It’s just… not NORMAL!!!
Can ‘abnormal’ be a moral criticism? Why?
In my first reading this week of H.G. Wells’ novel, Food Of The Gods, I was impressed by one of his characters’ plea for the moral importance of Normalcy:
“But no doubt if this growth goes on, we shall find grave moral and intellectual deficiencies. One might almost prophesy that from Max Nordau’s law. A most gifted and celebrated philosopher, Lady Wondershoot. He discovered that the abnormal is—abnormal, a most valuable discovery, and well worth bearing in mind. I find it of the utmost help in practice. When I come upon anything abnormal, I say at once, ‘This is abnormal.’” His eyes became profound, his voice dropped, his manner verged upon the intimately confidential. He raised one hand stiffly. “And I treat it in that spirit,” he said.
H.G. Wells, 1904, The Food Of The Gods, pp. 135-136
Wells is amazing at displaying a character’s mind in just a small paragraph.
Max Nordau was a reactionary philosopher, who was highly suspicious of modern arts, urban culture, and too much excitement.
Shown here is “The Normal Family”, a sculpture in front of city hall in my town. (Yes, that is the actual title of the sculpture.) If you were wondering what a ‘normal family’ is, here is your answer.
But what is “Normal?” Is it necessarily a good thing? A bad thing? Must that which is not ‘normal’ be viewed with suspicion? How important is it to fit in?
That may be The Normal Family” but the lady’s right leg is somewhat abnormal.
Posted by gruntled atheist on 11/19/08 at 01:14 PMHeadline from the Upcoming Weddings column in a central Illinois newspaper :
Normal Man To Wed Oblong Woman
Looks like they tied the knot.
Posted by Still Me on 11/19/08 at 09:25 PMI had to laugh. I used to tell people that in order to tell where everyone stood on the “normalcy” scale, there had to be one person who was “normal” to set the center point. I would then say that I actually was that guy, and that they should thenceforth call me “Norman Normal.” Those close to me I said, could just go with “Norm.”
What I don’t know is why they laughed so much.
Posted by gerry rosser on 11/20/08 at 08:19 AMThat is one ugly statue, by the way.
Posted by gerry rosser on 11/20/08 at 08:21 AMNormal is a term best left to statisticians.
Posted by Paul Sunstone on 11/20/08 at 06:05 PM
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