Part of living in a globalized world is our encounter with foreign cultures, both at school and at work. To develop an understanding and respect for other cultures is quintessential in order to succeed in a globalized world. It can also prevent cultural misunderstanding and blunders.
Our class has therefore studied the cultural iceberg and discussed its meanings. In addition, we have looked at various songs and videos where cross-cultural communication is an issue. The poem “The Fat Black Woman Goes Shopping” by Grace Nichols is a good example of different value systems and cultures. Can you think of what the theme(s) and messages in this poem are?
- Watch these two clips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed7C3gAXQNA&feature=related
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTtVVHg41kU&feature=related
3. What are the differences and similarities between these two clips?
4. Discuss: Do you think the shopping experiences of the black woman would have been different if she was a. Tall and slim and b. A beautiful white woman. c. A rich black woman. d. A black man?
5.Write your own poem, a micropoem (Twitterpoem) of no more than 140 characters. It could be written as a poem/blogpost/comment. E.g.
Shopping
Is enjoyable to those with a thick wallet and credit card
Nothing similar to those whose ward
Is the empty bank account
That only dismount
To complete blood count
The wolfs of the credit card
Which only disregard
The scarred shopper the whopper
Who needs to be put in a locker
English 1 