First Learning Exercise: A Reflective Blog on Language Use in Literature **Preface** I will examine how language use in literature shapes people's identities and representations in this thoughtful blog post. Stereotypes, exoticization, othering, disinformation, and distortion are some of the ways language is used to create difference. I will consider my own stereotypes and stigmatisations by drawing on Wainana's satirical essay *How to Write About Africa* (2005), Miner's anthropological satire *Body Ritual Among the Nacirema* (1956), and TED Talks by Teju Cole (*Change Your Channel*) and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (*The Danger of a Single Story*). This contemplation seeks to reveal the ways in which my presumptions aid in the creation of "otherness." **Physique** *How to Write About Africa* by Wainana highlights the oversimplified and cliched ways that Western media frequently depicts Africa.as well as books. His satire highlights how these depictions, by omitting Africa's diversity and complexity, lead to a homogenous and exoticized view of the continent. This satirical handbook forced me to consider how frequently I had unquestioningly accepted such generalised portrayals, perpetuating prejudices about African civilizations and cultures. Similar to this, Miner's *Body Ritual Among the Nacirema* offers an outsider's humorous perspective on American culture by describing commonplace activities as strange rituals using anthropological language. This piece demonstrates how, when interpreted via a biassed lens, cultural traditions can be presented as foreign and archaic. It got me to thinking about how I could make other civilizations seem strange or less developed than my own, therefore making them seem exotic. Adichie's *The Danger of a Single Parent* TED TalkStory* highlights how tales have the ability to influence how we view other people. She contends that isolated accounts of a group of people or location lead to inaccurate and frequently detrimental generalisations. I learned from this discussion that my perceptions of other cultures are frequently shaped by a single, dominating narrative, which can result in false presumptions and prejudices. In her TED Talk, *Change Your Channel*, Teju Cole addresses the value of many viewpoints and stories in dispelling misconceptions and promoting a more sophisticated comprehension of other cultures. He emphasises the significance of seeking out alternate narratives and how media representations can influence our opinions. This discussion inspired me to seek out different viewpoints and to be more sceptical of the information sources I use. **Final Thoughts** After reviewing these piecesincreased my knowledge of the ways in which language and stories in books and other media can create identities and representations that feed prejudice and otherness. It has increased my awareness of my own presumptions and the significance of challenging and contesting isolated narratives. I can strive towards a more inclusive and accurate understanding of many cultures by realising the value of multiple narratives, which will lessen the propensity to stereotype individuals based on constrained and skewed depictions. ***Sources** - B. Wainana, 2005. *African Writing Guidelines*. Granta. - Miner, H. (1956). *The Nacirema's Body Ritual*. American Anthropologist, 58(3), 503-507. - C. N. Adichie (2009). *The Peril of a Single Narrative* TED. "The Danger of a Single Story" [Video]. https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie - Cole, Taylor (2014). *Modify the Channel* Teju Cole's "Change Your Channel" is a video that can be found on TED.