Culture |
Mythic
Dreamer Oil
on Canvas
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| HOW
TO IMAGINE CULTURE
Imagine a large pool, not of water,
but of ideas, images., traditions, symbols,
taboos, words, musical rhythms and melodies,
patterns of building, painting, weaving, decoration
and dress. In it are beliefs, 'models' of a
religious and philosophical kind, practical
advice gained by experience on the planting
and harvesting of crops, the husbandry of animals,
cures for sickness, behaviour during important
thresholds of life; birth, sickness, marriage,
death and warfare. It contains the patterns
of social cohesion, the hierarchies, the geneologies
of the ancestors and ways of dealing with offences.
In short the pool contains all the elements
which give to a community its particular character.
This is culture.
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When a child is born, it is born into the
pool. When an old person dies, the corpse
also remains within, settling down to the
bottom with all the detrius. The pool remains
for an immeasurably greater time than the
individuals who are part of it. It is not
static, but continuously changing, being added
to, gaining in experience and wisdom. Neither
is the pool always the same size. It may grow
very large, very turbulent and dynamic, and
it may shrink and dry up.
This is only an image of course, and the closer
we examine it, the less useful it becomes
as a reflection of the reality, but it is
useful as a beginning. In fact of course,
the human beings carry the culture in their
minds. If Leviathan increases in size it is
because its population has grown. If it declines
and dies, it is because the population declines
or it has been engulfed by a more dynamic
Leviathan, or been killed off by one. Nevertheless,
an individual is only the bearer for the duration
of its life of the culture. He may add a little
to total wisdom as he passes on the fruits
of his individual experience to the whole,
but he is unlikely to profoundly effect the
culture to a great extent.
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