Study Abroad Reflection 4

Prompt #4 Reflect back to the title of the program "Reenacting German and American Identities" and the main themes of the program in an interdisciplinary context, which you can review here and below: • Myth making • Identity labels (who determines and why, i.e. social capital) • Cultural Tokenism • Narratives of identity and its dynamic reformulation • Education systems • Identity construction (nation state, individual, culture and communities) • Art and performance as forms of resistance to deflect identity tropes (or reification of tropes?) Discuss your understanding now of (re) interpretation and reenacting identities through German and American lens' of history and narratives. Think about resistance and agency and what it means to be part of a national identity in the context of a "migrant background" in comparative perspectives. Think also of your research topic and its grounding in our overall work these past 4 plus weeks. You might also want to think about:

• Appropriation of history

• Fantasy narratives contributing to cultural narrative (i.e. Karl May phenomenon)

• Why did Karl May’s fantasies about native Americans become cultural narratives in both systems, former GDR and West Germany? and

• Talk by Lecia Brooks about M.L. King and Civil Rights Movements – complex east and west relationship

• Homeland/"Heimat" and nation building

It’s always fascinating that words exist in other languages that do not have a direct translation into English. We may come close to understanding the implications of a word or phrase, but in reality it will never have the same connotations when put into a new language. I’ve been confronted with this reality throughout our time in Germany, as guest speakers and tour guides introduced us to words that have important meanings within the German language and culture, but that we cannot fully understand in English. Each word and phrase we encountered throughout our time in Berlin that cannot be fully translated or understood in an American context has a very important connection to Germany’s national identity. Language is such an integral part of national identity, and its importance can be seen as languages begin to disappear throughout the world, and their important meanings disappearing with them.

Language is also important because it shows the emphasis of what is important and recognizable within a society. We are introduced to language through our families, in public, and most importantly through schools. However, many times the language understood and acknowledged by the national narrative is based off of who has power in the society to use and give additional meaning to the worlds. Regardless, being able to live in Germany while studying the national identity and its reinterpretation as the society undergoes demographic changes allowed us to be introduced to words within their intended contexts and realize their widespread use and importance within a culture.

We ran into the important meanings of untranslatable words when introduced to the term “Heimat”. Translated (as well as possible) into English it means “homeland” and refers to the original place of origin for those of migrant backgrounds. A term like this is usually not used in the United States. At our core, we are considered a country of immigrants (although that ignores the long history of Native Americans living within the current United States boundaries). Although we have many missteps in creating an equal society for all of our citizens and residents, most people living in the United States come from an immigrant background, making this term almost meaningless within United States society. Although many of us like to identity our countries of origins, and celebrate the differences we may find between us and our friends, in Germany the term “Heimat” seems to be used to other a person or group of peoples, to exclude them from being part of the history of Germany, and by doing that exclude them from their understandings of national identity.

The connotation behind words within a culture can also occur with names and idols throughout history. For example, Karl May is a name that evokes emotion and nostalgia throughout Germany, and even kept its importance during the Cold War and the separation of East and West. It also brings recognition to the view of American culture within another context and how the Wild West was portrayed (and is still understood today) in Germany. However, as an American, I had never heard the name until our class in Jena. It is incredible that a man who wrote extensively about my home country, and was one of the most important writers in German history, had never been introduced into my life until now.

On a similar strain, we had an incredible talk as part of American Tag by Lecia Brooks from the Southern Poverty Law Center. She discussed the general history of Martin Luther King Jr. and the work he did helping (and eventually leading) the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. The name Martin Luther King Jr. holds a very important part in American history and in the formation of our national identity. We not only discuss his role in the movement throughout our education, but we also have a national holiday commemorating his help in bringing a more just and equal society to the United States. What I did not know before our time in Jena is that the name Martin Luther King Jr. has a very significant meaning in German history as well. Maybe people in East Germany used the example of a nonviolent movement created by Dr. King when looking to stop communist rule in East Germany and work towards reunification of the country. While we equate Martin Luther King Jr. to the fight for civil rights in America, some individuals in Germany relate his name to the struggle against communism and the fight for individual rights in East Germany. It is incredible that names and words take on completely different meanings within new contexts.

My experience in Germany has opened my eyes to the incredibly complex and complicated role of identity within countries, and also the implications of identity (specifically national identities) in the equal treatment of all citizens. There is no one national identity or state identity in our world, especially as the world moves towards becoming even more global than it already is. Each person may see their identity differently, and as a global community we need to respect that and words to include everyone into a global identity. Studying in Berlin has allowed me to see these complex attributes to identify first hand, and through that I have a greater understanding of what it means to have a national identity, both in Germany and in my home country of the United States.

As I continue my travels in Europe and find myself introduced to more and more cultures that are facing similar identity issues as Germany, I realize the importance of reflecting on all aspects that affect a nation's identity. While many people see identity as black and white, especially in terms of national identity, there are so many influencing characteristics that determine one's identity. This course has taught to me look at this like history (not just the nations but the global historical context that can affect geopolitical situations), language (through what is emphasized within a society), and other relational factors that can influence identity of a nation, as well as peoples' identity within a nation.

Moving forward I hope to use what I've learned in this class to better understand issues of identity and the "other" within a political context. The concept of a national identity is a strong political narrative in United States and greatly affects conversations surrounding immigration and welfare that are only increasing throughout the nation. The issues of identity are especially interesting and influential in representative democracies in which an individual is expected to express a voice for an entire group of citizens. It is important to understand the limitations of an individual in one's ability to express a representative sentiment of a whole nation when each person has such a complex and interactive set of identities.