(英语短篇小说鉴赏)In the American society.ppt

In the American societyBy:Li XiFrom:Economy and Administration CollegeIn the American societyAbout the authorAbout culture shockAbout the articleAbout the authorGish Jen:Real name:Lillian JenChinese name:任碧莲任碧莲Born:in 1955 in Long Island,New YorkOccupation:novelistNationality:AmericanPeriod:CurrentGenres(体裁体裁):novelNotable works:Typical American Mona in the Promised Land The Love Wife Whos Irish?World and TownHer experiences Gish Jen is a second generation Chinese American.Her parents emigrated from China in the 1940s,her mother from Shanghai and her father from Yixing.She grew up in Queens,NY,then Yonkers,then Scarsdale.She graduated from Harvard University in 1977 with a BA in English,and later attended Stanford Business School,but dropped out in favor of the University of Iowa Writers Workshop,where she earned her MFA in fiction in 1983.Becoming a writer for Gish Jen was not an easy task.In the beginning,Jen had trouble convincing her parents that it was aworthwhile career.She chose the name Gish after a silent-screen actress of the same name.In Jens work,she combines the adolescents search for self with the larger search for cultural identity.Not only does she focus on her own Chinese American ethnic background,the author also includes work on Jewish Americans,African Americans,and Irish Americans,as well as other groupsIn addition,many of her writings reflect her childhood experiences growing up in Scarsdale,NY.The common themes the writer employs include stories of immigration,assimilation,and occasional tensions with other ethnic communities.The American dream is also an important aspect to her work.I can say that the American dream is much more complicated than you would think.I think Im just trying to capture some of that complexity.Gish Jen is currently living in Cambridge with her husband,her son and daughter.She has made great accomplishments for her ethnic community and has gained honorable recognition for her works.At this time,she is enjoying her time as a mother Honors and awards2009 American Academy of Arts and Sciences,member2006 PBS American Masters Program on the American Novel,featured writer2003 Mildred and Harold Strauss Living Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters2003 Fulbright Fellowship to the Peoples Republic of China2001 Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study Fellowship1999 Best American Short Stories of the CenturyCulture shockCulture shock is the difficulty people have adjusting to a new culture that differs markedly from their own.Four phases of culture shock:Honeymoon PhaseNegotiation PhaseAdjustment PhaseMastery PhaseHoneymoon Phase During this period the differences between the old and new culture are seen in a romantic light,wonderful and new.For example,in moving to a new country,an individual might love the new foods,the pace of the life,the peoples habits,the buildings and so on.During the first few weeks most people are fascinated by the new culture.Negotiation Phase Differences between the old and new culture become apparent and may create anxiety.That sense of excitement will eventually give way to new and unpleasant feelings of frustration and anger as you continue to have unfavorable encounters that strike you as strange,offensive,and unacceptable.Its a very hard period for the people who need to adjust to a new culture.The most important challenge is communication.Adjustment PhaseAgain,one grows accustomed to the new culture.The host country no longer feels that new and things become more normal.One starts to develop problem-solving skills for dealing with the culture,and begins to accept the culture ways with a positive attitude.The culture begins to make sense,and negative reactions and responses to the culture are reduced.Mastery PhaseIn the mastery stage assignees are able to participate fully and comfortably in the host culture.Gish Jen in In the American Society describes the various personalities in the Chang family.Her story describes how a benevolent Chinese American father resists swimming in the American society,but encourages his daughters-directly and indirectly-to swim in American Society.In the American Society is about the Chang family,with the father Ralph as focal point.The story is divided into two sections:His Own Society and In the American Society and,taken together,both sections illustrate Ralph Changs transformation from old country Chinese-American to new country Chinese-American on his own terms.What actions show us that“my father was educated under Chinese culture?1)as time went on and the business continued to thrive,my father started to talk about his grandfather and the village he had reigned over in Chinathings my father had never talked about when he worked for other people.(P101,para2)2)For in my fathers mind,a family owed its head a degree of loyalty that left no room for dissent.To embrace what he embraced was to love;and to embrace something else was to betray him.(P103,para6)3)He demanded a similar sort of loyalty of his workers,whom he treated more like servants than employees.(P103,para7)4)“Did you eat today?”he asked in Mandarin.(P106,para4)5)“I like to talking to the judge,”said my father.(P110,para4)Thank you!