Assignment 1 MCS

Multicultural Studies: 100 Assignment

Lecture: Review of keywords in Cultural Theory. View the Film “The Stuart Hall Project John

Akomfrah.”1 Links of videos and readings are hyperlinked in modules.

Part I:

1. Who was Stuart Hall? And how do you think the field of Cultural Studies & Ethnic Studies

relates to the field of Chicano Studies, for example?

Stuart Hall is a Jamaican-born British sociologist, cultural theorist and political activist.

Born in Kingston in 1932, he came to the UK in the 1950s and later became known as the

"godfather of multiculturalism" for his contributions to sociology.Ethnic Studies is an

interdisciplinary course. The program aims to develop basic skills in critical and global

thinking and comparative analysis, and to understand the interplay of race, class, gender and

sexuality in the experiences of a range of social groups. Ethnic studies are important not only

for the people of the particular race who are taking classes, but also for everyone. For

non-ethnic students, these courses provide a greater understanding of global experience and

encourage students to critically consider the experiences of those around them.The Chicano

study is important because it is a study of the Mexican experience. Specifically, it addresses

the social, political, cultural, and economic conditions of the people of Chicano/Mexicano.

2. How is the Caribbean a place of identity according to Stuart Hall?

​The Caribbean Identity is defined as the cultures (which includes ethnicity), beliefs,

qualities and religions of the geographical region of the Carib.Across the Caribbean,

fire-line orators such as Marcus Garvey, the political activist known as "Moses,"

unsettled the poor men known as the "Oxtail and Broomstick Brigade." A few months

ago, Garvey, harassed by the British authorities who feared a black nationalist agenda,

gave his deepest and most urgent speech to his followers, concluding with an

admonishing: "We will free ourselves from spiritual slavery, for others may free the

body; only we can free the mind."

3. Within the context of the film, what does it mean to be of ‘hybrid’ cultures?

When two cultures are combined, new and different forms of culture emerge. These are

called cultural bastards.

4. How does the concept of colonialism relate to the concept of cultural hybridity?

I think the colonists had very limited influence on the development of the colonized

areas.Referred to India, the British laid railways, built telegrams and built ports here

long ago, but their purpose was for the convenience of their own colonization, and the

most important thing for the development of a region was to enlighten the people's

wisdom, but the system of construction was still not well received.If the colonized

regions really want to develop, they should send their own people to the West to seek

ways to enlighten the people and improve their institutions, just as Japan did, so that

the region can really develop. So you need a mix of cultures.

5. What were the aspirations of the middle class Jamaican society? As was the case

of Stuart Hall’s mother. Why do you think she aspired to that?

Hall left Jamaica as a young man. He never flinched. Had he done so, he would have

returned as a familiar stranger, an expert in cultural studies, who would have spent the

night at Rasta partying reasoning about Jah, discussing patronage politics among Rum's

revellers, or had reservations about the sacking of the dance halls. On the campus of the

University of the West Indies. The familiar stranger is a destination of sorts, a mix of

memoir and meditation, a journey that revolves around the complexities of race, color

and class.

6. What nationality was Stuart Hall? How did he struggle with his identity? How do

you think that relates to the experiences of Mexican/Americans and other ethnic

minorities living in the United States today?

Hall is Jamaican.He was a radical Caribbean intellectual for most of his adult life, living

in England.

7. What was the view of immigrants in Birmingham at the time? How does Stuart

Hall interpret the situation? How do views on immigration relate to those in the

United States today?

8. Stuart cites Antonio Gramsci saying we need to understand the world with the

“pessimism of intellectualism and the positivism of the will” What do you think

this means? Elaborate.

9. Write two paragraphs in which you discuss Corky Gonzales’ poem I am Joaquin2.

What is the most significant struggle he faces? Why and how is Native American

symbolism used for self-identification?

10. Which are the forces that influence people to choose certain identities?

11. Interview your parents to assemble a family tree. (5 points).