The word “nostalgia” should always be written in pink, because it, itself, implies a rose-colored glass-tinged world. Nothing embraces this idea more than the way we talk about and think about the concept of family. There’s an idea–particularly in the U.S.–that there was a time that was a golden age for “true families.” You know, the “Leave it to Beaver” kind. Well, family’s always been a complicated, multifaceted creature.
The Way We Never Were: American Families And The Nostalgia Trap
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I believe vintage TV shows, such as “Leave it to Beaver,” are responsible for the bogus notion of the perfect American family. June Cleaver cleaned house in high-heels and pearls – completely unrealistic.
Precious Monsters
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Yes, a locket would have been more realistic 😉
Seriously, though I absolutely agree with you, it painted an image of America that never actually existed, and one that people cling to today, to great detriment to real people.
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As kitsch goes, I will always remember the coffee-table glass grapes knick-knack in the early 70s. Each “grape” was the size of a golf ball, and they were wired onto a wooden “stem”. They came in several colors. Mine was amber. I must have really liked it to remember it now, all these years later!
Gail visiting for AtoZ
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I’ve got to tell you, they sound absolutely fabulous in that kitschy way. How does the mind come up with this stuff? And how does it become a trend? Fantastic description.
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