Hi everyone! My name is Jasmine and I am fourth year English language major and Economics minor. I was born and raised in Toronto which is facetiously called “The Centre of the Universe”. I love many things stereotypically Canadian: Tim Hortons, hockey (go Leafs!), throwing eh around while disregarding the snickers from my American peers, apologizing for no reason, flannel, etc. From that short introduction, I don’t know what image you have of me already. I insist on being identified as Canadian, even though you when you see me, you might call me a Chinese-Canadian. That’s not to say that I don’t appreciate my heritage, but that’s another story.
Little Jasmine outside her first home in Toronto
As I struggle with asserting my own identity and worry about how others perceive my identity, I think that I can relate to what ENGL 470A Canadian Studies is about. We are interested in understanding what makes a Canadian literary canon. Three words: Canadian, literary, canon, lead to more than three questions.
- What is considered Canadian? How do we distinguish between what is Canadian and what is not?
- What is literary? Do oral stories and traditions count even if they have not been put into textual form?
- Who decides what is included in the canon and what important stories are missing from this conglomeration of works?
Similar questions were raised in a Canadian history course called “Moments that Matter” last term. While Canadian history is often called boring, it was probably one of the most interesting classes I’ve ever taken. We looked at how colonialism has affected what stories are told in Canada’s history, whose voice we hear, and how some voices are still not given accurate representation today. In ENGL 470A, we will learn more about how narratives are used to create a Canadian identity that both includes and excludes certain perspectives. Further, we will be introduced to a variety of texts so that we can broaden our knowledge of Canadian literature.
I am looking forward to collaborating with everyone in this course in this online format. I do find that I am lacking in knowledge of various Canadian works. Therefore, I am excited to be part of a class that is learning more about Canadian literature and how we can shape its future. I hope to get to know all of you more!
Works Cited:
Chen, Tanya. “Which Canadian Stereotype Are You?” Buzzfeed. 30 Jan. 2014. Web. 6 Jan. 2015.
Ishiguro, Laura. History 235 (101) History of Canada, Moments that Matter. History Department. University of British Columbia. n.d. Web. 6 Jan. 2015.