Comments on: G.I. Joe, American ‘Victory Culture’ and War Rhetoric http://skepticum.com/war-rhetoric-through-gi-joe-lensehttpwwwenglishufleduimagetextarchivesv3_1norlund/ A Godless Skeptic's Notes on Liberty, Religion, Society, and More... Sat, 22 Nov 2008 16:30:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Mana http://skepticum.com/war-rhetoric-through-gi-joe-lensehttpwwwenglishufleduimagetextarchivesv3_1norlund/#comment-636 Mana Thu, 04 Oct 2007 14:52:48 +0000 http://skepticum.com/war-rhetoric-through-gi-joe-lensehttpwwwenglishufleduimagetextarchivesv3_1norlund/#comment-636 Johnny, my interpretation is that Egelhardt refers to narratives used in the western stories, not to actual historical events (such as oppression of natives). Many mass consumption western movies as well as books vilify the natives in an effort to counterpoint the colonialists' triumph in expanding west. In the modern narrative, G.I. Joe is a reflection of certain rhetorical trends. I don't deny that imperialistic rhetoric is not present in most imperialistic cultures. G.I. Joe is an American reflection. It is also only one aspect of America's war rhetoric. I find it interesting to see that you so easily accept the United States is an imperialist nation. I know many who would disagree, including the president. We are just "securing out country and promoting peace." I also know a few men who played with G.I. Joe and think they're the coolest toy on earth, and would never admit that potentially, how they view the world was shaped at a very early age by a tiny toy. I don't think I've ever even seen a G.I. Joe toy, but I've read about 30 of their story cards and it was these cards that revealed the profile of the toy. This toy comes with a ready-made story of good guys and bad guys, and a shopping list of characteristics that make one good or bad. Then, you have the cartoons and movies. The problem is not in the toy but in the narrative, and the narrative is dangerously myopic in how it portrays the world. Johnny, my interpretation is that Egelhardt refers to narratives used in the western stories, not to actual historical events (such as oppression of natives). Many mass consumption western movies as well as books vilify the natives in an effort to counterpoint the colonialists’ triumph in expanding west. In the modern narrative, G.I. Joe is a reflection of certain rhetorical trends. I don’t deny that imperialistic rhetoric is not present in most imperialistic cultures. G.I. Joe is an American reflection. It is also only one aspect of America’s war rhetoric.

I find it interesting to see that you so easily accept the United States is an imperialist nation. I know many who would disagree, including the president. We are just “securing out country and promoting peace.” I also know a few men who played with G.I. Joe and think they’re the coolest toy on earth, and would never admit that potentially, how they view the world was shaped at a very early age by a tiny toy.

I don’t think I’ve ever even seen a G.I. Joe toy, but I’ve read about 30 of their story cards and it was these cards that revealed the profile of the toy. This toy comes with a ready-made story of good guys and bad guys, and a shopping list of characteristics that make one good or bad. Then, you have the cartoons and movies. The problem is not in the toy but in the narrative, and the narrative is dangerously myopic in how it portrays the world.

]]> By: johnny http://skepticum.com/war-rhetoric-through-gi-joe-lensehttpwwwenglishufleduimagetextarchivesv3_1norlund/#comment-635 johnny Thu, 04 Oct 2007 06:15:50 +0000 http://skepticum.com/war-rhetoric-through-gi-joe-lensehttpwwwenglishufleduimagetextarchivesv3_1norlund/#comment-635 I think this line of reasoning is interesting but flawed. It assumes that there is a necessary connection between the GI joe triumph rhetoric and the oppression of native americans. As I see it, the GI joe rhetoric is the type you would see with any imperialist nation. The US is an imperailist country, therefore this type of rhetoric exists. Maybe, I'm too simple minded. I think this line of reasoning is interesting but flawed. It assumes that there is a necessary connection between the GI joe triumph rhetoric and the oppression of native americans. As I see it, the GI joe rhetoric is the type you would see with any imperialist nation. The US is an imperailist country, therefore this type of rhetoric exists. Maybe, I’m too simple minded.

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