This blog was created about 4 months ago. The Percipient Internet Society of Standards Authorizing Nobility, Taste and Sophistication (also known as PISSANTS) have dropped a line that I have failed to demonstrate a suitable appreciation for culture. It is alleged (in polite circles) that I may have also suggested the end of civilisation as we know it is upon us. Obviously, if I were to make such a bold assertion, one would think I could prove that I understand just what cultural bits of said civilisation I was worried about losing.
However, I did get marks for mentioning Groove Armada in one of my posts, so one could presume if said PISSANTS had visited my original blog at Swoboda or my other blog at Sir Humphrey's, (both sadly off-line at this time) that references to Pink Floyd and Chee Chee may have counted towards my quota.
Meanwhile (for all I know) on another blog somewhere on the internet, I am being chastised for not delving into the details of my sex life because I may have commented on the unhealthy nature of anal sex once. Undoubtedly, another paragon of erudite savoir-faire has strongly condemned me for failure to praise Noam Chomsky in even one post. And I wonder if yet another blog dedicated to maintaining high internet standards is befuddled as to why I haven't written at least four posts on watching paint dry?
Of course, culture is quite a broad word. Technically, if any of my posts discuss the way people live in accordance with a framework of beliefs, language or history I am speaking of culture. More specifically, whenever I discuss a threat to our value system, and speak of behaviours that change our social norms and destroy societal values, I am speaking of culture. When I defend the institution of the traditional family, I am speaking of culture.
But obviously, that's not the culture that would demonstrate the required cultivation.
Until then, at beast, oops, best, I may be categorised as a noble savage. But how to indicate that I am worthy of joining the elite? Irrespective of my educational and social upbringing, such is the power of our civilisation, founded on principles espoused by the ancient Greeks, that I have had the potential to throw off my class shackles and rise above my inherited station in life and nurture the "elite" gene that only a select few are born with. Only then, can I back up my opinions with subtle references to aspects of "high-culture" that would place me in the avant-garde of New Zealand's political commentators.
Pop-Culture of course, is an oxymoron. "She'll be right mate" and "kiwi ingenuity" might bring a particular flavour to the New Zealand identity, but without an Iwi to fall back upon, I better drop a couple of cultural references into the mix to explain just why multi-culturalism could mean there is no room on the library shelf for Charles Dickens.
But really, is it safe to mention Dickens on this post? The PISSANTS may give me marks for raising awareness of a great and popular author that managed to write some biting social commentary in his time (thus endearing me to the leftists) and he did travel to America and fight for the abolition of slavery (thus endearing me to the liberals) but I run the danger of reminding them that Dickens went around the Twist abusing snobs. That might be hitting below the belt.
Ah well, it's just as well my motivations for blogging don't involve meeting some fanciful preconceptions of achieving a particular standard in order to have an opinion.
But this does remind me of a poem by a friend of Dickens, and here's a passage from it to ensure I meet the week's quota:
Come to think of it - if anyone wants proof that I am cultured, surely, the fact that I link to NotPC (and include the blog in my regular reads) is proof enough? The standards can't be any higher, can they?
However, I did get marks for mentioning Groove Armada in one of my posts, so one could presume if said PISSANTS had visited my original blog at Swoboda or my other blog at Sir Humphrey's, (both sadly off-line at this time) that references to Pink Floyd and Chee Chee may have counted towards my quota.
Meanwhile (for all I know) on another blog somewhere on the internet, I am being chastised for not delving into the details of my sex life because I may have commented on the unhealthy nature of anal sex once. Undoubtedly, another paragon of erudite savoir-faire has strongly condemned me for failure to praise Noam Chomsky in even one post. And I wonder if yet another blog dedicated to maintaining high internet standards is befuddled as to why I haven't written at least four posts on watching paint dry?
Of course, culture is quite a broad word. Technically, if any of my posts discuss the way people live in accordance with a framework of beliefs, language or history I am speaking of culture. More specifically, whenever I discuss a threat to our value system, and speak of behaviours that change our social norms and destroy societal values, I am speaking of culture. When I defend the institution of the traditional family, I am speaking of culture.
But obviously, that's not the culture that would demonstrate the required cultivation.
Until then, at beast, oops, best, I may be categorised as a noble savage. But how to indicate that I am worthy of joining the elite? Irrespective of my educational and social upbringing, such is the power of our civilisation, founded on principles espoused by the ancient Greeks, that I have had the potential to throw off my class shackles and rise above my inherited station in life and nurture the "elite" gene that only a select few are born with. Only then, can I back up my opinions with subtle references to aspects of "high-culture" that would place me in the avant-garde of New Zealand's political commentators.
Pop-Culture of course, is an oxymoron. "She'll be right mate" and "kiwi ingenuity" might bring a particular flavour to the New Zealand identity, but without an Iwi to fall back upon, I better drop a couple of cultural references into the mix to explain just why multi-culturalism could mean there is no room on the library shelf for Charles Dickens.
But really, is it safe to mention Dickens on this post? The PISSANTS may give me marks for raising awareness of a great and popular author that managed to write some biting social commentary in his time (thus endearing me to the leftists) and he did travel to America and fight for the abolition of slavery (thus endearing me to the liberals) but I run the danger of reminding them that Dickens went around the Twist abusing snobs. That might be hitting below the belt.
Ah well, it's just as well my motivations for blogging don't involve meeting some fanciful preconceptions of achieving a particular standard in order to have an opinion.
But this does remind me of a poem by a friend of Dickens, and here's a passage from it to ensure I meet the week's quota:
But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only,
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing further then he uttered - not a feather then he fluttered -
Till I scarcely more than muttered `Other friends have flown before -
On the morrow will he leave me, as my hopes have flown before.'
Then the bird said, `Nevermore.'
Come to think of it - if anyone wants proof that I am cultured, surely, the fact that I link to NotPC (and include the blog in my regular reads) is proof enough? The standards can't be any higher, can they?
I gotta admit, I was thinking of changing the title of the post to simply "Culture Club"
ReplyDeleteand then the opening lines could have been: "Do you really want to hurt me?
Do you really want to make me cry?"
Oh, the pain. The pain.
beautiful. Just beautiful. :-)
ReplyDelete