Title of Presentation or Performance
American by Citizenship or American at Heart: an Analysis of Becoming an American as Seen Through the Eyes of an Indian-American Immigrant
Submission Type
Event
Expected Graduation Date
2014
Location
Atrium, Center for Natural Sciences, Illinois Wesleyan University
Start Date
4-20-2013 9:00 AM
End Date
4-20-2013 10:00 AM
Disciplines
Anthropology
Abstract
This poster presentation focuses on Dr. Narendra Jaggi, a professor of Physics at Illinois Wesleyan University, who is originally from India. Dr. Jaggi migrated to the U.S. in 1982, but did not become a citizen until 2008. Through visual ethnographic methods, Dr. Jaggi narrated his experience of immigration and of being an American. He shared important photos with me, and we collaborated on specific themes and pictures to represent his immigration story. Dr. Jaggi believed in many American values before coming to the U.S., and showed me that becoming a citizen is not the same as being an American at heart. The poster demonstrates that being an American does not just mean being born here or acquiring citizenship, it can also mean adapting to certain recognizable aspects of American culture, which one does not have to be born in the U.S. to learn.
American by Citizenship or American at Heart: an Analysis of Becoming an American as Seen Through the Eyes of an Indian-American Immigrant
Atrium, Center for Natural Sciences, Illinois Wesleyan University
This poster presentation focuses on Dr. Narendra Jaggi, a professor of Physics at Illinois Wesleyan University, who is originally from India. Dr. Jaggi migrated to the U.S. in 1982, but did not become a citizen until 2008. Through visual ethnographic methods, Dr. Jaggi narrated his experience of immigration and of being an American. He shared important photos with me, and we collaborated on specific themes and pictures to represent his immigration story. Dr. Jaggi believed in many American values before coming to the U.S., and showed me that becoming a citizen is not the same as being an American at heart. The poster demonstrates that being an American does not just mean being born here or acquiring citizenship, it can also mean adapting to certain recognizable aspects of American culture, which one does not have to be born in the U.S. to learn.