Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Juxtaposition - what exactly is it ?

Today, I came across another fascinating word. Juxtaposition. Our National Newspaper had used it in a side note and I will not bother to delve into that. However, I checked Wikipedia and came to this definition :

" The fact that 2 things being seen or placed together with contrasting effect. The juxtaposition of these 2 images - for example"

"Juxtaposition in literary terms is the showing contrast of concepts placed side by side. An example of juxtaposition are these 2 phrases uttered by the late President John F Kennedy :

" Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country"

" Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate".

The first phrase states that a country which is a collection of people with shared experiences, birthrights, and community, culture and practices is indeed a huge construct. For the country to offer something for the individual, it is deemed improbable but rather to turn the concept on its head and ask the individual to pro-offer his talents, his brain power and his life to the good of the country. 

That is indeed a very noble act. It must first stem from the idea, the concept and then the willingness to act on that concept.







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