"A new vision" (Part 2)

*For a better understanding, please first read the Part 1.

Archetypes

 

Essentially, an Archetype is a classic model of conduct. In turn, the archetypes are characters that play a social role in the scenario in which are inserted, so, enclose characteristics that allow them to change the reality for other characters, for better or for worse. 

Archetypes are characterized by not suffer great changes; because frequently its qualities are quite developed. Contrary to stereotypes, do not create fixed ideas about a group, given that archetypes constitute only a mold of personal characteristics that are not related to cultural, physical, ethnically, religiously, sexual or social aspect. In turn, an archetype is a classification comprising several characters.

Archetypes form a legacy of narrative tradition from its origins, and given their enormous significance, persist to the present day, either by plagiarism or Intertextuality. For example, have the archetype of 'wise man': A character whose knowledge and dedication will help someone else, achieve a significant spiritual growth. Within this group we could include Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings, by J. R. R. Tolkien (1954), Albus Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J. K. Rowling (1997) and Merlin, the wizard of the Arthurian Legend. All of them function as mentors who bring to the progress of Frodo, Harry Potter and King Arthur, respectively. However, Gandalf is sarcastic and vigorous; Dumbledore is polite and very fatherly, as Merlin is enigmatic and somewhat eccentric. As you can see, it's the same model that secretes in different personalities.

 

Human Kinds

 

Human Kinds are characters that respond to a recognizable social situation, which guides their actions. There’s not an unbreakable classification, because do not endanger the peculiarities of each character's individual personality, even when the social stage makes them common among them. For example, in Les Miserables by Victor Hugo (1862) we advise as many characters of the story -Fontine, Cossette, Gavroche and Jean Valjean- are inserted in an indifferent and unfair society in that it trying to survive; doing so each in their own way, either through the sacrifice, the rebellion, the cunning or goodness, respectively. In conclusion, it can be said that these four characters respond to the same "Human Kind".

 

Human Kinds are a resource highly implemented in the works of Tennessee Williams. Both Amanda Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie (1944), Blanche DuBois in A streetcar named Desire (1947) as Margaret Pollitt in Cat on a hot tin roof (1955), are women tormented by the snubs of men and their families, to which Amanda becoming a totalitarian and manipulative mother, Blanche reacts leaving sink by the humiliations of his brother-in-law, and Margaret with selflessness toward her husband.

A third and final example is the ‘Hero’, the human type par excellence: A man who holds different virtues (whether physical, intellectual or personal) that frees their similar from injustices. In this sense, we have Goku in the manga Dragon Ball, by Akira Toriyama (1984-1995), whose ingenuity and physical strength allow you to constantly save Earth from imminent destruction. Also, Atticus Finch in the film To Kill a Mockingbird by Robert Mulligan (1961), is a lawyer whose suspicion and honor lead him to release to Tom Robinson go to jail following a false accusation motivated by racism. And thirdly, and following the same line, could cite Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, protagonist of Myo Çid, who faced insults and retrieves an honorable status, both for him and for his people.

Conclusion

Beyond of correct or incorrect is the fact that the writers implemented any of these classifications in the narrative (especially in terms of stereotypes), or how these paradigms limited or enhance the notion of "originality", the truth is that all these models charge certain influence in our vision of society.

Now that you have a new vision of "what" each image and "how" the media perpetuated them over time, is the responsibility of each have criticality to the information that we receive in this way, it’s possible to maintain a healthy distance between what we 'know' and what 'we believe to know'.

Also, remember that a character can play different roles at the same time: A prototype, a stereotype and a human kind, for example. Not necessary only one.

Experience isn’t transmissible and while we take into account that the narrative in the media is only fiction, we have clear these characters help us motivate our own view of "true culture" and to have certain notions of what it could be false or true, more, they should not constitute an infallible knowledge base. That basis is the personal contact with the culture you want to discover.

Bibliography

*The bibliography is cited into Spanish, because this is the languague of the consulted editions.

(1) Herrero, Juan: "La teoría de los estereotipos". Revista Espéculo, N°32 (Madrid, junio 2006).

(2) Díaz, Emérita; Alvarado, Rosalía; Córdova, Conrado: Literatura I - Narrativa Universal. Dirección Académica del Colegio de Bachilleres del Estado de Sonora (Estado de Sonora, México, 2006).

(3) Scheiner, Steven Jay: 1001 Películas que debes ver antes de morir. Ediciones Quintessence Ltda. (Londres, 2003).

(4) Tajfel, Henri: Grupos Humanos y Categorías Sociales. Ediciones Universidad de Cambridge (Cambridge, 1981).

(5) Allport, Gordon: La naturaleza de la Personalidad: Los papeles selectivos. Editorial Greenwood (Westport, Connecticut, 1975).

The Queen of England - Learn British Culture!

I think it's really useful for ous know more about England culture , for that I show you this video it's really interesting see that :) , it talks about so much things that you have to know.

Maori (Australia)

In this course we don't learn nothing about Maori, they are indigenous from Australia. I want to show to all of you a video because is more  interactive than a  text it can be more boring for you. How do yo think about this indigenous? Do yo know them?

Rabbit-proof fence.

The film shows a black episode in the Australian History, where the indian children were stolen from their families. We can see just a little piece of truth of the Indian reality. I chose this movie for my reflection because I'm really interested about the topic and in knowing more about the situation lived in Australia since 1910 to 1970.
I don't know the Indian situation in Australia and after seeing the movie a lot of "dudes" (use people instead) came to me.
In my writing I want to make a comparison about Chilean situation and the Australian one and  discrimination suffered by indigenous people in this and in our country.
 I think the situation in Australia that we saw in the movie is sad, I don't know why people can do this acts with people, It has some troubles nowadays an argument that can be given to check is: in 2008 the parlament for first time gives apologies subject to root that came to light that indigenous children were used as guinea pigs for scientific experiments. This situation caused public alarm, and in the people "who forms part" from "stolen generation" even more. They said "there are many things that are not known". I think all the true should be "uncovered" because the indian people have the right to know "all" and be uncompensed for the government but they say : "no compensation". But in 2007 one person was compensated for first time.
If we compare own situation and the Australian. We would see this is very similar. In Chile in general we don't appreciate our "root" we usually don't know almost nothing about mapuches for example the language or their manners, we see them like people who do strikes all the time, who don't forget the past and we usually discriminate them for his physical appearance too. But something I rescate about Chilean government a comparison of Australian is: we give compensation to the mapuches because we have: "beca indígena" that benefits to students in the school and the university with native seed the government give to them money.
In Australia is the same situation like our country they suffer discrimination and social marginalization, a lot of indian people are unemployed and who have employed this is a “bad job” with low-wage this is like a circle, they don’t receive a good education therefore they don’t have a good paid job.
The white population discriminate them just for be “different”, they have more possibilities to go to the jail (be arrested), and it for that indigenous people don’t have faith in the Australian legal system.
In conclusion I think this situation was a shame for all the world because the discrimination which indigenous people isn’t be just in Australia or our country this one is in all the countries; mapuches, kiwi (new Zealand),etc. And who fight for the rights of the natives?
We have to include and educated this groups of person because they are like us and they have the same right such as me or anyone. About the theme of stolen generation I think this “case” would be finished if the government make a compensation to the descendent of those who suffered in the past, they lost they identity, they don’t receive a good education, the respect corresponding. We and just we are responsible for this and remedy it is our duty. Finally I quote this phrase from and indian descendant.

“I grew up feeling alone, a black girl in a white world, and I resented them for trying to make me white but they couldn't wash away thousands of years of dreaming”. —Aunty Rhonda Collard, member of the Stolen Generations          


Bibliography.
“Australia’s Stolen generations”, Creative spirits, http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/politics/stolen-generations.html
“Hito para la “generación robada”, BBC new, http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/spanish/international/newsid_6927000/6927161.stm
“Aboriginal employment, Jobs and careers”, Critical Spirits http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/economy/aboriginal-employment-jobs-careers.html
“Protestan indígenas australianos contra la discriminación”, Diario de la juventud cubana.http://www.juventudrebelde.cu/internacionales/2012-01-27/protestan-indigenas-australianos-contra-la-discriminacion/
“Disculpa simbólica a la generación robada”, Publico.es. http://www.publico.es/internacional/47914/disculpa-simbolica-a-la-generacion-robada

Live together as brother

This picture contain an importante phrase, it said by Martin Luther king. I show a form of life important for the culture, for our culture. I think that the people SHOULD live together and love your neighbor... Thanks to this, the world would be at peace and culture would continue... what do you think about this?

The segregation in United States and Nazi Germany.

By Jocelyn Zavando

As we study Martin Luther King’s life and his constant struggle against racial segregation till his death, I cannot leave aside a parallel between laws and life styles that prevailed in 1870 and 1970 in EEUU and the Nazi Germany. Even though it was not the same magnitude, they had very similar characteristics. The following reflection will develop the characteristics in which both states seem, to finish with a review about it.

Historically after the Civil War (1861-1865), between the southern and northern United States, as a consequence of the abolition of slavery, the southern part of The United States loses this war and make certain laws to discriminate against black people (Jim Crow). “As states could not eliminate the rights of blacks due guaranteed by the constitution, we used the term "segregation" as the concept of “Separated But Equal””[i], the idea was that while the opportunities offered to both races were equal, segregation was legal. For this reason black people suffered of social unequally supported by the law.   They had restaurants, hospitals, schools completely separated from White people, but obviously less quality and less resources. African Americans could not sit on buses, they had to go at the back and sit only if there was a sit available, they did not have the same job opportunities as White people had for this reason they were poor.

 Although they had the "freedom" to walk through the city unlike the Jews in Germany, who lived in ghettos, concentration camps, locked in places where conditions were really poor and where thousands of Jews were dying every day in the gas chambers and furnaces, as well as receiving bales. I can make a parallel between them as in both Nazi Germany and and south of U.S., human rights were not respected and there was an unfounded hatred that breeds them. Those who were in power considered themselves different, and there was discrimination and prejudice, racism and xenophobia

If it is impossible to compare the number of deaths and cruelty that existed during the Second World War with the issue in the southern states of the U.S who also went through died in white people’s hands, hundreds of black children killed because of the hatred that both races had.

There was suffering in both cases and all for one reason, a constant hatred to differences, believing that because someone is white or albino is pure, or by having a clean blood without miscegenation makes you superior .But where such hatred comes from?. I think that prejudices are the most important part in this differences that society make, creating hate to these differences  and at the same time, “biases operate primarily through a stereotyped thinking, using fixed and inflexible categories”[ii], for example in the case of World War II, one of Hitler’s foundations was that the jew had taken away the economical power of Germany in the case of black people it begins with slavery and moves on till after World War I, when  “black people were used to break strikes by white workers of northern that fueled racism and division between working class”[iii]. Ultimately, the prejudice created by the stereotypes made discrimination and racism bigger in our society.

Although, the African American race segregation  doesn’t exist anymore in the United states, thanks to the constant struggle given by Martin Luther King, I found very interesting that this segregation was ended in the recent years, even after the World War II(1939-1945) when the world was horrified by the terrible things that happened: “supposedly this catastrophe shook global awareness and encouraged the international community to recognize the sins of racist ideologies and engage in the cause for racial equality[iv]”.  Even in 1963 in Birmingham they were passing through one of the worst happens where men, women, and children were overwhelmed by the power of the police, who beat, attack with dogs and imprison them, without thinking about sex or age in a peaceful protest for equal rights for blacks and whites people. That opportunity the United States completely forgot the disaster experienced in World War II.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

[1] http://05racismo.blogspot.com/2009/04/126-la-segregacion-racial-de-los-negros.html

[1] Giddens, Anthony. Etnicidad y Raza. Biblioteca virtual de Ciencias Sociales. (http://www.cholonautas.edu.pe/modulo/upload/Giddens%20cap9.pdf)

[1] http://05racismo.blogspot.com/2009/04/126-la-segregacion-racial-de-los-negros.html

[1] Kymlicka, Will. Las Odiseas Multiculturales: Las nuevas políticas internacionales de la diversidad. Editorial Paidós

"A new vision" (Part 1) 

 

 

Introduction

Given that the topic about "Stereotypes" has been repeatedly in class, I believe that it is appropriate to share a clarification (linked to the world of art and culture), which I think you might mean them a contribution to their knowledge.

   

Recently; Sociology, Anthropology and Literature have defined a classification for characters in the media, concerning to the ‘social image of a group’, that a character helps to convey. Within this group are distinguished: Stereotypes, Prototypes, Archetypes and Human Kinds.

Stereotypes

Stereotypes are generalized and static images of the conduct, appearance and way of thinking of a specific human group. Given how easy it’s to include them in different context, stereotypes have been used as recurring, this resulted in building a trite and predictable view of a community, depending of some factor in specific; inculcating us the idea that we "know" this group, even without us concerned by contrast the ideas we have with the reality. When we don’t this exercise, we create prejudices.

With regard to the capacity of the stereotypes demonstrate sustainability in time, should be appointment at the film The Breakfast Club, directed by John Hughes (1985), which according to experts in film consolidated the stereotypes of the American school community. Note how twenty-five years later, television series Glee (Broadcast in Fox since 2009) used these images as the basis for its characters, even though the writers granted certain "reliefs and nuances" to give them depth.

 

Prototypes

Prototypes are characters that enclose the "perfection" of a group of features, meaning an ideal of conduct and thought. Examples of this are the characters of Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare (1597) and Tristan and Isolde (anonymous legend), who are passionate, sensitive and unforgiving lovers ready to do everything to overcome the social adversity and love forever. As well as stereotypes arise from an arbitrary generalization, the prototypes arise from an idealization of the human characteristics in its maximum expression.

Prototypes tend to be confused with stereotypes because they are also used as "models" that are repeatedly present in the narrative. It happens because they also possess some cultural impact in the media; however, the prototypes don’t generalize the feeling, thinking and acting of a community or group, but are only reinvented ‘ideals of personality’, depending on context. Prototypes usually have a name and its reproduction tends to be judged as an imitation. For example, Marilyn Monroe is the ‘prototype of a sensual woman’, then, the actresses who spread a sensual image of themselves tend to be taken as ‘analogous’ to the model imposed by Monroe.

(to be continue... Bibliography will be included in the final part)