The New Orientalism: The Cost of Global Adventism

Posted on 20. Apr, 2010 by Peter Katz in Culture, Editorial

I most definitely do not envy Dr. Jan Paulsen’s position as the leader of a “world church.”  The latter half of the twentieth century bore witness to the reality that the world is not nearly so homogenous as any organization—be it national, religious, or otherwise—might wish, nor are its people willing to be homogenized.  Cultural interaction is a perpetual dialectic, a constant struggle between tradition and the chaos of history, between ideology and complexity.  Cultural awareness is the blessing and the bane of the post-Cold War world; it is a river that carries us toward the fullness of human interaction, but one filled with rocks and falls that threaten to upset our formulaic notions of that interaction.

One of the students at the Adventist Intercollegiate Association Q&A with Jan Paulsen on 9 April, in an endeavor to understand the possibility of retaining unity in the church, asked if separating cultural influence from religion might be the key to solving issues like women’s ordination.  Paulsen was flustered, not quite sure of how to answer.  The simple fact is, one cannot answer that question with anything other than a resounding, “No.”  Religion is culture; culture is religion.

When, therefore, we speak of church unity, we are but fooling ourselves.  Most American Adventists will admit that “Californian Adventism” looks much different from “Midwest Adventism”—as it should, for they are two vastly different cultures.  Even such constructions are further impositions of homogeneity; “Northern Californian Adventism” tends toward a far more ‘conservative’ perspective than “Southern Californian Adventism,” because again, the cultural foundations of those religions differ.  How much further from one another, then, are “Californian Adventism” and “Kenyan Adventism”—understanding, of course, that “Kenyan Adventism” is a compiled construction of tribal and communal differences that in many ways are probably less compatible than Occidental Adventism might wish—and how naive is it to wish them to remain homogenous?

I propose that it is not only naive, but dangerous.  Religious and cultural conversion are the new colonization; notions of a “world church” are the new Orientalsim.  This is not to say that Paulsen or the Adventist leadership are racist, but rather, that they are perpetuating a discourse of pop-colonialism (akin to the pop-modernism straw-man that people utilize when attempting to deconstruct postmodernism), an ill-thought-out ideology centering around the idea that being culturally tolerant means selecting certain points at which “Western” culture conflicts with the culture of the “Other,” and then aggressively defending the “Other” position.  Motivated by a desire to prevent the perpetuation of a colonial mode of thinking, pop-cultural pluralists in fact perpetuate the very ideologies they seek to resist.  There is in Paulsen’s words a pedantic sense of paternalism, as though we must wait for our “little brown brothers”—General McArthur’s words, not Paulsen’s, to clarify—to catch up with us.  Yes, we have the truth, but we have to wait for the primitives to catch up with the morally and ethically superior Occident.

These sentiments are, I hope, in no way intentional.  Rather, the Adventist church, specifically because of its desire to be a “global” organization in a world where we find increasingly true Isaiah Berlin’s statement that some cultures are simply incompatible, is stuck between a doctrine and a hard place.  If we ordain women, say the alleged seventy-five percent of divisions that would take umbrage, we ignore their cultures; if we wait until they are “ready,” we run the risk of a new discourse of superiority.

To complicate matters further, by waiting, we simultaneously invalidate all cultures.  Those who are against women’s ordination are “primitive,” while those who seek ordination are also in the wrong.  In an effort to maintain pop-cultural pluralism, we disenfranchise seventy percent of our members for their biology, and any aspect of the population that seeks ordination for being culturally insensitive.  The North American and European churches are shrinking—a statistical fact.  It should come as little surprise, however, for in issue like women’s ordination, the message we receive is: “Your culture is unacceptable.  Conform to the consensus.”  Which is more culturally insensitive?  To act according to one’s culture if it does not align with the majority, or deny an entire culture the right to construct gender roles as it sees fit?

As I see it, the argument that “those for women’s ordination would be infringing on the cultures of others” is a straw-man, a hollow charade of cultural pluralism.  Forcing women’s ordination on another culture would be wrong; forcing our culture not to have women’s ordination is equally wrong.  And the longer we tell North America and Europe that their cultures are unacceptable, the more of us will leave.

The “answer” to this quandary, if one exists, is the abandonment of any notion of a global church.  We can be unified without being homogenous.  Dr. Paulsen himself said that “We are not going to do this globally […] it will be in regions.”  For what, then, are we waiting?  For Other cultures to become more like the Occident?  I shudder to think that this is our underlying motive.  Cultural pluralism does not mandate any sort of wait.  It is only residual white guilt—the sort that perpetuates notion that we control the world—that makes us pause.  The fact is, the Occident is not in control, and any sense that we should be cautious about imposing our culture on Others is based on the assumption that such a binary still exists.

As long as there exists a global church that seeks homogeneity, we will not have women’s ordination.  As long as there exists a global church that seeks homogeneity, we will face the inevitability that cultures are not rooted in the same history, the same traditions, the same ideology.  We will face women’s ordination, then homosexuality, then evolution, and on, and on.  An awkwardly and artificially maintained majority will control the stasis of our church.  We must abandon pop-pluralism, abandon our cumbersome efforts at hierarchical cultural navigation, abandon the search for homogeneity.  We must move forward in our understanding of one another, or fall into irrelevancy.

WTH is a meme?

Posted on 11. Mar, 2010 by Erika Kim in Culture

How many times have you heard people referencing “Charlie bit me,” “all your base,” or “I can has cheezburger”?  If you answered less than 50 times, you’re probably out of the meme loop.  If you’re out of the meme loop, you pretty much deprive yourself of any reference points that keep you connected to friends and family, and render yourself socially/culturally irrelevant ).  Think about it.  How many of your jokes, references, quotes, inside jokes, and conversations came from an internet meme?  I would bet about 10 dollars that it’s probably a lot of them.

Now, the person who finds the latest internet meme is like the cool kid in elementary school who was the first to get the shoes that lit up when they walked (remember those?).  Finding memes on the internet is like finding hidden jewels.  They are so time sensitive that by the time you find out about an internet meme and send it to a friend, it becomes so five minutes ago.  And right when you think the internet cannot possibly top the last meme, they come out with more.  Not only are they time sensitive, there is absolutely no logic to them at all.  Due to the temporary fleeting quality of memes and their illogical nature, there is an artificial sense of exclusivity and value that makes them so great.  By the time you find out about an internet meme and send it to a friend, it becomes so five minutes ago.  Then, right when you think the internet cannot possibly top the last meme, they come out with more.

To keep up with memes, you have to be a part of a community that puts value into it.  Whether you’re huddling around a computer with friends or checking out a forum alone, there is always a sense of connection that occurs in sharing the experience of an internet meme.  You know there are people who have decided to like the same things as you, just cause, and that they are “in.”  Obviously, these people “get it.”  The memes would not be as funny on their own.  There always has to be a unified community that appreciates it together.  We make each other mean.  The meme gives us community, and the community gives meaning to memes.  I love walking around and hearing strangers make random references to memes because it establishes an automatic connection and makes me realize that we’re all a part of something really big called the wonderful world of teh internetz.

Internet memes are absurd, and it’s virtually (hehe) impossible to understand why we like them.  They make you sit there and say, “I don’t know wtf this is, but it’s magic and I think like it.”  Even Freud wouldn’t be able to explain the mystery of memes in terms of what they reveal about the human unconscious.  They are one of the few things make you feel extreme confusion, curiosity, concern, and wonder, all at the same time.  Things like Tom Selleck and giant sandwiches photo shopped into pictures of waterfalls make my brain exclaim, “Why?” and “YES!” at the same time.  I don’t know how or why peopleofwalmart.com make me laugh so hard, or how a three minute epic beard man video clip can end up eating 30 minutes of my day.  What is it about seeing a surprised looking owl with the caption “O RLY?” that makes the picture so perfect and appropriate?  No matter how long I analyze these things, I can’t figure out what they mean, or why I like them.  They simply are amazing.  But what is a meme, exactly?  Here is the closest I’ve come to defining it: omg + lol + wtf + yay = meme.

The People have Spoken: Election Results 2010-2011

Posted on 28. Feb, 2010 by Peter Katz in Campus, Culture

SA President: Warrie Layon

RVP: Mark Monterroso

EVP: Erin Truex

SVP: Chris David

CC Editor: Divya Joseph

VYB: Aaron Doyle (Although the No Box was actually written in quite a few times)

FB Editor: Amador Jaojoco

DL Editor: Loni Johnston

Peter Katz and Erika Kim would like to thank their myriad supporters who voted for them.  When the time comes, it just might make the difference for you.

The Atmosphere of Coffee

Posted on 27. Oct, 2009 by Becky Broeckel in Culture

If the chill and the rain are starting to bum you out, then it may be time for you to develop a new perspective. Gaining that new perspective is somewhat more easily done while holding a steaming cup of coffee and nestled in a cushioned window-seat at the Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Company. It is a perfect place to spend some time reading a good novel or getting some studying done. If you are looking to mingle with friends, are cheered up by puppies, or actually enjoy drinking coffee, this is a good place to kill some time.

There is an atmosphere of casual intellectualism that has found its place somewhere amidst the gentle whir of thinking laptops, and the scent of brewing coffee. Given the chess board, community-book-exchange shelf, and the shop’s close proximity to bookstores and libraries, it is a playground for nerds. So, naturally, one can expect to run into plenty of PUC-ites. They may be seen sitting in loose circles earnestly dissecting the socio-political commentary of South Park, or behind their laptops madly typing up their homework assignments. You may even find a fellow PUC student behind the counter serving delicious coffee or tea.

Frequently, some sort of large dog can be spotted lounging near the front entrance as its owners chat nearby. It is always friendly and always a different breed than the last time. A German Shepherd, an Airedale, and a Great Dane have been some of the many dogs to take up the post. A bewildering array of creatures pretending to be dogs such as Poodles and Pomeranians are also at large in the general area surrounding the locale.

For those of you who go to coffee shops for the sustenance and not the dog watching opportunities, I recommend the snuggler. If for some reason you do not enjoy a little coffee in your peppermint and whipped cream, the black coffee is good—or so others have told me. It is best to plan your coffee sampling adventures for the morning or afternoon since The Napa Valley Roasting Company closes at 6:00 PM. Pick your drink, find your table, and become part of a longstanding PUC tradition.

Dorm | Culture

Posted on 24. Sep, 2009 by Staff in Culture

The Newtonian

Dorm: Newton
Age: 20
Hometown: Seoul, Korea
Favorite Food: Kimchi
Hobbies: Newton Olympics, playing pool, hanging out in the sauna
Clothing: T-shirt and ballah-shorts

The Man of Grainger (MoG)

Dorm: Grainger
Age: 12
Hometown: Suburbia, CA
Favorite Food: Pizza
Hobbies: Shower parties, throwing people in the fountain, tagging the Newton Thinker
Clothing: Optional (not recommended)

The Nichol Monk

Dorm: Nichol
Age: 39
Hometown: Angwin, CA
Favorite Food: Thought
Hobbies: Studying … studying … avoiding the sun
Clothing: Suit and tie, or cloak

The McChick

Dorm: McReynolds
Age: 36
Hometown: Pleasantville, USA
Favorite Food: Smiles (no pepper)
Hobbies: Catching butterflies and rainbows, tending to sick people
Clothing: Habit

The Winning Warrior

Dorm: Winning
Age: 21
Hometown: Anytown, USA
Favorite Food: Anything that will burn down the dorm
Hobbies: Setting off the fire alarm, answering the phone for everyone
Clothing: Blouse and skirt

The Graf Girl

Dorm: Graf
Age: 18
Hometown: Out-of-state
Favorite Food: Indian
Hobbies: Tanning naked on the roof, not having individual bathrooms
Clothing: Sweats

The Andre Angel

Dorm: Andre
Age: 13
Hometown: The OC
Favorite food: Homemade sushi, anything chocolate
Hobbies: Drama, watching suicidal fish, rearranging the parlor, baking
Clothing: Minimal

PUC's Finest: 10 Professors from whom You Should Take a Class

Posted on 24. Sep, 2009 by Various in Culture

Obviously, we can’t include in a single article every excellent professor that works at PUC.  These ten are representative of some of the best of the best, but certainly do not comprise the only professors of stellar quality.

Alex Carpenter (Art) – Jonathan Pichot (Senior: History, French)

In only his second year on campus, Alex Carpenter has already made an impression.  Already well known on the Internet as the primary blogger for Spectrum Magazine (spectrummagazine.org) [Full Disclosure: Alex and I work together on the site.], he has developed a reputation as an innovative thinker and passionate teacher.  A graduate of the Berkeley Graduate Theological Union, Alex studied the convergence of religion and visual culture.  Before graduate school, Alex spent a few years in Bollywood, getting parts as an extra in Indian films.  Despite being a new face on campus, Prof. Carpenter is already actively and passionately involved in many student organizations.  Even if you never take a class from him, make sure to track him down for a few stories about India.

Hilary Elmendorf (History) – jp katz (Senior: English, History, Music)

If you think history is just dates and names, take Prof. Elmendorf’s classes. Not only will you learn more about a given period of history than you never knew you wanted to know, you’ll learn to look at history as something that matters. Prof. Elmendorf’s classes are enthralling and engaging—not to mention rigorous. She demands effort, but what you get out of the class is well worth your time. Think history is boring? Think again.

Chuck Evans (Exercise Science) – Scotty B (Senior: Physical Therapy)

From the dawn of PUC, Chuck has been around, first getting educated here, and now educating others. If you’re looking to either learn a sport or become more proficient in it, then you need to take a P.E. from Coach Evans. You are made to learn more than just how to do something, but also why you need to execute it that way. Or if you’re just looking to either slim down or bulk up, Coach will work with you one-on-one to develop a plan based on your individual needs. So if you’re going to be spending any time down in the gym, make sure you get in with this guy!

Aubyn Fulton (Psychology) – Ariane Gregory (Senior: Social Work, Music)

Dr. Fulton enjoys startling his students into learning. His class—should you decide to take one—will challenge you academically. But beyond bolstering book-learning, Dr. Fulton edges you out to think for yourself, and he doesn’t mind being unconventional in that process. It is impossible to take psychology from Fulton and experience continual boredom. Now, how does that make you feel?

Linda Gill (English) – jp katz (Senior: English, History, Music)

Dr. Gill may actually end up making you like English, but even if she doesn’t, she will certainly make going to class entertaining. Her lectures have actually been heard from outer space, and she is known to reach levels of excitement that would kill a grown elephant, even over things most people view as mundane. Perhaps most importantly, Dr. Gill cares, and it shows; she spends painstaking hours virtually rewriting an entire paper, just to help you learn that much more. Amusing? Definitely. Brilliant? Assuredly (though she’ll never admit it). Passionate about learning? Absolutely.

Tammy McGuire (Communications) – Marissa Gomez (’09 Alum: Communications, Music)

When you walk into Dr. Tammy McGuire’s classroom, you may feel intimidated by her poise, but do not fear—professionalism is her way of showing respect for you, the student. Her dry sense of humor and interest in extreme outdoor activities (she’s done a few wilderness survival stints and often bikes the back 40) will win you over to the delights of paralanguage, being a Central Negative among your friends, and other such communication concepts. She’ll see right through your late-night concoction of a paper, so be wary and submit quality to fully tap into her brilliance as a scholar.

Asher Raboy (Music) – Matthew Reeves (’09 Alum: Music)

Asher Raboy has a unique talent of being able to take any subject, no matter how boring it might be, and bringing out the wonder of it. His wealth of knowledge in myriad areas adds a level of richness to the material that is rarely paralleled in other classes. Because he comes from the professional world rather than the academic world, he brings a fresh perspective to the material. His approach is always practical, yet also focuses on the underlying philosophy in a meaningful way. His charisma and passion make any subject that he teaches enjoyable. Plus he has a cool accent.

Jean Sheldon (Religion) – Melissa Totton (Junior: English, Music)

Dr. Jean Sheldon is a professor in the Theology department located below Graf Hall. She teaches a wide variety of religion classes, including some that you might have to take in order to fulfill your general education requirements. The great thing about Dr. Sheldon and the reason why I highly recommend you taking a class from her is that she knows so much. She has the the policy of answering questions in class right away and will help you understand the subject material so that you will be prepared for the tests. Also, her test preparation is awesome. She always gives out a study sheet if you ask for it that covers most, if not all, the material that you will be tested over. All in all, any class from Dr. Sheldon is sure to be a memorable one, and will make a lasting impression as you start your college experience.

Steve Waters (Mathematics) – Andy Riffel (’09 Alum: Mathematics)

Dr Waters is an amazing professor. His lectures are clear and easy to follow, his class structure is consistent and well-balanced, and he carries a calm, easygoing spirit about him. It’s easy to sense his excitement about mathematics the moment he begins teaching. If you ever need help, he’s available during his office hours to provide a direct beam of clarity to whatever concept you may be struggling with. I recommend him to anyone wanting a solid collegiate learning experience.

Aimee Wyrick (Biology) – Jaylene Chung (’09 Alum: Biology)

For those who are brave enough to take on Biological Foundations, the even braver will encounter Dr. Wyrick in Spring quarter. I didn’t even take Biological Foundations from Dr. Wyrick, but I tremble when I think about it anyway. I did, however, take an upper division course from her, and while I worked harder for that class than I did the entire year, it turned out to be the favorite of my entire college career. She’s open-minded, incredibly intelligent, and has that “rockin’ at being the only female in the Biology department” thing going on. If you’re not easily intimidated, you will be greatly rewarded by having your brains blown out. In a good way.