> The waitress told us he drew sketches of the faculty he did not care to eat with. She said they all had long noses.
I’m trying to understand this comment. I can’t tell if this is somehow a vague hint of an anti-Semitic attitude? It’s a weird thing to say or write in modern times if not.
In many cultures this signifies being a fool, e.g. think Pinocchio. Similar connotations exist for a wide variety of exaggerated proportions you might see in caricatures. So in this context it seems he didn't think highly of the faculty members at an intellectual level.
I forget the name of the specific art style, but "exagerated noses" is a known caricature motif. You can see this vividly depicted in the opening sequence of the BBC's "Yes Minister" TV series from the '80s.
> I can’t tell if this is somehow a vague hint of an anti-Semitic attitude?
Doesn’t seem likely. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_A._Michelson#Life: “Michelson was born in Strelno, Posen, Kingdom of Prussia (modern-day Strzelno, Poland), to Jewish parents […] His family was non-religious, and Michelson himself was a lifelong agnostic”
It's fine. Stop seeing race, ethnicity everywhere. Just be more chill and not get triggered by everything, we don't have to police language. People should be able to say whatever they want
I was not triggered, merely curious. It caught my eye. Several other people in this thread also noticed it as a bit strange. Doesn’t mean any of us were “triggered” by it.
Add me to the list of people wondering about it too. An odd throwaway line, something of a non sequitur, some information we didn't really need to know - and yet, it was included. (And the noses referred to again later.) But without further elaboration. Clearly we are supposed to take something from this - but what?
And I also considered the anti-semitism angle. It's not like the hook-nosed hand-wringing cartoon Jew isn't an extremely well-known anti-semitic stereotype, and it's not like the idea that somebody might be anti-semitic is hugely surprising. I don't think this thought is exactly some ridiculous flight of fancy!
Turns out Michelson was a Jew though. Well, maybe that was just his art style then! But now I'm even more confused about the inclusion of this information.
The question is why did the author feel compelled to bring up this bizarre remark about noses twice in the article, it’s rather out of the blue and several of us in this thread found it odd. It’s just a little strange. Curious, is all.
I’m trying to understand this comment. I can’t tell if this is somehow a vague hint of an anti-Semitic attitude? It’s a weird thing to say or write in modern times if not.