Sharing Tradition by Frank La Pena
a. Frank La Pena(1937-2019)
b. Born in San Francisco, California
c. Received Bachelor of Arts degree and Master of Arts in anthropology
d. Paintings, sculpture, and poetry reflect a deep understanding and love of his native heritage.
e. Also showed his creation of dream songs and ceremonies, and co-edited legends of Yosemite Miwok.
Descriptive Essay:
An opening paragraph that hooks readers and
introduces the topic of the essay, figurative language, and sensory elements, a
comparison of objective and subjective viewpoints, a center paragraph with
information about many aspects of the topic, and a conclusion in which the
author shares his or her thoughts on the topic are all included in a
descriptive essay.
Opinion: It is opined that handing down
tradition is a way to transmit our culture, beliefs, and customs orally from
one generation to the next. Good traditions must be protected and bad traditions should transform.
Main Theme: The importance of our culture and
the values of our tradition along with its preservation. It is the transmission of traditions orally from
one generation to the next. Young people must step up and take responsibility
for filling the void left by the old by carving out a unique "niche"
using oral tradition as an art form or instructional tool. Elders use oral
tradition to teach young people about culture, values, and the natural
environment. A live oral tradition, as opposed to a written tradition,
accommodates corrections but literary tradition is difficult to amend. The new
generation does not want to pay attention to the oral tradition which caused
them to regret it afterward. The tradition continues to advance properly if we are
conscious of our culture; elders' lifestyles and ideas about belief, religion,
culture, morals, and other aspects of life enabled them to achieve the optimum
position in their lives.
Interpretation: The
situation of oral tradition is discussed in the first paragraph, along with how
challenging it is to maintain in the present. In the second paragraph, he talks
about the value of elders; the third paragraph is about the younger generations'
disrespect for tradition. The younger generations find it difficult to fill the
void (typical elder post). In the fourth and fifth paragraphs, he discusses the
impact of modern technology on oral traditions, as well as the generational
divide, and mentions oral traditions as a method for understanding the natural
world. The sixth paragraph illustrates the relationship between our educational
system (rote learning) and oral tradition. The term "virtual reality"
refers to the existence of virtual reality. In the second-to-last paragraph, he
discusses how he sees oral tradition in modern life as an artist. The final
paragraph discusses how to adapt to changing circumstances by changing negative
traditions while preserving and carrying on positive traditions over time.
Critical
Thinking: It is false that the younger generation cannot
fill the unique niche of the older generation. Tradition does not change with time; rather, it is altered by the various experiences that
people have. The writer elaborates and exaggerates the broader perspective of
tradition using simple words, portraying a unique and spectacular perspective
on tradition. Being old is not a guarantee of longevity. Depending on the level
of comprehension, knowledge can aid in bridging the generational divide.
Assimilation: The preservation of traditional
music, dances, songs, and instruments has contributed to Nepalese identity in
the international market. Only by accepting responsibility and utilizing the
experience of the elderly in the development of a nation can any sector be
developed. Only transformation can ensure cultural continuity, and oral
traditions must remain active to support written ones. Our road to success
ultimately lies in the traditions and values of the elderly. To develop into
decent people, one must cultivate excellent traditions. The only way to
happiness is to have a spirit of thankfulness. We must reduce the
generational divide.