Reading Reflection: Creative Activism and Art; Three Myths of Migrant Literature; Berlin as a Migratory Setting and CERP relflection

Readings Key Points and Discussion Prompt:

1. Creative activism and urban art have many uses, but key ones include: 1) use as as instrument to collectively re-appropriate the urban space to identify oneself as being an urban citizen, 2) turning the poetic expressions of more general ideas, beliefs and convictions into something political and 3) help people and issues that are given little representation escaping invisibility.
2. Saša Stanišiç argues that, just as the oneness of the category of immigrant literature is a myth, so too is the idea that each immigrant is the same and has the same experiences. In addition, a person's identity as an immigrant does not define their entire identity and person. 
3. Dr. Hubner argues that, while migrant literature did not truly have an avenue of expression in Germany until the 1980's, it has become increasingly more prevalent in recent years and is characterized by cultural complexity of the works and the intercultural style of writing.

I have read a handful of books written by and about people who are migrants, and it seems that the identity of "migrant" continues to be very significant to the characters in the book or to the themes the author presents. Stanisic argued that literature written by immigrants does not always have to contain these themes as main points. I'd like to discuss if immigrants/migrants/refugees can ever detach themselves from that facet of their personality, and should they if possible. 

CERP reflection: 

I think that, out of everything in the readings we have discussed so far, I am fascinated with the actual process of a migrant group transitioning from an isolated minority to an integrated minority (or even majority). In particular, I am interested in studying the policies created that are related to this process, whether they aid in the process of integration or prevent it. (This hearkens back to some of the earlier readings from the Age of Migration that talk about how different societies reacted to immigration in the fact of globalization). 

Age of Migration Chapter 10

Three key points:

1. Language and culture are both a means of communication and take on a symbolic meaning which is "central to ethnic group cohesion". 
2. There are two types of laws on citizenship: law of the blood and law of the soil. In practice, all states use both of these laws in some way, but most countries may have one that is more dominant. 
3. Some settlers merge into the general population and do not constitute separate communities; some settlers do form ethnic communities; and some settlers form ethnic minorities. The big difference between ethnic communities and minorities is that minorities usually share a disadvantaged socio-economic position and are partially excluded from wider society. 

I would like to talk in class about the difference between making assimilation easier or more accessible and erasure of culture. 

The Age of Migration Ch. 2 and Dublin Regulation Key Points

1. The first, and still present, theory on migration was economic. It relied on economic modeling that considered each migrant to be acting individually and rationally, by weighing the costs and benefits of migrating. It also relied on simplifications of how migration works and a "push-pull" model that really oversimplified the processes of migration. Empirical studies have supported the argument that this neo-classical economic perspective is too simple, such as the fact of the growing economic disparities between first- and third-world countries. 
2. Historically, we see that labor migration occurred due to the legacy of colonialism, conflict, and regional inequalities (especially in Europe), and it was one of the main ways that "links of domination" were established between first- and third-world countries. 
3. Family ties are so important to the process of migration; we see that there are many people who would not have migrated (or been able to do so as easily) without the support of their family. Very rarely do we see people migrating individually for the long-term. 
4. Transnationalism is not new; what is new is the raid proliferation of transnational communities under the conditions of globalization. 
5. There is a very big difference between the causes, characteristics, and effects of economically-motivated migration versus forced migration. This is an extremely important distinction to make. 

I have one question about a claim that the migration systems theory makes on page 26; that migration occurs between countries that already have prior links. I wonder if, in the case of the U.S., there are many people who come to the U.S. from countries that do not have very direct links between them and the U.S. For example, what about Irish immigrants that increasingly came to America after the 1840's due to the potato famine? Were there clear links established between the US and Ireland already, or was this attempt to make a new life in America due to desperation and a belief in the American dream? 

The Age of Migration Chapter 1 Reading Reflection

The first main take away that I got from this week's reading, "The Age of Migration", was how pervasive the impacts of globalization are in so many different areas of the world and in so many different disciplines. As someone who is studying economics and global health, my knowledge of the impacts of globalization has been fairly focused on impacts to different economies, economic policy, trade of goods, medical advancements, and economic and health-related disparities. After reading this selection from The Age of Migration, I was able to see how globalization has impacted social groups and social policy, as well as how individuals live their daily lives, especially in communities that have been so impacted or, in fact, formed by this up-tick in migration. 

Second, I was really struck by the connection between migration patterns and the growing economic divide between the global North and South. People in countries with declining economies and social conditions that have the means to leave usually do, and those who cannot are already poor and are left in a poor country. It makes a ton of sense, but it is still unsettling I would like to discuss it in class.

Finally, I was able to connect between the reading and my own life that almost everyone's life has been impacted by migration in some way. For example, the vast majority of Americans have ancestors (distant or recent) who came to this country from somewhere else. Even someone whose family has lived in their current state for hundreds of years has surely had their life impacted by immigrants, whether it is negative (such as increased competition in the job market) or positive (such as bringing innovation or art to their home country). 

The question I would really like to address is this: why is that some people who have ancestors who were migrants, such as some white Americans, are so against immigrants today? In addition, how does this connect to the discourse of national identity?

(Note: This entry was meant to be published on April 3rd, but was accidentally saved in drafts instead. Sorry!)

Lens Exercise Reflection

Rebecca Duncan

Lens Exercise: Self-Reflection

I am a white woman and I come from a white, middle class family with several generations from the Pacific Northwest. My entire childhood was spent in Vancouver, Washington (which is a city just outside of Portland that is basically a suburb of Portland). Both of my mother’s parents came from working class families, and my father’s father also grew up in a working class family, so both of my parents were essentially the first in their families to complete college and get jobs that required college-level education. Because of this, I have been surrounded all my life by a mix of working-class people and more affluent, educated people. (I enjoy this hodge-podge of class and culture, I think it is very significant in shaping who I am today).

When I was young, I was considered to be “gifted” in comparison to many of my peers, so I spent many years in elementary school in the “challenge” program in my local school district, successfully completed the full IB program, and have consistently performed above average on standardized tests. This measure of my apparent possession of above-average intelligence has shaped my community of peers, but not always in a way that I have liked. Sometimes, the pompous and arrogant atmosphere I would observe in some of my advanced academic classes was stifling, uncomfortable, and conflicted with my values. I utterly disagree with the idea that anyone ought to be considered to have less worth or have less of someone’s time because they are less intelligent or do not see the world in a “standardized” way. In order to contrast this negative experience, I deliberately took extra classes and participated in extracurricular activities that had nothing to do with academic success, and have found myself to be so much better for it. With a great mix of people surrounding me I was able to find a love for music, community service, and theater; hobbies and activities I hope to continue with for the rest of my life. 

Blog Post 1: Testing, testing, one two three

Hello blog!

I haven't ever used a blog before, but I'm excited to start one for this amazing study abroad opportunity!

I'll start off this blog post by introducing myself.

My name is Becca Duncan and I am a second year student at the University of Washington. I will be majoring in Economics and minoring in Global Health. I am studying Economics because I am fascinated by economic development and the study of economic policies in different countries, and how those policies impact a country's citizen. In addition, I am extremely interested in getting involved with NGOs and non-profit organizations, and would love to work as an attorney that can help a humanitarian NGO to create strategic plans of how to help its target audience. So, I am seriously thinking of becoming an attorney with a focus on economic development law or public interest law. In addition, I have a personal passion for getting involved in the global community; I believe we can no longer think in terms of small communities or states, and that we must take care of each other, no matter what town we come from or what language we speak. I want to learn how I can connect this belief to what I actually do in my day-to-day life.  

I am so excited to learn from this amazing study abroad experience! 

Becca