[Mr. Menard] Fish Cheeks

                          As people, in general, have got more leisure time compared to the past, they earn the “luxury” to think deeply about themselves. While thinking, people realize that they can all have different ways of looking at things. Accordingly, they have the affluence to choose among them. This allowed several authors to use perspective as a tool to deliver their messages in an implicit way. “Fish Cheeks” by Amy Tan is a great example that reveals how a specific perspective can change the ways that are seen through the lens and how the author writes the story to reveal the truth.

             In the “Fish Cheeks,” Amy as the narrator recalls her childhood memory of a 14 years old girl. She is a typical Chinese American descendent who is so assimilated to American culture that she is not really proud of her own culture from heritage. The 14 years old girl, remembered by the perspective of an adult, is embarrassed about the situation where her crush visits her house full of Chinese culture. The narrator describes how abashing the moment was, using detailed explanations on her state of mood. In the end, she makes a comment on how it has all been planned by her mom to teach her Chinese culture.

             Though the experience itself is real, how the narrator interpreted it through her perspective may have changed the way how her feelings are described, or perhaps everything. The fact that she can recognize herself being embarrassed of her family, and that she can now perceive the true meaning of her mom’s plan could have been completely different if she recalled the memory at a completely different time. Because she now tries to trace back her memory, she can look at the incident in such way of admitting how she felt at that time. Because of who she is now, she can interpret her mom’s plan as it is described in the story.

             The perspective and its effects are directly related to the message that the narrator want to tell the readers. By using the specific point of view and giving the clues that reveal the perspective, the author helps the audience to notice the fact that she has chosen a perspective and that she is intentionally using it. She wants the readers to not only recognize that, but also take it into consideration for the accurate resemblance of the memory. She is intentionally revealing that her perspective is not one hundred percent correct in remembering the exact feelings that she felt at the age of 14 so that the readers can also try to think in a different point of view.

             This story, considering both the content and the author’s intentions, tells a lot about the powerful ability of having “perspectives.” Through the hats, lens, and shoes of each perspective, the extent of out sight changes. They enable us to focus on different parts of one big frame of the world. “Being in another person’s shoes for a mile,” thus, can be a tremendous experience.

Comments
Yoonju Chung: Nice link between Fish Cheeks by Amy Tan and the concept of perspective we discussed today. Amy Tan could see the different world by choosing a different perspective and realize the importance of knowing her identity as a Chinese. I was pretty impressed about what Amy Tan's mom was saying to Tan, "the only shame is to have shame". This reflective essay would be better if you discuss more about Tan's process of realization as a Chinese.
Nuri: I agree with your perspective of how different point of views can change the meaning of a situation. However, I had a hard time understanding what you meant in your first sentence- the link between luxury and multi-disciplinary views of the world; you never mention it throughout your essay. I'm excited to see how your essay later turns out.