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Facharbeit im Leistungskurs
Englisch
Alice Walkers "Everyday Use":
Dealing with the African American past and heritage
Verfasser/in: Niddal Salah-Eldin
Fachlehrerin: Ulrike Jähn
Abgabetermin: 28. ... summary
Alice Walkers short story "Everyday Use" published in her 1973 anthology of short stories" In Love and Trouble-Stories of Black Women", abstractly mirrors societal changes brought about by the Black Power Movement in the mid-1960’s. ... introduction
After having read several short stories, I finally decided on the African American cultural definitions as depicted in Alice Walkers short story "Everyday Use". ...
The importance of the title "Everyday Use" with the appendix "for your grandmama" will be explained while referring to Alice Walkers personal attitude towards heritage and culture. ... analysis
The story line of “Everyday Use” is based on inter-familial cultural conflicts, which convey societal changes occurring in the African-American community and the consequential development of opposing attitudes towards culture and society. ... Faith Pullin adds that the concept of art for arts sake is foreign to Africans since all objects are for use. ...
Dee’s obvious preference for façade over substance is further emphasized by Walkers stereotypical portrayal of her boyfriend (or husband) Hakim-a barber. ... Mama’s use of the name “Wangero” does not imply respect for Dee’s choice. ...
When Mama tells Dee that she will not give her the quilts, Dee replies that Maggie “would be backwards enough to put them to everyday use. ... Quilts are referred to in many of Walkers works and can be considered as metaphors for understanding of heritage. ... Not only will she use the quilts, but also she will go on crafting more for she has learned the skill from Grandma Dee. ... Whereas putting them to everyday use would admit her status as a member of the family. ...
The importance of names, objects, and their implications of societal changes are manifested in the title, “Everyday Use.” Through this family’s interactions, Alice Walker conveys that the purest and most sincere way to celebrate one’s heritage by treating it not as a topic of study but rather as a way of life. ... In contrast "Everyday Use" is dedicated to "your grandmother". ... Furthermore Walker argues that Dee should have understood the value of everyday use in order to understand the meaning of heritage and consequently solve the conflict. ... comment
In recapitulation of Alice Walkers position towards family and culture, the following thesis can be formulated
"An African American who tries to become an African is a phony"
In order to get a hint about how other African Americans assess the "Back to the Roots" movement, I have interviewed my cousins wife, who is an African American Muslim and to her 21-year-old daughter. ... Professor David Cowart supports Walkers thesis as well in criticizing Dees illusion of believing that heritage is something that one puts on display when it is fashionable". ...
I understood that a research paper is not like a homework that can be done within days. ... Furthermore my social activities were very reduced lately, since I could not deal with the research paper lying heavy on my conscience.
Approximate Word count = 3261
Approximate Pages = 13
(250 words per page double spaced)
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