Marita Sturken\'s Tangled Memories: the Vietnam War summary PDF

Preview

Summary

Essay on Tangled Memories: the Vietnam War, and the importance of memory....

Description

Ma r i t aSt ur k e ns t a t e di nhe rboo kt i t l e dT ang l e dMe mor i e s :t heVi e t namWar , t heAI DS e pi de mi c , andt hepol i t i c sof r e me mb e r i n g ,t ha t“ me mo r yf o r mst h ef a b r i co fh uma nl i f e , a ffe c t i n ge v e r yt hi n gf o r mt hea bi l i t yt ope r f o r ms i mp l e , e v e r yd a yt a s k st ot her e c o gni t i ono ft h e s e l f . Me mor ye s t a bl i s he sl i f e ’ sc o nt i nui t y ;i tg i v e sme a n i n gt ot hepr e s e n t , a se a c hmo me nti s c o ns t i t ut e db yt hep a s t . Ast heme a nsb ywhi c hwer e me mb e rwh owea r e , me mo r ypr o vi d e st h e v e r yc or eo fi d e nt i t y”( 1) . Asfir s t g e ne r a t i o nAf r i c a nCa n a di a no rl i k ema n yAf r i c a nc h i l dr e n a b r oa d ,wes t r u g g l ed e e pl yo v e rc ul t u r a li d e nt i t y .Fo rt hel o n g e s tt i me , Ia ndf a mi l yf e l ta st hou g h wh e nwe ’ r ei nt hehou s e , i t ’ sGh a na , ho we v e rwh e nwe ’ r eou t s i d e ,i t ’ sCa n a da . Mys i s t e r sa n dI we ntt os c hoo lf ul l ya wa r et h a ti fwebe h a v e dwi t hi nNor t hAme r i c a nc ul t ur a lnor ms , t r oub l e woul dn o tfindus , a ndonc ewel e a v es c h oola n dr e t ur nh ome , wemus tf ol l o wourGh a na i a n p a r e n t s ’r ul e s . Toda y , a swec ont i nu et h i sl i f e s t y l eofmo v i n gba c ka n df o r t hi nt i me , oure x pe r i e nc e sa s a ni mmi g r a nta r es e e nt ob eq ui t el i k eDa vi dCha r i a nd y ’ se x pe r i e nc e s . Al t ho u ghhei sas e c o nd g e ne r a t i onCa r i bb e a nCa na di a n , hi sno v e lSou c ouy an tus e sana r r a t o rwh o“ s t r u g g l e swi t h d i a s p o r i ci d e nt i t ya ndc u l t u r e ,h i s t or ya ndme mor y ,a ndd i s pl a c e me n ta ndt r a u ma …”a sawa yt o d r a w“ onpe r s o na lr e c o l l e c t i o ns ”( He l l e g e r sa n dNa r a y a na n6 ) . I na d di t i on ,h eus e s“ o ffic i a l d oc ume nt st oc r e a t e …a“ s i t eo fme mo r y , as i t et ha te n g a g e swi t he r a s e ds i l e nc e d, a n dun t ol d h i s t o r i e so fmi no r i t i z e dc o mmu ni t i e s ”( I b i d ) .Th i se s s a ywi l lbed i vi d e di ti nt ot woma i np a r t s : fir s t l y , Iwi l lbet a ki n gt h er e a de ro nabr i e fj o ur ne yofmye xp e r i e nc eonc omi n gt oCa na daf r om a nAf r i c a nc ou nt r y . Se c ond l y , t hewo r kofCha r i a nd ywi l lbea l s obr i e flys umma r i z e da ndd e e pl y a n a l y z e di nh o wf ol kl or ei spr e s e nti nt heDi a s p or at oc ha l l e n g e sf a c e d( f o r g e t t i n ga nd r e me mbe r i n g )i nr e c l a i mi n gh i s t o r y .

Pi c t ur et hi s , onJ u ne1 3th, 2 00 9, a t7 : 30pm, mypa r e n t sc a l l e dmyt woe l de rs i s t e r sa ndI t ot h e i rb e dr oo m. At7: 3 3pm, myp a r e nt sbr o k et h ene wst oust ha twewi l lnol o n g e rb el i vi n gi n Gh a naa n ymor e , bu tr a t h e rwe ’ l lb epa c ki n ga ndmo vi n gt oCa na dat o mo r r o w. 7 : 35pm, b yt he n mys i s t e r sa n dIwe r es c r e a mi n ga ndr e j oi c i n g , h u gg i n goned uet ot h es u dd e ny e te x c i t i n gn e ws . J u ne14tha t8a m, web oa r d e dt hepl a nea n de v e r yt hi n gt ha twa sh u g ebe c a met i n ya st hep l a n e t ooko ff.I twa sa tt h i smome n tt h a tIr e a l i z e dIwa sl e a v i n gmybi r t hpl a c e ,mymo t he r l a n d, t he p l a c et h a tIc a l l e dhomef or9y e a r s . Iwa sl e a vi n gbe hi ndf a mi l y , f r i e nd s , a n dmos ti mpo r t a n t l y myc u l t ur ef o ra n o t h e r .Ir e me mbe rf e e l i n ge x c i t e d,s c a r e d , a nxi o us , y e te x c i t e da g a i nbu tmos t i mpo r t a n t l yIr e me mbe ra s ki n gmymot he r ,“ Wh a ti fIf o r g e tmyc u l t u r a li d e nt i t y ? ”Sh es mi l e d, h e l dmyha n da nds a i d“ J us t be c a us ey o u ’ r el e a v i n gho me , do e sno tme a nh omewi l ll e a v ey ou . Yo u rf a t he ra ndIwi l la l wa y st r yo urv e r ybe s t t op r e s e r v eourc u l t u r a li d e nt i t y , a n di ndo i n gs o we ’ l lt e a c hy ouno tt or e p l a c eo urt r a di t i ona lv a l ue sf o rf o r e i gni de a s ” . I twa s n ’ tu nt i lwea r r i v e d t h i nCa na daonJ u ne1 5 , t ha taf e wmont h sd o wnt hel i nemys i s t e r sa ndIwe r ef a c i n ga ni de n t i t y

c r i s i s . Wh yi si ts oi mpor t a n tt or e c on ne c tt ot h ee t hni ci de n t i t y ?Wh yd oma n yr e t u r nt ot h e i r a n c e s t o r i a ll a n d?Toa ns we rt hi sq ue s t i on,“ t h e or i e spr e s e n t e dbe gi nf r omas t a nd poi nto fs e l f h a t ea nddi s t a nc i n gf r o mt hec or eo ft hes e l f i de n t i t yi no r de rt oa s s i mi l a t ei nt hemu l t i c ul t u r a l s o c i e t yi nwhi c ht he yl i v e ” , a n di nt hi sc a s eCa n a d a .( Ar un g a2 7) . I nmo s tc a s e sduet ot hel i f e s p a no fo ne , c ul t u r a lr e c o nne c t i o ni st r i g g e r e d“ ma ki n gt he ms t a r kl ya wa r eo fr a c i a ldi ffe r e nc e s a n dt hene g a t i v ei mpl i c a t i o nst ha te x i s ti nt hec ont e x tofamul t i c u l t u r a ls oc i e t y ” .( I bi d4 8) . Li k emye xp e r i e nc ea ndbe l on g ne s st ot heAf r i c a nDi a s po r a , Da v i dCha r i a nd y ’ sama n “ b e l o n g i n gt ot heCa r i bbe a nDi a s p or aus ef ol kl or ea sat oolt oi n v e s t i g a t et he i rpa s t ”( Al on s o3) . I na d di t i o n, j u s tl i k ema n y“ pr e v i ou sg e n e r a t i o nswhot r i e dt of or g e torhi d ec e r t a i nt r a uma t i c

e x pe r i e nc e st ha tma r k e dt he i re x i l e ” , t hef ol kl o r et oo ls e r v e si t sp ur pos ea sawa yt o“ r e c o nc i l e t he ms e l v e swi t hah i s t or yt ha tha u nt st h e m” . ( I bi d ) . Th e r ei snode n yi n go ra r gume n t a t i v ed e ba t e t ha ts a y ss l a v e r ywa sn o tat r a uma t i ce x pe r i e nc eofbl a c ka nc e s t o r s , i nf a c ti twa ss ot r a uma t i c a f t e rs l a v e r ywa sa b ol i s he d , s o mef e l tt hen e e dt odi s s oc i a t et he ms e l v e sf r om t he i rt r a di t i on sa n d c ul t ur e swhi l et h eo t he r st i l lwa nt e dt of e e las e n s eo fol dho mei nt he i rne who me . I nf a c t , b e c a u s eo ft her e c on ne c t i o n, t h e“ Ye a rofRe t u r n, Gha n a2 019 ”wa sc r e a t e da s“ ama j orl a ndma r k s p i r i t u a la n dbi r t hr i g htj o ur ne yi n v i t i n gt heGl o ba lAf r i c a nf a mi l y , h omea nda br oa d ,t oma r k 4 00y e a r soft h ea r r i v a loft h efir s t e ns l a v e dAf r i c a n si nJ a me s t o wn, Vi r g i ni a . . . ”t hi se v e ntwa s i n t e n de dt oc e l e b r a t ea n dwe l c omeAf r i c a nsi nt hedi a s p or a . ( “ Ye a ro fRe t u r n” )

Ont h et op i co fr e t ur n i n gh omea n dr e me mbe r i n g ,So uc ouy a nt , “ an o v e lo ff o r g e t t i n g”a s t hes ub t i t l e si n di c a t e s , i san o v e la b ou ta nunn a me dna r r a t o rwhou s e sh i smo t he r ’ ss i c kne s so f d e me nt i aa sa ne x c us el e a v eho me , y e td uet ot het r a u maofhe rpa s ta n df or g e t f ul ne s s ,a l l o wsh i m t or e t u r n,r e c o gni z ea nds h o wi nt e r e s t i nt h es t o r i e so fpa s to fi mmi gr a nt s .Se ti nCa n a d a ,t he s t or yna r r a t e st h a tofaCa r i bb e a nf a mi l y , aMo t h e rAde l ewhoh a ss t r u g gl e df r omde me n t i af or ma n yy e a r sa n dh e rt woy o un g e rs on s . Li k et het i t l eoft h es t or y ,“t oi de n t i f yt h es o u c ou y a n t , “ y o u ’ l lon l yn e e dt ol o okf o ra nol dwo ma ni nt hevi l l a g ewh oa pp e a r st oha v eb e e nb e a t e n” ( Cha r i a nd y ,So uc ouy a nt13 5) .“ Ade e p l yne u r o t i cc r e a t ur e , ”t h es ouc o u y a n tc a nber e c o gn i z a b l e f r om h e rb r ui s e s , c a l l i n ghe routa s“ t h eo net obl a me ”( I b i d ) . Th es i gni fic a nc eoft hes ou c ou y a n t i nt h eno v e ls e r v e sa sat o oli nAd e l e ’ sl i f et os ho wh o wt r a uma t i ce x pe r i e nc e sc a ne a s i l yma k e o nef or g e ta b ou tt hepa s t . Tho s ewea r r i v e di nNor t hAf r i c ay e a r sa g oa si mmi gr a nt sf a c e dal otof c ha l l e n g e sa ndha r d s h i pn otj us t f r o m be i n gadi ffe r e nts ki nc o l or ( b l a c k)bu tf r omc u l t ur a ls ho c k . Li vi n gi nat i mewh e nr a c i s m wa sh e a v i l ye vi d e nt , a ndb e i n gd omi n a t e db yt hewh i t e s , i twa se a s y

f o rp e op l el i k eAd e l et ohi d et h e i rf e e l i n g sb e c a us ee xp e r i e nc e sl i k ebe i n ggr o ome df o r p r os t i t ut i o n, a ndr e a l z i n gt ha th e rmot he rwa s“ awh or e ”c a nbev e r yt r a uma t i z i n g . ( Cha r i a n d y 1 89 ) .Th i si swha twec a l lPos t t r a u ma t i cSt r e s sDi s or d e r( PTSD) , t hi sd i s or d e ra n ds y mpt o msc a n e a s i l ya ffe c to ne ’ sbe h a v i orduet oc e r t a i ne v e nt s .Fo ri n s t a n c e , t h emome ntt h eUSs ol di e r spou r g a s ol i neont h e m –Ad e l ea ndh e rmo t he r, Ad e l ei mme di a t e l y“ fli c kst hel i gh t e r …h ol dsi tt ot h e l o os ec or n e rof[ h e rmo t he r ’ s ]whi t es l e e v e ”( Ch a r i a nd y1 92–193 ) . Byc h oos i n gt hi sa c t i on, s he f e e l sa sl i k es h e ’ sbe i n gs e tf r e ef r om h e rmot he r ’ sho l d. Mo r e o v e r , l i k eas i mi l e , t hi sfir ena r r a t i v e r e s e mbl e st h es o uc o y a nti t s e l fi nh o wi tt r a ns f o r msi nt oafir e ba l ll e a vi n gbr ui s e s , j u s tl i k eho w Ad e l e ’ sa c t i o nsl e f the rama r k, s i mp l yr e mi n di n gh e ro ft hee v e n tt h a tt o okp l a c e . Ama r kt h a ti s i mpr i n t e di nhe r , ame mor yt ha ti si mpr i nt e di nhe rmi nd ,t h a tnoma t t e rwha tt hema r kwi l l a l wa y sbeonhe ra n df o l l o wh e rt h r ou gh outh e rl i f e . Li k et her a c i a la n dc u l t u r a lc ha l l e n g e si n Ca na da ,i mmi gr a nt swhoh a v ewa l k e dat r a uma t i cpa t hmos toft het i met e ndt ono te n g a g ei na n y a t t a c kst h a twi l la l l o wt he mt obes e n tb a c kt owhe r et h e y“ e s c a p e df r om”be c a us et he y ’ v eb e e n” g i v e nac ha nc ei nan e wl a nd”( Cha r i a nd y51 )t he r e f or e , t he“ e a s y ”r ou t ei st of o r g e t .Asama t t e r o ff a c t , d uet ot he“ e x t r e mel i v i n gc ond i t i o nswhe r ee s c a p i n g ,e mi gr a t i ono re x i l ebe c o me st h e o nl ywa yo fs u r vi v a l ” ,t hi sc a us e sma n yt os i l e nc et he i rs t o r i e sdu et ot hes uffe r i n g . ( Al o ns o6) . I n c ho os i n gt os i l e nc et h e i rv o i c e , i s s ue ss u c ha sb e i n gc a r di n go rd i s c r i ma t e di sno tma d ea wa r eof . I nt hep a s t , whi t epe op l ewe r ev e r ymu c hpr e j ud i c et o wa r dst hebl a c k ,ma ki n ga s s u mp t i o n wi t h outg e t t i n gt he i rf a c t ss t r a i gh to rc ho os i n gt ol e a r nt h et r ut h. Fore x a mp l e , whi l eAd e l ei s b us ybu yi n gal e monme r i n gu epe i , aWh i t ema na ut o mi c a l l ya s s u me ss he ’ sapr o s t i t ut e ,a n d “ a s k s[ Ade l e ]i fs hewa nt st of u c k ”( 5 0) . I nr e l a t i ont ohe rs i c kne s s ,

“ b e c a us eAd e l es u ffe r sf r om an e ur ol o gi c a li l l ne s st ha ta ffe c tme mor y…f o r g e t t i n gi si n ma n yc a s e sas t r a t e gyus e dt os i l e nc epe r s ona le x pe r i e nc e so fa b us ea ndvi ol e nc e . Th e r e f or e , Ad e l e ’ sc o nt r o lt ok e e phe rpa i nf ulpa s ts i l e nc e dv a n i s h e ddu et ot hef a c tt ha t s h es u ffe r sf r om t hed e me nt i a , a ndi ti st h e nwhe ns h es t a r t sr e v e a l i n ga l lt heme mor i e s t ha ts h eha sbe e nk e e p i n gi nhe rs u bc o ns c i ou s ”( Al ons o6 ) .

Si n c et h et oo lo ff or g e t t i n gi sus e da sac o pi n gme c h a ni s m,i twa sn o ts odi ffic ul tf orAd e l e t oope nt ohe rs o nsa bo uthe re xp e r i e n c e s . Byt hena r r a t o rr e t ur ni n gho me , a n dc a r i n gf orhi s mot he ra l l o we dhe rt os e ea ndc on c l udet ha th e“ woul dn e v e rl e a v eme ”( 20 ) . Se e i n gt hi sa c t i on f r om h e ra c t i o ns ,e na b l e sh e rt oop e na bo uthe re x pe r i e nc e s , i na n yt hi n g , d e a l i n gwi t hi twi l l a l l o whe rt omo v eonora tl e a s td e a lwi t hhe ri l l n e s spr o pe r l y .

Tos um u p,t hef o l kl or eus e si nt h en o v e ls e r v e di t spu r p o s eb e c a u s ei t ’ st r a ns f or ma t i o n t hr o u ghme mor ya l l o we di tt omo v ea nd“ me r g et hep a s ti nt ot h ep r e s e nta nd ,t h us , t h ec on c e ptof t i mev a ni s he sa n dt hepa s ti st he nt r a n s f or me di nt oamyt hi c a lpr e s e n tt hr o u ghme mor y ”( Al on s o 1 1) .Pa s tde t a i l sa n ds t or i e sa bo utAd e l e ’ sho me l a ndi nTr i ni da da n de x pe r i e nc e si nCa n a daa sa n i mmi gr a n tc a nv e r ymuc hfin di t swa yi nt ot h epr e s e n t .Th epr e s e ntb e i n gt hen a r r a t or sl i v e , who v e r ymu c hwa nt e dt okno wa b outh i shome . Byr e t u r ni n ghomet oc a r ef o rh i smot he rs ho wst he i mpo r t a n c eo ft a ki n gc a r et h os ewhos t r u g gl ewi t hme nt a li l l ne s s , e s pe c i a l l yPTSD. Kn o wi n g wh yc h i l dh oodwa sd i ffic ul tgr o wi n gup,t hena r r a t o rwa sa bl et ound e r s t a ndhi smo t he r s i t u a t i on s ,a n ds y mpa t hi z ewi t hat r a umavi c t i mo rs u ffe r ....