File puptcrit/puptcrit.0605, message 404


Date: Mon, 29 May 2006 22:08:21 -0700 (PDT)
From: Gregory Ballora <gregballora-AT-sbcglobal.net>
To: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Ecology/Wayang, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH,


Daniel wrote:
> And I doubt an Indonesian LIST for dalang would be
> scandalized by posts 
> on Global Warming, gun control, Darfur, Iraq etc....
> Don't puppeteers 
> want to know what other puppeteers are thinking as
> far as the burning 
> issues of the day? and how they might integrate
> these ideas into their 
> performances? And don't you want puppetry to be
> taken seriously as an 
> art form? Maybe it doesn't matter if you never
> improvise or adjust your 
> performances to local audiences, but I do. If
> someone can ask help on a 
> puppet show about physical fitness, surely we can
> hash out ideas, 
> jokes, bits, etc... on the theme of global warming.
> Yep, we should all 
> be in the business of saving the world. Got anything
> better to do?

I want to chime back in here, as I think I have been
misunderstood. This thread, along with the the other
two, has been fascinating for me to read, and also to
think about. When I first wrote to Doris that I
thought this was not the right place for her plug of
AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, it certainly was not because I
thought that film should not be discussed, I just
didn't think it should be discussed HERE. Then, I
started to question why I had that reaction, and I
think it was twofold.

First, I think some of it was guilt for chasing Mark
Cahebay off the list.

Second, I think it just has to do with my not wanting
to read through the political ramblings and rudeness
that have shown up in the past. I don't think anyone
was "scandalized" by the mention of Global Warming, or
Gun Control. I just don't want to read thru the people
from the political extremes sniping at each other over
it here. I Totally agree with Mr. Cook that everything
everything can relate to Puppetery. But then does that
mean we should discuss anything here? I don't need to
know that someone's dog is missing, or that Congress
is voting to spend 30% more on the war. Not that these
things aren't important, just not directly of import
to THIS list. Now, as soon as someone writes in about
how they are working up a puppet show on how there dog
ran off to washington to protest the war, I am all for
it.

So in thinking about this, I realized that much of my
reaction is due to my idea of what this list ought to
be. I am sure we all have elements of Puptcrit that we
love and could do with out. For instance, I love
people writing in with links to pictures of their
work. On the other hand, I could do without the 3 or 4
following "gee that looks great" posts, followed by 3
or 4 "Gosh, Thanks" posts. Does all that need to go
out to the entire list?  But hey that's just my
druthers. I imagine there are plenty of folks out
there wishing I would just shut up now, or have
already trashed me. 

Bottom line I came to is that Puptcrit is what WE as a
community make of it. All communities have rules,
whether spoken or unspoken, but it is good to examine
those from time to time. Would John Bell have chosen
to write what he did if I hadn't questioned the
original post? Probably not. I am all for discussion
and disagreement, as long as it remains thoughtful,
informative, and respectful. That is where the
learning and growing is. And what a great model for
democracy here at the end of Memorial Day. My Thanks
to all the Community here for the time and sharing.

I think the best part of all this is that the last
posting on AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH came from Christine
Papalexis, who has been one of my dearest friends for
about 18 years, and with whom I just went to the
movies this afternoon. Obviously she disagrees with
me, but as she will tell you, that is nothing new...

Respectfully,

Greg


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