Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Culture is "ordinary??"

It seems weird to me how the author continues to claim that culture is ordinary. How can culture be ordinary if it is different in every aspect of its meaning? There are few cultures that are the same and no one would consider them anything but unique. I personally do not consider Pennsylvania culture ordinary but I am used to the lifestyle associated with the area.
I do understand how Williams is stating that culture is ordinary because it is all around us. It makes sense in how he is applying that phrase because culture is something that you cannot avoid and is always present. I just believe that for the culture to be completely ordinary that nothing unusual would happen. (I almost used the phrase "out of the ordinary" but that would have been redundant.)
As far as the Gulliver's Travels reference, I believe it was fitting because it showed how Raymond Williams was felt as if he was considered insignificant compared to the clergymen when they went into the library. This could show his belief of an ordinary culture because he is used to all of the pitfalls that he has so often experienced in his life. For culture being creative and that being a "way of life", that is very true. I think that because the culture of any place changes continuously that people have to abide by that and make it a part of their lives. It is ordinary in that sense because people are accustomed to change but also creates a individual sense of belonging.
Williams' writing style is impactful but he almost goes with trying to ask for sympathy for everything that has happened to him or his family. If he had used less sentiment and kept with applying his ideas on the entire community or population that he could have made his message more universal and less personalized.

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