1. Post modernism Review
Can be dream-like, blurring the lines between fiction and reality
Emphasizes idealism, constructivism, relativism, pluralism and skepticism in its approaches to knowledge and understanding
Idealism: Reality is mentally constructed and shaped by humans
Constructivism: People create meaning from individual constructs—chaos to order
Relativism: Points of view have no absolute truth or validity
Pluralism: Acknowledges a diversity in views—no opposition to a single approach
Skepticism: Questions anything stated as fact

2. Andy Warhol and Postmodern Art
His work explores the relationship between artistic expression, celebrity culture, and advertisement
Art movement that emerged in the 1950s, exploded in the 1960s and 70s
Challenges traditions of fine art by including imagery from popular culture
Emphasized the banal or kitschy, often ironic

3. Define
Multiculturalism

4. Multiculturalism How does this fit into the idea of Post Modernism?
N. The presence of, or support for the presence of, several distinct cultural or ethnic groups within a society.
Push for inclusion of distinct cultural groups with equal cultural and political status.
Old: Melting Pot Ideal
New: Multicultural Ideal (salad bowl)
Accept and embrace differences
How does this fit into the idea of Post Modernism?

5. Minorities and Diversity in the 21st Century
“The number of minorities in the highest income brackets has more than doubled since 1980, for example, yet minorities still account for a disproportionate share of the poor. More minority politicians are being elected to public office, but minorities are more likely than non-Hispanic whites to serve time in prison. More minorities are earning graduate and professional degrees, yet a disproportionately large percentage never finish high school.”

6. Minorities and Diversity in the 21st Century
A look through poetry and literature.
Why?
Promote tolerance and appreciation.
Broaden your worldview
Encourage empathy
What?
Social activists
Immigrant experience
Identity
Biculturalism
Who?
African American
Indian American
Asian American
Egyptian American
Hispanic American
Puerto Rican
Jewish American
Italian American

7. Focus on Maya Angelou Born 1928, Died 2014
Singer, Dancer, Actress, Composer, Director, Author, Educator, Civil Rights Activist
Served on 2 presidential committees
Awarded National Medal of Arts (2000) and Presidential Medal of Freedom (2010)
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
"Angelou had become recognized not only as a spokesperson for blacks and women, but also for all people who are committed to raising the moral standards of living in the United States.“--Carol E. Neubauer, Southern Women Writers: The New Generation

8. Maya Angelou and Performance
African American Oral traditions
Slave and Work songs
Personal Narrative
Response to hardship, oppression and loss
Race and sex on a larger social and psychological scale
"Once I got into it I realized I was following a tradition established by Frederick Douglass—the slave narrative—speaking in the first-person singular talking about the first-person plural, always saying I meaning 'we.' And what a responsibility. Trying to work with that form, the autobiographical mode, to change it, to make it bigger, richer, finer, and more inclusive in the twentieth century has been a great challenge for me.“--Angelou

9. Your task Walk around the room and experience the poetry.
Read as many as possible
Take pictures of the 3 that resonate with you the most
No more than 2 people at each poem at a time
Once you find the 3 that resonate the most with you head back to your seat.
On a separate sheet of paper write the title of the poem and identify the theme that stands out.
Write down the words that develop theme and any connections you can make with the poem (personal, historical, etc)

10. Reflection Jot this information down on your paper.
Why did you choose the poems you did?
Choose one poem to do quick research on the author.
How does this change your perception (if at all)?
Jot this information down on your paper.

11. Mother Tongue by Amy Tan
Author of The Joy Luck Club
Her work explores mother-daughter relationships in Chinese-American families
Literature books page

12. Tan Questions
Describe Tan’s changing perceptions of her mother’s use of English, using evidence from the essay.
What power does language hold?
Tan claims that the language spoken at home is more influential, or shapes the individual more than the language spoken by peers. Do you agree or disagree? Explain.
Write down words that develop the theme of the story and connect to what we have already talked about.
Why is this an example of postmodernism?

13. Found Poem
Reflect on words you chose that developed theme in both the poems and Amy Tan’s essay.
Compose a found poem of 5 to 10 lines from the words that you selected to respond to the literature.
Focus on the themes you identified
Found Poetry doesn’t have to rhyme