Re: [-empyre-] Farewell to Patrick, Raul and Eduardo for "Border Crossings"

[Jacquie Clarke <arapito@pl.net>]

Hola,

A final word on the discussion between Eduardo and Raul before it 
disappears. Writing as someone who felt very moved by the conversation 
as it ranged between people and loved seeing Spanish spoken and written 
on the list. Gracias. While on holiday in Mexico City last year I 
watched for a long time while an Aztec soldier gave Aztec language 
lessons near the Zocalo - alongside the Pablo Neruda conference which 
was all a street affair. The list discussion made me wonder if the 
label of "subtle essentialism" is particularised by proximity to 
indigenity. Last year Australian art historian Ian McLean in Eyeline: 
Contemporary Visual Arts magazine discussed Aboriginal artist Judy 
Watson's work making the comment that the spiritual concerns of 
indigenous art mark its contemporariness. As an art theorist I am 
writing a lecture on the origins of circular imagery which also emerges 
from that arena across cultures and of course has been marginalised 
because of its essentialist associations ie cosmology, astronomy, 
astrology, paganism, etc. Still a very significant origin which 
provides an incredible level of intellectual sustenance for one's 
efforts. I guess the counter to 'essentialism' is plurality and the 
problematic but is that also often aligned with a privileged, centered 
vista?

Jacquie Clarke
Lecturer
Visual Theory
Auckland University of Technology
New Zealand

On 01/05/2005, at 8:11 AM, Kate Southworth wrote:

> Dear empyre list
>
> Thank you so very much for listening to these ideas and feelings that 
> Raul,
> Eduardo and Patrick and I have been trying to articulate, and thank 
> you for
> your insightful and generous responses.   These woven strands have 
> left me
> with much to consider, for which I am very grateful.  So, many thanks 
> to
> everyone with whom ideas and feelings - silent or spoken - co-emerged.
>
> katexx
>
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