Blog 14:Metaphor
“How to Build a Better Democrat” by Joe Klein uses the metaphor, the U.S. is a virus. The tenor of this metaphor is the United States while the vehicle is a virus. When you first look at the tenor, you associate power and effectiveness in regards to handling foreign policy. Klein looks at foreign policy in a different light. He uses the metaphor that Foreign policy is simply infected by viruses, consequently meaning itself is also a virus. Other associations with the U.S. in regards to foreign policy include productivity, efficiency, and success in foreign policy affairs. The metaphor hides many of the positive aspects of U.S. foreign policy, by comparing it to a virus. It is highlighting the U.S. as a type of infection and there is a need to rather, be a vaccine. Some other characteristics the metaphor is highlighting are the negative impacts of reaching too far into situations of foreign policy. The metaphor still highlights the U.S. as being powerful, but this power is shown in a negative light by a powerful tool of infection that causes only more harm to the host(foreign policy). The effect of this metaphor is the increased opinion that the U.S. needs to learn how to heal foreign policy rather than change it so much. There is a need for change but you can’t go around looking to hammer out every little problem.
“The effect of this metaphor is the increased opinion that the U.S. needs to learn how to heal foreign policy…”
Very insightful! I would say that is a great interpretation of the metaphor.
kienecd said this on April 18, 2009 at 1:52 pm
i like how you focus on the negative light of the US in the metaphor. I never noticed that before.
automobilely said this on April 21, 2009 at 3:42 pm
It was interesting you saw the US as a virus. I read the article and thought the metaphor that terrorism is the virus and the US must act as a vaccine
thumabr said this on April 21, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Great Analysis! This was interesting and you show a clear understanding of the piece.
flygirl12 said this on April 21, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Great analysis. I like how you say that foreing policy is infected with viruses and is therefore a virus also.
felderba said this on April 21, 2009 at 6:58 pm
You made a lot of great points and I liked how you approached it differently, by making it seem that the US needs to relearn how to deal with new foreign policy instead of trying to change it to what we want it to be.
dottsee said this on April 26, 2009 at 7:37 pm
Great anaylsis of this article, It really shows your understanding of metaphors. I also looked at this article and took it from a different perspective so it was interesting to see the differences.
sarah said this on April 27, 2009 at 11:37 pm
Great point about Foreign policy being infected by the virus, I did not think of that when I analyzed the article.
vmd2012 said this on April 28, 2009 at 4:55 am
I thought it was interesting that you said they need to overloook the problems as a whole instead of just focusing on small things. I agree completely with that and think that once these large problems are “healed” then we can focus on smaller ones.
vince2012 said this on April 29, 2009 at 6:33 pm
I did not read the article with this thought in mind, but I guess it also relates to the U.S. imposing its principles upon other countries such as Iraq. Brute force, while it can solve some problems, only goes so far. Some problems need the calculated approach as is with vaccines.
08tcoc said this on April 29, 2009 at 9:35 pm
With your analysis, you pointed out the many positive things that are associated with our foreign policy. I liked your interpretations and thinking behind this metaphor
RackEmWillie said this on April 29, 2009 at 11:40 pm
Great analysis. It seems that you do a have a good feel for these metaphors in this article.
stephenenglish112 said this on April 30, 2009 at 5:31 am