Culture

Culture includes a lot of things such as the way we think, act and interact with others. When we think about culture, we think about culture from countries and nationalities. From this point of view, there are a lot of cultures in the world. Nevertheless, culture is not only about that, it also concerns our beliefs, gender, occupation, age, class… All those things can influence us and our writings.

• ·         Understanding our culture to understand others better

As I said above, our culture has a huge impact on us and on the way we think. Our culture affects inevitably our point of view. Personally, I cannot express my opinion on the use of weapons in the United States without having my French background influencing me. In France, we do not use weapons and I do not really understand why they authorize them in the US. However, I know it is at the basis of the American identity for them to be able to defend themselves and I admit it exists different point of views on this topic.

It is really interesting to see how people act differently according to their culture. For instance, to say “yes” in India, they nod whereas in France, it means “no”. If we are not aware of that when we meet Indian people, it can create numerous misunderstandings and we can hurt people. An other example, if we want someone to be comfortable, for example an Asian person, we must avoid putting her at the center of the attention or asking questions which are too personal.

I think it is really important to notice how our culture affects us in order to understand how it could affect anyone else and become better at listening to other people.

• ·         The influence of my French culture on my writings

Culture flows through our interactions, acts, beliefs and our writings. I think that the culture we have influences the way we think and how we see the word.

As a French student girl and coming from a middle-class, I think it is normal that everybody has access to a free education or that we can make fun of politicians. Also, some topics such as money are kind of taboo and I would not be comfortable if I had to write about it. Coming from the country side, I love nature and it would be weird for me to write about city life. 

Furthermore, my academic profile (I love literature and writing) make that I like writing long sentences and I do not write in a synthetic way like scientists may do (even though I am trying to learn!). So it must be true that my culture (the fact I am French, having the opportunity to study, etc) affects me and my writings on different levels.

To sum up briefly, our culture shapes our human-being and our writings are culture-bound. Besides, globalization and technology build an open world which brings cultures closer together. The thing is that nowadays, we are often influenced by several cultures. So can we speak about one culture or several cultures?

Literacy

Regarding what happened in France recently and all the debates which followed concerning the freedom of speech, I am wondering about the importance of writing and reading in our societies nowadays. What does it even mean? What is literacy? Why it is so important?

• ·         Never stop

Since the dawn of time men have been using words as a weapon. When freedom was reduced by governments, men continued to speak through words, denouncing inequalities and power abuses, smuggling books and pamphlets. Words are a real testimony to the past and remain in people’ minds. Men never ceased to write, even when printers, electronic images and television appeared.

As Walter Ong said:

“Now we have electronic communication, we shall not cease to write and print”

• ·         An universal knowledge?

Nowadays, the majority of the population can read, especially in France and in western countries. The thing is, literacy is associated with wealth, power and access to education. But what is literacy exactly? This is the ability to read and write. It is nowadays extended to the understanding of complex concepts and knowledge specific to different culture.

To be able to read and to write gives access to jobs and facilitates everyday life. Furthermore, it gives access to power. According to Sarah Power, literate people were priests, oracles, poets, doctors, politicians, professors, lawyers, engineers and they had high positions in societies. In the 21^st century, to be literate has become indispensable.

Unfortunately, some people are still illiterate, and they are the poorest one. In France and other countries, they are seen as “outsiders”. In our societies, to succeed and be “insiders”, we have to be rich, to have a good job and own a big house. To fit in the system, we must respect those standards and it cannot be possible if we are illiterate.

• ·         Writer or not writer ?

I am convinced that writing is a natural ability for everyone once we have the skills to use it. I do not think rather often about the chance I have to be able to write and read. Since I was a child, I have always loved discovering new worlds and characters through novels. I enjoy writing very much, especially diaries out of school or newspapers in a more academic context.

I do not really see myself as a writer, even if, I guess, I am sort of one. I think that writers’ words can affect people in a specific way, as Martin Luther King’s speech “I have a dream” did. Of course, authors are not necessarily famous. In my opinion a writer gives a real meaning to words and he knows how to put them together.

To end with this article, I will add that literacy is very important for our civic duties (now more than ever). It helps us (a little) to understand what is going on in our crazy world. It is a real potential for political freedom and according to Sarah Power and Richard Bailey, literacy is very important for our roles as responsible citizens.