to hear more about gibna--(Michael Cheng, did you read this...7-10 pounds of cheese!?; Ritu, I have always taken you for the mother-figure--(compliment!)--your posting explains a great deal about the nurturer that seems so natural to you. It is indeed incredibly what bonds and roles and rituals are redefined when our loved ones endure illness, tragedy, and personal setbacks; Emily, Amy Tan would love to read your post--the relationship between mothers and daughters is so complex, yet the simplicity of your mother's act of love should restore any frustration any of us ever has toward our parents--particularly our mothers; Winnie, I want to be Chinese! I want to celebrate the Chinese New Year and eat red delicacies and wake up with 100-dollar bills under my pillow--forget the toothfairy!(plus, your details are great); Mihir, thanks for extending your table's "Graduation Cafe Reflections"--you were the perfect table host.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Field! We absolutely need to revive the "Mixing Modes Feast"...let's make plans!
My very large extended family lives throughout the country, ranging from Nebraska to Virginia, but there is one time a year that I can count on seeing all of my family members. My older cousin, Alyssa, timed her wedding with camping last year because she knew that this vacation is frequented by more relatives than any holiday. We all meet at a campsite situated on the Ohio River that my uncles own, jokingly called the “Red Neck Yacht Club.” We stay there for about four days, but it feels much shorter. To atone for the briefness of the vacation, my cousins and I sacrifice several hours of sleep to play corn-hole together, a game that resembles a bean bag toss. We bond over tubing, rope swinging, bouncing on the water trampoline, flashlight tag, and, above all, the scavenger hunt. In the scavenger hunt, one older cousin is partnered with a younger cousin, and the teams compete to answer questions about the aunts’ and uncles’ childhoods, to dig for marbles in the sand, to paddle a raft to a set point in the water, and to wrap each other up like a mummy with toilet paper. Although I am not particularly athletic, I do not waste a minute by sitting out an activity. We tube for such extended periods of time that I had to buy a heating pad after the first year to eradicate my soreness from hanging onto the tube so tightly. We occasionally fight over who gets the last Sunkist, but we rarely disagree about anything that is not trivial or have conflict. My family teases me, but when these jokes come from loved ones, they provide an opportunity to laugh at myself instead of being offensive. The camping trip is always over in a few days, but its legacy endures through sore muscles from tubing, rope burns from the rope swing, and bonds between the cousins that our geographical distances from each other cannot weaken. Even though we come from different parts of the country and our ages range greatly, we all have a great time together. It distresses me when my friends dread going to visit their cousins, as I know how important my cousins are in my life. The youngest generation of the McLaughlin family has followed the examples of aunts and uncles, who get along so well and value family so highly
ReplyDelete...incredible, not "incredibly" (grrr!)
ReplyDeleteAnd, time for Voc Unit #5 Review answers:
Synonyms.
1. scourge
2. vapid
3. prognosticate
4. straitlaced
5. sepulchral
6. equitable
7. soporific
8. transient
9. salutary
10. filch
11. scathing
12. unwieldy
13. axiomatic
14. blazon
15. tractious
16. autonomy
17. caveat
18. extricate
19. amnesty
20. flout
21. precept
22. addendum
Antonyms:
1. equitable
2. scathing
3. vapid
4. autonomy
5. extricate
6. scourge
7. sporific
8. unwieldy
9. transient
10. blazon
11. flout
12. salutary
13. axiomatic
14. fractious
15. straitlaced
Complete the Sentence:
1. amnesty
2. scourge
3. filch
4. vapid
5. extricate
6. autonomy
7. fractious
8. unwieldy
9. sepulchral
10. axiomatic
11. scathing
12. blazon
13. transient
14. straitlaced
15. equitable
16. caveat
17. flout
18. precept
19. salutary
20. addendum
21. prognosticate
22. sporific
Challenge: This is a great vocabulary list! Stretch: use your vocabulary, i.e., in your postings, your journal reflection, your original modes drafts...your conversations.
Every three years my family travels to Josie, Alabama, to participate in our family’s Salter-Lawson family reunion. ( For those of you who do not know, my middle name is Salter) This reunion consists of about two hundred relatives, most of whom I do not know. Upon arriving at the reunion we are greeted with warm welcomes, southern hospitality, and a nametag with a family tree printed on it. The salutary nametag will tell a distant relative where I am in the family line up. Most would think that this is a waste of ink and time, but in my family the family tree is necessary, for my family is anything but undersized. My great-grandmother was one of twelve children, and they are the Salter family. The Salter family lived by their cousins who also had a family with twelve children, and they are the Lawson family. The two families were very close growing up and enevthoug they lived walking distance away from each other they started to have a reunion every forth of July. As the years went past and the family grew, the reunion became more of a burden now the reunion takes place every three years. This consists of every generation down to my generation of any member of either side. If the size of the family is not enough to send a “redneck” alert to your brain, then the fact that my uncles spend the night with the pig we will be eating at the barbeque the next day and watch it roast will. Twinkle Lawson, my fifth cousin, leads the family in prayer before the pig is eaten and the banana pudding is slurped. After our afternoon nap at the local hunting lodge, the afternoon usually consists of hay-bail jumping and boiling peanuts. It is safe to say that my family is unique in its size and its traditions, but just as Lahiri loves her family for their obsession with bring food back from India, I love my family for the quirky ways we prepare our and eat our meals and the way we get together to celebrate being a family.
ReplyDeletethank you Mrs. Weaver for the vocab!!
ReplyDelete2.) The Las Vegas wedding "industry", as described by Lahiri, is comical and somewhat ironic. Couples married in such a ceremony are treated as if they are enduring a visit to the doctor rather than a romantic ceremony that requires months of careful planning. A couple will be married in a chapel on the Vegas strip that does weddings as a business and legal arrangement rather than a joining of two souls. They then have dinner at a casino, where the bride cannot drink champagne with her husband because she is underage; the irony is that the bride still cries and proclaims that her wedding was a beautiful thing.
ReplyDeleteAnother major ceremony in our society is that of graduation. One receives the ultimate product from all of their hard work and then celebrates with their family and friends. Many traditions ensue as well, such as that of throwing caps up in the air and turning the class ring jewel-side up. The extravagant traditions of a graduation shows just how important this coming-of-age is to us. It is seen as a move from this life and the next, a break-off point from being under your parents' wings and becoming your own person by making your own decisions and your own life for yourself through your own decisions.
Thank you for the vocabulary answers!
Some may find it odd, but in my family, the biggest ritual the men share is bonding without conversation. Every year, multiple times throughout the fall, me, my father, my uncle, brother, and male cousin will sit, in silence, watching a Georgia Tech football game. It may be hard to understand from an outsider's perspective, but it is almost as if someone talking about anything other than a bad call or great play choice would intrude upon the purity of the moment. The silence, in combination with being surrounded by others who share common traits relieves everyone's stress. The companionship will pull away the younger generation's anxiety about the future, while the good, cold beer gives the older generation confidence about their sons' lives. Rare smiles form.
ReplyDeleteThis ritual would never work if the males from our family were not all strikingly similar in nature. All fiercely competitive, we can remove ourselves from the world and only focus on besting each other in simple calls and bets on the game. This may seem odd, if the goal is to relax, but the key lies in a mutual, unsaid fact that we are not being serious, but just competing for the sake of competing. Phillips can never stop competing, for it is a key tenet in the parenting used for generations of my family.
My family is a relatively boring one in terms of large scale family tradition. We participate in very stereotypical family traditions such as Christmas Tree decorating around the holidays and a New Years party but we do not really have many Unique traditions. The most unusually tradition that me and my mom observe is making thursdays nights pizza night. SInce my mom has to work until 7pm and I have tennis until around that time my mom orders pizza as she is leaving work and we race it to our house (only once has it beaten us to the house). My Dad and I however have a slightly larger scale tradition which is that every other christmas we venture across the border to Canada to visit my uncle and cousins. We always stay at the Hotel Le 60 which is under the ownership of my uncle.So pizza on thursday and trips to Canada they may not be the most exciting or traditional traditions but they are the ones my family chose create.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading “Marrying Absurd” I found the Las Vegas wedding industry to be depressing and somewhat absurd. I found it depressing because of the lack of humanity and over-commercialization that seems to have superseded all personal or deep emotional ties between couples being married. Marriage has always seemed like a personal and very human ritual, a blissful escape from the immediate world of sorts, which should be valued and should have some deeper significance. Mr. Brennan, the justice of the peace who married sixty-seven couples in one day, makes a highly ironic statement when he says that “they’re people, not cattle. People expect more when they are married” because he basically belts out marriages in dehumanizing assembly-line fashion with each marriage taking three minutes. There is no personal touch to the marriages; they are products made in the same fashion as cars and computers. The over-commercialization also takes away from the concept of marriage in general, as it becomes an absurd commodity to be sold alongside poker chips and call girls in a city which’s name is synonymous with personal escape. The over commercialization is shown by the plethora of signs advertising marriage services that seemed to be marketing to people looking to get married quickly and efficiently, summed up by the machine-like efficiency of the weddings where “one bride out, another in” seems to be the governing mantra.
ReplyDeleteSixteenth birthdays are a matter of significance, especially in the Western world. The celebration of this seemingly arbitrary age seems to stem from the older belief in other earlier civilizations that sixteen was the age when children became adults. The ritualistic “Tea” that accompanies certain people’s sixteenth birthdays seems to spring from Victorian tradition recognizing the advent of the girl into mainstream social order. The Tea is a vestigial social construct that is a remnant of the old highly stratified Southern society (which was almost entirely taken from British custom). The emphasis on the importance of the sixteenth birthday in the twenty-first century seems to be derived from the media, which has created an unnecessary need due to the fact that in modern society sixteen-year olds only gain the right to drive so it would seem that this birthday would be behind in importance to the eighteenth or twenty-first birthdays. One unifying factor for people who turn sixteen is the added responsibility and freedom that their parents and society give them, but which is still not complete until a person turns eighteen and is a legally-defined adult.
How can one take the Vegas Wedding industry seriously? With its flashy lights, huge bulletin boards advertising the male stripping chippendales, and large amounts of money being spent in the smelly casinos each night what is so beautiful and wonderful about this city? Now, would one really want to be married in a place with such commotion with no serenity? The life long commitment between a man and a woman cannot be set in stone by the flashy commercial setting of a law vegas wedding.
ReplyDeleteThe people that this Wedding industry appeals to are those intoxicated, high, lonely and unaware of the mistake they are about to make, pregnant, or feeling pressured by the glam and fortune of Las Vegas.
Overall the Las Vegas Wedding industry is a complete ridicule and should not even be put in the category of legal marriages. Unless of course the couple getting married was sincere and sure about the commitment they were about to make.
Valentine's Day is a commercialized custom but it's intentions are actually somewhat decent. Every year on February 14th, it is customary for little children in school to trade small cards and candy with their classmates, for men to buy their sweethearts flowers and candy, and for people to say I love you. This tradition has been carried on through the years as people today continue to show their simple signs of love for people they care about. Many people's attitudes may very, like my friend who insists on calling this day singles awareness day, but in the end Valentine's day is not about the chocolate and flowers or the boyfriend or girl friend, it's about love and showing your friends and family that you care about them. It's silly to think people have a day set aside for expressing our love for others because naturally one could do this exact same thing every day if they so chose to, but since it's a holiday and custom people are inclined to follow the tradition.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDidion’s “Marriage Absurd” not only accentuates shallow materialism, but also it highlights the diminishing sacred union of man and woman. Las Vegas with its casinos, flowery advertisement, and insincere people, truly mocks the pure, ideal, sacred marriage. Its society is corrupt with extravagance, focusing on monetary value and drunken drivel rather than a lifelong commitment. With no regard to the future, couples who dive into this five-minute marriage mock their values, morals, and ethics. Appealing to a group of modern individuals, Las Vegas exemplifies a fantasy world, with no regard to responsibilities or even the morning after. Las Vegas weddings are rushed, sleazy, insincere, and lastly, ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteA ritual that treasured and looked forward to by many scholarly individuals is graduation. The final day where one leaves an aspect of life behind, plunging fast into the next. Ranging from grade school to medical college, each graduation symbolizes growth, progress, and future. With each graduation, one takes with him or her responsibility as not only a citizen, but as an individual. Many ceremonies of this event include a celebration after party, toasts from loved ones, gifts, and certificates. Additionally, the widely known throwing of caps and turning the tassels is looked forward to by students, eagerly awaiting their future. Overall, graduation remains a positive celebration, despite its bitter sweetness. Many on graduation day fear the future, for it is a time they must face adulthood and the responsibilities that accompany it.
I personally find the Las Vegas wedding industry to be ridiculous. Didion provides numerous examples of how the weddings that take place on the Vegas strip seem less valuable and usually just two infatuated individuals acting on impulse. The detail that stood out the most to me was the statement made by the minister who says that he can marry a couple in about three minutes. He also says he would marry them by the masses, or like cattle. He sounds more like an auctioneer than a minister. Didion also begins the story with explaining how easily one obtains a marriage license in the state of Nevada. The ease at which one can get married seems to cheapen the worth of the marriage itself. In order to assure that you are mature and ready to commit yourself to an individual you must spend a great deal of time and experience life with them. Life will present many challenges, therefore it is imperative that you surmount these challenges before you decide to bind your life to another. It was said in today’s discussion on weddings that the wedding process is what will test if you are ready to marry or not. In short, the planning and responsibility required to carry out a wedding is tedious with numerous choices to be made. It is important to be able to make decisions and work together in order to have a worthwhile marriage.
ReplyDeleteChurches not only are the venue for many weddings, but also are the place of worship for certain faiths. Many people ascribe negative connotations to church, believing it is about a bunch of dos and don'ts. However, I view church as a collective body of people with common views meeting on one campus to fellowship, learn, and engage in their beliefs. Some churches are solemn and reverent, while others are joyous and loud. Honestly, I find it hard to be passionate about something if you must suppress your feelings towards it. For example, some people will swear by conducting worship through an organ and hymnal book only and any deviation from this is absurd. Don't misinterpret my purpose, the intent of singing hymns is great, however, the mode through with it is done is outdated and would not resonate with the current generation. Therefore a more contemporary type of worship is much more relevant to people my age. Along with the contemporary style is a whole different attitude of a celebration of what we believe. Essentially, the way worship is conducted seems to direct our attitudes towards it.
My family has always closely resembled the family in National Lampoon’s “Christmas Vacation.” We have the crazy grandparents, the clumsy family members (like me) and the members that always act as the glue to keep the family together in times of need. On every major holiday, we have both my mom and my dad’s sides of the family come over to my house to celebrate together. So when I was about five years old, I got to see “Christmas Vacation” for the first time. It easily became everyone in my family’s favorite movie. One particular Thanksgiving, I heard some of the adults talking about the movie so I went upstairs, found it and brought it down to beg my parents to let us watch it. My begging worked and the entire family (all thirty or more of us) sat down and watched the movie together. We laughed at the corky comparisons to our family traditions and it a memory of mine that is purely fun to recollect. After that Thanksgiving, it became a must-be-done tradition. Some years were happier than others and some were tough. But no matter what was going on in our personal/family life, when we would sit down and watch that movie together on Thanksgiving it all disappeared. I guess it was inspiring to see a family go through struggles, hardships, and unfairness and prevail from it. I guess it gave us all hope that we would make it through the stress of the holidays if we had the power of family behind us. Even to this day, “Christmas Vacation” is watched at my house every year on Thanksgiving, whether it’s my huge extended family watching it or just my immediate family and I. This tradition is a unique and positive one that I definitely want to continue with my children someday.
ReplyDeletePeer Evaluation:
ReplyDeleteRitu’s family tradition stood out to me because even though it was simple, it remains a vital aspect of life. Her scenario further highlights the importance of the basics between relationships within family and even friends. Additionally, Evan’s “silent bonding” exemplifies the prime example of how love, emotion, and bondage can be represented in more ways than words. We have all heard the phrase “Silence is golden,” but what does it really mean? When you are that comfortable with someone, words become unnecessary. Often, it is what we do not say than what we do that makes us who we are. Most authors and philosophers write pieces to illicit a deeper meaning which must be evaluated in layers rather than surface skimming. By unveiling shades of purpose, we achieve style, often shaping our persona. Are you one who can read between the lines, or do you prefer blatancy?
I can connect with many of the traditions that my peers have shared such as the wild family visits, monthly trips to Atlanta, and celebrating New Years. Similar to Hannah’s family, my family and I visit my Aunt in Virginia every winter and it almost becomes like a small family reunion. Every year we celebrate Christmas and New Year’s (which is also my baby cousin’s birthday), so there is always constant eating and yelling, which is normal considering there are about ten or more kids in the house.
ReplyDeleteEmily mentions that her parents work seven days a week and how in their busy schedules they find it hard to spend time together. This is similar to my family because my parents work six days a week so we barely see each other throughout the week. This is why it is important that we always have dinner together. Emily and her mom also came up with their own tradition--the tradition of eating Tang Yuan together.
Dineise’s family has the tradition of taking monthly trips to Atlanta to buy “various goods that are not available in Augusta.” My family also does the same thing for the same reason…. and yes they always result in fights between me and my brother and angry parents who threaten to kick us out of the car if we don’t stop.
But in such busy lifestyles, despite all the madness and arguments, it is such simple traditions that play an important role in strengthening the bonds within one’s family.
Traditions that we share with our family define who we are, and shape us into what we are today. I especially like Ritu’s story on how her mother’s tragic incident has changed her way of life. Because of this unfortunate event Ritu has learned to become more independent, and understanding, and it has also brought their family closer together.
ReplyDeleteI also liked Winnie’s post on Chinese New Years because I can relate to it. On Chinese New Years my mother, grandmother and I would gather in the kitchen to make dozens of dumplings, won tong soup, along with several other dishes while watching the Chinese New Years celebration on CCTV (a Chinese news station). After dinner, my brother and I would bow to my parents and grandparents for respect and in return we would each receive a red envelope filled with about a hundred dollars, much like Winnie.
I found Josh's comments on "Marrying Absurd" entirely reflects my own thoughts as I was reading the excerpt. Marriage is a sacred ceremony in which two lives are unified. However, many have corrupted this significant custom due to momentary urge rather than a thorough consideration. As a result, many young adults today get married very early without knowing or even considering the true reality and challenges that come with a marriage. Consequently, as many studies have proven, many young couples who get married early end up in divorce. Ultimately, young people's poor knowledge of the true meanings of marriage often result in shattered families as well as broken hearts. Similar to Josh, I believe that the decision to spend your life with another person should be one that's thoroughly thought over.
ReplyDeleteI can also relate with Emily's touching story regarding mother-daughter relationships. Most of the time, my peers do not get along with their mothers. While most teenagers find their mothers annoying and, rather, naggy, I enjoy my mother's company. Although on the surface, it may seems like she is too straitlaced and I often do not give in to her demands, we actually share a lot in common. Similar to Emily's mom, my mother would always put my needs before hers. As a result, most of the time, she makes many sacrifices to better her children's lives. I respect and admire Emily's mother for her thoughtful actions towards her daughter's feelings. She knows Emily well enough to actually save Tang Yuan for Emily which further proves that she would rather sacrifice and not eat on the first day only to share with Emily on the next day.
I liked Evan’s description on his family tradition, in that it showed that the language is not the only medium through which people can bond. Instead, the silent bonding is created through participation in a shared interest and is a way that everyone watching the game can relate to each other. Thus, language is not crucial for a bonding activity and seems to be second to important things such as shared interests and amount each individual can relate to each other. Rachel’s description of her family reunion was also interesting and showed the transcendental strength of communal familial ties regardless of geographic distribution or individual barriers. The camping trip is an idyllic place for family members to unite and reconnect because they are temporarily removed from the hassle of daily life for four days.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading through the posts of my peers, I came to realize that there are a variety of traditions that accentuate our differences and make us who we truly are. From Katherine's family reunion to Ritu's family dinner, the traditions that we choose to follow define us. These same traditions are also able to reveal to others who we are. I believe that it is important to continue to follow these traditions even if they may not be popular because they allow us to maintain a constant connection with our culture, with our inner being. I believe that the importance of these traditions is shown in Josh's description of how he races the pizza home. I believe that this shows that traditions are important. What may seem to be trivial to others, may hold an inscrutable significance to someone. Another example of this is Evan's tradition of watching the game in silence. The purpose of a tradition is to be unique. The tradition is something which defines the individual; if they were all the same then we would all be the same.
ReplyDeleteAlso in response to the second prompt, I believe that Swayam brings up a insightful point when he compares Las Vegas weddings to the products of an assembly line. I agree with this, because I believe that weddings in Vegas have lost touch with society. No longer are these weddings sacred. The wedding is, as Megan says, useless because the union of two souls cannot be taken seriously amongst the flashing lights and commercials of Las Vegas. I also agree with Josh when he states that the minister presiding over the weddings seems more like an auctioneer, and the weddings themselves are not worthwhile.
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ReplyDeleteMegan makes an excellent point on how they set aside a special day for people to express that they care for one another. We really should do this everyday, not just on this one day in particular. What sets this day apart exactly? We should not fail to tell the people we love that we love them every single day.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Josh and Diem that the once-sacred idea of marriage has been corrupted. People often see it more as a label nowadays as opposed to a union between two individuals; they get married because they feel they have to. Sometimes, people get married for money, illustrating the corruption in our society clearly. Society has forgotten that marriage is a sacred union and people will get married on impulse or do it because it would be "fun."
In terms of traditions I find Evans tradition of silent male bonding to be the most interesting. I believe that the silence in the room would allow for serenity and peace leading to a much more sincere form of bonding instead of a materialistic tradition in which there is a great deal of noise or commotion. In terms of the Marrying Absurd piece however i find Shefali's comments the most interesting. I agree with her claim that marriage is slowly becoming more and more materialistic and less and less about the actual religious and personal aspects of the wedding ceremony.
ReplyDeleteFirst period sages, I am so frustrated! I just spent 45 minutes responding to your insightful thoughts, and I lost my comments to your rich responses! I will try to recapture and share with you tomorrow. Evan, DO NOT say a word! I am not technically challenged.
ReplyDeleteGrrrrrr!
It seems that those who all commented on the Las Vegas Wedding industry all seem to have similar thoughts and feelings towards it. Words like ridiculous, absurd, rushed, comical, ironic, and depressing were all used to describe these weddings. If these are the terms that APLANG students are coming up with to describe these particular ceremonies then there must be something wrong with the entire process of a wedding on the Strip of Las Vegas. I liked how Sam said like “enduring a visit to the doctor rather than a romantic ceremony that requires months of careful planning.” That was a good phrase and it really shows how this industry is not logical at all. I also liked how Swayam said, “With no regard to the future, couples who dive into this five-minute marriage mock their values, morals, and ethics.”
ReplyDeleteI too completely agree with this statement. I feel marriage should be a commitment for life and how can one make that within five minutes? The five minutes that it takes for the couple to say “I do” totally disregards the values, morals, and ethics that are supposed to be included with a wedding.
Mrs. Weaver!!! I FEEL YOU!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteFirst off, I find it absolutely hilarious Ms. Weaver had to say that.
ReplyDeleteThere seems to be a general consensus among my peers that the Vegas wedding industry is ridiculous and insincere. But am I the only one that sees the humor at these poor souls' expense? In addition, the whole thing is made pointless because of the State of Nevada offering drive through annulments. The entire process can be seen as just quarrelsome, silly ritual for visitors to Las Vegas that serves no real purpose, making it not unlike most rituals.
Another highly talked about topic in the primary posts was foreign customs and holidays, which makes sense, considering the diverse nature of any AP class. One thing that caught my eye was the practice of a tooth fairy on steroids visiting Winnie to leave hundreds on the Chinese New Year. That whole process of receiving money out of tradition sounds spectacularly awesome, and should be adopted across the board.
Josh Martin points out how the marriage process can be a test of whether the couple can handle stress and make decisions together. The couples who get married in Vegas on a whim sometimes do not know anything about the other person, so they are unaware if their lives and personalities will compliment or clash. After drunkenness wears off and the artificial neon lights of Vegas are transmuted into daylight, these marriages are viewed much differently and the couples may realize that they are not in love and their marriage will not last. The advertisements illustrated by Didion include billboards for chinchilla coat rentals and sauna baths, which are both immediately gratifying but are only temporary, paralleling the likelihood of the marriages’ failures in the long-term. Shefali mentions how these unsuccessful marriages degrade the sacredness of this commitment. The sacrament of marriage should be an occasion to prepare for and anticipate, not to rush into marrying a stranger. It is absurd how the government recognizes these ceremonies that flout authentic marriages.
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ReplyDeleteI found Evan's tradition of nonverbal male bonding to be quite intriguing. The thought of just some guys and the passion of many American men presents a feeling of the men all experiencing similar feelings as they watch the game, thus connecting on greater levels. Talk is cheap; Evan and family found the way to get to know each other in just sitting and viewing an event with a common mindset. The connections gained from this experience are not attainable many other places.
ReplyDeleteKatherine's family gatherings remind me much of my own; my mother's family is extensive, she being the fifth of seven children. We all meet at my uncle's beach house on Memorial Day weekend and spend time together. While the numbers at our gatherings cannot compare to those of Katherine's family, I often feel lost in the shuffle because they see each other at many different times during the year, whereas I see them so little and seem to have little in common with them. We get two to four days with each other, and I would consider myself the most involved Bowman in the McGuirk family because the rest of my family often do different things due to special needs that we have.
I feel your pain, Mrs. Weaver! ☺
After reading these posts, I have concluded that I have missed out on a lot of experiences in my childhood. Like Emily, my own parents are also extremely occupied with work at our stereotypical Chinese restaurant, frequently working for twelve straight hours. As a result of my parents barely being around and my other relatives being spread out across the globe, ranging from as nearby as Carriage Hills to as distant as Hong Kong, I find it almost unbelievable that people’s family reunions are so elaborate and extensive, complete with “friendly” competition and bonding time. The closest thing I have experienced to a “family” reunion usually comes with attending Chinese weddings in Chinatown, New York. However, I’m usually unable to distinguish between blood relatives and my parents’ friends, who I’m obliged to refer to as “auntie” and “uncle.” You can see where confusion might arise when maternal and paternal relatives receive different titles, when different dialects of Chinese are used, and when we all look alike.
ReplyDeleteBasically, I envy those who actually form close relationships with their family, whereas I hardly see even my parents, usually missing them in the mornings or preoccupied by homework at night. In addition, I wish that I was able to go back to Hong Kong more often as I used to every summer throughout elementary school and middle school. School unfortunately keeps me in the United States during breaks these days. The only plus side that I have been able to find recently is that it allows me to continue to donate blood every couple of months and that I am able to hang out with my friends instead. Though, I suppose I’m not missing much in Hong Kong besides good food and good shopping, since all of my cousins there are at least eight years older than me, two of whom are married. By the way, they are all really tall, one contradiction that I pride myself on and frequently use to argue the genetics of most Asians.
Mrs. Weaver and Megan: Type what you want in Word first, and THEN copy and paste! :)
I really liked Ritu's family tradition because even though it is a simple one, the meaning behind it is beautiful and it unites the family. I think it is really sweet how when her mom was sick and unable to tend to her normal housekeeping duties, the family took over for her. This must have really tested the strength of Ritu’s family because a weak family would shatter in a situation like this one but instead of letting this tragedy pull their family apart; they chose to optimistically embrace the challenge, which made their family stronger and closer in the long run. It also probably made Ritu’s mother really happy to know that her family cared enough about her to put their differences aside for her better interests. I know that almost daily when my mom is asked what she wants, all she says is for me and my sister to get along. So I know that it warmed Ritu’s mother’s heart to see her family working together in harmony and love.
ReplyDeleteMy family is one that loves to travel, and often times they've allowed me to bring along a friend on our vacations. I always bring along my best friend Jason. Jason and I have developed our own traditions when it comes to going on vacation with each other. The longest standing tradition is what we like to call "Make Best Friends with the Hotel Staff." Our most recent vacation together was over Christmas break and we went to Washington DC. It was the day after Christmas and it was bitterly cold outside. Jason and I were NOT about to go sight seeing and risk getting frostbite, unlike the rest of my family. They'd decided to brave the cold and head out for the day. Having nothing better to do, we decide to play a game of "Make Best Friends with the Hotel Staff."
ReplyDeleteFirst we pull out the deck of cards. Next, we find the number for room service and order smoothies. When they arrive, our goal is to get the room service person to play one full game of cards with us. He actually played one game of Slap Jack with us! Usually when we play the game we get a "Thanks, but no." Our vacation tradition of playing cards with the hotel staff is the most original and fun tradition I've ever experienced.
The post that impacted me the most was Ritu's. I am amazed at the responsibility Ritu has assumed in her family. I think that it is incredible that Ritu fulfills the needs of her injured mother and overall her family. Also, I like how they have chosen a day to spend with each other regardless of what they do. Ritu's post makes me reexamine the amount of responsibility I assume and understand I often take for granted what is done for me.
ReplyDeleteI thought that Evan's post was hilarious. I read it and was assured that it was him—and only him-- that authored it and I have no doubts that it is true. I do not watch many sports on television so I cannot relate, however I like that each family member respects the other by being quiet.
Mihir, Swayam, and Shefali all voiced the same observations I was targeting with excellent responses. Shefali wastes no time getting to her point with her terse but powerful responses to "Marrying Absurd." She says the Weddings in Las Vegas are "sleazy, insincere, and ridiculous." I could not agree more. Swayam address the weddings saying they "dehumanize" marriage. He says that the bride and groom are just products like a car off an assembly line. And finally, Mihir says that the couples in Vegas don't spent enough time making the decision, and therefore it will be an unsuccessful marriage. Mihir and I's responses take a very similar view on how the quality of a marraige depends on how long is spent making the decision to marry.
When it comes to rituals, I connected to Mihir and Shefali's posts on graduation the most. I feel that all people our age are so ready to just get out and experience the world, making graduation a huge deal. My graduation day has been on my mind quite a lot recently because it seems to be all my senior friends can talk about. What will I feel when I finally cross that stage? Once I receive that piece of paper, my high school career is over. Should I be happy that I've made it through, or sad that I'm leaving everything I've ever known behind? It's just now hitting me that within a bit over a year, we'll all be considered adults and thrust into the real world. There's no more mom and dad to come home to. But in exchange for familiarity, we receive a whole new set of possibilities to be explored once we enter college. Where will these possibilities take us?
ReplyDeleteI'm currently viewing graduation as both a joyous and terrifying moment. Joyous, because I've finally reached my goal of graduating high school and a whole new life awaits me outside of life within my parents house. Terrifying, because who knows what might happen? If something goes wrong my mom and dad might not be there to help me like they are now.
After participating in the class discussions, I found that common themes in the selections were maturing or growing up and the overarching dynamism of human life over time. Over time everyone matures as they experience new things and get habituated to situations. Aging is an inevitable fact of life that affects everyone regardless of their preferences or social standing. In “Shooting Dad” and “Arm Wrestling with my Father” the narrators express a change that occurred in how they viewed their fathers after they became older and participated in some pivotal experiences, such as Manning beating his dad for the first time in an arm-wrestling match and Vowell bonding with her father over shooting a cannon. In both descriptive pieces the earlier perspectives of the narrators are far different from their new perspectives in the fact that as mature adults they can understand why their dads are acting as they do and can try to relate with their own life experiences. In “Marrying Absurd” Didian attacks the escapist nature of hasty marriages in Las Vegas by people who have not experienced life or seemed to have evolved an “ego”( or sense of self) by trying to portray it as a result of over commercialization and a desire to escape the ravages of time by living on impulse, much like animals. In Jhumpa Lahiri’s “Indian Takeout” Lahiri chronicles her family’s attempts to reconnect to the homeland that they left by bringing back food from India. The whole piece seems like a reflection and in parts of it Lahiri’s tone becomes somewhat wistful as she seems to lament the passing of her childhood. Thus, the importance of time to humanity is explored in these pieces as well as the importance of healthy relationships.
ReplyDeleteAfter our class discussion about “Marrying Absurd” and “Indian Takeout” I realized how important traditions are. There are so many traditions that are a part of our everyday life but sometimes we fail to understand the true meaning behind them. Through our discussions and blog posts however, I was able to see some of the common traditions under a new light. It made me appreciate them even more because they not only keep us close to our culture but they define who we are and what we value.
ReplyDelete“Shooting Dad” and “Arm Wrestling With My Father” were both based on relationships and how they develop over time. Manning felt bitterness towards his dad and thought his father didn’t love him as much, but as he matured he realized that his father’s love was hidden behind his “physical words.” The relationship between Manning and his father developed through their competition and allowed them to bond. It taught Manning that he was beginning to switch roles with his father and that he needed to take responsibility and protect his family like his father used to. In “ Shooting Dad” we see a similar relationship between the narrator, Vowell, and her father. They shared completely different views but eventually learned to accept them and get along. Vowel and her father, however, were brought closer due to their differences. When they were shooting canons together Vowell actually realized that they weren’t so different after all. These selections reveal how relationships are always changing but when they change, you change along with them. Every relationship has something new to offer and allows you to learn something new about yourself; they play a big role in shaping who you are, so it seems that traditions and relationships kind of go hand in hand.
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ReplyDeleteDuring out class discussions I have learned a great amount about each of my classmates and their traditions and beliefs. When writing on the large pieces of paper in class it was interesting to find out what one classmate thought about graduation or sixteenth birthdays versus another classmate. Sharing our journal entrees with a partner and hearing theirs in return was inspiring because it taught me more about my partner, Evan, and how he takes his grades very seriously. I also learned the conflict and struggle he dealt with pertaining to his determination for success in school. The two stories we “wrestled” and “shoot” made me think about my parents and how over time I too come to accept and learn from them rather than brush them off and take them for granted. I liked to learn that most everyone had similar thoughts to mine on the subject of Las Vegas marriages. It was good to know that our classmates have some standards when it comes to the ceremony, which I consider rather sacred. I agree with Swayam about the common themes in this discussion. Viewing the human life in these stories was fascinating and watching the progression of the individual in the story made me consider my actions and things I do everyday.
ReplyDelete“Shooting Dad” and “Arm Wrestling with My Father” both taught me that people become more tolerant and accepting as they age and experience life. Both Manning and Vowell were childish in the ways they acted towards their difference with their fathers. Manning was “too bitter to smile, [he] would not answer or look at [his father]” (136) when he lost an arm wrestling match, and Vowell used to find “the fact that [her father] was a gunsmith horrifying. And just weird” (145). But as Manning and Vowell age and become adults, they start to appreciate their fathers’ differences. Manning “wanted to hold [his father] for a long time and to speak with him silently, telling him how happy [he] was, telling him all [his] feelings, in that language [they] shared” (140), and Vowell said, “Oh. My. God. My dad and I are the same person. We’re both smart-alecky loners with goofy projects and weird equipment.” (149). No one ever loves everything about their parents, and everyone has their differences, but it is the differences that brings a parent and a child closer together.
ReplyDeleteIn our class discussion on “Indian Takeout” and “Marrying Absurd” I learned the importance and as well as the unimportance of certain traditions. In “Indian Takeout” I learned how significant it is to hold onto one’s culture. Lahiri mentions that, “trips to Calcutta let my parents eat again, eat the food of their childhood, the food they had been deprived of as adults” (154). It is these traditions that allow Lahiri’s parents to hold onto their culture, to be who they are, even when they do not live in India. Food was their connection back home, back to their culture and customs. “Marrying Absurd” is the complete opposite of “Indian Takeout”, while discussing “Marrying Absurd” I learned more about traditions and customs that do not hold much importance, such as the brevity of Las Vegas weddings and the overexposed celebration of the sixteenth birthdays. Didion describes the irrationality of Las Vegas weddings in “Marrying Absurd”. Marriage is supposed to be a scared and cherished ceremony, but these Las Vegas wedding are the complete opposite, Didion describes, “One bride lent her veil to six others”, “I got it down from five to three minutes”, “I could’ve married them en masse, but they’re people, not cattle” and “People expect more when they get married” (160). Everyone has traditions they celebrate, some significant, and others not. It is not important what we celebrate or even how we celebrate an event, as long as it has meaning and worth to us.
After participating in our class discussion i was given new insight into both the stories we studied and the lives of my peers.I also realized that both "Shooting Dad" and "Arm Wresting..." had the same universal theme.That theme begin the fact that the authors both matured in there view of their fathers. I can relate more to the author of Shooting Dad in terms of how her view of her father matured. My father an I share a similar relationship, being that we don't see eye to eye even though he is not a gun fanatic. Much like the author as i have grown i realize that my dad and I are really more similar than i want to admit. So over all the moral of both of these stories is that no matter how strongly you feel about something your opinions are always subject to mature and change.
ReplyDeleteFrom this whole discussion, I have learned something very important about how I grew up. After unsuccessfully trying to reflect on events that were important in my family, I realized that I have no true sense of importance of the events around me. When doing the activity concerning weddings, deaths, graduation and the like, I was unable to contribute anything that was not degrading to what my peers believed was important about the events. Also, in brainstorming for my description, I was unable to come up with a single thing that I have an emotional connection to to write about. This week's class discussion has taught me that I am completely emotionally unattached from the world around me.
ReplyDeleteDespite individual differences, I have realized throughout our class discussions that it is true. We are indeed a group of angsty teens who seek to establish our own identities in both school and out of school. We argue that it is for the sake of college applications, but the truth is that human nature and social Darwinism asserts that if we do not assert ourselves as individuals, we fall to opposition, discouragement, and ultimately failure. (Here is the downfall of high school.) We should instead, however, argue that originality is defined by our inner selves, which is often determined by our culture, our morals and values, and our relationships. An example of embracing heritage lies in “Indian Takeout,” where Lahiri points out that her family’s cultural identity is not defined by the Food Suitcase, an object, but by the true nature of her family’s antics and traditions. From a different approach, Didion’s “Marrying Absurd” teaches us through the shallowness of Las Vegas weddings that we should not allow ourselves to become mechanized, doing things as bold as getting married with such an absence of passion that it lacks utter significance in the end. In high school and society today, I compare this to people who are purely followers and incapable of making their own decisions, thus essentially drifting through life by living through others. I find that this characteristic is unacceptable in a world that encourages us to be educated and cultured. How can we if we fail to recognize ourselves first? “Shooting Dad” and “Arm Wrestling with My Father,” for instance, both show that the narrators momentarily believe that they are different than their fathers, but then learn that they are more alike than intended. Only afterward are they able to grasp their relationships with their fathers as something true and essential, thus again showing that embracing one’s identity is salutary in life.
ReplyDeleteIn both the class discussions as well as our blog discussion, I've discovered the significance of not only widely-practiced traditions but also personal and familial customs.
ReplyDeleteBy thoroughly sharing our experience regarding wide-spread rituals such as wedding and graduation, I was fortunately reminded of the sacred meanings and reasons behind each practice. For example, we revealed the unique practice of wedding in both Eastern and Western cultures. Although each culture's way of practice may vary, the meaning of wedding remains the same. Furthermore, we were also able to share our thoughts and discuss about gradual corruption of these valuable traditions. For instance, in "Marrying Absurd," Didion clearly calls attention to the horror of society's misconceptions and corrupted practice of marriage.
As my classmates revealed their interesting family customs, I was able to relate to their personal experience and discover the similarities between our families. As Ritu and I may be very different individuals, our families share a unique characteristic in that we both travel to Atlanta to purchase food. Furthermore, I appreciate it that Ritu understands and can relate to sibling quarrels during our monthly trips.
Besides sharing our insights about traditions, I got a chance to understand a different aspect of parental love. "Arm Wrestling with My Father" essentially revealed the rich love of a father for his children through his actions rather than words. I realized that I can somewhat relate to Manning's experience. My father and I seldom talk with each other nor do we do any activities together. However, recently when I became severely ill due to a terrible cold, my father silently woke up earlier in the morning to prepare a breakfast and purchased medications to fight against my cold. Although we do not share any interests together like Manning and his father's wrestling activity, my father was able to express his love through his caring actions.
Through the description mode selections and discussions, I have learned that in order to discover who we really are, we must embrace our cultures and accept each other’s differences, no matter how odd they may seem, while relishing the value we intrinsically possess. In Lahiri's story, Lahiri’s parents are compelled to travel to India to retrieve the foods of their culture in order to feel connected to their homeland while living in a foreign nation. Foods are an integral part of culture and make us feel at home therefore, they play a large part of who we are. In many circumstances peoples of various cultures must coexist in a single atmosphere. When this happens I look to the stories "Shooting Dad" and "Arm Wrestling With my Father." In each story, one holds different views or opinions and therefore must cope with dissention variety can create. Once the stubborn attitudes toward understanding subsided, the individuals learned about their relative who held different views. This is very important as we graduate and enter a working world full of peoples unlike ourselves. My favorite selection was Didion's "Marrying Absurd." In this story Didion uses vivid descriptions of Las Vegas to illustrate the how we should evaluate our attitudes towards ceremonies and how those attitudes will affect the significance of ceremonies in our lives. Didion is warning against a lethargic attitude towards major events in our life, such as a wedding, because we will demean the value these ceremonies hold. Swayam gave a great illustration of an assembly line just turning out copies of a generic product. In this way, we should not live our lives devoid of passion but cherish every moment because life is after all, transient.
ReplyDeleteIn our class discussion, we talked about the importance of relationships in society and how every relationship evolves as its members grow and discover their place in the world. I believe that relationships form the cornerstone of every community. They bring us together as one human family. Each and every relationship, however, is unique. Although conflicting feelings may be present, it is when we come together and accept each other’s differences and traditions that we can come to value each other. Also, in class we discussed how relationships evolve. For example, in both Manning’s and Vowell’s stories, the authors are able to illustrate how their relationship with a father figure evolved. Growth is essential for any relationship. As we grow, we come to realize and discover new things. For example as Vowell grew older, she became more concerned with being a “better daughter.” This is a prime example of how as humans, in general, grow older they are able to find new priorities and mold their relationships to accommodate these new perspectives. For example, as we grow older we may discover the importance of family and thus, like Vowell, try to reconsolidate feelings with family members. Each story that we discussed in class exemplified this evolution of the relationship in accordance to the narrator’s evolving maturity. I believe that relationships are meant to grow. If they were static, all social interactions would become homogeneous and humanity would cease to function.
ReplyDeleteIn each one of our lives, the relationships we build with our family shape us. With each and every relationship, we grow as individuals, learning, maturing, and prospering. Although we have our setbacks and discrepancies, those we love forever remain a cornerstone of our hearts. Additionally, time alters relationships as light is shed upon different aspects of people and their ranging emotions. As we grow older, we learn to look at the bigger picture rather than focus on our petty childish desires. Just like relationships, culture flourishes with time. Many of us battle with culture, thinking that we have to choose one. I believe that with time, both worlds merge into one. This fusion cannot be understood by anyone other than yourself, but really it is all that matters. Only your experiences can be fully understood rather than ones of others. With age, one ultimately grows wiser, changing his or her perspective, and shifting his or her focus in life.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, Evan is awesome and emotions are unnecessary in life.
ReplyDeleteAfter our class discussion, I recognize that change is inevitable and regardless of whether or not we’re ready for it, everything changes, and we should use these changes to grow in ourselves. In “Arm Wrestling with My Father,” everything changes for Manning after he beats his father. “The arms” that have “always protected and provided” for his family had grown weaker and he felt their “roles changing. He “hesitated before answering the phone late at night” afraid something had happened to his father. The “superman” view of his father had changed for him, and he has to learn to accept this change and live with it. In “Shooting Dad,” Vowell herself changes when she gets older and decides to try and “figure out the whole gun thing.” She ends up liking this change and recognizing it when she says, “Good shot, Dad.” Her change occurred within herself at her new acceptance and even enjoyment in her father’s hobby. Vowell, in accepting her father and changing herself and her views on his hobby, seems to have a new maturity about her, especially in the last paragraph when she says she will shoot her father’s ashes when he’s gone. In “Indian Takeout,” Lahiri’s family must deal with the change that all the food from India can be found in America now. They choose to recognize this change, but still not completely “[abandon] their pirating ways.” Didion writes on the change in marriage in today’s society. I think the main challenge with this story is just accepting the fact that the sacred ritual of marriage has changed today. Didion does an incredible job of persuading the reader that marrying in Vegas in particular is “absurd.” The irony that “‘people expect more when they get married,’” yet Mr. Brennan says he got the ceremony down from five minutes to three proves how Vegas marriages are absurd. Nevertheless, the Vegas wedding style’s will not change and we must learn to accept it.
ReplyDeleteYour responses validate for me that you sincerely respect the diversity in your community and in our world at large. You seem to grasp that it is in relationships that we progress as a human race and that our cultures, however diverse, ground us as a compassionate society. Relationships are the ties that bind.
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, your ability to synthesize and connect with the texts we examine in class is exemplary. LWeaver
ReplyDeleteThanks, Shef... And it says to post on here suggestions and ideas for the description essay. Is it okay if we write about an emotion that we commonly feel?
ReplyDeleteThe selections we read all portray changing mindsets and cultures. Indian Takeout depicts the merging of cultures precipitated by a greater interest in other regions of the world. The family no longer must travel to India to purchase the spices of their ethnicity, as their local grocery store now sells these goods not only to Indians living in the neighborhood, but to people of all nationalities that possess an interest in Indian culture. Marrying Absurd illustrates the changing values of society. Marriage has shifted from a momentous sacrament to a task to cross off of a to-do list. Las Vegas has facilitated this degradation of marriage by allowing its tourists to rush into marriage in less time than it takes to contemplate if marriage is the right decision for two people. The daughter’s relationship with her Dad in Shooting Dad highlights her maturation. With a closed mind, she fails to acknowledge value in her father’s eccentric passion for guns. However, after she steps out of her comfort zone and experiences a trip to shoot a cannon with her dad, she begins to admire her father for his love towards guns, realizing that he collects and constructs guns for intrinsic value and that everyone is entitled to their own likes and desires. Arm Wrestling presents the story of a boy whose relationship with his father evolves from admiration to distance to reverence. As a young child, he always tries to be better than his dad, competitively facing him in arm wrestling challenges. The adolescent child then begins to disregard his dad’s paternal skills, admonishing him for not attending his orchestra concerts or expressing his love for his child. His final comprehension of their relationship is that his father guided him as a child so that he can one day become a leader of the family. He looks back on his father’s protective demeanor and realizes that he must fill his dad’s role as guardian of the family, as his father is aging. Cultures, mindsets, and relationships shift over time; the change is catalyzed by maturity, societal values, and celebration of diversity.
ReplyDeleteThe comments and stories shared gave into a view of people's lives and how they go by living day by day but, ultimately no matter how conflicting a situation in your life may be it's all about the triumph you tell on the other side of the "battle field". Also, it is these good and bad experiences that make up our characters of who we are today.
ReplyDeleteMusicians are needed greatly by society. These artists are required to entertain people and provide an escape from thought so people do not have to ponder any important issues or confront any existential crises. Thus, a musician can be the administrator of the opiate of the masses, mindless music that encourages rigid conformity. Musicians must also create songs that are catchy because then it penetrates the subconscious and can be used to market commercial goods such as shoes and cat food. Intelligence, a conscience, or actual skills are traits that a musician can do without. What really matters is a musician’s “star power”: how good-looking and charismatic the musician appears to the general public. Becoming a star provides a blindly loyal fan base that can be exploited in order to make as much as a profit as possible, which will go to the dedicated labels that signed the artists in the first place.
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