This study will define the importance of the postmodern protagonist in Crazy (2005) by Jean-Marc Vallée, What We All Long For by Dionne Brand, and “The Adopted Chinese Daughters' Rebellion” by Zsuzsi Gartner. Postmodernity in these three differing mediums define the rejection of modernist ideologies of “[progress” and social norms that illustrate the reality of diversity in Canadian society. Vallee’s film defines the protagonist through Zac’s homosexuality as a means in which to alienate his homophobic father. Zac’s characterization as post-modern protagonist expresses his “otherness” as a means in which find sexual liberation from his father’s bigotry and bias in the post-WWII era. This is also true of the Vietnamese protagonist, Tuyen, who rejects her parent’s choice of the upper-middle class lifestyle in Dionne brand’s novel What We All Long For. Tuyen chooses to live in a lower class apartment complex to find the freedom from the capitalist lifestyle as a form of rejection the “modernism” of progress and social mobility for immigrant populations in Canada. More so, in “The Adopted Chinese Daughters' Rebellion” white Canadians attempt to adopt Chinese orphans and raise them in accordance with traditional Chinese traditions, but they soon discover that they want to adapt postmodern lifestyles in the western/European mode. …show more content…
In essence, these postmodern protagonists define the important allure of post-modern values and diversity that present a unique vision of Canadian life that defies an easy categorization in the modernist
“We are indeed, and are still today, like a youth starting out on his path, glancing over his shoulder at the ancient glories of his home in Britain or France and, when he looks ahead, dazzled by the glitter of the United States.” (Hutchison, Bruce. “The Canadian Personality.” p. 71)
Canada like Laurence, was forced to face the hardships involved with growing up. However, the black marks in history does not define Canada , it is how Canada learns from their mistakes and moves forward. Laurence explains through her microcosm of a prairie town that along with growth comes the formation of perspective that will forever affect one's future decisions .
What We All Long For describes the challenges of establishing identity in a place disconnected from your national and cultural origins. However, this novel is full of descriptions of streets and neighborhoods in Toronto. How do characters navigate these and how does their relationship to spaces shape or affect their sense of identity?
They are afraid, that the “Canadians” will assume that they are poor. in the poor village in china in which grandmamma grew up, searching through the garbage was acceptable, but in Canadian it is frowned upon. Therefore, Choy identifies that these two generations have different perspectives about Chinese culture, and fails to grasp important information about the norms and cultural views. While the children attempted to fit in, their father and stepmother were determined to hold on to their Chinese roots. It shows that as the younger generations, integrate into the American culture, individuals move forward, and the definitions of “Chinese” as older generation alters, for younger generations. It also portrays that the older generations politically need to adapt need to adopt with the “Canadians”, because as time progresses, identities culture and traditional perspectives will begin to change with the Chinese-Canadian culture. It demonstrates that culture will have to integrate into an Canadian society in order to be inclusive
History was often written by an elite and privileged few. These people tended to marginalize the many voices of minority groups. As critical thinkers, it is important to analyze the histories of these groups for a better understanding of why “official stories” of Aboriginal people exist in such a way. By critically examining the history of First Nations and White relations in nineteenth century Canada, “Joe the Painter” and “We Must Farm to Enable us to Live” are able to challenge the common misconceptions of Aboriginals.
In the book “Growing up Asian in Australia”, a collection of stories comprised of Asian men and women growing up in Australia, a non-fictional story by Joo-Inn Chew named “Chinese dancing Bendigo style” can have many comparisons drawn between it and the fictional movie, “Stand by Me”. Throughout the stories, Both Authors depict a sense of belonging through their characters and the societies they live in, as both are based off coming of age and the endeavour of belonging. This, intern, plagues the basis of which the stories are composed, and the direction they both headed.
Beginning in the late 19th century and continuing to the early 20th century, many Chinese families struggled to gain social, economic, and educational stature in both China and the United States. In the book, A Transnational History of a Chinese Family, by Haiming Liu, we learn about the Chang family rooted in Kaiping County, China, who unlike many typical Chinese families’ exemplified hard-work and strong cultural values allowing them to pursue an exceptional Chinese-American lifestyle. Even with immigration laws preventing Chinese laborers and citizens to enter unless maintaining merchant status, Yitang and Sam Chang managed to sponsor approximately 40 relatives to the states with their businesses in herbalist
The proliferation of Canadian women’s movements, notably their redefining role in society, has had a profound propitious impact on Canada’s identity in the twentieth century. The contribution of Canadian women in the cultural life (sports, the arts and dance), the political impact from the leadership role of a female perspective (Nellie McClung) and women’s economic empowerment all contribute to the shape of Canadian history. Our current Canadian national identity has been shaped and developed by events from our past by our determination, doing the "impossible", staying dedicated and true. Also by doing what others thought we couldn 't, proving people wrong and being dedicated to our plans and outlines (Vimy Ridge). By gaining more independence, freedom, equality, rights and responsibilities . By being compassionate, sticking to your words and seeking for new rights (Pierre Trudeau). Even though there are so many past events that have shaped and developed our Canadian national identity, negative things have also done the same but in a negative way. We Canadians are proud of our accomplishments and achievements. We have shaped and developed a great Canadian national identity from the past which we are still making. We have made mistakes and we are still trying to mend those today. Overall our Canadian national identity has been shaped and developed by events in our past by achieving our recognition and milestones, the cultural life (sports,
The work begins warning of a “stormy future”, suggesting defining features of hockey and Medicare are poor representations of Canadians. Proceeding to suggest we need to grow up and rely less on the United States and United Kingdom, describing Canadians as “gentler versions of Americans”. Troope then goes on to praise the country for
In the novel A Daughter of Han by Ida Pruitt, the readers are taken through a journey of one woman through her life’s highs and lows. Through the eyes of Ning Lao T'ai-t'ai, readers can truly understand the life of a working woman during this time period. Although life may not have been easy at times, Ning Lao shows the determination and passion she had for her family and for their lives to be better. The life of a working woman is never an easy life but adding in the social rules and opium addiction that effected each part of Ning Lao’s life made it much more difficult.
Maxine Kingston's Making of More Americans like Amy Tan's Mother Tongue has been a controversial addition to Asian American literature. The writer has tried to answer the critical question of Chinese American identity and hence been criticized for adopting an orientalist framework to win approval of the west. Similarly Rendezvous by Frank Chin and Mother Tongue by Amy Tan also speak of a culture that neatly fits the description of the "Other" in the orientalist framework. It appears alien, remote and immensely degrading to women who were treated like non-human beings by Chinese chauvinistic society. However things changed for the generation of Chinese that grew up in the US or at least that is what authors wants us to believe.
Book Review: Growing Up in the People’s Republic: Conversations Between Two Daughters of China’s Revolution. By- Ye Weili with Ma Xiaodong
Jack’s predicament with finding himself being stuck between his original lifestyle and new desire to fit in was cleverly established in the story, drawing my sympathy, as I have also personally experienced this struggle. In the middle of the story when Jack began to realize that his Chinese life was different from others’, he narrated, “Mom learned to cook American style. I played video games and studied French” (4). These succinct sentences stood out, as the surrounding
Because America is such a diverse country, there are many differences between cultures of various immigrant groups. Members of each culture, have their own beliefs and values regarding what they think is right. The cultural diversity allows for each person to have a different view of things. Amy Chua’s essay “Why Chinese Mothers are Superior,” she describes her way of parenting her two daughters following Chinese values about education. She explains how Western parents are much more lenient than Chinese parents with their children and education. Chua gives examples of how she raised her daughter Lulu and Sophia which lead them to achieve success. She makes comparisons between Western and Chinese parenting styles throughout the essay and concludes that both types of parents want the best for their children, but just approach parenting it in different ways. In the article, “Chinese vs Western Mothers: Q&A with Amy Chua,” Amy Chua is interviewed by Belinda Luscombe where she clarifies how her Chinese method of parenting did not hurt her children the way many readers thought it did. Chua explains that her relationship with her two daughters is very strong and believes there are many effective ways of parenting in addition to the Chinese approach. Chua’s essay shows the Chinese immigrant approach to parenting and gives insight into why so many children of Chinese parents are so successful. Discussing the cultural differences shows the risk of stereotyping groups where feelings
The generally accepted way in which children in a society are raised, constitutes its philosophical and social child rearing practice. Child-rearing research has focused on understanding differences in parent’s beliefs and values, characteristics of cultural socialization, and the implications of such variations. “Chinese parents traditionally stress their authority over their children and expect unquestioning obedience from them” (Chiu 1987). In America, a parent’s main focus is what they should do for their children to help them succeed in life; Chinese parents raise their children to do what is best for their parents and society. Significant differences were found in Chinese,