On Culture
Americans live amidst a mosaic of cultural diversity. Though there are those who would have us believe otherwise, skin color is not a determinant of culture. Culture varies by region, by age, and by community. It is simply how things are for the average American. Accordingly, this examination of culture is not focused on culture in the sense of revealing the types of cultures present in the landscape of American life. Instead, our examination of culture is done through a writer’s eyes. For example, if culture is a tool in the writer’s toolbox, then here are the questions we need to ask:
1. How does culture impact writing?
2. Can an understanding of certain elements of culture be used to enhance storytelling? If so, what role does culture play in this craft?
3. And, more importantly, what are the “tools of culture” available to the writer in his/her pursuit of story?
Most writers are aware of culture in a limited sense, but culture, as part of the writer’s tool kit, has never been explored fully. Why? Often in the broad strokes of American culture, the idea of many cultures has been viewed as negative. For some, it implies a threat to their supremacy, rather than a natural reality of life. A politicized view of culture leads to a focus on culture characteristics like class and identity. Though there are times that we may touch on these aspects of culture, they are not the primary focus of this blog.
At the InterSect
Most of us live quite happily at the intersect of cultural diversity. We co-opt culture foods, beliefs, and arts from each other with cheerful abandon. We appreciate the beauty in cultures different from our own, and can often see the value of “otherness.” So, it is from this positive and joyful place that we stand as we examine culture as a tool of writing. We will attempt to tell the truth respectfully, knowing that we all hold our own truths based on our own cultural perceptions and beliefs. Nevertheless, we will examine how imagery is deployed to create cultural messages. We will lean heavily on context as a measure for implied meaning in story. We will also look at how characters act and interact within cultures, and explore cultural touchstones, or elements that communicate layered meaning, within the framework of a culture.
Going Back to the Beginning
The blog is based on a class that I developed and taught for the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis. I hope that the students who attended this class learned from me, but as is often the case, I found that I learned just as much about culture as I shared. The insights that I hope to bring to this blog are so much deeper because of the many, many people I’ve met who find the exploration of culture to be a worthwhile endeavor. So, if that describes you, then know that you are welcome at the InterSect. Here we will discuss culture, not as a politicized aspect of organized society, but as a useful tool of story craft, much like plot, milieu, or character. If this blog accomplishes anything, I hope that it elevates the role of culture in shaping story, as well as communicates to writers that while culture is a powerful tool, it is a tool that must be used wisely.
Intersect : Writing Culture 