Comparing Arts of the Contact Zone and Animism and the...

Every breath you take is comprised of bits and pieces of your immediate surrounding. While outside the confines of the manmade structures that stand strong before you everyday, you’re unavoidably absorbing nature. You unconsciously and almost immediately determine how well the day will progress: Can you smell the presence of rain in the air? Are the pollens scattered throughout the atmosphere hinting to your itchy nose that allergy season is fast approaching? Whichever the case, it’s obvious; the environment is communicating with you. In â€Å"Arts of the Contact Zone†, Mary Louise Pratt defines contact zones as â€Å"the space in which transculturation takes place – where two different cultures meet and inform each other, often in highly†¦show more content†¦She believed autoethnographic text is â€Å"a text in which people undertake to describe themselves in ways that engage with representations others have made of them.† In order words , the text is a person’s opinion of themselves with the input of others. Autoethnographic text – or the lack of – can be seen in the natural world. An example is natural tragedies, such as volcanoes eruptions and hurricanes. Nature does not take into consideration our attempts to stop these disasters. The most we can do is try. In order to take full advantage of autoethnographic text we are given everyday, we can try to listen more intently and take action more effectively. A problem with translating the natural messages this world contains into language we can understand is accuracy. After all, what human can actually understand the music of the rain and the barks of dogs? The most we can do is infer. The bits and pieces of nature we breathe in everyday is aids our wellbeing. Listening to the language of the culture of nature enables us to make better decisions in our lives. The wet surface of the earth outside your house signals you to bring an umbrella â€⠀œ which will prevent you from becoming wet and catching a cold. The scent of flowers in the air sets off a sneezing fit reminding you to take your allergy medication. However, people will not always understand the hints nature dishes out to us. An example is the signs of