Hola,
We are now starting the second unit, "Nostalgia for an Imagined Cuba." You should have noticed along the way that each week in the unit has a more detailed theme. Last week's topic (the final week of the previous unit) was called "Hybridity and Belonging." Gustavo Pérez Firmat's mémoire, Next Year in Cuba, provides a stepping stone between the previous unit and the current one; as you know, we will also discuss this text in the context of nostalgia and imagining.
As you know, titles create certain expectations for the reader. We might say that the title is a sort of lens through which the reader will view the text. Therefore, when selecting a title we must be careful to choose an appropriate lens, which can have any of a wide range of effects. The title might directly state what we want to become obvious in the text, it might deliberately mislead the reader to create a surprise later on, or it might cause anything in between!
Do you consider the (sub)theme title "Hybridity and Belonging" to be appropriate for framing a discussion of Pérez Firmat's text? Why or why not? What connotations does this particular title have? What alternate titles could one use for framing a discussion of this text? Explain.
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I believe entitling the discussion of Perez Firmat’s text “Hybridity and Belonging” sums up the whole reading. Being of a hybrid is defined as anything derived from heterogeneous sources, or composed of elements of different or incongruous kinds. Perez’s identity is comprised of two different parts, both the American and Cuban side. These parts will always be a part of him no matter where he goes or what he does, as it mentions in the text. With this hybridity, he struggles with himself to find a sense of belonging. Although he may be in the US, he still feels a sense of the Cuban culture from his family, traditions, and even location. Because of this hybridity he has to keep a sense of balance between both sides.
An alternative title could be “Patria or Pais: choosing sides?” On page 210 of the text, he discusses the difference between pais and patris. “When I assert that Cuba is my patria, I’m telling you where I am from, I’m naming the father and mother who engendered me.” He mentions pais as being something that “….plants you in the present” and “….the United States is my pais.” The reason I chose to put a question mark in the title is because I want the reader to question whether or not Perez is actually choosing sides.
The title, “Hybridity and Belonging” is most definitely pertinent to Peréz Firmat’s text. Next Year in Cuba is Peréz’s attempt to locate or define one place where he belongs, Cuba or the United States. He uses hybridity in the text to explain the inter turmoil he feels due to the difference in cultures between both locations; in North Carolina he is most definitely American and in Florida (Little Havana) he is Cuban. The fluctuations in nationality create feelings of uncertainty, confusion and longing, which the subtitle connotes. Any alternative titles would have to signify the abovementioned emotions, for example, “A Tale of Two Identities,” or “The Red, White and Blue, Two.”
“Hybridity” and “belonging” often contrast with each other. As Sergio said, a hybrid is derived from a heterogeneous background. Being from multiple backgrounds, a hybrid may lack the sense of belonging that many people feel when they can identify strongly with a particular culture or country. However, a situation in which the two words complement each other is present in Pérez Firmat’s text. Hybridity is strongest when the hybrid is significantly affected by the two cultures that shape him. For example, Pérez Firmat had lived in Cuba for the first eleven years of his life when he went into exile in the U.S., where he has remained. The author spent a large portion of his life, enough for it to impact him, a fact that strengthens his ties to his native country. However, living his teenage and adult years in the U.S. has shaped him as well. Pérez Firmat is now a patriotic U.S. citizen, but he remains faithful to his homeland as well. He has experienced two ways of living in two different countries and naturally feels that he belongs in both of them. Thus, in Pérez Firmat’s case, the title “Hybridity and Belonging” is appropriate for framing a discussion of his text.
One alternate title to frame this discussion could be “Two Places in One”. This title refers to Pérez Firmat’s feeling of identity with two places, Cuba and the U.S., but that he is in only one place—the U.S. While he physically can only be in one place at a time, his mind can exist in two.
The title "Hybridity and Belonging" works very well with Firmat's text because he is feeling a hybrid of two cultures while he is trying to figure out where he and his family belong culturally. When he settles in North Carolina, Firmat becomes very American. He even celebrates christmas and does not focus on Cuban traditions at all. However, when in Miami, an area with many other Cubans, Firmat feels his Cuban identity much more prevalently and thus struggles to find his belonging. Firmat is a hybrid of two cultures, stuck in the middle, searching for where he belongs. If I were to assign another title, though the original suits the text, I might suggest "Identity and fulfillment."
Very interesting comments, guys! I like the alternative titles. We'll talk some more about these concepts along the way.
Tamara and Peter, can you explain your alternative titles? What made you choose these? Is there a specific moment in the text that you can use as a point of departure?
Hybridity and belonging was a very appropriate title for a discussion of Gustavo Perez Firmat's book.
The first part of the title, "Hybridity" of course refers to something being a hybrid, or a combination of two things. In Perez Firmat's case, he is a hybrid of a Cubano and un Americano. This account of hybridity is first encountered in the prologue of his novel, where he depicts his mixed heritage, saying that he could not be described as just a Cuban or just an American, because the fact that he is a hybrid is what defines him. In his case, his identity is more than just the sum of its parts, because a lot is added by the combining of his two heritages. Belonging is equally important to the meaning of the novel. In fact, the meaning of much of the novel deals with how Perez Firmat's identity (created by his hybridity) affects his feeling of belonging in the United States.
I think that an alternative title could be "Country and Identity" or "Two homelands/heritages." This is especially applicable to the prologue again, as it deals mainly with the dichotomy of the two cultures. Mixing the heritages is difficult at times, but that difficulty is key in the formation of Perez Firmat's identity.
The theme ‘hybridity and belonging’ is very appropriate when studying the themes and ideas presented by Perez-Firmat’s book ‘Next Year in Cuba.’ The book places heavy emphasis on what happens when adapting and conforming to a new country’s culture and ways, while still trying to preserve a link to his Cuban heritage. This is the essence of hybridity. In addition, Perez-Firmat’s attempts to integrate himself with mainstream American culture, yet maintain the ability to relate to those from his past, deal with the idea of ‘belonging’ to a group or identity.
Some connotations of this title include: separation from one’s homeland or roots, exile, maintaining one’s heritage or cultural identity, emigration, and the adoption of a new homeland or association with a new group. These themes are all prevalent in the text.
A few alternate titles that could be used to frame the text are: maintaining two identities, exile and longing, adopting a homeland, and creating a new life while remembering the old. I feel that all these titles express main themes present in the text – all deal with hybridity and belonging. Each of the titles emphasizes an absence from one’s native or original identity, and a desire to maintain this identity while still adapting to new circumstances.
I feel “Hybridity and Belonging” is an appropriate title for our discussion. In Perez Firmat’s ‘memoir’ the reader explores the author’s transformation in America and how he becomes a hybrid of the American and Cuban cultures. On the other hand, I can also see how hybrid is an inappropriate word to describe Perez Firmat and his journey. A hybrid is something composed of a variety of different elements, and I feel Perez Firmat switches from one identity to another and cannot decide if he is to live his life as an American of Cuban, but not as both. When Firmat lived in Miami, I think he was an example of a hybrid, but by removing himself from the Cuban American culture and moving to Chapel-Hill he wanted to solely identify himself as an American. Belonging is an excellent word to describe Perez Firmat’s journey, he needs to belong to a culture and place, and tries to do it throughout the course of the memoir. Other words that might be appropriately used in the title are adaptation, transformation, and change.
“Hybridity and Belonging” is a good sub theme for framing a discussion on Perez Firmat’s text because the text’s purpose is to aid Perez Firmat in his search for a missing identity. The two identities in conflict are his Cuban and American identity. The question posed in the text is, whether or not Perez Firmat is both and one of these identities. An example of this purpose is his description his role as a member of the “one- and- a- half generation.” The connotation of “Hybridity and Belonging” has a sense of nostalgia and longing for an unclear place, in Perez’s case, Cuba/Cuban culture. Perez Firmat is not quite sure what culture he belongs to, or if it is both. The use of the word “Hybridity” specifies a cross between two things; in this case a cross between two identities. An alternate title one could use for framing a discussion on this text is “ABC or CBA,” a question posed by Firmat and left unanswered. I also would use “ What’s the difference between my Red, White, and Blue?” Here I am referring to the identical colors of the American and Cuban flag, and raising the question of identity and belonging. What is the significance and difference in both of these flags and cultures.
Hybridity is a good term to describe the fact that Perez's identity is a combination of two completely different cultures. The term describes the conflict and difficulties that he faces in his attempt to find what he believes his true identity is.
I think that the work of Perez Firmat clearly embodies the theme of Hybridity and Belonging. Throughout his book, he often describes his desire to belong and his confusion as to where he fits in. A part of him attempts to remain as Cuban as possible through actions that include smoking cigars, writing in spanish, visiting Miami, and remembering his homeland. At the same time, this is only a hybrid identity because he also feels that his place is in the Anglo world. For him Chapel Hill is home inspite of being so distant from his homeland. Thus, Firmat exposes his hybrid identity which encompases both the United States and Cuba. He mentions that he left Cuba too young to be Cuban but arrived in the US too old to be American.
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