[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Re: [ProgSoc] Drying up, hands or money
Roland Turner wrote:
On Sun, 2007-08-19 at 01:43 +1000, John Elliot wrote:
Can you imagine a world in which dialects and symbols, rather than
adhering to their distinct delineated categories, fused?
Symbols? (Not creoles?)
I was thinking along the lines of mathematics. Concepts and symbols
taken from a global community and hacked into something greater than the
sum of its parts.
Who knows... maybe you'd learn something? :)
I'm certain that we would, but I suspect that the odds are low for the
same reason that Quebec will continue to speak French (well, Quebcoise)
pretty much forever.
That reminds me... I had a mate called Françoise from Quebec who taught
me to juggle (he used to be a clown in a circus). He also helped me
translate Bullet With Butterfly Wings into French... we used to sing it
together while working in the kitchen... I think it sounded cooler in
French. :)
Le monde est un vampire...
Language is an element of cultural identity
Sure it is. I think my point was that more and more people are feeling
comfortable identifying themselves with aspects of a "global" culture.
I mean... where are you right now? ...but, you're talking to us here?
the economic forces which drive the adoption of a common language also
intensify the forces that seek to preserve cultural heritage.
So what? There's no reason to abandon your heritage. That you identify
with your family, country, or religious traditions is no reason not to
*also* participate in something new. I.e. a global community. If you
don't, you're increasingly irrelevant anyway.
(Seen my tattoo? [1] ;)
(Stated crudely: the greater the economic pressures on Quebecois[e]
to communicate in English, the harder they'll push to protect their
heritage. e.g. the day may come when Section 16's[1] exclusivity is
enforced.).
Again, so what? I think the point is that no-one's going to "push"
anyone, it's just going to happen. Or, to the extent that there is
"pushing" it will be the old people from local communities pushing the
young people, who, er, won't do what they're told. Stated crudely: all
the kids are going gay... or emo... or both. (Hey, buy a lifestyle!)
I guess the thrust of one of my points throughout this thread has been
that globalisation had better end up offing more than "consumerism" and
"the brand" -- because that's not a vehicle for "progress", primarily
because it isn't an honest reflection of "value".
I think people will identify just as much with aspects of various global
subcultures (hey, pick a subculture!) as much as they identify with any
aspect of their 'local' traditions. For instance, identifying with their
trade, or other communities built around their interests. Artificially
imposed cultural hegemony won't work... because people are the arbiters
of their own values, and most people can see a whole lot of other
interesting stuff going on in the world that they're interested in being
a part of, and what's more: they can be! So... er, they will. Duh. :P
[1] http://www.jj5.net/file/2007-03-13-061942/a.jpg
-
You are subscribed to the progsoc mailing list. To unsubscribe, send a
message containing "unsubscribe" to progsoc-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
If you are having trouble, ask owner-progsoc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx for help.