Monday, 8 April
Reader: Cindy Pace
Respondent: Sarah Layne Wyly     Recorder: Will Frith 

Gregory Djanikian, “In the Elementary School Choir”

UA p. 215

Gregory Djanikian was born in Alexandria, Egypt in 1959. He emigrated to the US with his family in 1957, he was 8 yrs. Old. Now he directs a creative writing program at the University of Pennsylvania, and lives with his wife and children outside of Philadelphia.

Cultural Objective 2: To observe and analyze the effects of immigration and assimilation on American cultural units or identities.

Stage 3 of  “The Immigrant Narrative”: Shock, resistance, exploitation and discrimination

Stage 4 of  “The Immigrant Narrative”:  Assimilation to dominant American culture and loss of ethnic identity.

READ POEM

Stanza 1: Even though he has never seen corn or been to OK, participated in the activities of this American song has can sing just as loud and well like the Native Americans he is surrounded by.

Stanza 3: Is an example of stage 3 of “The Immigrant Narrative”, the teacher is discriminating against the child. Des Moines is a French name but the teacher is pushing the American pronunciation.

Stanza 4: Linda is “his” tangible America. He loves America and is comparing his love for Linda Deemer to his love for the country. He feels that like America is far from him, so is Linda. He expresses the feeling when he says she (Linda) is untouchable and distant as purple mountain majesty.

Stanza 5: A few years ago his country would have been different. We do not have such things in America.

Stanza 6: Stage 4 of “The Immigrant Narrative” assimilating and loss of ethnic identity. He says so proudly, “This is my country ’tis of thee.” He sings loud with all of his heart, “Land where my fathers died”—Dr. White compares the expression to “turning in their graves” the grandfathers would be shocked to find themselves buried in America rather than Turkey. His forefathers would be appalled to hear him sing this.

Stanza 7: MASS as exotic/ funny comparison. When I think of exotic MASS does not come to my mind. Where love first struck—this is where they found their Linda Deemer.

Stanza 8: I thought he was kind of saying ha ha, I am American, I can pronounce these French names like an American does. He feels Linda is in the high society and that this knowledge makes him there too.

Question—What do you (class) think about Stanza 8 when he says that one day he is going to tell her something and then he names Des Moines, Baton Rouge, Terre Haute and Boise?

Question—What do you think the author meant in describing MASS as exotic? Is he serious or is this sarcasm?

 Is Massachusetts really exotic?

Cindy- Pam from last year thinks that the author is using sarcasm because Turkey, where his forefathers are buried is such an exotic place.

Cristel? Perspective depends on point of view, coming to US, MASS a big deal. It’s what you’re accustomed to. Exotic things are romanticized because it’s far away.

Julie- Elementary school—Indians, corn, Thanksgiving story, etc.

Jason- changing of seasons, snow etc.

Dr. White- depends on how we define exotic- we see as lush and tranquil ultimately means “an outside perspective.”

Repeating the Cities/ Last Stanza

Susie? He is coming up with something very American to say to Linda.

-- All French words, to prove to her/ himself that they are in fact French, not American

-- In tune enough w/ dominant culture to know these things (exotic, French terms) and use sarcasm

Angela- Deemer’s name is unmarked as with dominant culture-- untouchable