Going Native Response

            Relating to cultures other then the culture you’re born into is something that is quite common. All people will experience this in various ways throughout their life.  For instance, lets say you relate to inner city living more than living in a rural town where you have lived for most of your life, this is “Going Native.” Francine Prose wrote and essay titled Going Native that describes situations in her life where she related more to other cultures than the one she was born into. She also describes how a group of American Indian children consider them selves’ member of the Wu-Tang-Clan, a group of Black Americans. This attribute of the human mind is one that is a mystery to traditional cultures, yet prevalent in cultures that value innovation and individuality.

            Americans consider themselves to be “American”, but also many times take more pride in their ethnic or racial origins. My grandfather considers himself a true American, but at the same time is proud to be of full Slavic descent. This pride in heritage is what draws people to travel to other countries and experience culture. Prose speaks of how she related to Indian culture and refers to India as her true home, although she did not permanently live there or dress in the native clothing.

This is a perfect example of pride in culture in two ways. She took pride in her new found relation with India, but did not relate to the clothing traditions because white people do not look attractive in Saris.

Prose speaks of going native in both good and bad ways. Going native lets a person understand cultural relativity in the deepest meaning of the term. However, going native also means letting go of parts of your own culture. An example of this would be marriage. If an American man was to move to India and marry a child bride it would be ok by Indian standards, but by American standards it is illegal and considered Statuary Rap most likely. Cultures have extremely different values and draw people in all sorts of different ways that only that individual whom is drawn to it can explain.

Going Native has an aim at possibly the world as an audience. This essay is more likely aimed at people who have less of a deep tradition because these are the people who seek to find a culture they relate to. However, this essay is also aimed at people who have deep traditions in the exact reverse way. One who has lived a life a tradition may love a life of individuality away from community so that person could make their own way and their own claim to fame instead of following family occupations.

This essay inspires a great deal of confusion because of the difference of values that going native can provoke. One may change completely or hold certain values and morals from their birth culture. How somebody’s childhood is experienced is also a major factor in how that person will see other cultures. All in all, people belong to what ever culture they choose to be in and can not ever hurt to experience other traditions in order to better yourself.