preview

Examples Of Cultural Identity

Decent Essays

Culture Identity:
As explained through literature

A part of what constructs an individual’s identity is defined by the culture they are a part of. Culture consistently informs the way one views the world and others, therefore it becomes an influential and defining characteristic in the daily lives of many. Many authors have expressed the belief in this through various mediums, such as memoirs, biographies, and poems. Due to there being a direct correlation between the self-identity of a person to culture, a person’s view of the world can alter as a result. Writer Santha Rama Rau emphasizes this theme in her memoir By Any Other Name, a short account of a school experience of an Indian girl adjusting to a new, Anglo-Indian school. As …show more content…

This is hinted in the poem, by which the narrator mentions that they’re, “...sliding back and forth, between the fringed of both worlds” (Mora, pg.40). Even though the narrator in this scenario faces problems with finding a specific group to identify with, a relationship between both cultures can be identified, forming a part of who they are. It’s based on the mere judgment of physical traits, and different habits in one’s personal and cultural identity. This division and identification with both groups led to the narrator having a confused outlook on the world. Art can be an expression of one’s inner beliefs and thoughts, and such is the case with the artist Frida Kahlo, whose paintings reflected her set of beliefs and culture. There were various instances which reflected her patriotic nature, such as her clothing, expressions, and symbols included in her art. She brought forth her creative side, and intertwined it with the culture she grew up with and developed her own unique, iconic style. A biographical excerpt written by Hayden Herrera described Kahlo’s way of painting as, “...she transmuted her pain into art with remarkable frankness tempered by humor and fantasy.” (Herrera, pg.34) Her deep ties with her culture proved not only important to how she decided to paint, but how she viewed the world. Although she hid many sorrows and pain, she maintained a cheerful attitude to those around her and a more or less positive outlook in the

Get Access