Liu was inspired by eating at a restaurant: “I always wondered why old-school
diners and burger joints have souvlaki and Greek salads on the menu”
Chosen Cultural Landscape
-Afro-Carribbean Toronto Section 1: Research Questions
1. What is your research question? What do you want to know about this cultural
landscape or ethnic economy? Make it quite specific.
Why do burger joints have Greek salads
on the menu? Or Why is Chinatown where it is? Or Why are there Polish
restaurants in Roncesvalles?
2. Why do you want to know about this cultural landscape or ethnic economy? What
spurred your interest?
–>(Narrative response 280 characters (not words), e.g., I was eating at a
burger joint, and I wondered why I saw Greek salads on the menu, at many
different locations. I had a theory it might be because of Greek immigration,
but I wanted to find out.)
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Section 2: Background Research
3. Do your research on 3 newspaper articles on your topic. You can use the
Toronto Star (1894-2015, 1971-2016, 1985-2019), Toronto Sun, or Globe and Mail
(1936-2015, 1985-2019). If you find any other local newspapers, or international
newspapers writing on your place (reviews of restaurants for example), you can
also use those.
–>3.1. Summarize the findings of these secondary source articles in 140
characters (not words) each.
4. Do your research on 3 academic journal (peer-reviewed) articles on your
topic. Use RULA or Google Scholar. They do not necessarily have to be from
Toronto. You could examine Chinatowns in other cities or how Syrian refugees are
creating their own local economies.
–>4.1. Summarize the findings of these academic or scholarly sources in 280
characters (not words) each.
5. Do your research on 3 popular media sources on your topic. These can be
websites, non-academic (“coffee table”) books, songs, films, television shows,
webisodes, etc.
–>5.1. Summarize the findings of these popular media sources in 140
characters (not words) each.
6. After reviewing your web, library, and media research, draw a map of your
cultural landscape or ethnic economy (or at least a part of it that you can visit
online). Draw the main streets that act as the boundary. Locate 4 major landmarks
in the area on the map; write a short description of these landmarks. You can use
Google Maps or Google Earth for your research for this element, but draw the map
by hand on paper (You can scan the map or take a picture of your drawn map and
attach it to your assignment as an appendix which will be uploaded to D2L through
Turnitin along with your assignment).
Section 3: Online Field Research
7. Go online using Google map street views into your cultural landscape or ethnic
economy. Document it with pictures. Include 3 iconic pictures here.
8. Check if there are any symbols, artifacts or architecture from groups who had
lived in the place in the past? Take note of places of worship, old signs, old
buildings, and historic plaques, renovated or refurbished sites.
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9. What are some indicators of the economic wellbeing of the area? (Be creative:
how would you describe the area to someone else? Is it wealthy? Is it poor? Why
would you say this?).
10. What are some indicators of the cultural wellbeing of the area? (Is it a diverse
space? Are there indicators of cultural identity?)
11. What are some indicators of the environmental wellbeing of the area? (Is it
environmentally interesting and biodiverse? Is there litter or garbage found on the
streets? Do you see signs of neglect in the environment?
