The sincToofStudentIndependentNewspapertheUniversityofrontoMississaugae1974 themedium.ca Issue 2 Volume September49122022 WORK BY DANIA SABRI, SHAFAQ, 2021
AppreciationCultural
Filipino culture continues to be celebrated in Toronto to this day. After being cancelled for two years in a row, the Taste of Manila food festival, which was first celebrated in
Other ethnic communities around the GTA can be found in Leslieville, Toronto Known locally as the Gerrard India Bazaar, “Little India” began in the 1970s, when Gian Naz opened the Naaz Theatre on Gerard Street. Being the first Bollywood cinema in North America, the theatre quickly attracted other South Asian businesses to serve the theatre’s patrons.
For many Canadians who have come from far away, the ability to maintain and embrace the ties to their culture is one of the most valuable things about the GTA. Residents of the area promote inclusivity in the region through festivals and events that celebrate food, music, and culture. Embracing cultures is something many Canadians strive to do every day in order to ensure the GTA con tinues to be a place that embraces diversity.
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My subject matter is people – their everyday lives, inhabited societies and communities, and ideologies – which I express through portraiture. Shafaq is based on a photograph of my mother in her late teens to early twenties. I incorporate the history and materiality of the original photograph through painterly marks dashed over the work’s surface, as well as vignetting. As for my mother – with her all-white shalwarkameez, red bindi, pearl necklace, and silver bangles catching the light – she epitomizes youth and beauty. The walls around her are bare with the exception of a clock and a mirror, which evokes the passing of time and represents a literal and meta phorical reflection of my mother. I wanted to explore who she was prior to motherhood.
While the theatre itself closed in the 1980s, South Asian businesses on Gerard Street continue to thrive, and the street is now the largest South Asian main street marketplace in North America. The development of a welcoming and stable ethnic community has turned Little India, and the GTA, into a de sirable place for South Asians immigrating to Canada. According to the 2016 Census pre pared by Statistic Canada, 84.6 per cent of all South Asians in Ontario reside in the GTA.
02 NEWS Editor | Larry news@themedium.caLau
The Batchoy is a heartwarming meal for Filipinos and non-Filipinos alike. In an in terview with the Toronto Star, Jameer ex plained the cultural significance of Batchoy: “People come in and immediately recognize us as fellow Ilonggos. We bond and have heart-to-heart conversations about adjusting to life in Canada.”
“People come in and Canada.”adjustingconversationshaveIlonggos.recognizeimmediatelyusasfellowWebondandheart-to-heartabouttolifein
Sabri recently completed a Bachelor of Arts and an Ad vanced Diploma at the University of Toronto Mississauga and Sheridan College where she specialized in painting and de sign. During her time of study, she received numerous awards including the Dr. Annie Smith Award for Art & Art History, C Magazine’s Excellence in Art Writing, and several Faculty Awards for excellence in the studio practices of sculpture, painting, and design.
“The Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is known for both its established and developing ethnic communities.”
Convergence of cultures and ethnicities in the GTA
Oil on canvas, 24” x 36,” 2021 CITY OF TORONTO ARCHIVES
Shafaq, was a part of the AGO’s Portraits of Resilience Proj ect in 2021 and was most recently on display at the AGO’s I AM HERE: Home Movies and Everyday Masterpieces exhibit, which ran until August 14th of this year. The painting was also commemorated at this year’s graduating Art & Art History exhibition hosted online by The Blackwood Gallery as well as an in-person exhibit at the Riverdale Gallery.
To see more of Sabri’s works, you can visit her website www. daniasabri.com or follow Sabri on Instagram @daniasabri_.
Some of the communities, such as Little India and Chinatown, have been growing steadily ever since they were established. Re cently however, newer communities have be come more prominent in the city’s landscape, reflecting the way the GTA’s population has grown and changed.
The region has many Filipino restaurants and cafés located within. One such restau rant is La Paz Batchoy, which opened in 2015. The restaurant specializes in Batchoy, a soup that takes two days to make and origi nates from the owner Jennifer Bergantinos Jameer’s hometown, Iloilo City.
2014, returned to Toronto this August. Popu lar Filipino pop band Ben & Ben start their first Canadian tour at The Opera House on October 9, 2022.
Dania Sabri is an interdisciplinary emerging artist chal lenging dominant political, religious, andcultural narratives specific to the settler state of “Canada” and the partitioned land of South Asia.
Shafaq
Dania Sabri
One of the neighbourhoods that has been expanding rapidly in recent years is located in the Bathurst-Wilson area of Toronto. Canada’s Live-In Caregiver Program, estab lished in 1992, allowed many Filipinos to immigrate to Canada in the 1990s and early 2000s. Many ended up settling down in what is known today as Little Manila, a region that now boasts one of the largest Filipino popu lations in Canada.
Hema Ramnarine Contributor
s one of the most culturally-diverse re gions in the world, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is known for both its established and developing ethnic communities. The di versity of these communities is incorporated into the story of Canada as a whole, culmi nating in the country’s multicultural identity.
Throughout the years, many ethnic groups have built up sizable communities within the Greater Toronto Area, resulting in the region representing the epitome of cultural diversity.
ing deep into the topic of academic offenses and methods of handling accusations of violating academic integrity. Downtown Legal Services, the U of T Faculty of Law’s community law clinic, provides assistance in matters relating to
Other activities include making or buying colourful lan terns and carrying them around, guessing lantern riddles, and admiring the full moon.
For the 2020-2021 academic year, 45.6 per cent of cases were first-year students, followed by 28.6 per cent for second-year students, 14.0 per cent for third-year students, and 11.8 per cent for fourth-year students. The abnormally large proportion of lower year students suggests a lack of familiarity with the importance of aca demic integrity at UTM.
Jinru Pan, a fifth-year management specialist and linguis tics minor, and a student of Chinese descent, shared her re flections on the festival with The Medium
Academic Advocacy Week returns this year to raise awareness of academic resources available to new and returning students.
While there is no statutory holiday for the Mid-Autumn Festival in most countries other than China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, to name a few, this year’s festival took place during the weekend of September 10 to 11, allowing people to hold celebrations deep into the night. Chinese people were able to celebrate while the moon was at its brightest and without the fear of being late for work the next day.
Due to the hectic lives that university students lead, many put off or forget about meeting with family for extended pe riods. “I see the [Mid-Autumn Festival] as an excuse for me to get to meet family,” states Pan.
A third-year biology student, Loridee De Villa, believes that the university does a lot to demic offence and its consequences: “I think
03 NATALIE NG/THE MEDIUM
Due to the presence of Chinese communities within the Greater Toronto Area, a celebration underwent near Ex hibition Place. Participants were invited to celebrate their culture, and reconnect with the community through watch ing the release of glimmering LED water lanterns alongside friends and family.
Toronto’s 2022 Mid-Autumn Festival sheds light on Chinese cultural traditions
Aside from the origins of the Mid-Autumn Festival, cel ebrations focus on several themes, the most important one being that of family reunion.
in various ways to ensure that they are staying on track with their aca demic jour ney,” says the person,demicunionnaleplainsNoorfairsUniversityVice-PresidentUTMSUAfSuraqaassheextheratioofthestudents’hostingAcaAdvocacyWeek.astarkdifference
Razia Saleh Contributor
De Villa states that she still feels that “the university spends more time telling students that their work should be honest, rather than implementing policies that would reduce the likelihood of students making these offenses. For example, allowing test retakes during illness or having assessments that do not carry an ex treme amount of weight.”
In accordance with the Lunar calendar, the Mid-Autumn Festival traditionally celebrates the year’s bountiful harvest season. The celebration is rooted in the prevalence of agri culture in China’s history.
The Mid-Autumn Festival takes place on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese calendar. On the more widely used Gregorian calendar, this date varies, however, this year, on September 10, Chinese communities across the world gathered to celebrate the festival under the full moon.
Larry Lau News Editor
UTM provides students with a detailed account of how academic integrity functions and how offenses are punished within the university.”
to learn about the academic resources offered at UTM.
The Chinese community in Canada celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival on September 10, commemorating the end of the harvest season with a gathering of families.
shop organized by the Robert ademic Skills Centre (RGASC), which will run from 2
Starting September 13, 2022, the University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union (UT MSU) will be hosting its annual Academic Ad vocacy Week, giving students the opportunity
vices” workshop from 2
Regardless, there are several resources and support systems that students can use to main tain academic integrity. “Students can also speak to a professor or TA about their academic integrity concerns, seek assistance from the RGASC or the Academic Integrity Unit which has a bunch of resources available to students and, speak to us, the UTMSU,” says Noor.
“This is a festival about gathering with family. To me per sonally, most importantly, I get the day off when I’m in Chi na and I get to meet with my family,” says Pan as she explains what she enjoys about the Mid-Autumn Festival.
The festival was first celebrated in China during the Zhou Dynasty (1045 to 221 BC). It began as emperors worshipped the moon goddess in hopes of a plentiful harvest for the up coming
tember 15, students may learn about avoiding plagiarism
There are several concepts and stories about why the fes tival is celebrated, one of which revolves around the moon goddess Chang’e. The story, which translates to “Chang’e Fly
Today,year.the Mid-Autumn Festival has largely lost its ag ricultural significance, but is regularly celebrated in active Chinese communities worldwide.
“Traditionally, there are some mythologies that we keep hearing from our parents or even our family,” says Pan as she explains the origins of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
ing to the Moon,” has many different iterations, and involve several other characters of Chinese mythology, including the archer Hou Yi, and the Moon Rabbit (also known as the Jade Rabbit or the Hare). Originating from this traditional tale, Chinese people decided to organize a festival to commemo rate her departure to the moon.
The UTMSU hosts week-long event as cases of academic offence soar
In the two years of virtual learning, violations of academic integrity have risen to alarming numbers. According to the University of Toron to Mississauga’s (UTM) annual report on aca demic offences released during the Academic Affairs Committee’s May 9, 2022 meeting, of fence cases totaled 1,799 for the 2020-2021 aca demic year. This is over a 200 per cent increase from any year between 2011 and 2019.
from last year’s fully online iteration.
Moving forward, the UTMSU encourages students to proactively learn about the academ ic support offered on campus as to make it eas ier for them to deal with any academic-related challenges encountered throughout their time in university.
shops for the week. On September 13, students may participate in the “Academic Integrity Q&A” from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and the “How to Petition and Appeal with Downtown Legal Ser
The celebrations all around the globe are never short of exciting. To celebrate, people bake mooncakes, which are sweet, glutinous pastries made with lotus seed paste. The dessert is commonly consumed during the festival and is considered a cultural delicacy.
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“And wherever you may live in the Unit ed Kingdom, or in the realms and territo ries across the world, and whatever may be your background or beliefs, I shall endeav our to serve you with loyalty, respect, and love as I have throughout my life,” pledges King Charles III.
Larry Lau News Editor
Known for her steadfast and kind nature, Queen Elizabeth II established stability in the monarchy, when many questioned their relevance in a democratically dominated world. She pushed forward a series of poli cies that kept the aging monarchy aligned with changing times.
OF DEFENCE
UK’s longest-serving monarch and beloved public figure, Queen Elizabeth II, is peacefully laid to rest with millions mourning.
Days after the Queen’s passing, on September 10, Canada recognized King Charles III as Canada’s new monarch, with Trudeau issuing a new statement: “On be half of the Government of Canada, we af firm our loyalty to Canada’s new King, His Majesty King Charles III, and offer him our full support.”
King Charles III succeeded the Queen on September 10, where he partook in a televised accession ceremony performed at St James’s Palace, London. During the ceremony, King Charles III swore an oath, known as the accession declaration, to maintain the Protestant religion and pre serve the Church of Scotland.
“Her legacy will loom large in the pages of British history, and in the story of our world.”
“I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service.”
In his statement, Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, expressed “heartfelt condolences to members of the Royal Family during this most difficult time.” He also stated that the upcoming days will be a period of mourning for Ca nadians and all Commonwealth citizens, culminating to a National Day of Mourn ing to end the period.
“Known for her steadfast and kind Queennature,Elizabeth II established stability in the monarchy, when many questioned their relevance in a dominateddemocraticallyworld.”
75 years later, Queen Elizabeth II has witnessed and contributed to the world’s growth and change in ways unparalleled by most of today’s leaders. She will forever be the Queen who refused to be left behind.
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Throughout her life, Queen Elizabeth II witnessed the appointment and departure of 15 prime ministers, starting with Win ston Churchill and ending with Liz Truss, who was appointed on Tuesday, September 6—a ceremony to which the Queen was in attendance.
“I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service,” said the then 21-year-old Princess Elizabeth, as she swore an oath to the people of the Commonwealth in 1947.
n the afternoon of September 8, 2022, Queen Elizabeth II, passed away at the age of 96 at Balmoral Castle, Aberdeen shire, Scotland. Her passing marks the end of her 70-year reign as one of the world’s most renowned public leaders.
The White House also issued a state ment, with President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden recounting their encounters with the Queen and expressing condolenc es for members of the Royal Family, as well as the people of the UK and the Common wealth. “Her legacy will loom large in the pages of British history, and in the story of ourTheworld.”newly established British Prime Minister, Liz Truss, spoke to the public about the passing of the country’s beloved Queen. “We usher in a new era in the mag nificent history of our great country, ex actly as Her Majesty would have wished, by saying ‘God Save the King,’” said Truss, looking forward to King Charles III’s reign.
The end of an era: Queen Elizabeth II passes away
JOEL ROUSE/ MINISTRY
On September 9, King Charles III made his first official address to the public since the Queen’s passing, expressing sorrow for his beloved mother’s passing and proclaim ing his dedication to his country.
The funeral for the Queen includes plans spanning several days. Her coffin will be moved to numerous locations in between now and the date of her funeral for ceremo nies and for the public to pay respects. The funeral service will commence at Westmin ster Abbey, on September 19, with the day being a public holiday in the UK. On the same day, she will be laid to rest within St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, where her late husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, is also buried.
“That promise of life-long service, I re new to all, today,” says King Charles III as he vows to share the late Queen’s oath to the people of the Commonwealth.
Committee members will regularly meet in-person with SHRL representatives to voice concerns and provide feedback on issues related to housing. Points of discussion include stu dent needs, accommodation policies, and budget allocation. It will be a place to discuss grievances regarding housing, which many students have.
Mihail Cubata Contributor
To aid students in securing affordable housing, the Univer sity of Toronto Mississauga’s (UTM) Department of Student Housing and Residence Life (SHRL) is calling for students living on campus to apply for this year’s Student Housing Ad visory Committee (SHAC).
All positions for the UTMSU’s housing committee are vol unteer based, with the closing date to apply being September 13. As a member of the committee, students can share their insights and concerns on housing to help guide the direction of UTMSU’s affordable housing campaign.
High rental costs and unfavourable living conditions raise concerns over affordable student housing options.
Campaigns begin as housing shortages continue to plague UTM students
The SHRL’s SHAC is not the sole option for students to call for accessible and secure housing options. The University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union (UTMSU) is currently accepting applications for their housing committee, which is open to non-residence students as well. The committee will be looking at student housing beyond on-campus options.
Tomas, a third-year kinesiology student who lives on resi dence and wishes to remain anonymous, recounts an unpleas ant summer due to faulty appliances. “Our air conditioning was awful this summer,” he says. “Sometimes it just wouldn’t work, other times it was so loud we thought it was broken. It makes you wonder what we’re paying [$2,000] a month for.”
Comprised of student representatives, the committee aims to open up a channel of communication with students living on residence. Those interested in applying can submit their application online before the deadline on September 14.
Alex Sigarev, a fourth-year Digital Enterprise Management student, also has concerns about housing costs both on-and off-campus: “I think a lot of people want to live on campus for the social experience and everything. But for me, the price was too much, both on campus and nearby.”
A ccording to Statistics Canada, in April 2022, 53 per cent of young adults, aged 15 to 29, were concerned about their ability to afford housing. The fear of paying high prices for cheap units is continuously affecting students, who al ready pay hefty tuition fees.
Involving students in conversations regarding their liv ing accommodations is paramount in ensuring the viable stay of those on residence. Committees such as that of the SHRL and the UTMSU foster an open space and a continuous line of communication, thus enabling pressing issues to be addressed in a timely manner. With the already challenging housing situation in the Greater Toronto Area for people of all ages, students especially need to be given the option to live comfortably and within their budget.
For the city of Mississauga, the average rental price of a single bedroom unit in August 2022 reached $1,862, render ing such accommodations inaccessible to most students. Of course, off-campus housing has fewer price regulations and varies dramatically in quality, but there are pressing issues re garding on-campus housing options as well.
Tomas is enthusiastic about the opportunity to interact with those in charge of on-campus housing. “I think commit tees like these are always important,” he says. “If you don’t talk to the right people about your problems, they’re never going to get fixed, right?”
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Rising food spots in the GTA have affected the way we define culture and how we stay celebrate each other.
There is no denying that cultural food spots have become widespread, so much so that it feels like the world’s cuisines are at our fingertips. Within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), there is immense cultural diversity. Several cuisines have become so popular that it is genuinely shocking when someone is part of the minority that has not indulged in a famous dish. The rising reputation of ethnic cuisines gives space for underrepresented, marginalized communities to be recognized on a larger scale. In addition to this, small businesses can directly reap the benefits of sharing their cuisines with the world.
“The presence of cultural food establishments is incredibly important for our sense of community.”
Larry news@themedium.caLau
“The exposure of different cuisines creates a shift in attitude from gatekeeping culture to the sharing foods and traditions eagerly.”
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Food: keeping us cultured and connected
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Since food and culture are so deeply intertwined, having ac cess to cultural food spots allows us to embrace and celebrate our own, as well as different cultures, through their rich cuisines. The way that food is grown, cooked, served, and even eaten, has a deeper meaning within its cultural context. When we eat cultural
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The effect this has on our collective knowledge of culture is massive. The exposure of different cuisines creates a shift in at titude from gatekeeping culture to the sharing foods and tradi tions eagerly. Anthropologist Margaret Mead described the act of sharing food as a form of gift-giving. In many ways, food rep resents one’s cultural heritage, and thus, giving people outside our culture the opportunity to participate in this experience is a meaningful exchange.
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“I ’ve never tried shawarma,” said my co-worker. Several heads turned. I gasped. In hindsight, it was quite comical how we made it out to be this monumental revelation. But why was it so shocking to so many of us?
food and take the time to learn the appropriate etiquette, it is an act of respect. In doing so, we acknowledge the profound history behind the techniques and rituals that go into preparing food.
Fusion cuisine, where elements from two or more cuisines are combines in some way, has become a popular phenomenon. Hak ka Chinese cuisine is a well-known mix of Indian and Chinese flavours. In this instance, this fusion reveals a migratory event in history where Chinese immigrants put down roots in Kolk ata in the 1700s. Making use of the regional Indian ingredients, they prepared dishes using techniques they honed from Chinese cooking and sold them as street food, which established Indochi nese food as the popular fusion cuisine that we know today.
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The presence of cultural food establishments is incredibly im portant for our sense of community. The concept of “third places” comes to mind here. Sociologist Ray Oldenburg coined the term to refer to a location in between the home—the first place, and the workplace—the second place. A third place is meant to be an environment where we can establish connections, have fun, and build our communities. According to Oldenburg, the most compelling locations for third places are those which are easily accessible and reliable for routine hangouts. The cultural food es tablishments within the GTA can become places where everyone has an enjoyable time. For my friends and me, this can look like sushi night or going out for tacos at a local Mexican restaurant. Having common third places in the form of cultural food spots helps us diminish the “other” mentality we may have with respect to other cultures.
Food can transform into a form of camaraderie where, irre spective of our own backgrounds, we can come together and cel ebrate our love for food, while appreciating the beautiful, diverse cultures from which they originate.
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pression makes it worse. The best way to get used to the snow is to accept it as a constant. The weather app on your phone and some warm clothes will become your companion for at least four to five months—maybe even longer. Invest in puffer jackets, knitted hats, warm socks, wool scarves, fuzzy leggings, and other winter essentials, as they are crucial to survival in the cold climate. You should find fun activities with your friends, like snowball fights, taking pictures with the serene snowy backdrops, and ice-skating at Celebration Square—just a 10-minute drive fromComingcampus.to a new country is a nervewracking experience. I salute those who decide to move abroad for education and dream of a better future. Going through these mental and physical hardships can be difficult, but these adversities do not have to define your experience. A lot of people un derstand and want to support you. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Making the best of your adventures through my tips can help make your experience more favourable and ease your transition to Canada.
The Medium remains focused on community, welcoming any contributor by encouraging writers of various cultural backgrounds. From Russian to Iraqi to Guyanese to Polish and more, our editorial team showcases diversity. Reflected in our pitches, we invite students to share their perspectives on topics important to them.
Countless organizations have faced lawsuits regarding discrimination in their hiring practices. From ethnic racism to cultural exclusion, companies are afraid of being charged. As such, businesses have made it a point to show case their inclusive hiring methods in the media. Bold prom ises are made year-round; after all, it’s what they need to do to keep customers engaged. But promoting diversity for me dia purposes is not enough.
The weather in Canada is especially treacherous these days. Getting used to the snow can be challenging, and seasonal de
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I have learnt a lot during my time in Can ada, and I have seen how willing people are to help make you feel at home. So, here are some easy tips that helped me adapt to my new life in this country.
Embracing inclusivity
One of the first barriers is understanding the language and accent. At first, I found a lot of unusual slang terms and different pronunciations in daily speaking which were difficult for me to understand. In class, when my professors spoke, I would have to follow the written words on the whiteboard or the handout, since keeping up with the teacher was so tough. The language barrier combined with the unfamiliar accents com plicated things—including understanding class assignments, navigating social interac tions with my classmates, and participating in class, which is essential in many courses.
Editorial
Moving to a new country can be an anx iety-inducing experience. One of the many ways to overcome this is by making friends. Socializing is essential and can be very dif ficult and nerve-wracking, but UTM offers many fun opportunities to interact with oth ers. There are events organized almost every week by various clubs on campus that pro vide opportunities to meet new people. You can follow their social media pages to get notified about these events in advance. UTM has a variety of diverse student groups and societies so you can find clubs that match your likes and interests. Through these or ganizations, you will quickly meet people that share similar interests and tastes as you. Once you push through the initial awkward ness, you will find out how much the UTM community has to offer.
For many of us, culture shapes our identity through our beliefs and customs. Nobody deserves to feel excluded—es pecially not when employees dedicate so much time and ef fort to their work. When long, tireless hours are spent in the office, employers are obligated to ensure that all work ers feel appreciated and included.
The University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) consists of a diverse community of domestic and international stu dents. We take it upon ourselves to give UTM—you, dear reader—the space for expression. As such, we strive to raise awareness by ensuring that every member of the UTM com munity feels both represented and understood. But, keep us on our toes and let us know if we miss something by submitting a Letter to the Editor at www.themedium.ca/ letters are three tips to help you through culture shock and enjoy your time in Canada.
DDI SHRM
Malavika Puri Contributor
defines cultural shock as “a sense of confusion and un certainty sometimes with feelings of anxiety that may affect people exposed to an alien culture or environment without adequate preparation.” This shock impacts people who migrate to or visit a foreign country.
How do we know if a company fulfills the values it proj ects onto the public? Take a look at their leadership teams!
As the 2022 fall semester begins, interna tional students from over 130 countries will start their studies at UTM—leaving their homes to begin a new chapter in Canada. There will be many aspects of Canadian life that students will have to adjust to, such as Canadian colloquialisms, crappy coffee, and endless snow. I remember feeling confused and out of place as a new student in middle school—asking teachers questions during class or approaching my classmates to join their groups for class projects made me so nervous as a new immigrant. I felt intimi dated and didn’t have the confidence to put myself out there. Over the last seven years,
In the workplace, a public image of inclusivity is not enough; performative policies and promises are not enough.
Before moving to Canada, I watched a lot of media—particularly Bollywood mov ies and Hindi TV shows. Then, I decided to start regularly watching English TV shows, like Friends and Brooklyn 99, which helped me because they spoke the same accented English as Canadians. These are comedy
shows that have light-hearted jokes and straightforward plotlines, which helped me get used to listening to and understanding the English commonly used in Canada.
Our differences strengthen and connect us. They ensure fresh perspectives are heard, which not only amplifies repre
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Similarly, Indian actress Simone Ashley garneredceremony,positiveto
A Brown girl’s guide to cultural appreciation on social media
There are two things you should do when you go out on a date next time (and please, don’t let this one asshole be the reason you don’t find love). First—listen to your inner voice and take any red flags, turning stomachs, or racing heartbeats seriously. Don’t give him “just another chance” if it means put ting yourself in danger. Second—make sure to assign a yourisn’tthinkamakeonesuredon’taoututtercome-right-now-I’ll-get-eaten-by-a-coyote”I-have-a-flat-tire-stranded-on-the-QEW-and-if-you-don’t-“SOS-friendwhoattheofasafewordwillcallyouandgiveyouagoodexcuseofanynastysituation.Makesurethatfriend,andperhapsparentifyou’recomfortable,hasyourlocationsothatifyoureplyatyourhourlycheck-in,theycanrushovertomakeyou’reokay.Pleasedonoteverloweryourstandardsforaman—oranyforthatmatter.Youknowyourselfbestsodon’tletanyoneyouquestionyourworth.EvenifthatmeanssayingnotoguywhoseTinderprofileandenticingpickuplinemadeyouyou’dfinallyfound“theone.”(Sidenote:maybe“theone”onTinder).Andremember,before,after,orevenduringnextdate,I’mjustashortletterawaywithallmysupport.Withlove,
Iam so sorry this happened to you, and I need you to know that this is not your fault. Absolutely nothing you say, or don’t say, do, or don’t do, should ever give any man the right to disrespect your boundaries—physical or emotional.
In today’s globalized society, social media has become a ubiquitous part of our lives, connecting millions of people worldwide and offering glimpses into how people from dif ferent backgrounds incorporate culture into their daily lives. This has been a pivotal tool in my journey towards increasing my own intercultural awareness.
Professor James Young at the University of Victoria empha sizes the importance of understanding in our journey towards intercultural awareness. He argues, “if one under stands a cultural prod uct, one is unlikely to use it in offensive or otherwise objection able ways.” This is part of cultural appre ciation—the notion of valuing a culture different from ours without the intent to exploit or steal, but rather to admire the customs and traditions of vari ous thatleled,practicesfollowrectlystanding.tocellentpresentsSocialgroups.mediaanexwayforusdevelopthatunderLearningdifrompeoplewhospecificculturalisanunparalauthenticexperiencewemaynothaveelsewhere.
Being exposed to culture through social media has not only allowed me to fall in love with my culture again, but also to recognize how important it is to share our customs and traditions. The more aware we are of other cultures, the greater our state of appreciation and mutual respect will be. We can learn to see things from other perspectives and come to understand that there is so much beauty in
“Now find myself mourning the time that I spent not celebrating my culture.”
“If one understands a cultural product, one is unlikely to use it in offensive or otherwise objectionable ways.”
Fariha Shimu Contributor
Dear Liz,
A month ago, I went on a date and he tried to take it too far. I am interested in a relationship, and it was clear he was annoyed I wouldn’t kiss or have sex on the first date. He told me “No guy will ever respect you if you respect yourself too much.”
Social media has greatly impacted our understanding and appreciation of culture in both positive, and at times, negative ways.
ly carried shame for. Witnessing other South Asians embrace aspects of their culture so confidently and proudly has been
I’m sure many Brown girls are familiar with the feeling of being taunted for our oiled, sleek braids, or having noses turned up at the aromatic curries our moms packed us for lunch. Exposed to Western standards, we grew up thinking that the deeply rooted cultural practices we took part in were “too eccentric.” Except, it is these very customs that go viral on social media nowadays.
Still, having my culture showcased on such large platforms fills me with a sense of pride and belonging that I did not know I could feel. I can now look at my culture from a lens that is separate from the embarrassment I felt growing up. It
I am new to dating so this incident has left me with nightmares and worried to go out again. But I don’t know how to keep this from happening since asking someone if they are looking for a genuine relationship might come off too strong. How do I protect myself in the future so that I can better understand a guy’s intentions before I put myself in harm’s way?
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And as for his Andrew-Tate-ass quote, please disregard. He obviously has never felt any motherly love—or the touch of a woman (not consensually, at least).
BeautySigned, and the Beast
In no way is asking if a person wants a genuine relationship coming off too strong—it’s simply honest. If they’re a good person, their answer will come easily—and whether it’s yes or no, there will be a concrete, consensual, next step. But, also be weary; men will say anything to get in your pants. Take for ex ample my first kiss. I was a naïve 15-year-old who thought that a guy saying I’d make a great girlfriend meant he was deserv ing of my untouched lips. I guess he meant I’d make a great girlfriend for someone else, because I got ghosted.
Kate’s love of chai, to the gorgeous Indian jewelry and sentation was commended immensely on social media. For once, it felt like aspects of my culture were being recognized in a way that did not
But seeing these aspects of my culture being admired on social media has forced me to reconcile that culture is a strong part of our identity and defines our communities. It has also brought up feelings of not being “Brown enough,” because I tried so hard to hide those aspects of myself and now find my self mourning the time that I spent not celebrating my culture.
Even witnessing practices from my own culture on social media pres ents a valuable opportunity to learn about how people do things differently than I do.
“Seeing aspects of my own culture glamourized through TikTok trends can sometimes feel like a double-edged sword.”
Elizabeth Provost Editor-in-Chief
eaten-by-a-coyoteSOS-come-now-before-I-get-
Dear Beauty and the Beast,
Social media content creators like Indian-American Milan a beautiful South Asian garment often adorned with beads and sequins—awoke a wave of cultural appreciation online. Mathew’s video inspired a viral trend where thousands of
up struggling to fully embrace, and was even embarrassed by, the cultural practices that have been passed down through generations in my community. My culture was not something I was proud of and often felt like it was a part of myself to be tucked away.
While I love consuming content pertaining to culture, see ing aspects of my own culture glamourized through TikTok trends can sometimes feel like a double-edged sword. I grew
interacting with other cultures out of fear of
Everyone is perhaps a bit sensitive about how the media portrays their culture. But I think we can all agree that not all media creators are good resources for learning about other cultures. You should look to members of that culture to gain an authentic and accurate insight into their culture.
I believe that it is essential for people to hesitate before criticizing or “cancel ling” others. Each side in this debate is responsible for seeking understand ing from others. What is socially ac ceptable is constantly changing, but I believe we need to prioritize spread ing knowledge before sentencing people to social annihilation.
Maryam Patel Contributor
Cultural gatekeeping might be more dangerous than cultural appropriation
ous cultures—each somewhat embedded in the other. This occurs through trade, immi gration, social media, and more.
“Cultural appropriation, while having legitimate
hastens to criticize any adoption of a different
“You should look that culture to gain an authentic and accurate insight into
to perpetuate “cancel culture,” especially via
Cultural appropriation isn’t straightforward enough to be regulated by the public, rather, the solution lies in self-awareness.
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While the definitions of these two ideas are continually expanding, it seems society hastens to criticize any adoption of a different
Cultural appropriation, while having legiti mate cases, is often used to perpetuate “can cel culture,” especially via social media. The mentality that portraying a culture other than one’s own is toxic, persecutes people, especial ly prominent figures like celebrities, who are simply trying to embrace elements of another culture. There is a distinction between appre ciating cultural ideals and making a mock ery of them. However, two issues exist here. One—it is not always clear what a person’s in tention is, and sometimes a lack of knowledge is to blame for their behaviour, and two—the general public does not always have enough information to determine whether a person is appreciating a culture, perhaps even their own, or if they’re “borrowing” traditions without permission. This confusion is
Using chopsticks, wearing African braids, applying henna, and doing yoga or martial arts are practices of other cultures that should not be penalized, as they don’t reinforce nega tive attitudes toward those cultures.
“Cultural gatekeeping, falling into cultural
The best remedy for harmful dis plays of another culture is through educating yourself. Learn more about other cultures to avoid the
The issue in all of this is when someone is being “cancelled” for innocent endorsements of another
First and foremost, we must acknowledge that mocking or ridiculing another culture is unacceptable. There are instances where cultural appropriation is racist, worsens ste reotypes, or exploits already marginalized groups. Some examples include: wearing blackface, a bindi, or a headdress to a festival, as well as imitating accents of
I understand that cultural ap propriation is based within white colonialism, and many ethnic minorities have had their tradi tions and practices snatched or erased. However, it’s im portant to note that each culture is the product of other cultures through out history. There is
agree upon whether a particular adoption of their culture by an outsider is acceptable or not. Controlling each aspect of your culture diminishes progression and growth. This is an unhealthy precedent, as members of this cul ture will become less diverse, and fear of devi ating from the norms will become common. Cultural gatekeeping divides communities and threatens cultural diffusion—a product of globalization—by fostering a sense of entitle
Cultural gatekeeping, cancel culture, and concern of accidentally falling into cultural appropriation may deter people from interacting with other cultures out of fear of scrutiny. This could ultimately cause people to keep to their own com munities, and become apprehensive to trying new things and learning about
with other members belonging to that culture. Cultural appropriation, on the other hand, is using a part of another culture without per mission and mocking or misusing its prac tices or traditions. For example, attending an Indian wedding in a sari may be cultural ap preciation versus wearing one for Halloween, which is appropriation. Largely, the definitive line between the two concepts is concerned with the given consent prior to indulging in a
“Controlling each aspect of your culture
The debate on where the line between cultural appreciation and appropriation must be drawn continues to grow as social media users direct their energy toward repri mandingThroughhairstyles.atheological lens, there is a clear
“While the definitions of these two ideas are continually expanding,
Aia Jaber Managing Editor
Many ostracize the street—laughing at its creepy men and immi grant feel, but I love seeing details of my culture in the Western world. I’m filled with excitement as I stop to take a picture of a restaurant called “Masgouf”—its name a specialty grilled fish made throughout Iraq. The singular photo of the dimly lit, odorous restaurant I take with shaking hands encapsulates my longing to see my country. It is no wonder why ethnic groups flock to similar regions in Western countries desperately yearning for a place like home. There is com fort in what is familiar—even in an entirely new country.
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Editor Prisha (Maneka)
Shahed Ebesh
Geographically far, emotionally close
10 features
Shops and restaurants stand tall with Arabic writing across their windows. I stare at each store as I walk slowly down the long street— dreading the end of the alleyway, signalling it’s time to go home. All around me, I hear Arabic speech shared between families, friends, and shopkeepers. The interior of each building filled with cranberry red cushioned chairs and tiled walls—a staple in Iraq’s modernizing shopping scene. I am 5,711 kilometres away from Toronto and 5,210 kilometres from Baghdad, and yet, I feel at home.
I still carry that survivor’s guilt—until the war is over, I don’t think there will be any place to put it down. But with it, I carry pride in my identity as a Syrian woman.
Learning to live with survivor’s guilt
Familiarity in an unknown place
Contributoramafirst-generation
features@themedium.caNuckchady
UTM students share their defining experiences with their cultures.
n immigrant from the city of Damascus. The story of how I came to Canada is a lucky one. When I was four years old, we moved near Vancouver from Saudi Arabia, with plans of returning to Syria in 2009 when our apartment there would be complete. Right before our trip, civil unrest began to stir, and we made the life-saving decision to wait another year.
I’ve grown up carrying my Syrian heritage together with a state of per manent grief and survivor’s guilt. For my family, this manifested in strict er religious attitudes. Up until recently, I tried to distance myself from my heritage to avoid thoughts of the war. Now, I realize how my original attitude was the issue. My culture is not one of war; my culture is delicious foods like ma’loubeh and fetteh, and upbeat dances like dabke dances and belly dancing with women you cherish. I love learning new idioms in Ara bic. I keep the memory of my country alive by discussing Syria in a posi tive light, as the jasmine-scented, cat-filled, bustling nation I remember.
My feet drag slowly across the pavement, eagerly approaching a busy plot of land filled with pieces of my culture, language, and favourite foods. Eyes wide open, a gasp escaping my mouth, I run over to the street sign reading “Edgware Road.” To any pedes trians passing, I must appear silly—a girl standing in front of a street sign they ignorantly walk by every day on their daily commute. For me, I’ve waited my entire trip in England to see this very sign.
The ability to feel closer to my relatives, to those whom I have not seen in over a decade, is emotional. The smell of a charcoal grill cooking skewers of chicken fills the night air, making my friends and I far hungrier than we already are. The ability to witness large groups of people who share my culture, traditions, and language is surreal. We have a large Arab population in Ontario, but London feels differ ent, and I can’t tell you why.
Bright colours and warm, good vibes are the best way to describe who and where I come from. My favourite part of my culture is the happy, uplifting spirit it spreads.
When I turned 10 years old, my mother and I moved to Ontario, leav ing behind our warm and welcoming family of “The School of Dreams.” The sweet taste of Russia was gone.
At Caribana, our feel-good music blasts as parade participants display their bright, jewel-encrusted costumes, proudly showing off our culture. The warm scents of our food fill the air as vendors prepare authentic meals—a smell that always makes me feel at home.
“Bright colours and warm, good vibes are the best way to describe who and where I come from.”
Kareena Kailass Opinion Editor
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MEditor-in-Chiefymother
Coming to Guyana as indentured workers under the reign of the British, the Indo-Caribbean diaspora was born. Creating a fusion of cultures between the varying diasporas in the nation, including the Afro-Caribbean diaspora and Amerindians, the unique culture of Guy ana came about.
Guyana, always close to heart
The school of dreams
Once I was able to talk, walk, and know to dry my tears at the sound of a Russian ballad, my mother enrolled me in a Russian school. The school’s name translated to “The School of Dreams.” That, it really was.
Elizabeth Provost
The University of Toronto Mississauga—a shared space that is open and encouraging of our cultural displays—is home to many Guyanese and Caribbean students. Through this welcoming environment, we con tinue to keep our traditions alive.
My parents, descendants of the Indo-Caribbean diaspora, always made sure my older sister and I were close to our Guyanese heritage and in touch with our culture. We were taught to pass on our cultural tradi tions throughout the generations, to learn the values and principles that they teach, and to be proud.
The classes were part of an after-school program. We took Russian, literature, algebra, and physics—little children trained with the expec tation of one day winning a Nobel Prize. None of us ever did, but the friendships we made have lasted a lifetime. After the heavy subjects, we were shipped off to the basement of the old church rented by the Russian women who ran the school. There, we would paint, put on plays, sing in choir, and learn to play the piano.
It’s undeniable that the easiest connections are made with those who share our cultures. When I meet a Russian now, I hold onto that bond and quench my thirst for my language and my values, reminded of the late nights singing and dancing “Katyusha” in gold-embroidered tradi tional Russian costumes on the squeaky floors of the stage that made me who I am today.
Carnival, or in Guyana, Mashramani, is one of the most well-known parts of the culture—aside from the food and music, of course. The To ronto Caribbean Carnival, or Caribana, is one of the biggest displays of our culture in Canada, meshed with the culture of various other Carib bean countries that share similar cultures.
immigrated to Canada from Russia in 1999. I was born shortly after, in 2001. After my mother was handed my birth cer tificate, she began searching for places in Montréal where I could be ex posed to Russian culture.
It wasn’t until the Covid-19 pandemic that I began ac cepting my culture. I’m still unsure of what exactly sparked the shift in my attitude toward my culture. Perhaps being at home, surrounded by my traditions and family, birthed the newfound sense of appreciation I felt. It could be all the Bol lywood movies, learning to cook our cultural dishes, like tandoori chicken, or the long conversations I had with my aunts about our family’s heritage. As I learned more about my culture, I discovered a part of myself I had purposely buried, unaware of how much I missed it.
Through my inner turmoil, I have realized that while it was not my own hands that caused a century of cultural and ethnic genocide, it is my responsibility to partake in reconciliACTION—a significant plan to take active steps towards reconciliation. I can embrace my family’s traditional Québécois dishes, folk dancing, and songs. I can enjoy our Christmas Réveillon traditions. But I also have to acknowledge my status as a de scendant of colonizers.
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Rani Lakshmi Bai taught me that we should speak up against injustice and fight for our freedom. Countless freedom fighters under her lead ership laid down their lives in the first revolt for independence against the British in 1857. As a country established by fighting for its freedom against colonizers, we should honour the right to protest and fight against injustice—not encourage it. Yet, young activists are blinded with tear gas and maimed with steel pellets as they try to protest the government in Punjab and Delhi. “Liberty of thought and expression” is long forgotten, and “Oppression of thought and expression” is taking over.
What is happening, India?
G
Now, I realize that my culture is beautiful. The vibrant colours of our exquisite foods and clothing are just the be ginning. The importance of family and togetherness is one cultural aspect that, aside from the music and dance, I’ve ad mired a lot more in the past few years.
Dalainey Gervais Contributor
rowing up, I didn’t see the importance of preserving my cultural identity. I narrowly believed that if you lived in the West, you’d automatically assimilate to that country’s ex pectations and dispose of your customs at the door.
AContributorsachild,
my friends and I would feast on Eid, celebrate Baisakhi, and play with colours together on Holi. India became home to peo ple of many different religions because their right to religious freedom was respected and upheld. Today, people are being tortured in the streets and forced to chant “Jai Shri Ram” (“Glory to Lord Rama”). “Liberty of belief, faith and worship” has vanished; “Liberty of one faith, worship and hatred for others” is taking over.
India showed me that nobody is less or more—we are all capable of enacting change. We must encourage communities to be more accepting in a way that respects, honours, and protects all citizens. Yet, the only thing changing is the news headline, from violence to deaths. As the most significant democratic republic in the world, India should have an equal society. However, this is far from reality. Politicians have an excess of power to misuse. “Secular Democratic Republic” is transforming into “Totalitarian Religious Dictatorship.”
India taught me a lot. Now, it has to change and grow before it destroys its legacy. With the appropriate values already embedded in our culture, it’s time for India to remember what our previous leaders and activists fought for and taught us.
Growing up, I felt inner conflict when accepting my cultural identity. My family’s lineage extends to early French-Canadian settlers. While I am proud to say I am Francophone, I understand my ancestors’ implica tion in the colonization of this land. Although I don’t know their names or faces, it is easy to assume that my French-European ancestors sailed across the ocean and played a role in the whitewashing of this country.
I am a descendent of colonizers
“Strength lies in differences, not in similarities,” once said American author Stephen Covey. Worthy of being cherished instead of mocked, expressed instead of hidden, and shared instead of buried, our differences—cultural or otherwise— make us special.
Malavika Puri
Maryam Patel Contributor
Granting myself the opportunity to discover my cultural identity
For most of my life, I tried to conceal my ethnic identity because of unfair stereotypes and assumptions. I attended a predominantly Arab school where the only Desi people were of Pakistani descent. In anticipation of mockery and whis pered remarks from my classmates, I recall feeling anxious when teachers would ask students where they were from on the first day of class. I remember kids putting stickers on their foreheads, making weird noises to imitate our music, asking if I was secretly Hindu, and telling me that India was a dump. I didn’t feel proud to be Indian. I was embarrassed. It seemed like the idea of an Indian Muslim was unheard of.
After graduation, I began to hear about the odd schoolmate or two that decided to drop out in pursuit of the arts. Those were strictly cautionary tales that were brought up in conver sations with gossiping aunts and uncles. Those artists did not only become the black sheep of their families, but also of their whole communities.
Art is a necessity for all: Reflections from an Egyptian household
day or either of the Eids rolled around, a televised play almost always found its way into the plans. During weddings and fam ily get-togethers, we became the dancers we watched on TV.
Artists in Egypt are viewed as immoral people who lead questionable lifestyles. At a certain point in time, Egyptian cin ema was quite liberal and many taboo topics were depicted, in cluding sexuality. In the collective consciousness, actors didn’t dig into their character’s sex lives. Similarly, the belly dancers who are central to most weddings are viewed as promiscu ous women who bathe in the male gaze. You may hire a belly dancer for your wedding, but it is shameful to marry one, let alone be one.
Growing up, the closest I got to meeting artists was by watching them on my TV. I was born and raised in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Egyptians who held jobs in the UAE were doctors, engineers, and corporate employees. Ac cordingly, these were the only career options I knew. All chil dren of the diaspora were led down these paths, and the vast majority obliged without question.
According to Egyptians, “art does not feed one bread.” One pursues the arts only under two circumstances: if you inherit enough and don’t need to work another day in your life, or if you have nothing to lose financially. Accordingly, children of immigrants find themselves in a gray zone. Many come from working and middle-class origins where work is a necessity forEgyptiansurvival. parents work hard for their children to access fi nancial opportunities that may never be accessible to most people back home. Families aim to maximize the success of their children while minimizing any disdain from the commu
Rola Fawzy Contributor
A thought provoking argument on the tough yet necessary meanings of art for those in Egyptian families.
“Those artists did not only become the black sheep of their families, but also of their whole communities.”
13 Arts Editor | Julia arts@themedium.caSkoczypiec
nity around them. The name of the game is financial stability from a respectable profession.
Yes, bread (financial stability) is necessary because it keeps us alive, but bread did not console my mom as she battled homesickness; Algerian singer Warda’s songs did. When my father came face to face with uncertainty, he did not find solace in bread. Rather, he found it in Mohamed Mounir’s song “El Donya Reesha Fe Hawa” (“Life is a Feather in Wind”). When my first friend in Canada died, my grief was so overwhelming I barely ate. A scene from an Egyptian movie called Yom Lel Setat (“A Day for Women”) guided me through my grief. When the character in the film finally allowed herself to mourn the loss of her son, I found someone who related to my pain. Art in those cases may not serve the same purpose as bread. Still, it serves a vital purpose. To quote famed actor Ethan Hawke, in many instances, “art becomes sustenance.”
Art is baked into Egyptian culture. To make sure I never lost touch with my home country, my parents acquainted me with Egyptian movies, songs, and literature. My friends and I often spoke in catch phrases we’d learned from Egyptian comedies. After breaking the fast in Ramadan, we had our pick from about 30 shows produced during the month. When Palm Sun
“They need to be encouraged to tell their stories, because when they tell their stories, they tell our stories.”
So, do I recommend that we all abandon practicality in pursuit of the ‘romantic notions’ of life that our parents have feared? Not quite. But I do recommend that we respect the art ists whose art we so deeply depend on. A part of that is respect ing that those artists live within us. They need to be encouraged to tell their stories, because when they tell their stories, they tell our stories. Lest we, in the words of renowned comedian Has san Minhaj, “lose more Rumi[s] to med school.”
“Art does not feed one bread.”
INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ART
“Artists in Egypt are viewed as immoral people who lead questionable lifestyles.”
Egger’s film is yet another example of the history that creates historical fiction.
Robert Eggers continues to redefine genres with The Northman
Aidan Thompson Copy Editor
the beautiful symbolic language used through out the novel, Tan’s diction remains simple: a testament to the plain English she and her mother spoke to each other when she was growing up. The whole novel serves as Tan’s love letter to her mother, and each word—cho sen for her mother to understand and enjoy— reflects
The Joy Luck Club is also rife with familiar references to elements of Chinese spirituality. From giving children “bad” names to protect them from evil spirits, to naming a mahjong club with the dually auspicious words of “joy” and “luck,” ancient Chinese superstition is per sistent throughout the novel. The women of
Eggers’ ability to bring unique periods of time that are gener ally overlooked by other filmmakers to life is coupled with his ability to make highly authentic historical films. His films ex ist in a space that is entirely unique to his vision.
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Whilethat.the “Joy Luck Club’s” daughters scoff at their mothers’ superstitious paranoias and outdated fables, they themselves fall into the
bIMD.com
Anotherexperienced.recurringmotif from Chinese my thology that turns up throughout the lives of the women in the “Joy Luck Club” is the power and unpredictability of nature—a force to be both respected and feared. Game points are constantly illustrated using references to bod ies of water, turtles, swans, and tigers. Despite
Maja Tingchaleun Contributor Amy Tan’s novel offers significant cultural messages through generational depictions of Chinese characters.
The members of the “Joy Luck Club” center their reflections around the abuse and horror of the mass displacement that resulted from the Cultural Revolution. The women yearn to see their children experience the joys they were robbed of and as each character, both mother and child, seek love and acceptance, the complex tenderness inherent to motherdaughter relationships becomes the heartbeat that thrums throughout the novel.
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan follows the stories of four women who meet after church every week to talk about their adult daughters and play mahjong—a popular Chi nese tabletop game. Around the table the women reflect, haltingly and cautiously, on the lives they’ve left behind in China. The novel interweaves 16 vignettes from the perspectives of two mothers and their two daughters into one larger saga that spans two countries, two cultures, and several generations.
the “Joy Luck Club” double down on traditions promised to bring peace and prosperity to pro tect their children from the loss and poverty they have
Hopes and griefs in The Joy Luck Club
same behavioural patterns—internalizing their stories and finding explanations that do not speak true to their mother’s tales. These are just a few ways that The Joy Luck Club effectively compares the cultures of Chinese, Chinese im migrants, and Chinese Americans. Tan won derfully and subtly dismantles the prevailing myth that the Asian experience is monolithic. She shows that language, beliefs, assumptions, thought patterns, and traditions differ from generation to generation—but so do the sub tler aspects of culture, such as relations to au thority, concepts of self, and expectations.
It takes a certain type of deftness to write multiple perspectives in a novel, especially perspectives that span multiple generations and cultures. I am not entirely sure that Tan possesses that deftness. At times, I found it difficult to differentiate between the voices of the different characters. The novel jumps from story to story and narrator to narrator, mak ing it more difficult to get immersed in one storyline or character. I believe the book may have worked better if it had been presented as a collection of short stories instead of as a novel. However, the text remains a poignant exploration of universal feelings of love, fear, and cultural expectations through the lenses of Chinese and Chinese American peoples. It rightfully celebrates and highlights a culture by sharing the vivacious stories of its people—sto ries that are still lived today.
The Northman, Eggers’ latest and most ambitious film, re ceived six times the budget of the director’s two preceding films combined—The Witch (2015, US$4 million) and The Lighthouse (2019, US$11 million). Seeing as the film con structed entire Scandinavian villages to maintain its historical accuracy, the budget was not wasted. In case you’re wonder ing if he needed US$90 million to create a Viking movie based on a folktale, let me tell you that there is an epic fight on a volcano only rivaled by a certain intergalactic duel in a highly contentious prequel film directed by George Lucas
self as a director with an intent to pull audiences into period pieces that don’t take place in a castle or on a frontier. Seeing as the genre is swamped with charming princes and lonesome cowboys, this is an overdue change. IMDB lists 51 Western movies set to release by the end of 2022. Even despite your most earnest aspirations, there is no way that even 10 per cent of those will be worth seeing.
In contrast to the thousands of films based around the turn of the 19th century, The Lighthouse has no cowboys or ban dits. The Witch may be one of the only films based in the 17th century that doesn’t take place in a world of medieval means.
With his two previous features, Eggers individualized him
Alongside his unique settings, Eggers does not sacrifice his torical accuracy to limit cost or promote convenience. With The Northman, Eggers used several consulting academics to guide his vision towards complete authenticity. His narrative rests atop artifacts and literature that are centuries-old and have all been carefully contextualized by historians. Like ev ery good, researched story, his narrative comes from the re search instead of coming from carefully curated facts used to legitimize an otherwise incomplete story.
With the help of historians and academics, ships were con structed, and clothes were sewn with close attention to every thread and nail. Even the incredibly odd and dramatically vio lent “sport”—traditionally called knattleikr—played between clans was overseen to ensure that no rules were forgotten.
As Eggers begins working on his fourth film—which has been rumoured on multiple occasions to be a remake of Nos feratu—audiences and fans can rest assured that it will remain consistent with his previous films. Eggers has defined himself as a true auteur—a director who is capable of, and is inter ested in, expressing a unique worldview, and signing it with his distinct style.
Scandinavian men in nothing but wolf pelts dance around a roaring fire in the Icelandic wilderness. How’s that for a hook? Despite the somewhat salacious imagery, the ritual the men are performing in Robert Eggers’ latest film, The Northman, is drawn from an image depicted on one of four Torslunda Plates—a collection of Nordic relics dating back to the sixth century. This close relationship between history and fiction is not unusual for Eggers, whose films have redefined period dramas as a genre that is no longer constituted by kings or cowboys.
the country. They trained Indigenous artists to make objects with religious iconography—assimilating both style and faith. Such actions shaped the legacy of colonization and established the core issues we are trying to understand and address today.
instruments—violins, accordions, pianos, and guitars—are incomparable to the con temporary folk songs that you’ll find play ing in Toronto cafés.
The lyrics in Polish folk speak of the country and its people. Songs like “Szła Dzieweczka do Laseczka” (“Went a Girl Through the Forest”) and “Hej, Sokoły” (“Hey, Falcons”), boast about the forests and mountains that surround Poland. They also touch on the patriotic and almost me dieval love held between Poles—a symbol that frames Poland’s history and its journey to independence in 1919. While these tunes are far from contemporary, they still tug on the heartstrings of the country’s people today. Sometimes, traditional Polish wed dings will incorporate remixed versions of these songs on the dance floor for the simple fact that everyone will know them.
Faith and Fortune bravely challenges the uglier histories of colonization. The exhibit reshapes art into its proper contexts and highlights the immediate and lasting impacts of colo nization. Through the display of objects that history has not bothered to remember, and with the intention not to glorify colonization, the AGO presents an exhibition that is brave in its narrative and breath-taking in its presentation.
When I think of North American folk music, artists like Odetta and La Bolduc
Although traditional folk music is not heard much on the radio, it holds deep significance to a culture’s people.
Faith and Fortune presents one of the first examples of antiIndigenous propaganda with the “Map of Tequaltiche,” pro duced in Mexico in 1584. Between 1570 and 1580, colonial ad ministrators asked local authorities to gather data and produce maps of the land they were colonizing. By command, the “Map of Tequaltiche” was created by artists Indigenous to Tequaltiche, but the captions were written by Spanish authorities. The map shows Indigenous Peoples at war with each other—wrongfully illustrating them as uncivilized and dangerous.
From 1492 to 1898, the Spanish Empire ruled across the At lantic and Pacific oceans. Rising from the ashes of the fallen Roman Empire, the Spanish Empire established a new era of colonization. Inspired by the Portuguese, in the last decade of the 15th century, the Spanish sailed west.
Faith and Fortune: Challenging and illustrating colonialism
JENNIFER LIU
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hat makes music “folk?” How does a country’s history influence its rhythms? While well-known folk artists like Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan play into the genre’s acoustic sounds and meaningful stories, folk music is more than just deep lyrics and upbeat guitar.
As folk music exists in different cultures, I can only speak of the music that I grew up with. Polish folk songs have shaped the way that I communicate with the families and friends of my community. Its traditional
The images presented in the exhibit, from the early 1840s, were the first ever photographic records of the Philippines dis played to the public. They show the landscapes of the nation following the transfer of colonial power from Spain to America in 1898. The collection of daguerreotypes, commissioned from a French photographer, display the bare landscapes of Filipino culture and lifestyle, making the country appealing to the in coming generation of American colonizers.
come to mind. While these female sing ers grew to fame in the early 1930s and late 1950s, the music they left behind share their perspective of North America through drastically different cultural lens es. Odetta’s African-American roots graced her listeners with lyrical calls for civil rights movements. On the contrary, La Bolduc’s French-Canadian tunes offered a perspec tive that encouraged the preservation of the French language in Canada. While both artists come from opposite ends of the con
Julia Skoczypiec Arts & Entertainment Editor
Folk music helps us understand our own cultures
BRAUN/PINTERESTMINA
The exhibition outlines three mechanisms of colonialism: natural resource extraction, enslavement, and the spread of Ca tholicism through the assimilation of Indigenous Peoples. The ensuing exchange of art, technique, and culture writes a com plex narrative.
The Art Gallery of Ontario’s (AGO) exhibit Faith and For tune: Art Across the Global Spanish Empire is on until October 10, 2022 and is a collection of over 200 works of art from Spain, Latin America, and the Philippines. The exhibit spans the four decades of the Empire’s reign and is comprised of curated works from the Hispanic Society Museum & Library. The collection seeks to examine the visual culture of the Empire, critically ex hibiting the methods of colonialism, and their lasting effects.
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Today, it is nearly impossible to create a song that unites listeners of all cultures. The beauty of cultural folk music is the uni son it creates, something that you cannot always find on the radio.
Elizabeth Provost Editor-in-Chief Art Gallery of Ontario’s new exhibit displays four decades of colonization with the art of the Spanish Empire.
tinent, their songs have become a retelling of the complex history of North America. It can become difficult to identify mu sic as “folk.” Apple Music and Spotify tend to label traditional folk tunes as “blues” or “indie” as these genres often overlap in sound. Next time you listen to a song that you believe to be “folk,” ask yourself: “does this music teach me anything about a cul ture’s people?” If yes, the roots of a genre centuries old are still alive.
The spread of Catholicism by colonialists in Latin America and the Philippines is evident throughout the exhibit. These works, most from the 17th century, were made by settler Span ish artists in Latin America. These artists brought their work shops to Mexico and made religious icons for churches across
While modern folk is heavily influenced by blues and country music, its roots come from oral traditions that are centuries old. Folk songs are not written by a single art ist. Instead, stories performed orally are passed on by generations, and their sounds establish the genre’s shape. From its use of storytelling to its acoustic instruments and choral chants, folk inspired the natural, live band sounds used in popular music today.
The final room of the exhibit reveals glimpses of the Phil ippines under Spanish rule through 15 daguerreotypes—the first available, widely-accessible public photographic technol ogy, which originated in 1839 in France. To make an image, a mirror-surfaced silver-plated copper sheet was treated with a solvent to make it light-sensitive, subsequently exposing it in a camera for three to 30 minutes. This long capture period made it hard to photograph people.
Columbus stumbled on America in 1642, and Portuguese conquistador Vasco da Gama, set foot in India in 1498. The Spanish Empire made the most of the resulting unexpected dis coveries. Part conquest, part exploration, part colonization, the Spanish Empire changed the narratives of nations as far West as North America and as far East as the Philippines.
tions to the population that needed them, that couldn’t afford them […] it really impacted me emotionally to see how much helping someone else can change their entire life.”
“When [your health is] impacted in any shape or form, it impacts every avenue in your life, and so to be a part of a system that may help
KEVIN VAN PASADENA/SUNNYBROOK
A 2014 review by family doctors Adae Amoako and George Pujalte from Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center analyzing osteoarthritis in young people finds obesity as its main cause, but an increase in youth who experience arthritic pain suggests that localized injuries may be a causal factor.
Youth with mild symptoms are more likely to complain about pain only af ter having it for an extensive period of time. Typically, these minor pains, such as osteoarthritic stiffness from heavy-lifting workouts, are felt in the first hour of waking up.
Osteoarthritis, a degenerative disease that changes your bone structure, is often associated with the elderly pop ulation, but recent studies have demonstrated its prevalence in youth. The misconception has led doctors to misdiagnose youth who suffer from the chronic condition as merely hav ing growing pains.
Samiha got her masters in epidemiology at U of C before enrolling in U of T’s medical school, an institution she believes “really pushes to wards a holistic view of [health] than just text bookSamihastudies.”was always drawn towards medical research. “I really loved working in the hospi tals in Egypt,” she says of her time as a health care-enamored teenager. “Helping get medica
was getting eight to 10 hours of sleep every night to conserve her energy for swim practices.
Success for the 23-year-old student-athlete comes through discipline, sacrifice, and gratitude for the sport that gave her an opportunity of a lifetime.
Research suggests youth who play sports should not ignore their pain
Samiha attributes much of her success in Canada to Varsity Blues swim coaches Byron Macdonald and Linda Kiefer. They were flex ible enough to customize swim practices for her busy schedule and even sought out financial aid for her as a non-Ontarian student so she could go to medical school.
sociate their slight joint pain to a good game.
Alisa Samuel Sports & Health Editor
Samiha describes herself as having been a “very hyper” child. With the encouragement of her parents, she channelled her energy through a variety of physical activities growing up, from roller blading to ballet to fencing and swim ming. But she wasn’t born talented like people generally expect elite swimmers to be.
A variety of tests, including ultra sounds, CT scans, and x-rays, can be used to diagnose osteoarthritis. Ultra sounds are a popular diagnostic tool as they are easily accessible and cost efficient. Non-radiologic tests may also be employed to evaluate the sensitivity and deformity of the suspected and surrounding joints.
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“Sports that cause direct blunt trauma to joints (such as football, soccer, hockey, lacrosse, and rugby) account for the most impact damage,” they say. “It has been shown that more than 80 per cent of American football players with a history of knee injury had evidence of osteoarthritis 10 to 30 years afterGreatercompeting.”levelsof pain tolerance pose a challenge to the di agnosis of osteoarthritis in young athletes. Those who play contact sports tend to get injured more often and might as
sports & health
In spite of her impressive dedication to aca demics and the pools, Samiha inevitably faced cultural and educational barriers away from home. “While I do have those bursts of confi dence before competitions, I do have a lot of doubts,” she says.
But support from mentors and teachers en couraged Samiha immensely. “I don’t think a successful physician or athlete is a one-man show. It takes a whole community,” she says.
Editor | Alisa sports@themedium.caSamuel
Simple issues like not knowing how to send an appropriate email in academia or how to turn the dial to get her locker opened initially made it hard for her to “feel as good as my counterparts here,” she admits.
Until athletic youth, especially those who play sport competitively, first accept that osteoarthritis is not just an old person’s affliction but in fact a po tentially debilitating health outcome for them, the widely-held harmful misconception will continue to perpetuate misdiagnosis—or no diagnosis at all— and thereby lead to more cases of developed osteoar
The rise in active and athletic youth who suffer from osteoarthritis, as pointed out in the work of Amoako and Puljate, is a call to action for all student-athletes. Don’t ig nore joint pain, tenderness, or stiffness until it becomes unbearable. Checking in with a doctor while feeling early symptoms is the best way to delay prognosis should osteo
Alongside her work in critical care epidemi ology, Samiha plans to swim professionally for Egypt while continuing her athletics training at U of T. We offer Samiha our best wishes for her future career.
Samiha Mohsen on adjusting to student life in North America: “Though everything was changing, the pool is always there for me”
To reduce joint pain and promote mobility, regimented ex ercises combined with medicine, such as anti-inflammatory drugs, may be prescribed. Wearing a brace to support and align the patient’s joint can also be helpful. While surgery treats severe cases of osteoarthritis, it is seen as a last resort
Dalainey Gervais Contributor
Unfortunately, their pain tolerance, along side the general assumption that pain comes with small injuries, leads to the develop ment of undiagnosed osteoarthritis in this demographic. The more youth engage in athletic activities, the higher their chances of developing symptoms of osteoarthritis before or during adulthood become.
The researchers say: “The treatment of osteoarthritis in the athlete or young individual should be patient specific, with consideration for the patient’s expectations and the period of absence from sports activities.”
Misconceptions about osteoarthritis can lead to misdiagnosis, especially in young athletes.
Samiha Mohsen received a bachelor’s degree one year before her classmates, earned a master’s degree from the University of Calgary (U of C) and is currently enrolled in U of T’s medical school as a second-year student.
Born and raised in Cairo, Egypt, Samiha ac cepted a full-ride undergraduate athletic schol arship to Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona at the age of 16. Determined to move to Canada from the United States, Samiha expe dited her bachelor’s degree in pre-med biology. “I found that there would [be] better opportu nities for me to be a citizen [in Canada] and so I decided to move when I was nineteen,” she says. “I landed in Calgary.”