Essay Homework: Stillman
Length: 4 to 5 pages.
In Sarah Stillman's essay "Hiroshima and the Inheritance of Trauma," Stillman is surprised to learn that "to be a hibakusha...was not an honorific but a source of shame, a secret to be closely held" (444). Not only was Shoji a hibakusha, haunted by this facet of her identity, but her granddaughter Keni was as well. What are the implications of having a piece of your identity, something outside of your control, be considered shameful? How does familial/ancestral trauma affect an individual's identity?
Task:
Write an essay in which you take a position on the way(s) that familial history and trauma shape personal identity. Use specific details from Stillman's article, along with experiences and observations of your own to discuss how the lives of past generations influence us in our present day.
1) How does Stillman define shame and trauma?
2) How would you define individual identity? Familial identity?
3) How might sharing trauma or familial experiences with others influence self-identity?
4) Is shared trauma limited to familial connections? Who and what else can influence individual identity?
Format your homework according to the following formatting requirements:
(1) The answer should be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
(2) The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the homework, the student's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
(3) Also include a reference page. The Citations and references should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.