Blog Reflection 2

Marshall McLuhan stated, “Environments are not passive wrappings, but are, rather, active processes which are invisible. The groundrules, pervasive structure, and over-all patterns of environments elude easy perception.” Returning from Pakistan exactly a month ago, this quote spoke louder to me than ever. The unsaid cultural and gendered norms, traditions and rules in Pakistan were a stark contrast to the "woke," "sexually liberated," and "pro-woman" society that America likes to claim. Though America seems to be all these things after three weeks spend in the homeland. Growing up in a country where as a woman I have the freedom (without people staring or saying something to me) to drive, ride a motorcycle without having to sit side-saddle on the back, go out by myself, hold a career, marry as I please and to whom I please, I was frustrated at first. Who am I without the freedom to do as I please? But then I realized, for people in Pakistan, this is simply the way of life. A process. A cycle. Don't get me wrong, Pakistan is one of the most beautiful places and so full of love, in a way that America is not. 

I chose to use some short clips of video that I had taken during my trip, to show the beauty of the country but also juxtapose its differences experimentally using sound. I contrasted the dusty, trash filled streets of Lahore with the sweet melody of American Clarence Henry's "I don't know why I love you but I do." I found this also spoke to my identity, as this trip was a big part of figuring out the whole other side of me--or at least a start to. As a Pakistani-American girl never having been to Pakistan, I felt like I didn't truly know where I was from, or where I belonged. What box do I check on those dumb surveys that ask about your race? Anyways, here is my one minute experimental video. 

"Homeland" by Hannah Hayat