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THE RELUCTANT FUNDAMENTALIST Arbeitsmaterialien zu Chapter 8 Analyse inhaltlicher Bausteine aus dem Kapitel 8 des Romans Erweiterung des Themas durch American Exceptionalism Texte Karikatur Filmausschnitt aus HBO TheNewsroom PPP American Exceptionalism alle Materialien im Internet verfügbar geprüft am 1.10.2012 Chapter 8 The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid Arbeitsgrundlage ist die Penguin Ausgabe von 2008 CHAPTER 8 Exceptionalism America s nostalgia and American Anmerkung Für den Leser der sich bis zum 8.Kapital wundert über die seltsame Liebesgeschichte zwischen dem psychisch labilen Society Girl Erica und dem jungen Unternehmensberater pakistanischer Herkunft mit Abschluss mit Bestnoten in Princeton und einer steilen Karriere in einer renommierten Firma in New York für diesen Leser gibt der Autor Mohsin Hamid durch seinem Erzähler Changez einen expliziten Hinweis auf die Parallelen zwischen Erica und America und die durch 9 11 ausgelöste Nostalgie. p.130 Amerikas nostalgische Rückschau die Changez verwundert und irritiert wird durch Hintergrundinformationen über American Exceptionalism und die Auswirkungen dieses Konzept auf das Selbstverständnis und das Sendungsbewusstsein der Amerikaner genauer beleuchtet. Da der Präsidentschaftskandidat Mitt Romney diesen Begriff häufig verwendet und gegen den Amtsinhaber Barack Obama einsetzt erfährt der Unterricht auch eine Aktualisierung. Die unterschiedliche Deutung von American Exceptionalism wird deutlich im Pilotfilm von Aaron Sorkins HBO show The Newsroom im Internet abrufbar in dem der TV Moderator McAvoy erst zögerlich dann sehr emotional die Frage nach Gründen für die amerikanischer berlegenheit beantwortet. Changez erst 22 Jahre alt hat bereits ein Universitätsabschluss und trifft als Finanzanalyst weittragende Entscheidung für das Fortbestehen oder Scheitern von internationalen Firmen während Gleichaltrige in Deutschland erst in Sichtweite des Examens oder in einem Praktikum die Finanzwelt erleben. Dieser Nebenaspekt kann kurz angesprochen werden ebenso Changez Arbeitswelt bei Underwood Samson die nicht limitierte Firmenkreditkarte aber auch der Druck durch die regelmäßig und in kurzen Abständen durchgeführten rankings und die drohende Entlassung bei schlechter performance . Hier wiederholt sich das Selbstverständnis We believe in being the best. p.39 . AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM Meist trifft das Konzept des American Exceptionalism mit seine Ausprägungen God s own country the shining city on the hill the pomised land with its manifest destiny the empire of liberty which offers the last best hope on earth and serves as a beacon for the world auf Spott Verwunderung oder Ablehnung vgl.Changez in The Reluctant Fundamentalist Angelsächsische Literatur zitiert häufig Bismarcks Bemerkung Die Vorsehung beschützt Kinder und Idioten Betrunkene und die Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika Kritiker werfen den USA vor dass eigennützige machtpolitische und wirtschaftliche Gründe hinter der Verbreitung von Freiheit und Demokratie stehen. Barack traf mit seiner Aussage I believe in American exceptionalism just as I suspect that the Brits believe in British exceptionalism and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism auf Kritik im eigenen Land denn dort ist die Vorstellung von Einzigartigkeit verbunden mit einem Sendungsauftrag diese Werte von Freiheit und Demokratie zu verbreiten nicht immer nur Rhetorik sondern auch Verpflichtung. Zur Vermeidung einer einseitigen Darstellung können einige Beispiele genannt werden PatTilmann ein Profi Fußballer verzichtet nach den Anschlägen vom 11.September auf einen 3 6Millionen Dollar Vertrag pro Jahr und meldet sich freiwillig bei der Armee Jahresgehalt 18.000 Dollar . Er stirbt nach Beschuss durch die eigenen Leute in Afghanistan. Stipendienprogramme z.B. Fulbright Programm von denen auch Changez profitiert das von Präsident Kennedy gegründete Peace Corps historische Beispiele z.B. Truman Doktrin 1947 it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures. die Berliner Luftbrücke die enormen Kosten für den Verteidigungshaushalt .... After 9 11 Erica and America disappearing into a powerful nostalgia 1 Examine the parallels between Changez love relationship with Erica and America. Changez love relationship with Erica not a normal relationship memories of Chris Changez self denial playacting Chris growing alienation it is best for Erica and for Changez in need of stability no emotional upheavals in need of friend pale but in good spirits on medication Erica torpid writing no longer a healing process existential crisis Erica recedes into her past with Chris beyond Changez reach longing for her adolescence with Chris a time unaware of mortality and impermanence a wonderful reality an imagined wonderful past their love truth or fiction catastrophic progress of their relationship anger and vanity of spurned lover concerned for her well being foreshadowing Changez departure from America Changez commitment to America product of an American university earning a lucrative American salary infatuated with an American woman p.84 hope to have a part in that era p.131 irrational hope SIMILE getting rid of an addiction getting rid of his fascination with America fictitious era p.131 glorifying America s past Changez lack of understanding state of shock after 9 11 with America Changez immigrant experience his country of origin is an integral part of his self identity first experiences of ethnic profiling hostile attitude of employees in New Jersey public mood after 9 11 looking for support with allies 2 Analyse the signs of America s dangerous nostalgia. America s dangerous nostalgia flags and uniforms generals addressing cameras in war rooms newspaper headlines with the words duty and honor America looking back instead of looking forward SIMILE living in New York colourful Technicolor has changed into living in a black and white film about WW II objectives unquestioned dominance safety moral certainty METAPHOR scrambling to don the costumes of another era hectically escaping into the past anachronistic American hegemony American self defense America representing the morally good patriotism emphasis on military power duty versus self interest feeling responsible honor versus disrespect disgrace multi cultural multi ethnic and cosmopolitan NewYork suffers from painting in black and white good versus bad friend versus enemy right versus wrong ... and from preparing for war Obama was criticized because he did not wear the flag on his lapel. Underwood Samson a bulwark against nostalgia not nostalgic but shaping the future without considering the past Changez immersed in work to evade worries and uncertainty employees focus on their professional lives pursuit of fundamentals quantifiable data aim maximum productivity possibility of progress without longing for a glorious past Changez faces ethnic harassment his own violent reaction to a physical attack violence causes more violence Jim detects Changez anxieties about the war caused by his Pakistani side but Changez denies having divided loyalties to avoid job risk cases of ethnic discrimination in other companies rescinded job offers groundless dismissals Jim successful career outsider working class background and homosexuality after 9 11 downturn in activity levels leading to cutbacks after ranking 2 analysts were dismissed isolated workplace out of touch with the real world attempt to understand a rather complex world by quantifying data aftermath of 9 11 intrudes into the allegedly secure business world events in the complex world are imponderable. More stylistic devices mine healthy and brown hers sickly white p.127 antithesis emphasis on contrast it does not matter if Changez believes in truth of their love because he feels excluded emphasis on difficult and long term struggle emphasis on the safe and protected environment the employees work in emphasis on imminent attack allusion to greed their love.... a religion that would not extended metaphor accept me as a convert p.129 not unlike that of man attempting to rid himself of an addiction p.130 bulwark p.132 simile metaphor the cold metal...rested hungrily p.134 murderous seconds p.134 I had thrown him off the scent employees our firm let go personification personification hunting imagery euphemism emphasis on immediacy of physical attack emphasis on dissimulation phrase to hide harsh reality they were dismissed American exceptionalism INTRODUCTION Analyse this cartoon. http www.sodahead.com united states america is not the greatest country in the world doyou agree questionTo what extent does its message correspond with Changez views a man features of US president George Bush wearing a top hat with the American flag is standing at the curb at a small distance on the pavement there is a group of people because of typical features they match different stereotypes of nationalities e.g. a Canadian Frenchman and a Briton are easily identified their facial expressions mirror common dissatisfaction turning his back to the group the American says CAPTION I wonder why my relationship s so bad with all you nations that aren t as good as me. Changez shares the group s discontent. Throughout the novel he criticizes America s hegemony its superiority in military economic and political matters its self entitlement its self image of being superior to other nations. THE CONCEPT Where does this narrow minded idea come from Find out more about American Exceptionalism. BACKGROUND ARTICLE Uri Friedman A short history of American exceptionalism Pittsburgh Post Gazette 8th July 2012 http www.post gazette.com stories opinion perspectives a short history of americanexceptionalism 643761 ixzz28Q6LWr5k POWER POINT PRESENTATION http www.powershow.com view 39318NGEzN AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM powerpoint ppt presentation ILLUSTRATION World Map with USA as N 1 http i212.photobucket.com albums cc125 Starnutspics GDP the world according toamericans.jpg MEDIATION Compare Wolfram Eilenberger s presentation of American Exceptionalism and your findings about America s dangerous nostalgia. Auszüge aus Wolfram Eilenberger Gewonnen und doch ohne Zukunft CICERO 25. November 2010 http www.cicero.de weltb C3 BChne gewonnen und doch ohnezukunft 41365 ...fortgeschrittenen Aushöhlung des Mythos vom amerikanischen Exzeptionalismus durch die real existierende Globalisierung. Mythos heißt hier identitätssichernde Erzählung. Das Wesen des Mythos vom amerikanischen Exzeptionalismus besteht in der berzeugung die Vereinigten Staaten nähmen als Nation eine heilsgeschichtliche Sonderrolle ein. Ihr unaufhaltsamer Aufstieg ihre Stärke und ihr Erfolg seien unleugbares Indiz einer gottgewollten Bevorzugung aus der sich wiederum eine besondere weltgeschichtliche Verantwortung ableite.... die eigenen Verlustängste werden aber mit der Fiktion eines vergangenen goldenen Zeitalters bearbeitet. Wolfram Ellenberger Die Party ist vorbei THE EUROPEAN 20.01.2011 http www.theeuropean.de wolfram eilenberger 5411 amerikanischer exzeptionalismus Der Kern des amerikanischen Exzeptionalismus liegt in der berzeugung die Vereinigten Staaten nähmen als Nation eine heilsgeschichtliche Sonderrolle ein. Ihr unaufhaltsamer Aufstieg sei unleugbares Indiz einer gottgewollten Bevorzugung aus der sich wiederum eine besondere weltgeschichtliche Verantwortung ableite. Dieser Mythos ist in seinem Fundament bedroht. Die akuten innenpolitischen Krisenherde von Wirtschaft über Erziehung bis zu Infrastruktur Immobilien Arbeitslosigkeit und Altersarmut sind einfach zu nachhaltig und offensichtlich. Der Tatsachendruck damit zu groß. Amerika ist von konkreten Statusängsten geplagt. ANALYSIS American Exceptionalism in action TEXT 1 America s creed is blessedly simple. Freedom equality democracy and America as the promised land the new Jerusalem. .....President Obama rejects this creed. He doesn t buy the city on a hill stuff. David Gelernter What Is the American Creed Wall Street Journal 1st July 2012 http on l ine.wsj.com article SB100014240527023037342045774683711134715 32.html TEXT 2 America s critics see American exceptionalism as a dangerous form of nationalism that legitimizes bellicosity abroad and swagger at home by suggesting that America has a Godgiven mission a manifest destiny to remake the world in its own image. But this is a perversion which unfortunately President George W. Bush s post 9 11 foreign policy agenda of spreading democracy by the sword did nothing to dispel. Shikha Dalmia Exceptionalism endures The Daily 8th September 2011 http w w w.thedaily.com page 2011 09 08 090811 opinions columnexceptionalism dalmia 1 3 TEXT 3 Our national exceptionalism both burdens and defames us yet it remains our fate. We make others anxious envious resentful admiring and sometimes hate driven. There s a reason al Qaeda operatives targeted the U.S. on 9 11 and not say Buenos Aires. They wanted to enrich their act of evil with the gravitas of American exceptionalism. They wanted to steal our thunder. So we Americans cannot help but feel some ambivalence toward our singularity in the world with its draining entanglements abroad the selfless demands it makes on both our military and our taxpayers and all the false charges of imperial hubris it incurs. Shelby Steele Obama and the Burden of Exceptionalism Wall Street Journal 1st September 2011 http on l ine.wsj.com article SB100014240531119047874045765326231761155 58.html TEXT 4 Barack Obama US President 2009 Remember for all the hits we ve taken these last few years for all the naysayers predicting our decline America still has the largest most prosperous economy in the world. No workers are more productive than ours. No country has more successful companies or grants more patents to inventors and entrepreneurs. We are home to the world s best colleges and universities where more students come to study than any other place on Earth. State of the Union Address 25th January 2011 http www.todaysengineer.org 2011 Feb SOTU.asp Mitt Romney presidential candidate 2012 This century must be an American century. In an American century America has the strongest economy and the strongest military in the world. God did not create this country to be a nation of followers. America is not destined to be one of several equally balanced global powers. America must lead the world or someone else will. Mitt Romney speaking to supporters aboard the USS Yorktown Thursday Oct. 6 2011 at Patriots Point in Charleston S.C. http cnsnews.com news article romney god did not create country be nation followers George W.Bush US President 2001 2009 The survival of liberty in our land increasingly depends on the success of liberty in other lands. The best hope for peace in our world is the expansion of freedom in all the world.... Our country has accepted obligations that are difficult to fulfill and would be dishonorable to abandon. Yet because we have acted in the great liberating tradition of this nation tens of millions have achieved their freedom. Second Inaugural Address 20th January 2005 http www.bartleby.com 124 pres67.html Ronald Reagan US president 1981 1989 We cannot escape our destiny nor should we try to do so. The leadership of the free world was thrust upon us two centuries ago in that little hall of Philadelphia. In the days following World War II when the economic strength and power of America was all that stood between the world and the return to the dark ages....We are indeed and we are today the last best hope of man on earth. Speech We Will Be a City Upon a Hill delivered on 25th January 1974 at the First Annual Conservative Political Action Conference. http www.cfif.org htdocs freedomline current america governor ronald reagan.htm ILLUSTRATION http www.american.com archive 2010 march two cheers for american exceptionalism LISTENING COMPREHENSION Why is America the greatest country on earth VIDEOCLIP http www.elephantjournal.com 2012 06 america the greatest country on earth TRANSCRIPT DIALOGUE ANALYSIS http www.gq.com entertainment tv blogs the stream 2012 06 how to write a monologuelike aaron sorkin.html ixzz28FF1pHhU The first scene of Aaron Sorkin s new HBO show The Newsroom presents a discussion at a university. The panelists include a professor from the university a liberal woman from NEA a conservative man and a well known TV anchor Will McAvoy. Asked by a young sophomore student why America is the greatest country on earth the liberal suggests diversity and opportunity the conservative freedom twice. McAvoy tries to evade the questions by suggesting a professional football team the New York Jets and the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Obliged to give a more personal answer McAvoy first reluctantly then more forecefully denies current American greatness and describes American greatness in the past. A woman in the audience puts up two signs to comment on American greatness It isn t but it can be. These signs seem to initiate McAvoy s surprising answer. America is not the greatest country on earth statistics 7th in literacy 27th in math 22nd science 49th in life expectancy 178th in infant mortality 3rd in median household income 4th in labor force 4th in exports st 1 in incarcerated citizens per capita 1st in adults who believe angels are real 1st in defense spending America used to be the greatest country on earth We stood up for what was right We fought for moral reasons we passed and struck down laws for moral reasons. We waged wars on poverty not poor people. We sacrificed we cared about our neighbors we put our money where our mouths were and we never beat our chest. We built great big things made ungodly technological advances explored the universe cured diseases cultivated the world s greatest artists and the world s greatest economy. We reached for the stars and we acted like men. We aspired to intelligence we didn t belittle it it didn t make us feel inferior. We didn t identify ourselves by who we voted for in the last election we didn t scare so easy. And we were able to be all these things and do all these things because we were informed. By great men men who were revered. The first step in solving any problem is recognizing there is one America is not the greatest country in the world anymore. America can be the greatest country on earth if By enumerating former achievements McAvoy implies the wrongs in American society. Name some of his suggestions for a better America. moral reasons come first with citizens and politicians involved in passing laws interest groups do not predominate help and charity for poor people examples health care Medicaid foodstamps ... more community spirit not only talking about projects but taking action awareness of former achievements help to work for a better future ideals and humanity intelligence intellectual achievements regarded as an asset no chasm between neighbours because of political affiliations no overreaction in case of disasters need for information by honourable people who are in charge An dieser Stelle bietet es sich auch an die Dramaturgie dieser Szene zu analysieren die Reaktion der Studenten die musikalische Untermalung bei der Schilderung besserer Zeiten in der Vergangenheit und die Wirkung des enough am Ende des Vortrags. Klasse 10 Klasse 11 Klasse 12 Englisch Sekundarstufe A. Lenhardt Patz Chapter 8 THE RELUCTANT FUNDAMENTALIST Mohsin Hamid