Folks:
I have a French student from a Parisian suburb living with my family (in
Arkansas, USA). We were discussing differences and comparing how we are
alike. I was thinking in terms of symbolism, how we use our symbols to
interact, and how our cultural norms develop accordingly (I speak no
French and she speaks an ever improving broken English). On language,
what I say is usually translated into British English (is that redundant?)
andher French, I generally translate through Latin. In other words,
non-verbal language is required for communication.
We spoke of movies. She said, "American movies always have a happy
ending. In France, it is not so. It is more real." This led to
discussions of cultural perceptions. I really enjoy this thread (LO15157)
in the context of Bennis. Each culture has its myth and source of
spirituality. I know religous zealots with little of no spirituality in
the "holiness." On the other hand, I know atheists who live a rigid moral
life. Ergo, there is no predictable connection between spitituality and
religion. What if the same is true for cultural memory and myth?
The power of television and its images is well known. Why then do we
allow the control to continue. It is simple to turn it off. As I watch
my teenage daughter and the French student attempt to find something to do
other than major media events, it strikes at my core value system that our
cultural memory is increasing dependent on silicon chips and less on
organic material.
The only thing I know yo do is down structure my life to fit my family and
allow the abundance in my life emerge; rather than the impulsivity of want
disguised as need.
I turn the TV off. I develop and run my own internal programs.
Jesse White
jeswhite@comp.uark.edu
"Industry without art is brutality." -- Coomaraswamy
On Tue, 30 Sep 1997, William Buxton wrote:
> Enjoyed Compton's post about Steven Seagal's movie "Above the Law." I'd
> never thought of it as promoting the notion of leaving things to the
> superman (leaders) to take care of.
>
> My own take on the myth is just about the opposite; namely, that it
> promotes the idea that Everyman can accomplish great things and correct
> great wrongs. The crisis arises precisely because of the corruption or
> ineptitude of the higher ups, and it's resolved precisely through
> individual effort outside the chain of command and the normal rules of the
> game.
--"Jesse W. White" <jeswhite@comp.uark.edu>
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>