MLO 3: Secondary Culture
3.1. Students describe concepts of culture and use that understanding in their comparison of the target culture with second culture.
3.2. Students will analyze and make connections between the perspectives, ways of thinking, behavioral practices, and cultural products of a second culture.
Courses Taken:
~SPAN 365: The Chicano Novel
Reflective Narrative:
3.1 The secondary culture course that I took was the Chicano Novel, which focuses on reading and analysis of novels, written by Chicano authors, that have left a distinctive mark on Chicano Literature. From this course, I learn a lot about Mexican and Mexican-American culture. Although, during this course, we did not specifically discuss the similarities between the stories we were reading and Japanese culture, there are some instants were I did see similar beliefs and ideas. One novel, Bless me, Ultima, had spiritual element to it, that reminded me of Japanese mythology. For example, in the novel, there is the Golden Carp, who is the spirit and protector of the rivers and lakes in the areas. This reminds me of Japan's many gods and spirits that are believed to inhabit many locations and objects. This novel also incorporates many superstitions and beliefs that of Hispanic culture, while many people today do not believe in them, the concept of supernatural happenings are common in Japan as well. In the paper that I wrote for Bless Me, Ultima, the main character and how analytical he is of the different religious beliefs in his community, one of them being centered around the Golden Carp (see Chicano Novel Paper).
~Chicano Novel Paper
3.2 One of the last novels we read was Desert Blood, which is based on the horrific events that are taking place in Juarez, Mexico. Some of the topic this novel touches on are gender discrimination and government corruption. During class discussions, we would discuss why women are being targeted and how it is connected to the way of thinking that men are above women. We learned how many government officials are corrupt and what people must do when dealing with them, such as giving money to them in order to be let free of a crime they did not commit. All of these are very common ways of thinking and behavioral practices for that area (see Chicano Novel Final Paper)
~Chicano Novel Final Paper
3.2. Students will analyze and make connections between the perspectives, ways of thinking, behavioral practices, and cultural products of a second culture.
Courses Taken:
~SPAN 365: The Chicano Novel
Reflective Narrative:
3.1 The secondary culture course that I took was the Chicano Novel, which focuses on reading and analysis of novels, written by Chicano authors, that have left a distinctive mark on Chicano Literature. From this course, I learn a lot about Mexican and Mexican-American culture. Although, during this course, we did not specifically discuss the similarities between the stories we were reading and Japanese culture, there are some instants were I did see similar beliefs and ideas. One novel, Bless me, Ultima, had spiritual element to it, that reminded me of Japanese mythology. For example, in the novel, there is the Golden Carp, who is the spirit and protector of the rivers and lakes in the areas. This reminds me of Japan's many gods and spirits that are believed to inhabit many locations and objects. This novel also incorporates many superstitions and beliefs that of Hispanic culture, while many people today do not believe in them, the concept of supernatural happenings are common in Japan as well. In the paper that I wrote for Bless Me, Ultima, the main character and how analytical he is of the different religious beliefs in his community, one of them being centered around the Golden Carp (see Chicano Novel Paper).
~Chicano Novel Paper
3.2 One of the last novels we read was Desert Blood, which is based on the horrific events that are taking place in Juarez, Mexico. Some of the topic this novel touches on are gender discrimination and government corruption. During class discussions, we would discuss why women are being targeted and how it is connected to the way of thinking that men are above women. We learned how many government officials are corrupt and what people must do when dealing with them, such as giving money to them in order to be let free of a crime they did not commit. All of these are very common ways of thinking and behavioral practices for that area (see Chicano Novel Final Paper)
~Chicano Novel Final Paper