[MD] Romantic/Classic knowledge vs quality

[david buchanan]

mel:
Actually, Arlo wrote that, not me. But thanks for thinking it was me. Arlo was right on and your own boat-building story is a fine example of his point, I think. I'd add that when you take up the artful approach everything is more enjoyable too, even stupid stuff like doing dishes or pitching a tent. Each time you get this little sense of accomplishment and even a sense of pride. (Not that I could build a boat and, of course, this attitude doesn't automatically make one competent at everything attempted.) I can honestly say it has improved my experience at the university, especially when compared to my undergraduate experience, when I majored in girls and beer. Speaking of which, I've got some Plato to read.
Later,dmb
Arlo said:
 I've always thought the most important part of ZMM was in reuniting "art" with everyday activity. ...aesthetic/Quality that could be (and should be) (and IS) an integral part of everything from building rotisseries to repairing a motorcycle to welding a chain guard.


> mel:
> A boat builder with whom I used to work
> frequently repeated a phrase: 'beauty is free'.
> The first few times he said it, the timing was
> a mystery to me--Why did he say that, now?
>
> Eventually I got it. He was prodding me
> towards seeing that how I made the structural
> pieces of the boat look were more important than
> the simple plan-form of structure. Analogous
> to how different the musical score is from the
> performance.
>
> Inevitably, the 'beautiful' elements found
> efficiencies that the purely functional lacked.
> What seemed an accident or a trick was instead
> a deeped insight. Whenever I made a part
> more beautiful in appearance, it was also stronger,
> better fit, more efficient, etc. It was so, because
> I had unknowingly paid attention to more parts
> than simply the abutting or adjacent bits.
>


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