Saturday, February 28, 2009

Thankful (This week's Photo Hunt theme)



"Without man, no culture. Without culture, no man." Thus pronounced Clifford Geertz, the late, great anthropologist; one of whose other memorable quotes inspired me to give this blog its name.

Like most anthropologists, Geertz's definitions of culture involve more than just what they like to call "Culture with a capital 'C'" (i.e., the fine and performing arts that most people tend to associate with the term).

In any event though, this Photo Hunt allows me to go on on the record as being thankful that we have culture. Also, that many forms of culture -- high and low, popular and rarified, with or without a capital 'C' -- exist for our appreciation, edification and plain enjoyment. For I do indeed fall into the camp of those who view its very existence less as a luxury and more as integral to our lives and very humanity.

41 comments:

Carver said...

Great take on the theme. I agree with you. Hope you have a happy weekend.

Napaboaniya.Elaine Ling said...

Without culture, we're like water plants, with roots not firmly stuck to the ground.
Nice take!

SASSY MOM said...

I love your post... Nice take. Happy weekend!

CRIZ LAI said...

That's one different twist in the theme... I would agree too on culture. Nice one! :)

http://crizcats.blogspot.com/

Bengbeng said...

Talking about culture, i really dont know what culture my son has ...everything is getting more and more diluted with the passing years

Anonymous said...

You're right, this is a great theme and I love your take on it. I'm thankful for culture too (and I enjoyed learning where your blog name came from!).

RJ Flamingo said...

Great post - you're preaching to the choir!

Have a great weekend, and stop by if you get the chance...

Liz Hinds said...

What a marvellous take on the theme! I agree with you.

Anonymous said...

A thoughtful post - provkes all manner of considerations. I must ponder.

I have made changes in my method of entry for this and other themes.

YTSL said...

Hi Carver --

Thanks and hope you have a happy weekend too. :)

Hi Napaboaniya --

Well put! :)

Hi Sassy Mom --

Thanks and happy weekend to you too! :)

Hi Criz --

Yeah, I really it's not something others might immediately think about but nice to see people agreeing re its validity all the same. :)

Hi Bengbeng --

Well, the father of your child seems to have his head screwed on right and heart in the right place... maybe you just have to make sure the child doesn't spend so much time in front of the idiot box that Astro and its ilk have made Malaysians way too partial to? :S

Hi Annie --

Thanks for agreeing, reading and finding out where I got my blog's name from! :b

Hi RJ Flamingo --

Heheheh, cool thing about my preaching to the choir as far as you're concerned! ;)

Hi Liz --

Thanks! :)

Hi Aileni --

Ponder away... and feel free to come back and share some results of your pondering! ;)

PastormacsAnn said...

I agree! Definitely an integral part of our lives! Great take on the theme. Very creative.

Maureen Hayes said...

Love the idea that you are thankful for culture, as we all should be! Creative take on the theme.

Mine is up at:

http://beingchronicallyillisapill.blogspot.com/2009/02/photohunt-saturday-thankful.html

Happy Photo Hunt!

Anonymous said...

which is why we should exert all efforts to preserve our culture :)

my post is HERE

Lene said...

I agree - and I really am thankful for culture.

Have a nice day :)

Jackie said...

Fantastic take on the theme YTSL. I agree with you completely.

http://shinade.blogspot.com/2009/02/thankful.html

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Jackie:-)

Gattina said...

That's very true and a very good interpretation of the theme !

stan said...

TOTALLY! where wld all of ours musings be on the WWW if there's no culture or man - wait, this is the chicken/egg dilemma??? lol.

Anonymous said...

I hear you, without culture then we are without...

One great post!

SnoopyTheGoon said...

This is a capital take on the subject, excellent rendition too!

Have a great weekend.

Anonymous said...

Yes, and thank yo for sharing your culture to us :)

Happy weekend!

tanabata said...

Culture is indeed something to be thankful for! Hope you have a good weekend.

Anonymous said...

I agree with you in this and we should be thankful. Thanks for sharing this. Happy weekend.

jams o donnell said...

I agree whoelheartedly. Grat take on the theme.

eastcoastlife said...

That's why I like to write so much on the different cultures in Singapore. :)

annalarssonphotography said...

I love your post - and I agree with you. Nice and thoughtfull take!

Mine is up too:
http://vitastunder.blogspot.com/2009/02/thankful.html

Happy weekend!

Hootin Anni said...

Culture....thankfulness. Indeed. For without culture, no man has life.

Mine is posted now....come on over to view. The camaraderie of brothers. Of which I'm thankful; my grandsons!!!

HERE is my THANKFUL

Mira said...

Very well said, and nice pics. Here's mine http://www.mirasblog.com/2009/02/photo-hunt-8-thankful.html

Anonymous said...

Wonderfully unique take on this weeks theme! Our ability to appreciate art, both manufactured and natural, is truly a blessing!

Anonymous said...

Art, and culture is good for the soul :) Great take on the theme :)

YTSL said...

Hi PastorMac's Ann --

Thanks -- and am thankful thatthis week's Photo Hunt theme did allow me to be creative. :)

Hi Maureen --

Thanks and exactly re it being so that we all should be thankful for culture's existence. :)

Hi Cookie --

Not just our culture but others' too! :b

Hi Lene --

Cool. :)

Hi Shinade (Jackie) --

Thanks much and hope you have a good weekend too. :)

Hi Gattina --

Thanks!

Hi Stan --

Love your enthusiasm for my take on this week's theme! :b

Hi "Today's Blah" --

Without culture, we aren't what we otherwise are... ;b

Hi SnoopytheGoon --

Thanks and you have a goo weekend too. :)

Hi Julie --

You're welcome though... actually, it's not completely mine but, rather, Hong Kong's! :b

Hi Tanabata --

Agreed... though sometimes I do think some people need reminding, you know? ;)

Hi gen/entry --

Thanks!

Hi jams o'donnell --

Thanks for your agreement and compliment. :)

Hi EastCoastLife --

Cool! :)

Hi Vita Stunder --

Glad you love my post. Happy weekend to you too. :)

Hi Hootin' Anni --

Without culture, man's not, well, man! :b

Hi Mira --

Thanks for liking the pics as well as the words. :)

Hi JC --

So agree with your last comment. It really adds that something extra to our lives.

Hi Sue --

Agreed and thanks! :)

ancient one said...

Good post! Good take on the theme!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful take on the theme.
I love cultures also, and enjoy learning about new ones.

Bengbeng said...

the aerial to the tv is off. we hang it up to the duct linking to the air con. he is too short to reach it :)

except for a few select shows a week. tv was making him aggressive. :)

YTSL said...

Hi Ancient One --

Glad you think so. :)

Hi Candi --

Me too -- re loving to learn about new ones... and experiencing what they have to offer. :)

Hi again Bengbeng --

Okay, maybe the next step: minimize whatever (aggressive) video/computer games he plays? ;b

Anonymous said...

What a great twist on the theme this week. I agree.
I posted late, please swing on by for a quick laugh.

Dragonstar said...

Yes, I must agree with you. I love that second picture. Is it a wall? Beautiful anyway.

sammawow said...

This was such an interesting take on the thankful theme. Great post - I always find your posts thought provoking!

Patricia said...

Cool photo! Good eye.

YTSL said...

Hi Kissealotatoads --

Better late than never. And thanks for the chuckle I got out of checking out your entry! :)

Hi Dragonstar --

I guess the best way to describe what the second photo is a close-up of is a piece of wall art. It's actually quite a large piece of work, made out of different kinds of ceramic bits.

Hi Sammawow --

Thanks, am chuffed to learn that you always find my posts thought-provoking. :)

Hi Patricia --

Which photo? ;b

Anonymous said...

About my prince. I have one more day to go before my 72 hours are up, and he does look like he is going to be a "huge" fat prince,.......... lol.

YTSL said...

Hi again Kissedalotatoads --

Teeheehee... and bet those who haven't visited your blog yet and seen your prince (and my comments on that entry) must wonder what's we're talking about! :D