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Daughters of the Dust In the article, The Black South in Contemporary Film, I read about the usage of religion in Julie Dash s movie, Daughters of the Dust. The way religion is used in this article is not the standard way we think of it, for an example going to church or celebrating Sabbath, but religion as a cultural system. I would like to begin my paper by just explaining what I mean by a cultural system and how it s used in the movie, then go on to talk about what the article had to say about religion in African American culture. When I say religion as a cultural system I m talking about religion as a set of beliefs, and traditions then anything. A cultural system is based on things that have been passed up and practiced over many years. These beliefs and traditions don t have to be found in a bible or torah, but are held within the society and family.
They are things that are revered in the population that make up their own religion. We see this cultural system flourish greatly in Daughter s of The Dust. The sea islands of the Gullah, which are located off the coast of Georgia and South Carolina, are worlds of their own. They have their own set of laws, responsibilities and a different way of living. On these islands they have cultural systems that have been there for many years. Nana Peazant, the family s matriarch, and also the center of the cultural system lives the African American memories, traditions, and beliefs of the past and hopes to bring them to the future.
She fears that with all the new things that are about to come, the many things that form the cultural system will be forgotten, and the strength of the family, especially to that of African Americans will be dissolved. The whole movie, which takes place over one day, is a reunion of her people, the Gullah's. It s a gathering to say goodbye before they head off to their new worlds. Just a few aspects of this cultural system can be seen through the bottle tree and charms. The bottle tree is a tree that has no leaves, just many bottles hanging off the branches.
The bottle tree was just one of the many things that have been passed down from generation to generation that the Gullah believe in. Another thing we saw was the use of charms. In one of the concluding scenes of the movie, Nana attaches an ancestral charm to the bible and makes each member kiss it. Having the charm attached to it would make the people keep the memories, beliefs, and traditions of the past with them. When it comes to the article I read it talked about the individual characters and how they felt towards their cultural system. It began by introducing Nana Peazant and how she really cares about her roots and wants to maintain them in the future.
The article continues on and brings up Mary Peazant, also called Yellow Mary do to the color of her skin. It talked about how Yellow Mary was very hostile to her past and felt that they should be sealed up and put it away. It then went on to talk about Viola Peazant how her feeling towards their cultural system. She had similar feeling to that of Yellow Mary and believed that the African American traditions, and memories should be put away because they are outdated.
The article then talks about how Dash mediates the old and the new by introducing the character of the Unborn Child. In general terms the article talked about how Dash authenticates the memories and traditions essential to African American cultures, but at the same time incorporates and legitimizes the future and technology. I believe this article was pretty impartial towards religion and it s importance in the African American cultures. It balanced both sides equally and made the reader choose if it was important or not. Essentially this article was a perfect persuasive essay. What I got out of it was something in between keeping the past with you and letting it all go.
I do believe that keeping tradition and memories of the past is very important, because it identifies you and where your family has come from. At the same time I believe that everyone should move to the future and take advantage of new technology and development of the world. I believe that Julie Dash showed religion as a cultural system very well in her movie Daughters of the Dust. I feel she expressed the many aspects of African American culture and how to deal with family and change.
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Research essay sample on African American Culture Cultural System
