Multicultural Literature Essay

During this semester in Prose class, I have learned many kind of short stories by writers of various background. I also learn how to analyze the textbook critically, especially astir(predicate) structural sociology and culture stu betters. There atomic number 18 8 short stories that I have discussed with the class and written in one-page journal response. First, A Short Happy Life of Conat by Mochtar Lubis , Rising Flood by Riem Eng, First Confession by Frank OConnor, Wings by Catriona McKenzie, Ta-Na-E-Ka by Mary Whitebird, Indian Camp by Ernest Hemingway, Bali by Putu Setia, and Because My Father Always Said He Was the Only Indian Who Saw Jimi Hendrix Play The Star-Spangled Banner at Woodstock by Sherman Alexie.Moreover I learned slightly what Prose is and Intrinsic ele ment of literature, such plot, character, theme, point of view,setting, etc. Then I learn about structuralism in literature, such as binary opposition, the sequence of the event, unequal interference of time, e tc. On the other opportunities I also learn about symbolism, narration, multicultural literature and Indonesian multiculturalism.Because My Father Always Said He Was the Only Indian Who Saw Jimi Hendrix Play The Star-Spangled at Woodstock is a story that does not unless focus on Indian people who are marginalized but it contains how the modern Indians life is. In this story, we could find some of multiculturalism. First, from the narrator,Victors point of view, he shows the mingle culture between traditional NativeAmerican values from his incur and the dependence to American influences from his catch. There also some multiculturalisms about the difference treatment towards Indian fathers who leave their children compare to white fathers and how Indians family live such as the difference of Victors friend experience about how their parents making drive in and Victors parents who are Indians .In the beginning of the story, the mixture of the culture is shown by Victors father. Du ring the sixties, my father was the perfect hippie, since all the hippies were assay to be Indians. There is an irony here that Victors father does not like the perfect hippie. He wear bell-bottom, flowered shirt and holds a riffle above his head that represented American, not the hippies. He use red peace symbols splashed across his face and there is a hallow MAKE LOVE NOT WAR in his demonstration but he seems does not stand for peace. The caption under the photograph read certainty GOES TO WAR FOR PEACE.The editor capitalized on my fathers Native America identity with other headline like ONE WARRIOR AGAINST WAR and PEACEFUL host TURN INTO NATIVE UPRISING.Then his obsession with pop music America icon, Jimi hendrix, damage his family relationship and claims the values of his Indian culture. Only the good die young, to his mother replied, No, only the crazy people choke to death on their own vomit. So Victors father asked Why you talking about my hero that way? In this case, Vi ctor saw their parents argue just because of different perception of the death of Jimi Hendrix. So indirectly Victors father obsession on Jimi Hendrix polish off him having arguments with his wife. In addition, on page 32 A hundred years ago, an Indian marriage was broken easily.The woman or man just packed up all their possessions and left the tipi. There were no arguments, no discussion. Now, Indians fight their way to the end, holding onto the last good thing, because our total lives have to do with survival of the fittest. It also indicates that by fighting stage, an Indian family problem now becomes clear since both wife and husband spill out their spirit and thought that might become the solution of the problem. On the other hand, Victors mother solace involved with NativeAmerican traditions, such as her dancing. As soon as her husband does not need her when he was sick in a hospital, she went back to the life she had created. She traveled to powwows, started to dance aga in.. In this case I could see that Victors mother as a woman have to make hard decision. Even though she understood loves him, she can not follow the lifestyle of the man. Culture will always influence the characteristic of the society.Victors fathers dependence on music, alcohol, and other American influence separates him from his wife and son. In addition, when his marriage get worse, Victors father does not follow tradition that inspires the Indians about survival or the importance of family . It bring the multicultural further that is about the difference treatment towards Indian fathers who leave their children compare to white fathers. On a reservation, Indian men who abandon their children are treated worse than white fathers who do the same thing. Its because white men have been doing that forever and Indian men just leraned how. In this matter, we could see that white people who indicate as more individual people, give influence Native-American to leave the children.There is also multiculturalism about how Indians family live such as the difference of Victors white friend experience about how their parents making love and Victors parents who are Indians. Some night I lay awake and listened to my parents lovemaking. I know white people keep it quite, pretend they dont ever make love. My white friends tll me thay cant even imagine their own parents getting it on. I think in this occasion, it would be positif knowledge for Indians children that their parents still love each other although sometimes they have fight. For the conclusion, we could see that multiculturalism can be the mixture culture between one culture to another. It could give positif affect or even negatif affect.Especially when we look at Victors father, the influence of acceptance of white American pop culture with Jimi Hendrix ironically contributes to his family breakup. However, for Victor, an Indian boy these sound of American pop culture (not always Jimi Hendrix but also Roberst Jo hnson) offer the hope that maybe someday his father will get home. These sounds are an inspiration for this Indian boy to go on. Until the sun rose so bright that I knew it was time to go back inside to my mother . So he knew when the sun comes up and shines brightly.