Culture Days Presentations

The Five Chosen Ones – My Entry for the KGP

Who gets the connection?

Crime scene: ITAT
Time of the crime: Monday 16^th and Tuesday 17^th of June
Crime: Culture Days

This week, a number of presentations concerning American and Irish history and culture were made by English students of SUK2 (which is basically 99.99% of the readership here). I am myself, in fact, part of this elite and made one as well. However, our task was to attend at least ten of these presentations; seven of the home culture (in my case American) and three of the foreign culture. Apart from that, we have to choose five of them about which we would like to be tested on during the KGP (no NOT the KGB – it’s far more evil, it’s the Kommissionelle Gesamtprüfung).
In this post I want to tell you something about the eleven presentations that I have chosen to attend and the five of them that I will take for the KGP (and why)!

      1.       The Race Around Ireland (Irish)

To start with, I actually thought this was about some kind of war or battle, don’t get me wrong, but after all it’s Ireland and as far as I have learned, Irish history is 90% war and 10% war preparation. However, in this topic no swords were wielded, no people were massacred and the only rivers that flowed were those of sweat. It was literally about a race around Ireland which is a famous extreme cycling race that starts in Navan near Dublin. Felt quite comfortable in that swivel armchair while listening to it.  

      2.       Arab-Americans after 9/11 (American)

Basically, I knew that post-9/11, Arab-Americans were not really regarded as the nice neighbors next door. However, I did not know to which extent they were discriminated against. Racial profiling, workplace discrimination, flight exclusion and hate crimes and all that just because you were or even just looked Arabian; ridiculous. The Prezi was great. 

      3.       American Indian boarding schools (American)

 This was a topic that I just came across a little bit in SUK1 during the learning of the CLI’s. Though, I’m talking about the situation of Native Americans in general now; actually I’ve never heard anything of Indian boarding schools till this presentation. It’s sad how an entire minority which is of such a great importance for American history is treated that disgraceful. 

      4.       The KKK and the Mississippi Burning (American)

The KKK or the dreaded Ku-Klux-Klan; these jerks rather look like a fancy high-school sleepover club. First time I heard of them was in the movie The Jury with Samuel L. Jackson and Matthew McConaughy ( a great movie by the way). This presentation gave an overview from their foundation and their motives to their relevance for American history and their presence nowadays.    

      5.       The Boston Tea Party (American)

Actually I thought this would be about the extremely right-winged Boston Tea Party today, however, it was mainly about its founding fathers and the historical background; quite interesting though. Following the presentation was quite difficult I have to admit, because I was very concerned with that absolutely lovely British accent.  

       6.       Monica Loughman – Ballet in Ireland (Irish)

If you wonder why I chose this exceedingly manly topic from over twenty Irish presentations, well, I actually wanted to watch the previous presentation about the “Fenian Brotherhood and their raids on Canada” (YES, raids, finally some action) but, due to the slight time shift of the presentations, I missed that one and landed in the middle of Monica Loughman’s tutu. However, at least I know now the difference between a ballerina and a primaballerina. (Do you know it?)

      7.       Native American languages (American)

Again, unfortunately, I rushed in the middle of the presentation (the timetable really wasn’t that reliable sadly). This topic I was very interested in (I am generally very interested in such special and old languages that only few people speak anymore) and although the presenter was a little bit too enthusiastic in my humble opinion, she was very informed and the presentation was nice.

While searching for the right expression for “old languages that only few people speak anymore”, I stumbled across this word and just LOOK AT IT, who the hell comes up with such a word? Can anybody pronounce that in one try?   

      8.       The US-Mexican Border Woes – A problem to solve (American)

To be honest, since this was the presentation directly before mine, I really couldn’t concentrate on it even if I tried to, I was just too nervous. However, the title actually says it anyway; it’s about the border war between America and Mexico. 

      9.       Women for women – The will to lead (American)

Introduction question to the presentation – in America there are 49% men, but did you know that 51% of Americans are women? No (…shit Sherlock), but now I do, thank you for the enrichment of my humble knowledge (oh god I’m being cocky right now, forgive me). Seriously, I’m just kidding, this was obviously sarcasm to ease the excitement. This presentation was about American women in leading positions (or rather the missing of American women in leading positions) and in particular about Sheryl Sandberg the executive of Facebook and her book. There was obviously much thought put in that presentation.

Charlie Wilson

      10.   Charlie Wilson’s War (American)

Here, I had absolutely no previous knowledge at all and was thrown in at the deep end so to say, which made it very absorbing to listen though. The presentation was about Charlie Wilson, a congressman, and his role in the war in Afghanistan in which the Americans were involved. Quite interesting how much a single member of the Congress could possibly achieve, didn’t know that.

      11.   Chinese Immigrants in Australia (Australian)

This was my third foreign culture presentation and the overall last presentation. As the title says, it dealt with Chinese immigration in Australia (again a topic about which I had no foreknowledge at all). She told us about the problems Chinese immigrants had back in the days, how they influenced the Australian culture over the time and how this influence is visible today (for example the Chinatowns – really, why has every goddamn city a Chinatown and Graz or even Vienna hasn’t?)

Woo, finally finished, if you have come up to this point, respect!
As a reward, I will tell you the English word for “Bremsstrahlungsisochromatenspektroskopie”, which is bremsstrahlung isochromat spectroscopy (don’t ask me how I have come across that word).
Now you know that bremsstrahlung is one of the Germanisms in the English language (use it wisely)

NOW! The five topics that I choose to be tested on in the KGB:

·         Arab-Americans after 9/11

·         The KKK and the Mississippi Burning

·         Native American languages

·         The US-Mexican Border Woes – A problem to solve

·         Charlie Wilson’s War

I think these five topics provide a valuable insight into American culture and history and are from a range of topics (as required).

With that said, see ya all at the KGP! May the force be with us!