I remember reading a review of My Big Fat Greek Wedding once, where the author talked about how in a marriage between people from two different cultures, both cultures have traditions to bring to the table. And yet in many fictional representations--I forget whether the author said Greek Wedding did this well or badly; nor have I seen the movie--there's this conception that it's the side perceived as more ethnic that carries all the traditions, that the more mainstream culture is beige and blah, a blank slate to be written over. Which ends up being sort of patronizing to both sides, really, ignoring any richness in the more mainstream culture and making the more ethnic culture seem quaint and cute.
Posted at March 21, 2005 12:41 PM in Social Order