QUINCEANERA
In Orlean (1990) article " Quiceanera" both 'Quinceanera" and "Two Kinds" feature a public performance that functions as a rite of passage. What does the performance mean to the participants in each selection? How is its meaning similar and different for the children who take part in it?
In the article Quinceanera, it describes the events that are celebrated when a young woman transitions into womanhood; usually a glamorous party is thrown for the young woman. The author also describes the Quinceanera party she attended to give an inside view, she explained that some families are no longer following the tradition and the Quinceanera parties are becoming more westernized. (Orlean, 1990, para. 6)Whereas in the short Story "Two Kinds", it describes a young Chinese woman who migrated into America and is adapting to the American culture as her mother always spoke about the American Dream. The author described that the young Jin-mei was loosing her chinese heritage and always got into confrontations with her mother. In this story it was mostly describing the tension that occurs between the mother and daughter. Her mother had always wanted and believe that Jing-Mei could be a child prodigy and pushed her to learn Piano Music although she didn't want to learn because she wasn't interested(Tan, 1989,para 25-29)
ReplyDeleteThe things you mentioned about the quincenera are true and accurate. In the story "Two Kinds" Asian people have a long tradition where they enrolled their children in different activity. Either it be karate, ping-pong, football or any other activity this was a way to see what special talent a child had. They always believed in family honor and respect, and being a dishonoured child was not part of the memo. They had to find something for the child to be good at so that they were not shunned by society.
DeleteThe information was perfectly brought across. One thing that I found interesting in the Quinceanera tradition was the father daughter dance. This dance is honoring the father as being the first man in the daughter’s life. They are to carefully pick out a song with special meaning and some 15 year old girls personally record songs that is meaningful and would play it while they perform the slow dance. I found this to be very moving and special to be able to show the father such respect and appreciation.
Deletei agree with your point. The father in the quinceanera was acknowledge and played a role, however he was absent in "two kind" because of his passing away so he didn't have a say in the girl's life. The mother did the dictating,I also found the waltz with the daughter and father very moving because that dance itself has a lot of meaning behind it and also because in today date, there are rarely any father figure and it's very fortunate for the quinceanera to have had her father with her. And on the other hand very sad that the Asian girl didn't have a chance to even enjoy a life with her father in it.
DeleteYou are right Vera Cus in the explanation of Two Kinds that they depicted mostly the tension between mother and daughter. The sentence that explained the reason the short story was named Two Kinds is a reflection of how the daughter was in a way because she did start out as an obedient child and later chose to not be obedient. It is also important to note how she played the two piano songs in the end and how in reality it was just one song just sectioned off as she was. That ending showed that there are two parts to a person and in a way at the end the daughter did become prodigious as she learnt to play the piano and remembered even after her mother died.
Deletei strongly agree with your comment and explanation about the Quinceanera celebration in general. I like the way you explain the ceremony the girls go through in precise detail.
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ReplyDelete1) In the story the "Quincenera" it is a new beginning for a young latin girl once she reaches the age of fifteen. She will no longer be treated as a child but now an adult and she is given rights where she decides what she want to do with her life. In the story "Two Kinds" is where the Asian family try to find a talent for there child that bring them honor and much respect for the family. The family starts from when they are young and try different sports to see which suits them best and let them perfect it and in return the family is shown much respect in the community for having a telented child.
ReplyDelete2.)In the "Quincenera the young girl is willing to do the rite of passage and her parents are willing to help her get ready for that day. She knows it is a lot of work to put into it but at the end she is then very much rewarded. In the "Two Kinds" the kids are forced to test out different things until they are comfortable and find it easy to do a specific thing. This process can take years if not chosen correctly and frustration and patient are like enemies. The only similarity is that the newer age children are losing the main reason for the culture and are letting it go by pieces, eventually a long ancient tradition will only be present in museum or archives and no one will ever know that it was a great thing to practice by these ethnic group. *AGE*
This was an interesting take on the "Quinceanera" and "Two Kinds" rites of passage. I agree with what you mentioned about the similarity of the lost of culture in the newer age. The "Quinceanera" and "Two Kinds" are not the only traditions that are being influences by the modern world, we can look at our Belizean traditions that are dissolving each year. The importance of traditions are not being emphasizes as it should and something should be done about it.
Deleteyes i agree about what you said about the Quincenera its interesting to read about how the spanish culture shows how a young lady is transforming from a girl into womanhood. In addition i agree about what you said about the story Two kinds, children are forced to out different thing until they are comfortable and find it easy to do a specific thing.
DeleteThe meaning of the performance of the quinceanera to the participant is the passage of a 15 year old girl into womanhood, their commitment to Catholicism and their debut in society. The celebration is the definition of extravagance, from the princess gowns to the father daughter dance and all the glamour imaginable. The parents go out of their way to be able to provide the funds for the occasion hosted for family and friends. The “Two Kinds” article, stated about a Chinese daughter who was locked in her struggle with her immigrant mother who believed in “you can be anything you wanted to be in America.” The mother believed that her daughter was capable of great things. By that belief, she took actions such as giving her daughter piano lessons and read her stories about remarkable children. However, the daughter was not interested and wanted to develop her own identity. In the Quinceanera, the 15 year old girl has a willingness to participate in the tradition to illustrate the passage into womanhood. However, the “Two Kinds” the Chinese girl was not willing to accept what her mother was trying to do to develop her skills and knowledge. The similarity in both “Quinceanera” and “Two Kinds” was that the modern world is having an influence on the practices of traditions in the upcoming generation.
ReplyDeleteCandiece i agree with your point about the "modern world" influencing a lot of our traditions today.Some People don't go through with their traditions like their ancestors use to, they allow society to dictate and modify their traditions which in return cause some to vanish and fade away.
DeleteI couldn't agree more! The meaning of these traditions are being lost day by day, and somehow misinterpreted by todays generation. The meaning of the Quinceanera was for a young girl turning into woman hood I believe that it was open her mind she that she is getting older but now, all the others worry about is perfection and forget the true meaning
DeleteI Do agree with Candiece that the Modern society and in the America had played a big influence on these children behavior. I takes away the real meaning of tradition. Also as you mention Candiece the parents goes to the extreme for each child so that the can excel in there abilities, however the parent of the " Two Kind" is more demanding for the child to do what they want instead of supporting them to find their own ability to excel.
DeleteCandiece I must agree with your comment as ti defines the literary meaning of what a Quinceanera is all about, and what it stands for. it is indeed true that modern Hispanic girls in American societies have changed the way the Quinceanera is being done.
DeleteCandice in my opinion you are right. Tradition have now become mostly extinct you could say. Individual now wants to follow the norm instead of standing out and being unique. The United States of America has influence us so much that we now do not know who we are. It has influence the Quinceanera so much that it is one big party and the girls do not know what the meaning is being the quinceanera is anymore.
Delete1)In "quinceanera" the latin family is celebrating the girl's fifteenth birthday.This isn't like any ordinary birthday celebration,this one marks the transition from childhood to womanhood. In this traditional party the birthday girl (along with family assistance)willingly prepares herself and a program filled with different activities and dances that she presents to the audience.This party is one that most latina girls dream about, it is where they could live the princess life for a night. One type of dance always performed is the waltz. This entire celebration is just to tell that the girl moving into womanhood will have to power to decide what she wants.On the other hand, in "two kinds" we see an Asian family, the family consists of a woman and her daughter. In this story the child doesn't really have the power to decide what she wants,like the child in "quinceanera". In this the mother chooses a career or goal which she feels is best for the child and which will bring great appearance to the family.The mother does this so that the community could respect and recognize both the child and her family for her being skillful/talented.The child doesn't really have a choice,she basically has to adapt to whatever her mother desires.The girl in "two kind" isn't really enthusiastic about having her mother dictate what she is to be in her life.So in both stories we see two different types of families one dictative (asian) and one free to choose what you want (latin).
ReplyDeleteIn "quinceanera" the girl looks forward to her big night which has great significance to her. The girl in "two kind" isn't very happy about having to be forced into going through many types of activities (not chosen by her) until she some day finds comfort in one.
The similarity between these two stories is that our modern society along with technology is influencing many of our traditions and causing many to fade away , some to even be forced to just adapt to modernization.
You are right Doris Soriano in that the girl in Two Kinds does find solace in playing piano and how even though she was forced to learn it she saw it as a way to express herself even if it would be by making mistakes but i felt like when she was about to do the performance that she wanted to do a great job and she had grown so accustomed to making mistakes and being human and also being herself that that was the only way she could play and that in a way speaks volumes in a way because she tricked herself.
DeleteTechnology has a huge impact on society and how children are raise. Because of technology i can agree with you and say traditions is slowly fading away. Forcing a child to do something is not health for the child. in the case of the Asian Girl and her mother, the mother though she was doing the right thing by forcing the child to do all those activities. like Felicianan said we are all humans and we shall learn from our mistakes.
DeleteQuinceanera is about the Hispanic culture and it was to celebrate the girl turning into a young woman. It is important to the Hispanic population in that it stretches back a long way and they as any culture would like to keep their traditions alive. The participants in the Quinceanera were mostly losing the significance of the tradition and were taking it as a typical celebration where they show off how much their families can spend on them. The other types of participants who are more conscientious of the tradition do not mind spending thousands to enjoy themselves and understand why it is celebrated.
ReplyDeleteTwo kinds by Amy Tang is a short story depicting the Asian culture and how a mother is trying to get her daughter to be great in something. Her public performance itself was the girl playing piano in front of her family and relatives to show that she’s an obedient prodigious child. For the Asian culture, the child is based solely on what he/she is great at. This pressure on the participant (the daughter) causes her to feel very degrading and unworthy even to the point that she wishes she wasn’t born because she has not found anything she was great at. She even notes all her failures in life and is always threatened by her mother’s disappointment until she comes to realize that she must accept who she is.
The differences are that: In Quinceanera the rite of passage wasn’t forced but a part of their culture but in Two Kinds the participant finds it forced to her. The other difference is that unlike Quinceanera the rite of passage/public performance was not something that is losing tradition for in Two Kinds the only person mentioned was the daughter who doesn’t want to follow the custom. It is also noted in Two Kinds that she wants love from her mother and acceptance while in Quinceanera it was more about the participants wanting a more luxurious party or just to celebrate the custom. Also in Quinceanera the point was to bring out the lady out into the society to show that she is now a woman while in Two Kinds the public performance was used to show that her child is better than the other lady’s child and also to show that her daughter is a prodigious piano player. Also in Quinceanera they had the Vesta Club and Father Sotelo that try to help the participants who are losing sight of the significance of the custom while in Two Kinds there was no one to help the mother or speak to the child on why this is so important. It is of great importance also that both writers are different in that Amy Tan is of the Asian culture and can relate to it while in Quinceanera the writer must seek out information and is not given a personal account of her Quinceanera but on one that she attends which causes us to see in a way her view of it even though she does seeks out the Fathers who gives her the information.
The similarity with both short stories is that both are trying to keep their custom and that both is affected by the American culture per say. In Quinceanera, the participants who are losing the significance are imposed to show off how much money they can spend and in Two Kinds the participant is affected in that she says her mother isn’t living in China and should not force her to do things as she would be living in China. Also both short stories are about two cultures (Hispanic and Asian) in relation to the conflicts they experience in America not that necessarily the American culture is eradicating their customs but on how each have their customs challenged since being in America.
The Similarity are true for both stories because they are both custom to the American way of living. In addition when you live in someone else country it is hard to keep your tradition due to the influence people round you.In some case the influence can really affect a person family because someone in your family may not agree in what you want to do. Just like in the story Two kinds the mother and daughter had a lot of problems due to culture differences.
DeleteI agree with Feliciana Vernon statement on her point of view, that old child feel she in being degraded and forced into something she don't find herself ambitious to do, and therefor she wont perform the best of her abilities " Two Kind". While for the Quinceanera is more of a glamorous luxurious experience. Also Feliciana mention about how it challenges both culture in the American, which is true. Even though it different culture it how they can have a culture survive not being in their native surrounding. Also for both writer as you mention Feliciana one writer is from her own personal experience, rather one get to experience it by attending a Quinceanera and read and talk to other to gather her information, but more better when the writer tell from her own prospective what she experience it feels more accurate and believable.
Deletei totally agree with Feliciana Verono comments because the America lifestyle does play a big role in how we are going to turn out sometime down the road. what i also agree with was the part she mention about the girl in Two Kinds was force to have a famous life not for her but for her mother too. so instead of enjoying her youth as a child and becoming a young lady, such childhood would be lost forever knowing it was not her decision but a choice that needed to be made to better their lives in a new state.
DeleteThe participants in the quinceañera are selected people to be a part of the ceremony. Most young girls have twenty-nine of their closest friends or relatives in the ceremony. These individuals are paired off into fourteen couples, each couple representing one year of your life. Your closest male friend should be your escort. It is important to remember that he does not walk you down the aisle of the church ceremony. In addition the performance mean a lot to the participants because they get the opportunity to share this special part of the girl’s life. Sharing this experience is very symbolic. First dance as a young woman should be with her father. The reason for this is because he is to be honoured because he was the first man in her life. The song should be selected carefully. The song should have special meaning to the relationship the young woman has with her father. After the dance is over, he then hands her over to dance with her escort.
ReplyDeleteThe two kind is about the Asian people and their tradition which they enrolled their child in different activities. The Asian people are very respectful to each other. They also take their tradition very serious. In this story the child did not really have say in what is really want to do. In the Asian culture the parents are the ones that makes most of the decision the child does not have a say. The child in the story was not happy with having her mom making all the decision in her life. Because the mother was not setting the example for her to follow.
The similarities is that both culture are learning the American way of life and is changing. The Quinceanera the participants are losing the real reason of having a quinceanera. Changing the way they dress and not taking the church ceremony serious. In The two Kinds it shows how the mother has adopt to the American culture and still want her daughter to have the traditional Asian culture but that will be difficult to do because she is not setting the example for the child. The American Culture play a big role in both stories.The differences is that quinceanera is not based on a culture but a special tradition welcoming a young lady into womanhood. The two kind is more base on the culture of the Asian and how much the American culture has influence it.
Because of technology today in our society the old fashion quinceanera have change are not celebrated in the same traditional way. People who celebrate this event only do it for the fame. For the Asian woman it is hard to break out of her tradition children must obey their mothers.
DeleteIn my opinion, the displacement of environment also has a lot to do with the rapidly fading traditions. This is seen as such because when a person moves from one type of environment to the other, keeping traditions the same will pose problems because of problems from the other environment. Commonly, people nowadays are trying to live up to the expectation of others and are easy giving in to peer pressure in order to gain acceptance.
Delete1. The Quinceanera is usually practiced within many Hispanic cultures, where a young girl turns into woman hood at the age of 15 years old. The family usually has a celebration where they take the girl to church for her blessings from the priest. At the church 14 couples would walk to aisle before for then she would enter with her father beside her. Her father would walk her up to the altar where the priest is standing awaiting her. It reminds me of a wedding. When she reaches the priest blesses her and welcomes her into woman hood. They then leave and go to a venue where they have a huge feast where family and friends come together. Now at the venue they then have a father and daughter dance. This is the first dance to take place; the music is chosen carefully where it would suite a father daughter dance. After the girl and her father finish dancing the others can then join.
ReplyDelete2. The children who take part in Quinceanera now are very different. Most of them just worry about the huge party they are going to have. Over some years the tradition has changes and adopted certain things from the Americans. Usually when the fist dance would be for the father and his daughter, they now just do a big show where she dances as a performance.
Verburg,C. (2000). Ourselves Among Others. Boston: St. Martin’s
What does the performance mean to the participants in each selection?
ReplyDeleteWell from my understanding from both reading for each participant it’s a way of finding themselves. How they will learn from a young age to find ways on how to prepare themselves for a future. For Quinceanera the young lady gets handed from their parents or blessed onto womanhood at age 15. It’s more of a happy, enjoyable, fun experience for this young woman, since it tradition which they enjoy sharing and competing among others for who will have the best dress and party. For the individual of the Quinceanera this young woman can choose and then guided by her parents to fulfil her goal or ambition. She is fully supported by the choses she makes. So for this individual more relax, she is supported, appreciated and accepted for who they are and what they are going to be. So for them it’s like a great blessing. On the other hand from the reading “Two Kinds” the participant is going to be brought up by their parents who chooses what their future goal or career is and to perfect them in that area, whether they choose or not. The parents try to mould them to perfection so they can be better that other of the same culture. This individual is frustrated, she is then force if it’s not something she likes. This individual is not at piece since she does not get to choose what she want to be in the future and does not get that full support of her parents. This means this individual is not so happy with the tradition. And this makes her feel less of a person.
How is its meaning similar and different for the children who take part in it?
Some similarly between the reading “'Quinceanera” and “Two Kinds” is that each gets to completion among each other of same culture/tradition because the sake of who child will be the best. Secondly the parents is a big influence on the child life since they are the once who try to mould there child or prepare them for what is up ahead for them particular to keep their tradition alive at a very young age. Lastly some difference is that one child can choose what her future is and gets the blessing from her parent (Quinceanera). While “Two Kind” the child parent choose what she will be in the future and they will prepare her to perfection weather she likes it or not. Another difference is that one child is happier and she gets to embrace her tradition in a more enjoyable way “Quinceanera”. While the other feels like she is being force into something she don’t really want “Two Kinds”.
I believe that "two kinds" don't really know the meaning that quinceanera has they know the tradition yes but not the true meaning. Where the tru meaning is preparing a young girl for woman hood not being perfect, wealthy and throwing a huge parties.
Deletei agree with what Niecey Mendez when she said the parents are the biggest influences in these young girls life. even those Amy Tan in Two kinds did not dream of becoming a star or it was not her transition to be someone famous, her mother made it her duty that her girl would be someone in life than what she was in the past and in her present life. I guess in the end both girls from the stories had to welcome a new life even if they liked it or not. there is something more meaningful their parents saw her them despite the strong influence the Americans have on our culture today.
DeleteQuinceanera is mostly common within Hispanic community. It is a tradition that is passed down from generation to generation. The quienceanera is a celebration host to welcome young females into woman hood. This event is hosted by the parents for the young girl as she turns 15 years old. I huge celebration is celebrated amongst close relative and friends as the young dresses as though she is getting married. These celebrations include church service and escorts by her side. For the quienceanera it is keeping tradition alive within your generation, for the girl is having a huge party, gaining the respect and be treated as an adult also for some parents it all about who can afford the best. On the other hand, in "two kinds" we see an Asian family; the family consists of a woman and her daughter. In this story the child doesn't really have the power to decide what she wants. Her public performance itself was the girl playing piano in front of her family and relatives to show that she’s an obedient child. This pressure on the daughter causes her to feel very degrading and unworthy even to the point that she wishes she wasn’t born because she has not found anything she was great at. She even notes all her failures in life and is always threatened by her mother’s disappointment until she comes to realize that she must accept who she is. The child doesn't really have a choice she basically has to adapt to whatever her mother desires
ReplyDeleteFor the child from quinceanera it is a happy memorable event that takes place in her life. It is something that she looks forward to as a child growing up. While the other child is force to do what make her mother happy. Even though it causes the child pain she still does what her mother ask of her. Both children are influence by their parents.
I agree with you when you said that in the story Two Kinds the girl doesn’t have the power to decide what she wants. She is basically pressured by her mother to play the piano in front of her relatives and friends to show that she’s an obedient child. This is especially true in the Chinese culture, where the parents expect their children to excel in life so they pressure them to perform well in school and enrol them in various activities in order to discover their child’s hidden talent. They want their children to be successful in all aspects of their life. The child doesn’t really want to pursue a certain course but to please the parents they comply with their parents desires.
DeleteI agree with you Ms Farber. I also believe that even though she did not have a choice in the matter that she tried really hard so that she could gain her mother’s affection and to make her proud. However as you said in the end she realize that she needed to accept herself for who she is so that she could have gain an understanding of what her mother was trying to do.
DeleteFor Latino girls a Quinceanera is a special celebration that they look forward to for years. It marks their fifteenth birthday as well as the important moment when they transition from a girl to a woman. The birthday girl wears a fancy hairstyle, elaborate makeup, high heel and a long, elegant ball gown dress which is chosen by the girl. Quinceaneras are primarily celebrated among Latino cultures. This includes areas such as Brazil, Mexico and Cuba. Quinceaneras have a significant religious aspect to them. They start with a mass, especially if the family is Catholic. There the priest blesses the girls and prayers that usually invoke the Virgin Mary are recited. After the mass, family and friends gather for the ceremony, which may take place at a reception hall, ball room or the family’s home. The quinceanera is accompanied by a male partner along with fourteen other couples. There is a large banquet where food and drinks are served as well as a cake which features fifteen candles. The quinceanera usually performs several choreographed dances with her escorts, and then a special dance with her father. In the story “Two Kinds” it talks about a Asian woman and her daughter. Like many immigrants, Jing-mei’s mother believes that America is the land of opportunity and you can become anything you want to be in America. She has high hopes that her daughter will become a prodigy. She’s not precisely sure where her daughter talents lie but she is sure that her daughter possesses great ability. She allows her daughter to enter various talent contests in order to show off her daughter's achievements before her friends. Jing- Mei however has no desire to cooperate with her mother and so she rejects her mother in order to find herself. This creates conflict between the two.
ReplyDeleteThere are notable differences in the two stories. In quinceanera the girl willingly partakes in the celebration. It is something she wants and feels contented about it. In the story Two Kinds the girl is pressured by her mother to get involved in activities she does not want to do like playing the piano. She feels discontented and as a result disobeys her mother.
The similarities are that in both stories tradition is slowly fading away and they are adapting to the American style. In the 21 century many girls are creating their own quinceanera celebrations. At one time the dresses were formal and usually white or pink in colour, now the dress is more varied. They no longer attend mass but rather they just have a party. The girls were only allowed to dance in public at the age of fifteen but now they are dancing at a very young age. In “Two kinds” Jing-mei mother wants her daughter to adapt to the American culture. She believes in the American promise that with hard work and a little luck you can be anything you choose to be. Jing-Mei however refuses to fullfill her mother’s dreams for the future. She does not see the value of practising for a skill or and co-operating with her mother's plan.
In one of the young stories, the representative, the young man stated in the last paragraph that “Mary livin’ well while Marta ketching hell”. In terms of political environment this proverb means that politicians are living well and in a good life while other people are struggling for their life to get a plate of food to eat. Politicians tend to believe that they are the one who rule place or country but they don’t realize that they are living well thanks to the hard working people which is struggling to get their things. When politics time comes to its near date politicians will start to fix roads, public buildings, and visit homes begging for votes or they even buy the people’s vote. Well in this story we can notice that when it will soon be elections after four years Hon. Jonas Parker decide to go visit his constituency. The representative tend to forget who live where. After four years he neglected his consistency he now have a tendency to show some kind of caring for the people. On the other hand, in the social environment the proverb “Mary livin’ well while Marta ketching hell” in my perspective to the social environment means that in today’s society we are living in different financial levels. Some are wealthy, living good and while the poor people are the ones who are working hard to have a good standard of living. The bad part of this is that the wealthy people might not get the money honestly while other people the work hard to get money in order to get their things or for their family.I think that yes this story is a reflection of post-independence in Belize since the description of this story is similar to what in today’s life is happening in our country Belize. The same thing that Hon. Jonas Parker does in this story the same thing almost all representative do in Belize. As soon elections is coming representative starts visiting their consistency and start begging for votes after they done neglected the people and some of them even offer money for them to get the people votes. When elections finish and they done get the position they wanted they forget of the people if they are okay or they need any kind of help. The same way Hon. Jonas Parker behave in this story the same way representative from Belize behave. All of this representative have to get to know what they are giving the people in return for their vote and electing them.
ReplyDeleteYoung, C. N. (1991). Pataki full.Benque Viejo del Carmen, Bze: Cubola productions.
In one of the young stories, the representative, the young man stated in the last paragraph that “Mary livin’ well while Marta ketching hell”. In terms of political environment this proverb means that politicians are living well and in a good life while other people are struggling for their life to get a plate of food to eat. Politicians tend to believe that they are the one who rule place or country but they don’t realize that they are living well thanks to the hard working people which is struggling to get their things. When politics time comes to its near date politicians will start to fix roads, public buildings, and visit homes begging for votes or they even buy the people’s vote. Well in this story we can notice that when it will soon be elections after four years Hon. Jonas Parker decide to go visit his constituency. The representative tend to forget who live where. After four years he neglected his consistency he now have a tendency to show some kind of caring for the people. On the other hand, in the social environment the proverb “Mary livin’ well while Marta ketching hell” in my perspective to the social environment means that in today’s society we are living in different financial levels. Some are wealthy, living good and while the poor people are the ones who are working hard to have a good standard of living. The bad part of this is that the wealthy people might not get the money honestly while other people the work hard to get money in order to get their things or for their family.I think that yes this story is a reflection of post-independence in Belize since the description of this story is similar to what in today’s life is happening in our country Belize. The same thing that Hon. Jonas Parker does in this story the same thing almost all representative do in Belize. As soon elections is coming representative starts visiting their consistency and start begging for votes after they done neglected the people and some of them even offer money for them to get the people votes. When elections finish and they done get the position they wanted they forget of the people if they are okay or they need any kind of help. The same way Hon. Jonas Parker behave in this story the same way representative from Belize behave. All of this representative have to get to know what they are giving the people in return for their vote and electing them.
ReplyDeleteYoung, C. N. (1991). Pataki full.Benque Viejo del Carmen, Bze: Cubola productions.
In the story Quinceanera the ritual is performed by young girls at the age of fifteen. It signifies their entry into woman hood and is performed mostly by Hispanic countries and its people. They wear huge ball gown dresses, high heels and fancy hairstyles to list a few. The celebration usually begins with a mass whereby the girl is blessed by the priest and invoke prayers relating to the virgin Mary. After the ceremony, a celebration is held and in this celebration, the girl is accompanied by a male partner and fourteen other couples to dance. The dance is called the waltz and is also done by the birthday girl and her father. in the other story Two Kinds it spoke about an Asian woman and her daughter. in this instance like most people, the mother has the American dream where you can go to America and be whatever you want to be. in light of this fact, she allows her to enter any activity that she believes will expose her achievements to others. Jing- Mei on the other hand is not interested in these sorts of things and rejects her mother to be herself which as expected, created conflict between the two.
ReplyDeleteDifferences between the two stories are in Quinceneara, the girls have the freedom to make their own decisions and in Two Kinds the girl has no freedom so to speak and is pressured by her mother to do things she doesn't enjoy. In both stories, tradition is fading and the American style is being adopted. An example of this can be found with the dresses for the quinceneara. in the past, the dresses where formal and either white or pink and presently, there are lots of different styles and colors being used. In two kinds Jing- Mei's mother wants her to believe in the American dream but she disagrees and wants to remain accustomed to the Asian Culture
You mentioned some great points between the two stories "Quincenera" and the "Two Kind" those were two great stories written by their respectful authors. I have to slightly disagree on the "two kind" part. Jing_Mei did believe in the american dream, yes, but she wanted to see what special talent her daughter had. All Asian family tend to find something that their child like and make them perfect it. Jing-Mei just wanted to have a daughter who she can be proud of what ever talent she had.
DeleteTo the participants this Quinceneara performance is a way they can showcase their talents and time honored traditions. The young woman who is being the center of attention has to make everything go in perfect symmetry avoiding any error. This performance also has everything to do with how beautiful the choreographers pull off their moves to wow and impress the audience.
ReplyDeleteThe meaning of a Quinceneara is a great ceremony that celebrates the transformation of a young girl into a woman. This ceremony might be a little costly at times, but it is very important to the girl as well as her parents to know that their daughter has grown into a mature young woman who is capable of making her own decisions. The time honored traditions compared to then and now has change in many ways from the cost of having a Quinceneara is way too expensive for must parents to afford and the reason for conducting one has changed from celebrating womanhood to just partying with friends.
Question 1
ReplyDeleteWhat does the performance mean to the participants in each selection?
In Quinceañera, many ancient cultures, it was common for young women to marry and start their own families at the tender age of 15. This coming-of-age, whether tied to marriage or not, has long been celebrated in many initiation rites, from the Quinceañera and the Bat Mitzvah, to the débutante ball and the sweet 16 party. As with many of these ceremonies and parties, all celebrating the young girl’s entrance into womanhood, the Quinceañera may be a solemn, religious occasion or an extravagant celebration. Or, it may be a little bit of both. In addition, the commitment to Catholicism and debut into society; A change in religion, as the tradition makes it way from Mexico to Phoenix. A passage of battle to a place of hope. (p. 35, para 1, line 8&9). In “Two Kinds”, it was the transition through life from where there were not much hope to a place of new beginnings and a fresh start in becoming someone famous. The performance that was made or asked of the child was to perfect an actress so their life could be better. In this case the passage was from China to America. In a country where dreams comes through. (p. 29, para 2&3).
Question 2
How is its meaning similar and different for the children who take part in it?
In both “Quinceañera” and “Two kinds”, the similarities are moving from one state to another in making life better and the heartache they had to overcome as a people as well as it includes or talk about girls from different back grounds but with the same purpose of womanhood into the world. You can see this when the girl from “Two Kinds” change her appearance from a little girl into an older person or simply a different persona to welcome a new life. While the girls from Quinceañera also changed their appearance from little girls to young ladies with white dresses. The difference on the other hand is manly the fact that the girls were from different cultures and transition into different status. The girls from “Quinceañera” were more focus on womanhood while the girl from “Two kinds” wanted to be famous and better the quality of life for her and her mother.
In the short story ’’The Representatives’’, by Young, C. N. (1991). The phrase "Mary livin' well while Marta ketching hell", emphasizes on the way our county is being govern in our today’s modern society. Politicians, who are elected by the citizens of a country, are often living great in their big fancy houses and expensive vehicles, while the same people that elected them in are being neglected and their existence are not of important to them anymore. Additionally, some of the citizens are homeless living in poverty and they are not getting any help from the politician because they are living a wealthy lifestyle. Yes this story is a reflection of post-independence Belize because to this present day politicians are still exercising the same practise, after every four years gearing up for election they visit their constituency, therefore, they only visit when it’s convenient to them in trying to bribe potential voters.
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ReplyDeleteIn the story Quinceanera the rite of passage is seen as a happy, excited and much wanted occasion for the female. This is when she becomes a woman and gives herself over to the Catholic Church. The girl actually wants the celebration and the parents would therefore do whatever they can in making this happen. However this is not the case in the piece of literature “too kind”, Jing -mei is forced into this performance so that her mother can boost to her friends and family about having a prodigy for a daughter. Jing- mei dislikes this fact .Though if you look on what is not being said Jing-mei was confident and excited to think that she was indeed a prodigy and to prove that she is worthy, so that her parents would be proud of her and love her without any type of stipulations attached.
ReplyDeleteIn both the stories of Too kind and Quinceanera it speaks about immigrant’s who migrated to the United States of America and their beliefs. It speaks about their traditions and how being in America has had an influence on them. In the story Too Kind Jing-mei mother believed that you can be whatever you want in America.
Verburg, Carol. Ourselves Among Others. Boston: St. Martin's, 2000.
Quinceaner and Two Kinds are stories which deal with the transition of young girls to young adults. In a Quinceanera a young girl when she archives the age of 15 can have a ceremony which usually involves a lot of preparation and contention. The young women must plan and assemble a large gathering of people from choosing the right venue, the dames and grooms, along with (in certain places) have talks with older people about what it means to be an adult, for a child it is the first time most of them are really thrust into the spot light and learn how to deal with pressures and responsibilities that come later in life. On the other hand, Two Kinds deals with much more emotinal and mental transformation, the moment when a child realizes that they can be there own persons and that they can make choices regardless of what a parents says or does. For a child this really defines the phase in life where they revolt against adults and start to perceive themselves as there own person highlighting fights with parents and trying new things regardless if its good or bad. Over time the result is lessons are learnt and those lessons are applied to adult hood.
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