My high school did not prepare me to address controversial topics mainly because the curriculum given had the bare minimum in context. Isolated both socioeconomically and racially, my community did not teach me to question the society I live in. Classes were framed around preparation for acceptance into the best colleges possible. The Cold War happened because of communism in Russia. The authors in classical literature just happened to be all male. UW classes have helped me become aware of all that gets left out in a conversation. The most recent example of this is re-watching a racist movie depicting indigenous South Africans as primitive people and then being told that the film came out during political tensions in the apartheid state. My thoughts surrounding how we discussed the film completely changed compared to my first viewing of it in high school. Now, I leave the class thinking not about what the professor mentioned but what was not mentioned.
Why do stereotypes still persist?
During the Winter Quarter I took the Honors 394: Muslim and Islam in Western Thought class with Professor Karam Dana who honestly has changed my perceptions on social discrimination and racial prejudices. The class also helped me decide to pursue Psychology and Comparative Religion degrees as my majors.
Not only did the class help me become a critical writer, deconstructing (and sometimes destroying) arguments in the books and articles we read, but also gave me the room to explore my own ideas, like how the Oriental is depicted in artwork. For my final project, I looked at 5 major art museums across the US and analyzed how many art exhibitions depicted minority religions (not Judeo – Christian Artwork) and if it reinforced stereotypes. I wish I had more time to expand upon my informal study because I found it really interesting how even the most highly regarded art museums, who serve as authority in the art world, can still be insensitive to minorities.
Can we change through immerse in different cultures?
I studied abroad in Rome, Italy during the summer of 2016. The program was through the Interdisciplinary Honors Program and focused on arts, identity, and culture. Throughout my days, I explored the city, read about the Italian film, and conducted an independent project about the book Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino. Learning through the scope of a different culture, I learned about many parts that were left out of my education. How did impact of Italian Fascism on architecture in the city? Why are gifts important to give to guests in some cultures? How do you interact with a city where you are a foreigner?