In the realms of literature and film, the portrayal of spirits often serves as a platform for exploring complex themes, cultural identity, and human experience. In Vashti Anderson’s film “Moko Jumbie” and Ayanna Lloyd Banwo’s novel “When We Were Birds,” the presence of spirits holds a profound significance. Through a comparative study of these two works, we will be able to see the significance that these spirits have in shaping the narrative. In this essay, we will closely examine the symbolism that spirits play. Exploring what the Moko Jumbies and the dead may represent within their frameworks, along with the themes of cultural, heritage, resilience, and personal growth. In the film “Moko Jumbie” the Moko Jumbies represent guardianship, cultural …show more content…
In “Moko Jumbie” the presence of the Moko Jumbies serves as a powerful reminder of the Afro-Caribbean communities rich cultural heritage and the importance of maintaining traditions passed down through generations. Similarly, in “When We Were Birds” Yejide is the symbol of tradition. As she takes on this new matriarch position within her family, she becomes the essence of memories. Although this gift she has could be looked at as more of a curse, it just represents family tradition and connecting the past and the present. Through both narratives, the audience is reminded of the importance of cherishing cultural traditions and keeping memories alive as a means of understanding and preserving one’s cultural identity and heritage. The characters’ self-discovery journeys and personal growth is another factor that remains constant throughout both the film, “Moko Jumbie” and the novel, “When We Were Birds”. The presence of Moko Jumbie serves as motivation for Asha to explore cultural identity and resilience. Their guidance and protection allow the characters to confront their past and embrace their heritage, leading to a deeper understanding of themselves and their place within the
Ideally, the author and the audience must share mutual feelings, and the use of universal symbols in the novel is crucial in understanding the tragic that the family faces (Duckart n.pag). However, the use of universal symbols in Otsuka’s book takes a different dimension by attaching personal symbols to the ideas and feelings of the reader. In the end, nature, colors, and animals are recurrent symbols that are integral in embracing individual symbols that are attached to the tragic times that the Japanese-American family
The novel Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott is a book that was written in order to provide “Some instructions on writing and life.” Lamott published the book in 1994 in hopes to share the secrets of what it is truly like to be a writer, as both a warning and as encouragement. Bird by Bird shares with the reader the ironic truth of being a struggling writer through personal experience and humorous stories. Lamott uses memories from her past to help illustrate her points and to help the reader get to know who she is, not only as a writer, but as a person. The author focuses on the true struggles and benefits of being a writer while using metaphors and analogies to express her points, she also wraps her life stories around almost every writing tip.
The opening of the novel places the reader not in Falola's shoes as a child, but rather as an adult scholar attempting to procure information from his own family. This proves easier said than done as Falola takes us through the process of obtaining specific dates in a society that deems them irrelevant. By examining the difficulty that Falola has in this seemingly simple task, the reader begins to understand the way in which time and space are intertwined and weighed in Africa. This concept of "connections between words, space, and rituals" encompasses the way that Africans perceive the world around them - as a series of interrelated events rather than specific instances in time (Falola 224). This approach also stems from the concept that the family unit, the village, and the elders come before the individual in all instances, making a detail such as a birthday unimportant when it comes to the welfare of the whole. Introducing the reader to the complexities of African conventions, Falola expands their minds and challenges them to view the forthcoming narrative with untainted eyes.
Throughout history, the story of womankind has evolved from struggles to achievements, while some aspects of the lives of women have never changed. Poet Dorianne Laux writes about the female condition, and women’s desire to be married and to have a home and children. She also seems to identify through her poetry with the idea that women tend to idealize the concept of marriage and settling down and she uses her poetry to reach out to the reader who may have similar idyllic views of marriage or the married lifestyle. Though Dorianne Laux’s poem “Bird” reads very simply, it is actually a metaphor for an aspect of this female condition.
Art and literature work independently of each other, however, they can be linked together to help a reader or observer understand in new ways and create new possibilities. Within this context, the perspective of Jacob Lawrence and the authors address that it takes work to build the ideal society and family. However, the authors give the stark reality of both society and family demonstrating that our reality is nothing like the ideal.
The “Little Bird” by Imogen Heap, represents the human effort to hide ugliness. Humans are attracted to beautiful things, yet they themselves are not. Humans are naturally bitter and are without morals; it is society that puts us into place. So human effort is focused on fixing themselves and their surroundings. The little bird symbolizes a metaphysical being that humanity looks towards for help.
Were Dash’s audience to return to the South Sea islands eighty years after “Daughters of the Dust” they might find the Gullah people and their lives similar to those of the Willow Springs of Naylor’s novel. Although nearly a century spans between them, these two people nevertheless share many traits. Many of the residents of Willow Springs answer to a nickname given them as a child; similarly, Viola Peazant reminisces about the nicknames given to children in Ibo Landing. Members of both communities, generations from Africa and steeped in “modernity,” still come to the traditional herbalist for help in matters of the body and spirit: Eula uses Nana’s medicine to contact the soul of her deceased mother; Bernice and Ambush come to Mama Day to heal Bernice when she becomes ill, and later for help in conceiving a child. Both Nana Peazant and Mama Day draw their knowledge from a life lived on their respective islands and their strength from their ancestors, whom they visit and tend at the village graveyards. And like Nana Peazant, Mama Day struggles to maintain a tie with her family members who have left the island and immersed themselves in the mainstream culture.
... Through poetics and storytelling, authors give a more emotional feeling to important events that must be witnessed and remembered. Although resurrecting the past can be a struggle and cause emotional pain, it can also help to soothe people’s spirits. In The House on Mango Street, Ceremony, “Song for a Barbarian Reed Pipe,” and Zoot Suit each tell a unique story that offers a new perspective and understanding of a culture. Texts that offer a look into the multicultural world we all live in, enable us to reconfigure our understanding of diversity and allow us to revaluate the importance and the presence of race and culture in daily life.
Family, the word itself brings images of love, comfort, and peace in mind. The foundation of the family is based on structure, care, and dependence. It is a combination of individuals striving to understand and love one another unconditionally. Sharing the same blood is no longer a requirement to be considered a family. In fact, the definition of family is evolving like never before. With most marriages ending in divorce, the majority of children will be reared in "nontraditional" families ( single parent, step-parent, etc.). It seems that now the only thing you need in order to be a functional family is love and trust, which can be found anywhere from a close friend to a pet.
The novel's opening poem describes the Incredible powers that language, stories, and rituals have in Native American cultures: ceremonies are the only cure for human and cultural ailments, and stories and language have the power to create worlds As the novel progresses, it demonstrates this power by showing how rituals are more effective than anything else in helping Tayo heal.
Storytelling has a special importance in culture throughout the African continent; Anansi the spider in Ghana, is one great example of an African fable that teaches children important lessons including respect for elders, the importance of wisdom, and the importance of culture. These stories have been retained and perpetuated by oral tradition, despite the western emphasis on written records; African tribes have preserved history and culture well thorough oral historians. The translator, D.T. Niane, explains the validity of oral history well by stating that written text can contain inaccuracies as well (xv). The importance of the oral aspect of djelis method relays the information in a personal manner, as Djeli Mamoudou Kouyate states, “writing lacks the warmth of the human voice,” therefore by creating a written text of an oral story it “does violence” to it (xvi). I was raised in an African community, here in DC and was lucky enough to attend Djeli performances by family friend, Djimo Kouyate, and later his son Amadou. Although I do not speak Manding, Djeli Djimo Koyate, performed the music in such a way that I was able to relate and...
At the height of the Medieval Ages, life existed mainly in two different forms: the Feudal system and the Manorial System. Barbarian attacks created many dangers for the common citizen, generating a need for personal protection of both their lands and their lives. It is true that kings still did exist at this time, but due to the decentralization of the government, the king became a distant and ambiguous figure. The lord of the manor then became the authoritative figure for the people of medieval society. Society now subsisted on the self-governing basis of the manor.
Effective poetic form and language serve as a multifaceted tool for expressing the intricacies of culture and identity, as it embodies collective histories, societal norms, and individual experiences, facilitating the exploration and negotiation of cultural identities, and the distinction of human existence. This invites audiences to engage in prolific understandings of cultural history and develop deep connections and levels of empathy that provoke individuals to appreciate and celebrate indigenous cultures. Ali Cobby Eckermann’s “Inside My Mother” captivates her readership through the complexities engaged by the Indigenous Australian community; and it is through powerful complexities entrapped in the form of notable lines of verse that we
... "The Woman Warrior as a Search for Ghosts", Sato examines Kingston's symbolic use of the ghost figure as a means of approaching the dramatic structure of the text and appreciating its thematic search for identity amidst an often-paradoxical bicultural setting.
The topic for discussion, “We are One Species”, is a very apt and befitting one. Species may be varied and different kinds of organisms. We, as people, may look different, we may live in a diverse World, we may speak different languages, we may come from different backgrounds, race, culture, or customs, still inherently and intrinsically, we are the same or belong to one species.