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Yesterday, as i tried to untie the crochet thread i used to tie up the dress/nightgowns for a faint shibori/tie-dye effect, i watched "180° South: Conquerors of the Useless". The subtitle comes from the apparently famous French climber Lionel Terray, who once referred to the adventurers who climb mountains as "les conquérants de l'inutile" (the Conquerors of the useless), presumably in contrast to the conquistadores who claimed continents for extractive industry.
The movie is lovely and pleasant, the drama -- what there is -- authentic and understated, the scenery gorgeous. Pleasant, i say, in damning way, as well: read this review. I do ponder the half told truth of the movie, though. The narrative is mostly from one person's point of view, Jeff Johnson, "the spirit of 'Everyman'" claims the website. The narrative makes it sound like it's all his passionate dream to do this trip, it's all his idea.
The presence of Yvon Chouinard of Patagonia and Douglas Tompkins of North Face (and ESPRIT), makes me very suspicious. I don't begrudge them their success, although the link between the great value of being "dirtbags" and surfers to becoming successful businessmen so that they would then have the resources to become mega-philanthropists was treated more with a hagiographic slant than a clear eye.
The website becomes more clear: the producer is a VP with Patagonia for Environmental Initiatives and Special Media Projects. The movie was planned with him, the director, and Yvon Chouinard. The film crew is essentially invisible, the process is invisible: there is something corrupting in presenting the story as a first-person narrative that omits mention of the entire film crew and production effort.
I find myself thinking about Sharkwater, which is very similar as far as a first person narrative of adventure (with things Going Wrong) and a strong environmental message. Sharkwater is a completely authentic film, with the full reality present. Still, it was a nice background for picking out the shibori knots.
Early in the film there's a discussion about the value of adventure, the importance of things going wrong, the transformative nature of adventure. I spent time thinking about my dye project as an adventure: is it transformative? Is it worth while? Am i changed by it?
It's certainly not the same as a multi-month adventure, just a couple of days off.
I am extremely conflicted about the project at this time. Is it useful? Is it fun? Is it restorative? Am i learning anything? Why the hell am i doing it?
I've still clean up and some second round over-dying to do. I think i'm going to try to wrap things up this week: not do a trial next weekend.
It seems so much is clean up. Rinse rinse rinse, mess mess mess. I watch all the water, try to be as conservative as i can, but wonder about the water loss. I don't have a really good studio space. I worry about inadvertently staining the rug.
And getting good at this will take practice.
And i've so much else to do.
I ponder balance.
The movie is lovely and pleasant, the drama -- what there is -- authentic and understated, the scenery gorgeous. Pleasant, i say, in damning way, as well: read this review. I do ponder the half told truth of the movie, though. The narrative is mostly from one person's point of view, Jeff Johnson, "the spirit of 'Everyman'" claims the website. The narrative makes it sound like it's all his passionate dream to do this trip, it's all his idea.
The presence of Yvon Chouinard of Patagonia and Douglas Tompkins of North Face (and ESPRIT), makes me very suspicious. I don't begrudge them their success, although the link between the great value of being "dirtbags" and surfers to becoming successful businessmen so that they would then have the resources to become mega-philanthropists was treated more with a hagiographic slant than a clear eye.
The website becomes more clear: the producer is a VP with Patagonia for Environmental Initiatives and Special Media Projects. The movie was planned with him, the director, and Yvon Chouinard. The film crew is essentially invisible, the process is invisible: there is something corrupting in presenting the story as a first-person narrative that omits mention of the entire film crew and production effort.
I find myself thinking about Sharkwater, which is very similar as far as a first person narrative of adventure (with things Going Wrong) and a strong environmental message. Sharkwater is a completely authentic film, with the full reality present. Still, it was a nice background for picking out the shibori knots.
Early in the film there's a discussion about the value of adventure, the importance of things going wrong, the transformative nature of adventure. I spent time thinking about my dye project as an adventure: is it transformative? Is it worth while? Am i changed by it?
It's certainly not the same as a multi-month adventure, just a couple of days off.
I am extremely conflicted about the project at this time. Is it useful? Is it fun? Is it restorative? Am i learning anything? Why the hell am i doing it?
I've still clean up and some second round over-dying to do. I think i'm going to try to wrap things up this week: not do a trial next weekend.
It seems so much is clean up. Rinse rinse rinse, mess mess mess. I watch all the water, try to be as conservative as i can, but wonder about the water loss. I don't have a really good studio space. I worry about inadvertently staining the rug.
And getting good at this will take practice.
And i've so much else to do.
I ponder balance.
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