Tissue - Historical Context Flashcards
(23 cards)
What year was the poem Tissue published?
2006
What global issues were prominent at the time of Tissue’s publication?
Growing global tension, war, immigration issues, terrorism, political division
What themes does Dharker explore in her work?
Borderlines, identity, conflict in multicultural societies
What does the poem Tissue reflect concerns about?
The fragility of man-made power structures (governments, borders, politics)
Which countries has Dharker lived in?
Pakistan, Scotland, India, UK
How does Dharker’s personal background influence her work?
It explores the complexity of cultural identity
What do official documents symbolize in the poem?
Control or definition of a person’s identity
What does the reference to light that ‘shines through’ paper signify?
Divine presence or spiritual truth
What may the idea of paper being sacred be inspired by?
Holy books (e.g. Quran, Bible)
What did the post-9/11 world experience in terms of documentation?
Increase in surveillance, border control, and documentation
Fill in the blank: The poem’s mention of _______ reflects how modern life is controlled by paper.
receipts, maps, credit cards
What does Dharker suggest about true strength in her poem?
It lies in nature, spirituality, and human connection
What is a possible interpretation of the poem Tissue as a response to modern society?
A gentle protest against strict documentation and rigid systems
What does the summary of historical context indicate about the themes in Tissue?
Questions the power of man-made systems
What theme is explored in the context of a post-9/11 world?
The theme of forgetting the human soul due to an obsession with control and documentation.
The focus is on how people are reduced to mere lines on paper.
What two types of ‘paper’ are contrasted?
Spiritual paper and man-made paper.
Examples include the Quran as spiritual paper and receipts or credit cards as man-made paper.
What distinction is made between spiritual paper and man-made paper?
Spiritual paper holds truth and belief, while man-made paper controls and restricts.
This highlights the varying significance of different types of documentation.
What question does the text invite the reader to consider?
Which paper truly matters?
This question prompts reflection on the importance of different types of documentation.
How does paperwork affect migrants from Muslim-majority countries?
Paperwork became a barrier that could define worth or deny freedom.
This emphasizes the negative impact of bureaucratic systems on individuals seeking freedom.
What does Imtiaz Dharker present paper as a form of?
Control
What did paper become a tool of after 9/11?
Paper became a tool of identity management and social control.
How does Dharker criticize the social control and islamophobia after 9/11?
She shows how fragile this power is, by literally comparing buildings and systems to tissue — thin, easily torn.
How does she compare the Quran and man made paper such as credit cards?
While both are just “paper,” one holds truth and belief, the other controls and restricts.
This invites the reader to question: Which paper truly matters?
