Pursuing praxis

February 28, 2006

Dancing ’round the world

Filed under: Personal, Travel

I don’t get the whole improvisational personal expression thing. It’s why I could never be in a band, or be an actor. So when I saw this link on Chris Davis’s site, I was like, here’s another idiot extolling randomness as a place-holder for meaning, *annoyed sigh.* Well, I don’t have a good refutation of my last sentance’s snottiness, but what the hell! This guy is awesome! I’m like, inspired!

I think why I like it is because it picks up on this feeling I’ve had since I was a kid: that the world is mine, just sitting there waiting for me to get to know it, that by traveling I’m just getting to know parts of my world. Why not dance my way around the world? Because I think I do get the improvisational personal expression thing (just not other people’s, most of the time), that I don’t lack motivation, just tools. And I think this guy’s onto my idea of world citizenship, and his dance is not random or meaningless, just personal. Maybe I’ll cut my teeth (err, cut a rug) in China :o).

Greater kudu

Filed under: Philosophy, Speculation, Pics, Bovids, Art

I promised myself I wouldn’t let this blog turn into Katie’s Critter Corner, because I’ve got bigger plans for this blog. But, I have a huge weakness for large, herbivorous quadrupeds, and if they’re pretty to boot, I’m sold. And this picture (painting?) is just incredible. It interests me how we ascribe human virtues to non-human animals, and these animals gain greater value in our minds by this imposed label. Just plain anthropomorphization? Are we that hard up for inspiration?

No, I say. I think, even if we were innundated by other virtuous humans, we would still do this to animals. First, virtue doesn’t get old, you can’t wear it out, you can’t get sick of it. We’re not filling a virtue void by anthropomorphizing animals. Second, I think it goes along with the imaginitive, creative, artistic impulse, where by playing with the juxtaposition of ideas, represented by objects, you can create a powerful, succinct message that if taken literally, flouts reality.

In any case, in this male greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) I see nobility, pride, courage, ability and curiosity. How can I not love that?






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