chapter 4-5

祘suan

Reader: 王嘉腾

Reading Time: 5.15-5.16

Reading Tasks: Chapter 4-5
  
Summary of the content: Chapter 4 examines how spatial orientations (e.g., center-periphery, deep-shallow) structure abstract concepts. For instance, “IMPORTANT IS CENTRAL” reflects cultural prioritization, while “UNKNOWN IS DEEP” ties complexity to physical depth. These metaphors derive from embodied experiences: centrality correlates with focus, and depth with effort. The chapter emphasizes how such metaphors create coherence—for example, “VIRTUE IS UP”aligns with societal ideals of moral “height.” Chapter 5 demonstrates how metaphors reinforce cultural norms. In tech-driven societies, “KNOWLEDGE IS LIGHT”  mirrors Enlightenment values of clarity and innovation. Dominant metaphors also resolve conflicts: “BIGGER IS BETTER” often trumps sustainability metaphors in consumerist cultures. Subcultures adapt metaphors to their goals—e.g., environmentalists reframe “PROGRESS” as ecological balance rather than economic growth.  

Evaluation: The spatial analysis in Chapter 4 innovatively expands beyond basic “up-down” binaries, showing how metaphors like “CENTER-PERIPHERY” shape hierarchies. However, the chapter underrepresents non-Western spatial metaphors, such as circular orientations in Indigenous cosmologies. Chapter 5’s focus on tech metaphors is timely but overly optimistic; it neglects how corporate-driven metaphors can obscure ethical issues. The claim that cultural coherence is “negotiated” through metaphors is strong, but examples lack nuance—e.g., how conflicting subcultures coexist within dominant systems.  

Reflection: These chapters pushed me to rethink metaphors in my field. Terms like “artificial intelligence” frame machines as human-like, potentially masking their limitations. Similarly, “data mining” implies extraction, evoking colonial resource exploitation—a metaphor worth critiquing. Culturally, the “KNOWLEDGE IS LIGHT” metaphor privileges Western rationalism; what if knowledge were framed as “water” in drought-prone cultures? This highlights metaphor’s power to exclude or include perspectives. Personally, adopting metaphors like “GROWTH IS ROOTED” could foster sustainable thinking. Metaphors aren’t just descriptive—they’re tools for reimagining societal values.