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Raen Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Understanding the sentence
In a reading assignment that analyzes popular culture's prevailing (or perverse) expectations of what a perfect body of a woman or a man is, there's a sentence I don't understand. I would really appreciate some help. Thanks.
"The body is a powerful symbolic form, a surface on which the central rules, hierarchies, and even metaphysical commitments of a culture are inscribed, and thuse reinforced."
The parts I underlined are the terms I don't understand in their relation to the subject matter, even though I have looked up the the words "heirarchy" and "metaphysical". What does hierarchies mean here? What are metaphysical commitments? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance\
Raen
"The body is a powerful symbolic form, a surface on which the central rules, hierarchies, and even metaphysical commitments of a culture are inscribed, and thuse reinforced."
The parts I underlined are the terms I don't understand in their relation to the subject matter, even though I have looked up the the words "heirarchy" and "metaphysical". What does hierarchies mean here? What are metaphysical commitments? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance\
Raen
Top answer
No help here! I can't even grasp how the " central rules " of a culture are inscribed on this powerful symbolic form, the body. " For example, would different physical attributes represent different hierarchical positions?
- No help here!
- I can't even grasp how the " central rules " of a culture are inscribed on this powerful symbolic form, the body.
- " For example, would different physical attributes represent different hierarchical positions?
- Tatoos, maybe?
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3 Answers
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No help here!
I can't even grasp how the "central rules" of a culture are inscribed on this powerful symbolic form, the body. My problem is not so much the meanings of "hierarchies" and "metaphysical commitments" as an interpretation of the process of "inscribing." For example, would different physical attributes represent different hierarchical positions?
I can't even grasp how the "central rules" of a culture are inscribed on this powerful symbolic form, the body. My problem is not so much the meanings of "hierarchies" and "metaphysical commitments" as an interpretation of the process of "inscribing." For example, would different physical attributes represent different hierarchical positions?
00
Lol, Avangi.
Well, I'm just completely at a loss. At least you're able to come up with the "tatoos" idea, I just don't have any idea whatsoever!
So would you like to expound on that? Are you saying that there's a group (or class) of people that tatoo their bodies that's tied into this hierarchies part of the sentence? Or better yet, could you please explain "hierarchy" for me in
Well, I'm just completely at a loss. At least you're able to come up with the "tatoos" idea, I just don't have any idea whatsoever!
So would you like to expound on that? Are you saying that there's a group (or class) of people that tatoo their bodies that's tied into this hierarchies part of the sentence? Or better yet, could you please explain "hierarchy" for me in
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Hi Raen,
I take "hierarchy" as a system of ranking - not a particular system, but the system which happens to be in force or in practice within the group we're talking about.
"She ranks very high in the "hierarchy" of the ladies sewing circle." "Bormann was well up in the hierarchy of the **** high command."
Your excerpt seems to say that these structures are somehow
I take "hierarchy" as a system of ranking - not a particular system, but the system which happens to be in force or in practice within the group we're talking about.
"She ranks very high in the "hierarchy" of the ladies sewing circle." "Bormann was well up in the hierarchy of the **** high command."
Your excerpt seems to say that these structures are somehow
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