Chapter 6 and 7 Notes

Source: Perspectives on Globalization (Chapters 6 & 7--pg. 116-157)

First, globalization is the process that’s making the people in the world more independent in the economy, socially, politically, in the environment and involving technology. I just needed to clarify that for myself.

Key Issue for Both Chapters:
To what extent should contemporary society respond to the legacies of historical globalization?

Chapter 6:
To what extent does cultural contact affect people?
-each culture has a different perspective or world view
-different cultures have different values, beliefs, and traditions that influence their thoughts and actions
Contact between indigenous peoples and Europeans involved trade of various things. Indigenous people offered things made from nature and the Europeans offered things like metal utensils. (pg. 120)

In what ways can cultural contact affect people?
-the Beothuk people became extinct by 1829
-the economy of the potlatch culture began to change--> they started to give non-renewable resources as gifts
-in 1884, the Canadian government banned potlatch
-residential schools became a thing of the now
-in some cases, the Europeans wanted to get rid of specific cultures altogether

Can the effects of cultural contact still be felt years later?
-Sudan---In the 1890s, Sudan was given a closed door policy between the north and south. Both Britain and Egypt controlled the land. In 1956, Sudan gained independence from both Britain and Egypt. The door is opened and the government is controlled by the Arabs. They impose Islamic value throughout. The first civil war stretched from 1950s-1970s. The second has been waging since 1980, and hasn’t stopped yet. The Arab government has been accused of genocide.

Chapter 7:
What were the beginnings of global trading networks?
-the Silk Road---a network of trails that stretched from the Roman Empire to China
-goods were transported to various strategically placed trading posts
-it was kind of like a wire system--many contacts were established in diverse places and cultures
-knowledge, inventions, religious beliefs, artistic styles, languages, and social customs were shared, as well as goods
-cities started to become cultural and artistic centres
-in the 7th century, trade began to shift internationally
-the Arabs began to control international trade
-European governments used trade to increase their wealth
-(the top hats)
-mercantilism was a Eurocentric phenomenon (mercantilism is a theory prevalent in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries asserting that the wealth of a nation depends on its possession of precious metals and therefore that the government of a nation must maximize the foreign trade surplus, and foster national commercial interests, a merchant marine, the establishment of colonies, etc--wealth for monarchs)

What values underlie capitalism?
-according to capitalism, profits are ALWAYS good
-there are varying perspectives on capitalism and the people it benefits
-capitalism is mercantilism for the individual---individual wealth)
-in 18th Century Europe, people wanted change
-alternate economic systems included communism--remember Karl Marx??

Whose values did industrialization reflect?
-England, France, Spain and Belgium were key centres of industrialization
-other European cities became banking and financial centres
-Great Britain became the powerhouse of the industrial revolution
-[textiles---new inventions(the flying shuttle, the spinning jenny and the power loom)]
-weavers were forced to work in factories as a result of new inventions

In what ways did imperialism benefit one people over another?
-during the 1880s a global economy was underway
-the objective was Eurocentric
-trade was CRUCIAL to the success of imperialism
-through trade, the power would increase the wealth which led to greater prestige
-imperialism changed the lives of both indigenous peoples and non-indigenous peoples
-the indigenous peoples were forced to assimilate
-Europeans were incredibly ethnocentric
-one opinion--it was all about the power

Question a)
Where would Canada be without imperialism and globalization? It probably wouldn’t exist, right? A lot of the perspectives involve ethnocentrism, specifically that of the British Empire. Many believed that assimilation was right, that it would change the world for the better.

Question b)
There is a loss of identity and culture, and also a loss of perspective. Human rights changed, and so did the people. Think of reserves. They have serious social issues, like poor schooling, poor facilities, a very problematic history of drug and alcohol use, and violence. They have a problematic history, period. Look at residential schools. They were a huge problem. Think of their past with Europeans. Global consequences could include the Civil War in Sudan, and the Darfur genocide. In Canada, official apologies have been released. Monetary compensation has been made, in the case of residential schools. Indigenous self-government has become a very widespread idea. They govern themselves in their own ways.

Question c)
Look at Eurocentricism. At one point Europeans almost owned the entire world. Slowly, countries gained independence. Some are still trying to gain independence.

First Diplomatic Posting: Looking Back...

When I think about this, my first though is, "It's over already? That was kinda fast." It's true. Even though we started at the end of October, it seems like it went by really quickly. It's kind of scary to think that I'm almost halfway done grade 10. That means 2 and a half more years until I'm done. WOW! Okay, back to the topic at hand.

For the most part, I'm pretty proud of the work I did in this unit. I learned a lot about myself, and how I see myself. It was really neat. I did a lot of really good writing, and I really am proud of my Identity project. I talked about the changes in my life, and about how they had affected who I was. It was really cool to examine myself, look in the mirror, so to speak, and see who I wanted to be, who I am, looking back at me.

If I could, I would try that Poetry Analysis again. I guess that analyzing poetry isn't a strength of mine. Sure, I understand it. I can write it, but I can't tell you what was going through the author's head when he or she wrote it. I can't tell you why they used the literary devices they used. I can tell you the devices used and how they make the poem or song better, but that's about it.

I'm really impressed with myself. This course is proving to be a challenge, but I love it. Let me get this straight though. I'm not trying to toot my own horn! I just want to say what I think I'm good at, and what I need to work on. That's all I'm trying to do.

P.S. Maybe my next post won't be about Humanities. Maybe it'll be a more personal post.

I interviewed 2 immigrants....and here`s the results

So, I have to say....this was one of my favourite assignments. I learned things about my grandmother I didn't know before, and I got to know a friend a little bit better. Abby is from the Philippines, but spent 10 years in Hong Kong before coming to Canada in 2007, and my grandmother came from England in 1970. 
In talking to these two women that I admire, I learned a little bit about myself as well. Anyways, onto the report!

One of the most interesting questions I had the opportunity to ask was, "What word or phrase summarizes your perception of Canada? Explain." My grandmother said, "Freedom to Choose". She said she chose that because in Canada, life's what you, individually, make it. Your decisions define you more than what you are forced to do. Everything is up to you. Abby, my friend, said, "Beautiful!" She thinks Canada is the prettiest place ever, and I think part of that might be because she loves the snow. She also comes from a fairly impoverished country, so I can understand her finding Canada beautiful.

The other really interesting question I asked was, "How have your travels affected your view of Canada and the Canadian Identity?" Abby said no, because the identities of the places she's been are so very different from that of Canada. My grandmother said that Canada is very friendly. Everyone here is very approachable and accepting, and that everyone has the opportunity to find a home here. She says that there is very little bigotry here, and I have to agree. It goes along with being accepting. In my experience, there is very little prejudice here.

All in all, it was a very interesting assignment, and I learned a lot about what immigrants think about Canada. It was really neat to talk to these women about their opinions on their new (or not so new) home country.

Fiddler on the Roof: A Review

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1I9xQeg4uy9tLDv1y8yTe2iwzccMscPAM4Pc6TLvgK8s/edit?hl=en&authkey=CN6zhtwL

Current Affairs & The Cartoons People Make of Them

The characters in this cartoon are two scientists, and they are studying the event of climate change. The message of the cartoon is that we do need to take better care of our environment. I think this is pretty funny, but I guess not everybody will. One scientist is saying that climate change is being driven by insufficient use of twisty lightbulbs. He's referring to energy saving fluorescent bulbs. I think I agree to some extent. Fluorescent bulbs are better for the environment, but they are a bit more expensive, and not everybody can "waste" money on them, which I can understand.

  The characters in this cartoon are a couple that are from Canada, and they are addressing the issue of global warming as well. The message is that global warming is there, and it affects everyone. The humour is developed by the wife's answer to the husband's question, "Our igloo melted..." Again, I agree to an extent. I'm not sure global warming has become that drastic yet.



A Canadian Song Analysis: Canada's Really Big-The Arrogant Worms

When I look around me,
I can't believe what I see.

It seems as if this country
Has lost it's will to live.
The economy is lousy,
We barely have an army,
But we can still stand proudly
'Cause Canada's really big!

We're the second largest country
On this planet Earth,
And if Russia
Keeps on shrinking,
Then soon we'll be first...
(as long as we keep Quebec).

The USA has tanks,
And Switzerland has banks.
They can keep them, thanks.
They just don't amount,
'Cause when you get down to it
You find out what the truth is.
It isn't what you do with it,
It's the size that counts!

Most people
Will tell you
That France is pretty large,
But you can put
Fourteen Frances
Into this land of ours...
(it'd take a lotta work, it'd take a whole lotta work).

We're larger than Malaysia,
Almost as big as Asia.
We're bigger than Australia,
And it's a continent!
So big we seldom bother
To go see one another,
But we often go to other
Countries for vacation.

Our mountains
Are very pointy.
Our prairies are not.
The rest is
Kinda bumpy,
But, man, do we have a lot.
(we gotta lot of land, we gotta whole lot of land).

So stand up and be proud,
And sing out very loud,
We stand out from the crowd  'cause
Canada's really big!

So, obviously, the main message of this song is that, "Canada's really big!" It's true. Like the song states, Canada is the second largest country in the world, and it's bigger than Australia, which is a continent. I think that's pretty crazy. 

The song states that we should be proud of our country, and I think that means that we need to be patriotic. Everybody thinks that the grass is greener on the other side, you know? I. personally, think we've got it pretty good here. We have lots. Many countries don't have even have half of what we have here. We have a lot of space. We're not overcrowded, like many Asian countries. The weather here really isn't all that bad. We have yet to experience a natural disaster that reaches the magnitudes like that of Haiti, Chile, or Thailand. Our lives are happy, for the most part. 

One of the videos of this song mentioned that the Arrogant Worms were asked to sing "O Canada" at an athletic event of some kind, and they felt that they needed to sing something different, something that stated (kind of) what Canada represented to them. I think it did a pretty good job. It is a pretty patriotic song, and let's face it, after repeating "O Canada" every day in elementary school, and then at every school event later on, it can get kind of repetitive. I'm not saying I dislike "O Canada". I'm saying that songs like these allow for a change. It doesn't always have to be the national anthem. 

This song is great, and it does explain Canada pretty well. I'm pretty sure if I was supposed to describe Canada for a young child who had never been here, I'd sing this song. It just fits. 

Literary Devices Found In Fiddler on the Roof

Literary Devices Found In Fiddler on the Roof

Literary Device	Explanation/Example	Where Found
Symbolism	-the Fiddler represents each person in Anatevka. They are trying to stay balanced, like a fiddler, using tradition. -the pots represent the life that the family will be leaving behind.	-pg. 2(Act 1: Prologue) -pg.152(Act 2: Scene 8)
Allusion	-pogrom is alluded to when the constable has a brief conversation with Tevye -the eviction of the Jewish community in Rajanka is alluded to by Avram	-pg. 53(Act 1: Scene 5) -pg. 25(Act 1: Scene 2)
Metaphor	-the Fiddler-also a metaphor. He is compared to every person in the village of Anatevka. - Hodel and Perchik dance at the wedding. It is a metaphor for what could be called courtship or dating.	-pg. 2(Act 1: Prologue) -pg. 98-99(Act 1: Scene 10)
Simile	-when Tzeitel is compared to Fruma-Sarah. -when Motel is compared to King Solomon in one of the Tradition reprises.	-pg. 60-61(Act 1: Scene 6) -pg. 67(Act 1: Scene 6)
Allegory	-Tevye is an allegory. He represents the common man. -Tevye’s bible references, specifically when he talks about the chicken.	-entire play -pg. 31(Act 1: Scene 2)
Personification	-Tevye’s horse is given human traits. Tevye says his horse becomes lame and loses his shoe deliberately so that he can rest. -Anatevka. In the song, Anatevka is given the characteristics of being underfed, overworked, and obstinate.	-pg. 20(Act 1: Scene 2) -pg. 144( Act 2: Scene 7)
Imagery	-the nightmare. Fruma-Sarah’s anger provides great imagery. You can see her sneaking in by night to choke Tzeitel. -“Miracle of Miracles”-you can see the wall falling down in Jericho and the Red Sea parting	-pg. 80-81( Act 1: Scene 7) -pg. 70( Act 1: Scene 6)
Foreshadowing	-the eviction of the Jewish communities in many Ukrainian towns and villages -the conversation between Tevye and the Constable	-pg. 25(Act 1: Scene 2) -pg. 51-54( Act 1: Scene 5)