Conversation Paper #1: Cultural Conversations

ESSAYS:
Rogers, “One Person Means Alone”

Bautman, “Cover Story”

Griest, “Chiefing in Cherokee”

Knafo, “Waiting on a Whale at the End of the World”

Conversation #1: (Bautman, Rogers) Discuss the topic, “what comes first, convictions or culture?” When traveling to or living among another culture (even in the same country), how much should you have to compromise your own ideas/values to fit in? Should you have to bathe nude with the entire neighborhood? Should you wear the veil? Is the culture always right? Or should we hold onto our own values in the face of a foreign environment? Should every place change us as people, or should we strive to change them?

Conversation #2: (Griest, Knafo) Discuss the topic, “when does tradition need to end?” In both essays, indigenous cultures are pressured to abandon their traditions in the face of a changing society. Should the Eskimo abandon the whale hunt to find more sustainable (and cheaper) ways of life? Should the Cherokee abandon a tourist attraction that is increasingly seen as racist and backward even by some of their own people? Or is tradition sacred, and worth defying the entire world to maintain? What is the danger of abandoning tradition when that’s all you’ve known?

Conversation #3: (???) Make your own conversation, based on at least two of the essays above, as long as you can clearly show how each essay contributes to this discussion.

SOURCES: You must quote at least two essays in your paper, so we can see the conversation between you and each author. Additionally, I want you to find at least one outside source that you feel contributes to this discussion, either by agreeing with you, or one of the essays, or acting as a “naysayer” (more on that soon). We’ll discuss how to find useful sources in class through the Linscheid Library’s EBSCO portal.

ALSO: Bring yourself into the discussion! Your experience, ideas, background. Respond to their essays with your own.

REQUIREMENTS: At least 5-6 pages double spaced, with at least three sources, quoted according to MLA format. Due in two weeks, on Thursday, September 27th by 5pm [no class that day!]