Late third posting :(

This posting is going to juxtapose two similar things that are viewed in very different ways. This is the way that titles are used instead of names within "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" and within Alaska Native culture (or at least Inupiaq because that is the culture that I have the most experience with.) By "titles", I mean, throughout the book people are referred to by their place in a family. For example: in the first few chapters, Lilly talks about "Older Brother", "Third Sister", "Mother", etc. Rather than using names, she uses titles, which given the context, makes these references sound cold and distant. However, something that I have noticed through interaction with one of my close friends' family (who is Inupiaq), is that this tradition was also held in their village before they moved to Fairbanks. The parents refer to the 4 boys as "son" the majority of the time, the boys refer to each other as "younger brother", "middle brother", "older brother", etc.

The thing that grabbed my attention the most was the difference in the tone between these two. As stated above, the use of titles to refer to family members within "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" causes the tone to sound cold and as if there is a great distance between each family member, which I suppose their was. That family structure was meant to be very official, which seems to take the closeness out of the relationships within the family. On the opposite end of the spectrum, at least from what I have gleaned through spending extensive amounts of time with this family and their other friends from that village, the use of titles within the family unit is a distinct sign of closeness and strongly valued relationships within the immediate family and extended family (in the case of Aunties, Uncles, Cousins, etc.). 

Also, completely off subject. Here is a funny video I thought you all would appreciate. A spoof on pop culture. This is a suffrage themed take off of Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance". Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYQhRCs9IHM