Definition:
Flattening is the reduction of complex, contextual, or nuanced realities into simplified or uniform representations.
Usage Context:
Seen in media narratives, platform discourse, policy design, data modelling, and cultural commentary.
Critical Note:
Flattening erases power imbalance and lived experience. Difference is treated as noise rather than signal, making structural harm harder to name.
Related Terms:
Conceptual Flattening, Language Compression, False Equivalence Compression