Analysis
The story analyzes the theme of authenticity and how different people determine it. According to the author, most people are likely to rely on stereotypes when evaluating the character or identity of the different people they meet. For example, the author believes what people read about people from other social groupings eventually ends up determining how they perceive those people (Adichie, 2008). For example, Americans are likely to view Africans in a specific way based on stereotypes that are common in their society about Africans. At the same time, Africans are also likely to hold certain stereotypes about Americans. Based on the story, the author believes authenticity is subjective and is usually based on what one knows about the people they intend to judge. The author is a popular novelist and writer who has written extensively in the fiction genre. The short story was published in the Transition journal in 2008.
Analysis
The reading analyzes cultural authenticity as perceived by people from different social groups and concludes that it is largely subjective. The story’s setting varies significantly to convince the reader that the experiences being narrated by the author are common in all parts of the world. In the beginning, the study analyzes the author’s experiences in Nigeria, where her perceptions of white people were largely shaped by what she read, which was not entirely accurate. Later on, she moves to the United States and is shocked to discover she is viewed as being unauthentic because she does not conform to common stereotypes associated with her culture.
The examples selected by the author are ideal for the story, as they present reliable evidence that proves the point the author is trying to address. Examples presented analyze different cultures and their views on stereotypes that they commonly hold about people from other cultures. The target audience for the story is not specific, as it contains information that can be applied to all populations. The story generally addresses the impact of stereotypes on what people are likely to believe is cultural authenticity.
The purpose of the story is to highlight how misleading stereotypes can be a source of information on specific people’s culture. Relying on popular media as the main source of information on people unfamiliar with it can be quite misleading, as important information that can influence one’s judgment may be excluded. For example, the press does not always paint an accurate picture of Africa, as explained by the author. Instead, stereotypes are used as the main basis for evaluating the African culture, which often leads to inaccuracies. For one to effectively make judgments about cultural authenticity, they may have to get much more detailed information that can enable them to make fair judgments.
The story is relevant in the modern world, as stereotypes are still widely used as the basis for judgments that most people make about people from other cultures. Since the media is the most popular source of information about other people and groups, most people are likely to take what the media says as the truth and may use it to make judgments about other people. Therefore, cultural authenticity should not be defined by stereotypes used by the media but should be based on accurate information about the group of people that one is judging.
Conclusion
The author was successful in highlighting how the perspective of authenticity is likely to change based on what one knows. The experiences narrated by the author shows how both she and other people make misinformed judgments about other people based on the stereotypes they hold. The story also highlights the role that the media plays in propagating stereotypes that can be unfairly used to judge other people. Based on the story, it is clear that one should try to find more information about other people’s culture before making judgments on whether or not they are culturally authentic.
References
Adichie, C. N. (2008). African “Authenticity” and the Biafran Experience. Transition, 99, 42-53.