Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2006 20:14:21 -0600
To: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Wikipedia puppetry entries


On Jan 23, 2006, at 2:37 PM, Steve Axtell wrote:
> That really is bad. How could one make such a
> statement?   That's like saying "People have
> blonde hair and green eyes, and always vote."
>

I find it curious to think that anyone who works in theatre/puppetry 
might imagine there is some ultimate authority who can define things 
ultimately and for everyone else.

I personally love Bread & Puppet's work. I also love much of what 
Henson did, as I have noted on this forum. I have visited  Axtell 
Expressions, Inc. web site, seen the catalogue and recommended Axtell 
products to many people. I think it is a wonderful business.

I also realize that  in designing a puppet the choice of "cute" is 
picked for specific reasons. I've not seen a Bread & Puppet work that 
employs  much "cute". But "cuteness" has a lot of currency in  the 
world of advertising and entertainment, where "sacred" has very limited 
currency.

I respect Mr. Axtell's and Mr. Shumann's respective opinions and each 
of their rights and responsibilities to recreate, rethink and re-invent 
their approach to puppetry. The art is as diverse as the artists. That 
is a very good thing.

Argument and discussion can lead to expanded understanding, 
clarification, cross fertilization, vitality, artistic growth, etc. All 
good things. Depth & width expand.

Children's toys made to look like cute animals is a pretty recent 
practice in human culture. Sacred effigies are quite a bit more 
ancient.

My own personal understanding is that when we tell stories for the 
ancient & traditional purposes, we are engaged in a sacred activity. 
But the more we tell stories for commercial purposes - that is, using 
storytelling to sell something to others - we have crossed over to the 
profane (at worst) & trivial (at best).

It took me over 20 years of work & study to come to this understanding. 
And I have applied my own creative work to both the sacred & the 
profane.

So if I am casting stones, it is not from a sinless posture.

Someone, Bertolt Brecht perhaps, said, "Art is not a mirror. Art is a 
hammer".  Abraham Maslow said "When your only tool is a hammer, you 
tend to treat everything like a nail"
I won't venture what might happen when your favorite tool is "cute".

mjm
"Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire." =96 Confucius

"I hear and I forget.
I see and I remember.
I do and I understand."
Confucius

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