Comments for The Digitized Heart http://sharonirish.org/blog Musings about connections among heartful community engagement and networked systems Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:35:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 Comment on Actions by Sharon http://sharonirish.org/blog/2009/05/21/actions-2/#comment-395 Sharon Wed, 27 May 2009 12:36:08 +0000 http://sharonirish.org/blog/?p=248#comment-395 Artist Beverly Naidus posted this comment on the activistarted listserv: "When I was recently in LA, Judy Baca mentioned that the vandalism of murals has increased exponentially in communities where art education and mural programs are no longer funded. Within a few years, most of the beautiful murals will be covered in tags because the youth there have no understanding about the effort it took to make them, the context in which they were made, etc. The frustration of the youth (and, in some cases, adults) is sadly channeled into aggressive acts towards the art. The murals become the "authority" being attacked, rather than commercial media. I would encourage a public dialog about the lack or the quality of art education available to students on campus. It would be useful to question whether commercial billboards and advertising in the area are attacked as well, or whether the art alone receives this violent commentary. The vandals may think that art is much easier and more exciting to attack (for a myriad of reasons). I'd also be curious whether the attack was motivated by racism or by anti-art sentiments." Thanks, Beverly! Artist Beverly Naidus posted this comment on the activistarted listserv:
“When I was recently in LA, Judy Baca mentioned that the vandalism of murals has increased exponentially in communities where art education and mural programs are no longer funded. Within a few years, most of the beautiful murals will be covered in tags because the youth there have no understanding about the effort it took to make them, the context in which they were made, etc. The frustration of the youth (and, in some cases, adults) is sadly channeled into aggressive acts towards the art. The murals become the “authority” being attacked, rather than commercial media. I would encourage a public dialog about the lack or the quality of art education available to students on campus. It would be useful to question whether commercial billboards and advertising in the area are attacked as well, or whether the art alone receives this violent commentary. The vandals may think that art is much easier and more exciting to attack (for a myriad of reasons). I’d also be curious whether the attack was motivated by racism or by anti-art sentiments.”
Thanks, Beverly!

]]> Comment on Actions by Sharon http://sharonirish.org/blog/2009/05/21/actions-2/#comment-392 Sharon Sat, 23 May 2009 13:57:52 +0000 http://sharonirish.org/blog/?p=248#comment-392 Artist Bonnie Fortune added these excellent ideas: I agree that some action ought to be taken. I agree with all of your suggestions and would tack on/add 2 things: 1. Conduct some anti-oppression workshops in the community. I think those should be scheduled events, tied into the performative pamphleteering projects. This could be a way to address the lack of education. 2. Produce a solidarity sign project. Free yard/window signs given out at places around the community (IMC, student union, etc) This could be a way to expand the message of the signs on campus to the community at large to show a community wide anti-racist message of support. I think it is necessary that this becomes a larger issue. (We have discussed something like this in smaller neighborhood meetings.) Artist Bonnie Fortune added these excellent ideas:
I agree that some action ought to be taken.
I agree with all of your suggestions and would
tack on/add 2 things:

1. Conduct some anti-oppression workshops in the community. I think those should be scheduled events, tied into the performative pamphleteering projects. This could be a way to address the lack of education.
2. Produce a solidarity sign project. Free yard/window signs given out at places around the community (IMC, student union, etc) This could be a way to expand the message of the signs on campus to the community at large to show a community wide anti-racist message of support. I think it is necessary that this becomes a larger issue. (We have discussed something like this in smaller neighborhood meetings.)

]]> Comment on The Blogosphere by Sharon http://sharonirish.org/blog/2009/04/11/the-blogosphere/#comment-389 Sharon Sat, 18 Apr 2009 18:39:13 +0000 http://sharonirish.org/blog/?p=186#comment-389 Hi back Noah, Point taken. I think we are saying the same thing, but you clarify it. Another aspect that I have been thinking about is that "professional" historians are perhaps necessarily tied up with standards of historical information in ways that a large number of amateurs are not, at least when it comes to the reliability of information on the web. That's where peer review comes in, along with revising and resubmitting articles, and jumping through hoops for academic presses. In my own work, I rely somewhat on others to push me to excel, to be as clear as possible in my arguments, and not to be hasty in my conclusions. Perhaps if I had readers like you for my writing, this would obviate the need for professional publications. But I find that blogging is hard for me because my thoughts don't feel finished or refined. Thus I am reluctant to put them "out" because this is so casual and relatively spontaneous. But if I blogged like I write for publication, there would be no entries! At the same time I am writing this, I realize that my thoughts NEVER feel finished, and that even my books are only parts of conversations that I hope contribute to an ongoing dialogue. So I guess I am still in "crisis" about specialization and professionalism! Hi back Noah,
Point taken. I think we are saying the same thing, but you clarify it.
Another aspect that I have been thinking about is that “professional” historians are perhaps necessarily tied up with standards of historical information in ways that a large number of amateurs are not, at least when it comes to the reliability of information on the web. That’s where peer review comes in, along with revising and resubmitting articles, and jumping through hoops for academic presses. In my own work, I rely somewhat on others to push me to excel, to be as clear as possible in my arguments, and not to be hasty in my conclusions. Perhaps if I had readers like you for my writing, this would obviate the need for professional publications. But I find that blogging is hard for me because my thoughts don’t feel finished or refined. Thus I am reluctant to put them “out” because this is so casual and relatively spontaneous. But if I blogged like I write for publication, there would be no entries! At the same time I am writing this, I realize that my thoughts NEVER feel finished, and that even my books are only parts of conversations that I hope contribute to an ongoing dialogue. So I guess I am still in “crisis” about specialization and professionalism!

]]> Comment on The Blogosphere by Noah Lenstra http://sharonirish.org/blog/2009/04/11/the-blogosphere/#comment-388 Noah Lenstra Fri, 17 Apr 2009 06:47:22 +0000 http://sharonirish.org/blog/?p=186#comment-388 Hi Sharon, This is a small point, but I wanted to clarify a point you mention. When Ray was talking about amateur historians I believe his point was that this amateur historians have ALWAYS amassed an enormous amount of data out of love of the topic (e.g in Railroads, Civil War, History of Cooking, Local Histoyr of a given community etc.), but it is only now with digital technology and the ease with which amateur historians can network up and post their research that they represent a formidable threat to the academic historians' and university press's claims to be the final arbitrers of historic truth. A similar phenomenon has ocurred with the worldwide community of genealogists. At least this is the point I think Ray was referencing. I thought the "crisis in history" he foresaw related to the need for academic historians to approach all people interested in history on equal ground and not presuppose privilege or superiority. Hi Sharon,

This is a small point, but I wanted to clarify a point you mention. When Ray was talking about amateur historians I believe his point was that this amateur historians have ALWAYS amassed an enormous amount of data out of love of the topic (e.g in Railroads, Civil War, History of Cooking, Local Histoyr of a given community etc.), but it is only now with digital technology and the ease with which amateur historians can network up and post their research that they represent a formidable threat to the academic historians’ and university press’s claims to be the final arbitrers of historic truth. A similar phenomenon has ocurred with the worldwide community of genealogists.

At least this is the point I think Ray was referencing. I thought the “crisis in history” he foresaw related to the need for academic historians to approach all people interested in history on equal ground and not presuppose privilege or superiority.

]]> Comment on Continuous City by Cities » DCG optimistic about Vietnamese economy http://sharonirish.org/blog/2008/09/20/continuous-city/#comment-15 Cities » DCG optimistic about Vietnamese economy Sat, 29 Nov 2008 05:13:37 +0000 http://sharonirish.org/?p=69#comment-15 [...] Continuous City : The Digitized HeartBut the evidence of resource-intensive, upper/middle-class ownership and production juxtaposed with a seeming lip service to papadum sellers in Mumbai or Vietnamese living in U.S. trailer parks rankled. Am I ungrateful that at least … [...] [...] Continuous City : The Digitized HeartBut the evidence of resource-intensive, upper/middle-class ownership and production juxtaposed with a seeming lip service to papadum sellers in Mumbai or Vietnamese living in U.S. trailer parks rankled. Am I ungrateful that at least … [...]

]]> Comment on Mali Intersection, Urbana Crossroads by Perfumes http://sharonirish.org/blog/2008/03/25/mali-intersection-urbana-crossroads/#comment-13 Perfumes Thu, 10 Apr 2008 13:22:00 +0000 http://whatev87.wordpress.com/2008/03/25/mali-intersection-urbana-crossroads/#comment-13 Hello. This post is likeable, and your blog is very interesting, congratulations :-). I will add in my blogroll =). If possible gives a last there on my blog, it is about the <a HREF="http://perfumes-brasil.blogspot.com" REL="nofollow">Perfume</a>, I hope you enjoy. The address is http://perfumes-brasil.blogspot.com. A hug.<a HREF="7250354243" REL="nofollow"></a> Hello. This post is likeable, and your blog is very interesting, congratulations :-). I will add in my blogroll =). If possible gives a last there on my blog, it is about the Perfume, I hope you enjoy. The address is http://perfumes-brasil.blogspot.com. A hug.

]]> Comment on Mali Intersection, Urbana Crossroads by Sharon Irish http://sharonirish.org/blog/2008/03/25/mali-intersection-urbana-crossroads/#comment-12 Sharon Irish Wed, 26 Mar 2008 18:44:00 +0000 http://whatev87.wordpress.com/2008/03/25/mali-intersection-urbana-crossroads/#comment-12 Hi Janet!<br/>Thanks for your comment. I think your idea of "ownership" is central, aligned with Toby Miller's "crisis of belonging." How do we get people to want to belong? Not in the sense of a cultish, lock-step belonging, but what Doreen Massey calls a "coexisting heterogeneity" that would be celebrated? Hi Janet!
Thanks for your comment. I think your idea of “ownership” is central, aligned with Toby Miller’s “crisis of belonging.” How do we get people to want to belong? Not in the sense of a cultish, lock-step belonging, but what Doreen Massey calls a “coexisting heterogeneity” that would be celebrated?

]]> Comment on Mali Intersection, Urbana Crossroads by Janet http://sharonirish.org/blog/2008/03/25/mali-intersection-urbana-crossroads/#comment-11 Janet Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:41:00 +0000 http://whatev87.wordpress.com/2008/03/25/mali-intersection-urbana-crossroads/#comment-11 The Segou provided a means for citizens to claim public, civic space in a way which was unthinkable during the years of dictatorship and colonialism. Public art promotes the civic role of the arts, incorporating civic participation and cultural preservation. Embarking on this project became possible as the new Malian democracy fostered a feeling of ownership and responsibility for public space among its citizens.<br/><br/>How do we take back our public space?<br/><br/>Janet Goldner<br/>art@janetgoldner.com The Segou provided a means for citizens to claim public, civic space in a way which was unthinkable during the years of dictatorship and colonialism. Public art promotes the civic role of the arts, incorporating civic participation and cultural preservation. Embarking on this project became possible as the new Malian democracy fostered a feeling of ownership and responsibility for public space among its citizens.

How do we take back our public space?

Janet Goldner
art@janetgoldner.com

]]> Comment on Peace X Peace by Sharon Irish http://sharonirish.org/blog/2008/01/19/peace-x-peace/#comment-10 Sharon Irish Wed, 23 Jan 2008 02:35:00 +0000 http://whatev87.wordpress.com/2008/01/19/peace-x-peace/#comment-10 Hi Mary Liepold,<br/>Thanks for your comments. I started my blog in August of 2007, about five months ago. I have no idea how many people read it, but I like being able to accumulate personal thoughts related to my work, and observe for myself where I have been online and in spirit. I will post some other ideas about women-to-women connections. Hi Mary Liepold,
Thanks for your comments. I started my blog in August of 2007, about five months ago. I have no idea how many people read it, but I like being able to accumulate personal thoughts related to my work, and observe for myself where I have been online and in spirit. I will post some other ideas about women-to-women connections.

]]> Comment on Peace X Peace by Page X Page http://sharonirish.org/blog/2008/01/19/peace-x-peace/#comment-9 Page X Page Tue, 22 Jan 2008 19:58:00 +0000 http://whatev87.wordpress.com/2008/01/19/peace-x-peace/#comment-9 Thanks, Sharon! I'm the editor of PeaceTimes, and I was delighted to see us featured in your last post. I hope you will join Peace X Peace, if you haven't already. It sounds like we have very much the same goals.<br/><br/>Digitized Heart is a wonderful name, by the way. How old is your blog? And how many readers do you reach so far?<br/><br/>All best wishes,<br/><br/>Mary Liepold Thanks, Sharon! I’m the editor of PeaceTimes, and I was delighted to see us featured in your last post. I hope you will join Peace X Peace, if you haven’t already. It sounds like we have very much the same goals.

Digitized Heart is a wonderful name, by the way. How old is your blog? And how many readers do you reach so far?

All best wishes,

Mary Liepold

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