In the spirit of Albert Camus, it seems to me that whether absolute kippleization is inevitable is an irrelevant question, because the moral demand upon us is the same one way or the other. Whether it will win in the end or not, we must resist, and we can't surrender; the meaning is in the revolt itself.
Have you heard of Christopher Alexander? He's an architect who developed a theory of resonance between humans and the built environment, and he found that there is indeed an emprical metric—valid and reliable and quite consistent across people—that reflects what we would call the sacred or soulful quality of any given place. It isn't subjective; we're surely sensing an actual thing that is either there or not.
Also, I hope your class on *Jersualem* is going well. Do you know yet what your next one will be on? I'll probably want to join in again.
Made me think of all the convention centers that are called churches that have been to. This overflows into the spiritually of those that worship in those places. Shame on you Christians for making the world into a soulless place.
Resonate with this for sure. My house is a similar age to yours in small village in Ulster and the repairs and renovations needed always hurt because our finances won’t stretch to the full restoration job I’d love to be able to achieve… I work in architecture too, so doubly painful! My most precious possessions are things that have been crafted by my grandfather, a self taught free thinker of a man, lobster fisherman, boat maker, cabin builder, cabinet maker and all round proper dude. Much missed. The few old books I own are also treasured. The craftsmanship, feel, typeset, illustrations and even that peculiar old book smell do something for the soul. I feel like old family Bibles passed down the generations are a fairly common thing here that give a sense of this lost art of book binding and printing. Even what some people would deem as junk, like an old timber chest from a long closed bakery and flour mill in Belfast that we saved from the local dump has become a prized piece of furniture in our home. So I’ll join you in the anti-kippel brigade! Peace.
Kippleization seems a prescient metaphor for the self destructive surrender to our alternative algorythmic informed dystopia.
I find the increasing careless ugliness of our built environment soul suffocating. Retreat from it as much as I can. Happy 33rd Wedding Anniversary to you both !
It's refreshing to find this rarefied trait in an individual, this sensitivity to seemingly inconsequential objects. I can count on one hand the number of people I know who possess it. I've described it as living in a constant state of romanticized delusion, what it means to "pray without ceasing," or simply, living the artistic life.
For me, this topic has proved to be an ideal avenue into a plethora of other larger topics. The coffee mug is my main talking point. Present an industrially made mug, or even styrofoam cup, then juxtapose it with any variety of handmade ceramic mug. Even without commentary, the lightbulb usually comes on. I show them how to look at the handmade piece in order to see it. It’s a vessel that breathes, that remembers; the clay possesses every memory of the artisan’s touch, often retaining even finger prints. The mug becomes an experience in itself, a living object that one communes with. It teaches you how it’s meant to be used. Once someone begins to grasp the profundity of a mere mug, everything else is immediately reframed and seen in its true light. Anything can then be understood by even the simplest of people: the abomination of trompe l’œil design, the absurdity of athleisure or polyester clothing, the vacuity of contemporary life, and so forth. This simple topic lays the foundation for everything from practical topics to grand, philosophical discussion. It’s the root of my emphasis on materiality, that the very material of a thing endows it with value—and this has nothing to do with mere economics. (The insurance agent anecdote was quite fitting.) We must redefine what “value” is, for a strictly material, economic understanding of such things, even mass-production itself, is inherently Marxist. Mere need and utilitarian “function” are no basis for creation of any sort.
Your thoughts stir up many related things for me: The Architecture of Happiness by Alain de Botton, The Poetics of Space by Gaston Bachelard, The Unknown Craftsman by Yanagi Sōetsu, On Beauty by Roger Scruton, plenty of comments from Goethe, Schopenhauer’s perspective on the artist and architecture, etc. In most instances, online commentary on this subject never reaches beyond a shallow critique of architecture and urban landscapes from individuals whose opinion amounts to nothing more than a rose-colored view of the past and a vague understanding of “tradition,” never providing any semblance of an antidote to the malaise of our environments. Despite the brevity of this post, you’ve managed to touch on the extent of this topic in concrete terms, which I much appreciate.
Oh Michael, getting caught up on your content is such a treat! I have seen the points you're making here play out firsthand - Just over a year ago I moved into a "century home" (for those not in the know, that's the slang term for a domescile that's at least 100 years old) and the growth in my spiritual practice & awareness has been remarkable. There are lots of factors, it's been a real crucible season in life, but I think we can't underestimate the impact that living in a REAL place has on the human psyche. Also "Magolia Crossing" is at the crossroads. Clearly fae approved...
Made me think of Levittown and the founding of soulless mass produced suburban homes to provide housing for returning veterans from WWII and their families.
Happy anniversary to you and your wife! Which brings to this fine essay on making and space, the subject of time and timelessness, finite and infinite, nonlocal nontemporal and Newtonian/Cartesian. A woman got a grant to make a weird arch out of garbage in the park near me, and she focuses on microplastics (a good, if depressing thing) and "spatial equity." Equity for the nonlocal I say, equity for the infinite, equity for the timeless, though I think what they really mean by "equity" is private equity. There is also the idea that the soul is made in catastrophe and by suffering, and there are the anchorholds, with their little hagioscopes. So a complex and paradoxical set of spiritual issues. Have a fine anniversary and here's a bit of Richard Wilbur on repair of the wrecked world. https://bourguignomicon.blogspot.com/2011/11/junk-by-richard-wilbur.html (maybe you could teach the Druid poets w/ the Metaphysical, I'd so love that)
Kipple = Dollar Store = Landfill. And yes, it reproduces overnight, like rabbits! I have been supporting the work of this artist when I can afford it……..https://youtu.be/SW-5HpYc3xk?si=21g4_TgObUdvh_fv you will love him!
In the spirit of Albert Camus, it seems to me that whether absolute kippleization is inevitable is an irrelevant question, because the moral demand upon us is the same one way or the other. Whether it will win in the end or not, we must resist, and we can't surrender; the meaning is in the revolt itself.
Have you heard of Christopher Alexander? He's an architect who developed a theory of resonance between humans and the built environment, and he found that there is indeed an emprical metric—valid and reliable and quite consistent across people—that reflects what we would call the sacred or soulful quality of any given place. It isn't subjective; we're surely sensing an actual thing that is either there or not.
Also, I hope your class on *Jersualem* is going well. Do you know yet what your next one will be on? I'll probably want to join in again.
Haven't heard of Alexander, but will definitely check him out. And you are missed in the Jerusalem course (finishes Holy Saturday).
Next I might do the Metaphysical Poets, but not sure when. I plan on taking a bit of a break while I get the garden in.
I love Christopher Alexander! A Pattern Language is one of my favorite books.
Made me think of all the convention centers that are called churches that have been to. This overflows into the spiritually of those that worship in those places. Shame on you Christians for making the world into a soulless place.
Resonate with this for sure. My house is a similar age to yours in small village in Ulster and the repairs and renovations needed always hurt because our finances won’t stretch to the full restoration job I’d love to be able to achieve… I work in architecture too, so doubly painful! My most precious possessions are things that have been crafted by my grandfather, a self taught free thinker of a man, lobster fisherman, boat maker, cabin builder, cabinet maker and all round proper dude. Much missed. The few old books I own are also treasured. The craftsmanship, feel, typeset, illustrations and even that peculiar old book smell do something for the soul. I feel like old family Bibles passed down the generations are a fairly common thing here that give a sense of this lost art of book binding and printing. Even what some people would deem as junk, like an old timber chest from a long closed bakery and flour mill in Belfast that we saved from the local dump has become a prized piece of furniture in our home. So I’ll join you in the anti-kippel brigade! Peace.
Nice to meet a kindred spirit, Ryan! Blessings to you there in the North!
Beautiful reverie. I find solace in ever increasing amounts as my book collection grows.
Kippleization seems a prescient metaphor for the self destructive surrender to our alternative algorythmic informed dystopia.
I find the increasing careless ugliness of our built environment soul suffocating. Retreat from it as much as I can. Happy 33rd Wedding Anniversary to you both !
Thanks!
Good stuff, as always, Bro.
thanks!
It's refreshing to find this rarefied trait in an individual, this sensitivity to seemingly inconsequential objects. I can count on one hand the number of people I know who possess it. I've described it as living in a constant state of romanticized delusion, what it means to "pray without ceasing," or simply, living the artistic life.
For me, this topic has proved to be an ideal avenue into a plethora of other larger topics. The coffee mug is my main talking point. Present an industrially made mug, or even styrofoam cup, then juxtapose it with any variety of handmade ceramic mug. Even without commentary, the lightbulb usually comes on. I show them how to look at the handmade piece in order to see it. It’s a vessel that breathes, that remembers; the clay possesses every memory of the artisan’s touch, often retaining even finger prints. The mug becomes an experience in itself, a living object that one communes with. It teaches you how it’s meant to be used. Once someone begins to grasp the profundity of a mere mug, everything else is immediately reframed and seen in its true light. Anything can then be understood by even the simplest of people: the abomination of trompe l’œil design, the absurdity of athleisure or polyester clothing, the vacuity of contemporary life, and so forth. This simple topic lays the foundation for everything from practical topics to grand, philosophical discussion. It’s the root of my emphasis on materiality, that the very material of a thing endows it with value—and this has nothing to do with mere economics. (The insurance agent anecdote was quite fitting.) We must redefine what “value” is, for a strictly material, economic understanding of such things, even mass-production itself, is inherently Marxist. Mere need and utilitarian “function” are no basis for creation of any sort.
Your thoughts stir up many related things for me: The Architecture of Happiness by Alain de Botton, The Poetics of Space by Gaston Bachelard, The Unknown Craftsman by Yanagi Sōetsu, On Beauty by Roger Scruton, plenty of comments from Goethe, Schopenhauer’s perspective on the artist and architecture, etc. In most instances, online commentary on this subject never reaches beyond a shallow critique of architecture and urban landscapes from individuals whose opinion amounts to nothing more than a rose-colored view of the past and a vague understanding of “tradition,” never providing any semblance of an antidote to the malaise of our environments. Despite the brevity of this post, you’ve managed to touch on the extent of this topic in concrete terms, which I much appreciate.
My apologies for such a lengthy note.
No need to apologize! What you say here inspires me. Thank you for taking the time.
Oh Michael, getting caught up on your content is such a treat! I have seen the points you're making here play out firsthand - Just over a year ago I moved into a "century home" (for those not in the know, that's the slang term for a domescile that's at least 100 years old) and the growth in my spiritual practice & awareness has been remarkable. There are lots of factors, it's been a real crucible season in life, but I think we can't underestimate the impact that living in a REAL place has on the human psyche. Also "Magolia Crossing" is at the crossroads. Clearly fae approved...
Fantastic look into how living in soulless places leads to soulless people. The house in Michigan sounds amazing. No kipple there.
Made me think of Levittown and the founding of soulless mass produced suburban homes to provide housing for returning veterans from WWII and their families.
Nice kiss! 🌷
We were giving it our best! 😅
Happy anniversary to you and your wife! Which brings to this fine essay on making and space, the subject of time and timelessness, finite and infinite, nonlocal nontemporal and Newtonian/Cartesian. A woman got a grant to make a weird arch out of garbage in the park near me, and she focuses on microplastics (a good, if depressing thing) and "spatial equity." Equity for the nonlocal I say, equity for the infinite, equity for the timeless, though I think what they really mean by "equity" is private equity. There is also the idea that the soul is made in catastrophe and by suffering, and there are the anchorholds, with their little hagioscopes. So a complex and paradoxical set of spiritual issues. Have a fine anniversary and here's a bit of Richard Wilbur on repair of the wrecked world. https://bourguignomicon.blogspot.com/2011/11/junk-by-richard-wilbur.html (maybe you could teach the Druid poets w/ the Metaphysical, I'd so love that)
I'm so glad I met you.
Kipple = Dollar Store = Landfill. And yes, it reproduces overnight, like rabbits! I have been supporting the work of this artist when I can afford it……..https://youtu.be/SW-5HpYc3xk?si=21g4_TgObUdvh_fv you will love him!