Yoshino means by “mainstream is a myth,” is that the mainstream doesn’t allow individual representation. We often make an assumption that mainstream is a majority, but Yoshino believes that the mainstream is made up of separate individuals that should be allowed to express themselves. He defines mainstream as, “people who prevent others from expressing themselves, rather than as individuals who are themselves struggling for self-definition.”
Although he argues that mainstream doesn’t allow individual representation one could argue that in fact the mainstream does represent a majority view. One is not forced to necessarily join into the mainstream; therefore his reasoning is not persuasive. Something becomes mainstream because a majority of people at some point believe one thing. I would define mainstream as the current thought of the majority of the people. One has the right to either fit into that mainstream, but also has the option to be an individual. I agree with Yoshino when he stated that, “because human beings hold many identities, the mainstream is a shifting coalition, and none of us are entirely within it.”(605)
1 comment:
The impressions I got from the reading was that the mainstream was to describe aspects of the mainstream such as "straight" and "gay." I also thought that he referred more to people being defined as mainstream when all their characteristics did not fit into the mainstream. Either way, I liked the blog and especially liked how you took the stance that he wasn't persuasive when so many people took the opposing stance.
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