You are so right to point out the inauthenticity of academic and publishing “community building” jargon. My partner in the work I did in land conservation and development in Hawaii called it “Hawaiians on display”. But whatever underlies romanticism that is worth discussing has everything to do with authenticity. Yeah, I romanticize the memory of snow filtering in under the door of the only motel in antelope South Dakota as much as the mapping of the stories and more than the campus and buildings we built nearby. If the funder hadn’t been a romantic we wouldn’t have had the reality check problems but then again we also would have never met the community and their gripes and grudges and nothing would have been built. It’s better there now, 30 years later.
In the case of Laino, romanticism is a means to meaning. As is the grant language, as is the pretty photography of ruins, as are the students. I’m doing none of that actual work of “making it happen” and somehow it appears I’m going to be there for a month out of each year, at least for this year. I think I know why, but I’m authentically a romantic.
I’m sharing your articles with my young Cosenzan (is this correct term for “of Cosenza”?) architect and professor colleague, so you are already an advisor.
“Old Crusty Territories with New Problems: Let’s Go Inside Anyway”. Would you join that Board? Hope we can meet regardless for a laugh and to perhaps really give you something to get uncomfortable about. We need a Minister of Humility and Checker of Reality. But it’s gonna get mystical too-that’s the other side of critical thinking. We will find others for those ministries. Anyway, ciao.
“Resilient Territories: New Practices of Social Interaction in Italy’s Inner Areas”.
Ouch. Would you like to join our advisory board?
Great story, and if I had any authority whatsoever I would authorize you to romanticize.
Trust me, you don't want me to be around too much. I move from enthusiastic mode to want-to-kill-them-all mode.
Perks of villagers' life
You are so right to point out the inauthenticity of academic and publishing “community building” jargon. My partner in the work I did in land conservation and development in Hawaii called it “Hawaiians on display”. But whatever underlies romanticism that is worth discussing has everything to do with authenticity. Yeah, I romanticize the memory of snow filtering in under the door of the only motel in antelope South Dakota as much as the mapping of the stories and more than the campus and buildings we built nearby. If the funder hadn’t been a romantic we wouldn’t have had the reality check problems but then again we also would have never met the community and their gripes and grudges and nothing would have been built. It’s better there now, 30 years later.
In the case of Laino, romanticism is a means to meaning. As is the grant language, as is the pretty photography of ruins, as are the students. I’m doing none of that actual work of “making it happen” and somehow it appears I’m going to be there for a month out of each year, at least for this year. I think I know why, but I’m authentically a romantic.
I’m sharing your articles with my young Cosenzan (is this correct term for “of Cosenza”?) architect and professor colleague, so you are already an advisor.
“Old Crusty Territories with New Problems: Let’s Go Inside Anyway”. Would you join that Board? Hope we can meet regardless for a laugh and to perhaps really give you something to get uncomfortable about. We need a Minister of Humility and Checker of Reality. But it’s gonna get mystical too-that’s the other side of critical thinking. We will find others for those ministries. Anyway, ciao.