Post by toni on Apr 29, 2006 0:17:38 GMT -5
Toni Palmer
Talk Back Topic 9 om 1900 93 6397
29 April 2006
I adore Oscar Wilde. I could read his plays over and over again. Such a genius of the epigram! With this is mind, you can imagine how pleased I was to discover ‘my’ Oscar Wilde would come alive again in one of his most magnificent plays. The Importance Of Being Ernest was demonstrated with all of the devilish truths of nineteenth century society, although, the complete cast consisted of only two men.
I have to be honest with you, I can’t say I loved seeing one of Mr Wilde’s plays in this two man format. I had expected to see the traditional rendition. Again, I stress that the cleverness of the actors, but I longed for the original version.
Let me allow you to experience a little of this play. To begin, Gwendolyn is a traditional young lady. She is delicate and quiet natured. I saw the twenty first century Gwendolyn as a wanton, sex craved, frock wearing man. Most disturbing – although perhaps if Oscar could have viewed this updated version of his character he may have applauded…I did not. Is this a caricature of what our young ladies have become?
It seems that tradition is something people of twenty first century society no longer consider important. Most aspects of our lives have become informal, and all that is old is unimportant. This trend is recognisable in many guises. You could argue that our lives are this way as everything is much easier to accomplish. If we want bread, we buy it. If we feel like a little entertainment we can push a button, or jump in our automobiles to seek our exact fancy. And don’t let me start on manners. I ask you, where have they gone?
Do you think fast food has eradicated the delicate art of eating…clearly a hamburger does not require culinary skills. Nor does a pizza require such tools. Why even our queen snaffled up a piece of asparagus without the use of a fork.
Tradition and customs are still, very much a standard in many non-western communities, however, if one looks close enough they can, in many cases see a glimmer of our western colonising past. It may be argued that at the height of missionary interaction, non-western people were encouraged to take on the most popular western religion, along with our western customs. A confusing time for many, and even more so after we left our western ways behind, and moved on. A traditional dancer performing a ritualistic dance wearing a Nike hat is quite alluring, I can assure you.
So, as most of the world has been discovered and effectively exposed to other traditions other than their own, the question we must ask is whether this past topic of Globalization is allowing our world to become the same, in ways other than that of finance and business? And secondly, is this a good thing?
It is the small things that make a difference in life. Such delicate actions need a little time if they are to be performed in a charming manner…but we seem to have none of this time.
Let’s look at our evolvement as ‘human beings’. We took centuries to create traditions and polite customs in society, such as eating with cutlery, dressing for company and even restraint from personal grooming in public. Well.. I so often observe fingers in food, clothing that resemble pyjamas, and I admit the other day I witnessed a women picking her toes. She seemed completely unabashed in her action, and I on the other hand, wanted to shake her and scream “what are you doing”. We think we are becoming smarter and more civilized, but sometimes I just don’t know if this is the case.
What would Oscar Wilde say to the toe picker? I can’t tell you this but I can tell you what you thought about the country that is most relaxed with their customs and traditions. And her it is.
America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without civilization in between.
Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)
Sorry George W.!
As it would be uncivilised for me to carry on any longer, particularly as my neuroses are beginning to show, I bid you adieu
.
I’m Toni Palmer and I hope you enjoyed your week-end talk back topic.
Talk Back Topic 9 om 1900 93 6397
29 April 2006
I adore Oscar Wilde. I could read his plays over and over again. Such a genius of the epigram! With this is mind, you can imagine how pleased I was to discover ‘my’ Oscar Wilde would come alive again in one of his most magnificent plays. The Importance Of Being Ernest was demonstrated with all of the devilish truths of nineteenth century society, although, the complete cast consisted of only two men.
I have to be honest with you, I can’t say I loved seeing one of Mr Wilde’s plays in this two man format. I had expected to see the traditional rendition. Again, I stress that the cleverness of the actors, but I longed for the original version.
Let me allow you to experience a little of this play. To begin, Gwendolyn is a traditional young lady. She is delicate and quiet natured. I saw the twenty first century Gwendolyn as a wanton, sex craved, frock wearing man. Most disturbing – although perhaps if Oscar could have viewed this updated version of his character he may have applauded…I did not. Is this a caricature of what our young ladies have become?
It seems that tradition is something people of twenty first century society no longer consider important. Most aspects of our lives have become informal, and all that is old is unimportant. This trend is recognisable in many guises. You could argue that our lives are this way as everything is much easier to accomplish. If we want bread, we buy it. If we feel like a little entertainment we can push a button, or jump in our automobiles to seek our exact fancy. And don’t let me start on manners. I ask you, where have they gone?
Do you think fast food has eradicated the delicate art of eating…clearly a hamburger does not require culinary skills. Nor does a pizza require such tools. Why even our queen snaffled up a piece of asparagus without the use of a fork.
Tradition and customs are still, very much a standard in many non-western communities, however, if one looks close enough they can, in many cases see a glimmer of our western colonising past. It may be argued that at the height of missionary interaction, non-western people were encouraged to take on the most popular western religion, along with our western customs. A confusing time for many, and even more so after we left our western ways behind, and moved on. A traditional dancer performing a ritualistic dance wearing a Nike hat is quite alluring, I can assure you.
So, as most of the world has been discovered and effectively exposed to other traditions other than their own, the question we must ask is whether this past topic of Globalization is allowing our world to become the same, in ways other than that of finance and business? And secondly, is this a good thing?
It is the small things that make a difference in life. Such delicate actions need a little time if they are to be performed in a charming manner…but we seem to have none of this time.
Let’s look at our evolvement as ‘human beings’. We took centuries to create traditions and polite customs in society, such as eating with cutlery, dressing for company and even restraint from personal grooming in public. Well.. I so often observe fingers in food, clothing that resemble pyjamas, and I admit the other day I witnessed a women picking her toes. She seemed completely unabashed in her action, and I on the other hand, wanted to shake her and scream “what are you doing”. We think we are becoming smarter and more civilized, but sometimes I just don’t know if this is the case.
What would Oscar Wilde say to the toe picker? I can’t tell you this but I can tell you what you thought about the country that is most relaxed with their customs and traditions. And her it is.
America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without civilization in between.
Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)
Sorry George W.!
As it would be uncivilised for me to carry on any longer, particularly as my neuroses are beginning to show, I bid you adieu
.I’m Toni Palmer and I hope you enjoyed your week-end talk back topic.