Identity has many key elements that make it unique. Some keys to identity that I have come across many of my readings from analysis of them is language, food, and objects. In psychology class I learned that language also influences the way we think. Speaking a different language will help us either understand certain situations better or not. We are able to process situations because we have the vocabulary to express how we are feeling. The English language with its many roots in Latin and French is expressive here. And a new element to the identity here is the fact that language has 3 references. Arabic, English(Bristish + Guyanese slang), and also Urdu. To be able to reflect and show feelings in all three. Like Anzaladua writes in “El Sonavabitche” or Maxine Kingston and she writes how the words come out of her mouth in “Tripmaster Monkey.”
Food was also a key reference in many of the readings read in class. For example food was able to identify Sandy Roth as being different from the rest of the “Mid-western” Americans. Food in many cultures are unique and this even affects people’s ability to develop likeness for it. Some cultures like spicy hot food, and those people can take the heat. While others cannot stand spicy foods, such problems such as heart burn are not too common in countries that eat spicy food regularly.
Objects something that is physical and grounded that develops our identity. Whether it is a prayer clock that is altered that instead of alarming beeps it alarms the time to prayer when supposed to. Like in Everyday Use, a simple quilt is what gives identity but to some in the family the quilt is useful for warmth as the clock is useful to tell the time.
Composing against the doxa one has to show affect and feeling. Feeling of how can one manage to not mix up all three or four languages in everyday speech just to fit in. One language such as English is not universal anymore. Or what to wear when you go out the house, to “fit” it and not stand out. The “FOB” clothes as I have in my post or the “American” clothes. If I wear it in different crowds though in one crowd I might be the popular one and the opposite look weird.
One must feel awkward or different by wanting to go against the mold. The feeling of hardship or everything is against you or cause you to fail by the cracking of the Earth or the mold. Certain expressions cannot be expressed through words but pictures describe it best. With pictures one can visualize the details of the colors, tones, sizes all play importance in the work. Interpretation is also largely due to your preset beliefs on certain topics. Beliefs could be influenced by culture, school, and pop culture. Generations currently connected to pop culture all the time through the multiple sources: internet, tv, radio. We are always aware of what is going on around us but sometimes do not always have time to process because environment we live in is always in flux.
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