Is Mexico to the States what Greece is to Europe?
September 27th 2006 07:01
So writes Italo Calvino in a collection of his autobiographical works in 'Hermit in Paris'. I'm not sure exactly how he situates Greece in relation to the rest of Europe, but I would see it as the cradle of civilisation and democracy, so it would be a pretty neat role reversal if he meant it that way.
How does this phrase come up in the text? The full sentence is:
New Mexico, that tremendous reserve of escapist, Lawrencian exoticism for intellectuals and artists from the United States (though most of them prefer the more robust and genuine Mexico itself, which is by now an obligatory destination for all the holidays intellectuals take, and a rich source of decorative furnishings which means that New York intellectuals' houses are all more or less small-scale Mexican museums; and Mexico hasbecome for the USA something that fulfils the role Greece has for Europe)...
This brings up a few very interesting issues about how developed nations learn from and extract knowledge (and possessions) from developing nations, and the various inter-relationships created by this process.
On the other hand, a poster on a Canadian forum once told me that Americans see Canada as their respectable, well-to do cousin, but Mexico as their untrustworthy, trouble-making neighbour.
These two views explore two different sides (both by 'foreigners') of the US-Mexico relationship, with lots of room for something in-between. I believe there are a lot of people who regard Mexico as both lively and dull, innovative and too traditional, extraordinary and mundane, and this generates a lot of (desirable) ambivalence.
What do you think?
How does this phrase come up in the text? The full sentence is:
New Mexico, that tremendous reserve of escapist, Lawrencian exoticism for intellectuals and artists from the United States (though most of them prefer the more robust and genuine Mexico itself, which is by now an obligatory destination for all the holidays intellectuals take, and a rich source of decorative furnishings which means that New York intellectuals' houses are all more or less small-scale Mexican museums; and Mexico hasbecome for the USA something that fulfils the role Greece has for Europe)...
On the other hand, a poster on a Canadian forum once told me that Americans see Canada as their respectable, well-to do cousin, but Mexico as their untrustworthy, trouble-making neighbour.
These two views explore two different sides (both by 'foreigners') of the US-Mexico relationship, with lots of room for something in-between. I believe there are a lot of people who regard Mexico as both lively and dull, innovative and too traditional, extraordinary and mundane, and this generates a lot of (desirable) ambivalence.
What do you think?
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Comment by Ahmed
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Interesting what canadians think of America, I thought they thought of the US as the evil step mom or something
Comment by postmoderncritic
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I think your comparison is right on the ball, I think that Australia and Canada also have a similiar relationship to the States - they are very influenced by it but are also skeptical/cynical about that influence. I think the two countries are very similiar on a number of other issues as well - I felt immediately at home when I stopped over in Vancouver.
Comment by fabrizio
In my opinion, it's a wrong way to describe mexicans as being troublemaking as ironically US has been always needing their labour!
Comment by postmoderncritic
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It deals with Mexican immigrants and their contribution to the workforce and I'd recommend it if you're interested in the politics of 'cultural exchange'.
Comment by Vixter
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You always hear of Americans running to Mexico so they can't get extradited...so is greece where the europeans run to?
Just a thought - I don't know what the laws are.
I do believe that it is the cradle of civilisation and each country has been ravaged of their goods so that the rest of the world can try to keep a part of it with them whereever they are.