Debate has recently sprung up concerning Julia Sharpe's "June Bug" article in The Cavalier Daily about her study abroad experiences in South Africa. Online comments on the article have been alternately outraged and supportive, with a heavy tilt toward outrage. And yes, it's a terrible article. But there's more at stake here than first meets the eye.
Do I think that this article should have been published? No! It's asinine, patronizing, trite, and, frankly, poorly written. The self-consciously thoughtful tone is so contrived as to be laughable. Quick, come up with an existential crisis and resolve it in 500 words! Bonus points for not having to change your behavior. And truly, when I read the bit about "African magic" delivered by the classic native wise woman, I had to stop reading for a while.
Sharpe starts out the article by saying, "The June Bug took us everywhere we wanted to go." Indeed, this may be the best way to understand the rest of her experiences: that they are a reflection of her desires rather than of her surroundings. The exotic background merely provided the material out of which Sharpe could construct a meaningful experience, a way through which to rationalize her interactions with a people she does not understand. In the process, she misrepresents, dehumanizes, and offends, but at least she can feel good about it.
The online comments do a better job than I at naming specific faults. But it would be facile to simply dismiss Sharpe or object merely to specific points rather than with her general attitude. As a Religious Studies major engaged in research in India, I worry frequently that I don't know enough to represent another culture fairly. And, honestly, I don't. None of us do. As students at a western university, we are too inextricably tied to a history of imperialism, Orientalism, patronization, and general misrepresentation to ever fully rid ourselves of the power structures that underlie our relationships with the rest of the world. Like it or not, we have to be aware of this history and how it continues to affect the way we see the world.
But to look at it this way is also incredibly depressing. If we can only define our relationships in the context of our own experiences and expectations, if what was surely an honest effort by Sharpe can only produce garbage like this, wouldn't it be better not to engage at all? I would argue that it is not. Many students at the University have found meaning through their involvement with cultural organizations, area studies, global development, or service learning programs such as Alternative Spring Break. All of these organizations are problematic, but this does not take away the meaning that students have found in them. People have made new friends, experienced something different and maybe even changed their perspective.
Yes, we are always going to misrepresent other cultures. And justifying this with our self-growth is not always sufficient. Clearly, Sharpe's article has crossed the line. But there is value in engagement even if the results and methods are problematic, especially if we enter into dialogue humbly and willing to learn. It is easy to act like Sharpe, and it is also easy to criticize people who misrepresent others. What is difficult is to realize that we are all forever limited by our own perspectives and histories, but to honestly try to connect with people nonetheless. There is no right answer in this scenario, and we must constantly be aware of taking agency and dignity from people we meet, regardless of the place they come from.
I still don't think the article should have been published, but clearly this is a debate we should be having.
Kate Hartmann\nCLAS III
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