[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: Etymology: "black-and-white" (Was: One reporter reacts to JKR's revelations)

[Amanda Geist]

The McGee:

So, when we say this situation is not black and white? We're saying 
that something is not totally good nor totally bad. The guy on the 
white horse with the white hat. This is where "black" is associated 
with bad and "white" is associated with good. Remember all the 
complaints about Star Wars?

Amanda now:

Well, when I say something isn't black-and-white, I mean it can't easily be
reduced to primary causes-that more than one principle is involved, or that
there are contributing factors that prevent a simple or easy explanation.  I
have no connotation of good or bad associated with the colors.  The usage
involves the simplicity and clear contrast between black and white-and I
apply it as such.  And I can't really think of any recent usage of this
expression from others where the connotation was a good/bad value rather
than what I've just said.

A lot of times white does mean positive and black does mean negative. But
not in this case, at least not for me. Trying to think of other expressions,
I found "don't paint it entirely black," where black has a negative
connotation.  I'm not sure of the point, though.  As diurnal animals, we are
more comfortable with light than dark, and the resultant carriage of that
connotation into linguistic expression does not surprise me. 

What happened with Star Wars?  

~Amandageist



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