Christy
When writing of the Indian migrations during the 50s and 60s Rushdie argues "we are now partly of the West. Our identity is at once plural and partial. Sometimes we feel that we straddle two cultures; at other times, that we fall between two stools" (15). How has transnationalism affected peoples' perceptions of their identity and the identities of others? Does it complicate identity?
L.B.
If a country is not united by race, religion, culture of language, as Rushdie asserts about India, then how can it be united? Is this phenomena more common in the modern world and is it influenced by globalization?
Gavin
On page 17, "To be an Indian writer in this society is to face, everyday day, problems of definition. What does it mean to be "Indian" outside of India?" This idea of being labeled with a nationality is reoccurring in globalization. Why do you think that these labels are so important in society?
Amanda P.
The question "Does India exist?" appears multiple times throughout this section. Rushdie explains that the convergence of so many cultures, religions, etc in one space (as large as Europe, though you'd never guess it) makes it difficult to keep India "contained." What can be said about the US based on this assertion? Does any country, by these standards, really "exist?"
Ian
Where is the home for people of the periphery? Why can't the center recognize the periphery as a separate entity?
Alex P.
On P.18, Rushdie mentions that immigrants struggle in finding a way to balance the cultural practices of their past homelands with those of their new homelands. What does this say about the social construct of space? Do WE define the space or does the space define US?
LaKeisha
Throughout the whole article, authenticity seems very important, why is it so important for the author to call himself British ot Indian?
Alex V.
Why does Rushdie ask if India exists? How does this reflect Appadurai's comments about the tension between nation and state?
Julie
How does Rushdie's question, "Does India exist," tie into the Ferguson and Gupta reading we did earlier in the class?
James
What affect has post-colonialism had on nationalism in India?
Stephanie
Within "The Riddle of Midnight," India is looked at as extremely diverse and even disconnected as a nation. Within the article, it is noted that "its people are not united by race, religion, or culture." Does this alone take away India's ability to gain a sense of nationalism? Does diversity within a culture in terms of these different aspects inherently lead to a lack of nationalism?
Amanda B.
Since this form of commodity link now involves human people as the "item", how do you feel about globalization now and what does this say about it? Should this film make us as guilty, upset and ashamed as the mardi gras bead one? Those were just plastic beads, these are real people.
Lizzy
Is this circle of domestic workers necessary? Is there an easier and better solution to the economic problems?
Julie
At the end of the film, a boy who had an au pair, Babie, said that he thought that Babie had learned from European culture that she can be independent, that she "doesn't have to be a slave." While this boy had good intentions, I couldn't help but feel that she was, in a way, a slave to globalization, to money and capitalism. As one of the hiring mothers herself said, "how much of a choice does this woman really have?" Do you see domestic servitude as freeing or as enslaving?
Amanda P.
I was struck by the references to domestic work as business, a commodity, an export, etc. What was the benefit of hearing from the Italian and Dutch mothers who hired these workers? Do you think they acknowledge to "emotional labor" of these women? Do you think they believe that they are doing the domestic worker a favor?
Ian
How ironic is this whole situation, a woman going off to get paid to care for a child who then hires someone to care for her own? Is there really a global market for mothers? Who benefits more?
Natalie
There is a point in the movie when they put two scenes back to back; one talks about the opportunity that the Phillipino women get to go abroad and work as a "blessed gift from the Lord" and the next scene a business man refers to these same women as exports. Which description represents this process of globalization better? Can it be both at the same time?
Hannah
Is the fact that many of these phillipino women taking care of american children leaving them with a better understanding of their culture, are we dewesternizing our children, or westernizing philipino wimen and families?