When Thomas and Almut were back again in Berlin we finally had the time for talking about the fair,/s, Miami & Co.. from different angles and with different people.
Of course both reported from the US to me, but, you know, this is always so impersonal… and via Skype for example I am always looking so charmless – it always seems as if only my nose is on view… Ok, both were suffering from the classic jet lag a little bit but we managed to draw and write because we ‘schmissen unsere Hirne zusammen’.
Miami, the PULSE ART FAIR has been their ‘focal point’ – there were 17 other fairs parallel! -, what they heard from visitors and what we imagine they were thinking – read it here.
We focused on the Top 10 respectively – see below.
PULSE @ Indian Beach Park
What would you think and ask? What would you do? Imagine you, in the role of a visitor, art dealer, service staff …
Start to play, but never forget: we have to earn money.
Bury the hatchet
So, as the fair hype in Miami is over for the year 2015,
Christmas hype as well, with the New Year already being started
(at least in the Western Hemisphere) –
one important thing to keep in mind:
Bury the hatchet wherever you can.
Ah, Cratylus…like me he dealt intensively with the topic
how words are correlated with their particular meaning;
he considered this correlation as given by nature and
so naturally correct.
He has been strictly against the opinion that language is based on arbitrary convention.
At the same time, it is unclear how Cratylus made this concept compatible with the Heraclitean concept of the volatility of things
in general and his own epistemological skepticism.
Cratylus even intensified Heraclitus’ quotation that you cannot step into the same river twice (because he is already another then).
He pointed out that it is even impossible to step into the same river the very first time (because the river changes in that very moment – a bit comparable to the ethnological term of intersubjectivity).
Regarding statements, it means that when you are talking about something, it already changes while you are talking about it and therefore the statement becomes devaluated
(hm, sounds a little bit negative – why? The river also does not get devaluated doesn’t he? Should be discussed…).
As far as I am concerned, Almut and Thomas are naming things for me. And the sound of the words and the pronunciation makes the difference. And – thanks a lot – they are not always saying ‘no’.
Because if you always hear a ‘no’ you are either getting stupid (not learning more words) or you begin to think that your name is ‘No’ (the latter famous dog trainer Cesar Millan emphasized).
Well, of course I cannot read Platon’s Cratylus (fictive) Dialogue
(in fact – it is more a trialogue – Cratylus, Hermogenes and Socrates) – even Almut says that it is ‘hard stuff to read’. But we both understand the essence of it and the basic questions behind:
Why are things named as they are?
Are names the only way to comprehend the nature of things?
And are they given by nature or based on a social compromise?
Teen Spirit? Well… took the Nirvana song title as an inspiration to go back in time a little bit – as I have read too much in newspapers during the last weeks it is time for a ‘political break’;
I have the impression that at the moment everything is said but not done of course!
Follow me back to youth, back to old memories. To the very first sense sensations – the ones you remember best. At the moment, Almut, in front of her milestone birthday, is in the mood of ‘Oh, I remember well when…’ – her 30th A-level anniversary even intensified these feeelings
a little bit more.
So, coming to the classical five senses
(attention – role change: I’ll tell you about Almut’s memories now!):
Hearing
The first sound she remembers actively – she must have been about three years old at that time – was the one of a hoopoe (the sound they make is very alike the english name by the way,
nice onomatopoetic name though… and the latin name: upupa epops – how funny…
read and hear (!) more: hoopoe) sitting in a fir in the garden.
hoopoe (Upupa_epops _1_Luc_Viatour)
Sight
And she still bears a very clear picture of the bird in mind – sitting there with his crest erected like a cockatoo.
Almut pauses for a while, telling me then that as a child, later, she loved so much the books of Enid Blyton with the 4 children (the adventure series) –
one of the children (Jack) owned a cockatoo. And the other boy continously carried different animals with him.
And she adds: sight? Love at first sight of course!
old dark parquet
Smell Different smells come into her mind –
the smell of cows lying in the sun on bloomy mountain meadows, hay, horses’ nostrils,
the first snow, woods, Xmas spices and bakery,
the smell of the linoleum in the kitchen,
the polished old dark parquet at her grandma’s,
and many many more…
Taste “I have the simplest tastes. I am always satisfied with the best.” (Oscar Wilde quoted in a short volume of his friend Edgar Saltus)
Ah, quite difficult to remember… hm, food in first place, Xmas bakery again, chocolate pudding, fresh apples, fresh fruit in general. Carrots… potatoes!
First kiss … (later, hi, hi…)
Touch
“Touching animals (‘nature’) – be it living or be it toys.
The toy animals I remember were a hare and a panda (Bär-Katze Panda).
Oh, and flowers, when I was very little I always plugged the blossoms from the amaryllis
(my parents were really not amused). The sensation of touching the first snow in winter…
and warm rocks in the mountains, warm or wet moss…”.
snowcoat (The Hunger Games Wiki)
And you can be touched by somebody/ something as well – you only need
a little bit of a feeling to feel it.
Almut and me, we are very curious about your first sense sensations and
would love to hear and read about them!
Just to let you know: the ostrich photo in my post ‘A Mass, Maas or Maaßen thing?’ does not show a young ostrich – but a female preparing for laying eggs. For more detailed information about ostriches ask the experts.
It is in the news now that politicians are discussing whether refugee’s children should be integrated in schools right from the beginning.
And it seems that there are threee ways to handle it:
1. Well, some cities solved the problem right away by themselves – just saying: ‘We don’t want these children in our schools at all.’
2. Others say that they have to wait until their Asylantrag is accepted.
3. And some just do it: ‘Yes, we want them in the classes right from the beginning – let’s go.’
Teachers point out that they are just not prepared for children who do not know a single word in German. As a techer I would also I little bit frightened about the new task. Not knowing what happend to these children before, not knowing the culture, etc. Hard work. And the salary! So low.. now wonder that integration teachers just quit the job here and start to build up schools on their own (but: what about the salary there?).
Anyway – may be it would be a solution to support teachers here with people who are already integrated? They for sure can give good advice – not only in teaching ‘normal’ subjects but also in showing the essential life style things.
Ich sag’ einfach ‘Hello again!’, have been on holiday for a while (missed my posts?),
a young ostrich – loves the sand like I do
no, no, not in Africa – the picture might be a little bit misleading and ‘Hello again’ is also a song of…? Yes, South African born Howard Carpendale. And the band ‘Klee’ recently recorded some more underestimated pieces.
We spent beautiful days in a wonderful house with a HUUUGE garden for me (OK, OK, Almut and Thomas enjoyed the garden too…). And with sunshine every day it has been just gorgeous. Have been to Poland the very first time in my life.
happy in the garden
On holiday, but of course did not stop observing the media and hearing the grass grow.
The hottest topics in general this summer *besides the hot weather and holiday hot spots*: refugees and violence – plus a little bit of spy affairs (as the ‘Greek affair’ is covered for a while, at least until the elections).
Everybody is talking about the refugees coming a long way to Germany, passing several countries until they get here. And then? Haunted again after their dangerous trip – I do not name here the things that happened lately, not every attack – awful enough and this is reported anyway.
NO, I simply want to say that this has to stop. It is not the fact that demonstrations are held – it is this intolerant, dull and violent habit people show, support and act accordingly. And as more and more people are coming – both refugees and demonstrators – the more delicate the situation will become.
So, a mass problem? Yes, but not only. Would it be less dangerous for the refugees if they would not be concentrated in these camps or buildings right from the beginning and further on? Why are they settled in these areas known for ethnical conflicts respectively racial violence?
Heiko Maas, Minister of Justice and Consumer Protection, pointed out in a statement that he ‘does not want to live in a Germany with a ‘ban mile’ around the refugees’ camps.’ (TAGESSCHAU, 26. AUG 2015). Would you? I understand – he is, after all, not the Minister for Refugee Protection (but, hm, eventually this is an idea for a new ministry?).
Heidenau seems to be THE racist focal point at the moment with Gabriel’s and Merkel’s visit (why so late? And why not Mrs. Merkel first? Is it that she just wanted to check out if Gabriel will be able to visit Heidenau without being heavily armed?). There are many other critical areas too – not only in the former East. But regarding Sachsen – would a ‘Säxit’ be a solution? (DIE ZEIT, THU, 2o. AUG 2015). Nice idea: ‘Not able to be tolerant? Out.’
But may be the hatred against the refugees is only a kind of a ‘wrong valve’. Is it an ongoing disappointment with the system that becomes itself more and more intolerant and makes the Mittelschicht disappear (but then: the gap between rich and poor will become bigger and bigger…).
Very often, the easiest way is to bash people who are obviously not like you (but humans too, do not forget), would bank bashing be a better way then (oh yes, Almut read out to me the comment of Augstein on SPIEGEL ONLINE)?
And Hans-Georg Maaßen (President of the Federal Office for Constitutional Protection) – a little bit over the top with this Landesverrat accusation against Netzpolitik.org. “And the winner is…“, uh no, of course, the question is as always: Who got notice of what through whom and when and for what for? Mass is also part of the game, by the way. Seems as if they are quiet nervous about some papers coming up in the media, And *Bingo!* we know now for example, Germany was very pleased to help the NSA with some material – and to get a special spy software in exchange. And sharing some data then, wonderful – as ‘in Kompensationsgeschäften so üblich‘.
So, dear ministers and agencies and whoever, before you deal out things like that please inform me in advance, just give me a quick call ‘Sorry, we did not know about the real costs of this and that we got from the US – is it OK for you as German Citizen that we track a little bit your whole conversation?’ Hah, and what about Russia and China? Translate it right away – you know, reduces the costs… And now, please share with me some wonderful impressions of my/our holiday… and I hope everybody had such a wonderful holiday like me:
visiting art in Puttbus (Thomas in conversation with Hubert)
had to be careful while watching
‘land art’
me starring at cows, cows starring at me
Botanical Garden near Ahlbeck
wow – look at THESE woods
with shadowy and…
sunny beaches behind
in the court of Szczecin’s Renaissance castle: when life is short it is even more important to count the sunnny hours only
Szeczecin: Haken-Terrace
brand new in Szeczecin: Pilharmonic Hall
Rothenklempenow: part of the old villageof the old
… Iran! Did not know that until I met Basim, a Saluki dog, in the park.
a Saluki dog – like the one I met (source: Wikipedia)
And he told me – if I am not mistaken – that in former times, even before Christ, Persia expanded to Thrace (now parts of Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey) over the core land we now call Iran, to North West India and Egypt in the South (see map). The Salukis, as nomads, learned to fit in these different living conditions.
And Basim pointed out that today you have to be careful with names – as a nation is not necessarily an ethnic group and vice versa (e.g. an Arab is not a Persian). “So, how should I address you then?” I asked him. “Well, to keep it simple, use my first name. I am Arab with Greek roots, coming from Egypt, now in the immigration process.” “Immigration? You are going to live and work here?” “Oh yes,” he replied, “I really want to do that – and I hope it will not take me too long until I am finally accepted.” “And how is it goin’ so far?” “I’m fine – helpful, nice people taking care for me, not offending me with words or attacks. You know, there are many other dogs, they even fled their countries, asking for shelter here, and they were attacked.” “You do not have to ask for shelter here – it is a fundamental right,” I affirmed, making clear that I am not xenophob and that racists are just disgusting me, even more in my own country. Incidents like in Dresden last friday are just too much – attacking people whose job is providing humanitarian aid (Deutsches Rotes Kreuz). Is Germany not yet mature enough to be a country of immigration and shelter?
Side note
Have we already forgotten about the fact that Germany signed recruitment agreements with many South European countries, starting with Italy in 1955 and we welcomed the first “Gastarbeiter”? (ah, OK, for the historians: the term ‘Gastarbeiter’ traces back to the last years of World War II, when foreign civilians worked for wages in the NS War Economy). Without these agreements and people the “Wirtschaftswunder” would not have been so successful. The campaign continued in both parts of Germany, until 1973, the oil crisis – after years of economic recession – stopped the process. The “Gastarbeiter”, as they were called in the BRD euphemistically at first (the name became popular in the 60s even when the time limitation, in practise, had been eliminated; in the DDR they were called ‘Vertragsarbeiter’ but not integrated in the way they handeled it in the West), now are called ‘foreign employees’ or we use the technical term ‘migrant worker’. And who can deny that they opened a new door to their countries for us (or don’t you like travelling to Italy or Greece or…?).
Basim continued: in former times, the Salukis were travelling with their masters, being allowed to sleep with them in their tents, accompanying them when hunting. I am sure he will find a job here that suits him as he is crazy about nature and hunting, conserving wonderful World Heritages (ah, he misses the Pyramids and old temples so much…). “What I like most? Observing flying eagles – for hours.” he said before we said goodbye to each other.
Regarding last week three exceptional incidents remain in my mind.
A young German politician, Philipp Mißfelder, died. Totally unexpected they say. Well, you never know what you are carrying with you – until something is happening to you or you are in a special situation – or it just happens. Even when you are young, you can die, but you shouldn’t. The hard ones just say: “That’s bad luck.” But this does not help the family at all. I noticed that Almut – while she was looking at a photo taken during the Schweigeminute for Mr. Mißfelder in the Bundestag (what newspaper was it?) – she was frowning. Because people in the back rows: Coming or going? Obviously not engaged… why?
“New Horizons” – NASA’s 1st mission to Pluto and the Kuiper Belt has been successful – and delivers surprising news (by the way, mission started in 2006 before I was born and it will take another 16 months until all the photos and results get back to NASA’s): Frozen Plains, quite a lot of three-thousanders… is it a 2nd, still frozen Earth? Is Pluto on his way to develop in that direction? Or is it the other way round? Interesting Hypotheses.
There are people, I know, they never believed in these kind of missions – being it to Mars or even the landing on the moon. “But look at all the information in the internet, on TV!” “Oh, yes, I do, but is this real?” “…”.
Me? Hey, I am a dog. Pluto? A buddy in my ‘Kiez’, and: Thinking of poor Laika, died on mission in the Earth Orbit in 1957, my heart goes out to you.
And last but not least, again – Europe and Greece. Finally, they made up their minds and Greece still belongs to the EU. However, there are a lot of things to do now. The money involved reaches head spinning heights (how many “dogbones” would that be for me?), Help is needed, yes, but is it only possible with money? In what will they invest the money and how? We’ll see…
