From: "Andrew Dubber" <andrew.dubber-AT-aut.ac.nz>
Subject: RE: baudrillard & the Gulf War
Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2001 16:06:22 +1300



> Don't some of you think you are essentializing Americans?

I know I'm essentialising Americans. I'm afraid that's what you get when you
live in a democratic society. You're represented by the masses.

I'm not a typical kiwi bloke by any stretch, but I understand that there's a
certain image people get when they think about New Zealanders. It's not so
insidious as racial stereotyping or nearly so corporate as national
identity - it's just that in the case of most nations, 'the norm' is the
least interesting sector of society - and the most visible.

In my case, 'the norm' is white, middle-class, male, beer-drinking,
rugby-loving outdoorsy types who like swimming, boating and watching tv. Me,
I like red wine, jazz and good documentaries... and lately, my evenings have
been spent listening to audiobook versions of Finnegan's Wake and Virgil's
Aeneid.

I've long since given up trying to be ordinary, but that doesn't stop me
classifying myself as a New Zealander, and nor does it bug me when people
talk about the 'trouble with kiwis' (or some other such essentialising
phrase). It's just part of life.

Cheers,

Dubber