Faded Mosaic: The Emergence of Post-cultural AmericaIvan R. Dee, 2000 - 209 pages Contrary to today's widespread emphasis on cultural diversity, the United States has become not a multicultural society but the world's first post-cultural society. Cultures, Christopher Clausen argues, have lost power over both public and private behavior. This largely unrecognized transformation has enormous importance for every area of American life, from marriage to politics. One of its most prevalent social expressions is an aimless, conformist individualism--because there is no longer any source of authority or value outside the self. The multiculturalism of leftist politics and the family values of the right are both futile expressions of nostalgia for a world (differently interpreted, of course) that is gone forever. In Faded Mosaic, Mr. Clausen brings his analysis down to earth with telling illustrations from contemporary life. He demonstrates how the moral demands and collective identities of America's native and immigrant cultures have vanished. In striking contrast to societies of the past, he declares, the United States today has neither one big culture nor many smaller ones, only a dizzying mixture of freedom and nostalgia. Original and penetrating, a serious critique.... It is the great virtue of Faded Mosaic that Mr. Clausen describes our present condition without hysterics or posturing--but with the caution, objectivity and concern that the subject deserves. --Eric Cohen, Wall Street Journal |
Contents
Acknowledgments vii | 3 |
One The Cult of Culture | 18 |
Two Multiculturalism as Museum | 49 |
Copyright | |
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academic African Alain Finkielkraut Alvin Wong Ameri ancestral anthropologists Asian assertion assimilation Barber become behavior beliefs Benjamin Barber bicultural bilingual Canadian Census century Chinese civilization common concept cultural relativism David Hollinger demands democracy described distinct diversity doctrine English equal ethnic groups ethnic identities European fact feel freedom French French Canadians Gladwell global Hispanics human rights ideal immigrants Indian intellectuals intermarriage Internet Jewish Jews Jihad kind language Lerner less liberal lives major Makah Malcolm Gladwell marriage married Mass Individualism Max Lerner McWorld mean ment mixed modern moral multiculturalism multiculturalists nostalgia one's parents percent political popular population post-cultural practices Press problem race racial religion religious Ruth Benedict sense social society speak television term thing tion tribes tural ture United University values Western whales word York