On Advocating for Other Cultures: A Conversation with Somy Kim

Interview

Somy Kim is an associate teaching professor in Northeastern University’s Writing Program; she is also fluent in four languages, with a basic knowledge of two others. Unsurprisingly, her accounts of traveling after college are fascinating; her research, focusing on the essay film as a genre and its significance in the cultural history of the Middle East, especially Iran, is a penetrating exploration of film as a cultural object; and her face, as we try to find a table at Pavement Coffeehouse at 11 on a dreary Wednesday morning, is a little surprised.

“I didn’t expect it to be so crowded.”

Professor Kim is refreshingly honest about naïveté, and the role it has played in her studies and her travel—generally speaking, her encounters with cultural exchange. We manage to snag a table after a few minutes of waiting, and we are already deep into conversation. As a writing professor, she is very interested by the writing course that this interview is for, and we discuss the various ways to approach peer editing and the importance of an open and inviting classroom atmosphere, among other things, for twenty minutes before I start the recorder. All in all, we talk for about two hours and the conversation ranges over a wide spectrum of topics, from the evolution of her studies to the potential of film reviews as an instrument of social justice. I originally found Professor Kim through her work in Middle Eastern studies, but her experience studying and working with foreign cultures and cultural exchange is extensive and multifaceted.

I ask her how she gained this experience, because her academic resume doesn’t explain it all: she earned her BA in Linguistics from UCLA, paused for six years before receiving a Masters degree in English Literature from DePaul University, and then obtained a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the University of Texas at Austin. At what point did the shift from linguistics student to expert in Iranian cinema occur?

I learn from Kim that Los Angeles is home to one of the largest Iranian/Persian diasporas in the world. During her time at UCLA, the Near East became a focus of her undergraduate career, but because UCLA had no study abroad program in Iran, she began learning Arabic in order to study abroad in Cairo. From there, she continued traveling, spending time in South Korea, Iran, Syria, and Lebanon, as well as returning to Egypt; during that six-month visit, the Iraq War began, illustrating visualization’s role in creating different perceptions of war in the Middle East and the US: “People were in the streets, going crazy on the TV 24/7 where images of bloody bodies… My mother and sister, I would call home and they were like, “We don’t see anything over here!” It’s such a very different experience.” She and her husband returned to the US from Cairo for his new job at DePaul, and after the birth of her first child, she began feeling restless and decided to take one course.

That one course turned into a Masters degree in English literature, but in her last semester, Kim took a course on postcolonial literature. As she says, “It was the first time I knew that we could study things that were not British and American literature. I didn’t know that.” Suddenly, Kim was able to study one of her long-time passions, film, using the critical theories and forms of narrative analysis she found in Comp. Lit.: “I actually did go from novels and poetry to writing about film because I felt more connected to the films. … As a person writing about other cultures, I felt I got an invitation to cinema.” The films were made for her, as a viewer, to watch.

She pauses to take a bite of her sandwich and I check to make sure the recorder is, in fact, still recording.

Now, Kim has a unique perspective to bring to the writing courses she teaches, a perspective informed by her experiences navigating other cultures. We discuss the issues she encounters studying, as she puts it in one of her papers, “a cinema replete with such culture-specific and historically laden allusions.” Clearly, one has to be an expert in the culture to address such a complex subject, but navigating that role when it comes to a foreign culture different from your own is a complicated undertaking. Recently, she has begun to recognize a kind of positivist attitude in her approach to film analysis: avoiding critique, and emphasizing praise and recognition, because of her position as a non-Iranian, as coming from a non-Middle Eastern background.

We also discuss the challenges that she faces in the classroom, especially how to approach and teach problematic, but seminal, subject material, like the film “Lawrence of Arabia.” Ultimately, it’s a question of how to effectively educate students from a wide variety of disciplines on in-depth engagement with culture and cultural products. Kim knows better than most, and tries to communicate to her students, that a film is a story, not a one-to-one relationship, and that by analyzing a film we are unpacking just one narrative about what it is to be.

As we bring our mugs back to the counter and head out the door, I am left with more questions than I arrived with, but also unquestionably more knowledge. Maybe, looking back on our conversation—especially the roles that naïveté and the desire to learn more play in gaining cultural knowledge and expertise—the two go hand-in-hand.

702 thoughts on “On Advocating for Other Cultures: A Conversation with Somy Kim”

  2. This paragraph provides clear idea in favor of the new visitors of blogging, that truly how
    to do blogging and site-building.

    Take a look at my web site slotxo

  3. First off I would like to say wonderful blog!

    I had a quick question which I’d like to ask if you don’t mind.
    I was interested to find out how you center yourself and clear
    your mind before writing. I’ve had a difficult time clearing
    my mind in getting my thoughts out. I do take pleasure in writing but it just seems
    like the first 10 to 15 minutes are lost just trying to figure out how to begin.
    Any recommendations or hints? Appreciate it!

    My page; wood floor cleaning near me

  4. Appreciating the dedication you put into your blog and in depth information you present.
    It’s great to come across a blog every once in a while that
    isn’t the same out of date rehashed material. Excellent read!

    I’ve saved your site and I’m including your RSS
    feeds to my Google account.

    My site … купить виагру

  5. It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d definitely donate to this outstanding blog!
    I suppose for now i’ll settle for bookmarking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account.
    I look forward to brand new updates and will
    share this website with my Facebook group.
    Talk soon!

    My web-site :: เกี่ยวหี

  7. I am really enjoying the theme/design of your site. Do you ever ruun into any web
    browser compatibility problems? A small number of my blog readers have complained about myy
    website not operating correctly in Explorrer but looks great in Safari.
    Do you have any tips to help fixx this problem?

    My web pagye … solicitor

  9. link 32win là sân chơi giải trí trực tuyến đa dạng với các game hot, giao diện mượt, dễ dùng trên mọi thiết bị.

  10. 33win1 là điểm đến lý tưởng cho người chơi yêu thích cá cược trực tuyến, nơi hội tụ hàng loạt trò chơi hấp dẫn cược thể thao, xổ số, bắn cá, nổ hũ, đá gà và game bài đổi thưởng.

  12. First of all I would like to say fantastic blog! I had a quick question which I’d
    like to ask if you do not mind. I was curious to know how you center yourself and
    clear your thoughts before writing. I have had a hard time clearing my mind
    in getting my thoughts out. I truly do take
    pleasure in writing however it just seems like the first 10
    to 15 minutes are wasted simply just trying to figure out how to begin. Any
    ideas or tips? Thanks!

    my web blog; секс видео

  13. What’s up friends, its impressive piece of writing about teachingand entirely explained, keep it up all the
    time.

    Here is my blog post – keluaran macau

  14. I’m really enjoying the design and layout of your website.
    It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more pleasant
    for me to come here and visit more often.
    Did you hire out a developer to create your theme? Exceptional work!

    Here is my web-site: взломать аккаунт

  15. Currently it appears like BlogEngine is the preferred blogging platform out there right now.
    (from what I’ve read) Is that what you are using on your blog?

    Feel free to surf to my website: купить виагру

  19. Hi there! Do you know if they make any plugins to assist
    with SEO? I’m trying to get my blog to rank for some targeted keywords but
    I’m not seeing very good gains. If you know of any please
    share. Cheers!

    Feel free to surf to my site หีสวยๆ (https://69-lqiyd6ech3x3b2f.com/)

  20. Piece of writing writing is also a fun, if you be acquainted with afterward
    you can write otherwise it is complex to write.

    my web site v9bet

  21. Hey I know this is off topic but I was wondering if you knew of any widgets I could
    add to my blog that automatically tweet my newest twitter updates.

    I’ve been looking for a plug-in like this for quite some time and was
    hoping maybe you would have some experience with something like this.
    Please let me know if you run into anything. I truly
    enjoy reading your blog and I look forward to your new updates.

    Stop by my blog :: Keep Up

  22. Greetings! Very helpful advice within this article! It is the little changes
    which will make the most important changes. Thanks for sharing!

    my blog – 免费色情影片

  24. What’s Taking place i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I have
    discovered It positively helpful and it has aided me out loads.
    I hope to contribute & assist different customers like its helped me.
    Great job.

    Also visit my blog post :: секс видео

  25. It’s going to be ending of mine day, however
    before ending I am reading this fantastic
    paragraph to improve my experience.

    my web site :: 破解软件

  27. Thank you for some other excellent post. The
    place else may just anybody get that type of information in such an ideal
    means of writing? I’ve a presentation subsequent week,
    and I am at the look for such information.

    My web page – compassionate alternatives to meat

  29. Greetings I am so delighted I found your webpage, I really found you by accident,
    while I was looking on Digg for something else, Anyways I am here now and would
    just like to say kudos for a tremendous post and a all round interesting blog (I also love the theme/design),
    I don’t have time to look over it all at the minute
    but I have book-marked it and also added in your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a lot more, Please do keep up the awesome
    work.

    Also visit my website: взломать аккаунт

  30. Good day! I could have sworn I’ve been to this site before but after going
    through a few of the articles I realized it’s new to me.
    Anyhow, I’m definitely pleased I discovered
    it and I’ll be book-marking it and checking back often!

    Look at my web page: 免费色情影片

  31. Asking questions are actually fastidious thing if you are not understanding something completely,
    except this article offers good understanding even.

    My blog … секс видео

  33. You really make it seem so easy along with
    your presentation but I to find this topic to be really something which I
    think I’d by no means understand. It kind of feels too complicated and very huge for
    me. I’m taking a look forward to your subsequent post,
    I’ll try to get the cling of it!

    Look at my homepage – https://haesunkorea.com/

  35. Hello are using WordPress for your blog platform?
    I’m new to the blog world but I’m trying to get started and set up my own. Do you need any coding expertise to make your own blog?
    Any help would be greatly appreciated!

    Also visit my blog – 裸聊

  36. You actually make it appear so easy with your presentation but I find this matter
    to be really something which I believe I might by no
    means understand. It sort of feels too complicated and extremely large
    for me. I’m taking a look ahead in your subsequent post, I will try to
    get the dangle of it!

    my web page; https://haesunkorea.com/

  37. I don’t know whether it’s just me or if everyone else encountering problems with your blog.
    It looks like some of the text within your posts are running off the
    screen. Can somebody else please provide feedback and let
    me know if this is happening to them as well?
    This may be a problem with my internet browser because I’ve had this happen before.
    Appreciate it

    Feel free to visit my web page; 免费色情影片

  38. At Intellect Outsource, we offer expert Amazon product upload services to streamline your eCommerce experience.
    Our team specializes in accurately uploading product listings, optimizing
    titles, descriptions, and keywords for maximum visibility.
    With a deep understanding of Amazon’s algorithm, we ensure
    your products reach the right audience. Whether you’re a startup or a large business, we handle bulk uploads,
    product categorization, and inventory management to
    boost your online sales. Let us take the hassle out of managing
    your Amazon store, so you can focus on growth and customer satisfaction.

    Feel free to surf to my web site :: click here

  40. you’re really a just right webmaster. The website loading velocity
    is incredible. It kind of feels that you’re doing any distinctive trick.
    Furthermore, The contents are masterwork. you have performed a
    great job on this topic!

    Here is my website :: دکتر ماخ DM-1462

  41. Hi there Dear, are you in fact visiting this website daily, if so afterward
    you will without doubt obtain nice know-how.

    Here is my homepage Click here

  43. Great blog here! Additionally your website rather a lot up
    fast! What web host are you using? Can I am getting your affiliate link to your host?
    I wish my site loaded up as fast as yours lol

    Here is my web-site … đại lý 33win

  45. I think this is among the most vital information for me.
    And i’m glad reading your article. But should remark on some general things,
    The web site style is great, the articles is really
    excellent : D. Good job, cheers

    Here is my blog: دکتر ماخ DM-1468

  47. Victims of truck accidents often face long-term or permanent physical damage, costly medical expenses, long island truck accident lawyer lost income, and emotional distress. Without proper legal representation, you may find yourself battling powerful insurance companies or large corporations who are more interested in minimizing their payouts than offering fair compensation. A knowledgeable Long Island truck accident attorney levels the playing field and advocates for your rights, negotiating with insurers and, if necessary, taking your case to court.

Comments are closed.