Basque Identity Formation

This presentation will explain the differences and similarities, if any, in the countries of Spain and Puerto Rico’s. The presentation will show the differences and similarities between the two countries arts, culture, and economic environment. The presentation will show how both countries have a assimilation of cultural and distinctiveness. Even though both countries have similarities and differences, they both have one thing in common, and that is they are Spanish-speaking countries with an array traditions, culture, and diversity amongst the people, that will be talked about in this presentation.

Stuart Hall defines identity as an ‘already accomplished fact, which the new cultural practices then represent’. We should think instead of ‘identity as a ‘production’ which is never complete, always in process, and always constituted within, not outside, representation’ (Hall 1994 p.392). An individual’s sense of belonging to a particular group, thinking, feelings and behaviour can also be referred to as identity. One’s cultural image can construct identity; such features as hair, skin tone and height. History shapes our identity.

Henceforth, in order to understand my own identity, required me to map my racial identity using Banks typology of ethnic identity development. As a result, I concluded that I belonged in stage four: biethnicity. Banks describes biethnicity for individuals who believe are a part of not only their own ethnic culture group, as well as in another one (88). To clarify, I participate in both Ecuadorian and American culture. For example, my family and I celebrate the American holiday known as Thanksgiving, regarding the traditional American cuisines. Instead, my family and I celebrate Thanksgiving and other American holidays

From sandy beaches to rocky mountain ranges, astounding big cities to mosques and gothic cathedrals, vibrant festivals to the theatrical historic bullfights, Spain has about everything. Spain has been the center of culture in Europe for thousands of years. Spain is an astonishing place with rich heritage and lively festivals and art. Spain is not just about the flamenco dancing, bullfights, and the religious festivals, it has so many things to offer. Even Lenny Kravitz the American singer, songwriter, actor, and record producer said, “It’s like a dream to come to Spain and stay a for a couple of years and get somebody to teach me Spanish music.” Today I am going to inform you about the well-known features of La Siesta in the Spanish culture, the creative and energetic Flamenco dance, and the historic subculture of Basque.

     Through our readings of the Mexicans in the U.S. and the African-American experience modules, we begin to understand the formation of identity through the hardships minorities faced from discrimination. In this paper, I am going to compare and contrast the ideas of identity shown through the readings. These two modules exemplify the theme of identity. We see how Blacks and Latinos tried to find their identity both personally and as a culture through the forced lifestyles they had to live.

The Pyrenees people are a very loving, and caring people that decree care for those who come to the Pyrenees for tour guides, cuisine, and for help to get places. They are not a covetous, in other words judgemental, very honest and sedulous. They are also a genuine people who are very straightforward , and never show any disrespect to people who enter their homeland, and are not a violent type of people they also are a very loving, caring prosperous people who love their homeland and welcome anyone who wants to visit the place. They are people that border Spain, but do not go often due to the attachments, and have in their homes and the people in it. The people of the Pyrenees will welcome you with joy which will also make it fun to go and visit the land of the Pyrenees. The Pyrenees people are some of the hardest working people in the world, and honor their ancestors and still wear their clothes which is very rustic like and older. The people of the Pyrenees enjoy the agency of other civilizations in the

The capital is Madrid. The main language spoken is Castilian Spanish. The agriculture products are barley, milk, oranges, olives, potatoes, tomatoes, sheep, wheat, and wine. With the amount of bodies of water in Spain, this country also has muscles, squids, and sardines. Spain also has manufacturing capabilities. It has automobiles, cement, chemical products, iron and steel, machinery, shoes, ships, and textiles. Spain is known for its paella, churros, and gazpacho. They have plenty of holidays and fiestas throughout the year. There are plenty of places to visit such as El Prado, Archeological Museum, and Museum of Catalan Arts. Spain also have their famous writers, such as Lope de Vega and Miguel de Cervantes; and artists like Salvador Dali, and Pablo Picasso. The dances are bolero and especially flamenco. Since, Spain became a country; it has undergone changes in their currency. From mid-14th century to 1864, real was introduced by king Pedro I of Castile and it was the currency of Spain. Escudo was the next currency. It could mean that it was gold or silver coin. The gold coin was used from 1566-1833, followed by the silver escudo on 1864-1869. Pesetas was

The great Pyrenees mountain range acts as a border between France and Spain. Both sides of the mountain are luscious and great for farming (XXxBelle). The mountain range spans 270 miles from the Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean Sea, with its highest peak at 11,168 ft. The National Park has 86 separate towns that still live as their ancestor with very little modern influence (Pyrenees National). That's just a fraction of what could be seen in the Pyrenees mountains.

There are several Basque provinces along the french and spanish border. Northern provinces include Labourd, Basse-Navarre, and Soule are in france, while the southern provinces are Navarra, Alava, Vizcaya, and Guipuzcoa which lie in spain (Ott 5). During the later half of the nineteenth century the Basque population was well over 1,000 people but currently consists of 376 people. Most people of this indigenous group like their forefathers are pastoralist and cultivate small farmlands scattered across the valley. . Although much of this tribes history is unverified it is said that they are

Just across the Strait of Gibraltar is Morocco in North Africa. Spain has 498,980 sq km of land and 6,390 sq km of water making it the 52nd largest country in the world. Spain has tons of plains, mountains and beautiful coastlines. All of Spain typically has very hot summers and cold winters. Their natural resources consist of coal, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc and uranium. Land usage consists of 54.1% of agriculture land and 36.8% of forest. Barley and wheat are the major crops of Spain while rice is also grown. It is worth mentioning that because Spain is one of the largest producers of wine, grape growing is very important and prominent throughout northern Spain (Encyclopedia

I learned this week about minority-group responses how minority’s identity is affected by the social sigma and relationships formed during their integration. I had not thought about how a person may feel when leaving their home country and at times their family to pursue another home and life. Immigrants face many obstacles in the integration process, attempting to find a job, home, people that they can relate to. Not only the physical aspect of the transition of coming to America but also the stigma of how “American’s” view immigrants when they are in their workplace or hometown.

The anthropological concept of liminality describes a period of in-between-ness, living in two words, two languages and/or two cultures. Liminality can be a space of ambiguity that can cause fear and anxiety, but it can also be a space of personal empowerment. Similarly, Gloria Azaldúa highlights nepantilism, “an Aztec word meaning torn between ways” (Azaldúa 2012:100. However, napantilismo is not completely negative as it can be a pathway to building personal resistance and tolerance of ambiguity that ultimately leads to consciousness, to the creation of the new mestiza. As a first generation immigrant my social identity is best describe through this two terms liminality and nepantilismo. I embody liminality

The question of identity is always a difficult one for those living in a culture or group, yet belonging to another. This difficulty frequently remains in the mind of most immigrants, especially the second generations who were born in a country other than their parents. Younger generations feel as if they are forced to change to fit the social standards despite previous culture or group. Furthermore those who wish to adopt a new identity of a group or culture haven't yet been fully accepted by original members due to their former identity.

The fascinating and beautiful country of Spain is one of the largest countries in Europe. The history that Spain has had has left great stories to tell and remarkable landmarks to visit. Spain is located in the south west corner of Europe, with its neighboring countries, Portugal and France. It has a population of forty million plus people, but almost one-third of the nation’s population is foreigners that reside in its territory. One of the most important facts about Spain is that its economy is one of the largest in the world. Spain is currently in a recession, with low employment rates and poverty.

In the Basque country (and in Basque communities in the United States), identities are formed in different ways depending on your family background, especially where you are from. Basques living in traditional, rural communities live very different lives than Basques living in urban Basque areas, or Basques living in North America. While there are many differences between the identities of the people in these different communities, they all have their Basque-ness in common.