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Cuisine Diversity among the Mexican and Southwestern Cultures – Copy
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Cuisine Diversity among the Mexican and Southwestern Cultures
Cultural heritage is one of the aspects that different communities adore and live to be proud of no matter where they are located. Various communities have different cultures that are exhibited in various forms such as foods, clothing and other ways of life. In the book “Border Bites’ in McWhorter, it’s no different as the author; Heather Gianakos compares various delicacies from different cultures in a bid to show the rich foods that different communities adore as well as the differences in those types of foods. Reading from the book name ‘Border Bites,’ we already have a clue of what the author is planning to discuss in the book as it is all about delicacies. Again by the name ‘Border,’ the reader is intrigued with the thoughts that the author wants to discuss issues that cross over the border and for this case the Mexican and American border. The author sets up the essay by making the readers aware of the topic to be discussed, and that is an overlap in the different variations of the American foods.
The author’s primary purpose of writing the essay is to educate the readers making them aware of the rich diversity of the American foods and how different they are from a community to the other. A lot of people are not aware of the differences that exist in the types of foods consumed by various communities. In the book, the author discusses the differences between the Southwestern foods with Latin influences versus the traditional Mexican cooking, and therefore the primary aim of the author is to make the reader aware of the differences thus serving an educational motive. The cultural traditions, as well as the geographical influences, are among the factors that contribute to the subtle flavor differences among the two types of foods.
The essay is a comparison as well as a contrast due to various reasons. For one, the author chooses two subjects, and that is the Southwestern food versus the Mexican food to which tend to be closely related in the sense that the two communities border one another and therefore there has been a lot of cultural exchanges between the two communities, and consequently they are enough to make a comparison. However, there do exist some differences in the delicacies, and consequently, the topic under discussion is worth for contrast, and thus the author compares and contrasts the foods with a specific aim of educating the reader. At the beginning of the essay, the author mentions that the differences between the foods are subtle and most often, subtle differences get lost in a subject by subject comparison (McWhorter, 374). Point by point comparison enables the author of the book to focus on the petty scale items with close attention to detail in the bid to distinguish the differences and similarities in a subject.
Various situations give rise to the cooking styles and here is where the main differences and similarities are seen. The other makes the readers aware that there are difficult situations for the southwestern foods and this is evident from the topic sentence. The author, therefore, tells the reader that she will discuss the conditions under which the different styles get to be developed. Concerning the Southwestern foods, there are varying difficult conditions to those of the Mexican foods. In the southwestern foods, the cooking is done over the campfires with minimal ingredients while on the other hand, the Mexican foods are cooked at home and around the coastal areas (McWhorter, 374). The Mexican food varies again in that the food is cooked with plenty of seafood fresh fruits and vegetation, an ingredient that is hard to find in the southwestern foods as the people are not close to the shores.
The other difference between the two foods arises in the manner to which the tortillas are made. The tortillas are a thin and flat pancake that is made from the maize flour and can be eaten hot or cold mostly with a savory filling. In Mexico, the tortillas are made from corn and have been a traditional food among the indigenous Mexicans for many years (McWhorter, 374). There are slight differences in the making of tortillas from the people of the southwest in that the culture borrows much from the Mexican culture in that the tortillas are the same shapes but rather differ in the content. In the Southwestern tortillas, the main ingredient is wheat flour, and this replaces the corn flour in the Mexican culture in making the tortillas. In making the difference clear, the author provides the example of tamales to support the claim that corn is one of the key difference between the Mexican cuisine and that of the Southwestern.
The difference between the two cuisines tend to deepen further in that apart from the tortillas, other ingredients tend to make the difference, and this is evidenced in the preparation of meat. Meat is prepared differently in the two cultures. The southwestern cuisine is made up of fried chicken, and this is different from the Mexican cuisine in that the Mexican cooking is composed of stewed meat and sometimes baked (McWhorter, 374). From this difference, the Mexican cuisine of meat is served with stew making it different from the southwestern cuisine that is fried with no stew for the same type of meat that is derived from chicken.
Apart from chicken meat, beef is another recipe that distinguishes the two cultures. The similarity is that they both consume beef and meat, but the main difference arises in the recipes. The southwestern culture cuisine of beef is made up of grilled meat (McWhorter, 374). The Mexican cuisine of beef is served with a combination of other things, spiced and filling a tortilla. To the Mexican culture, meat is an ingredient but not treated as the central focus.
Pork is another kind of meat that is a differentiating factor between the foods of the two cultures. In the southwestern cultures, the barbeque is famous, and the author describes competitions in the making of the barbeque. The author further notes that the origin of the barbeque is in the Mexican cooking and it’s, therefore, right that despite the barbeque being famous in the southwestern culture, it has its origin from the Mexican culture (McWhorter, 374). The author continues to note that the style of preparing the pork is similar, but the difference arises among the ingredients used in the preparation of the delicacy. The author through the barbeque prepared from pork is able to convince the readers that the southwestern culture in terms of food was influenced by the Mexican foods considering that the tortillas are a Mexican cuisine that has also been adopted by the Southwestern cultures.
The author has achieved her primary goal of showcasing the differences and similarities among the cuisines of the Southwestern and Mexican foods. Besides, she has also served the purpose of educating the readers in that they have been made aware of the similarities between the foods of the two cultures while at the same time made aware of the dominant culture. The Mexican foods that most influenced the southwestern foods such as the tortillas and barbeque and therefore making the two cultures almost similar. The author has also made clear distinctions between the two cultures through examining the minor distinctions preventing the reader having the view of a singular style, and this includes fried and stewed meat and chicken differentiating between the two cultures.
Work Cited
McWhorter, Kathleen T. Successful College Writing: Skills-Strategies-Learning Styles. Macmillan, 2011.
Literary Conflicts in The Grapes of Wrath
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Literary Conflicts in The Grapes of Wrath
The novel The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck talks about the journey of Joad family and how the family is faced by several conflicts. The family experiences before the journey started, during the journey and after arrival, clearly illustrate the four major types of conflicts. Man vs. man, man vs. society, man vs. nature and man. In this case man represents a single society which is Joad’s family and the journey is the multiple encounters that the single society; Joad family conflicts with. Joad family during their journey conflicts with the society they meet, conflicts among themselves or among family itself, conflicts with nature and other elements. The experience with the family depicts how a single entity can have different experiences with other entities both those are of the same nature and those that are different. The Grapes of Wrath implies that society can encounter different conflicts depending on ethnic, and a community setting.
Man Against Man
The conflict between man and man is repeatedly evident in the story, beginning right from when Tom kills a man at a dance and claims that is was in self defense. This can be seen when he says “I killed a guy in a fight…….He got a knife in me and I killed him with a shovel that was laying there” 28. This quote illustrates the clear conflict that usually exists between men. Although the incident is not included in the book, this dialogue is a clear indication of what can occur when conflict is not resolved amicably. In fact, the manner with which the conflict escalates to the point of a man being killed is typical of serious man against man conflicts.
Conflict is also seen when the farmers find out that it is one of them that has betrayed them in chapter 5. The chapter focuses on the conflict between the farmers and the bank, which has sent people to come and evict the farmers from their land. The quote “”What are you doing this kind of work for – against your own people?” is a clear indication of the conflict between the farmers and the messengers of the bank sent to drive out the farmers from their land. The tractor driver actually fails to see the farmers as human beings, as do others like him, who have been sent to drive the farmers out of their land. The conflict however, ends with the farmers having to move away from their land, despite their best efforts.
Another instance of man against man conflict can be seen when the migrant families go to buy parts from a second hand car dealer. It is a classic demonstration of the migrant families having to buy inferior parts and cars. Due to the increased demand for cars amongst the migrating families, the car dealers opt to exploit the families in light of their desperation. They not only sell to them damaged cars and parts, but charge them exorbitant prices, as they are aware that these families do not have any option. The quote
Man against Society
Man in the novel conflict with several issues in the society, even the most promising and hardworking people find themselves on the wrong side of the society. The conflict among man and society exists because of the different society that exists. It is because of this difference that we see Jaod’s family migrating from their mother land to new lands. Tom Joad the protagonist in the story is imprisoned for four years in McAlester due to his disagreement with what the society expects. “Sure I have been in McAlester. Been there four years.…I’m, going to my old man’s place so I don’t have to lie to get a job” (16). Using Tom’s story we can clearly see that the society demands a lot from man and there is no room for relaxation. Joad has to get a job to survive and the even though he has been in prison for a while his family and the surrounding do not expect him to have time to relax. Rather than the fact that he is the oldest son in Joan’s family, being a man call for a major responsibility from the society to guide his family. The society pushes all individuals in the society both rich, poor young and old. This is well evidenced by the forceful migration of the landowners. The tenants have to push the landowners out of their property due to their ability to pay taxes. The banks to do not want to understand the challenges that the landowners are going through, but they have to attain their mission of making profits. The land owners feel the injustice of the tenants and the bank “We can’t depend on it. The bank- the monster has to have profit all the time “(35). The constant conflict with man and society affects all persons even those that the society depicts as good, for instance, Tom is later trusted by his family and other landowners who feel that he may help them in making their lives better. However, on the other hand, the society pushes him to his limits and forces him to solve his disputes with violence. “ The first time he knew he had missed and struck a shoulder, but the second time his crushing blow” (386). Using the conflict in the society it is clear that there are different encounters in the society depending on one’s ethnicity and social class.
Man against nature
The setting of The Grapes of Wrath novel shows that changes that America is facing. The American life is changing from traditional to modernized America. Though these changes may seem positive to many the author John Steinbeck has a completely different opinion. Using different characters in the novel, one can tell that the change in the America’s way of life has encouraged industrialism which is driven by tractors in the communities. Changing the way of life has affected all societies and the results are negative and behold the control of man. The entire community is affected by drought and no home is left without feeling the negative impact of the natural occurrences. After Joah had arrived home he found that his family was not there but had moved due to harsh conditions brought about by nature. The conflict with man in Oklahoma is seen through the drought which makes people lose their homes. “The wind grew stronger, whisked under stones. Carried up straws and old leaves, marking its course as it sailed across the fields” (6). The negative occurrence affected the entire population but the degree of it impact depends on the society differences. For instance, the landowners had to be rushed out by the tenants and the bank for their inability to settle their debts. Even though nature was cruel to the Oklahoma community only a specific group had to leave leaving behind the tenants and the bank owners. Man does not only conflict with nature as a group or as a community but also as an individual. Noah is a man who faced natures harsh as an individual even before he was able to defend himself. Though at times modernized life provides opportunity to safeguard what we treasure this is not always that case especially for the weak and vulnerable. From Steinbeck’s story, Noah is injured when he was still a child “Pa using his hands, his strong fingers for forceps he had pulled and twisted the baby. The midwife arriving late had found the baby head pulled out of shape,” (80).
A Passage to India Film Review
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A Passage to India: Film Review
Introduction
A passage to India is a dramatized film of a novel of the same title by E. M. Forster that was published in 1924. The film, which was released in 1984, was written and directed by David Lean. It addresses issues that came up during the British Raj (era of colonization in India) (Phillips, 2006). It addresses issues such as British imperialism, racial tensions, evils of colonialism, misuse of the law and sexual repression of the era. Although some major issues that occurred during the colonial era are not explicit, the film clearly reflects the relationship that existed between the Britons and the locals in India (Phillips, 2006).
Discussion
A Passage of India presents a story of a young woman, Ms Adela Quested and her elderly companion, Mrs. Moore who decide to move from Britain to Chandrapore to see the “real India”, which is widely perceived as a land of Mystery and a land of riches. After arriving in India, they are welcomed by Mrs. Moore’s son, Ronny, who works as British magistrate in India (Phillips, 2006). However, after arriving in India, the two are disappointed to find that there is no change from the life they led back in Britain. They find that the Britons in India have isolated themselves from the natives and are still leaving in the British culture. This image is well characterized by Ronny, who perceives the local Indians as untrustworthy. Mrs. Moore finds that her son has changed since he left Britain and he has started distrusting people (Phillips, 2006). By showing the change in behavior of Ronny, the film seeks to illustrate the effects of colonial rule on the excluded India populace and the corrupted elite (Paranjape, 2012). The film portrays a picture of how the Indians were cast outside their land during the colonial era. The distrust for educated Indians led the Britons to bar the local Indians from highest-paying positions and jobs Paranjape, 2012).
Unlike other Britons, Mrs. Moore and Ms Quested appreciated the “real India.” The two appreciate the Indians, even though the places in which they were leaving aided in isolating them from the locals (Phillips, 2006). Mrs. Moore and Ms Quested represent a small group of Britons who refused to conform to the ideas and beliefs held by majority of the Britons who did not consider India as a home during the colonial era. At some point, Ms. Quested falls in love with Aziz, a young Muslim doctor who is based in India (Sinha, 2012). Most of the Britons perceived India as a place where they have occupied in order to enrich themselves and the British economy, but not to benefit the natives. Thus, the majority of the Britons did not have interest on India’s culture.
The film also demonstrates how the Indians distrusted the Britons during the colonial era. Aziz organized a bridge party and invited both Indians and a few Britons. However, the invitation was not warmly received by Indians as most of them showed skepticism. They also disliked the fact that the party was arranged by a British official. At the same time, most of the British officials who were invited failed to attend the party (Phillips, 2006). The film reflects the historical issues that occurred during colonial era. As depicted in the film, the British colonial administrators were in India to pursue lucrative investment opportunities as well as to purse lucrative careers, as administrators and bureaucrats in fields such as police, justice, revenue, public works, education, postal and railway services and engineering. This made many British officials to move from middle to the upper class. As a result, they found it difficult to integrate with the low-class locals (Deutschmann, 2011).
An issue also arises in the film in which Mrs. Quested accuses Aziz of raping her after they visited Marabar Caves. As the case proceeds in court, Mrs. Quested reveals that she had lied to the court and that she had been assaulted by another person other than Aziz (Phillips, 2006). This issue demonstrates how the law was misused by the Britons to mistreat the locals in India during colonial era. Generally, the film reflects many of the events that occurred during colonial period in India. However, the film does not explicitly indicate some of the major issues that occurred. For instance, it does not portray how most Indians wanted the Britons to move out of their land (Deutschmann, 2011).
Conclusion
In conclusion, A Passage to India clearly brings the context of colonial era in India to the audience. However, the film may be boring to the audience as is set against a tumultuous Indian background. As well, the film is vast in physical scale. Despite this, it is funny and intimate and clearly moves in a manner that is controlled by the maker. Also, it is full of vivid characters; it is played in a wonderful provocative style; and it is played to near perfection.
Works Cited
Deutschmann, Moritz. Edward Said and the Cultural History of British Colonialism in India.
Norderstedt: GRIN Verlag. 2011
Paranjape, Makarand R.. Making India: Colonialism, National Culture, and the Afterlife of
Indian English Authority: Colonialism, National Culture, and the Afterlife of Indian English Authority. New York: Springer, 2012
Phillips, Gene D., Beyond the Epic: The Life & Films of David Lean. Lexington: University
Press of Kentucky. 2006
Sinha, Nitin. Communication and Colonialism in Eastern India: Bihar, 1760s-1880s. Anthem
Press. 2012