Writing and Cultural Diversity

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University of Kentucky *

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Arts Humanities

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Apr 3, 2024

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Writing is a powerful tool that has the ability to shape how we understand the world around us and how it shapes our culture. In a world of increased globalized communication, writing has become more prevalent than ever, connecting vastly different cultures and sparking new conversations with writing as the central medium. This essay will analyze how writing has helped to create and develop cultural diversity in today’s modern world, by looking at the role of writing in conveying both traditional values and new attitudes. Through an investigation of writing’s ability to record history, spread ideas, and spark conversations, this essay will look at how writing has played an important role in facilitating cultural exchange, both in the past and in today’s modern society. Writing has been a cornerstone of a variety of cultures throughout history (Ivanova et al., 2018). Through the written word, cultures could participate in idea-sharing and build communities of scholars and thinkers. Additionally, some cultures used writing to document stories, laws, and - in the case of hieroglyphics - even artwork. Writing provided a way for different cultures to express themselves, spread their own progress, and interact with one another. For instance, in the Middle East, writing was used for religious scripture, graphic representation, and intellectual thought (Parry, 2013). Today, cultures have found even more expansive ways to express themselves through writing, such as storytelling, blogs, and social media. Ivanova, Olga M., et al. "The Culture Of Writing In The Ancient World: Evidence From Egypt, Mesopotamia And Israel." WAC2017 Working Papers, vol. 25, July 2018. Parry, Milman. The Making of Homeric Verse: The Collected Papers of Milman Parry. Oxford University Press, 2013. Writing is an essential component of culture, with a long history of being used in the preservation of culture both for the present and for future generations (Elliott-Schaeffer, 2018). It allows individuals to present stories, thoughts, opinions, and research in order to pass down their culture to the generations that come after them. Writing often has a direct connection to a person's identity, with certain writing styles being associated with certain cultural background. For example, in Chinese culture, calligraphy is known to represent aesthetic, religious, political, and philosophical beliefs (Jin, Yang, & Zhou, 2019). Writing can also provide a lens into different perspectives and worldviews, helping to bridge gaps between people and cultures (Tarshis & Jeynes, 2018). In combination, writing and culture create a unique cultural identity and maintain a constant narrative over time. Works Cited Elliott-Schaeffer, C. (2018). The Politics of Writing and the Writing of Politics: Articulations of Writing and Culture in a High School Literature Course. Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education, 39(4), 615-629. Jin, M., Yang, L., & Zhou, Y. (2019). Calligraphy beauty—Chinese culture education in the practice of writing. International Journal of Art & Design Education, 38(3), 376-391.

Tarshis, J., & Jeynes, W. (2018). Writing in the middle: Empowering students to bridge the cultures of school and home. Reading & Writing Quarterly, 34(1), 71-79. The study of writing styles can provide insight into cultural values and norms of different cultures. For example, in the U.S., literature has traditionally focused on “autobiographical works with frank descriptions of character” (Scheffler, 2018). On the other hand, many Chinese literature works emphasize plot and “symbolic representation of ethical values” (Scheffler, 2018). This difference speaks to the cultural differences in philosophy and outlook towards life— where Americans tend to value individualism, Chinese works often emphasize continuity in the order of things. Different countries also differ in their writing styles, like the French style “typified by structural complexity, personal affect and artful usage of language” (Abbasov et al., 2020). Defining writing by cultural backgrounds provides us with a greater understanding of how literature can represent the values of a given society. References Abbasov, O., Akhmedova, A., Karimova, K., & Valiyev, A. (2020). Understanding Postmodernism and Its Representation in Different Writing Styles. Forum for Social Economics. https://doi.org/10.1080/07360932.2020.1815712 Scheffler, S. (2018). Chinese writing: A Cultural Analysis. Springer Science+Business Media. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-8996-8 In the modern world, tapping into cultural diversity can be a daunting task. It is important to be aware of the consequences of cultural appropriation and avoid writing about it altogether. As stated by the Harvard Gazette, “cultural appropriation occurs when members of a dominant culture take elements from a culture of people who have been systematically oppressed by that dominant group” (“Rethinking Cultural Appropriation”). To avoid this, it is important to focus on intercultural understanding and respect of all cultures, which is far more productive than appropriating them in a shallow way. To understand cultural diversity, it is important to prioritize learning about different cultures firsthand before incorporating them in writing (Housty, qtd. in “Rethinking Cultural Appropriation”). Therefore, to ensure that the writing does not exploit or make generalizations about a culture, it is best to avoid writing about cultural diversity for now. Writing has always been an important tool for sharing ideas, preserving culture, and expanding knowledge. In the modern world, writing is more important than ever in connecting diverse cultures and bringing people together. Through properly understood writing, we can bridge differences and find common ground, recognize the strengths of each culture, and form a path forward through collaboration. Writing allows us to truly understand and appreciate our differences, while also providing valuable insight into our shared humanity. In conclusion, writing serves as an unifying force in the modern world, allowing us to connect and understand diverse cultures, and to use this understanding to create a better future. Rethinking Cultural Appropriation. (n.d.). Harvard Gazette. https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2019/04/rethinking-cultural-appropriation/

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