By Angel D.
The picture is a representation of Bich's shift in food culture. In
Stealing Buddha's Dinner, a form of Americanization is represented through the desire of food. Behind Bich lies a bowl of Noi's homemade pho and an apple, usually given by Rosa. In front of Bich is an exaggerated monster-sized foods that Bich has come to love. The lines drawn above Bich's head indicate a drastic shift from one culture into another. Bich is drawn toward new foods, which seem larger and breath-taking with a light, as drawn in the picture, which illuminates a desire to move away from older foods and into what seems more appealing. Even though the picture represents the first couple of chapters in the book, food seems to point out a cultural shift in Bich's life that reveals an insight of immigrant desires and wants.
I like the idea of the cultural Vietnamese food behind Bich in a small increment while the American food is in front of her as large as can be. This really gives the reader an idea of the influence the food had on Bich and how the American food, in her eyes, was the biggest investment she wished to make in her life. While trying to fit into society in America, Bich found that the food was something that she could easily eat to feel more accepted. When she went to visit friends houses and ate dinner with them, she learned the American food and instantly began to crave it. While near the end of the book, Rosa cooks American food that Bich earns for but she realizes she doesn't want that either, and Bich finally sees that her life is not 100% Vietnamese nor 100% American. Thus, her life is not going to be 100% of either. She needs some aspects of each culture to feel the way she should be.
ReplyDeleteBy: Karissa H.
The beginning chapters of "Stealing Buddha's Dinner", are represented clearly by this artistic interpretation. Bich reveals how the Hostess cupcake was a signifier of her luck in blending into the Grand Rapids culture. Food is a dominant aspect of the novel that correlates with her being "American". To draw the Big Mac, the cupcake, and the Pringles logo above Bich reflects that this literal "American" dream, or dream to be American, is literally out of her reach. The artistic decision to make these images larger than Bich herself also emphasizes the idea that this is not an unattainable goal but also a situation that is, essentially, larger than her. The bowl of pho and apple behind Bich show what she is attempting to leave behind her by chasing after the food she desires. This detail is relevant for the first half of the novel, however it does not seem that Bich ever truly abandons her traditional meals along the way. Though they are small in this picture, the noodles, the apple, and the other products Noi or Rosa provide for her amount to a large part of her being. By the end of the novel, Bich no longer has her back turned to her family meals, and she seems to accept her dual status among the cultures. If this drawing were to exhibit the latter half of the novel, I believe the junk food would be placed behind her as the pho and apple are here.
ReplyDeleteBy Alyssa B.
I like the differences in sizes in the food that has been drawn. the fact that Bich's original meals, the pho and apple, symbolizes that she is no longer interested in that type of food. The enlarged pringles, big mac, and cupcake show that her desire for these foods has enlarged the more she sees them on television and around the school cafeteria. She focuses more on the American food because she is interested in the taste and appearance and believes that eating these foods would make her more Americanized. Although she is attracted to Americanized foods, she does not forget the meals that she had grown up with. They are still in the picture; however, they are much smaller but they are closer to her which show that they are part of her roots. She was raised eating pho and fruit and does not forget that.
ReplyDeleteBy Mike M.
This is really well-done, Angel. It's very stark, yet can get across so much and symbolize many things. The pose that Bich holds in this sketch seems almost religious to me. This is her embracing American consumerism, especially the food, but moreover, it is her placing American food and ideals as her alter to worship. Throughout a number of times in the book, she reverently recites whole lists of American foods like a mantra, and the way that she approaches food as her gateway to being what she thinks is a real American has the same undertones as one who approaches a religion as their gateway to an afterlife/salvation.
ReplyDeleteBy Norma G.