Trying to Find Chinatown Essay
ANSWER THE QUESTIONS BY FIRST TYPING THE QUESTION IN BOLD FACE PRINT. THEN TYPE YOUR ANSWER UNDER THE QUESTION. DOUBLE SPACE THE ENTIRE PAPER EXCEPT FOR THE QUESTIONS WHICH MAY BE TYPED BOLD/SINGLE SPACE. MAKE SURE THE RESPONSES ARE WRITTEN IN MATURE, COLLEGE LEVEL VOCABULARY AND HAVE SUBSTANCE TO THEM. DON’T BE VAGUE OR UNCLEAR. USE DIRECT LINES FROM ANY SOURCE TO MAKE YOUR POINT AND USE INTEXT CITATIONS TO INDICATE THE SOURCE OF THE QUOTES OR OTHER MATERIAL. QUESTIONS FOR :
Trying to Find Chinatown
Please answer all questions in complete sentences. The responses should be succinct and clearly written in college level vocabulary. Don’t attempt to answer the questions until you have completed all the preliminary background reading and video viewing. The theme of the play is not only “stereotyping ‘ but also the impact of stereotyping on the person receiving the negative comments.
1. From Ronnie’s opening response to Benjamin we learn that Ronnie is quick to anger. Write the words that reveal Ronnie’s hostility toward Benjamin.
2. Why does Ronnie tell Benjamin not to call his musical instrument a “fiddle”?
3. Benjamin suggests a learned/educated understanding of Ronnie’s hostility. To what does Benjamin attribute Ronnie’s anger?
4. From where did Benjamin get his knowledge? Comment on this type of knowledge.
5. Ronnie reveals his limited understanding of Mid-Westerners in what lines of the play? ( write the actual words)
6. In Benjamin’s own words, why did he enroll in Asian American Studies?
7. Ronnie has one main reason for calling Benjamin “white” rather than Asian. What is that reason?
8. Benjamin says that he was adopted by Chinese — Americans at his birth. He says, “So clearly, I am an Asian-American.” Do you agree? Explain your feelings.
9. Benjamin says “You can’t judge my race by my genetic inheritance alone” (he has blue eyes and blonde hair). Do you agree with him? What impact has Ancestry.com had on people’s understanding of who they are?
10. Benjamin says that he’s looking for “No. 13 Doyers Street” but he’s looking for something much deeper and more complex. What is that?