Plumbing the hivemind!
Thu, May. 17th, 2007 06:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
oyceter1) So... does anyone have examples of sf/f books with third-culture kids, or anything resembling a third-culture kid?
A third-culture kid is basically someone who is born into one culture, raised in another, and then returns to the first culture or moves on to different cultures, thereby creating a "third culture" that is a mixture of the first two. Or something. The difference between a third-culture kid and an immigrant seems to be that last step of returning to the "original" culture and finding it foreign as well.
My one example so far is Temeraire, and that's a sort-of example.
2) Also, any examples of movies in which a white man goes into a non-white culture and saves it or somehow one-ups it? Or basically, movies set in non-white civilizations that still end up focusing on the white guy.
My current list:
- Last Samurai
- Dances with Wolves
- Kingdom of Heaven
- Glory
- Cry Freedom
- Blood Diamond
- Constant Gardener
- Geronimo
- The Last King of Scotland (critique + example of trope? Haven't seen it)
- Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (from current casting reports)
- Wind Talkers
A third-culture kid is basically someone who is born into one culture, raised in another, and then returns to the first culture or moves on to different cultures, thereby creating a "third culture" that is a mixture of the first two. Or something. The difference between a third-culture kid and an immigrant seems to be that last step of returning to the "original" culture and finding it foreign as well.
My one example so far is Temeraire, and that's a sort-of example.
2) Also, any examples of movies in which a white man goes into a non-white culture and saves it or somehow one-ups it? Or basically, movies set in non-white civilizations that still end up focusing on the white guy.
My current list:
- Last Samurai
- Dances with Wolves
- Kingdom of Heaven
- Glory
- Cry Freedom
- Blood Diamond
- Constant Gardener
- Geronimo
- The Last King of Scotland (critique + example of trope? Haven't seen it)
- Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (from current casting reports)
- Wind Talkers
(no subject)
Fri, May. 18th, 2007 10:27 am (UTC)"Sociologist David Pollock describes a TCK as "a person who has spent a significant part of his or her developmental years outside the parents' culture. The TCK builds relationships to all of the cultures, while not having full ownership of any. Although elements from each culture are assimilated into the TCK's life experience, the sense of belonging is in relationship to others of a similar background." In order to be a TCK, one must accompany their parents into a foreign culture. Entering another culture without one's parents, such as on a foreign exchange program, explicitly does not make one a TCK."
I read 'River of Gods' by Ian McDonald a few weeks ago. The book was sold to me as 'Indian cyber-punk'.
Two of the narrators possibly fit the bill:
Najia: born in Afghanistan, raised in Sweden and now in India, but planning to return to Afghanistan.
Vishram: doesn't count according to wikipedia but he was born in India, studied and lived in the UK and feels displaced when he returns to India.
(no subject)
Fri, May. 18th, 2007 05:29 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Fri, May. 18th, 2007 05:51 pm (UTC)There are dozens of us! Dozens!
(no subject)
Fri, May. 18th, 2007 07:09 pm (UTC)Actually, I just posted in my own journal (http://kintail.livejournal.com/95395.html) about my experience and my insecurities about whether I should call myself a TCK or not (why hello thar, issues of not belonging to any culture), since I ended up with a lot to say and I didn't want to get this thread any more off topic.
(no subject)
Fri, May. 18th, 2007 08:02 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Fri, May. 18th, 2007 08:04 pm (UTC)