By: waschell

waschell — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 04:48:16 +0000

It’s precisely because some ignoramus would have sticky fingers and pick up the book that people are “not allowed to touch.” I do wish to interact more with historical environments, but see the reason for the barriers. And Disney movies can sometimes make one sick with how much inappropriate sexual innuendo or outright lewd movement they contain. I was horrified with the dance scene in the Hunchback and Mike Myers in The Cat in the Hat was ridiculously offensive! But maybe that wasn’t Disney. Your post though, makes me want to find out more about Miss Evelyn!

By: argmarg

argmarg — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 19:53:29 +0000

I really enjoyed The Anarchist Guide blog post; while I understand the importance of protecting historic treasures (or just “old stuff”), I agree that nothing moves us further from the past than plexiglass and velvet ropes. (I also loved your movies comparison counterpoint.) It reminds me that I would much rather read a historical novel (or posts such as yours!) than a history book. The information might be the same, but the novel or post adds so much more “life context”. Perhaps the answer for museums is a little give on both sides: rather than see a static display for posterity, we might actually enter the rooms and experience something more relatable than untouchable antiques: a child’s toy on the floor, a quill pen and inkwell lying on a desk with a half-written letter, an open window, the smell of a wood or coal fire, the sounds from the estate, or even a bucket to catch the drops from a (fictitiously) leaky roof. You know, a place that looks lived in, and possibly recently and only momentarily vacated. (Possibly for a sexual romp—but I don’t want to know about that any more than I want to know details of contemporary celebrities’ sex lives.)
Looking forward to your next post and my helping of living history.

Comments on: The Anarchist Guide

By: waschell

By: argmarg