Literature is found to be the art of human expression. At the center of literature, are the materials of expressing the intentions of communication. Several authors use different media to express their point of view on their topic. For this study, we are interested in using two materials. These include the book, House of Stone by Shadid and his team and the movie, Namesake by Mira Nair. The authors of these materials had a great interest in culture. It is evident in their passionate description in the context of character behaviors. The article and the film are set in a learning environment where the main character set to leave their homes to learn- campus life. The theme of contention in these articles is explicit, and is worth exploiting. I therefore agree with the authors that human culture is the backbone of human development and can be manipulated based on exposure. The diversity of culture forms the foundation of human behavior and the perception of relations. Every society has their own culture.
Culture is the way of life for a group of people that include their beliefs, values, and other signs and symbols of communication that the group accept without question or doubt. With throbbing physicality, Mira Nair, in his film: The Namesake, presents a gentle but compassionate narration of the variations in culture. Portraying the struggle between modernity and traditions among the American and the Indian cultures. On the other hand, Antony Shadid, in his article: House of Stone, also vivid lays a blueprint that do not require any diagrammatic explanations on the dynamics of cultural perspectives. With the book and the novel, two characters seems to share a common pathway with regards to how culture affect them: Ashima (film) and Shadid (book), Gogol (film) and Shibil (book).
In the due of events the authors cite pertinent relations in culture as a strong wheel that drives the behavior of individuals- the strongest bondage of belonging. In his film: The Namesake, Mira Nair gives a clear comparison between modernity and tradition. Several scenes unfold in the movie. At the start of the film, Ashima Ganguli is at the center of the events that unfold, she is presented as the epitome of cultural conservatives. Being torn between the Indian and the American culture: modernity verses her traditional roots, she portrays culture as a sense of belonging. Determined to keep true to her community, she decides to name her first born son Gogol which metaphorically represents the boy's culture identity division. Born in America, but with Indian roots. Similarly, Mr. Shadid in the article: House of Stone, is also a cultural conservative. He, being the central character, spent a lot of time restoring and renovating their long-abandoned family territory in the southern part of Lebanon. Also, he speaks of mental torture the family went through to adapt to the new culture and environment of Oklahoma, where they migrated to in the first terms of the 20th century. Hence, both characters find a very hard time to cope with their new cultural ways and environment due to the strong bond they had with their ancestral lands.
Additionally, cultures may form personality traits. Both Ashima and Shadid find it difficult to have a quick change to deplete of their memories. For example, Ashina continuously remembers her life stories in the town Calcutta while Mr. Shadid tries to make a permanent change in his life through getting involved in restoration projects; unfortunately, his desires are ruined by his new neighbors of Lebanese who criticizes the plan as dangerous, reckless and American altogether (Shadid, 15). Also, Ashima encounters much difficulty in assimilating the new American culture in Cambridge, amidst myriad perspectives of strangers and new customs. She even finds it a challenge in naming her firstborn son. These could see them change the name from Gogol to Nikhil, just in the verge of struggling to cope with the new cultural changes. However, we find a significant difference in their cultural duties as Ashima has the integral role as a woman to keep her family together, where she remains at home to ensure all the house staff and work are done in the appropriate way (YouTube). Being true to her roots. On the other hand, Mr. Shadid plays both roles in keeping his family as evident when he moved with her daughter to Lebanon and at the same time he get involved in the reconstruction project, which the perfect role for men from the Ashima cultural perspective. This proves the authors' intention of highlighting the difficulty of culture deviation. '' the community is everything, home is everything" Shadid said (Shadid, 258).
At some point, culture highly depends on economic demands and the environment. The authors succeed in presenting a masterpiece of conviction. Their symphonic narrations illustrate the role of environment and economic demands in shaping cultures. For instance, Mr. Shadid struggles in a state of critical dilemma striking to rejuvenate and trace his community where he belongs, but is stuck in the modern life with laptops and notebooks in America (Shadid, 20). When reality dawns on him following the demands, he decided to adapt to the new era. A similar situation occurs in the film where, Ashima also encounters difficulties when she decided to return to India that she no longer feels complete as a member of the Bengali. Eventually, she becomes, more confused due to her instability either as an assimilated American or an Indian. Therefore, both Ashima and Mr. Shadid made several changes to their cultural ways and practices. They have not only adjusted their statute beliefs, but also responded to the nature's call of surroundings. This is an instance of a relationship occurring between the two articles, with the societies depicted showing similarities. Culture forms the aspect that bounds the originality of the two literary pieces.
Some culture elements can sometimes merge. Gogol and Shibil are portrayed as very fascinating characters in the event. Gogol is born of the American roots, but her mother frequently traced their traditional roots with him at various points in time. In the authors' contexts, there is a great similarity in their love stories as well as their cultural ways of life. For instance, Gogol, is involved in love a fair with Maxine because of her wealth, Gogol verifies this by saying he has come to have heart comfort the time he saw their house (YouTube). Similarly, Shibil- a marijuana addict, also befriends Mr. Shadid, only because of money and desperation despite her unhealthy status. Shibil and Gogol, in their love stories, portray a direct betrayal of the cultural beliefs. But then the characters still find it worth in their lifestyles. For example, Ashima- Gogol’s mother finds it difficult to approve the existence of the crucial relationship between his son and Maxine, similarly, to Shibil’s relationship with Mr. Shadid, which he only engages in due to loneliness and desperations.
Finally, the authors succeed in proving that cultures can be learnt, unlearnt, and re-learnt in the societies based on the exposure and the environment. We find both Gogol and Shibil having made a tremendous change in their cultural ways. Gogol crossed over to the American culture, from his original land as a very young lad, and adapts very well to even end up running short of proper knowledge of his culture. Additionally, he goes further to befriend a girl who is not an Indian, which is totally against the Indians ethics, and moral values and customs. On the other hand, Shibil cross against their cultural ways to relate with Mr. Shadid, who is a stranger in the neighborhood, whom she gives a lot of self-attention her health conditions (Shadid, 16). Hence, there are several similarities and difference that took place in both the two characters from both stories regarding their cultural background and lifestyle change. The comparison between the two literary pieces shows that it is common knowledge to find human population living in clusters of association in what the scientists call an ecosystem. These clusters normally form communities and clans. In the authors’ contexts, however, culture is like a hobby which can be learnt, unlearnt and re-learnt for the development of the individuals.
It is therefore evident that culture can be manipulated based on exposure. The major determinants in culture development includes the status quo, exposure and the background economic status. Characters in the film and the article have both experienced cultural deviation. Money and wealth can be a push force to break the barrier of cultural limitations. In conclusion, culture presents diversified human social statutes that are not only the wheel behind life behaviors but also the driving force to decision-making. Exposure factors can make an individual to learn new culture in life and adopt new statutes. The authors’ articles are masterpieces that present the epitome of cultural dimensions and the complexity in human culture. The authors successfully portrays the contemporary society that is full of diversity. This diversity is not only complex, but also self-reliant to the individuals. It is on the basis of the culture that these clusters of associations determine the character development and love stories. The free will of human relation can either be boosted or limited across the cultures. This is evident in the articles as the authors explained.
Works Cited
Shadid, Anthony. House Of Stone. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012. Print.
YouTube, "Watch The Namesake Watch Movies Online Free". N.P., 2016. Web. 3 Mar. 2016.
