Reflective Writing Assessment 2

Assessment 2: Reflective writing

I never really minded sharing my thoughts and opinions with people as I am a very open person, or so I thought. The challenges I faced in culture and society varied from the simplest of questions in class to the toughest discussions amongst my peers. The main focus for me throughout all seminars and lectures was coming to a better understanding of my identity. According to Norbert Elias (Lawler 2008 p. 5) one’s identity on the outside isn’t as true as it is on the inside which definitely stuck with me while creating my Photo board.

My first photo wasn’t a surprise to some people because my ‘bubbly’ and ‘loud’ personality was clearly shown. On the other hand, as Hall states, only nine tenths of the iceberg model are shown above water (Lawler 2008 p. 3). Only some parts of who I are revealed. In the photo my friends, family and the fact I am singing all come under my visible culture (Kohls). I have already stated that I love to sing and perform which people see but it’s the hidden influences and story that some won’t identify.

My second photo was about my culture and where I stood as a New Zealand born Tongan. I use to believe that culture and identity were two of the same thing because some posts about the two concepts were very similar. At first I immediately thought that my culture was only the traditional and ethnical customs that I grew up learning, but it is indeed also the experiences I adapted to. For example, music in my Tongan culture is the reason why I loved music. Whereas listening to New Zealand reggae and RnB music sparked my passion to sing. Just as Useem J. and R. explain to us, culture is defined in many different ways (Useem J., & R. 1963. p. 169). I’ve learned from my peers and teachers that culture is like your exploring. Interacting and sharing is the key to the continuity and growth of culture no matter what, when, and where ever it is.

As I’ve stated in my third post I am apart of a long history of Punake’s and Nobels. I am proud of where I come from and I have always been. It wasn’t until my father passed I realised that not everything, especially my culture won’t always be around. I chose the photo of my grandfather because like in every family there is a head of the family. He was the last of his family that still withheld all past knowledge to keep future generations connected. It’s an interesting dilemma when your young and you think you know everything you need to. Growing older you realise how much time you could have just slowed down and taken everything in. I am very family oriented so it is important for me to know my history and stories of my family’s legacy. Personally the photo means a great deal because it symbolises the past, still lives on in the present and preserves for the future.

Human Rights was one of the hardest concepts to talk about because I had never read the Human Rights declaration. I ashamed and embarrassed to even ask or answer a question because I had no real knowledge of the document. I had a difficult time choosing what I wanted to do for my fourth post because there seemed to be so much to choose from. I ended up talking about the rights of the homeless because I come across more than a few everyday after Uni. I’ve seen people get escorted away from their spaces in street corners, in alley ways and this is what hurts me the most. The fact we ‘all’ have a right to our own property even is such hard conditions as these, not everyone is yet entitled to a mere living space on the roads, parks and streets etc.

Reference List:

Lawler, S. (2008). Identity Sociological perspectives.

Retrieved from: https://autonline.aut.ac.nz/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_83959_1&content_id=_3866588_1

In-text citation: (Lawler 2008, pg.5, pg.3)

Robert Kohls, L. (n.d.) Connecting Cultures. The connecting cultures iceberg.

Retrieved from: http://www.connectingcultures.org/philosophy.asp

In-text citation: (Kohls)

Useem, J., & Useem, R. (1963). Human Organizations.

In-text citation: (Useem J., & R. 1963. p. 169).