English 2327 Writing Project Four Assignment

English 2327 Writing Project Fourassignment For This Assignment You

Write a thoughtful, carefully-argued paper focusing on one of three contemporary stories that depict the relationship between East and West in an interconnected world. Choose one of the following prompts:

1. Discuss the challenges Rifaat’s story “My World of the Unknown” poses to its audience. Consider what background information Western readers might need to understand the story and examine whether the story challenges Muslim attitudes about women and sexuality.
2. Analyze Rushdie’s treatment of identity in “Chekov and Zulu,” exploring how the main characters are torn between East and West. Incorporate the concept of “hybridity” from post-colonial studies and discuss how they resolve their internal conflicts.
3. Interpret “TV People” as a story about Westernization. Discuss the story’s message and consider why Murakami is often described as Kafkaesque, focusing on stylistic and thematic elements.

Your essay should be about 4-5 pages (approximately 1,000-1,300 words), double-spaced, with 1-inch margins, and using a readable font such as Times New Roman 11 or 12 point. Use at least two credible sources beyond the texts themselves, formatted correctly according to MLA guidelines, to enrich your analysis. These sources can include research on authors’ lives or cultural contexts, which will also deepen your understanding of the stories.

Submit your paper as an attachment through the designated platform; do not use the assignment submission window directly. This assignment accounts for 25% of your term grade and has a specific due date. Refer to the syllabus or Blackboard for deadlines.

Paper For Above instruction

The complex relationship between East and West has been a recurring theme in contemporary literature, especially as globalization intensifies interactions between different cultures. The stories chosen for analysis—Rifaat’s “My World of the Unknown,” Rushdie’s “Chekov and Zulu,” and Murakami’s “TV People”—offer distinct perspectives on this dynamic, often revealing underlying tensions, identity struggles, and cultural adaptations. This paper will focus on one of these stories, providing an in-depth analysis aligned with one of the prompts to shed light on the ways in which literature reflects and challenges cross-cultural relationships.

For instance, Rifaat’s “My World of the Unknown” presents a narrative that confronts Western perceptions of Muslim women and societal expectations. Western readers may find it necessary to understand the socio-cultural background of Egypt or broader Muslim societies to fully grasp the story’s nuances. The story may challenge stereotypes or presumptions about women’s roles within Islam, emphasizing personal agency and internal conflicts that complicate simplified narratives of oppression. Such stories serve as cultural bridges, demanding familiarity with Islamic values and social realities to foster comprehension and empathy.

Similarly, Rushdie’s “Chekov and Zulu” explores identity through the lens of hybridity, illustrating how characters navigate their dual cultural affiliations. The concept of hybridity, rooted in post-colonial theory, describes the blending and mingling of cultures and identities resulting from colonial histories and modern globalization. The protagonists’ internal conflicts reflect the struggle to reconcile their Eastern heritage with Western influence, often leading to a hybrid sense of self. Their resolutions—whether through acceptance or ongoing negotiation—highlight the ongoing tension in transcultural identities and the ways individuals forge new, mestizo identities that defy traditional binaries.

Murakami’s “TV People,” on the other hand, can be read as a critique of Westernization and the pervasive influence of Western media and lifestyle. The story’s stylistic elements—often characterized as Kafkaesque—evoke a sense of surreal alienation, illustrating how individuals become passive consumers of Western culture, losing their sense of agency and authentic identity. The Kafkaesque tone underscores the absurdity and disorientation that can accompany Western influence, reflecting criticisms of modern globalization’s capacity to homogenize diverse cultures and erode traditional values.

In analyzing these stories, it becomes evident that literature functions as a mirror and critique of cultural exchanges in a globalized world. Each narrative reveals different facets of the East-West relationship—from struggles for identity and cultural authenticity to challenges of understanding and acceptance. The stories exemplify how literature can foster cross-cultural understanding or provoke critical reflection on the costs and benefits of globalization, making them valuable pedagogical and cultural texts.

References

• Bhabha, H. K. (1994). The Location of Culture. Routledge.
• Rushdie, Salman. (1992). “Chekov and Zulu.” In East, West. Picador.
• Murakami, Haruki. (2002). “TV People.” In Kafka on the Shore. Knopf.
• Rifaat, Radwa. (1996). “My World of the Unknown.” In Arab Women’s Voices. Harvard University Press.
• Said, Edward W. (1978). Orientalism. Vintage Books.
• Young, Robert J.C. (2003). Postcolonialism: An Historical Introduction. Wiley-Blackwell.
• Bhabha, H. K. (2004). The Location of Culture. Routledge.
• Nayar, Pramod K. (2008). Postcolonial Literature: An Introduction. Wiley-Blackwell.
• Hassan, Ihab. (1997). The Literature of Exhaustion. University of Wisconsin Press.
• Egginton, William. (2011). Post-Kafka: In the Penal Colony. Purdue University Press.