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September 2022

Metaphors We Live By Response

 

  • Lakoff + Johnson give several examples throughout the text of linguistic metaphorical systems. Are there any you found odd, outdated, or different from metaphorical systems that you use, either personally or in your language, culture, or social sphere? For instance, do you speak about conversation as battle, or use orientational metaphors the same way the authors describe?

I found it interesting that I use many of these metaphors, off the cuff without realizing the larger context and the feelings they may evoke, whether as a battle or transactional meaning. I have used every one of these metaphors, and if they are considered outdated, then I am behind the trend! I find it interesting that the battle connotation could come off as unintended, given how much these phrases are in everyday jargon. This reading has caused me to think deeper about an unintentional combative tone that I may be giving off with the words/phrases I choose even when using everyday/known phrasing.

  • Can you identify a metaphorical system that you commonly use? What do you think is the motivating rationale (“experiential basis”) behind that system – or is there one? Have you ever intentionally (or unintentionally) changed the metaphorical system that you use to speak about a certain subject, to reflect a different experience or worldview?

The orientational metaphors ring true the most for me in my everyday vocabulary. The term “down” usually insinuates low, depressed, and negative when thinking about using these differently, I am reminded of the connotation for  “down” that can also be used as “in” or “interested,” such as “I’m down for that” or “down for anything” has more of a positive, happy-go-lucky connotation.

  • What metaphors/systems of metaphor are commonly used when discussing your topic? If “the essence of a metaphor is understanding and experiencing one kind of thing in terms of another” (5), what other kinds of metaphors might be useful for discussing your topic, or an aspect of your topic?

Orientational metaphors are the most notable, given the directional context of canals and borders, but I would argue that conduit metaphors are also used regularly since they express movement. Time is money would also ring true, to express the efficiency of shipping and commerce through canals or in the instance when a shipping canal becomes unusable or out of service, impacting the amount of time it takes for goods to get from point A to point B.

Topic 1 Form Analysis

  • Why this form? What are its features (stylistic, experiential)

 

Here are some pictures that inspired me. The form I chose is a map. One of the features of a map is that it presents information both on the macro scare and on the micro scale. Since I’m focusing on the economic influences of plantation both worldwide and locally, a map is a suitable form for me to show it.

 

  • How is this form typically used, and what do you plan to subvert/imitate/utilize?

For example, an amusement park map shows you the entire park, you can get a general idea by a quick glance. You can see the big rides, the roads connecting different places. And if you look closer, you can find more detailed information like the location of bathrooms. And for electronic maps, you can get more detailed information by clicking on different places. So I think I’ll also try to make an interactive map. You can see the world market trading system in the big picture. And when you click on specific countries, information of local economy will pop up, providing the micro view.

 

  • What would change if you tried a different form? What critical lens does the form you’re applying emphasize?

If I try a different form, the display of information would change. For example, drawing lines between different countries is the most direct and obvious way to show the trading relationship between countries. If I use another form, like a chart or diagram, the data visualization would be less obvious and hard to understand.

 

  • Is there a metaphor well-suited to your form (i.e. cooking with code)? Or, are there other metaphors you might employ?

One metaphor that suits the form I choose is that trading is a web that covers the world. There are nodes on the web, and the nodes are connected by lines. And within each nodes, there are more information for us to discover. And if you change one node, you will influence the entire web.

Topic 1 (Puppets) Interview

I interviewed my friend, Nicholas Johnson, who’s a Ph.D. student from the University of Chicago, with a research focus on Economic History. He studies the past, structure, consumption, production, exchange, and the change in time. Apart from his research, he also teaches undergraduate classes in philosophy and social sciences. He’s not an expert in Puppet. However, he will be very informative to me to gain the US perspective of things as I did not grow up in the States.

 

What comes to mind when you hear the word “Puppet”?

I guess…like…when you want to say something but you can’t, so you have to pretend to be somebody else that’s small and cute, kinda like ventriloquism.

 

Did you grow up with Sesame Street or any program that utilized puppets as a storytelling tool?

Yes, I grew up watching Sesame Street. I watched it at daycare from age 3-6. 

I remember all the characters, especially the Count, who’s Dracula, and he teaches people how to count. (sidenote: Nicholas was a math major back in undergraduate). 

 

Do you think dolls and stuffed animals can be considered puppets as well?

A little bit different. I think in order to be considered a puppet, you have to have more detailed control of it.

 

Were you ever obsessed with dolls, stuffed animals, or puppets as a kid?

Yes! My favorite stuffed animal as a kid was a seal, i called it Silly. I remember vividly I left it at my grandpa’s house during a weekend, on hour one hour ride home, I wouldn’t stop crying and screaming, so my parents had to drive all the way back to pick up Silly for me. 

 

Describe the image in your mind when you hear the word puppet. 

It’s made of felt fabric, and the entire forearm can fit into it. Looks like Pinocchio, but more ironic and sad, sick and twisted looking. 

 

How would you define the term “puppet leader”?

From a US-centric perspective, leaders wouldn’t have power without us, and can’t contradict our immediate interests and constraints. It doesn’t mean they have to listen to everything we say, but we defined the strict limit of what’s possible for them. 

 

What comes to your mind when you hear the term puppet state?

A classic example would be Eastern Europe during the Cold World, so maybe like Poland.

 

Where do you think these terms come from?

I have no idea…but should be as old as modern theory, so probably 16 century if not earlier. I also assume it’s western, but the same idea might have occurred simultaneously in other parts of the world. 

 

Have you ever felt like a puppet yourself?

No.

 

Do you ever feel the need to control others?

Yes, when somebody might cause self-harm, or when I think somebody is acting irrationally. 

Topic 1 (Puppets): Form Analysis

 

Qiu Zhijie, Map of “Art and China after 1989: Theater of the World” (2017),
94 1/2 × 283 1/2 in (240 × 720 cm)

 

  • Why this form? What are its features (stylistic, experiential)

I first saw Qiu Zhijie’s work in the “Art and China after 1989: Theater of the World” exhibition at Guggenheim in 2017, it was a gigantic wall-size, ceiling-tall 6 panels Ink on paper. It doesn’t really obey aesthetic rules, and it seems like an overwhelming amount of information trying to be delivered at first glance. Honestly, in a group show of 71 artists, it wasn’t the most eye-catching. In fact, I remember seeing a lot of people skipping this one and going on the other more visually pleasing works. However, if you get closer to the map, and try to read and understand it, you will soon be shocked by the cleverness of it. The artist has a strong understanding of art history, politics, and colonial history, and somehow combines all of that into a readable map of a non-existing world. While serious, it was also mixed with some sense of humor and subtle mockery.

  • How is this form typically used, and what do you plan to subvert/imitate/utilize?

A map is typically used to deliver geographic information and ideally be as neutral as possible. For example, disputed territories should be labeled as disputed instead of being labeled as whatever country the map maker is in favor of. However, in Qiu Zhijie’s version of map making, maps become a place where concepts formed into geographic territories, and where the artist is able to share all the information he had digested. I plan to learn from Qiu, and utilize the concept of a map, yet subvert it by utilizing my ugly handwriting and sincere outsider drawing skills to create a map that aims to compile everything that is meaningful to me and related to puppets.

  • What would change if you tried a different form? What critical lens does the form you’re applying emphasize? 

If I adopt a different form, I’ll narrow the topic a little bit more, which I understand can be desirable for a research project. By choosing to make a complicated map, I will be facing the risk of having things too vague, with no focus for the viewer. However, I find it to be an interesting challenge, as I’m often too afraid to go big in a project, so this can be a good exercise for me. A lot of emphases will be on how I construct the information. Instead of being neutral, what I learned from Qiu, as well as standup comedy, is to treat everyone equally bad. This means it’s okay to poke fun, just make sure all the stakeholders in the system are being equally offended.

  • Is there a metaphor well-suited to your form (i.e. cooking with code)? Or, are there other metaphors you might employ?

I’m not sure how to answer this question, I guess Qiu Zhijie’s unique mapping technique is what I’m trying to employ and learn from.

Metaphors We Live By Responses

  • by

I understood everything discussed in the Lakoff + Johnson reading. However, since English is not my native language, while I understood all the examples given, I’m not sophisticated enough to come up with examples in English myself. The examples I’ll be given are all going to be in Mandarin or Japanese. I will try to do my best with translation but do take it with a grain of salt that it might not make perfect sense.

  • Lakoff + Johnson give several examples throughout the text of linguistic metaphorical systems. Are there any you found odd, outdated, or different from metaphorical systems that you use, either personally or in your language, culture, or social sphere? 

 

In Japanese, “空気を読む” (Kuuki wo yomu),  literal meaning “reading air,” is an important phrase to understand if one wants to truly understand the cultural trait of Japan. The phrase is taught to little kids as early as they can understand basic concepts, it is the expectation of one understanding all the societal rules without people telling you what to do. To give a basic example, in a Level-1 Japanese grammar book, one is usually going to practice a conversation like this to practice how to say “no” in Japan:

George: Would you like to go to the movie theater with me?

Mary: I would love to! When do you plan to go?

George: Awesome, how about this Saturday?

Mary: Ah, this Saturday? I got something important that day, unfortunately.

George: I see, what about Sunday?

Mary: Sunday is a little bit…

George: I see. No worries, we can always make a movie plan sometime in the future.

The important lesson from this conversation is:

  1. While Mary probably did not want to go to a movie with George in the first place, she is expected to act excited about the invitation still.
  2. When Mary said “Sunday is a little bit…” without giving an actual reason, George is expected to instantly understand Mary’s true feeling is to not go to the movie theater with him, and so he should stop asking, and make a vague promise about the future instead, so both can walk away politely.
  3. It is important to never say a direct “no” to an invitation or agreement of any sort, as it’s considered extremely rude. Sometimes it can lead to serious miscommunication in international business as one party thought they got an agreement while the Japan-side thought they refused “clearly.”

Keep in mind this is something taught in many grammar textbooks, not from an etiquette book. Rules like this are considered grammar that you should follow in society rather than just a kind of personality.

 

Another classic example would be: if someone told you “your perfume smells so nice” in an elevator, in most western countries, it is probably safe to assume that it is a sincere compliment. However, in Japan, it is possible the true meaning of the phrase means “you should tone down the amount of your perfume usage, it is way too strong, I can smell you too clearly.”

 

  • Can you identify a metaphorical system that you commonly use? What do you think is the motivating rationale (“experiential basis”) behind that system – or is there one? Have you ever intentionally (or unintentionally) changed the metaphorical system that you use to speak about a certain subject, to reflect a different experience or worldview?

Having a partner from a different culture, I do find us having a different understanding of the same situation sometimes. The “arguing as war” example in the reading is a good example. The terms used to describe “disagreement,” “quarrel,” “dispute”, “debate”, “argue,” and “fight” in my native language can often be used interchangeably. Sometimes when my partner thinks we are just having a “peaceful conversation on things we have different opinions of,” I would already think we were in a “serious heated debate.” A more specific difference can be seen with the term “critical thinking.” While it’s a western term that is now being used frequently in university-level learning worldwide, the translation of the term in my native language, “批判性思維,” sounds very judgmental and negative by nature. It gives people who are not familiar with critical thinking a sense that it’s very “elitist,” and “rude,” as the term emphasizes more “criticism” instead of the term “critical.” Started as a translation issue, the idea of having “critical thinking” skills unfortunately became an unwelcome personality trait for many. Whenever I say the term “critical thinking” in my native language, I either try to explain the origin and the issue with translation first, or I chose to use other unofficial terms to replace it instead, hoping to avoid the negative connotation the official term brings to people.

 

  • What metaphors/systems of metaphor are commonly used when discussing your topic? If “the essence of a metaphor is understanding and experiencing one kind of thing in terms of another” (5), what other kinds of metaphors might be useful for discussing your topic, or an aspect of your topic?

My topic, “puppets” itself is a metaphor for a specific political issue, some other metaphors I think of might be “棋盤上的棋子” (just a piece on the chessboard), proxy wars, etc.

Topic 1 Form Analysis

I chose to do a map for my guide, like a museum map or something similar. There are metaphors around what is considered to be an attraction and also in terms of what is highlighted on the map vs what isn’t. Usually this is used for the showcasing of art or laying out a space for a functional understanding and as an accurate depiction of what an area will look like. I’m going to subvert it by taking the actual map of the Korean DMZ and creating a rigid box structure (like a museum map) with general areas highlighting an aspect of the DMZ. It will resemble the actual map of the DMZ in terms of orientation and general geography, but is a huge oversimplification adding structure to an area that is quite fluid. If I were to do a different form I might need to highlight the history of the DMZ, but I’m much more interested in the present and how the DMZ shapes the modern landscape.

Metaphors We Live By

• Lakoff + Johnson give several examples throughout the text of linguistic metaphorical systems. Are there any you found odd, outdated, or different from metaphorical systems that you use, either personally or in your language, culture, or social sphere? For instance, do you speak about conversation as battle, or use orientational metaphors the same way the authors describe?
I think most of the examples that Lakoff + Johnson clicked with me. I may not use all of them or be aware of them, but after reading them I could definitely see the connections between the different concepts described. There were a few that I thought were dated like “I’m feeling up today.” I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say that, but the reverse is obviously very widely used (“I’m feeling down”).
•Can you identify a metaphorical system that you commonly use? What do you think is the motivating rationale (“experiential basis”) behind that system – or is there one? Have you ever intentionally (or unintentionally) changed the metaphorical system that you use to speak about a certain subject, to reflect a different experience or worldview?
This question is really tough. I feel like I was not aware of any of the ones presented by Lakoff + Johnson until they put them into words. One might be Right is right and Left is wrong. I think this comes from culture biases (being right handed is far more common) as well as the fact that right (direction) and right (correct) are homonyms. Examples would be “You’re right!” vs “That’s way out of left field.” It probably doesn’t work as well because of the whole homonym thing but it’s the only one I could think of.
•What metaphors/systems of metaphor are commonly used when discussing your topic? If “the essence of a metaphor is understanding and experiencing one kind of thing in terms of another” (5), what other kinds of metaphors might be useful for discussing your topic, or an aspect of your topic?
I’m not quite sure. Borders are kind of like containers, so maybe I can use that in some way to illustrate the ways in which DMZs create a contained space for certain things to happen (like wildlife returning and thriving). Borders can also be separations, so that’s another way I might be able to use metaphor to get the theme across.

Topic 1 Interviews

(Q1) Have you ever heard of a DMZ?
(A1) Yes.

(Q2) Great! Would you be able to explain what it is?
(A2) It’s some line in Korea that keeps the North part and the South part divided. It cuts the country in half so that the North one can’t attack the South one. You can’t keep your military in there.

(Q3) Did you know there are other DMZs in the world?
(A3) I only heard about that one.

(Q4) Would it surprise you that space is a DMZ?
(A4) Yeah, that does make sense. But they have satellites in space that they can use to attack with. So does that really mean that there is no military in space.

(Q5) Why do you think DMZs need to exist?
(A5) Because when two countries fight each other a lot of people will get hurt. People will die. Also people’s living situation can get really bad. It’s really sad. So when you make a DMZ you can stop them from attacking each other and it makes things more safe.

(Q6) Did you know that a lot of animals come back to live in DMZs?
(A6) No, I did not.

(Q7) Why do you think they would go to the DMZ?
(A7) Probably because there are not as many people. So they can live there and not be disturbed.

(Q8) Do you think DMZs are effective?
(A8) I think it depends. It helps create some space, so people need to talk. I think that aspect is definitely very good. But if two countries hate each other they will still find ways to attack each other even with an are that is no military allowed.

What I learned:

So, I interviewed my mom (who is not an expert in DMZs at all) to see what people know about the topic of DMZs in general. Like me, she didn’t seem to know much beyond the basics. It just shows how niche some of these issues can be on a global scale but how vital on the local scale. I’m sure if I interviewed anyone in Korea about the DMZ they would have strong opinions and know a lot more about it’s structure and history.

Topic 1 Form Analysis

I’m going to do a “How-to” guide in the form of a “Landfills for Dummies”. I think its a way to poke fun at a serious and pressing topics – overconsumption, waste, ecology, environmental impact – which still providing some of the facts about landfills and how they are constructed. 

If I tried a different form, I would probably do something similar to an infomercial advertising landfills. I could go a lot of different ways with it like a satirical sales infomercial marketing the landfill or I could do a serious PSA style announcement. 

I think the “How-to” is well-suited because there is a step-by-step to making a landfill and so using that as a foundation makes sense. 

Topic 1 Interview

I interviewed a sanitation worker who operates a garbage truck in my area and works for the New York Department of Sanitation. He wanted to be anonymous, so for the purpose of this write-up I’ll call him “Steve”. 

Q. How long have you been a sanitation worker?

A. 14 years.

Q. Why did you decide to take on sanitation as a profession?

A. I’ve always been a clean dude. But nobody wakes up and says “I want to pick up trash for my whole life”, you know? It really came down to pay and benefits. The city takes good care of us, and the guys I work with are like family now.

Q. Would you consider yourself a garbage expert?

A. Well, shit. I guess so, yeah.

Q. How many trash bags would you say you collect in a day?

A. Way too many to count. You’ve seen some of these building, right? They have hundreds of people up in there. Sometimes we can get 600 hundred bags from a single building. Shits unreal.

Q. Do you know how many tons of trash you collect?

A. This truck can hold like 10 tons. Maybe 12. Depends on how it gets crushed. 

 

Q. Would you say most of it is recycling or landfill waste?

A. Most of it is black bag landfill trash. And to be honest, the clear bag recycling is worthless. Half of that shit ends up in a landfill anyway because people don’t know how to recycle proper. They mix all their shit together and yeah it gets sorted, but usually that shit goes straight in the ground. But that’s not really my department.

Q. Do you feel like your work is rewarding?

A. I guess so, yeah. You know, I definitely feel like I’m doing a good thing. It’s not a nice job like a doctor or lawyer or something. But I definitely feel like it matters, right? Like if I’m not gonna come by and pick this shit up think about how nasty these streets would be. And shit, even with me here they’re nasty.

At this point Steve needed to get back to work, but I enjoyed hearing his perspective. 

What I learned:

I think this provided some real world context for the scale of the waste management problem. The sheer amount of trash a single building can produce was crazy to me. Also the fact that most of the recycling ends up in a landfill anyways was disheartening.