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Overview
Contrary to today's widespread emphasis on "cultural diversity," the United States has become not a multicultural society but the world's first post-cultural society. Cultures, Christopher Clausen argues, have lost power over both public and private behavior. This largely unrecognized transformation has enormous importance for every area of American life, from marriage to politics. One of its most prevalent social expressions is an aimless, conformist individualism—because there is no longer any source of authority or value outside the self. The multiculturalism of leftist politics and the family values of the right are both futile expressions of nostalgia for a world (differently interpreted, of course) that is gone forever. In Faded Mosaic, Mr. Clausen brings his analysis down to earth with telling illustrations from contemporary life. He demonstrates how the moral demands and collective identities of America's native and immigrant cultures have vanished. "In striking contrast to societies of the past," he declares, "the United States today has neither one big culture nor many smaller ones, only a dizzying mixture of freedom and nostalgia." Faded Mosaic will be an important and controversial milestone in our cultural self-understanding.
Synopsis
Clausen, who has written widely on literature and culture in the 19th and 20th centuries, argues that while we no longer have a single dominant culture, our subcultures, or ancestral cultures, are not in very potent shape either. He shows how cultures have lost power over both our public and private behavior and looks at consequences on areas of American life from marriage to politics. He demonstrates how moral demands and collective identities of America's native and immigrant cultures have vanished. The author teaches at Pennsylvania State University. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
Washington Post - Jonathan Yardley
A bracing antidote...Faded Mosaic is no mere exercise in semantic hairsplitting but an argument-to me a most persuasive one-that in these United States at this point in its history culture does not exist.
Editorials
America
Clausen treats these crucial questions with acumen, balance, and unpedantic style.— Peter Heinegg
Boston Globe
A provocative book that sets forth an uncomfortable truth: a cafeteria culture will serve nothing but junk food.— Bill Marx
Partisan Review
A crucial addition to the multi-culturalist debate...describes modern American life with disheartening accuracy.— Eric Adler
Review Of Higher Education
A bracing antidote...Faded Mosaic is no mere exercise in semantic hairsplitting but an argument to me a most persuasive one that in these United States at this point in its history culture does not exist.— Jonathan Yardley
The Boston Globe
A provocative book that sets forth an uncomfortable truth: a cafeteria culture will serve nothing but junk food.— Bill Marx
The Wall Street Journal
Original and penetrating...a serious critique of America and its mass identity crisis.— Eric Cohen
Jonathan Yardley
A bracing antidote...Faded Mosaic is no mere exercise in semantic hairsplitting but an argument-to me a most persuasive one-that in these United States at this point in its history culture does not exist.— Washington Post
Adler
A crucial addition to the multi-culturalist debate...describes modern American life with disheartening accuracy.— Partisan Review
Cohen
Original and penetrating...a serious critique of America and its mass identity crisis.Library Journal
Clausen (English, Pennsylvania State Univ.) examines American culture at the beginning of the new millennium. Rather than holding the "melting pot" view of earlier America or the newer "cultural mosaic" model promulgated by proponents of multiculturalism, Clausen states that "the contemporary United States has neither one big culture nor a number of smaller ones, only a strange mixture of freedom and nostalgia." He further asserts that "contemporary America is the first post-cultural society, a society existing after the death of cultures." Arguing that races in America have far more in common than what divides them and that age and income are, for the most part, more important than ethnicity or national origin, Clausen advances his points with case studies, some statistical data, and references to several philosophical views. While this book is a bit beyond the audience of most public libraries, its readability, lucid arguments, and fairly unique point of view make it an excellent addition to the collection of any academic library.--Mark Bay, Univ. of Houston Libs. Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.\Bill Marx
Faded Mosaic is a provocative book that sets forth an uncomfortable truth. Boston Globe
Eric Cohen
Mr. Clausen describes our present condition without hysterics or posturing—but with the caution, objectivity and concern that the subject deserves. Wall Street Journal
Internet Bookwatch
Faded Mosaic considers modern American culture, presented by the author as the first post-cultural society existing after the death of culture: after defining the state of post-culturalism, Clausen argues that its effects are transforming American life and creating conformist individuals who don't believe in outer authority figures. Both causes and effects of these culture wars receive intimate analysis in a title recommended for college-level students of sociology.Jonathan Yardley
This brief but closely argued book provides a bracing antidote to much of the conventional wisdom….a persuasive argument. Washington Post
Peter Heinegg
Clausen treats these crucial questions with acumen, balance and unpedantic style….Faded Mosaic is going to fuel a lot of lively debates—and it should. America
Phillip Gold
“[Clausen’s mind is the] rarest of treats in cultural studies: a mature, balanced, slightly ironic yet never acerbic, educated and incisive mind. Sunday Sports Times
Ray Olson
Fascinating and novel analysis from a thoughtful, nonpessimistic pundit. Booklist
Wall Street Journal
Original and penetrating...a serious critique of America and its mass identity crisis.— Cohen, Eric
Washington Post
A bracing antidote...Faded Mosaic is no mere exercise in semantic hairsplitting but an argument to me a most persuasive one that in these United States at this point in its history culture does not exist.— Jonathan Yardley