Week 4

Feb. 6th, 2012 09:04 am
[personal profile] allyssamickey
Part I

The racism in the story doesn’t necessarily need the context of the Japanese internment to be understood, but to truly understand and emphasize with the grief of the family it is vital.

“The men who rioted against you were not the enemy. The Vancouver alderman who said ‘Keep BC White” was not the enemy”(7)
This quote clearly shows racism. We know without the context that the Uncle is Japanese, and so stating that there are riots and people trying to “Keep BC White” clearly shows the racism that existed at the time.

“In the framed family photograph…[t]hey all look in different directions, carved and rigid with their expressionless Japanese faces and their bodies paste over with Rule Britannia”(4)
This shows clear pain within the family. They are ashamed of who they are, due to the influx of racism in North America at this time. They look away from each other, afraid to face the pain and see it in each-other's faces, and they are expressionless to prevent the others in the family from seeing this in their own faces. They are wearing British clothing so as to assimilate into society, perhaps in an attempt to avoid the racism, or because they don’t have a choice.
In contrast to this sad photograph there is “the picture, not framed, not on display showing Uncle as a young man, smiling and proud in front of an exquisitely detailed craft…. not an ordinary yacht-a creation of many years and many winter evenings-a work of art.”(4) Here the Uncle has found something that brings him joy, something that his own father had done before he had crossed to North America and faced the racism of the country. Unfortunately this symbol of joy is taken away from them when the “voice of the RCMP officer [says] ‘I’ll keep that one,’ and laughing as he cuts through the water…the other boats are towed away and left to rot. Hundreds of Grandfather’s boats belonging to hundreds of fishermen.” The authorities in North America tear away these boats that bring them joy. Their property and rights are not considered, because they are Japanese, and during these times Japanese were the enemy and not treated kindly in North America.




Part II

I really admire the depth that some of the other students are able to see into the writing. I can get the general context, but I’m not very skilled in analyzing deeply, and I would really like to improve this skill. I’m hopeful that this course will help me with this at least to some degree, if not a large improvement.

Date: 2012-02-14 02:19 am (UTC)
literarybean: (Default)
From: [personal profile] literarybean
Come visit me during my office hours! I enjoy helping students dig deeply into literature.

Date: 2012-02-27 07:56 am (UTC)
cardiac_arrhythmia: (Default)
From: [personal profile] cardiac_arrhythmia
"The racism in the story doesn’t necessarily need the context of the Japanese internment to be understood, but to truly understand and emphasize with the grief of the family it is vital."
This opening line stopped me in my tracks. I'm not sure why, but your use of the word racism made me think. Even though these acts are quite obviously racists, I had never really associated the word with the situation.

I am 100% with you about some of the other students and their depth in writing. I struggle immensely with this class and I hope you have your "ah-ha" moment and do well!

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