This paper addresses the historical context of the book Disappearing Moon Caf by the author Sky Lee. In this book, the lives of several generations of Chinese women living in Canada are torn apart by a refusal to accept the customs of their new country.
1,650 words (approx. 6.6 pages), 2 sources, 2002, $ 62.95
Abstract This paper addresses the historical context of the book Disappearing Moon Cat by the author Sky Lee. In this book, the lives of several generations of Chinese women living in Canada are torn apart by a refusal to accept the customs of their new country. While this book is Lee's demonstration of how separate cultures must blend together in order for those living within them to survive, this novel also demonstrates how this concept is not a clear- cut situation. The historical setting of Disappearing Moon Cat is found in the turmoil that was found among the peoples of Canada at the turn of the Twentieth Century.
Tags: LITERATURE / WOMEN IN LITERATURE, roles chinese women
This paper examines the numerous cultural attributes of the Mayan civilization while focusing on the reasons for its eventual collapse and disappearance.
Abstract This paper analyzes the disappearance of the Mayan civilization while focusing on the various theories surrounding its eventual collapse. The writer of this brief yet concise paper details the history of the Mayan culture which emerged in 2000 BC. The Mayan civilization gave birth to numerous cultural progresses such as the establishment of a writing system, an organized political council as well as the introduction of organized religion. This paper examines the theories surrounding the dispersal of the Mayan civilization, when at around 800 AD it was purported to have suddenly collapsed. There have been numerous arguments based on archaeological and anthropological evidence that attempted to explain the collapse of this particular civilization. This paper focuses on several theories which may explain the disappearance of the Mayan people which include climatic changes as well as socio-cultural collapse through the population's expansion.
From the Paper "The theory that argued that a climatic collapse led to the disappearance of the Mayan civilization was based from scientific findings that were caused by a severe drought. As reported by History Today, "[d]rilling samples from the Cariaco Basin off the Venezuelan Coast show there were intensely dry periods between AD 810 and AD 910..." From this finding, it was found that because there had been scarce supply of the people's basic needs, such as water and food supply, Mayan society disappeared, supposedly due to deaths caused by these series of drought. A more specific version of this theory was presented in Kerr's journal article on the scientific evidence pointing at climate changes as the catalyst towards the disappearance of the civilization."
This paper looks closely at "Disappearing Acts", written by Terry McMillan. The writer discusses the novel as a comprehensive narrative exposing rotating points-of-view on cross-gender communication.
Abstract This paper looks at the issue of gender dynamics in modern society as portrayed in "Disappearing Acts". The writer compares this novel to Terry McMillan's first novel, "Mama", noting that they are both energetic and earthy books, taking place wholly within the confines of an intense relationship.
Table of Contents:
Synopsis
Movie Quotes
The Story
The Upshot
Title
From the Paper "To disappear is defined as a verb meaning to vanish from sight and/or to no longer exist; and act denoted as anything done, being done, or to be done, the process of doing. In this sense the title is referring to Franklin's modus operand. Whenever he gets frustrated by his unstable employment and/or family troubles, he takes to the drink and then makes himself scarce, usually by hiding out at his favorite bar, or sometimes absconding for up to days at a time. This is a conditioned response to his problems, ?Despite the fact that ?attributes that ought to be equally valued and discouraged, we persist in using bipolar terms to characterize men as "independent" ??strong,? and unemotional? (A&B, 21). And since men learn from role models in their lives that emotional vulnerability is unacceptable behavior, and therefore are regarded negatively when disclosing personal information, they are prone to keep their feelings undisclosed and find another venue for release. In Franklin's case this routine happens to be physically running away from his problems and drinking to numb all feelings."
Abstract In the novel "Disappearing Moon Caf?" by author Sky Lee, the nature of the hamartia is found within the inability of the characters in the Wong family to reconcile the conflict that occurs between aspects of their Canadian and their Chinese lives. This is most highly manifested in the character of Suzie Wong, who apparently dies from an illness that is brought on through the accumulated stress provided to her through being asked to conform to both American and Chinese traits and failing to satisfy the demands of either. The hamartia of the Wong family is therefore found in their inability to accept both Canadian and Chinese lifestyle traits and their failure to do so becomes the tragic flaw that results in Suzie Wong's undoing. This paper explores this topic in order to better define how the hamartia impacted the Wong family's personal growth and prevented them from truly embracing a combined Canadian and Chinese heritage.
Abstract This paper shall compare and contrast the book "Nickled and Dimed" by Barbara Ehrenreich and the work "Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison" by Michael Foucault. This paper shall compare and contrast the theme of "disappearance" within these two works, where both Foucault and Ehrenreich suggest that modern society conspires to remove the significance of the unwanted individual. For Foucault, this is the prisoner and for Ehrenreich this is the female working class individual.
Abstract This paper examines how the short story, ?Disappearing?, by Monica Wood, is more than one woman's account of losing weight and how it is a glimpse into the mind of an individual who achieves power from an act of self-destructive behavior. It looks at how the story is a journey from fat to thin, from powerless to powerful, from invisible to invisible and from unhealthy to unhealthy. It is only at the end of the story we realize that what we are reading is the narrator's transition from a healthy ambition to an obsessive behavior, each self-destructive in its own way.
From the Paper "The third stage of her process comes after the narrator becomes a certified swimmer, when several things are different. She notices that the blondes ignore her because she does not splash the water when she gets into the pool and she can lower herself "silently" (2). Also, when she swims, she can "cut the water cleanly" (2). This is significant to the character's development because she tells us, "For one hour a day I am thin, thin as water, transparent, invisible" (2). Even her friend Lettie does not talk to her anymore because she is now smaller than Lettie. Lettie even accuses her of being "uppity" (2). The narrator's home life changes significantly during this process as well."
Abstract The writer states that the disappearing minority teacher phenomenon can be traced directly to traditional teaching methods in American classrooms, in which the curriculum of public schools offers a one-sided and distorted view of life in the United States and throughout the world. The writer explains that as a result of this, fewer minorities seek careers in education. The paper highlights some of the issues surrounding the growing mismatch between teachers and students in public schools. The paper explains that because often the decision to teach is a result of positive experiences with former teachers, it offers ideas about effective ways in which to supply the current education system with a number of individuals who can help to improve the quality of education which grade-schoolers receive. In conclusion, the writer suggests that a revolution in thought is necessary among the many school districts and the teacher eduction programs that supply their teachers.
Table of Contents:
The Need for More Latino Teachers
Diversity within Minority Groups
Latino Teachers with Innovative Methods
Growing Numbers of Minority Teachers in Schools
Bibliography
From the Paper "The current drought of Latino teachers in Southern California can serve as a model for disappearing minority teachers. Demographics indicate that the number of minority students entering the public school system (grades K - 12) largely dwarfs the number of new teachers entering the profession. (An example is El Monte High school, where 92 percent--out of 2800--of the students are Latino while merely five out of 90 faculty members have Spanish surnames.) Moreover, new teacher positions are rarely filled by minority teachers, of whom very few are Mexican. The fact that California's Latino and predominately Mexican (or Mexican-American) population continues to grow at a rate which will soon reach one-third of the State's total population is a great cause for alarm in light of the fact that the quality of education at public schools--especially in districts where minority populations are highest--remains questionable."
Abstract This paper takes a critical look at Sky Lee's novel "Disappearing Moon Cafe", which chronicles the corrupted history of the Wong family and the deconstruction of traditional kinship formations. The paper posits that, in the novel, both young and old generations construct alternative definitions of "family" outside the confines of the conventional family structure comprised of mother, father, and children. These alternative structures deviate from the norm by involving individuals from different racial, social, and genealogical backgrounds, disrupting the homogeneous ideals that certain female family members would like to preserve. The paper also asserts that the story is about women who dominate Chinese family life and the influence they hold over the men. The paper concludes that, although there is a collapse of one family structure, many other diverse kinship unions emerge in its place and ensure the survival of a rich and varied Chinese-Canadian narrative.
From the Paper "For all intents and purposes, Disappearing Moon Cafe is a story about the women who dominate Chinese family life and the influence they hold over the men's biographies. We get two conflicting messages - one that women are defined by their marriages and are mere "unidentified receptacles" (Lee 42), and one that empowers the women as "powerful...bone-crushing 'Iron Chink' machines" (Lee 227). It is therefore interesting that the beginning and the end of the novel is framed by the narrative of Wong Gwei Chang, the family patriarch."
Abstract On May 22, 1968, the U.S.S. Scorpion was presumed lost at sea after all contact was lost with her. The mystery behind the disappearance of the Scorpion has never been truly solved. The media jumped on the idea that the Cold War may have caused an internal altercation between the United States and the Soviets, but that theory, along with others, has been ruled out. This paper explores the different events that led up the official declaration that the submarine had disappeared, as well as the theories that continue to this day about what really happened.
From the Paper "The physical evidence collected from the photographs supported ADM Schade's claim, including a picture of a large section of missing hull where the 69 ton battery was stored. Despite the evidence, Admiral Austin determined the theory ?possible, but not probable.? According to the witness reports, a safety system in the SCORPION should have saved her from sinking. This claim would have been true, but her safety systems weren?t fully certified, nor were they perfectly operational. The knowledge of this information leads to a further discussion involving the THRESHER. After the United States Navy lost the THRESHER, another submarine, a program was developed called SUBSAFE. The program was implemented to improve safety on submarines and to develop rescue crafts to dive down and rescue distressed submariners. The problem with the SCORPION was that it ?had not yet been outfitted with the new SUBSAFE changes, so it is possible that a mechanical failure sent the submarine to the bottom.? "
Abstract This paper discusses some of the strange disappearances that have taken place in the geographic area known as the Bermuda Triangle and explores the different theories that have been asserted to explain these disappearances.
From the Paper "A variety of grim nicknames have been used to describe this area of the Atlantic Ocean over the past forty years, such as: the Devil's Triangle, the Hoodoo Sea and the Limbo of the Lost. The most commonly used name, the Bermuda Triangle, was coined by researcher and author Vincent Gaddis in 1964 in his article, "The Deadly Bermuda Triangle"."
Abstract Through the culmination of evidence and case studies, this paper argues that local cultures around the world are not expected to disappear with increasing globalisation. The crux of the paper centres on the theory that culture is a complex and multi-faceted phenomenon and it uses this reasoning to explain why local cultures are more likely not to lose all aspects of their traditions. It also discusses several theories on cultural change and how these relate to the force of increasing globalisation. The paper contends that we are more likely to see globalised local culture rather than global culture, therefore demonstrating the implausibility in the notion that local culture is likely to disappear.
From the Paper "For the Gapun people, we find globalisation forcing the hybrid language Tok Pisin into becoming the spoken vernacular for the next generation. Tok Pisin or Pidgin English is essentially how most Papua New Guinean communities have collectively interpreted and applied the English language to their own culture. In Tajikistan, there are many who hold on to socialist ideology while still embracing a traditional Islamic code of behaviour (Rashid 1995). Tomlinson (1999) argues, however, that hybridisation of culture is not a new phenomenon. So if local cultures have always been hybrid, what is the effect of globalisation on them?"
Abstract This paper discusses the environmental problem of the disappearing rain forest in the Amazon region of Brazil, noting that the disappearing rain forest is not just an environmental issue but an economic one. The paper suggests that with certain agricultural methods used in Brazil (the slash-and-burn method) by people who have no other way to make a living, and with the country too poor to institute many of the protections needed, this issue has become a significant problem.
From the Paper "One of the leading ecological problems facing the world for the last two decades or more is the disappearance of the tropical rainforest in Brazil, with scientists noting the many benefits the rainforest provides to the ecology of the world. The disappearing rainforest is not just an environmental issue but an economic one, with certain agricultural methods used in Brazil (the slash-and-burn method) by people who have no other way to make a living, and with the country too poor to institute many of the protections needed. As the Western nations complains about what is happening in Brazil, the leadership in Brazil points out that the country is too poor to do much about the problem."
From the Paper "There are very many reasons and explanations as to where and why Christianity has changed so drastically from the time of its creation to the present day; world wars, epidemics, philosophy- those are just some of the explanations offered to explain the situation. Christianity has become most diffused in Canada, the United States, and in Rome. However, it is also still easy to see how it is still present within societies; churches are still recognized as sacred institutions and some laws are still based upon church law. As to why Christianity has changed so drastically, there are many reasons but perhaps the strongest one is philosophy and the Age of Individualism."
This paper addresses the effects of the European exploration on the Aztec Natives of Latin America, looking specifically at the history of the land and the reasons for European exploration.
Abstract The following paper looks at a brief historical view of the Aztecs, their origin and culture. The paper then discusses the Age of Exploration, the countries involved and what areas were explored. Effects of European exploration on the Aztec race, religion, land and labor are also discussed with their eventual and gradual disappearance. The writer restates all the fundamental points and the lessons learned during his research to conclude the paper.
From the Paper "History is exclusively neither an art nor a science, but a subtle blend of the two. The historical imagination reaches beyond the limits imposed by scientific method, but it does not enjoy unfettered poetic license. What is not required of art is required of history - to discover what the old universe was like rather than to invent a new one. We study the past in order to influence, no matter how modestly, the world around us and the world within us. Historical inquiry is always a response to the human need for information, an understanding of the broad patterns of social development." (History, 2001)
Abstract This paper compares two movies "Legally Blonde" and "Disappearing Acts" which on the surface seem to be totally unrelated to each other. One deals with a preppy college student and the other about an African American woman wishing to study music. The writer shows that despite these seemingly different plots, the movies both are about a woman's quest to pursue her heart's desire in life. A brief synopsis of each movie is presented.
From the Paper "All movies, whether a comedy, drama, suspense, mystery or any other genre seeks to invoke some type of reaction from the audience. A comedy can invoke empathy, compassion and suspense just as well as a drama. Usually audiences go into a movie theater not quite knowing what to expect, as clips do not reveal how the movie will ultimately unfold. Legally Blonde and Disappearing Acts are two movies that at first glance, one would think they are completely opposite of one another. Legally Blonde, a comedy is centered around a rich white college student from California, who embodies all of the characteristics of the typical valley sorority girl. Disappearing Acts, on the other hand focuses on an African-American female, living in Brooklyn, New York trying to earn a living by teaching during the day and pursuing her passion for music at night. "
Tags: film, music, passion, college, plot, genre, niche, zora, elle
