 sj |
||
|
||
Thought for the Day - Feb 16
|
|
|
Subject: Thought for the Day - Feb 16 From: Peter T. Date: 16 Feb 00 - 11:06 AM The passing of Charles Schulz got me thinking about Linus and his security blanket, and then about "transitional objects" in general, such as musical instruments. In his book "Playing and Reality", the child psychoanalyst D.W. Winnicott pointed out that blankets, teddy bears, and dolls, are transitional objects: they are the first objects that children use to work their way through the relationship between the inner self and the outer world. The objects are sometimes treated as real persons, sometimes imaginary, sometimes just blankets. They are "played" with: they are actors in little playlets, follow and break child-generated rules. Winnicott argues that these transitional objects occupy (and help create) the transitional space that we call "play". They are part of what helps us learn how to handle, but also play with reality throughout our lives. Musical instruments must then also be a form of teddy bear. They are things we play with, creating realities, creating fantasies, and hugging them to us. Some people collect them, some people only feel safe when they are behind them, some people speak through them when they are at their therapist (known as a music lesson). Playing and reality. |
|
Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 16 From: katlaughing Date: 16 Feb 00 - 11:15 AM Such sweet voices are found through these, our instruments...lovely thought, Peter. I find we also do this with our pets; our dog sometimes is a wonderful intermediary for asking favours, soothing ruffled feelings, teasing someone into a laugh. While the cats, well, the cats solve all sorts of problems and sometimes will open a floodgate of emotions and words that we don't even know we've been supressing, at least in my experience. So, perhaps, like Snoopy, pets are another transitional, animated *play-mate*. If so, I will never grow up. katlaughing |
|
Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 16 From: Troll Date: 16 Feb 00 - 11:21 AM "Backward, turn backward o time in thy flight, And make me a child once again for a night." Sometimes, when I play my guitar all alone, it seems to happen. troll |
|
Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 16 From: Midchuck Date: 16 Feb 00 - 11:25 AM "Treated as?" Treated as?!" What idiot said this!? Musical instruments are real persons. As are cats. So are dogs, just very stupid ones. Peter. |
|
Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 16 From: Fortunato Date: 16 Feb 00 - 11:33 AM Yes, the comparison is well made. A musical instrument does seem to act as a focal point for the transition between the inner self and the outer world. I think you have described the crux or flash point of musical creativity. I balk, however, at the music teacher as therapist analogy. Though music and the musical act may often be therapeutic, I feel a distinction must be made between teacher and therapist, the roles seem disparate to me. Your description quite clearly states the intrinsic value of the musical act for the mental health of the individual. I attribute my (relative) sanity to its efficacy. |
|
Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 16 From: Mbo Date: 16 Feb 00 - 11:33 AM I go back not long ago to the day of my 18th birthday...I picked up my steel stringed guitar and said "I really should learn how to play this." I had been playing classically for 2 years, and had no idea how to strum, or how to read chords, or even sing. Now here I am 3 years later, and strumming, chords, and singing have taken over not only my musical consciousness, but my whole life. But the classical guitar has added much to my playing, and I try to incorporate it as much as possible, as time and academic constraints slowly squelch the classical guitar performance future. I guess I've come a long way, for someone who had never even seen a real guitar till I was 15. --Mbo |
|
Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 16 From: catspaw49 Date: 16 Feb 00 - 11:38 AM Well this explains the Waylon Heron. Spaw |
|
Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 16 From: Rick Fielding Date: 16 Feb 00 - 11:53 AM Great character Linus, what? The security blanket is out front for all to see, so that when he dispenses wisdom, it can be taken as " a suggestion from one dysfunctional to another". Hard to get mad at someone who has the guts to display their insecurities without shame. He's my kinda guy. By the way, without the guitar, I feel I would be even LESS understood by most people. Now as to giving your instrument human characteristics?........dunno about that. Rick I've seen several fairly lengthy interviews with Schultz, and was amazed at his openness, insecurity, intelligence, and honesty about why he was not going to allow anyone to carry on his strip. Of course it helped immeasurably that he was being interviewed by Charlie Rose and Mike Wallace...two good pros. |
|
Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 16 From: Dave (the ancient mariner) Date: 16 Feb 00 - 11:54 AM Line from a Melanie song. "I hugged on my pillow and I think it hugged me" Bears are real people, I know cause I watch them hug back, in ways real people cannot; or will not. I always think of BB King naming his guitar Lucille. Why not? Yours,Aye.Dave |
|
Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 16 From: Mbo Date: 16 Feb 00 - 12:06 PM Oh, my guitars have names! My first classical guitar I used to call "Vox Aeterna." My performance classical is "The Dauphin," and my trusty steel-string is "Bubba." I hug my guitar--I don't feel safe when I'm without it. Pepe Romero hugs his guitar too! --Mbo |
|
Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 16 From: Willie-O Date: 16 Feb 00 - 12:20 PM Well thats how ya keep em from crashing to the floor. And I'm reminded of a question posed elsewhere by Rick: "why won't anyone admit that their guitar is a dog?" (Let me hasten to add that dogs are getting unfairly maligned around here; they are smarter and much more sociable than cats.) Because the truth is, all our friends and loved ones are imperfect, just like us. W-O |
|
Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 16 From: Mbo Date: 16 Feb 00 - 12:36 PM Cats--not as smart as dogs? I DON'T THINK SO! Besides, my cat likes to get hugged, at least by me! --Mbo |
|
Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 16 From: Amos Date: 16 Feb 00 - 12:47 PM Thread pet creep! Aoooogah! Danger, Will Robinson! II actually sometimes think threads are people, too...er...well, I shouldn't have said that but... |
|
Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 16 From: Wincing Devil Date: 16 Feb 00 - 01:05 PM Cats Rewl, Dogs Drewl! That said, many people didn't like Peanuts because it wasn't consistently funny. Schulz explained "Life isn't consistently funny, why should Peanuts be?" To bring this back to something musical, I love Vince Guaraldi's original music for the TV shows. The essence of Jazz IMNSHO. Wincing_Devil
|
|
Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 16 From: Fortunato Date: 16 Feb 00 - 01:43 PM Cats? Dogs? Drewl? I don't think I'm groking this thread. I'll try again. My acoustic guitar does not have a name, but I have been using it to stroke my musical G-spot for 28 years.
|
|
Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 16 From: simon-pierre Date: 16 Feb 00 - 01:59 PM I'm not sure my guitar has the same function that had the blanket my mother trashed away when I was six.. But playing instrument and singing gives back to world his unity for a while. Less than a transition between the player and others, it's between him and the worlrd. And I swear my dog is not stupid. SP |
|
Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 16 From: GUEST,Merlee-the Smart Border Collie Date: 16 Feb 00 - 02:52 PM Dear Mudcatters, Now, what kind of cat would get in the mud?! My mom, who is a kat, says you all have been maligning my kind. I wish to inform you that, not only are most dogs smart, Border Collies are the smartest! I suffer through life with 6 cats and two humans, none of whom speak the same language as I do, so, you see, I am multi-lingual. At present, I am working towards a degree in livestock management, as well as finishing up my second degree in law enforcement for various species. When I am not attending classes, I tutor other students, operate as second in command while "mom" pursues her many necessary daily travels, maintain a safe perimeter of our realm, and I actually take time for a daily romp in the grass, along with a healthy balance of rest and relaxation. In my short time with "mom", I've grown to tolerate and even actually be fond of the cats, most of whom I would say are of above average intelligence. The only complaint I have about them, is they do not like to share and can be very snooty. My other hobbies include learning the four-pawed, multi-collared caninecimer, made by the renowned "Ahian" Catspaw, and singing harmony to "mom's" melodies. In the furture, I hope to form my own folk band, with a couple of my feline companions and, there is a cow across the road who shows some promise, as well as a lone coyote (if we can get him to come in out of the cold). Our birds, the cockatiel and finch already sing backup for me. I hope that this has served as a brief example of the intelligence and abilties of my breed and species. Let he who is without a brain cast the first stone. Sincerely Yours, Merlee aka The Wonder Dog |
|
Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 16 From: wysiwyg Date: 16 Feb 00 - 03:37 PM IMHO, I think we are simply hard-wired for music from the cellular level on out, and that we reach for instruments in the same way we reach for tools-- to extend our ability to modify the environment. The tools effect change upon the physical environment, the instrument effects change upon all the other environments. Early man used instruments as early as tool, or were drums actually the the first tools? I think as adults some of us use instruments as transitional objects but if they did nothing more for us than that I don't think we'd stick with them as long or as deep as we do. This leads to my everyone-is-musical rant which I will not go into here except to say no one has shown me wrong yet, when I can work with them my own way. That would be IMNSHO, eh?)
|
|
Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 16 From: MMario Date: 16 Feb 00 - 03:49 PM Dear Merlee: it is a well known fact that Border Collies are not, in fact, dogs at all, but rather homo sapiens quadrupedae. Virtually anyone with a brain cell functioning that has ever lived with a border collie will swear to it. They are indeed multi-lingual, highly intelligent, cooperative and friendly; all of which point towards their not being canid. |
|
Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 16 From: Allan C. Date: 16 Feb 00 - 04:06 PM Not as my blanket but at one time more of a shield, my guitar protected me from the hordes. I would have to admit that at least for me, Peter's point is spot on. For a long time I was virtually unable to function at social gatherings of more than four or five people unless my guitar was with me. Fortunately at that time in my life I was thought of as being "pretty good" at the folksinging stuff and so was often asked to parties as a performer who could also stay afterwards and eat/drink with the people there (my only pay). More often than not, I would do my little show and then quickly exit. But sometimes, with my guitar still in hand, I would gather up my courage and mingle just a little while I sipped a drink or wolfed down a canapé or two. But then I would have to leave. This inability to be "social" without the presence of the guitar was applicable even if those at the parties were people I knew relatively well. I am happy to say that, for the most part, those days are gone. When the occasion arises, I can now hold my own in large groups. But I have to admit that it is still easier for me to do if my guitar is within reach and I still have a strong preference for very small groups. |
|
Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 16 From: GUEST,Neil Lowe Date: 16 Feb 00 - 05:23 PM ...think I posted this somewhere before, but as I advance in age, I think I have earned the right to repeat myself: "Information is not knowledge; knowledge is not wisdom; wisdom is not truth; truth is not beauty; beauty is not love; love is not music; music is the best." --Frank Zappa, Joe's Garage |
|
Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 16 From: Wesley S Date: 16 Feb 00 - 06:00 PM Call me crazy but I think a musical instrument will { much like a child } will become better if nurtured properly. I have a friend with a very nice { and expensive } guitar that he rarly tunes, rarely - if ever - changes the strings, and when he does pick it up he's most likely going to fool around with some Jimi Hendrix or Jimmy Page metal riffs. And his guitar sounds like crap. And for some reason he can't understand why my less expensive guitar sounds way better. He equates the money he spent on it to the quality of sound he's supposed to get out of it. They may be boxes made out of wood but if you treat them with care and respect you can expect to get a lot more out of them. Just like people. |
|
Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 16 From: Little Neophyte Date: 16 Feb 00 - 08:21 PM Allan C., your posting helps me understand something I have observed in a few musician friends of mine. I have notice when old insecurities arise, their instrument becomes almost like a pacifier It has a calming affect. For me it is a teddy bear. At one time in my life I had collect many teddy bears, each one taking on a different personality. One day I loaded them all up in my car, drove off to Sears and had their portraits done. I handed out wallet size pictures of my bears, key chain photos and had the best group shot blown up and framed. To this day, when things get rough, I like to talk it over with my bear. Little Neo |
|
Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 16 From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 16 Feb 00 - 08:56 PM "What is Real?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"
"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but Really loves you, then you become Real."
"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.
"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."
"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up" he asked,"or bit by bit?"
"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't often happpen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."
(From The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams.)
|
|
Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 16 From: Amos Date: 16 Feb 00 - 09:22 PM McGrath, No matter what anyone says, I hold you in highest esteem as a gentleman and philosopher for posting that selection. A |
|
Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 16 From: Brendy Date: 16 Feb 00 - 09:53 PM Nice one McGrath |
|
Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 16 From: katlaughing Date: 16 Feb 00 - 10:04 PM Oh, Kevin, that was perfect. Thank you. |
|
Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 16 From: Dave (the ancient mariner) Date: 16 Feb 00 - 10:06 PM Exactly, well done mate! |
|
Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 16 From: Little Neophyte Date: 16 Feb 00 - 10:11 PM Mr McGrath, I think that shall be the bedtime story I read my bears tonight. It's beautiful! LN |
|
Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 16 From: Áine Date: 16 Feb 00 - 10:17 PM A Chaoimhín, Maith thú! All my children have had their own Velveteen Rabbit. I just wish I would have had one when I had scarlet fever as a child -- they burned my yellow blankie . . . This thread takes me back to my second ever guitar - La Mariposa (The Butterfly), I called her. I haven't played her since she was purloined (that's the most polite word I can use) by a person I cannot bear to name. When I got her back, I gave her away. Was I crazy? I don't know. All I know is that I've never been that 'close' to another guitar again. But, I have to say that my drums are very special to me -- however, I've never named them, or any other instrument again. -- Áine |
|
Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 16 From: Sheye Date: 16 Feb 00 - 11:16 PM "so she let the phone keep ringing as she sat there softly singing little nursery rhymes she'd memorized from her daddy's easy chair"
- ballad of lucy jordan
that childhood safety is just a memory away, and I still have the teddy bear Sheye |
| Share Thread: |
