Homestead mailing list

[Don Bowen KI6DIU <don.bowen AT earthlink.net>]

At 11/3/2007, you wrote:
> Gene, I think what appeals to me more than the
> affordability of using local materials is the organic,
> almost spiritual, qualities of vernacular architecture,
> the embodiment of one's cultural heritage (not that
> Americans have a cohesive one, or one that I'd choose to
> emulate).

The vernacular of local materials requires more labor and in a society that 
does not value manual labor (or intellectuals for that matter) the 
vernacular falls to the wayside.  In its place is a system of many 
interchangeable parts that results in interchangeable houses.  Interesting 
is replaced with safe.  Local becomes nationwide.  The house you bought in 
Washington is just like the house your brother bought in Florida.  As a 
part of this we become removed from place.  The landscaping in Los Angles 
begins to look like the landscaping in Boston.  Same little houses no 
matter where you go, same plantings, same franchises.  Little boxes that 
are interchangeable become filled with interchangeable people who live 
interchangeable lives.


LITTLE BOXES

written in 1962 by Malvina Reynolds

Chorus:
Little boxes on the hillside
LIttle boxes made of ticky-tacky
LIttle boxes on the hillside
Little boxes all the same
There's a pink on and a blue one
And a green one and a yellow one
And they're all made out of ticky-tacky
And they all look just the same

Verse 1:
And the people in the boxes
All went to the university
Where they all got put in boxes,
Little boxes all the same.
And they're doctors and they're lawyers
And business executives
And they're all made out of ticky-tacky
And they all look just the same

Chorus

Verse 2:
And they all play on the golf course
And they drink their martini dry
And they all have pretty children
And the children go to school
And the children go to summer camp
And then to the university
And they all get put in boxes
And they all come out the same

Chorus

Verse 3: (by Jodey Bateman)
Politicians, politicians
Politicans making promises
Politicians, politicians
Politicians all the same
There's republicans and there's democrats
And there's liberals and conservatives
And they're all made out of ticky-tacky
And they all sound just the same.



Don Bowen              Awl Knotted Up                       KI6DIU
http://www.braingarage.com