In the movie, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, one of the main characters was played by a famous actor, Jonny Depp. He tends to play a lot of out of the norm characters; however in this movie he seemed to be a very normal person. With this being said, I find it very different and weird to see him so normal, since I’ve been used to him playing exotic characters in his more recent films.

            This film What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, was made in the year 1993, and directed by Lasse Hallstrom. Also in the film stars in both of the biggest actors in film industries now, who are Jonny Depp and Leonardo Dicaprio. In this film Jonny Depp plays the main character, which is Gilbert Grape and he holds the responsibility of taking care of his family after his dad’s death. He also has a brother who is mentally challenged (Leonardo) and a mother who is overly obsessed, which makes it even harder on him. Along the way he meets a girl who passes through their town and she shows him another way of life.

            In this movie, Gilbert takes care of his family after his father disappears and found dead. Gilbert has two sisters and two brothers; however one of the brothers got lucky and left the house. As the oldest son of the house he was responsible to take care of the family and the house that their father built. As if taking care of a family wasn’t hard enough, Gilbert’s family was even harder to take care of. Gilbert have a brother who is mentally challenged and was predicted that he wouldn’t live pass 10 years but he was turning 18 in the movie. He also had an overly obsessed mother who doesn’t do anything but sit at home and eat and cry over her husband leaving her. However, as he lives his life helping others and not himself he meets a beautiful girl who happens to pass through their town.

In my culture, when we eat, we usually use our hands to eat, and not just any hands, we use our right hands only. This is mainly a Middle Eastern culture, and if we see someone using a spoon or fork we will say there's something is wrong with that person. Another thing in my culture is when I have a guest over in my home I have to make them coffee or tea. If I do not make or offer them coffee or tea, they will think that I do not want them in my home. It also brings shame to me, if I don't offer or make coffee for my guests, because it means I don't respect them. When I make coffee for them, I'll have to stand by them until they are done drinking their coffee and when they are done I'll offer tea. When I offer tea to my guests, I also do the same thing; I will stand next to them until they are done. However, tea isn't as important as coffee in the Middle Eastern culture.

Every country have their own culture and traditions, my culture is very different from the American culture. since i have been here a lot of things have changed in my life. some of the changes in my life, I find nice and interesting for me. An example of some changes in my life is the type of music Listen to. back  in my home town in Saudi Arabia, i never listen to English music and i also did not like to listen to them. However, as I made friends in the U.S., they always play English music and soon i started to like English music. another example of the changes in my life is, before coming to america,  i just wore my traditional clothes, i never wore leans ans T-shirts. so when i came to here America i started to wear jeans and T-shirts and sport clothes. I find them comfortable because they are not not heavy and they also make you look nice.
Ever since I have taken this class, I have become aware that the police do not get in as much trouble if they kill someone without any reason. i find this not fair at all to the people in America. after being told about this class, i have noticed on the newspaper that a policeman killed someone and the government did not even judge him. they just asked him questions and the reason why he killed him and then set him free.

NIRVANA

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wrap-up

field museum 

Something the I learn from the cultural Identity was, how people has to adapt to other culture when  they emigrant to other country. first  People looks for better life opportunities getting out from home, and letting everything  back.when people needs to find a job or food in different country with different language.   People has a lot of problems to communicate and adapted  to this American style of life. In another hand they need to know the new language and adapt to the new American culture. second I learn the all different people has different type of culture and is always changing. i prefer be equal in different way.            

Cultural Identity Wrap-up

   

     Actually I think Pop Culture is a good topic to study, and i have a strong interest of this topic.However, pop culture is a big topic to study and our teacher have help us to choose many ways to let us easily to understand this.So thank you for my teacher first. Also , in this first activity of the poster, i have learned a lot of things out of my country and i learned what is pop culture.

POP-Culture wrap up 14

Culture often linked to the customs and traditions. But a lot of cultures broke the barrier of customs and traditions and has evolved for the better. There are also a lot of cultures have changed after finding out online. Now people are interested in education and learn a lot of languages ​​is not, as is the case in the sixties and the eighties. Today I am studying in the United States and study American culture and this is a Very Good thing for me. I hope to get some culture from some classmates، and current progress intellectually for the better.

Cultural Identity Wrap Up

     When I read the cultural identity unit, I knew many imformation about it. Begaining is very confusing, gradually understanding. Everything is interesting, but I most like the  Melt pot and Salad Bowl. In my opinion, China town, Mexico town, Japanese town, ect , they like jigsaw. They are entirety, but we also can divide many parts. Also, some people try to infuse into this culture, like Melt pot. However, what they want to be, they all stay on a land.

Cultural Identity Wrap-Up

As we known, Chinese cultural identity is food. However, I think that clothes fashion is the most cultural identity, so I am very interesting in fashion, such as clothes, decoration and shoes. In this project I learned that Yat-sen suit is mixing Chinese style and western style and this kind of suit is very pop nowadays. In sum, it is no doubt t that Chinese clothes fashion as a “melting pot”.

Culture Identity Wrap-up

When I finish this Culture Identity until, I get a lot of information about culture diversity and mainstream culture. First of all, I know why does the America is the Melt pot and Salad Bowl. Because many of different country in which many different ideas, cultures and ethnicities are put together in the USA. And also I know why does this book called 《 Mirror on America 》, because this book like mirror told us what’s the America Culture. Meanwhile, some of different cultures, races be admitted to the large country in the America. Moreover we are thought the poster project share more information about country culture, such as Chinese Culture, Mexico history and Saudi Arabia Culture. I’m really enjoying this activity that we share some knowledge rather than always reading book. 

Cultural Identity Wrap-up

     I actually chose this class because since I was child I was interested in new cultures. This class was as I expected especially this unit. In this unit I learned a lot of things about China such as food, cities and culture which is something amazing and it heard hard to me to learn it from non-Chinese, but I was lucky to have a lot of Chinese classmate and that itself helpful to know there culture deeply and closely. Also, now I can recognize between pop culture and high culture which is something I have not got any Idea about it before. In ther other hand, I had the opportunity to represent my country and it was surprising that some of the students do not even know what is Saudi Arabia.

Cultural Identity Wrap-up

     Different ethnicity will have their own unique cultures in the world. I know the Chinese traditional culture pretty well since I was born in the southern China and spent many years of traveling around. However, I could tell nothing about the American cultures before I came to the United Stated. We all know the first important thing that people have to deal with is to speak the local language once they moved into a new country. Learning the new cultures of that region is the next important step, and it is also going to take a long time to process. But now, I have learned more about the American cultures since I am taking Popular Culture this semester. Especially in the cultural identity area, it is important for people’s sense of self and how they relate to others. A strong cultural identity can contribute to people’s overall well being. The most interesting part about American culture that I have learned was the melting pot and salad bowl. I would say that Chicago is a salad bowl because it contains many different cultures from different countries, but also allows people to retain their original cultures and traditions. I am pretty sure that you have been to the China Town or Korean Town to enjoy the diverse foods. There are many other Towns separated around the Chicago city. Each town still remains its own traditional culture, but somehow they are connected to each other as a big picture.

warp-up

before i take this class, i don't know anything about this class. my adviser say, "the teacher will teach you about the American culture." i think,"oh, it talking about American culture, it much be hard,but i can know more about America." after taking this class, i learned america is a salad bowl right now, but before 80's america is a melting pot. people who live before 80's, they give up their own culture and language to live better because the religion or freedom, but people who live right now,they live in same area but they still have own culture. this is interesting, those information i never have chance to hear that, so i like this class very much. we did the posters, different poster show different culture for own country. through the poster we exposed to the culture of different countries. we also discussion what happen recently, let us know more what is happening outside the world.

Techno

 

     Technology, it means "high tech dance." Using computer and synthesizers to make some special effects, this music is often combine many audio. Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid-to-late 1980s. The first  recorded use of the word techno in reference to a specific genre of music was in 1988. Many styles of techno now exist, but Detroit techno is seen as the foundation upon which a number of subgenres have been built. Detroit Juan Atkins published "NO UFOS" is considered to be the first Techno record. In fact, the name borrowed from a subtitle "Techno Rebels" of the book "The Third Wave". Also, he didn't invent Techno. 1982S, Juan Atkins used to listen Kraftwerk's sound-(Computer World), so he wanted to make the same kind of sound. Finally, Juan Atkins, Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson cloned that. This is a very important clone, because it will be a  future exciting Techno music. Scooter is my favorite techno band. It is  a German techno hard dance group founded in Hmburg, who have sold over 25 million records and earned over 80 gold and platinum awards. Scooter are considered the most successful German single-record act with 23 top ten hits. Their music is awesome.

chinese food

Tāngyuán, a homophone of and frequent metaphor for family-union is a Chinese food made from glutinous rice flour. Glutinous rice flour is mixed with a small amount of water to form balls and is then cooked and served in boiling water.

 

 

Mooncake is a Chinese bakery product traditionally eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival. The festival is for lunar worship and moon watching, when mooncakes are regarded as an indispensable delicacy

 

Cultural Identity Wrap-up

       After I learned the culture identity, I realized the culture of different country. It broadened my eyes. Popular culture is not only about media. It is about identity, commodities and their connection with education, curriculum and our notions of a just. Also, it connects a society’s ability to access knowledge. I found that the popular culture matters because it reflects expresses and validates the spirit of our time period. The popular culture of America likes a mirror. America is gather people from different place. And the people who would like to live together with the same culture. They separate in different neighborhood and remain their own culture in America. Another hand I found America people is very polite and friendly, even if they meet at first time. They hugged together and shake hand with warm smile. Although in one country I may know more about different culture. It let me understand the mirror on America. It’s very interesting.    

Cultural Identity Wrap-up

   We live in culture, and will be controlled by it. Even if just visualization, we always can see that influence us. Different area have totally different culture, such as language. In class, we usually share with other people our language of greetings, and then they will listen and learn, also, we enjoy to listen their language. Culture are mixed in American, very complex for us, but on other side, we can see many different stuff that we never saw before, and we will be consideration ourselves, because when we live around of our culture, we will think of the other culture is so strange, and may despise it. So, we see other culture, this no only culture, it also is mirror to reflect our culture.

Cultural Identity Wrap-up

Before I take this class, I first look at this class, I though this class is about some popular culture in the American.because I just new to here, I don’t know any about the American culture, I want to realize more, so I had took this class.  However this class had started, it does not same as I though. Anyway, in this class I learn many about the culture. The culture is like a fish tank, there are many different type of fish live together,and they have different behavior, we are as the fish live in the same place and we also have many different culture, we need to did something to adapted the culture as the fish need to afford the living change.

Cultural Identity Wrap-up

          People always like just stay in their comfort zone, they do not like to know other people does not similar like himself or herself. When I had pop cultural class, I heard an event from my classmate (I called my classmate A).  A told me; he has an American friend (I called his American friend B). Once A went outside with B met B’s friends. B introduced A to B’s friends, B said “ Hi, guys! This is my Chinese friend”. A was shocking, he did not understood why B introduced him just said A is B’s Chinese friend. Why did not introduce B“He is my friend”. When I knew this case, I also consider his question. Despite we are from different country, we still have become friend. However, why do we have to put a country name before “friends”? After this case and the book reading, “People like us”, I know why people always like make friend is similar herself/himself. Chinese will make friend with Chinese; Chinese will live in Chinese neighborhood. Because they speak as same as language, they eat as same as food, they have as same as custom. Also, wealthy will live in wealthy neighborhood, they will not People does not like to live beyond their life.

Are we changed?

          There is  a interesting thing that happened on this morning, I was looking at my mirror and say: who are you?  I don't know who I am.I look like someone else. I know I changed to another one. I'm more polite than before, I'm not easily to get angry, I like to make new friends. I watch English movie, Listening American music, eating beef and drinking milk. Before I can find the answer that why I become someone else. Right know I found the answer from the pop culture class. The pop culture of America just like a mirror. You can learn a lot of information about America. It can talk to you what is the methods that America culture influence your life. This is the answer for "why the book's name is mirror".

Eating in Guangzhou

An old Chinese saying is people regard food as their heaven or food is what matters to people. Food in Guangzhou is famous all over my country also known as Cantonese cuisine cooked with a variety of ingredients to enable the food delicious. The food has their own flavor and appeal which is quite distinctive. These are the real reasons why I made it. Therefore, when you plan your China tour make sure you don’t forget about Guangzhou.

Cultural Identity Wrap-up --- Qiaomin Wu (Jasmine)

        Before learning this lesson, I guessed this just talking about American culture. But in fact, this is not at all. In this class, I can think more about cultural identity and know more countries’ culture. For example, I am happy what I have known where is Saudi Arabia and what culture does it has by poster project. Even I think this is a great subject for me why is can improve my knowledge and let my brain become smart. In addition, by studying in this unit, I know America is a big country which exist diverse cultures, and each of immigrants needs to be well to measure their own culture and American mainstream culture. For example, when you in the store, someone is blocking your path. At this moment, you have to say “Excuse me” or “I am sorry !” with a polite tone. Moreover, you will find that everyone accustomed to use “thank you” “Sorry” on their lips in US. Maybe this is part of American culture. So in my opinion, I think those little things as a mirror that I can easy to look out some cultural differences in my life. At the end of, I really understand why the book is called Mirror on America.