The Joy Luck Club

joyHigh-context Cultures and Low-context Cultures The Joy Luck Club  explores the clash between Chinese culture and American culture. One way of understanding the difference is to look at communication in these cultures. Chinese culture can be classified as a high-context culture and American culture as a low-context culture. First I will define these terms, then explain the significance of these two categories, and finally apply them to The Joy Luck Club. * Culture  is the way of living which a group of people has developed and transmitsfrom one generation to the next.It includes concepts, skills, habits of thinking and acting, arts, institutions, ways of relating to the world, and agreement on what is significant and necessary to know. Race, ethnicity, class, and gender are cultural creations; they derive their meanings from the culture. * Context  is the whole situation, background, or environment connected to an event, a situation, or an individual. * A  high-context cult ure  is a culture in which the individual has internalized meaning and information, so that little is explicitly stated in written or spoken messages.In conversation, the listener knows what is meant; because the speaker and listener share the same knowledge and assumptions, the listener can piece together the speaker's meaning. China is a high-context culture. * A  low-context culture  is one in which information and meanings are explicitly stated in the message or communication. Individuals in a low-context culture expect explanations when statements or situations are unclear, as they often are. Information and meaning are not internalized by the individual but are derived from context, e. . , from the situation or an event. The United States is a low-context culture. High-context Cultures In a high-context culture, the individual acquires cultural information and meaning from obedience to authority, through observation and by imitation. To acquire knowledge in this way and to internalize it, children must be carefully trained. High-context cultures are highly stable and slow to change, for they are rooted in the past; one example is the Chinese practice of ancestor worship. They are also unified and cohesive cultures.In such cultures, the individual must know what is meant at the covert or unexpressed level; the individual is supposed to know and to react appropriately. Others are expected to understand without explanation or specific details. Explanations are insulting, as if the speaker regards the listener as not knowledgeable or socialized enough to understand. To members of a low-context culture, speakers in a high-context culture seem to talk around a subject and never to get to the point. The bonds among people are very strong in a high-context culture.People in authority are personally and literally responsible for the actions of subordinates, whether in government, in business, or in the family. (In the U. S. , on the other hand, the general practice is to find a â€Å"fall guy† or scapegoat who takes the blame for those with more power and status. ) In a high-context culture, the forms (conventional ways of behaving) are important; the individual who does not observe the forms is perceived negatively; the negative judgments for an individual's bad behavior may extend to the entire family.In embarrassing or awkward situations, people act as though nothing happened. Individuality, minor disagreements, and personality clashes are ignored, so that no action has to be taken. Taking action tends to be taken seriously, because once started an action must generally be completed. Individuals can't stop an action because they change their minds, because they develop another interest, because unforeseen consequences arise, or because something better comes along.Consequently there is greater caution or even reluctance to initiate an undertaking or to give a promise. Chinese parents may overlook a child's behavior, because they expect that the strong family tradition, which is based on ancestors, will cause the child ultimately to behave properly. The Clash of Low-context and High-context Cultures in  The Joy Luck Club In a low-context culture, as Edward T. Hall explains, â€Å"Most of the information must be in the transmitted message in order to make up for what is missing in the context (both internal and external). In a low-context culture change is rapid and easy; bonds between people are looser; action is undertaken easily and can be changed or stopped once initiated. The mothers in  The Joy Luck Club  expect their daughters to obey their elders and so learn by obedience, by observation and by imitation, as they did in China. Their elders did not explain. Because the mothers internalized values and knowledge, they seem to assume that knowledge is innate and that it is present in their daughters and only has to be brought out or activated.The internalization is so psychologically complete and so much a part of the mothers' identities that they speak of it as physical. Am-mei, for instance, sees in her mother â€Å"my own true nature. What was beneath my skin. Inside my bones† (p. 40); to her, connection to her mother or filial respect is â€Å"so deep it is in your bones† (p. 41). But in this country, the mothers' warnings, instructions, and example are not supported by the context of American culture, and so their daughters do not understand. They resent and misinterpret their mothers' alien Chinese ways and beliefs.Similarly, the mothers do not understand why they do not have the kind of relationships with their daughters that they had with their mothers in China. The Joy Luck mothers were so close to their own mothers that they saw themselves as continuations of their mothers, like stairs. The communication problems that arise when one speaker is from a high-context culture and the other is from a low-context culture can be seen in the conversations of June and Suyuen, â€Å"My mother and I never really understood one another.We translated each other's meanings and I seemed to hear less than what was said, while my mother heard more† (p. 27). June looks for meaning in what is stated and does not understand that her mother omits important information because she assumes her daughter knows it and can infer it; her mother, on the other hand, looks for meaning in what has not been stated and so adds to what has been stated explicitly and comes up with meanings that surprise her daughter.The difficulties of growing up in a family from a high-context culture and living in a low-context culture appear in other Asian-American writers. The narrator of Maxine Hong Kingston's  The Woman Warrior  is unable to decide whether figures she sees are real persons or ghosts, whether stories she is told are true or fiction, what the meaning of those stories is, why she is told the stories, and whether an event really happens or is imagi ned. The Talk Story One way of maintaining and instructing children in traditional ways which Chinese immigrants adopted is the traditional Chinese talk story.According to Linda Ching Sledge, the talk story â€Å"served to redefine an embattled immigrant culture by providing its members immediate, ceremonial access to ancient lore†; it also â€Å"retained the structure of Chinese oral wisdom (parables, proverbs, formulaic description, heroic biography, casuistical dialogue). † In the talk-story the narrator expects the listener to grasp the point, which is often not stated (unlike the Western  Aesop's Fables). Tan adopts the Chinese talk story in the mothers' warning stories to their daughters.The talk story serves another function in this novel; E. D. Huntley explains, Talk story enables women who have been socialized into silence for most of their lives–the  Joy Luck  mothers, for instance–to reconfigure the events of those lives into acceptable p ublic utterances: painful experiences are recast in the language of folk tale; cautionary reminders become gnomic phrases; real life takes on the contours of myth. More significantly, the act of performing talk story allows the storyteller to retain a comfortable distance between herself and her audience.Thus, the storyteller manages in some fashion to maintain the silence to which she is accustomed, as well as to speak out and share with others the important stories that have shaped her into the person that she is. An issue for both mothers and daughters is finding a voice, that is, finding a way to express the essential self. Themes in  The Joy Luck Club Identity. The stories tell of events which shape the identities of the mothers and daughters and give direction to their lives.Though David Denby is speaking of the movie, his description applies equally well to the novel, â€Å"each story centers on a moment of creation or self-destruction in a woman's life, the moment when he r identity becomes fixed forever. † The mothers do not question their identities, having come from a stable culture into which their families were integrated. Their daughters, however, are confused about their identities. Communication between American daughters and Chinese mothers.The mothers see their duty as encouraging and, if necessary, pushing their daughters to succeed; therefore, they feel they have a right to share in their success (the Chinese view). The daughters see the mothers as trying to live through them and thereby preventing them from developing as separate individuals and from leading independent lives (the American view). The link of the Chinese mothers and Chinese daughters. The Chinese mothers form a continuity with their mothers in China, a connection which they want to establish with their American daughters.Love, loss, and redemption. Throughout there exists what David Gates calls a â€Å"ferocious love between mother and daughter† both in China and in this country. But the women also suffer loss, which ranges from separation to abandonment to rejection, in the mother-daughter relationship and in the male-female relationship. Sometimes the loss is overcome and the love re-established. Connection of the past and the present. The mothers' past lives in China affect their daughters' lives in this country, just as the daughters' childhood experiences affect their identities and adult lives.Power of language. Without proficiency in a common language, the Chinese mothers and American daughters cannot communicate. St. Clair cannot communicate with his wife, and so he changes her name and her birth date, taking away her identity as a tiger. Lena St. Clair mistranslates for her father and for her mother. Also, words have great power. Expectation and reality. The mothers have great hopes for their daughters; their expectations for their daughters include not just success but also freedom.They do not want their daughters' lives to be determined by a rigid society and convention, as in an arranged marriage, and made unhappy as theirs were. The American reality fulfilled their expectations in unanticipated and unacceptable ways. Another way of expressing this theme is The American Dream and its fulfillment. Chinese culture versus American culture. This conflict appears throughout the novel, from the struggles of the mothers and daughters to Lena St. Clair's Chinese eyes and American appearance and Lindo Jong's Chinese face and her American face.

Lost Worlds Essay

Some Americans remember where they came from; others don’t. That’s the case in Daniel Chacon’s story â€Å"The Biggest City in the World†. It is a story about Harvey Gomez who is a Mexican American young man whose grandparents migrated to the Unites States from Mexico. Harvey has only been to Mexico once in his entire life and neither of his parents has ever been there before. Therefore he doesn’t know anything about his native culture or language. In this story Harvey travels deep inside of Mexico for the first time with his Mexican history Professor David P. Rogstart and gets exposed to its culture and language. On the contrary, Carolina Hospital’s poem â€Å"Finding Home† is about Mexicans who were born in Mexico and later migrated to America. When Harvey arrives in Mexico he tries to distance himself from the country’s culture. In fact, shortly after he comes out of his hotel room the first place that he goes to is La Zona Rosa because â€Å"The expensive shops, Gucci, Polo, Yves St. Laurent, relaxed him because they reminded him of Beverly Hills† (Chacon 58). Harvey is going to places in Mexico that he is familiar with back in the United States and is not trying to explore his heritage. Perhaps this is because he doesn’t feel like he is a Mexican and that he is only an American. After all, he was born and raised in the United States by parents who have never been to Mexico themselves. Harvey eventually gets exposed to ancient Aztec monuments when he runs into Professor Rogstart who is viewing stone carvings. As Harvey decides to take a closer look at the stone carvings, he is seeing history of his heritage and begins to compare it. Gomez wondered how many Aztecs were scared into believing in their gods, like his father tried to make him believe in Jesus and the Virgin Mary† (Chacon 60). He starts thinking how the Aztecs were raised up into worshiping their gods in Mexico and how his father brought him up into believing in God in America. Harvey learns about the Spanish Conquest of Mexico and begins to ask Professor Rogstart questions. He gives him honest answers â€Å"Rogstart, feeling a professorial obligation, explained to Gomez the meaning of each panel, each symbol, giving such fine details† (Chacon 61). During the explanation, Harvey feels a sense of pride in his heritage. You can tell that Harvey now wants to learn more about his past; however, he is still struggling to accept his heritage. As Harvey continues his journey in Mexico, he repeatedly distances himself from the Mexicans. Harvey is reacting this way because he is attached to money. That will soon come to an end as Harvey himself loses all of his money. â€Å"He slipped his hand into his pocket for his roll of bills† (Chacon 63). After he realizes that he is broke, he starts to panic. Harvey’s immediate reaction is to find his money no matter what it takes, but when he does not find it, Harvey starts to feel the same way the Mexicans did when they begged him for money. This is the first time that he feels this way because he was raised in America where money is a major influence in life. When it looks like it will be the end of his journey in Mexico, he discovers it is beginning. Harvey enters a taxi and tells the driver â€Å"Take me to the Zona Rosa† (Chacon 65). During the ride, Harvey is relaxed and begins to feel like a Mexican deep in his heart. When it seems that he is going to continue his denial, he tells the driver â€Å"Take me to Chapultepec Park† (Chacon 66). The cab driver is surprised and Harvey laughs telling him that he wants to explore Mexico. Harvey finally ends the denial of his Mexican heritage and goes on to explore Mexico. The poem â€Å"Finding Home† written by Carolina Hospital tells the story of how Mexicans who come to America try to find their heritage in the United States. Like many who migrate to America, the immigrants miss their country and are concerned about losing their culture. In contrast to Harvey Gomez, this poem shows that many Mexicans in America appreciate their heritage. â€Å"I have travelled north again,/to these gray skies/and empty doorways,† (Hospital 101). This shows that they miss their native country and are concerned about forgetting their heritage. Perhaps Harvey’s grandparents thought the same thing when they first came to America from Mexico. Regardless of their arrival in America, they want to return to Mexico someday. â€Å"I must travel again soon† (Hospital 102). Despite leaving their ative land they have respect for Mexico and will visit again. After the experience that Harvey had in discovering his heritage, I am sure that he will visit Mexico again. Daniel Chacon is clearly making a statement that Mexican immigrants whose kids are born and raised in America forget their own culture. In the story Harvey Gomez is denying his heritage and was embarrassed at times to admit that he is Mexican. This is because he barely knows anything about Mexico and doesn’t even speak the language. Eventually Harvey accepts who he is and discovers his heritage throughout the story. I believe that Chacon wants to demonstrate how important it is for people to know where they come from and not to forget who they are. Carolina Hospital indicates that Mexican immigrants in America continue to appreciate their heritage. In her poem the Mexicans are not embarrassed to admit where they come from. The Mexicans embrace their heritage and plan on visiting Mexico. I believe that Hospital wants to demonstrate that Mexicans immigrants do appreciate their heritage. However the fact is that no matter where people come from they must appreciate their heritage.

Robotics Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Robotics - Research Paper Example This paper reviews the unethical implications related to the use of these lethal weaponry. It provides a platform of reasoning for the policy makers, the political class, military personnel, scientists and the general public on the impending consequences of replacing humans in war with robots. It evaluates both the adverse effects of rapid change from humans to remote controlled robots and lately, to automated robots capable of sensing, hearing, communicating, acting and the extend of their necessities. In the evaluation and analysis, the review attempts to center around the ethical implications surrounding usage of automated robots in the modern warfare. Introduction and background The use of automated robots has a long history which began in the late 1980s when researchers got involved in the investigations on the use of multiple mobile robot systems. Previously, most researchers have carried out research which mainly concentrated on distributed problem solving mechanism. The main areas of concern by then were multi- robot motion plan, architectures for multi- robot cooperation and cellular robot system. Humanoid robots were first used in factories. They were capable to carry out production work without human assistance. The use of mobile and remote controlled robots in the military began back during the World War II and the cold war. The Germans through Goliath tracked mines and Soviet teletanks (a soviet built robot tanker) were used. The predator planes or drones were first used by the CIA officials in collection of intelligence in a fantasy environment. The aerial robots could collect intelligence for the military officials. Traditionally, robots were regarded as a topic for fiction by scientists in warfare. The modern concept of use of robots in the warfare began to develop with the use of mechanics and the introduction of electrical power. As time went on and many soldiers lost their lives in the battle field, there arose need to automate robots so that they could take the role of humans. This was after the rise of issues of human rights in the 1920s, although with concern and focus on the aggressor. This is the time that humanoid machines were developed and the myth of use of robots forgotten. It was now a reality (Parker 1-10). Robots are now gaining momentum in the modern warfare, although their use dates far back in the 19th century. Automated robots are proving to be efficient in the battle field as they reduce human loses and can easily penetrate in dangerous zones and perform effective and efficient. It is now common that robots in form of unmanned air vehicles are widely used by the US in destroying their enemies. This is evident in the Middle East wars, for instance Iraq, Afghanistan and collection of intelligence in South Korea among other regions of the world. Today, the drones used in war are controlled by pilots on the ground but with technological advancement, the pilots will be able to dial in when needed by the rob ots to take a specific action. The officer would be like managers in the future as robots undertake their roles. This trend of deploying autonomous robots in the battled field is quite worrying with regard to the ethical use of these systems in conflicts. This technological advancement generates more questions that are unanswered. The central question rests on the principle of discrimination of the combatant, non combatants and the organizational structure of the

Creating a Single Market for Banking Institutions in EU Coursework - 1

Creating a Single Market for Banking Institutions in EU - Coursework Example Theories promote the use of market in achieving economic and monetary union. It is assumed that the stages of the union eliminate achievement of previous stages and that gradual achievement of the new stages adds common elements. The monetary policy is centralized by the ECB (European central bank) the European Union has attempted different approaches to economic integration in the banking institutions. The approaches leave the fiscal policy instruments to the disposal of the governments of European Union member states. The decision that resulted from discrepancies in economic development made it possible for policy makers to react to changes in the economic trend within various stages of the business cycle. The aim of minimizing the discrepancies in economic development is one purpose for the EU and a condition to deepen integration processes (Bradley 2014). The EuropeanCommissionn presented a proposal of methods that member states of the EU could use to support the real economy while enhancing confidence. The methods support the economic and social integration. The aim was to ensure that the banking institution attain smart growth throughthe development of knowledge based on innovations and sustainable growth that supports initiatives for low emission economy. The aim was also to attain inclusive growth that facilitates social inclusion and support of the economy. Inclusive growth is characterized by high employment levels and the economic, social, and territorial cohesion is ensured (Quaglia 2013). The economic crisis madethe preparation of new regulatory frameworks a necessity to increase stability within the financial sector. The EU took a step in restructuring the banking sector so that its long-term profitability could be restored to ensurethe functioning of credit activities.  

Historical events that have shaped America Essay

Historical events that have shaped America - Essay Example When breaking down the essence of America in this way, it becomes possible for a few key events to float to the top of each category as being critical in the evolution of the United States. Of course, this determination is largely a matter of opinion. Nevertheless, a concrete case can be made for three major historical developments as the most essential factors shaping America. In the political realm, the Enlightenment is the first factor. In the economic realm, the Industrial Revolution is the second factor. And in the military realm, World War II is the third factor. Taken together, these three factors comprise a triad of events in whose absence the America we know today could never have possibly come into being. The Enlightenment was arguably the most important historical event influencing the United States governmental and political system. Not only did it spawn a philosophy of good government and a view of human rights that directly impacted the thinking of the Founding Fathers as they crafted the American system of government, but it also indirectly informed modern views of social justice that precipitated such developments as the Civil Rights movement, universal suffrage, and social security. The Enlightenment, while more of a European phenomenon than an American one, took place at just the right time, directly preceding the American Revolution and heavily influencing the thinking of the great men who would be instrumental in setting the initial course of America (http://www.wsu.edu/dee/AMERICA/ENLIGHT.HTM). The Enlightenment was the point in history when some of the most influential political philosophers of history wrote their seminal works. These include the writings of John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Thomas Hobbes, and John Stuart Mill. Together, these great thinkers laid out the philosophical underpinnings of what would become the American government. Such concepts as separation of powers, the right to life, liberty and property, the importance of a strong central government, and the common good, all came into play as the Framers developed their formula of "good government" that is laid out within the U.S. Constitution. These "enlightened" thinkers, among others, brought about a fundamental shift in the way humans viewed their world and their natural place in it. The Enlightenment essentially set the philosophical parameters surrounding the way humans interact with one another and agree to govern one another. The Founding Fathers, most notably James Madison and Thomas Jefferson, injected a heavy dose of Enlightenment philosophy into the American governmental system, with its protection against the tyranny of the majority, its preservation of individual liberty and property rights, and its perpetuation of the sovereignty of the states in the face of a strong central government. As such, the Enlightenment provided the cornerstone of American government, and was perhaps the most critical world historical event shaping America. The Industrial Revolution Just as the Enlightenment was key to America's political development, the Industrial Revo

An Introduction by Timothy Borchers Has Already Given Her Essay

An Introduction by Timothy Borchers Has Already Given Her - Essay Example (Ritchie, J. and Kathleen Boardman 1999). Mary Daly also published many written works, and her second book, Beyond God the Father is of real interest, as this scholar really considers God as a substantive subject. Theoretical perspective In the book Beyond God the Father, Mary Daly lays out a systematic theology that is in line with the example set by theologian Paul Tillich. Daly’s work in the book Beyond God the Father is usually regarded as a foundational work in feminist theology. (Hoagland, S. L. and Marilyn Frye, 2000). She tries to explain and overcome andro-centrism regarding Western religion in this book, and utilizes a more playful writing style. She also attempts to rehabilitate discussions about God by emphasizing and critically building on the writings of existentialist theologians like Martin Buber and Paul Tillich in an effort to rehabilitate the liberation movement for women. Mary Daly’s response to the argument that Jesus was a feminist that this was fi ne and wonderful merits more attention, as any religion or gospel that fails to promote the full humanity of women is questionable, unworthy of public assent. This one legitimate point that must be made in the issue of how the gospel connects with feminist theology. It is notable that the claim that it can help in unmasking a form of oppression that seems, knowingly or unknowingly to have been built into the very fabric of every society that we know much about is the reason why feminism and feminist theology is so significant. Although the publication of some of Daly’s ideas were greeted with considerable furor and she was threatened with losing her job at Boston College, she was finally granted tenure after several months during which students protested vigorously and with widespread media publicity. This experience somewhat radicalized her views about the oppressiveness of prevalent patriarchal structures, led to her being transformed from a reformist Catholic into what can be considered post-Christian radical femininism. Daly also challenged the whole edifice of patriarchal religion. As she notes, the theological constructs and myths of patriarchal religion tend oppress one half of the human race and foster social structures that lead to racism, as well as , as ways of thinking that bring about war and genocide through the legitimization of male superiority and displacement of evil towards females as the proto-typical other. (Daly, M. 1973) Daly rejects the concept of God as a Supreme Being (static noun) rather than a Be-ing (active verb) and also argues against the general gender identification of God as a male. As she notes, â€Å"to objectify God as a being, to hypostatize transcendence, is to envisage transcendent reality as finite. God then functions to legitimate the existing status quo.† (Daly, M. 1973) Mary Daly put a lot of effort into breaking down some well known boundaries of critical theological thought. She was instrumental setti ng the stage for subsequent feminist theologians like Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenze and Rosemary Radford Ruether, who later began to come up with critiques of theology that helped in reshaping current Christian thought. Although many feminists are reluctant to speak of women or the experiences of women as a universal or

Differences between Plastic Surgery & Cosmetic Surgery Essay

Differences between Plastic Surgery & Cosmetic Surgery - Essay Example As the study stresses that perhaps one that is predominantly practiced all over the world is cosmetic surgery; this type of plastic surgery mainly aims to alter the physical appearance of a person. Many people have always been concerned with their looks and appearance more than their internal qualities and this is motivation enough for them to desire enhancement of their looks. This is what has led to the pervasiveness of the plastic surgery trend worldwide thus instigating serious concerns over the justification of plastic surgery; in other words, is it or is it not right to carry out plastic surgery? This question has been debatable in the world probably more than anything else concerning moral issues has, and many people have had their own varied contributions to this debate. Thus, he does agree with the school of thought that supports plastic surgery, at least to make something wrong go right for once; there are exceedingly many reasons why people carry out plastic surgery and I believe they are all justifiable. This paper aims to disambiguate the social dilemma that is plastic surgery, and it will attempt to justify the reasons why plastic surgery is carried out, and gunner support for this controversial trend. From this discussion it is clear that to begin with, even though the name plastic surgery suggests a close tie with synthetic material, plastic surgery has nothing to do with ‘plastic looks’ as is often concluded by moralists. In fact, the name originates from a Greek word ‘plastikos’, which means ‘to form’ or ‘to mold’. In this regard, plastic surgery remains a crucial type of surgery that serves many justifiable reasons, both medical and aesthetical. Doctors perform reconstructive procedures to reinstate distortions both on the face and on the body of patients that might have been because of either natural or physical causes. For instance, natural deformities are manifest on individuals from birth, and they include physical distortions of organs as in cleft lips and palates while other deformities might arise from physical injuries such as burns, animal bites  and  accidents. Some diseases such as cancer might also necessitate plastic surgery in the end after the loss of the affected body organ; this is especially common with breast cancer where most patients opt to undergo reconstructive surgeries to rebuild the lost breasts. On the other hand, cosmetic surgery  is concerned with the enhancement of physical appearances. Due to its cosmetic purposes, this type of plastic surgery is often also referred to as aesthetic surgery; however, cosmetic procedures do not necessarily call for surgery in the medical fashion. Quite notably, most cosmetic surgeries involve enlargement and reduction of body organs such as breasts; the reshaping of body organs such as the nose; or removing of fatty tissues from body parts that are overly bulky with fats. In view of these two broad reasons for plastic surgery presented above, it is vital to regard plastic surgery in a different light, and move away from the negative traditional perceptions that society has held against plastic surgery.