HILD12 Post №2
A similar theme that arose from the groups we have learned about so far (Chinese in Honolulu, Koreans in Befu, and Okinawans on the battlefront) is feeling disconnected from their native identity to avoid being “othered” by society, which manifested as a feeling of not fitting into their community. As many strategies have been executed in an attempt to deal with this process of being “othered,” one of these included “cultural productions,” which is the production of art, music, and literature. I believe that these cultural productions provide insight as to what the sociopolitical environment was like at the times of these struggles. Based on what they choose to picture, these various forms of media could reveal resistance, perseverance, hopelessness, complacency, etc. Art is a mode of conveying thoughts and emotions in a format accessible to many audiences that unites them under a common idea.
As most of our education about various historical events comes from textbooks or readings, having access to these “cultural productions” humanizes the time period and allows us to live through these events from the perspective of those directly involved. Unlike with secondary sources, there is no divide or speculation between the audience and the artist. With these “cultural productions,” too, are marginalized populations able to unify and express their humanity while using art as an outlet to preserve their culture that is constantly under fire from assimilation and imperialism.
Thinking about how cultural productions affects my own understanding of community, as someone who grew up surrounded by artistic, creative people, I was able to witness firsthand how art is used as an extension of the artist’s character. Many friends have used a multitude of art mediums to capture a wide range of emotions on a blank slate. One of my friend’s acrylic paintings of the destruction that U.S. armies have brought to Middle Eastern countries conveyed a rawer form of distress and upset that our history class textbook readings could never grasp with its formal, informative language.
