About Me

My name is Suzanne Parker-Camarena. I am from Utah and currently reside in Arizona. I am a wife to my husband and mother to our four children and “mother-lady” to my husband’s two daughters from his first marriage. I am also owned by three cats of the feline persuasion. I am a student at Grand Canyon University pursuing a Bachelor of Arts Degree with an emphasis on Professional Writing. My current course of study is Multicultural Literature. Multicultural literature is a genre of writing that is inclusive of all cultures in the world, whether they be national, religious, or language, etc. To considered global literature, the writings, feelings, and meanings are able to be related across cultural differences to draw the reader into the experience. An example of Multicultural Literature is taken from “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid:

"...this is how you sweep a corner; this is how you sweep a whole house; this is how you sweep a yard; this is how you smile to someone you don't like too much; this is how you smile to someone you don't like at all; this is how you smile to someone you like completely..."

It reminded me of how my husband's very traditional Mexican mother used to speak to her older grandchildren when they would visit her. Even as the sentence never ends in Kincaid's work, Grandma would go on and on, at times, barely seeming to take a breath between admonishments.

Multicultural Literature also blurs national boundaries by creating an avenue for all people to learn of different cultures other than their own and finding a way to possibly relate or understand more of each other. Kincaid was able to accomplish this as well because I could relate to her narrative and understand the never-ending admonitions she was listening to from who I believe to be the elder women in her life. After being reminded repeatedly to not behave like a slut, the girl questions at the very end if the baker will actually let her squeeze the loaf of bread and the response she receives made me laugh out loud because I remember hearing the same warnings and conclusions. This was the response: "...you mean to say after all you are really going to be the kind of woman who the baker won't let near the bread?"

20th century literature related so well the many struggles we all faced for cultural identity and the ability to understand others and more of ourselves. It covers topics of religious struggle, female rights, cultural bias, extermination, and thankfully, rebirth, strength, and determination to not just survive, but thrive. The examples listed in my blog entries below are just a fraction of the global literature available to immerse oneself in. My opinions are my own and I hope in no way dissuade the reader from forming their own. It is a journey that is well worth the effort.

Saturday, December 9, 2017

Perception







Confucian teachings teach about being perfect in all aspects of life. Based on those ideas, an image of the Chinese people emerged as being very strict, prim, and proper. Were they even human? In reading Sealed Off and Man of La Mancha, the reader is afforded a new viewpoint through the short story genre. Both stories present the ideal of how the principals should behave. They also show how human and very much like the rest of the world the people really are.  In Sealed Off, the quickly escalating flirtation between Cuiyuan and Zongzhen turned into an experience to pass the time while bored on a tram during an air raid. Man of La Mancha demonstrated how concerned he was with the esteem of others.  Polar opposite of Confucian teachings of selflessness by focusing so intently on oneself.


Diary of a Madman and Man of La Mancha and the short story genre seemed to give a voice to the common man in China. Although Diary of a Madman was anything but common, it signaled the influence of the world in their society and the ability to express feelings that had been expressed for years in other cultures. I imagine both of these stories caused quite a stir for those who always insisted on having their best foot forward and who perception is everything. I think it is especially important to have this genre because it allows more of the common man to share experiences and artistry with others. 

What do you see?

TEACHERS:
Print copies for students to color as they learn more about perception.
Elephant

*Was it difficult to color within the lines?
*What did this exercise teach you about perception?

WATCH:
“How do you live your life eyes wide open?” Isaac Lidsky poses this this question after illustrating how not everything is as we perceive it to be. Share this video for an eye-opening journey into the concept of perception.

What Reality Are You Creating For Yourself?

APPLY:
Things are not always as they seem. Share these commercials to illustrate how perception varies based on your viewpoint and possibly preconceived notions of the events.

Commercial 1

Commercial 2
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