Doug got me thinking about the whole "putting in your oar" metaphor used by Kenneth Burke and referred to by Gerald Graf. According to the 1811 Vulgar Dictionary, it means "to intermeddle, or to offer an opinion unasked". As it has been used in Britain, it is generally equivalent to "sticking your nose in someone else's business". I had the idea that Burke was referring to "putting in your oar" as a way to help the group get where they are going - like adding another rower to the boat. Of course, there's no way to be sure all will row in the same direction and in unison - maybe that's why we are still debating about ancient rhetoric.
As far as it being a phallocentric image, I didn't see that until it was mentioned in class. I wonder if there's a comparable gynocentric image . . . No, I can't come up with a good one (although I can come up with some dirty ones).
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I think that phallocentric images tend toward items that are acting upon other things, either in a very obtrusive way (I picture sticking your oar in as putting your oar in someone else's boat in order to stop it, or there's always the image of clubbing the woman over the head and dragging her back to the cave) or in a mildly obtrusive way. The only equivalent gynocentric image that I could think of would be throwing your drink in someone's face (cup/chalice...you get it). This, however, would be a reaction rather than a direct action.
ReplyDelete