This is the weekly discussion for a learning community at Texas Wesleyan University. Students in this learning community are enrolled in Introduction to Sociology and Composition and Literature.
Friday, April 24, 2009
What the Literature Tells Us About Us
You have been thinking about identity in America this week quite a bit. How do you feel the literature we read, the essays, stories, and poetry will help you to define what "identity" even is in America today?
I think that the literature we read has helped me to define what “identity” is in America today by describing the variety of identities one can relate to, based on where they have come from and how it has shaped them into the person they have become. “Identity” is based on the individual but does not have to be based only on the physical characteristics. The literature has shown me that “identity” is made up of many things, like events, stereotypes, and cultures. It is about people trying to embrace the past or discover a new future for themselves and their “identities.”
I think that the literature, essays, stories, and poetry we have read helped me define what “identity “ even is today in America by showing how people identify themselves and claim their identity. Most of the stories are of people who are of different cultures and are trying to identify themselves as an American but not lose sight of where they came from and who they really are. I think that “identity” in America differs from each individual. Some people want to be more American and pretty much leave their culture behind, whereas others are just the opposite.
All of the literature we have read in class has helped me learn about identity. Not only about how i define identity, but how other people's idea of what it is differs. The stories, poems, and essays we have read come from people of all walks of life and class levels. Just like America itself it is made up of vastly different points of view and ideas on how life should be. Although these views are very individualistic they come together and encompass the very idea of what America was founded on and continues to embrace.
The literature we've read in class, especially the play we read today in class, helped me think about my own identity. The play we read helped me think about identity in America today and realize that other people's views of your identity do in fact have an influence on your own identity and how YOU see yourself.
I agree with Freddy and Grace even though they have different views. Both of their points are very true about identity in America. Freddy describes America being a culture that has been created by many different cultures and I think that is very true. Grace made a really interesting point too about how others see you and how that makes you see yourself. I think stereotypes can affect the individuals they are about in a great deal-sometimes positively and negatively.
The literature what we read in the class really helped to identify what identity means in America because it consists of the people from all over the world with different culture, tradition and economic condition. Identity of one person differ from another person because people come from different places with different ethnic background and they have different view point about the American society. The Immigrants coming to America identify themselves differently from their children who were born here. Then, there starts the identity crisis of the children who born here because they are American but there come from different racial background.So, identificantion of a person in America is especially based upon the race.
i think it helps because it shows different aspects views of what the identity in america could be. i also agree with grace about the play and how it helped me realize that the other peoples view on the identity in america can be infuenced by others.
I agree with Grace too. Most people perception of what they think of themselves is greatly influenced by what others think of them. It is a stigma that almost all people have. It is hard not to take what others think about you into consideration.
The play that we read tuesday in class like grace made me think about my myself and who I am and my identity. I think that America as a whole is made up of little pieces that make us...America. The play that we read really opened up my eyes to not only stereotypes but racial profiling.
I agree with Freddy when he said that it's hard not to take what others think about you into consideration to YOUR own thoughts about yourself. In my Psychology class we're actually talking about this as well, and we talked about how humans conform with one another and often don't like to be the one person who's different. I think that presents a challenge for people to try to be different and NOT conform to following what everyone is doing. But I agree with the quote by Lawrence Fuchs about American ethnicity is kaleidoscopic. The fact that American ethnicity is always changing and is never the same.
I think that the literature we read has helped me to define what “identity” is in America today by describing the variety of identities one can relate to, based on where they have come from and how it has shaped them into the person they have become. “Identity” is based on the individual but does not have to be based only on the physical characteristics. The literature has shown me that “identity” is made up of many things, like events, stereotypes, and cultures. It is about people trying to embrace the past or discover a new future for themselves and their “identities.”
ReplyDeleteI think that the literature, essays, stories, and poetry we have read helped me define what “identity “ even is today in America by showing how people identify themselves and claim their identity. Most of the stories are of people who are of different cultures and are trying to identify themselves as an American but not lose sight of where they came from and who they really are. I think that “identity” in America differs from each individual. Some people want to be more American and pretty much leave their culture behind, whereas others are just the opposite.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Lisa, I think is is about people trying to embrace the past of discover a new future for themselves and their "identities" as well.
ReplyDeleteAll of the literature we have read in class has helped me learn about identity. Not only about how i define identity, but how other people's idea of what it is differs. The stories, poems, and essays we have read come from people of all walks of life and class levels. Just like America itself it is made up of vastly different points of view and ideas on how life should be. Although these views are very individualistic they come together and encompass the very idea of what America was founded on and continues to embrace.
ReplyDeleteThe literature we've read in class, especially the play we read today in class, helped me think about my own identity. The play we read helped me think about identity in America today and realize that other people's views of your identity do in fact have an influence on your own identity and how YOU see yourself.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Freddy and Grace even though they have different views. Both of their points are very true about identity in America. Freddy describes America being a culture that has been created by many different cultures and I think that is very true. Grace made a really interesting point too about how others see you and how that makes you see yourself. I think stereotypes can affect the individuals they are about in a great deal-sometimes positively and negatively.
ReplyDeleteThe literature what we read in the class really helped to identify what identity means in America because it consists of the people from all over the world with different culture, tradition and economic condition. Identity of one person differ from another person because people come from different places with different ethnic background and they have different view point about the American society. The Immigrants coming to America identify themselves differently from their children who were born here. Then, there starts the identity crisis of the children who born here because they are American but there come from different racial background.So, identificantion of a person in America is especially based upon the race.
ReplyDeletei think it helps because it shows different aspects views of what the identity in america could be. i also agree with grace about the play and how it helped me realize that the other peoples view on the identity in america can be infuenced by others.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Grace too. Most people perception of what they think of themselves is greatly influenced by what others think of them. It is a stigma that almost all people have. It is hard not to take what others think about you into consideration.
ReplyDeleteThe play that we read tuesday in class like grace made me think about my myself and who I am and my identity. I think that America as a whole is made up of little pieces that make us...America. The play that we read really opened up my eyes to not only stereotypes but racial profiling.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Freddy when he said that it's hard not to take what others think about you into consideration to YOUR own thoughts about yourself. In my Psychology class we're actually talking about this as well, and we talked about how humans conform with one another and often don't like to be the one person who's different. I think that presents a challenge for people to try to be different and NOT conform to following what everyone is doing. But I agree with the quote by Lawrence Fuchs about American ethnicity is kaleidoscopic. The fact that American ethnicity is always changing and is never the same.
ReplyDeleteAmerican society is a mixture of various race and ethnic groups so in order to describes one's identity, race and ethnic group is very important.
ReplyDelete