Belonging: Culture and Li
Are personal relationships a key factor in developing an individuals sense of belonging?
Notions of the self: family, nationality, cultural and career, identity
Relationships: intensity multi-faceted
Introduction:
Personal relationships are a key factor in developing an individual’s sense of belonging. This is most evident in Li Cunxins autobiography Maos last dancer, where we see his life from his early childhood in China to his adult life in America and Australia. Li develops a sense of belonging from his relationships with his family, his culture and his connection to dance.
Body:
Li’s most powerful relationships that impact on the rest of his life are his relationships with his family, of which the most significant is that with his mother. He describes her as “the heart of the family” which reflects her importance to Li and his entire family. She is seen as to be hard working, inventive when trying to provide food for the family, as well as selfless and caring.
Quote:
However, his mother was not the only significant family figure to influence Li’s values and principles by which he lives. His father also taught him to be a good “Chinese Man”, a humble hardworking , loving, loyal man who is selfless and providing for his family. We see this when he passes the food around to his family when there is insufficient food for all, although he requires it the most. This selfless act reinforces Li’s sense of connection to his whole family.
Quote:
Coming from a commune environment where food is short and work is hard it was important in Li’s life to have siblings who supported each other. Each brother has a specific in the family. This reflects the cultural values of the nation where there is a sense of duty to support and look after siblings and parents even when they get older. Even in the play we see that the brothers are connected to each other such as the wallpaper game.
On being chosen to attend Madam Mao’s Beijing Academy of Fine Arts, his siblings
Notions of the self: family, nationality, cultural and career, identity
Relationships: intensity multi-faceted
Introduction:
Personal relationships are a key factor in developing an individual’s sense of belonging. This is most evident in Li Cunxins autobiography Maos last dancer, where we see his life from his early childhood in China to his adult life in America and Australia. Li develops a sense of belonging from his relationships with his family, his culture and his connection to dance.
Body:
Li’s most powerful relationships that impact on the rest of his life are his relationships with his family, of which the most significant is that with his mother. He describes her as “the heart of the family” which reflects her importance to Li and his entire family. She is seen as to be hard working, inventive when trying to provide food for the family, as well as selfless and caring.
Quote:
However, his mother was not the only significant family figure to influence Li’s values and principles by which he lives. His father also taught him to be a good “Chinese Man”, a humble hardworking , loving, loyal man who is selfless and providing for his family. We see this when he passes the food around to his family when there is insufficient food for all, although he requires it the most. This selfless act reinforces Li’s sense of connection to his whole family.
Quote:
Coming from a commune environment where food is short and work is hard it was important in Li’s life to have siblings who supported each other. Each brother has a specific in the family. This reflects the cultural values of the nation where there is a sense of duty to support and look after siblings and parents even when they get older. Even in the play we see that the brothers are connected to each other such as the wallpaper game.
On being chosen to attend Madam Mao’s Beijing Academy of Fine Arts, his siblings