Current creative writing essay is devoted to the analysis of John Wideman’s essay “Our Time” (2005). This essay may be considered as an example of autoethnographic texts and examined from the Pratt’s perspective. First of all, the concept of autoethnography should be specified. It refers to the specific form of describing one’s own existence, beliefs, and lifestyle. It is an important term as it helps to understand how a person evaluates his/her own life and beliefs. It is also some form of response to the external social influence. Pratt prefers to see texts in such a way because it helps to analyze them and determine the most characteristic features. This perspective is also helpful because it outlines the relationships between the social environment and individual beliefs and behavior.
John Wideman’s essay “Our Time” may be considered as an example of autoethnographic texts because all main features associated with autoethnography and other Pratt’s concepts may be observed in the essay. Moreover, they may be used as the foundation for better understanding and examination of the text. Wideman writes an essay in an untypical way. He presents the story from the point of view of three different people: himself, Robby, and his mother. The main ideas from the essay “Our Time” may be presented. The author describes his emotions associated with his personal life and reaction to the life and behavior of others. The essay begins with the story from the Robby’s point of view. He was significantly influenced by the death of his friend Garth. Robby said: “We cannot let Garth down” (Wideman, 2005, p. 695). Robby expressed pessimistic views in relation to the external world. Moreover, he suggested that doctors were to blame for the death of his close friend. As he could not find the adequate way out of this situation, he began to behave in a socially unexpected way. Finally, he killed a person and was imprisoned.
John did not understand what could lead his brother to such behavior. The author describes the past of his brother and different events in his life. Then John went to talk to his brother in prison. He tried to understand his brother and specify his motivation. Finally, John was able to understand the position and thoughts of his brother. Robby realized that he was wrong, and his lifestyle was immoral. He began to re-organize his beliefs and value judgments. The point of view of their mother is also very significant. It is mostly presented through the John’s interpretation of her views. However, in some cases, she directly expresses her position. In particular, she was significantly negatively affected by Garth’s death, as well. She also supported his son and believed that some doctors’ errors were present. Thus, her life position changed after Garth’s death. It also affected the way John looked at the past events of his life. This fact clearly demonstrates the presence of autoethnographic elements in the text. John analyzes his life and beliefs with the help of thoughts and positions of other people. In general, the essay demonstrates the necessity for better understanding among relatives. People should not necessarily agree with each other on all key issues, but they should take into account the positions of other people.
The specific implication of Pratt’s terms may be specified. “Selective collaboration with” the “idioms of the metropolis or the conqueror” may be observed in relation to Robby’s life. He collaborated with the external environment but was under the influence of the dominant mode of behavior. It means that he was unable to make his personal value judgments and adopted anti-social modes of behavior. “Selective collaboration” may be viewed in relation to John, as well. As he lived in the different environment, he was affected by other social forces and adopted different views. As the life experience of different people is diverse, it is difficult for them to understand the positions of other people. This idea is clearly presented in the essay by John Wideman.
“Indigenous idioms” that “create self-representations intended to intervene in metropolitan modes of understanding” may be observed in the essay, as well. John tries to understand his brother. However, it is impossible as far as he looks at his brother’s actions through his personal experience and beliefs. He needs to use “indigenous idioms” in order to create the adequate representation of his brother’s position. It is the powerful tool that may improve interpersonal communication between people. It should be stressed that people do not experience reality directly. They create their perceptions with the help of specific idioms that transform reality in a particular way.
Looking at texts at Pratt’s manner constitutes a significant advantage for a number of reasons. First of all, they allow determining the interrelationships between different aspects of human experience and behavior. It is possible to understand that human experience and communication are not organized in a linear manner. In other words, people do not mechanically react to some external influence. They create their perceptions of reality with the help of idioms and try to analyze the behavior of others, as well as their own existence. Moreover, Pratt’s definitions and terms are helpful in understanding the complex system of social influence on individuals’ personal beliefs and value judgments. Individuals do not create the representations of their identity in isolation. Their representations are based on the values that are dominant in the external environment.
All these aspects may be observed in the essay. The mutual understanding between John and Robby became possible only when John changed his perception and ways of analyzing his brother’s behavior. The understanding was impossible when John tried to understand his brother through his personal life experience and beliefs. In this case, the points of view of both Robby and their mother were helpful. At the same time, it should be stressed that mutual understanding does not mean complete agreement between all parties. Although, John understood the motivation of his brother, he neither approved his moral choice nor shared his principles. However, Robby changed his evaluation of his previous lifestyle. It means that autoethnographic elements in John’s behavior affected autoethnographic perceptions of Robby. This example demonstrates how different social elements interact and change the social system of communication and cooperation. Robby was able to understand that his previous behavior was wrong and socially dangerous. He changed his beliefs and understanding of social reality.
In any case, such situations should be analyzed from the position of the contact zones. In this way, they are not chaotic and organize structured systems. The value of the essay “Our Time” may be understood only if it is considered as an example of the multicultural text. As the contact zones produce the unique cultural environment, it should be analyzed from this perspective. Even the relationships among Robby, John, and their mother are the example of relationships that are influenced by the contact zone. Different social environments of main characters of the essay have led to different moral choices and beliefs. As all cultures are dynamic systems, the beliefs of specific individuals are also subject to change. Thus, the essay by John Wideman may be considered as a typical example of autoethnographic texts that analyze the same situations from the point of view of different people.
