https://padlet.com/cebraley18/stei2waxni8n This is a collection of historical background and biographical information on the book and the author to enhance the reader's understanding and experience with the novella. en-us 2016-11-09 18:24:37 UTC 2025-10-08 15:56:21 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Shakinghands.png cebraley18 https://padlet.com/cebraley18/stei2waxni8n/wish/136521284 This is a scholarly article which focuses on how the media contributes to peoples perception of the world around them. It narrows in on how media contributed to the American perception of Muslims and people of Middle-Eastern descent post-9/11 and how this Islamophobia was portrayed and brought to light through Hamid's novella. Post-9/11 xenophobia that targeted people of the Middle-East significantly heightened in America and has not gone away due to tensions based off the war on terror and stigma, this arises as a topic in "The Reluctant Fundamentalist" when Changez faces threats and phobia of New Yorkers after 9/11 due to being Pakistani, especially after growing a beard like many devout Muslims do to emulate the Islamic Prophet Muhammad. The article helps me better understand the novel "The Reluctant Fundamentalist" because it provides in-depth examination between the book and the reality of the time period.]]> 2016-11-09 18:40:54 UTC https://padlet.com/cebraley18/stei2waxni8n/wish/136521284 cebraley18 https://padlet.com/cebraley18/stei2waxni8n/wish/136534553 This scholarly essay acknowledges symbolism throughout the novella that relates to Pakistani culture as well as how Americans perceived Pakistani people ,and vice versa, before and after 9/11. One really notable point made in the study is that the main character's name is Changez. This is the Urdu (language of Pakistan) name for Genghis as in the Mongolian leader Genghis Khan, famed for his persecution of Muslims. By using the name Changez, I personally believe (although this thought process was not presented in the article) that Hamid wanted to make the point that Changez does not follow the ideologies of Islamic Fundamentalism, but is rather just patriotic of his mother country, very clear. He does not intend or wish for harm to come to nations of the Western hemisphere, but rather recognizes their short comings. The article helps me better understand "The Reluctant Fundamentalist" because it helps me examine symbolism throughout the book by providing me with insight based on Pakistani culture.]]> 2016-11-09 19:10:30 UTC https://padlet.com/cebraley18/stei2waxni8n/wish/136534553 cebraley18 https://padlet.com/cebraley18/stei2waxni8n/wish/136537160 This New York Times article describes correlation in the rise of prejudice searches on the internet and hate speech/crimes. In particular it analyzes the rise in anti-Muslim internet searches and hate speech and crime targeted towards Muslim people post-9/11 (between 2004 and 2013), and comparing it to the prejudice and stigmatic ideology and action other groups face. This article helps enhance my understanding of "The Reluctant Fundamentalist"  because it directly examines the rise in Islamophobia and racism against people of Middle-Eastern descent post 9/11, a hard-hitting topic in the novella.]]> 2016-11-09 19:16:03 UTC https://padlet.com/cebraley18/stei2waxni8n/wish/136537160 cebraley18 https://padlet.com/cebraley18/stei2waxni8n/wish/136541599 This article describes Al Qaeda's incentive behind the 9/11 terrorist attack on the United States. It makes a point of terrorism not being based on the Islamic faith itself and that the idea that it does is a threat to the livelihood of Muslims, when in reality, terrorist groups do not single out Western nations for their attacks. Places in the Middle East face terrorism by radical groups regularly, yet get little to no coverage. I believe this article helps me better understand "The Reluctant Fundamentalist" because it is a primary source written a little over a month after the event itself took place. This means I can get a firsthand look at reactions to the attack, the Islamophobia that arose because of it, and how the fire of this phobia was both fed and quelled.]]> 2016-11-09 19:25:02 UTC https://padlet.com/cebraley18/stei2waxni8n/wish/136541599 cebraley18 https://padlet.com/cebraley18/stei2waxni8n/wish/136548505 This interview between Hamish Hamilton and Mohsin Hamid focuses on Hamid's life and writing style. It touches upon the fact that many of the works he writes have main characters whose lives mirror his own, to an extent, and begs the question of whether or not Hamid sees himself in these characters. While Hamid says his characters are not created in his own image, he concedes that he and the character share similarities that allowed him to empathize with his character and make him come to life like the place of their motherland, alma mater, and knowing the lifestyle that comes with corporate New York. This interview helps me understand the novella "The Reluctant Fundamentalist" because it allows me to become more acquainted with the author and his life and gives me the ability to draw connections between he, the novel, and his inspirations for writing the novel.]]> 2016-11-09 19:40:02 UTC https://padlet.com/cebraley18/stei2waxni8n/wish/136548505 cebraley18 https://padlet.com/cebraley18/stei2waxni8n/wish/138232792 This article presents information about foreign relations between Pakistan and India. It goes in depth on the relationship between the two nations prior to the terrorist attacks on 9/11 and explains how Pakistan's allegiance with the United States post-attack impacted their relations and what has occurred moving onward including lots of focus of the Mumbai attacks. This article helps me understand the novella "The Reluctant Fundamentalist" because part of what the main character and narrator of the story, Changez, struggles with post 9/11 is whether or not he should leave his corporate job in New York and return to Lahore, Pakistan where his family lives due to rising tensions between Pakistan and India.]]> 2016-11-16 19:40:19 UTC https://padlet.com/cebraley18/stei2waxni8n/wish/138232792 cebraley18 https://padlet.com/cebraley18/stei2waxni8n/wish/138262731 This is a political cartoon that I found on a blogging site criticizing the change in American attitudes towards Muslims and people of Middle-Eastern descent after 9/11, a prevalent topic throughout "A Reluctant Fundamentalist"]]> 2016-11-16 21:35:25 UTC https://padlet.com/cebraley18/stei2waxni8n/wish/138262731 cebraley18 https://padlet.com/cebraley18/stei2waxni8n/wish/138264714 This image of the first of the two twin towers collapsing during the terrorist attack on 9/11 was featured in an article about a 9/11 survivor. 9/11 is a significant event that occurs during the novel because it causes significant change in the Muslim and Pakistani narrator's life.]]> 2016-11-16 21:46:32 UTC https://padlet.com/cebraley18/stei2waxni8n/wish/138264714 cebraley18 https://padlet.com/cebraley18/stei2waxni8n/wish/138265813 This is an image of Old Anarkali Food Street in Lahore, Pakistan which serves as the setting for the narrator, Changez, and American man's tea and the majority of their out-of-story-telling interaction.]]> 2016-11-16 21:53:06 UTC https://padlet.com/cebraley18/stei2waxni8n/wish/138265813