I think it would be worthwhile to explore basic etiquettes of different ethnicities that consist the population of New York City. When we think of New York City, it is almost impossible to envision it without associating with the term, diversity. When we look around, we see at least several different ethnicities, speaking in different accents and languages. With the huge influx of immigrants for the past few decades, New York has truly become one of the biggest cosmopolitan cities in the world, allowing us to experience a bit of every culture within a few blocks of walking distance. With all these different cultures adjacent to one another, it is reasonable for one to expect some sort of cultural clash or conflict. Having some general knowledge about the etiquette, or rule of conduct, of various cultures will not only help address potential source of conflict but also significantly help one cultivate a broader perspective.
Looking through past seminar topics and projects, I realized that a lot had to do with one specific conceptual focus, whether it would be about the history, art, immigration, or neighborhoods of different demographic trend. However, I felt the need for a more practical approach. (As much as I acknowledge how much academically motivated Macaulay students are, I realized not everyone is keen to take away everything they have learned from IDC.) I hope for a topic, which students can actively execute what they have learned through out their careers or lives. In addition, etiquette, is not a field of its own, rather it requires some knowledge of the history, language and culture for better understanding. Since the seminar has its focus in New York, the research will not just focus on different rules of conduct but extend to figuring out how the rules evolved (or loosened) as people went through assimilation in NYC.
Similar to the holiday project, students can get into groups and choose an ethnic group of their preference. Through interviews, visits, and documentation research, students can build a general idea of what is deemed a good manner and create a resource that could serve as a guideline in the form of videos, radio contents, prezi or other multimedia using photos, charts and audios. This will not only be conducive to students but also may serve as an effective guide to improve communications within our community.
From our reading, Foner and Berger both raises the point of significantly fewer amounts of cultural conflicts within NYC compared to other cosmopolitan megalopolises. There could be many reasons behind this, however, from my observation, I have realized it was a peace derived from negligence rather than from proper understanding and respect. There exist many enclaves throughout NYC, and a lot of communities tend to be insular. I hope the project would, to some extent, promote understanding and interaction within the global society.
