本德(T.Bender)的《整体与局部:美国史需要综合》一文引起了人们剧烈的争论。我不是要批评他的文章,而是提出一些建议来进一步阐述他的分析。我想直接对作者本人讲几句话,作为正在进行的对话的一部分。我认为需要更清楚地阐明公众文化这个概念。你正确地把它称之为“各种形式(包括意义和美学形式)的权力得到阐述和认可的论坛。” T. Bender’s article, “The Whole and the Part: The History of the American History Needs Integration,” sparked a fierce debate. Instead of criticizing his article, I am going to make some suggestions to further elucidate his analysis. I would like to say a few words directly to the author as part of the ongoing dialogue. I think there is a need to articulate the concept of public culture more clearly. You rightly call it a forum in which “the power of all forms, including the forms of meaning and of aesthetics, is expounded and endorsed.”