Post ATaFlxYguy525Cl5DU by ChazBrenchley@wandering.shop
(DIR) More posts by ChazBrenchley@wandering.shop
(DIR) Post #ATWLpmKgQ5c5W8ZRzc by clive@saturation.social
2023-03-11T23:08:16Z
0 likes, 2 repeats
"In Defense of Studying 'Basket Weaving' at College" š§ŗ An essay on why cultural subjects that get derided for being silly or frivolous (and, surprise surprise, are historically the province of women and indigenous groups) turn out to be intellectually fascinating, deep, and practical as hellMy essay, for Medium subscribers: https://clivethompson.medium.com/in-defense-of-studying-basket-weaving-at-college-a862792f3a85A "friend" link in case you're not a Medium subscriber: https://clivethompson.medium.com/in-defense-of-studying-basket-weaving-at-college-a862792f3a85?sk=05da00e8ad388013630497ce92368ed8
(DIR) Post #ATWMLE5BIPrwYkJbYe by susan_lanigan@mastodon.ie
2023-03-11T23:13:44Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@clive great article!
(DIR) Post #ATWMLdAi1094N85s92 by zoe@social.animeprincess.net
2023-03-11T23:12:39Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@clive I think if I had only taken "serious" classes at university it would have seriously stressed me out. Doing random low-stress stuff like (re)learning rock identification was a nice change of pace and kept the homework load manageable.That said some of the electives I took had teachers who took themselves waaay too seriously without the chops to back that up (ask me my Philosophy 101 rant)
(DIR) Post #ATWMSJ3xB6jW247K5o by clive@saturation.social
2023-03-11T23:14:20Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@zoe That's cool to hear! I'd love to take a class on rock identification tooAnd I hear ya on the overly-serious instructors, I think colleges probably attract too many of that sort alas
(DIR) Post #ATWMZRp30b25E7YArY by clive@saturation.social
2023-03-11T23:14:30Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@susan_lanigan Glad you liked it!
(DIR) Post #ATWMhlqeR8uheWGk08 by toxtethogrady@universeodon.com
2023-03-11T23:16:57Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@clive Years ago, certain people in Congress used to make fun of the various things that the National Science Foundation chose to fund research on (mare sweat?), claiming it was all frivolous and unnecessary. Which the Ayn Rand types regularly joined in to ridicule...until someone decided to laugh at a study of "romantic love". Whereupon the Ayn Rand types got very offended and claimed very loudly that the people laughing at the study were championing ignorance over erudition. And as has been traditional ever since, Republicans have demanded that all various types of Federal spending be curtailed...except for spending that benefits them specifically...
(DIR) Post #ATWNQwpmRDWQkwP61I by clive@saturation.social
2023-03-11T23:26:11Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@toxtethogrady Those anti-scholarly-research rants you hear in congress -- most frequently from Republicans -- make me absolutely livid
(DIR) Post #ATWNkmGXROAzlpNJr6 by mjk_4mjk@mastodon.ie
2023-03-11T23:29:39Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@clive Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City, September 2019.
(DIR) Post #ATWPPyItgjduvtgXnU by carlosmoffat@fediscience.org
2023-03-11T23:48:24Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@clive tangentially connected to that Richard Feynman turning to wobbling plates after becoming frustrated (and feeling insecure) about āseriousā research, and finding joy in thinking in the process: https://thinkjarcollective.com/articles/richard-feynman-spinning-plates-and-serious-play/
(DIR) Post #ATWXym9vdJ0z2Gb4s4 by grammargirl@zirk.us
2023-03-12T01:25:07Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@clive In one of my very first college newspaper articles, I made a joke about basket weaving and got letters from a bunch of very angry basket weavers. I've never made such a joke again.
(DIR) Post #ATWYDWQWPLN2aPOEd6 by PamelaBarroway@mstdn.social
2023-03-12T01:27:48Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@grammargirl @clive Don't mess with basket weavers! š§ŗ
(DIR) Post #ATWf4YkX6NH6rZQJOa by toxtethogrady@universeodon.com
2023-03-12T02:43:51Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@clive They've moved on to the next stage - trying to deprive us all of an education by preventing us from reading books. It's back to the Middle Ages where we were supposed to leave all that to the king and the clergy...
(DIR) Post #ATXAS0uHg2BDQleFZQ by Coho@climatejustice.social
2023-03-12T08:35:22Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@clive I'd have been more interested in school if they'd offered basket weaving
(DIR) Post #ATXKTIoTaPRanVBWQy by Bmiller@discuss.systems
2023-03-12T10:27:43Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@clive Good article, thanks.Here's a recent somewhat pertinent thread:https://discuss.systems/@Anthro@universeodon.com/109937897609855525
(DIR) Post #ATXUutQIZu7rhZfebY by rmflight@mastodon.social
2023-03-12T12:24:45Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@clive I am so thankful I ended up with enough time towards the end of my undergraduate degree to take three history courses I was interested in: military history (I & II), and the history of prohibition and rum running.I wish there had been a required course on the history of science, and the ethical and racist considerations of previous and current scientific work.
(DIR) Post #ATXWprgdo3t8mE2r7g by maximum_mew@indieweb.social
2023-03-12T12:46:16Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@clive As a person who actually got a degree in weaving, I heard all the snide comments about basket weaving. Coming from a family of artists, I ignored them. The intrinsic values of weaving (all of which you touch on, Clive, and more) were not lost on me.
(DIR) Post #ATXaczpuaxIS6WV6VU by Patienceltd@tech.lgbt
2023-03-12T13:28:45Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@cliveSo much of conservative discourse depends on dys-branding - the conversion of innocuous or beneficial people, things, and ideas into threats, objects of derision, or trivia. If we called basket-weaving "volumetric engineering", "organic materials science" or some other bit of fluffed-up academic camouflage, it might slip under their bully's radar for what can be safely mocked.
(DIR) Post #ATXmFxWeDdqRj9GtOa by vjgoh@octodon.social
2023-03-12T15:39:00Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@clive I havenāt read the article yet, but I was just thinking yesterday, āyou know what, underwater basket weaving actually sounds hard as hell and Is probably super useful. Why WOULDNāT there be a university level class on that?ā
(DIR) Post #ATXzd9LXjZsuSBSwaG by clive@saturation.social
2023-03-12T18:08:49Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@vjgoh Lol precisely there are some hypotheses that the whole joke about underwater basket weaving emerged when someone saw a demonstration of basket weaving thatās done inside a small wet tub in front of you; apparently there are forms of weaving that work better when the materials are fully wet all the time
(DIR) Post #ATXzjLMtwx8ZTb3S0u by clive@saturation.social
2023-03-12T18:09:21Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@Patienceltd This is bang on, yesAnd wow, Asawaās work is amazing!
(DIR) Post #ATXzpUC635sUaPvhZI by clive@saturation.social
2023-03-12T18:09:44Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@maximum_mew Good on you for ignoring them!!
(DIR) Post #ATXzwlOQVCiVxGAPtw by clive@saturation.social
2023-03-12T18:11:06Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@rmflight Oh my goodness, a history of prohibition and rum running would be fascinating! I grew up spending my summers at a cottage on the north shore of Lake Ontario, a Presque Isle point, which was the base of operations for Ontarioās most famous rumrunner back during prohibition I finally got a chance to read a book about his life a few years ago, it was unbelievably interesting!!
(DIR) Post #ATY09aj9T6fcdkyh4y by clive@saturation.social
2023-03-12T18:12:23Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@Coho Right?
(DIR) Post #ATY0FIGh0mFL80Nxrs by clive@saturation.social
2023-03-12T18:12:44Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@agdakx it makes me want to dive in too, eh?
(DIR) Post #ATY0LYwbvIJsaMyv4a by clive@saturation.social
2023-03-12T18:13:28Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@grammargirl š
(DIR) Post #ATY0V3S9rSvxoUGPse by clive@saturation.social
2023-03-12T18:13:35Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@PamelaBarroway @grammargirl DO NOT
(DIR) Post #ATY0aLVMAoNtFOHbP6 by clive@saturation.social
2023-03-12T18:13:57Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@carlosmoffat yes, thatās a great connection ā Iād forgotten about that
(DIR) Post #ATY0flAkAZXcIlDsvI by clive@saturation.social
2023-03-12T18:14:16Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@mjk_4mjk omg so gorgeous
(DIR) Post #ATY1Y4sn6QO54Oj6XI by NatureMC@mastodon.online
2023-03-12T18:30:17Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@clive A fine and important article with clapping from France!Here, courses for #BasketWeaving are booked up immediately. They are mainly available in #CulturelHeritage centres and everywhere where a #ReconnectionWithNature is taught. In history, mostly Roma men practised this profession. Yes, this arrogance is full of racism and colonialism. BTW, in Europe, it is an important part of #ArtTherapy for #MentalHealth and against #BurnOut, paid by health insurance.
(DIR) Post #ATY4oOJOvtVJpAdxuy by PamelaBarroway@mstdn.social
2023-03-12T19:06:54Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@clive @grammargirl šÆ For those in back who still need convincingā¦ āŗļø
(DIR) Post #ATY4uxNjSNniKSnffs by rmflight@mastodon.social
2023-03-12T19:08:01Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@clive the course was fairly interesting. Any course on that held on šØš¦ university will be full of local stuff due to so many communities being involved.I did my undergrad at UNB, and the maritimes had more than their fair share of involvement in rum running. It was interesting going through local newspapers from the 1920's.Part of the reasons I was able to do the class was having had poor grades in Calculus earlier in my studies, I needed a 5yh year.
(DIR) Post #ATYqvYmBDm8w6aaZ6W by uninventive@universeodon.com
2023-03-13T04:06:03Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@clive As someone who works at a college, that mindset always peeved me off: āIf a course of study doesnāt land a student into a profitable entry-level job, it shouldnāt be taught.ā In other words, close up programs in Art, Music, Philosophy, etc. since thereās no jobs in those areas with appreciable job openings past major cities on the seaboard.Myself, I think people who can (of all things) make and do things with their hands are more worthwhile to know than an MBA graduate in most cases.
(DIR) Post #ATYtI894bEnA52Besa by MizzBassie@toot.cat
2023-03-13T04:32:33Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@clive @earthchild Pawsome article! Mommy has always loved baskets, she wishes there were a course on basket weaving she could take. In her time, people joked about underwater basket weaving.
(DIR) Post #ATZZLdAvspnFGHPO0O by irwin@saturation.social
2023-03-13T12:23:48Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@clive When I was growing up, my brother and I were guilty this, but it was always āIām going to Harvard and majoring in Underwater Basket-weaving.ā It was, for me, less of a joke and more of a snarky rebellious threat to my (immigrant) parents trying to push me into Law or Medicine.
(DIR) Post #ATZvvvmKOPRUNIc8eW by clive@saturation.social
2023-03-13T16:36:03Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@irwin heh, yes!I made the joke all the time back when I was at college in the late 80s and early 90sSince I was a humanities guy -- English and Political Science -- it was self-defensive humor
(DIR) Post #ATZx8qQdh74TV9BuEa by clive@saturation.social
2023-03-13T16:50:20Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@MizzBassie @earthchild lol yes!
(DIR) Post #ATaFlxYguy525Cl5DU by ChazBrenchley@wandering.shop
2023-03-13T20:19:09Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@clive - ooh, I loved this. Thanks so much.
(DIR) Post #ATaQSPEbPOH5cfEz7w by clive@saturation.social
2023-03-13T22:18:53Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@ChazBrenchley š¤ š¤
(DIR) Post #ATaQYfpCdg5uoXLh2m by clive@saturation.social
2023-03-13T22:19:20Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@NatureMC @Bmiller wow!
(DIR) Post #ATaQl8pGdiRuEaK9xo by clive@saturation.social
2023-03-13T22:20:09Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@rmflight Old local papers are straight-up fascinating
(DIR) Post #ATaQlhwE5poP8IqiAa by clive@saturation.social
2023-03-13T22:19:39Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@uninventive 100%
(DIR) Post #ATakC6w7fe7RK26Wie by LShultz82@mastodon.online
2023-03-14T01:59:55Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@clive I mean it also gives you great family heirlooms- my walls are covered in baskets etc my great grandmother made
(DIR) Post #ATarHqRIcRFrZdMsro by clive@saturation.social
2023-03-14T03:19:33Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@LShultz82 Truly!Those are gorgeous
(DIR) Post #AUWaPlpXNrAD5zQpIu by debharman@me.dm
2023-04-10T23:43:44Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@clive congratulations! I will definitely read it. Currently I am working on a presentation. Iām making at our local school board tonight. Book banning, and red flagging issue. Just more Orwellian stuff.
(DIR) Post #AUWj7ARmXAPHWqWZpQ by magdalen@mastodon.wellperns.com
2023-04-11T01:21:11Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@clive My mom took basket weaving when I was a kid! Wish I could make a Ponderosa pine needle basket like hers...
(DIR) Post #AUXGnaQLdjCMkDgkCW by chipati@universeodon.com
2023-04-11T07:38:42Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@clive Wen I was a new mother, I needed something to get me outside of the small world of being a stay-at-home parent. I took an interest weaving course at the local community college. As I was working at the floor loom one evening, I heard a bunch of young men about my age walk by and laugh saying, "Basket Weaving 101." When their class started next door, I guess I had the last laugh when the math they were studying was what I had learned in my last year of high school. Fast forward many, many years later and I actually made my first basket and I can't believe that we have the audacity to purchase one at the dollar store for $1.25!
(DIR) Post #AUXIgfxIsJjLmVw3s0 by clive@saturation.social
2023-04-11T07:59:51Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@chipati That's a great story!
(DIR) Post #AUXInzDxdJDfZMDGE4 by clive@saturation.social
2023-04-11T08:00:08Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@magdalen It's a really amazing form of art and engineering
(DIR) Post #AUXIvoHyArbXyEooJE by clive@saturation.social
2023-04-11T08:00:23Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@debharman Ugh, these times we live in
(DIR) Post #AUXJ2OVuP7BI3cThgG by chipati@universeodon.com
2023-04-11T08:02:11Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@clive Thanks. Now, I love the fibre arts too despite having three degrees. :D
(DIR) Post #AUXJBKaKNdtQTko3U0 by 52square@artisan.chat
2023-04-11T08:05:21Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@clive An excellent article about the invisibility of the female role in economics. The ābushelā was a unit of financial value and measured rent, revenue and even ransoms. Women built the basic units of the economy.
(DIR) Post #AUXOmg2y31WRWkpVQm by onecreativecat@mastodon.art
2023-04-11T09:08:09Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@clive this productivity mindset runs deep!! Half of my family frowns upon my current occupation (craft coordinator, providing craft workshops to all ages) because I have an advanced law master I do not "use". šI do not see my job as useless!
(DIR) Post #AUXQ7A24N7SAGtk024 by clive@saturation.social
2023-04-11T09:23:05Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@onecreativecat Totally! But yeah, a lot of folks denigrate the crafts