My place living in Bahia, Brazil the ‘other’, sharing everyday conversation through recording.
Conversation demonstrating how language and culture can form different interpretations. Finding differences can create dialogue and witnessing different perspectives. Utterances between a native Portuguese language speaker with someone of the Portuguese as a second language speaker.
Mannerisms of a high context to a low context… Brazilian and American, plus how the American is evolving/adapting to the high context (mixing contexts).
Ways of being. People in dialogue amongst each other from afar. Movement.
I would say I had a disagreement, a little fight, or to be honest, I do not know what it was with someone close to me. I touched on wanting to speak about an event in the past where I was hurt and thought to converse about it, it can clear the air and to build a deeper connection going forward. Let me say that the other person I was speaking is an artist, and one the words in a an artist’s vocabulary box is ‘flow’. As I touched upon this event, he says “can we just stay in flow?”. As I reflect on this a week later and think of the word flow, I feel that flow is defined as a way of being but in different scenarios. And I question, “what is flow?” Flow in a sense of allowing you creative work come into fruition as if surfing a wave as you glide from one end to the other end, feeling of bliss and nothing is happening outside of this very moment. When in flow, we want to protect this state from outside distractions that can sway us away from it. But how does flow translate in everyday life? Since that conversation if a friend, I reflect on this word and think “flow like water, flow like water”. Water is not always calm, water is unpredictable and to be able to flow like water is building resilience. There are currents, hurricanes, waves, and so forth that goes against the calmness of water. Therefore, staying in flow is going through the toughest times, feeling it, embracing it, and learning from it to see what carries on the other side. The other side hold wisdom, depth and strength. With all this being said, when my friend said “lets stay in flow” it was not flow but of avoidance. To surf a wave you have to swim through the waves to get to the point to surf them, getting through the waves can result in being under-toed by the water, exhaustion, fear but once you get to the point to surf that is where the gift lies. Going through difficulty of getting through the waves was all worth it. Avoidance builds avoidance, and that comes with resentments and regret built on fear. In the end, I think that being in flow is different depending on the context.
In class we were discussing being a guest and a host, and cultural customs within those two positions. Such as, in Thailand and Ireland has the cultural reputation of being a hospitable host versus in Hong Kong it is not as welcoming. Further how in Bulgaria as a guest, you do not arrive at a home that you are invited at without bringing something to offer in hand. Quite interesting based on each individuals experiences how guest and host have been played throughout our lives. As I am from the United States, specifically from Los Angeles, I culturally did not grow up with a certain way of being as a guest or host, other that being kind, welcoming, and the normal gestures of what is “expected”. However in the south, there are known for their souther hospitality, in which manners of treating others are engraved in them culturally. Therefore, if I were to visit the south, then I would think one of the first things to expect is how hospitable they will be. Like I said, being from Los Angeles customs are based individually. Now I am living in Brazil and have been for two years now, and I feel that I have been learning the meaning of guest and host here. Culturally, people in Brazil are welcoming. I have had to learn the norm of how to acknowledge individuals. For instance in California I would try to avoid people I know on the street, just because I did not feel like even acknowledging. However, in Brazil, you are to be acknowledged by at least providing a hand gesture or asking how that person is doing. Furthermore, I have noticed if you are with one or a few people and you take a drink of your water bottle or eating something, you ask each of those with you if they would like to have some. It is abnormal to not share with those you are with, absolutely not! That was intriguing and brought softness into my heart to learn that. Being in Brazil has been a piece of me learning how to be an actual human being and embrace each other.
Artist Tako Taal created the short film “You know it but it don’t know you” taking place in Gambia of students in hospitality and tourism, as she translates the language of Mandika to English. Even though I enjoyed watching the film, it was simple and beautiful yet moving.
At the end of the film, Taal displays the title “you know it but it don’t know you” and at that moment I did not realize that was the title of the film. However, I would like to speak what I thought about initially when I read those words after watching the film. I interpreted it like we are watching these students, we know them but they do not know the person watching. I find it fascinating that lives are happening at this moment that I do not know of, that the world keeps moving outside of my own life. So watching these students was intriguing as I got to know that these human beings are just as much alive as I am on this shared earth. Then I think, where was I at this moment? During time this filming, I was just as much alive as them, but somewhere else in the world. As I observe them, I think or imagine a story of their lives before they arrived at the filmed destination. For instance, did they walk or take car? Did they have breakfast that morning? What are their names? And so forth. I start to be captivated and curious about them, and they are beyond the screen. They have stories and they have emotions. It is like a mystery. And like the title states “you know it but it don’t know you”… I just got a speck of a glimpse knowing of them, and they know nothing about me or my existence.
“Homework for life” by Matthew Dickens from his TedxBerkshires talk enlightened me when we spoke about storytelling but writing down our stories everyday for at least five minutes. If we are to write down our stories from our day to day, the imprint of those stories will stay with us and will reveal the that we are important, he shares. I find this intriguing because sometimes we live out our days unconsciously, and at times as for myself I can forget what has happened during a certain day, like just the day before. Imagine, we have 24 hours in a day, and let’s say we sleep for approximately eight hours, that makes sixteen hours of a day lived. If we have that many hours in a day, there must be at least one highlight of the day to note down and that would bring forth a memory into light and stored. I enjoyed watching this video and a practice that I would like to think about trying, at least for a month and see where it takes me on my journey. Maybe this practice can reveal more of myself that I have not taken notice of. Thank you Matthew for sharing.
It took me a few times to watch Pope.L’s four minute video by MOMA on his performance “Crawls” to have a thought of discussion. I think to me because it was different and with that difference I question, how does this make me feel? I am watching a man deliver a performance by crawling on the the New York City’s streets in tuxedo while holding a dandelion, or wearing a superman suit with what looks like a skateboard strapped on his back. First of course I question, why? Even though he does provide explanation in doing so. As I just finished watching him again, I started questioning myself on how being different or doing an unconventional act can make people feel uncomfortable. This is a man protesting peacefully through the act of crawling. The video shares clips of people staring, asking for help, security asking him to stop, and so forth, but why? Why not just let him crawl? In life when witnessing someone doing something different, in any regard that is out of the status quo, it may be questioned. It is like we have grown up with a rule book of how to be but is there an actual rule on being human? Pope.L questions about space: “Where are you in space? And who owns the space? How you behave in space? How can you own that space?…”. Space… space can be shared, owned, dominated, etc.. and within that space we observe on what is the manner of being during that moment. But is there a manner always? If a shared space is shared and not owned, therefore there should not be a formula of act especially if it were peaceful. Pope.L’s bravery on performance publicly has revealed how being different can trigger uncomfortability by watching the clip. On an end note, how fascinating to have gotten to know NYC from the ground actually looking up, crawling in alignment on the thousands of footsteps passing by.
Our own experiences can bring up differences and perspectives with one another. Experiences can be of being of a different culture, upbringing, knowledge, and so forth; in knowing that, different perspectives are to be as a result. As I am part of a cohort of incredible women from different parts of the world, has so far been humbling and an eye-opener. We are touching on delicate subjects in our studies such as in race and sex, and due to our own experiences we have our own perspectives. Although it is intriguing to hear each one of own thoughts on a subject, it can be challenging at the same time. Of course speaking on a subject, we speak about what we know or ask on what we do not know. However, that is when challenges can occur because as we express our own perspective from our own experiences, we do not want to upset anyone based on those perspectives (or at least I try not to). So far, I feel that I am expanding in my ways of thinking on conversation within the subjects we are discussing amongst each other. Sometimes it is difficult to not connect our emotions in the topic, or take perspectives personally. In doing so, we need to observe and acknowledge how our perspectives are coming to be based on our backgrounds. With that being said, as we have just delved into “positionality” we were able to hone in and a take a peak on how our positions may influence our own perspectives on a topic. As I speak for myself, I feel that in this course other than studying the curriculum, I am naturally working a muscle of “understanding”, understanding others’ perspectives and that it is okay if they are not the same as mine, and it is okay if they firstly take an offense from mine initially or the other way around. As long as we allow ourselves to both discuss those differences and work together so there is no conflict. I am seven months into my Master’s program and I am learning beyond the academics but on how to share a space with knowledgable women, and how we can discuss respectfully together on sensitive topics.
Black men do not have to claim two causes of action to be understood. White women do not have to claim two causes of action to be understood […] White women represent “all women” and black men represent “all black people”.
As I hear Crenshaw say these words in her speech on intersectionality and gender inequality, she is reveals that black women have two causes of action rather than women and black men. She is emphasizing how black women on a day to day have to face both racism and sexism, and that is not being emphasized enough. Furthermore, for one of the reasons that is, is due to the political structures are formed. With that, she states:
Not primarily about identity but is about how structures make certain identities the consequence of the vehicle for vulnerability.
Therefore emphasizing how political structures are formed in such a way that they do not provide opportunities for those representing more than one cause, for instance here, black women. Rather they are perpetuating exclusion based on race and sex. Like I have mentioned before, I am a white woman mixed of hispanic heritage, but I have not faced this type of exclusion but as a human being it is important that I reflect on this while knowing my positionality. Crenshaw is bringing to light facts that need to be spoken about. In an era where we are progressing, we are now regressing due to how American politics are being played now. With the United States now removing DEI and while doing so, the curtain is being pulled open intentionally revealing how racism is still a forefront of “American culture”. Beyond racism at will, including sexism. Now as I think about it, pre-Trump second term I think that structures and the system has failed black communities, and there is evidence of that is happening. However today, I see this being heightened with obvious tactics and that is directly coming from the leader of our country and the world. Like how Crenshaw states:
Positionality was a term that I have heard of maybe a few times in my life, however without a thought or looked into deeply. As I have read from the reading by Kim V. L. England “Getting Personal: Reflexivity, Positionality, and Feminist Research”, I am introduced with more clarity on the significance of positionality in research. In other words, the importance of the positionality of the researcher among the researched, and how that can hinder the objectivity of the research. That is where reflexivity comes in. As England quotes:
Reflexivity is critical to the conduct of fieldwork; it induces self-discovery and can lead to insights and new hypotheses about the research questions. A more reflexive and flexible approach to fieldwork allows the researcher to be more open to any challenges to their theoretical position that fieldwork almost inevitably raises.
With that being said, reflexivity is a tool to look at where we stand in terms of the what is being researched and how that can affect the outcomes being discovered in the fieldwork. As I read this article, it has made me think how my positionality can even be looked at through conversation, not only in research. Through someone’s experiences and positions in the world can have greater effect beyond fieldwork. England further explains how the researcher is still a human being, like those that are being researched therefore they have what all human beings carry which are emotions and experiences. She quotes from Stanley and Wise:
We have different personal histories and lived experiences, and so, as Carol Warren (1988, 7) makes clear, the researcher as ‘any person, without gender, personality, or historical location, who would objectively produce the same findings as an other person,’ is completely mythical.
I find this intriguing to really think about now because I never really thought about it before. But maybe I did not feel the need to think about it due to my own positionality. I am a 35 year old, mixed race of Mexican and American but by looking at me I am categorized as a white woman, slim, not-disabled, no medical conditions, raised middle class, and so forth. Basically the gist is that I am someone who does not fit easily as a minority but more as dominant. I think what gives me the more obvious position of inferiority, is being a woman in a male-dominated world, other than that, where have I had to really think of how other positionalities affect mine. Concerning England’s statement above, we are all human being and for instance, being unconsciously bias can take in effect without knowing due to the nature of being human.
I have just submitted an interview that I did with another student, we curated the questions together and we wanted to focus on the topic on how language and communication forms cultural identity. One of the questions was: “How do you see language as a reflection of cultural identity?” I answered the below:
I think that language is a piece of reflection of cultural identity because through language you can see how people of that culture use their words, movement of expression and their tones. It is quite fascinating for me when I learn a language. In the beginning of not knowing a certain language, that language when spoken sounds like noise and not making any sense. Plus when adding gestures through the hands and facial expressions, I am curious what they are saying and why. But once you learn the language, it is like you are entering their world. The noise turns into words and meaning, and I have the opportunity of understanding more the identity of that culture through communication.
I feel this topic is so interesting, and it is true before you learn a language it is just sounds. But once you just learn the simple question “how are you?” it is like wow, your foot has entered their universe. The way people communicate in different countries around the world, or even within the same country, but of different towns have their own slang and gestures that sheds light on their identity. I guess that is why I enjoy learning different languages because I love the idea of being outside a world that I cannot communicate in, but once I learn just even the basics, I get to see what is on the other side of the language barrier.
