(important to the essay) Im hispanic raised in nyc and white passing.
Describe a personal experience in which you were confronted with a new way of being in the world that differed from your usual experience. Some people have referred to this as “culture shock.” Remember, cultures are not fixed, perfectly bounded entities, but are rather fluid, porous, overlapping, and above all, changing. So, experiencing a new culture could mean visiting a far off place, but it could also, and probably more realistically, mean interacting with someone from a different background here in New York. It could also mean coming to a new place or starting a new phase of life. So, if you’re new to New York, it could be about your initial experience here. Or, if it’s your first year of college, it could be about experiencing the “culture of the classroom.” In any case, take care in avoiding some of the pitfalls of cultural comparison, like ethnocentrism. Try to be a cultural relativist! Pay attention as well to broad connections, remembering that cultures are not isolated, but rather often respond to global forces. How can we understand this new experience in context? Does it make us question what is “normal?”
Requirements
Please cite a minimum of three of the readings listed on the syllabus covered in the first two topics. You should include a bibliography that lists these references, and citations should be consistent. Do not let quotations speak for you! You should feel free to include quotations in order to make a point, but always make sure to then explain those quotes in your own words, and always cite page numbers. Essays should be approximately 500 words, written in 12 pt. font, double-spaced. Please submit all work as a Microsoft Word document, or using equivalent open office software.
