Diaspora…

In the novel Things Fall Apart, the Ibo people was very much isolated in the beginning of the novel. However, as time went by, white people began to invade the Ibo people’s land and influence them with their culture. Many of the Ibo people began to convert into Christianity and also follow the ways of the white people and destroy their own Ibo culture. Unfortunately, this is what diaspora is all about – dispersion of people.

The Ibo people let the white people influence them greatly because some wanted new opportunities with their lives and improve their lives by taking in a different culture. Those who were exiled from the clan, had nothing to do with their lives and they wanted a change, so they all converted to Christianity. It was a way to have a better life for them. This is the positive effect of diaspora to many people, but diaspora is not always a positive effect to people.

Diaspora has hit big in Korea in the 20th Century as much of the western culture began to change the Korean society into a more western society.

Back then, Koreans were never concerned about their beauty except for the fact that they had to have featuristic face appearances and wide hips, but now and these days, it is all about surgeries and white skin.

typical korean beauty standard

another typical korean beauty standard

It is evidential here that the Korean beauty standard changed dramatically. Women are beginning to want to do plastic surgery to look more beautiful, take creames to look more white, and also have their breasts enlarged to attract young men.

Another fine example of Korean diaspora would be the influence of western clothing and western chains.

Korea back then used to have people wear Hanboks in the public as a natural clothing. Now and these days…it is all westernized clothing.

Korean Westernized fashion

Here are examples of western restaurants and chains in Korea

Korean McDonald's

Korean Starbucks

It is obvious enough that Korea has been influenced heavily by the Western culture. I would have to say, the Korean diaspora has brought good to this country by making it more developed. However, much of its identity is gone since Korea is so heavily influenced by Western culture.

Coming back to Things Fall Apart, the title means that things for the Ibo culture are falling apart because the “beast” from the Second Coming is referring to the white people in the story. Basically, the title foreshadows the fall of the Ibo villages and how the society will change into a more westernized society. The title is relevant to diaspora because the Ibo people are taking in the influence of the western culture and as they take in the culture, bad things happen to the Ibo people and the society falls apart.