American Perspectives

Short Texts

Lecture on 14 September 2015 by

Sigrid Brevik Wangsness

“Letter to Ma”by

Merle Woo (1941- )

Asian-American writer and university lecturer

“Letter to Ma” was written in 1980

A personal and autobiographical letter

The Asian-American experience: “model immigrants”?

Context

The female immigrant experience

Ma’s story

The daughter’s story (= the narrator, “I”)

Emily and Paul’s stories

1st, 2nd and 3rd generation immigrants

How would you summarize the difference between being a first, second and third-generation Asian American as portrayed in this letter?

Describe the conflicting feelings the daughter has about “Ma”. (Compare the introduction to the conclusion).

The author gives us a very visual image of the “two worlds” the two women represent. Which?

Generation gap

For Ma, survival was the main concern, and in many ways she exemplifies the cost of immigration in human happiness. What is the daughter’s main goal?

How does the daughter define her role as a “Yellow Feminist”?

What will she fight against?

Physical security vs. emotional legacy

A major theme in immigrant literature generally is lack of communication. Why do you think the generation gap may be particularly painful for 1st and 2nd generation immigrants? What is it that the narrator feels she still needs from her mother?

How do Ma’s grandchildren provide hope for the future?

What is “the larger framework” in which the daughter sees their story?

Lack of communication

Barack Obama: Keynote Address,

Democratic Convention 2004(Senator from Illinois)

Important speeches in US history

The role of the President as a unifying symbol

What is a keynote address?

Who was Barack Obama then?

Context

Which typical American ideals and values does Mr. Obama refer to in his speech?

Which major historic events does he mention?

Why does he use history in this way, do you think?

American ideals and values

What are some of the presentation techniques and rhetorical devices that Mr. Obama uses?

How would you evaluate the delivery of his talk? Give some examples.

What about the structure of his speech?

Presentation techniques

Tom Wolfe:

A Man in Full: «The Saddlebags»

American author and journalist (1931- )

New Journalism

Realism, satire, humour

Study of a specific context Here: Atlanta in the 1990s. The world of politics and business

Context

Setting? Topic? Main characters?

- Charlie Croker - Mr. Peepgass - Harry Zale - Mr. Croker’s staff and the bank staff

«The Saddlebags»

How would you characterize the main participants at the meeting?

Briefly summarize the result of the meeting.

Why, then, does Mr. Peepgass stand there, «stunned, «speechless» at the end of the meeting?

What is the impression you get of American business culture in this excerpt?

American business culture