Within my project, I aim to explore ideas of cultural identity as my project reflects my experiences with culture as a second-generation immigrant in America. The research article titled “Living at the Crossroads of Cultural Worlds: The Experience of Normative Conflicts by Second Generation Immigrant Youth”, by Giguère, Lalonde, and Lou, explores conflicts faced by second-generation South Asian and East Asian youth in Canada, providing insight into the bicultural experience. Within the article, the authors discuss various ideas that can help readers better understand the relationship between mainstream and heritage cultures as it relates to second-generation immigrants. One idea that is discussed is the cultural differences between first-generation parents and second-generation youth. The parents’ knowledge and understanding of culture are rooted in direct experience from their original country typically frozen at their time of departure while the youth access their heritage through their familial experiences. In this context, parents often attempt to maintain heritage norms by encouraging their children to adopt behaviors and norms that are closely tied to family traditions and family honor. The authors note how second-generation immigrants are exposed to the norms of mainstream culture on a deeper level which leads to greater involvement in mainstream culture. For example, the authors state that “it is easier for these young people to master the mainstream languages, and more likely for them to acquire autonomy norms that are typically not supported by the heritage culture” (Giguère et al., 2010). While immigrant parents often attempt to preserve heritage by instilling it within their children, these sets of norms can conflict with the values and beliefs youth are exposed to through mainstream culture. Another concept the authors explain within the article is the idea of cultural frame switching: “when individuals alternate between different cultural interpretive frames as a function of the cues in their environment” (Giguère et al., 2010). The cultural identity of these youths is shaped by environmental cues in different contexts. This may allow them to employ a particular set of norms considering the situation and ignore the other less relevant set of norms. One example of this is how second-generation immigrants may adopt heritage norms at home and mainstream norms at school. As opposed to conflict between cultural groups, it can be better characterized as conflict between familial and mainstream norms.
Overall, this research article is relevant to my project as it provides insight into the experiences of second-generation immigrants. Understanding how mainstream culture and heritage culture interact is an important aspect of my project that can help me unpack the topic of cultural identity as it pertains to creating an EP that fuses Chinese heritage with mainstream American culture. Understanding how these elements interact with each other can help inform my creative decisions and offer insight into my project.
This week, I created a timeline for my project and found more research on the topic of cultural identity. For this upcoming week, I’d like to dive deeper into the research and take notes on the theories that can help me develop a better understanding on the topic of cultural identity. Further more, I’d like to do some research on Chinese philosophy and aesthetics such as Taosim, Confucianism, and Mohism and how manifests itself within traditional Chinese music. I’d also like to reach out to potential committee members this upcoming week.
Bibliography
Giguère, B., Lalonde, R., & Lou, E. (2010). Living at the Crossroads of Cultural Worlds: The Experience of Normative Conflicts by Second Generation Immigrant Youth. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 4(1), 14–29. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-9004.2009.00228.x