Week 9: Difference
The world is filled with some many people. So many that when one person thinks about the population, they cannot help but think about how different they are from everyone else. Through separation of oneself from others, they gain a view that can only fit their needs as an individual. There is a need to label all people and put them into a category that if our need. Trinh T. Minh-ha writes about the separation and the difference society creates when we think about a Third World Women.
In “Difference: A Special Third World Women Issue” by Minh-ha deals with the issue of authenticity and the negative impacts it can have on a group of people. She gives the definition of authenticity as “in such contexts turns out to be a product that one can buy, arrange to one’s liking, and/ or preserve.” Cultures are under attack by outsiders when they search for authentic cultures. The culture must have its own distinct values that make outsiders questions their own culture. The term outsiders refers to the first world, white males, and white females. Cultural authenticity offers “the possibility of a difference, yet, a difference or an otherness that will not go so far as to question the foundation of their being and makings.” 1 The foreigners gets to pick and choose for themselves what it that culture means to them. They do not have to accept the original history of that society but listen to themselves explain that tribe’s past.
Yet, they want the unblemished view of Africa, Asia, Native Americas. What those lands and people would have looked like before their lands were conquered by them. But by doing this they fail to see their racism. After destroying their culture with a system that keeps them from achieving to the Eurocentric standard of success. They are convinced non-white culture is doomed. Giving the outsiders more of a chance to retell another’s story because they can not do it themselves. And it needs to stay doomed so the whites can save this culture. But whites must not feel threatened by this culture since they do not belong in sharing their stories and they know it.
1.) Minh-ha, Trinh T. "Difference: 'A Special Third World Women Issue'." Feminist Review, no. 25 (1987): 5-22. Accessed October 22, 2020. doi:10.2307/1395032.
This is a great analysis of how culture was and still is viewed. I appreciate you going over cultural authenticity as a major point because it really tied your writing together. My only form of critique I have is that there must have been a glitch and I cannot see your art example which could be from my connection, but it could also be from your side. Do you think tribal culture is more respected now than it was when Minh-ha wrote her essay?
ReplyDeleteI am sorry there was a glitch with the photo I chose, and it was not showing. I have fixed the issue now, but I am sorry that you did not get to see it while you were reading. I do think tribes are on their way to being more respected since we are talking about these issues that surround them. And we are starting to realize we cannot continue to treat tribes the way we have been.
DeleteHi Rachel, great post! I think you brought up some very important ideas about culture. I like how you mentioned the hypocrisy of white people wanting an “unblemished” view of cultures that they themselves worked to destroy. Do you think that art can help non-Eurocentric cultures share their stories? The only critique I have is that I also can’t see your art example.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI do believe that art can help Non-Eurocentric people and culture be seen in the light they choose to be seen in. Art has a lot of culture ties and art can be the best way to show them. The only problem is Eurocentric standards and ideas of what is will have to step aside, which can be a challenge for both parties.
Hi Rachel!
ReplyDeleteI thought your post elaborated well on the ideas of authenticity and differences. The idea of an unblemished view is short sighted and I’m glad you dedicated a decent portion of your writing to the problems with it. I would have loved it if you would have mentioned your selected image in the writing though. Do you think these issues are lessened or magnified on a smaller scale of contemporary culture such as college culture?
I remember reading something once a while ago. "World history in one sentence: These white people are dangerous." I like how you stated "They are convinced non-white culture is doomed." Another famous quote by Albert Einstein, "Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid." Is it odd or funny that the close-minded short shortsightedness of European cultures think that unless everyone adopts their ways, they are a failure, even though by doing so, they will fail?
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with everything that you have said in your comment. European culture has been touted as the superior culture and does look down at cultures that do not fit into their standards. It is almost like a Catch 22 cultures that are outside of the Eurocentric are doomed if they try to fit themselves into the European way since they are not and white culture does not want them to fit. Or they will continue to be seen as trivial because they don’t want what could be seen as “good” for them.
DeleteGood job working with what was given! I myself couldn't find anything go off of artistically until the end. my question is "After destroying their culture with a system that keeps them from achieving to the Eurocentric standard of success." how do they go about not doing this?
ReplyDeleteThank you Aston,
DeleteI had a hard time with this reading since it was hard to pull for the artistic side and the reading was dense for me. How cultures that are not apart from the Eurocentric cultures are going to have to protect their own culture and set their own standards and forget what the powerful culture is trying to change them. But that is after the damage has already been done. For, Eurocentric cultures not to damage others culture is the key to it not happening. How that can happen is realizing that their culture is not superior and stop trying to “fix” cultures that don’t fit their standards.
Hi Rachel!
ReplyDeleteI think it's interesting how you summarized this week's reading. In a way it's like we want our ideal version of a group as long as it does not interfere with our own view of the world, and anything that seems like it could shake our foundations we either completely ignore or destroy so that ours is the only thing that we can believe. Why do you think societies that have had 'power' over other cultures for so long are threatened by the thought that ours may not be the only right way?