Wow! This class has almost been more about self awareness than cultural analysis. I found myself revolted by the idea that the third group would stereotype so freely. I was so angry I couldn't control myself from "shhh"ing other people and pinching arms to get them to stop talking. Now in retrospective I find the power of the stereotype. I find how change can happen when you can be revolted by a stereotype until a bit of truth you believe comes through. Then you begin to realize that you also have stereotypes you never even thought about.
I wonder how often we play into our own cultural stereotype. I am southern with a southern accent but I do not chew tobacco, drive a tractor, nor marry my cousin. I'm a big fag for God's sake. However, I do play into the southern hospitality and never hitting a woman rule. Those are just manners. Or are they stereotypes? Hmmm.....
I present the question to the class of what is your cultural stereotype? How would that be staged? How would you want it staged? Do you fall into it? Have you ever thought of how to use that as an advantage on stage to voice an opinion you have about a certain issue? Is there a stereotype to which you believe is more often true than false? Are you terrible for considering stereotypes to be truthful? Who is someone that fits a stereotype and do you find them less/more believable when they speak about issues?
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Stereotypes can play a great deal into the creation of a personal idenity. When we think of the stereotypical southern white male from tennessee, I immediatly notice that the various traits in my stereotype are either negative or positive (depending on the value system of the observer).
When searching for ones idenity a person could react negativly, or positivly, in scenarios that directly challenge their value system . The reaction could thus be something that might in retrospec be seen as a variance from the persons normal behavior. Whereas it would be very standard for a negative trait of the stereotype. A stereotype that has amazing positive traits that many people would want to affiliate themselves with.
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