tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6216910.post5947376795252969463..comments2023-10-30T01:52:04.961-07:00Comments on Miniver Cheevy: Multicultural metaphorsJonathan Kormanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06249159323930786199noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6216910.post-5895561317432909902012-09-28T17:47:28.994-07:002012-09-28T17:47:28.994-07:00Thanks for that, Makarios.
That metaphor definit...Thanks for that, Makarios. <br /><br />That metaphor definitely offers a certain charm. But I hesitate over it for the same reasons as the "salad bowl"; it suggests that the individual members of culture are more distinct from one another than they really are. Jonathan Kormanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06249159323930786199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6216910.post-2562341679689814912012-09-28T17:33:48.292-07:002012-09-28T17:33:48.292-07:00FWIW: In Canada, we sometimes refer to our multicu...FWIW: In Canada, we sometimes refer to our multicultural society as a mosaic. I find this a rather agreeable metaphor--all of the individual bits and pieces combining to form a coherent whole.Makarioshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08392249532355639518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6216910.post-19501720649562714862012-09-26T19:05:07.233-07:002012-09-26T19:05:07.233-07:00Conner, that is indeed the "valence that pres...Conner, that is indeed the "valence that presents some serious problems given American history" that I'm worried about.Jonathan Kormanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06249159323930786199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6216910.post-61359006972952263912012-09-26T15:10:08.424-07:002012-09-26T15:10:08.424-07:00I'm afraid that it really is just too laden wi...I'm afraid that it really is just too laden with imagery of segregation. With a Rubik's cube, the colors being intermixed is the whole problem, and separating them out into their respective ghettos is the whole solution.<br /><br />I think that you'd spend more time identifying and disclaiming those implications than you would save using the metaphor at all, leaving it with negative explanatory power.Connernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6216910.post-84210534580061861632012-09-26T14:52:45.744-07:002012-09-26T14:52:45.744-07:00I have always liked the metaphor of a gumbo that s...I have always liked the metaphor of a gumbo that sits in a big pot on the back of the stove forever. At mealtime you throw in whatever you have handy, stir well, and cook it long enough for the flavors to blend a bit and serve from the top layer of the gumbo. The bottom layer is critical for essential flavors but you don't want to dip the ladle too deep when serving. J'Carlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11811626573349505654noreply@blogger.com