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Re: This goes back to discussion perhaps before Tim Tingle
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From: Ehbluemle <ehbluemle_at_gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 21 Feb 2014 19:01:53 -0500
Hi, Regina.
The point I take from this conversation, and from many similar frank conversations with friends, is that majority- or dominant-culture members need to work much harder to have a nuanced, deep understanding of other cultures than the reverse, simply because majority/dominant culture is so pervasive, it is the pool in which EVERYONE in the culture must swim. The imagery is familiar, the pop culture ubiquitous, the examples of a variety of dominant-culture narratives legion. There is no danger of a single white story in this country; the idea is laughable because we have so many examples from which to choose.
This is of course not true in the reverse. Would that it were laughable to say that about representations of other experiences in this country! Wouldn't it be amazing to have thousands of books about children of other heritages?
So, the *very* broad brush stroke of this idea is that it is likely to be easier for, say, a black author to write a convincing white character
(convincing to white, i.e., cross-culture, audiences) than the reverse, simply because you cannot grow up in this country without being steeped in white culture. White culture is to a great extent familiar territory. The reverse just isn't true, so for dominant-culture writers to inhabit their characters in a way that resonates for readers of the culture being written about requires enormous time, sensitivity, awareness, and personal familiarity with that culture.
Apologies for any muddiness, or if I have just made the same point three different ways. Tired brain at the end of a very long week!
Sincerely, Elizabeth
Date: Fri, 21 Feb 2014 19:01:53 -0500
Hi, Regina.
The point I take from this conversation, and from many similar frank conversations with friends, is that majority- or dominant-culture members need to work much harder to have a nuanced, deep understanding of other cultures than the reverse, simply because majority/dominant culture is so pervasive, it is the pool in which EVERYONE in the culture must swim. The imagery is familiar, the pop culture ubiquitous, the examples of a variety of dominant-culture narratives legion. There is no danger of a single white story in this country; the idea is laughable because we have so many examples from which to choose.
This is of course not true in the reverse. Would that it were laughable to say that about representations of other experiences in this country! Wouldn't it be amazing to have thousands of books about children of other heritages?
So, the *very* broad brush stroke of this idea is that it is likely to be easier for, say, a black author to write a convincing white character
(convincing to white, i.e., cross-culture, audiences) than the reverse, simply because you cannot grow up in this country without being steeped in white culture. White culture is to a great extent familiar territory. The reverse just isn't true, so for dominant-culture writers to inhabit their characters in a way that resonates for readers of the culture being written about requires enormous time, sensitivity, awareness, and personal familiarity with that culture.
Apologies for any muddiness, or if I have just made the same point three different ways. Tired brain at the end of a very long week!
Sincerely, Elizabeth
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Received on Fri 21 Feb 2014 06:02:12 PM CST
