Let's Have Some New Clichés
Author’s note: This article is a direct response to DanielleNicole15’s article We’re All Clichés. I encourage you to read her article so that you can see things from both sides and then make up your own mind. These are my own views, although you are more than welcome to adopt them as your own.
Clichés become clichés because they're based on universal truths. – Richard Nathan, I Know You
Ask an American what comes to mind when they think of Wales. After giving a brief description of a marine mammal that feeds on krill and such things, you correct their inference to your actual meaning: the country Wales. At which point they will stare at you blankly and confess their unfamiliarity of that country. No images of sheep or rugby, daffodils or dragons will enter their heads as they are unaware of Wales.
Ask an English person what comes to mind when they think of Wales. They will most likely ramble on about England’s superiority, rugby, a useless language, and most popularly, sheep, and the physical interaction between Welsh people and the sheep. Through various influences, in both the media and spoken word, the English have built up a catalogue of connotations to the word ‘Wales’. This catalogue, in psychological terms, is called a schema.
To understand the previous examples, you yourself would have to possess schemata about both American people and English people. However, schemata are subjective to an individual’s personal experience of the matter in question. Should you know nothing of the English or Americans, the above examples will become nothing more than a supposed idea of what might happen. Also, please note that I have used the above examples to demonstrate stereotypes within schemata, which can often be wrong and dependant on an individual.
A schema is “a structured cluster of pre-conceived ideas”. It can also be explained as “a mental structure that represents some aspect of the world” or “a mental framework centering on a specific theme that helps us to organise social information”. Why is this important? Well, besides explaining why the English – who are very aware of Wales – have such strong associations with the country, whereas American’s – who in their stereotypical ignorance have never heard of us – have no such preconceptions, it is also important because I believe the word ‘cliché’ to have been both misused and misinterpreted in DanielleNicole15’s article.
Her exploration of human thinking being identical is misguided by the use of the word ‘cliché’. To explore the process and similarities of human thinking, the word ‘schema’ would be not only more applicable, but correct. As such I shall write in response to her views on schema (which she refers to as clichés).
However, her choice of word is irrelevant as to assume that “everyone thinks the same” at all (especially when her point is made on such tenuous examples) is not only a cliché in itself, but also a complicated discussion. Without going too far into neurology, it is widely accepted by many leading neurologists that “every brain is wired differently” and as such it would make sense to assume that, no, we do not think the same.
However, looking at psychology, it is commonly acknowledged that we have similar schemata. We have the same understanding of hot and cold, up and down and so on. But there are also many differences in human thinking, which are subjective matters; such as the importance of wealth and religion, love, your self-schema (i.e. your self-image) and which of The Saturdays is the most attractive.
The primary definition of ‘cliché’ in various online dictionaries (and books) is “a trite or overused expression or idea” (or something similar to each dictionary). It has nothing to do with seeking perfection and nothing to do with wealth, as is explored in DN15’s article and as such, much of the second half of her article becomes, in my opinion, irrelevant.
Add to this her deviation from clichés to explore human desire to increase their social standing in the world, and a closing cliché about how “everyone in the world is equal” and you find a completely redundant and extraneous conclusion to what was to begin with, a very weak argument.
News » Categories » People
News » Categories » Culture
IMAGE: Eno's advice by sickmouthy
Related Article: We're All Clichés
5 Comments – Post a comment
tommy b
Commented 5 months ago - 15th December 2011 - 16:07pm
perhaps her use of 'cliche' was incorrect but she raised some important points and I enjoyed her article..it was certainly not weak and irrelevant.
Very interesting and well written though stormer :)
Sam (Sub-Editor)
Commented 5 months ago - 16th December 2011 - 12:20pm
Well said tommy b! Good to have a bit of back and forth on theSprout though...
Sprout Editor
Commented 5 months ago - 17th December 2011 - 16:38pm
I love a good debate! Well done DanielleNicole15 for writing about topics that generate such a good debate! Keep them coming!
DanielleNicole15
Commented 4 months ago - 26th December 2011 - 16:54pm
Hey Stormer007! Thanks for responding to my article :) However, I used the word cliché within my article in a metaphorical sense. My original title of the article was 'Everyone is looking for clichés', however it was edited by members of The Sprout team, which was out of my control, and which perhaps altered your view of the article. I obtained inspiration from the book that I am currently studying in English named 'Watching the Fire-eater' by Robert Minhinnick. Within the introduction of the book, Minhinnick explains that Wales is a country that is 'increasingly difficult to locate as it sloughs an identity of clichés', therefore sharing my beliefs. I used the example of Wales as well as richness and perfection (these so called 'tenuous' examples, that you make believe them to be), as I feel strongly about these concepts (one reason being that I live within Wales), and I believe that this is what the majority of people seek and the view in which they take as they experience life in general. Also, yes, it may seem like a 'cliché within itself'' to state that 'everyone thinks the same'. However, I stated this in a hyperbolic manner to encourage the reader to share my beliefs, and to express how I see how others observe the world in which we live.
Stormer007
Commented 4 months ago - 29th December 2011 - 15:00pm
Hey DanielleNicole15! Firstly, having re-read my article, I realised that it sounded quite harsh, especially towards the end. Add to this the article I wrote in response to your article about the internet, you'd easily be excused for thinking I had some sort of personal vendetta against you. I want to assure you that this is not the case, and that I have nothing against you personally. I just happen to strongly disagree with your views on a variety of subjects :)
I'll respond to your comment in two parts; the first focusing on Mr Minhinnick's comment about Wales purposely losing its cultural identity, and the second looking at your own comments.
With regards to Mr Minhinnick's comment about Wales becoming 'increasingly difficult to locate as it sloughs an identity of clichés', I believe this to be the case in many Western societies, not just Wales. His focus on Wales most likely derives from his own Welsh history, rather than any actual identity crisis being experienced solely by Wales. Many people these days seek to become individuals, choosing to shed their cultural heritage so as to not conform to supposed stereotypes within their culture.
Moving onto your response, it’s perfectly natural that you would wish to defend your Welsh heritage. Perhaps you see yourself as a metaphorical martyr for the Welsh culture in a world where others are shedding their heritage left, right and indeed, centre.
However, when it comes to your examples of perfection and richness, I do believe them to be tenuous. You may feel strongly about people's desire to seek perfection and wealth, but that does not mean that they are therefore related to this argument. Your use of these examples in your article was flimsy. Firstly your look at perfection; I agree that many people seek to be better than they are. This is common throughout the animal kingdom, not only in humanity. This outlook on life and desire to be stronger and better than others led us through evolution to the proud, if not slightly arrogant rulers of the planet that we are today. Survival of the fittest, I believe is the most common term for this view. I don't think a desire to increase our social standing in the world can necessarily be a negative thing. If we had no desire to better ourselves, we wouldn't go to school, read, work or live! We would simply sit around, being the same as we are. So while I agree that we, as humans, strive to better ourselves, I don't agree that this is a bad thing. If anything, I believe this to be a good thing.
I think you may have changed your use of the word of richness since you wrote your article. Or it could be possible that you simply used the word with its double meaning, but this was slightly misleading. I thought when reading your article, you meant richness as in monetary wealth. Reading your above comment and your reference to Wales' culture, I now think you may be referring to cultural richness. However, I shall argue both views regardless.
Your belief that music is losing its individuality today and focuses mainly on money is misguided. I can think of various artists who avoid the issue of money altogether, or make note of it ironically, often mocking the pursuit of the lifestyle you make reference to. If you look for music that focuses of gaining wealth, you'll find them, but I assure you there are others.
If, however, you referring to cultural richness being lost through people's focus on monetary richness, then surely this negates itself as clichés by very definition, are lacking in cultural richness. If this is what you meant, then I would argue the same point as before: that today's culture is rich and varied. If you focus simply on the mainstream, then you will find little variance. If however, you look elsewhere, you will find alternative music and culture which is extremely rich in both individuality and essence.
The world is exciting, rich and varied. You just have to look for it sometimes.