JMELCHIO@VUNET.VINU.EDU on sun 4 may 97
I just read Joe Bennion's post on the Renwick exhibit, and feel I must respond.
I too feel that the importance of ritual and attention to our households is of
utmost importance to the continuation of our species. Our society gives too
much importance to the accumulation of things, and not nearly enough attention
to the meaning of the things we need to have a good life. I see so many truly
beautiful things, and I understand the need to make what is in the heart. But
how many of the items in our homes do we really need? (and we do need things
that have no other use than being beautiful--consider the lilies of the field.)
There is a great article by Gustav Stickley reprinted from an old CRAFTSMAN in
a book of that title (circa 1910) and I quote from it: "The plea which THE CRAF
TSMAN wishes to make is for intelligent labor which meets a practical need and
which is also productive of beauty; which is wiser than play because it include
s the element of play and yet leads to results; is more lasting in effect than
work unrelated to life because it is the result of enlightened purpose, and
thus is a part of general progress. What we plead for is discriminating
labor, not mere slavery or unthinking play. It is produuctive work beyond
mere financial returns that we believe will carry the final benefit for the
human race." He goes on to say that the people who have made beautiful things
for their homes "...have created beauty through their own effort, and the
handiwork whih is the result they regard as a permanent asset in the interest
of their lives." The article also states how important it is to raise chilcren
in homes where honest work to produce honest things is valued. But I think
the point Joe Bennion made is an excellent one--there is an eternal beauty in
some things that enriches our daily lives. Just because something is in fashion
, even though it may be interesting, unusual, doesn't mean it will carry the
human race forward.(I read about your workshop, Joe, and I hope I have a chance
someday to attend one. I get less and less able to split the eternal from the
everyday.) Back to work. Sincerely, Jeanne Melchior, dilletante potter, English
teacher, environmental activist, human. (Not necessarily in that order.)
jmelchio@vunet.vinu.edu
Jeff Lawrence on fri 9 may 97
Jeanne Melchior writes about "the big environmental, social, feminist
challange."
> work--that which is consumed or repeated on a daily basis--was done by either
>women or slaves. (See Gerda Lerner's CREATION OF PATRIARCHY or Riane Eisler's
>CHALICE AND THE BLADE). Now that women (rightfully) are demanding a share of
>the work that shows more lasting results, including making art, we seem to be
>leaving the food growing and preparing, the child care, etc. to a new slave
etc. etc.
Dear Ms. Melchior,
I suggest that a nice chat room with the likeminded is a more appropriate
venue for aggressive political opinions.
Morels are pretty amazingly good. On that, at least, we do agree.
Jeff
Jeff Lawrence
Sun Dagger Design
ph/fax 505-753-5913
Susan Benson on sat 10 may 97
In a message dated 97-05-09 09:00:12 EDT, you write:
<< I suggest that a nice chat room with the likeminded is a more appropriate
venue for aggressive political opinions >>
Jeff,
I have made it a policy thus far to stay out of the more controversial
threads. This one hasbrought me past the simmer point and up to a rolling
boil. I am typing this with my 7month old on my lap, while my 2yr old
watches Sesame Street. I am a housewife (my dirty secret is out!). I do my
potting in the evenings and weekends, when my husband can stay with the kids,
because we're a little old fashioned and avoid daycare and babysitters unless
there's absolutely no other option.
I wouldn't have brought that up, except to establish that I am hardly a
"frothing" feminist, with "aggressive political opinions".
I found the post that you quoted (out of context, I might add) somewhat
disturbing when I read the first few lines, also. However, I continued to
read , and discovered that for the most part, the arguments presented were
reasonable, and the point well made, if a trifle more vehement than I'm used
to seeing here.
Your post, on the other hand, was just about the most patronising bit of
chauvinism I've read in at least 15 years. Please consider, without the
more "aggressive" individuals, (always provided they are peaceful) social
change would be nearly impossible. And change is usually good.
Susan Benson
LSorcha@aol.com
Who thought her days of "on the soapbox" were behind her--apparently not.
kinoko@junction.net on sun 11 may 97
Dear Jeff, Spending our lives with gthe "like-minded" is like looking in a
mirror or rebreathing our own afflatuce.... It leads to hardening of the
brain. DonM>----------------------------Original
message----------------------------
>Jeanne Melchior writes about "the big environmental, social, feminist
>challange."
>> work--that which is consumed or repeated on a daily basis--was done by either
>>women or slaves. (See Gerda Lerner's CREATION OF PATRIARCHY or Riane Eisler's
>>CHALICE AND THE BLADE). Now that women (rightfully) are demanding a share of
>>the work that shows more lasting results, including making art, we seem to be
>>leaving the food growing and preparing, the child care, etc. to a new slave
> etc. etc.
>
>Dear Ms. Melchior,
>
>I suggest that a nice chat room with the likeminded is a more appropriate
>venue for aggressive political opinions.
>
>Morels are pretty amazingly good. On that, at least, we do agree.
>
>Jeff
>
>Jeff Lawrence
>Sun Dagger Design
>ph/fax 505-753-5913
>
>
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** Falkland, B.C. **
** kinoko@junction.net **
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