Here Comes Salman

This essay considers the aesthetic of multiculturalism in the work of Salman Rushdie, suggesting that it is based more on a form of wishful thinking than any understanding of how cultural and intercultural relationships work. In particular, it puts pressure on Rushdie's claim that stories and storytelling are inherently 'good' and liberal while fundamentalism is opposed to stories. The essay suggests, on the contrary, that rather than "living in harmony" many stories compete with each other. The notion that one can avoid certain choices and always live in a positive 'hybrid' state is questioned and contested.