----- Original Message ----- From: Lawrence de Bivort <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Ray Evans Harrell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; Harry Pollard <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, January 01, 2002 5:05 PM Subject: RE: Argentina down and out
> Greetings, Ray, > > Good point. So, the sensory channel we use has a lot to do with the type of > information that can be transmitted. Words are great for some forms of > information (e.g. distinctions, specification, identification of > alternatives). Visuals are great for big picture information, dynamic flows > and compartmentalization. Tonal sounds are great for mood (? this is one of > your areas of expertise -- what do you think?) Happy New Year Lawry, I think the tonal recognition systems being developed in information technology will revolutionize writing. The problem with writing is that it is limited to one or two cliche' meanings of words of the denotative variety. In Theatrical performance practice I have devised up to seven levels of meaning underneathe each word in a simple sentence as a pedagogical method of practice. Normal writing barely uses more than two meanings and limits those two to the dictionary or denotative meanings with very little of the connotative meanings being explored beyond the specific context or tone of a single paragraph. In speech you have the contexts of linguistic grammar, culture, family, periodic style and specific situation that are all indicated not only in the tone and pitch of the language, but the various phonetic elements known as accent (as in "Southern" or "Cockney" etc. accents). These indicate a world view that is based in a core social situation that was added to the larger biological elements from birth to 10 years of age and nailed down in a tonal language. Note Shaw's Pygmalian. America tries in its media to erase the awareness of such tonal shades of meaning found in the various regional accents. In fact, it is a rule of Hollywood Diction that you simply change a minimal number of vowel sounds in a particular accent to give the tonal "flavor" of that accent rather than the shades of meaning found in the real thing. An example would be the fine British actress Kate Blanchett in the movie "The Gift" where she played a Louisiana House Wife with a gift for divination. It was filmed in Georgia and there was such a fuzzying of the local scene and actors that she seemed believable if you didn't know anyone from Louisiana. On the other hand a certain actor who I can't recall his name at present had the lead in the James Clavell movie Tai Pan where he had such a complete Scottish accent from the period that it annoyed the reviewers who didn't know how to interpret his inflections since they were so used to Hollywood "General" diction. I suspect the computer will change all of that as it gets more specific and can interpret thousands of tonal variations in speech. We might call the program "Henry Higgins" or "George Bernard Shaw." What do you think? REH and kinesthetics (touch and > feel) are great for final decision making (something 'feels right' or > doesn't). > > Happy new year to you, too, Ray. > > Lawry > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Ray Evans Harrell [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Monday, December 31, 2001 6:16 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Harry Pollard > Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: Argentina down and out > > > Happy New Year Larry, > > Good to read your voice. You raise an interesting point about visual > forms. I know experts who believe that prose words are incapable of > making us truly understand what is happening in complicated situations. > They feel that a good flow chart is worth a thousand words. Well, its > good to hear from you again. > > Ray Evans Harrell, artistic director > The Magic Circle Opera Repertory Ensemble, Inc. > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Lawrence de Bivort <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: Harry Pollard <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Monday, December 31, 2001 3:04 PM > Subject: RE: Argentina down and out > > > > Leaving Argentina aside for a moment, all living systems do have a set of > > functions in common, and it can be very useful to compare the operation of > > one system to that of another. JG Miller, in LIVING SYSTEMS, argues > > persuasively that cells, organs, organisms, organizations and societies > all > > have these functions in common. For example, they have boundary, > > nutritional, energy, informational systems in common. S Beer also > developed > > models based on the commonality of functions among living systems. In my > own > > work, I have examined the fractal nestings of living systems within larger > > ones and the interactions among them. These approaches have proved highly > > useful in the analysis of individuals, families, organizations, societies > > and nations. > > > > Living systems analysis may well be a tool that Argentineans could use to > > diagnose their situation and determine the necessary courses of action to > > recovery. > > > > Lawry de Bivort > > > > > > > > Harry Pollard said: > > > > Countries are not like people who may need to rest. The are bunches of > > people who unfortunately rely on politicians and their obedient economists > > to run the economy. > > > > Never could there be a finer prescription for disaster. I said that not > > only do economists not know why economies are staggering into recession - > > they don't even know why there was a boom. > > > > There isn't much point Arthur to anthropomorphizing countries > > > > >
