Political Cartoons

There are many factors that effect us in the United States and some of those things are controversial cartoons. Look over these cartoons and discuss your opinions and feelings of one or more of them.

The New Second Generation: Segmented Assimilation and Its Variants

The article “The New Second Generation: Segmented Assimilation and Its Variants” discusses three types of assimilation that immigrants to the United States undergo: complete assimilation, selective assimilation or minimal assimilation.

1. List advantages or disadvantages for each category of assimilation.

2. Examine one of the groups from the article and discuss the assimilation specific to that group.

3. Have you experienced or encountered any of these forms of assimilation in your life?

Do you think the prejudices that Adams discusses have set grounds for the way American society functions today? How does Adams support or not support this idea and how do you agree or disagree with what Adams says?

Ellis Island

In the movie Ellis Island, we saw a drastic transformation in United States policy on immigration. In the United States before this time, we saw a nationalist attitude that denied entry from many different races not considered to be "Anglo-Saxon." Discuss how America transformed to an "all white" nationalistic country to the largest melting pot in the world with the inauguration opening of Ellis Island and how it shaped immigration laws today. Do you think an open immigration policy like the one used in the times of Ellis Island is more beneficial to our country, or do you think harsh immigration laws are necessary?





By: Skyler, Colan, and Gabriella.

Quotas

In contrast to earlier immigration, the later era of US immigration involved quotas based upon the nationalities already present in the United States.
1. Is this system fair?
2. How does this quota system affect the makeup of the US, with respect to cities as well as rural areas?
3. In a post 9-11 world, does continued restricted immigration help, or harm the US? Why?
V. What is the answer to life, the universe, and everything?

Mexican-American War Map and Discussion

"The glory of the victory was for the President and generals not the deserters, the dead, the wounded......" Howard Zinn page 143 Greasers and Gingos

Mexico typically entered battle with the US with larger troops and greater familiarity with the land they defended.
Why then, did they repeatedly lose those battles, giving way to American concept of Manifest Destiny?
What did Mexico lack which might have turned the tables in their favor? How might modern society be different in the event of Mexican victories?
Factors to Consider:
America's population being three times bigger than Mexico
Political Motivations
plans for disputed lands

The last few chapter readings seem to have a common theme with Texas being a greater part of it. Mexicans and American settlers had radically different ideas of what Texas would be. Texas gains its independence and became a republic first and eventually a part of the U.S.

Would the U.S. function well without Texas or being the grand state it is be integral to the U.S. economy?

 What would happen if Texas would not be a part of the U.S., would we have issues with immigration, the U.S. - México border and conflicts with cartels?

From Grace and Christina

Group 1 -- Biutiful

In the movie Biutiful, we are shown scenarios that play into a number of different themes.

1. Life in Barcelona
2. Life as a single parent
3. Living with a terminal disease
4. Illegal immigrants and their 'role'
5. Language ( Spanish, Chinese, & Wolof)
6. Death & Spirituality
7. Economy

As a recap: In class we have discussed how to analyze films for more than just enjoyment. We look for the content: main thread, second stories, purpose, relationships between characters, and what is valued. We look for form: cinematography, lighting, colors, and texture of image.
A few important elements to analyze: voice, inner text, music, feminine & masculine characters, perspectives and point of view.


One thing that had an impact on me was that Uxbal, the main character, showed while taking care of the illegal immigrants. This notion of a father figure to these people, while also being a single father at home is incredibly important for the sentiment of the film. To me, I saw him as a "mother/father" figure. The immigrants and his children both needed him desperately, although in the end he ultimately failed both groups, his attempt to make things good was, what I saw as the main thread of the story.

1. In what ways did the characters actions move the story?
2. How is immigration viewed by both locals in the film and the audience viewing Biutiful?
3. Is there a difference?
4. What was the purpose of the 'communicating with the dead'?

Just a few questions to get us thinking about the film as educated students! :)

Immigration is acontroversial issue in the European Union as it is in the United States. The Other Europe is film that brings to bear many of the issues being faced by peoples across from the Atlantic Ocean. This film proposes that immigrants in general receive mixed messages, on the one hand the official rhetoric refuses them legal entry on the other, once they arrive at their destination there are plenty of jobs left unfulfilled by the local citizenry.

Babel, however represents a different aspect of human interaction than that of immigration. This film delves into a probing view of the effects of globalization. In addition, it cuts across national boundaries and continents as it moves from The United States, Morocco, Mexico and Japan in a story line that is intertwined by the random acts of a young boy.

Please comment on the intersection between the two films and the effects that images produce on the viewer. Furthermore, in class we discussed many aspects of these films in relation to Adams. Please feel free to comment on this element of our discussions.