Tripmaster Monkey Essay, Research Paper
Tripmaster Monkey
Wittman uses theatre throughout the book Tripmaster Monkey to get back to his cultural roots and Asian culture. He is trying to find himself through theatre and to open up a new avenue for his people. There are numerous examples of this throughout the book as he is writing his play and incorporating the old (legends and myths) with the new (contemporary times).
The first significant reference to legend occurs when Wittman is putting his entire night s worth of writing into the incinerator (42). As he does so, he reflects on the arrival of Monkey, Tripitaka and friends at the Western Paradise. They secure the sacred scriptures, and are on their way home to china when curious Monkey takes a peek at the books, only to find that the pages are blank. They return to Paradise to complain, and because their spiritual incapacity makes hem unable to absorb the truths of a blank text, are given pages with writing on them. But it turns out that the Heart Sutra s wisdom concerns the emptiness of inherent existence, and the blank text was the right way to express that truth after all. Kingston is illustrating the frustration Wittman feels at having to put into words the truths that are obvious to him.
At another point in the book, Wittman recalls when the Monkey learns his position in Heaven (61). Monkey is ecstatic to have a place in Heaven, an important role to play, but once he realizes that his Appointment to Pi-ma-w_n really means shit shoveler for the Divine Horse Stables, he quits Heaven and returns to the Monkey Kingdom. This is the role Wittman sees the Chinese stuck with: happy to have a role in the American community, but sickeningly disappointed when they find out how small and degrading that role really is. When he returns to the department store, he impulsively mates a toy monkey with a Barbie doll, reflecting his opinion of Mattel (64). This moment also allows Kingston to foreshadow with irony Wittman s later relationship with Ta_a. Their relationship illustrates his insecurities about not being American enough unless he is dating a white woman insecurity exacerbated by Nanci, his ideal Asian woman, who rejects him.
Wittman a fifth generation native Californian, is concerned to the point of paranoia about the lack of a vibrant Chinese culture tradition to represent Chinese Americans within the context of greater America (41). Where s your jazz? Our Jive? Our contribution? he asks. He s not lazy. The reason he doesn t have right livelihood is that our theater is dead (27, 249). The traditional theater is dead, and with it, the Chinese community? He is concerned with how the Chinese community is perceived. Americans, Wittman thinks, view Chinese as gamblers, producers of cheap food and martial arts movies. The Chinese have been unfavorably represented in Western media since Kipling (298-299). He is also concerned with how the community perceives itself, how they can transform their tradition and move from a hyphenate existence to solid citizenship (293).
Whether his is reading James Baldwin to his audience, or railing against the depiction of Chinese I movies, Wittman is calling his community to become a more visible part of America. He wants his fellow Chinese to impose themselves on the nation in a self-chosen and directed manner in order to become a more integral, contributing, and appreciated part of the national community, as opposed to merely perpetuating a stereotype. He doesn t want to see Hop Sung or Charlie Chan again (310). The problem, he says, is that Chinese faces, and noises are signifiers that do not fit into the context of the American sensibility ye (318). Them must be made to fit: We need to be shown and loved continuously until we re not inscrutable anymore. Wait a minute. Let me try that again. We re not inscrutable at all. We are not inherently unknowable. That s a trip they re laying on us . (310).
Wittman creates a play and a community in the space of a few days. He makes sure that the play contains roles for every one, that they can write their own parts. When he stands on the street corner phoning everyone, he is linking the community together (270). The play is immense. Epic. Our own story won t fit a one-act I m going to bring back to theater the long and continuous play that goes on for a week without repeating itself. Because life is long and continuous. The way theater was in the old days. I mean the old days in this country. The audience comes back every night for the continuation. They live with us (149). The play will be the excuse to bring the community together; it will make them be together night after night. For Wittman, the play is life; the life is the play, long continuous, with no repetitions. He was defining a community, which will meet every night for a season. Community is not built once-and-for-all; people have to imagine, practice, and re-create it (306). This is how Wittman used theater. To bring together his community and to help them get pasted what he thought of as the Asian stereotype.
Другие работы по теме:
Violence In Games Essay Research Paper A
Violence In Games Essay, Research Paper A while back a senator said that violence in computer games is completely outrageous and is amazingly influential on our youth. We’ll just randomly choose
Racism In Childrens Books Essay Research Paper
Children are susceptible to symbolism portrayed in literature. H.A. Rey is a clever man, who guilefully has incited prejudice views for nearly six decades, through his works of children s literature. The authors tales prevail in stores and in classrooms propagating throughout the world in disguise of a curious monkey.
Dr Dolittle Essay Research Paper The Adventures
Dr. Dolittle Essay, Research Paper The Adventures of Doctor Dolittle The book I read was The Adventures of Dr. Dolittle. The author has an excellent writing style and the book is laid out in an easy to read format.
Aids Test On Animal Essay Research Paper
Aids Testing on Animals ?Between 25 and 50 million animals are killed in American laboratories each year, this include mice, rats, cats, ferrets, monkey, and etc.(American Anti-Vivisection Society)?
Sarah Canary Essay Research Paper Lilian Heker
Sarah Canary Essay, Research Paper Lilian Heker s The Stolen Party is about a nine-year-old girl named Rosaura who goes to a rich girl s party. This takes place at a rich girl s house where her mother works as a maid. Rosaura thinks she is Luciana s friend but at the end finds out that they could never be friends because of social class difference.
The Making Of A Gentleman Essay Research
Paper A gentleman is a man that is respectful to himself and others around him. He must always present himself as a human being and not as a monkey. When he walks into the room, he must present himself cordially. He does not have to talk loudly and clown around just to try to impress someone. A real gentleman can walk in a room and be noticed.
Oh Really Essay Research Paper Oh Reallyyou
Oh Really? Essay, Research Paper Oh Really, you think i am a lark, the dogs they run and bark, but when i say to them, shut up shut up shut up, you say to be nice to them,
Dave Mathews Band Essay Research Paper According
Dave Mathews Band Essay, Research Paper According to the American Heritage Dictionary a poet is someone who writes poems. If I were to give my own definition of a poet it would say a poet is someone who can take a group of words and put a hundred different emotions and meanings into them. This is what Dave Mathews does with his lyrics; he takes his emotions and puts them into words.
Scopes Monkey Trail Essay Research Paper A
Scopes Monkey Trail Essay, Research Paper A group of scientists got together and decided that mankind had come a long way and no longer needed God. They picked one scientist to go and tell Him that they no longer needed Him. The scientist walked up to God and said, “God, we’ve decided that we no longer need you.
Monkey
’s Paw Essay, Research Paper In The Monkey s Paw , author William Jacobs conveys the message that fate rules peoples lives, and that those who try to interfere with fate do so at their own peril. This premise is clearly shown as the plot of this clever story unfolds. Sergeant Morris reluctantly gave Mr. White the monkey s paw, but warned him of the consequences.
Man Vs. Animal Animal Vs. Man
Essay, Research Paper I stalk My Prey. I am the master of the world. I sense everything. My eyes can see the fleas on an animal’s back two hundred metres away.
The Monkey
’s Paw Essay, Research Paper THE MONKEY’S PAW By (author) W.W.Jacobs The mystery of the Monkey’s Paw is a cleverly thought out short story. This story had three main parts. These parts were the first wish, the second wish, and the third wish.
Stolen Party Essay Research Paper Stolen PartyThe
Stolen Party Essay, Research Paper Stolen Party The short story The Stolen Party , written by Liliana Heker, was a story about class differences between people viewed through the eyes of a young girl. The basic plot of the story is about a the maid s daughter, Rosaura, who goes to a party were she is used as a servant rather than just being a friend of the rich daughter.
Ramayana Essay Research Paper Long ago in
Ramayana Essay, Research Paper Long ago in the far off land of Ayodha a boy was born. His name was Rama, son of King Dasartha. As he was growing up he met a young girl. The first time he saw
Three Wishes Essay Research Paper Nick Williams1st
Three Wishes Essay, Research Paper Nick Williams 1st Hour December 7, 1997 THREE WISHES If wishes were fishes we?d all have some fried. There is an old saying “Be careful what you wish for.” Everyday three or more times we say that we wish we could have this or we wish we could have that. We do not realize that wishes also come with negative outcomes.
Days Work Essay Research Paper I woke
Days Work Essay, Research Paper I woke up on a day with , the sun ,and my dog laying with this feet on my bed. I got up and got dressed and went down the steps.te some
Colobus Monkey Essay Research Paper In Africa
Colobus Monkey Essay, Research Paper In Africa there are many types of animals, one of them is the Colobus Monkey. There are different types of Colobus Monkeys: there is the white Colobus, the red Colobus, and the olive Colobus. The Colobus Monkey is a long tailed tree living primate. The Colobus Monkey can be found all over Africa.
Monkey Island And Missing May Essay Research
Paper Monkey Island and Missing May Monkey Island and Missing May were both very well written fictional books. I did not think Missing May was believable though. I don t expect a child will relate to a young orphan girl whose uncle is trying to contact the spiritual realm in search of his wife, May.
The Monkey Essay Research Paper The MonkeyThis
The Monkey Essay, Research Paper The Monkey This historical and Chinese novel Journey to the West, which is also known as the Monkey, is the most popular book in East Asia. Originally written by Wu Ch eng-en in the sixteenth century, which consisted of one hundred chapters but was traditionally cut-down to various lengths to suit different audiences.
Monkey Essay Research Paper Monkey Represented as
Monkey Essay, Research Paper Monkey Represented as a Human Character Monkey is created by the author as an individual entity that resembles the characteristic of an ordinary human being. It is quite obvious that the audience would better understand the idea hidden in the literature if the characteristics of the protagonist are closely related to those of the reader.
How Is Tension Built Up In The
Monkey?S Paw? And ?The Red Room?? Essay, Research Paper How is Tension built up in ?The Monkey?s Paw? and ?The Red Room?? The success of any short story depends upon the skill with which the plot moves. The writer does not have the time to develop ideas that he has in a novel but at the same time all those elements must be present.
Hot Zone Essay Research Paper Nature s
Hot Zone Essay, Research Paper Nature s Wrath Nature is our host and we are the parasite. In the book, The Hot Zone, Mr. Preston has explained one of the most feared things known to mankind, the virus. Even though as small as a needle head, it can kill humans faster than any weapon ever made. The actual virus itself, the host, and the organizations that spent years trying to figure out a cure are all examples shown in both The Hot Zone and the film, Outbreak.
Ethics Of Cloning Essay Research Paper Steve
Ethics Of Cloning Essay, Research Paper Steve Stauff Grade: B+ Biochemistry in the Real World Ethics of cloning Most of us should know of the new scientific technology that has allowed us to clone mammals. First a sheep that was cloned in Scotland, and then a small monkey in Oregon. All this talk about cloning has forced people to think about other possibilities with this new breakthrough.
Ebola Virus Essay Research Paper The virus
Ebola Virus Essay, Research Paper The virus is active in monkeys and they acquire it every second fall. The virus is not deadly to the monkeys. In Africa many people eat monkey meat as a source of protein and this is how they get the Ebola virus in their systems. There have been theories that the Ebola virus can be transmitted from bats to people and that the bats have the Ebola virus in them.
An Ideal Society In America Essay Research
Paper An ideal society is a society that is a democracy with limited government. It’s not always the best form of government but it’s a great one in most cases. There must be strict laws that everyone must follow including the government officials. In the country there must be a harsh punishment for a little crime.
Creation Vs Evolution Essay Research Paper Creation
Creation Vs Evolution Essay, Research Paper Creation vs evolution, was man created be an almighty god, or is he simply a product of modern science. This question has puzzled scholarly minds for many years and yet will for many to come. The one that makes the most sense to me and has the most supporting evidence, is evolution.
Creative Wrighting I Like Monkeys Essay
, Research Paper I Like Monkeys I like monkeys. The pet store was selling them for five cents a piece. I thought that odd since they were normally a couple thousand. I decided not to look a gift horse in the mouth. I bought 200. I like monkeys.
Animal Orgins In Humans Essay Research Paper
SHOULD ANIMAL ORGANS BE TRANSPORTED INTO HUMANS Should humans be able to have a choice if they would like an experimentally procedure? I feel that yes- humans can use animals’ organs transported into them for medical research! We have come along ways on our research of organs transplants between animals; but of course the monkey is similar to humans but it is not exactly like it.
Effects Of Media Essay Research Paper It
Effects Of Media Essay, Research Paper It is not so easy to understand what exactly Gitlin is trying to state or prove about television. Although it is not clear, Gitlin does state some important points and facts about his view on television and popular culture. Gitlin raises the question of “More to the point, is television now a dominant force in shaping the character of Americans?” I would have to answer yes to this question.
Monkeys Paw And Masque Of Red Death
Essay, Research Paper Imagine you could wish for your heart?s desire. It could be anything you wanted. However, someone would have to die for your wish to come true. Remember,