Explain the concept of culture shock by imagining that a person who lived in the United States in the 1860s time traveled to the United States of today. What are some aspects of American culture that might shock this visitor? Are there any aspects of American culture that might not be surprising? If you were the time traveler, do you think you would adapt to modern American culture, or would you engage in ethnocentrism?
Here are the guidelines for your essay draft:
Your draft should have a thesis statement, i.e. the main point of your essay.
Your draft should have at least four paragraphs: (1) an introductory paragraph that engages the reader and discusses why the topic is important; (2) two supporting body paragraphs that develop the main point, and (3) a concluding paragraph.
Your introductory paragraph should engage the reader and discuss why the topic is important.
Please include a list of References that you plan to use. At minimum, you should include the textbook and at least one of the online lecture pages in correct APA citation.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Thesis Statement: If a person who lived in the United States in the 1860s were to time travel to the present day, they would experience significant culture shock due to advancements in technology, social norms, and the changing role of women. However, certain aspects of American culture, such as political divisions and the pursuit of freedom, might not be entirely surprising. As the time traveler, I believe I would initially struggle to adapt to modern American culture but would eventually overcome my ethnocentrism through understanding and open-mindedness.
Introduction: Culture shock is a common experience when individuals encounter a new culture that differs significantly from their own. By imagining a person from the 1860s traveling to present-day America, we can explore the drastic changes that have occurred over time. This essay will examine aspects of American culture that might shock this visitor, as well as those that might not be entirely surprising. Furthermore, it will delve into whether I, as the time traveler, would adapt to modern American culture or engage in ethnocentrism.
Body:
Technological Advancements:
The visitor from the 1860s would be astounded by the rapid technological progress made in modern America.
The presence of smartphones, the internet, and advanced modes of transportation would likely be shocking and difficult to comprehend.
The visitor may struggle to navigate the complexities of modern technology and its impact on daily life.
Changing Social Norms:
The shift in social norms, particularly regarding race and gender equality, would be a major shock for the time traveler.
The abolition of slavery and the Civil Rights Movement would challenge their deeply ingrained beliefs about racial hierarchy.
Additionally, the increased rights and empowerment of women would present a stark contrast to the limited roles they were accustomed to.
Political Divisions:
Despite the passage of time, political divisions and ideological differences would not come as a surprise to the time traveler.
The visitor may recognize similarities between political debates from their era, such as issues surrounding government power and individual freedom.
However, the intensity and polarization of modern American politics might still be unsettling.
Adaptation and Ethnocentrism:
As the time traveler, I believe I would initially struggle to adapt to modern American culture due to the overwhelming differences.
However, by maintaining an open mind and seeking understanding, I would gradually overcome my ethnocentrism.
Engaging with diverse perspectives and embracing new experiences would be essential in my journey towards adaptation.
Conclusion: If a person from the 1860s were to time travel to present-day America, they would undoubtedly experience culture shock due to technological advancements, changing social norms, and political divisions. While aspects of American culture might not entirely surprise them, such as political disagreements and the pursuit of freedom, the overall transformation would be significant. As the time traveler, I would initially struggle with adapting to modern American culture. However, through open-mindedness and a willingness to understand and embrace new experiences, I would ultimately overcome my ethnocentrism and find a place within this dynamic society.
