“The Japanese love natto, an unbelievably foul, rank, slimy, glutenous, and stringy goop of fermented soybeans. It’s the Vegemite of Japan, dearly loved by everyone there, for reasons no outsider can understand…There’s just no way to eat the stuff…All I wanted to do now was hurl myself through the paper walls and straight off the edge of the mountain (152).
INTRO: In Tony Bourdain’s A Cook’s Tour, he explores how different cultures eat, relax, and approach life through some of their strangest (to Western eyes) events, rituals, and meals. Each one tells us something about who these people are, and by extension, who we are (since we find these customs so strange). But some of them even shock Tony, who doesn’t hesitate to tell us how weird, disgusting, horrific, and physically nauseating some of his experiences truly are! Though sometimes, he learns to appreciate something ‘bad’ through the context of the culture itself (but not with natto!).
PROMPT: So for this assignment, I want you to write about the strangest, most confusing, most disturbing, and possibly most disgusting event, ritual, or meal in your own culture (it doesn’t have to be food). But it should be something that you see as normal, and that many people you know think is normal, but that isn’t normal to people outside of your culture/circle. What makes this experience so strange and so unappealing to others (and so wonderful to you)? What would they not understand? How would it make them feel (about you, about themselves)? And if this was someone’s only experience of your culture, what would they walk away thinking about you? Would it be a fair assessment? Is that who ‘you’ are?
Remember, you can write about a strange food that you and your family loves...or you can write about an American tradition that people in other countries would find odd or downright appalling (Okie noodling??). Try to see through someone else's eyes as you look at your own life.
IDEAS: Can’t think of anything? Our next Writing Workshop video will discuss this very topic and give you some ideas…stay tuned!
SOURCES: Try to bring at least 3-4 sources to your conversation, other people who are talking about the same experience. What do other people think this experience says about your culture? ONE of these sources MUST be Bourdain’s book: show us how his experiences in other cultures relate to your own. Use his book as a model for how to look at your own culture.
REQUIREMENTS:
- 4-5 pages double spaced
- 3-4 sources
- MLA (or other) citation throughout along with a Works Cited page
- Due THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19th for TUESDAY CLASSES
- Due TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17th for THURSDAY CLASSES
No comments:
Post a Comment