Date: Sun, 10 Feb 2008 17:46:43 -0800
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
From: The Independent Eye <eye-AT-independenteye.org>
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] " Puppetry vs Politics"


>Anyone has the right to ignore any topic on puptcrit---not everyone 
>is fascinated by papier mache, but it is of interest to others.
>
>Lately there has been a vigorous discussion about negative effects 
>on puppet shows by the current over-emphasis of over-testing 
>students, leaving insufficient time to learn critical thinking, or 
>to see puppet shows or experience music, painting, etc. I hate to 
>have to point out that that is also a result of POLITICS.


Friends-

	I've seen this same issue pop up on listservs covering 
theatre, audio production, neo-pagan spirituality, 
household-items-for-sale, and indecent alternative lifestyles.  Is it 
off-topic to go into political discussions in these arenas?

	I tend to agree with Alan, though I feel most such 
discussions have kinda the texture of papier mache - oop, sorry, 
don't mean to disparage papier mache.  I find it really interesting 
to know how other people involved in the same pursuits feel about 
these things.  I agree, as he points out, that the huge forces 
outside our narrow spectra impact on us, and I'm also interested in 
the real people who are making the art or selling the nearly-new 
scooter, not just the immediate business at hand.  To me, a post here 
is on-topic-interesting if it talks about puppeteers' processes in 
making it through life, which inevitably includes the political. 
Most of us who post on lists are "characters" to the other 
subscribers, whether or not we've met in the flesh, and for myself, I 
really enjoy seeing all you "characters" round yourselves out with 
aspects of personal life & thought.

	I've sensed it's usually the conservatives who object to 
this, possibly because (I assume) they feel themselves in the 
embattled minority on arts- or media-oriented lists.  Being myself a 
very conservative extreme radical and living in Northern California, 
I really enjoy hearing countervailing ideas, however bizarre I think 
they are - again, it's all character study - and I have great respect 
for people who go out on a limb.  Even when I feel they're totally 
nuts, I have to admit that many people I fully agree with are totally 
nuts, and for that matter I have suspicions about myself.

	So, this is just brief procrastination before launching back 
into sculpting Puppet #12 of 18 for our upcoming production of 
INANNA, breathing heavily down my neck though 3 months away.  A week 
or so away from posting our first YouTube puppet piece, in process of 
learning Final Cut Express.  And will post a number of explicitly 
on-topic questions soon, including one on papier mache.

	Meantime, wondering if there's a difference between papier 
mache from the Washington Post, the Washington Times, or Safeway bags.

Peace & joy-
Conrad B.

(different Conrad from the other Conrad)

-- 
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  ***

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