Amy

Finding one's own personal voice is important to individual identity and helps against social injustices. The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston is a memoir that invites readers into the life of one Asian American writer. Kingston narrates the story of several women in her family, and how they are oppressed and silenced by Chinese culture. During the narration, Kingston provides her own voice for those women in the culture that did not have the opportunity to speak out for themselves.…

The main characters from Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe Garcia McCall and Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai are both very similar and very different. Lupita,, the main character from Under the Mesquite, is a Mexican American girl who has to go through the struggles of her mother dying and being accused of trying to shy away from her heritage. Hà, the main character from Inside Out and Back Again, is a Vietnamese girl who has to deal with not knowing where her father is and is made fun of…

In the criticism, “Questioning Race and Gender Definitions”, Malini Schueller draws light to the expectations of Chinese women and how they are to be quiet and passive in nature. According to Schueller, “The initial story establishes the denial of expression women are condemned to in patriarchy and the cultural stranglehold the narrator must fight in order to express herself” (423). It is this cultural expectation that Kingston rebels against by telling her version of the unnamed woman.…

“Everyone's dream can come true if you just stick to it and work hard.” In this quote, Serena Williams says that she can accomplish anything when you put your mind to it. Serena Williams says this quote because she has struggled with many problems in her life such as losing tennis against her sister, Venus. Serena Williams is a game changer because she is so determined to face her problems and stand her ground. In 1981, Serena Jameka Williams was born in Saginaw, MI. Her parents are Oracene…

As I watching Kiki’s Delivery Service, I noticed the theme of independence as Kiki is to find her own place to live at the age of thirteen. This closely relates to Japanese culture, as in Japan, they encourage independence and self-reliance from the young age. For example, as a child, they are expected to go to school themselves, taking train or bus if necessary or even doing grocery shopping themselves. This contrasts to the Western culture as many parents disallow children to walk to school…

After the case of Maria Mendoza being fired for speaking Spanish, a conflict arose in society: should American schools offer bilingual classes for non-English speakers, both English and non-English speakers, or no bilingual education? Bilingual education creates an opportunity for all students to gain a second language, improve their chances in the work field and immerse themselves in a different culture. Some parents want their children to receive the opportunity to learn a second language…

The american idol-5 worst video is great example of how distorted feedback can affect the communication of people. Some “distorted messages are unrealistically positive. For instance, a child’s inflated ego may be based on the praise of doting parents”(Adler and proctor, 44). Alissa Hoover, a contestant for the show American Idol, obviously can not sing well. Before she goes to the audition her mother says “She’s really got the whole package” Her mother likely told her repeatedly, as she was…

Mountain Hermits Gazing at a Waterfall A piece of work that really intrigued me was, Mountain Hermits Gazing at a Waterfall, made by Japanese artist, Hashimoto Kanetsu. The medium of this work is ink and color on a paper hanging scroll; the use of paper was quite common with artists because it is much more absorbent than silk, and allowed for spontaneous effects (“Technical Aspects of Chinese Painting” 1). The length of this scroll is rather long, about 5 feet tall, which is common for hanging…

In the opening of the first chapter, “No Name Woman”, we can see how Kingston lived in a continual conflict between messages, sometimes obvious, sometimes subtle, of two cultures. How could a bridge be built on this terrible emptiness with socialization within a framework of expectations on the one hand and acculturation on the other? The lack of public voice, the silence, the secret kept, formed the loose threads of the story of the aunt who committed suicide and whose name was erased from the…

“Play note right, but doesn’t sound good! No singing sound,” complained my mother. pg 145 (Two Kinds Ch 8) In the story Suyuan wants Jing-Mei to become a prodigy and wants everything to be perfect. She wants to have everything right with no mistakes. Suyuan wants Jing-Mei in the talent show to play her piece for the talent show. Jing-Mei thinks she’s not a prodigy and doesn’t know how to play the piano. The meaning of the quote shows how Suyuan wants everyone to like her. And how she wants to…