What is the Real I and We

Blog – 3 The Real I and We

Pat Bc

9.12.11

Historical perspectives demonstrate the development of the individual self through the affect of political and social powers on terminology.  Martin (Inventing Sincerity, Refashioning Prudence:  The Discovery of the Individual in Renaissance Europe, 1997) argues that the Renaissance period of “refashioning” self from Christian beliefs and new philosophies has a direct influence upon the culture today.  His findings are based on a comparative analysis of literature that conclude religious philosophy may mask the authencity of the self’s beliefs of prudence and sincerity which results in conflict within the expression of the self. He further asserts that terminology, therefore, can have an affect on the views and use of folklore within society.   Staub (Folklore and Authencity, 1988) recognizes the refashioning of the words traditional and authentic with cultural representations is a critical challenge to the role of the folklorist within public sector programs. The same problem becomes evident with the authencity within new collectives throughout Western society, what is real and what is not (Lindholm, Culture and Authencity, 2008)?   

            The individual identity is in constant conflict due to political forces that affect the emotional feelings which contribute to expression of the culture.  The impact of immigration to the United States upon the individual’s self is reflected in his attitude toward his environment (Portes, 2001)).  If the identity and culture are accepted by the community then the individual self is not repressed however, a shift in political forces and changes in laws create change in the attitude of one’s view of self which can have a grave impact upon the individual’s identity and culture (Suarez-Orozco, Suarez-Orozco, Todorova, 2008).   Thus, the emotional response can be reflected through individual refashioning that change the culture of the collective which alters the expressive forms of the arts.

            Globalization is impacting the meaning of authencity and folklore through its forces particularly industrialization and economics that cause individuals to acculturate to different levels of sincerity as expressed within the culture through changes in their arts.  For example, refugees from Burundi currently make traditional baskets and bags in the traditional style and shape but use synthetic and local plant materials in Tucson.  Are the Burundi baskets considered authentic and do the materials matter as long as it is of the Burundian style?  There are many questions that need to be addressed for authencity of folklore and the self.

                        References

Portes, A. (2001). Legacies:  The Story of the Immigrant Second Generation. University

            of California Press.  Ewing, New Jersey, United States of America.

Suarez-Orozco, C., Suarez-Orozco, M., Todorova, I. (2008).  Harvard University Press. 

            Cambridge, Massachusetts.