What is Culture? How does it connect to Art?

What is Visual Literacy?

"What is Art?" Video

Here is a great video exploring our question, "What is art?"

What is Art? What is Culture?

Who is American?

 

We had a discussion about three different individuals in class.  Who is most American?

Jane:
Born in China
Came to America with parents when she was 2
Speaks fluent Chinese and English
Believes in freedom of speech
Loves the fireworks on July 4th
Wants to live in America permanently

Roger:
Born in the USA
Speaks with a strong Jamaican accent
Hates American food
Celebrates Thanksgiving but does not recognize July 4th
Would like to spend time between Jamaica and America as an adult

Fred:
Born in the USA
Cannot speak English very well and does not study very hard
Has family in Europe and wants to live there
Believes freedom of speech should be limited in certain situations
Does not enjoy July 4th and Thanksgiving holidays

Who do you think is most American?


What are the most important parts of a cultural identity?


        Beliefs, Values, and Ideas

        Language ability

        Blood and Birthplace

                    ???


Here is an interesting video about the impressions that some Sudanese men have of American culture.  Sometimes the best way to learn about yourself or your own culture is to see it from the perspective of an outsider:

 

December 7-11, 2009 Exploring American Immigrant Identity

This week, we started reading and thinking about two writings: America by Claude McKay and The Struggle to be an All-American Girl by Elizabeth Wong.  Here are links to the writings:

America by Claude McKay

The Struggle to be an All-American Girl by Elizabeth Wong

We asked some important questions:

What does it mean to be an American?


Can immigrants to America become "true" Americans?


What conflicting emotions do many people have about being an American? 

We also connected these themes to the recent racial violence at South Philadelphia High School.


Asian Students vow to continue school boycott - Philadelphia Inquirer

How can the themes we discussed of racial and cultural tension and confusion be connected to this racism and violence that is happening today in our school district?

   

Here is a video of that documents the different events.