"Like Rain Drops Rolling Down New Paint" Article Review Essay Example

The Chinese are described as minor individuals who lacked an identity in the Canadian culture, and they do not conform to changes, part of which their racial problems arise. The author, Linda Morra, of Like Rain Drops Rolling Down New Paint": Chinese Immigrants and the Problem of National Identity in the Work of Emily Carr, talks about the plights of Chinese people in Canada. She uses Emily Carr artwork and accounts to illustrate the racial differences between the Chinese and the white races at that time. This is evident when the Japanese are compensated while they are cut out after the mob destroyed their property (pg 415). The Chinese is associated with hardship and racial discrimination, among other factors. This work will analyze main points in the article highlighting why it was difficult to assimilate the Chinese, which include their resistance to culture, the racial background and their social preclusion.
It was difficult to assimilate the Chinese into the Canadian culture because of their resistance to the new culture (pg 418). Carr believed that both English and Chinese could become part of the Canadian identity through both dwelling in the Canadian society and borrowing the indigenous ways of the Canadian people. Through this, it is evident that part of the reason the Chinese could not acquire the Canadian identity is the adherence to their culture (pg 418). Carr’s work purposed to restore the Canadian culture that she perceived was slowly fading. To her if the Chinese could learn their culture and help restore it, they could qualify as Canadians.
Lastly, it was difficult to assimilate the Chinese due to their social preclusion. The author points out through Carr’s work how the Chinese were selfish individuals who only learnt the Canadian ways for economical reasons but still kept their own. Carr illustrates the way they avoided social contact and kept to themselves. After work, as she cites, they could go back to their town and live according to their ways (pg 422). She viewed them as a threat to their cultural identity, another reason why she failed to recognize them fully in her works.
First, Carr describes the Chinese as selfish individuals who were unpatriotic and less involved only struggling for their selfish interests, citing the importance of cultural assimilation. During that time, the Chinese were seen as inferiors both physically and morally wise. The individuals used to work for money that they sent back to their spouses since they were not allowed to bring them in Canada (pg 424). The author on her sentiments contradicts herself by pointing out that the Chinese acted selfishly due to the laws of the land and not because they were rigid to culture changes.
Additionally, Carr also finds a way to associate with the Chinese culture through Nan’s painting which she referred to them as divine (pg 425). Despite the racial differences at that time, she appreciates the works of the Chinese individual, which illustrates her passion for preserving. It is therefore easy to conclude that she was biased based on the ability of individuals to conserve their heritage. The author’s view of Canadian identity was, therefore, a speculation on this point. It was only through Carr’s viewpoint and not that of the nation that the Chinese could gain a Canadian identity once they learn their ways.
Moreover, the author sites that the Chinese secluded themselves from the crowds and were found inhabiting the China town in Vancouver (pg 422). This, however, was not voluntary as it was evident in some newspaper advertisements; there was a limitation of acquiring residents to the Chinese individuals during that time (pg 422). This clearly indicates that even though the Chinese individuals would have wanted to stay in other areas within the city, the restrictions would have prevented them. From this, we can clearly argue that the segregations were not solely based on the inability of the Chinese to assimilate into the Canadian culture.
As the article progresses, it gets clearer about Carr’s passion for preserving her identity because she feels more connected to the Chinese than the British do. During this period, several cultural changes had slowly wiped the East of Canada, which made her more connected to the West. Carr’s attachment to Nan also indicates that they were both suffering in the hands of the superior individuals, the British Columbian regime, and felt the need to protect him (pg 426). She goes further and refers to the minority individuals in the society such as the Chinese her friends. The author goes further and sites that Carr’s issues relate to the fact that she is a woman, an artist, an inhabitant from the West Coast and a colonial figure thus indicating that the author is fighting for her indigenous culture. On page 431, Carr illustrates how she, as a Canadian woman, passionately wanted to conserve her culture.
Another major criticism of the article lies in the fact that the author did not balance her arguments. This is because, as the article progresses, her tone towards the Chinese cultural assimilation issue changes. The article becomes more contradicting as it diverts from the original issue of Chinese identity to that of colonization. The author slowly points out the way Carr was against change, partly indicating that she did not seclude the Chinese from her work basing on personal reasons. The use of Carr’s works and accounts, therefore becomes less significant to the issue of Chinese Canadian identity. One of the author’s references from Anderson, Kay J was published in 1980 years before the Chinese incident. There could be a probability that it was not applicable at that time since time changes.
It is clear that the use of Carr’s work to depict the plights of the Chinese during that period could effectively show the racial difficulties that they underwent. It is however not justified whether their assimilation into the new culture could guarantee them a position in the Canadian identity. Carr was an artist with the passion for culture, conservation, and she required individuals, either white or Chinese to learn the indigenous culture of Canada to be Canadians. Her intentions were to preserve the Canadian culture indicating that even though the Chinese could follow suit her way of thinking, they could not be guaranteed a position. The author, however uses other primary and secondary sources to back up her arguments, which increase the credibility of the article. Thus, after evaluation, the article can be used to partly depict the Chinese issues of Canadian identity.