Following the Thread:
“What exactly is a pseudo-mistake?” I have a feeling that this is a generated mistake of an analogy or metaphor. The metaphor “designer” decides to do this in an unorganized way that may result in something that seems like a poor metaphor. This is what makes the metaphor usable. Pseudo, in my mind, basically means fake. So to generate a purposefully failed metaphor is the goal of the designer. This is when the metaphor may be getting somewhere. When relating the paintbrush to the pump, the only thing that they have in common is that they both move liquid. The idea of a pump’s way of moving liquid compare to a paintbrush’s strokes is what makes the difference here. This is what makes the metaphor work. The idea of a pump relating to the paintbrush that these people do not like makes the unknown seem more relatable. This seems like it may be the goal of the metaphor designer.
“What could this mean?” I asked this when contemplating the meaning of sugar browning the body from the inside like a banana. Does sugar mean the false reality of society? Is it referring to the sugar that people actually consume on a day to day basis? I can think of all of these things due to the connections that this metaphor makes to my feelings. It does not upset me to think about this metaphor. It only makes me think. I think about how I feel and connect what I know to this metaphor. I am trying to decide if being too nice is a downfall in society. Should things be more direct in the english language instead of being sugar coated? Would the meaning be more raw? I’m not sure, but this piece of writing made me think of how perfect or imperfect things really could be in society. As long as a metaphor follows my culture’s values and norms, I may think about a metaphor for hours. It seems to be all about perspective and experience, much like the “house” of metaphor.
You wrote: “I am trying to decide if being too nice is a downfall in society. Should things be more direct in the english language instead of being sugar coated? ”
I’ll be honest, when I first read Erard’s closing metaphor, I understood it directly–as a way to describe the toxic effect sugar can have on the body–but I love where you have taken it! This is ESPECIALLY interesting in light of Khullar’s essay. Please consider making a connection between this insight and Khullar’s overarching argument.
Fantastic work. Your annotations look like they are off to a great start, as well. In the future, as you upload images, use this tutorial https://uneportfolio.org/adding-pictures-to-eportfolio/ for help loading images that can more easily enlarge.