Given the impact globalization has on workers of Burl's age and stature, it's no wonder The Dinette Set takes a probing look at this deeply complicated issue.
On the surface Burl and Joy embrace the idea of globalization, celebrating their connection with the rest of the world, represented by the German cousin, as well as the idea of the "global village" which shrinks the world and enables his cousin from another country to come for a visit. They welcome him with a large party, American-style, and even try to add a few appropriate flourishes, such as signeage which says "Velcome" and a name tag which says "Da!"
And yet, for all their effort to embrace globalization, they reflexively rebel against it.
How else to explain the Tiki torches, which clearly imply that, to Burl and Joy, one ethnic touch is as good as another. No effort need be expended learning specifics about the German culture from which the cousin originates. Tiki torches are foreign to American and, as such, they should be good enough for a foreign guest of any stripe, all of who fall into the same category: "not American." This point is further strengthened by Joy's shirt with it's mix-and-match language usage.
But that represents the more passive-aggressive aspects of Burl and Joy's rebellion. It also features much more overt aggression as well. For example, they conflate the concept of "translation" with "we don't understand your crazy foreign language and why don't you just speak English, goddamnit?"
In addition, Burl atampts to force all ethnicities to conform to his pre-conceived notions, all of which emanate from American entertainment, such as the fat but lovable German Sgt. Shultz from Hogan's Heroes whose name is emblazoned on Burl's T-shirt.
The T-shirt shirt itself offers and even deeper puzzle because the phrase "Dismissed" was not Sgt Shultz's catch phrase, but that of Col. Klink. That forces us to wonder at the intent of such an obvious mismatch, since the possibility of an accidental mismatch is so remote.
Perhaps the two lines of the shirt are meant to be an entire phrase: "Dismissed, Sgt. Shulz!" In this case it is expressing Burl's isolationist rage and desire to cast all foreigners, including his cousin, from America's shores. On the other hand, perhaps it bespeaks Burl's lack of understanding of his own culture in that he can't even get American pop culture references correct. Unfortunately, we may never know the true answer to this question.
But what is certainly clear from this panel is that globalization may be a fact of modern existence, but the first line of defense is blithely co-opting the entire notion and redefining it until it means "foreigners becoming more American."
I see no marginalia! I hear no marginalia!
- Unless I am mistaken, I spy Psychiatrist John (who's been absent for a long time) and Personal Injury Lawyer Tom in the crowd.
- It's hard to tell where Dale's face ends and the party guest's bicep begins. That's twice in two days that Dale's face has merged with a background body part.
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