For our final project of our Ethnic Literature course, we chose to examine the film "The Namesake". The film focuses on issues of cultural identity among first generation children. While keeping the film in mind, we conducted interviews with immigrants and children of immigrants to get a better insight into one's view or search for identity and the silencing that can occur as a result of that.
Monday, April 29, 2013
The first generation
This image shows the differences that can occur between first generation children and their parents. Ashima chooses to remain close to her Indian heritage while her children, Gogol and Sonia, have chosen to embrace an identity that is their own.
I have noticed that this is a very common depiction of families who have children who have been raised in America. This picture of the characters from the movie closely ties into the ideas of assimilation that Magid and Millat are experiencing in White Teeth. They have a father and mother who are closely tied to their culture, and both boys have decided to branch off to what they believe in. Their attitudes and dress have both shows how they have decided to become more like their new surrounding and show less of their culture. Gogol has chosen to look like his surroundings by wearing Western clothing, while Sonia has chosen to embrace both cultures while wearing a Western style top while still choosing to include some cultural identity in her skirt and handbag. This is a good example of how parents still can have an influence on their children's upbringing even though they are in a different environment.
I have noticed that this is a very common depiction of families who have children who have been raised in America. This picture of the characters from the movie closely ties into the ideas of assimilation that Magid and Millat are experiencing in White Teeth. They have a father and mother who are closely tied to their culture, and both boys have decided to branch off to what they believe in. Their attitudes and dress have both shows how they have decided to become more like their new surrounding and show less of their culture. Gogol has chosen to look like his surroundings by wearing Western clothing, while Sonia has chosen to embrace both cultures while wearing a Western style top while still choosing to include some cultural identity in her skirt and handbag. This is a good example of how parents still can have an influence on their children's upbringing even though they are in a different environment.
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