sawsaw 4/20

I found Thursday's class discussion of bell hooks ideas to be very interesting. I had never really taken the time to consider what it would be like to be considered “exotic”. Being born in the US I never consider my self to be an “exotic woman” because everyone around me looks just like me. It was only until I traveled to Europe two summers ago that I realized what it felt like to be considered “Different” or “Exotic”. When I was in Norway, I went to the a farmer’s market in the middle of the small town. Everyone I came encounter with immediately knew I was American. They knew by the way I looked, how I talked and by what I was wearing. It was a very interesting feeling being considered “exotic” and being looked at in a different way.

The quote that stood out to me the most from bell hooks is: “Within commodity culture, ethnicity becomes spice, seasoning that can liven up the dull dish that is mainstream white cultures” (366). This quote really made me think how important “exotic” people are to the mainstream hegemonic culture. They liven up and add excitement to out society. I know that when I was in Norway people were constantly coming up to me to talk to me or look at me because I was so different. I made their small town more exciting. Just like people from other cultures or with different skin types make our society more interesting. I am going to Germany and Poland this summer on a missions trip and am excited to see how different and ”exotic” I will be to them!