Theme: Choosing a Topic

Topic(s):
Music and Food

Cultural identity is defined through the aspects considered unique to a given group. Traditions, mannerisms, appearance, etc. all contribute toward helping to define (or at least place boundaries around) what a group’s identity is.

Two topics that are of interest to me are music and food. Both of these topics play an important role in national identity for many groups of people, and I am wondering if this also holds true for Berlin.

…

Music plays a crucial role in terms of group identity. The fact that many countries have a unique national anthem is a testament to this. In addition, many melodies, motifs, forms, and rhythms have been classified as being part of particular nationalities—if one hears a Samba, one thinks of Brazil.

Regarding music and Berlin, I am full for questions that I may wish to pursue. I am curious as to whether distinct forms of music (classical* or otherwise) evolved in both halves of Berlin while the wall was up. In addition, I would like to know if classical performance practices were different on either side of the wall—were certain pieces or certain works by particular composers banned on either side of the wall? Were there different outlooks to the approach or mental state musicians had before confronting an audience? Did any “great” works arise through division of the city? Do musicians and composers in Berlin today think about the city's past division, and if so, how does it affect their art?

*Classical refers to what is now known as “Western” Classical music—Bach, Mozart, Brahms, the usual suspects.

…

A second topic I am considering is that of food. Again, this plays a role on a given culture’s identity.

Different countries use different ingredients in their cooking. I am guessing that this is due to differences in what grows best in a given region as well as what the area’s history and relationship with a particular ingredient is. For example, Japanese cooking is identified by extensive use of a kelp-based broth (dashi).

In terms of Berlin and food, I am wondering about questions similar to those I posed about music; did the use of certain ingredients change between East and West Berlin? Did new dishes and cooking styles arise during the division? If such differences did arise, what are the consequences to modern-day diners (both tourist and local) in Berlin?

…

This brings me to the “altar” project, or “what objects will be added/found on an imaginary altar based on these topics?”

For Classical Music:
-Concert program (from both West and East Berlin)
-Manuscript of a piece composed during the Berlin Wall years
-Vinyl recording of classical music from either East or West Berlin
-Violin made in Berlin during that period of time
-Orchestra tour/concert schedules during that time

For Food:
-Restaurant menu (from both East and West Berlin)
-Cookbooks from the Berlin Wall years
-Spices used during that period of time
-Jar/Can food sold during that time
-Plates food was served on at restaurants during those years

Theme: Find a border/wall in Seattle and reflect upon it.

Flying over the clouds separating the land and sky, I was struck with a thought: are we not defined by the borders we erect for ourselves? To separate, to divide, to build an identity. In our individual efforts to be unique, are we not required to put up borders and fronts to separate ourselves from others? I feel that this not only applies to people, but to states, countries, and ethnicities as well. In the past week, I crossed many of these in order to present and perform.

Although I noticed many walls and fronts through the week, I am going to elaborate on one I saw in the International District (ID) of downtown Seattle: The Chinatown Gate. It stands as a rather colorful structure next to where Uwajimaya used to be located, overlooking one of the main bus terminals (Figure 1). To me, this structure symbolizes a border that helps to retain a sense of identity within the Asian-American community. Walk across the street from the bus terminal, and you end up in another world—shops selling an assortment of food and goods that baffle the common Westerner, architecture influenced by lands across the Pacific Ocean, people talking in tonal languages. For the non-adventuresome, crossing this border may be a bit of a stretch.

The gate, however, serves to welcome those outside. No guards, no physical obstructions to feet, bicycles, cars, low-altitude wind currents, or rocket-ships; just a spacious opening surrounded by eye-catching color. The gate welcomes, but upon closer inspection, one may also notice that it helps to maintain identity of what’s behind it.


Figure 1. Left: The Chinatown Gate. Right: The Chinatown gate with a Japanese American tourist flashing a stereotypical peace-sign.

......

Identity is maintained through the border’s presence. In particular, some of the more obscure traditions, products, and stores survive in a way I compare to biodiversity in rainforests.

In many environments (particularly rainforests), the level of biodiversity is correlated in a non-linear manner to the size of individual land-plots. A single 4 x 4 mile plot of rainforest holds a much greater level of biodiversity than the biodiversity within two 2 x 4 mile plots. This is due in part to niche partitioning. I feel that drawing a border and clustering ethnic (Asian in this case) shops together helps them to retain their identity in a similar way—clusters of Asian shops always require the basics; a grocery store, a restaurant or two, etc. The larger the continuous area of Asian shops, the larger the space for other stores that market goods/services beyond the “basics”-- Shops selling only barbequed meats, ones selling Asian movie memorabilia, the list goes on. Thus, thanks to a border that clusters many Asian shops together, a greater number of specialty stores are able to survive.

To me, these unique shops are a large part of what makes up the Asian-American identity. They are what separate the group from the Starbucks, McDonalds, and Safeways that otherwise homogenize the community. Thanks to the border represented by the gate in the ID, such shops are able to survive and thus contribute to this sense of identity.


*Note*
My absence from class the past week as well as this post being put up late was due to having to travel to Bozeman, Montana to present my neuro research followed by a trip to Nelson, BC to perform at a guitar competition.

Etude: Responding to "The Ghosts of Berlin"

Several years have passed since I have last taken a “humanities” or “civilization” course. Prior to delving into the first few chapters of Brian Ladd’s “Ghosts of Berlin,” the readings I was accustomed to consisted of those pertaining to the natural sciences or music history. This being said, a book on buildings and identity was a refreshing change.

I know very little about (non-musical) history and geography, so the basic information Ladd gave about the story behind Berlin was definitely new to me, and has started to fill in the gaps in my knowledge in ways that will allow me to more fully appreciate the upcoming trip.

It makes sense that those who lived through the wall may have issues with identity and hold differing views on the wall as a monument. At the same time, I’m wondering how much longer this will remain an issue. With each generation, the people become more temporally distant from the events and issues associated with the wall. I liken this to the American Civil War—in the present day, we are quite removed from the thought-processes and motivations that led up to it a century-and-a-half ago.

Should parts of it (the wall) be kept as monuments or reminders? I would argue “yes.” Although its existence may bring back painful memories to some in the present, it would not be fair to the future generations if every part of it were demolished. I am sure very few (if any) people in the present-day advocate the destruction of all Civil War monuments. Similarly, I would imagine that if one asks a Berlin resident a century from now whether or not the wall should have been completely destroyed in the 20th-21st Century, they would respond with a “no.” The division and the wall are as much a part of Berlin’s history as the Civil War is with ours.

Theme and Icebreaker Variation

Theme:
Berlin Borders: Identity Formation After the Wall

Variation I: "The Icebreaker"
One "wall" I encountered in my life

Nerd.
I don't wear glasses. I'm not obese. I don't play World of Warcraft. Yet, I consider myself to be one. Through elementary and middle school, I played "Magic Cards" and was really into video games. My close friends also shared this interest and we were (and still are) quite nerdy. I guess that's why I'm a neuro major...but I digress...

At the same time, I also like to play sports--especially soccer. I played on a traveling team through both middle and high schools and also played on the high school varsity team for a couple of years.

This brings me to a "wall" in my life: despite the stark differences in interests, personalities, and mannerisms between my group of friends and that of the school jocks, I had to learn to get along with both cliques. I would like to think that I succeeded in the task, but I guess that's up to others to judge and decide. :p

Prelude

So it begins.

First class meeting tomorrow.

(half-cadence)