Mathew_Arnold_Culture&Anarchy

Welcome readers

INTRODUCTION

With reference to "Mathew Arnold's essay on 'Culture & Anarchy'" which was published in 'periodical essays' between 1867-68, collected in book in 1869 and finally a preface was added in 1875. I am writing some of the points suggested in it; such as 'sweetness&light', 'doing as one likes', 'barbarians, philistines and populace', a central idea of combining 'hebraism as well as hellenism', 'Porto unum necessarium' and 'liberal practitioners'.

SWEETNESS & LIGHT

 "Sweetness: Moral righteousness + Light: Intellectual power&truth = Ministry of Culture":

Victorian Era : Mammon Worshipping

Based on History and Society

'Moral righteousness doesn't mean 'rigidity' andmammon worshiping' as it was prevailing in "Victorian Era". But something which is related to inner depth, moral sense(spirituality) which indicates our mind towards spirituality. It is like seeing as "Plato was seeing the world(with truth in it, rather concerning realism)".

If due to undecidability "moral sense" is stucked in between, it will damage human psycology(as happened with Hamlet in Hamlet play). Say morality as seen in (Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens: Though a boy an exceptional among many common people retain his self, till the end, without distorting his moral senses).

To achieve the idea of "what was bestly thought by the people in the past". We need to balance both "sweetness and light". Sweetness as we had discussed in prior section, lightness has regardance with "active intelligence". Which is an emancipatory approach, not abided but loosely pouring its light for the welfare of people, which is deeply rooted in scepticism, scepticism in terms of every aspect of life, where evil is scepticised and solution is made for the betterment of the people.

We may have an example of "Restoration era" where due to puritan strictness, the era was flinged into dark and so people of that particular era had to suffer and in this era the idea of deliriousness was given importance, for the welfare of the people. 

By balancing both the scientific passion for pure knowledge with temperament of social and moral can be gained for people's welfare.

Doing as one likes

It is mere a Joker, whose job is to entertain the people with his funny bodily movements and facial expressions. While on the other side it seems to be a 'criminal or masquerade' who in exact terms is something else but pretending to be the one valuable.

Refering to the first idea of entertainment, if like joker everyone is free to behave as one likes and noone is their to control(authority power) then what would be the ultimate status of any place/region/country/city/continent.  It would transform into anarchy, for those who are practising pleasurable activities for them it will retain as usual thing but an outsider(intellectual resistant) would have the unbiased look and he would feel that these fun makers need some resistance.

Doing as one likes also meant to be "an anarchy":  Which refers to a society without a public enforced government or violently enforced politically authority.

If we refer the other chunk of "masquerade of Joker" humanbeings have also become similar to this. Somewhere openly spreading chaos, (those will be untamed/insensible or sometimes a rebellious people)somewhere hiddenly releasing negative viruses(those who are indulged in insensitive political power)while somewhere by being masked doing many problematic things to transform the society into anarchy or some favourable things for the welfare of people and society( sometime for public welfare, sometime intentionally to deteriorate the society and its people).

HEBRAISM

Who by nature are fashionable, more civilized, free-thinker, liberantian and rich.

But as they were over obsessed with their privileges, by being superior in society and as given responsibility for the welfare of the people, they were unable to get on with and unfairly treated people of their times.

Thus were the people, who represented the clan of "Jewish Culture".

PHILISTINE:

Who were pure industrialist and commercial.As believe 'money as a prime concern for life' those by being in "coffee hubs" exchange the ideas and utilize those for the progression of their particular business.
For example : Eighteenth Century(Coffee hub)

A coffee hub in London, where people were used to gather and exchange their ideas, and likewise dissemination of information was made to happen.

To relate with these some  characteristics of some characteristics from "Far from the madding crowd" novel, we have "Boldwood":

In this novel by Thomas Hardy, Gabriel Oak, Troy, Boldwood and Bathsheba are represented, presenting their given roles. If we see Boldwood, he is literally business man, while Bathsheba can't be considered as domesticated in house.

Thus the philistinians were utilizing those ideas for Development of their business, and seems to be interested in leveling their higher strata in society.

POPULACE:

As they were already indulged in gaining their 'basic necessities' due to extreme poverty, they can't think out of their reach, can't cultivate skills or such abilities to push themselves ahead in their lives and as their weakness is known to those people, who were dictators, they were easily succumbed to subjectivity and were used in gaining their own(dictators) personal benefits.

Hence the idea is one should follow 'balanced way of life' which can be done by two approaches; one is Hebraim(conscience of strictness, therefore obedient) and another is Hellenism(spontaneity of consciousness), merging of both can lead to equilibriumity, staunchly following one, hebraism(Jewish idea) won't provide "intellectuality or light", while travelling on only "hellenism" perhaps lead to free way of living life but not balanced one, which is also necessary for living healthy and prosper life.

Hebraism has connection with rigidity, bias, superiority and anarchy, and which is also static. While Hellenism refers to spontaneity, which travels between both "Hebraism as well as Hellenism" rather than sticking to any one, has balance tendency.
Hebraism goes with Bible, narrow-mindedness, thinking only for God follower. While Hellenism will go with spirit of Greek, open-minded knowledge, thinking for practical follower of the platonic idea.
Thus balance of both is suggestive for every human being.

Our Liberal Practitioners

Unpretending writers are such, who will see each and everything, coming in front of them with logical and reasoning and if any idea or any sect doesn't possess this naturality, then they will do away with that prevailing idea.
According to them if a religion, without critical tendency accepts the rules of any religion blindly, and blocks their intellectual space as not able to access through the thinking arena of what is being right and wrong even don't have scepticism towards anything, if suppose it is there, people will have solution but without it the thinking won't get free flow of thought and so without identifying what is right and wrong just indulging themselves into what is coming forward. They also say that they don't have any bias or problem with any idea or any type of religion if they provide space for free thinking.
For Example - Gandhiji:
(Refering this idea with religion's context)
As father of our nation: Mahatma Gandhiji, who was heavily influenced by 'Jainism' in his youth, but in some respects he was libertarian. He had accepted all hebraising ideas and was amiable with all religious people. Whether those were Christians, Muslims, Hindus or Sikhs.
Thus a libertarian will be of a flexible tendency, who doesn't have any bias, prejudices or any kind of antipathy towards anyone, but will try to adjust in any situation, with any person, by cultivating within elasticity.

PORRO UNUM EST NECESSARIUM

Porro Unum Est Necessarium, is a satire on Wellington's pressure over king's "Catholic emancipation". Lettered  in the title caption "his ambition will lead him to attempt that one thing", Vide Napolean Bonaparte's prophecy.

http://m.vam.ac.uk/collections/item/O1068434/porro-unum-est-necessarium-hand-coloured-etching-heath-william/

As per "Bonaparte's prophecy", as wellington king has a specific ambition towards the king, not to allow him to be his self with "Catholicism" and as the prediction of prophecy, it had effectual consequences also in the past, where "protestantism, a christian sect was established, while somewhere the same sect was followed, but they weren't allowed to follow this particular sect openly.

Likewise, it is explained for "Doing as one likes" that when "freedom" reaches at its extreme stage, then everything transforms into anarchy. But if it is balanced with "conscience of strictness" and "spontaneity of consciousness", respectively representing the ideas of 'Hebraism' and 'Hellenism', then a person can flourish and prosper with reconcialation

Otherwise it isn't possible if one is staunchly stucked only to one idea, the stimulated faculty of mind will prosper, while the other will remain in 'dormant state'

Thus we had seen subsequently Sweetness and light, doing as one likes, three stratas of culture; hebraism, philistines and populace, along with the balancing idea of "hebraism and hellenism", liberal practitioners and at last Porro unum est necessarium.

Thankyou

Samiya Kagdi

A learner at PG center

Department Of English

MKBU

APPLIED SOURCES: 

http://m.vam.ac.uk/collections/item/O1068434/porro-unum-est-necessarium-hand-coloured-etching-heath-william/

https://dilipbarad.blogspot.com/2020/01/culture-and-anarchy.html

Cultural studies - workshop - Kalyaani Vallath ma'am

Welcome readers!

This also represents an institutive culture

From various concepts analysis an exceptional study called "cultural studies" came into being, where other disciplinaries are somewhere biased and digged with prejudices and taintment, with this it isn't the case, but here it suggests enlightenment, sweetness and accepting everything, whether it is religion, politics, idealism, society, and ultimately drawing oneself to the expansion of human perfectibility and that is concerned with cultural studies, particularly emphasises on "likeness to everything"!

The cultural studies

Images in fractions Suggest a core idea for elasticity with anything either if it is a literal heaven or hell, stressing oneself to such an extent, that if one is dissolved, evolved or fermented of it no matters, but  knows how to come out of it, concerning others welfare .

Understanding about the concept called cultural studies:

"Cultural studies" interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary  study of each specific culture comprises of; religion, society, politics, (school of thoughts comprising various disciplinaries), philosophed culture etc. When in other cultures, there are many deficiencies; as religion suggests rigidity and so it makes one blind to see about what is happening in and around him/her, whereas society propagates social order, where one has to act according to the society, if fails then he/she is criticized/banished from the society, Politics indicates hierarchical positions of power structure and undergoing corrupted tendency, while thought of school can be regarded with each and every aspect and idealism of life.

What cultural studies do with interdisciplinary fragments:

According to "Mathew Arnold" if one is directly denying to accept the prevailing tendency of any field, for example take religion then it will lead to "anarchy" to do away with this, and to establish "a harmoniuos society" one should accept, though for time being, what is prevailing, then by being amiable with that one should try to propagate and express their ideas, but with acceptance to the prevailing one. Then perhaps it will lead to enlightenment, sweetness and likeness to others.For example: In our class, an idea of "posthumanism" was introduced by "Kalyani Vallath ma'am" where that very idea was suggesting that: though this is an era of 21st century, but people of India are still in under influence of "conventional life" where they're not able to adapt themselves as per the situation. We were given an illustration by "Modern times" film-Michel Jackson: where "the protagonist himself is working in firm, but has become over obsessed of the mechanized world, that he lost his sensibility towards the working manner, so what happens: when a lady is walking through the path outside the firm, worn  knee length coat, but "at breast part, with equal proportionate, on both sides, buttons are stucked and he considers those to be the screw, which he is going to operate but fails to recognize that it is not what he is looking for.

Also another example of "imitative culture" was postulated in the class, where we had seen in the video, people wearing clothes, hairstyles, makeup, their outer appearance, but it was only for branding oneself and for rivalry purpose. Likewise at one side it suggests obsessiveness, while at other boundary it indicates competition going on in the world, but a true humanbeing is required to find himself/herself in between, neither obsessed nor competitive.

So here two aspects are shown, that a person shouldn't be over obsessed with technology or do away with it, but it should be moderated as literature does, travels through music and painting,  but not merge itself with it, as the time progress the superficial part is removed, while the other which suggest totality has Marks in person's personality as well is in any arena of the field.

With multidisciplinary also it deals with the same tendency.Hence this was the understanding provided us by "Kalyani Vallath ma'am" in his "one day workshop" at "Department of English". She herself was presenting an amiability with all cultures as she shared many experiences associated with domestic life, style of one's living, somewhere though one isn't willing to but one has to made one's mind flexible with it, whether it is what, doesn't matter, necessity must be considered at first and try to empathize with others, who aren't blessed and aren't even able to get what we're getting, so they must be contemplated.

AN EXPLAINATION OF CULTURAL STUDIES TO A LAYMAN:

 Conversion into dialogue form:

A layman: Hi! 

Me: Hello!

It will go on in subsequent manner-

Me:How're you?

Layman: All fine! What about you?

Me: Same here..

Me: you look nervous..You can share, your worries with me, if you like to, you will feel better..

Layman: Answer me one thing, what is religion?

Me: Religion is man's fabricated structure, comprises of values, rituals, style and manner of living, some imposed rigidity regarding religious beliefs, one has to live their life.

Layman: ok. Now tell me what is society?

Me: Society also follows a specific order of life, which comprises class differences, their different values, raising conflicts from it, a specific kind of lifestyle concerning class system and the power structure prevailing in the society. Where something from economic perspective can also be seen. I suggest you to refer some of the books, which will give you the idea of the society, prevailing then at ancient times, after that and as usual life.

Layman: You mean to say, if I'm the part of  society, I have to contribute accordingly. But in the case of failing in doing so, am I to face any consequences?

Me: Yes, ofcourse. Either you will be banished or criticized by the society or society will  urge on you to do as their regardance.

Layman: Sorry to hear this, feeling so helpless. Then what you say one should always be suppressed under religion and society, we people don't have any chances to come out of it, only because we don't know about the things prevailing in society, and as lacking in knowing the ways and means ?

Me: No, it's not so..First you should know the ways and means, and the guts of tackling it, then you might be very amiable with the society and also with religion. There is an area, which suggests acceptance of every beliefs, values, rituals, tendencies going in and around us, and expanding its roots based on it, it leads a human towards better society and also urge a human to do something for the betterment of society!

Layman: Is it so? What are you saying! Could you please name that area?

Me: yes, why not..It is nothing but a cultural studies, which comprises all interdisciplinaries and multidisciplinaries  subjects in it, like; society, religion, politics, philosophised society, digitalised society and other going to perhaps include in it, in coming time..

Layman: Wow! This sounds interesting..

Me: Exactly! It is very interesting..

Layman: Hmm..So will you guide me further how to access through this society? 

Me: Yes, Why not? See you don't have to access through this but you have to understand the way of the world, and somewhere you're also required to become amiable with that tendency for time being, but this doesn't mean that you have abandoned yourself for them, but you have to learn from the other society members, first you have to merge in them, and then gradually  you can enlighten them towards what is the actual way of living life, but you should be an outsider, you shouldn't be biased with your idealism also. Then only it will lead towards sweetness, enlightenment and likeness for life and others. 

Layman: It seems to me difficult!

Me: No it isn't difficult if you want to become so and see it will also give you the pleasure of living life among others and with others.

Layman: Yes, that's.. I will try to implement this in my life, thankyou for your kind information!

Me: My pleasure to serve you as such!

Layman: Your nicety, thankyou!

Me: Always welcome! 

Thus would be the manner in which I will try my best to explain a layman.


If I am asked to introduce "Cultural Studies" in interview my answer would be as follows...


First of all simply I will start with what tools I am utilizing for teaching, so they can understand well:
For example: there are two blackboards; white and black- both are representing different identities; one gives reflection of then prevailing educational facilitative tool and another is contemplating digitalized world. As both have different identities, they must be belonging to different cultures and as I'm here I'm also belonging to some other culture, that you can see in my personality, in my talking and behavioural manner, but I can't act with you as per my culture, here culture as has some norms, values, regulations for students as well as teachers, we also have but I have to follow thus culture for time being that is called "adaptability" or "flexibilty" towards various tendencies, keeps on confronting in our lives. Similarly you have to also cultivate such things in your life, that is called "life skills", which you should also learn, much required and essential for a humanbeing.
Which also comprises many essential skills like "working in team, listening properly, solving problems, interview skills, adaptable skills" and many, which comprises in it.
As such I will introduce "Cultural studies" in interview, If I'm asked to.



Any catchy examples given by "Kalyani Vallath ma'am" during her one day workshop:
During our ongoing session on "cultural studies" ma'am has given many examples of day to day life, of her journey from "Kerala" to "Bhavnagar" how she compromised with the gujarati food here, while there their food also differs along with their eating manner.
Then she also said their way of living life in "Kerala" where she is used to bring outside food, but doesn't cook food at home(this also suggests her folding culture, it can be assumed that people of Kerala must have "culture of food", while she doesn't concern it so).
Then she also told about the "political identity" which prevails in various areas of fields, and how people are establishing it for their own welfare.
She had given her own example: that if she has come here that doesn't mean it is only for the students, but their is something politically hidden in it, that she didn't reveal explicitly, but one can understand.
She also emphasised on "Feminine perspective" that nowadays wives want their husbands to cook in house and they want their freedom,  is this idea appropriate regarding feminine perspective? And she told that how it will be mirroring to you if your husband is cooking and you are working outside and she expressed "ridiculity" for this idea.
Then she also told about the manner in which any institute or people are working and indicated the suggestive politics, going on inside. Everything is established on "Politics" , "Politics" is centralized in every arena of life, and if  people willing to, can't deny or do away with politics.

Some may be feeling for some examples to be catchy, I'm not denying, those were,  but I personally feel that it has a  connection with "common sense" where a person has to adapt and act as the situation's requirement not as person wants to act, that would be mine own perspective, towards any examples propagated by "ma'am" (Kalyani Vallath).


Anything else.. 

She had also discussed many points regarding cultural studies with the help of digitized tool called "pptx. Presentation" and prompted many ideas of "Frankfurt school", "a thought of school", "posthumanism", "imitative tendency of culture", which also gives a new birth to a different culture, how it is established, what are the demands of that particular school according to which the responsible establishers have to work for "the culture" and how it comprises many ideas regarding culture, how they are to apply cultural studies on 'interdisciplinary" and "multidisciplinary studies".



Hence was the understanding yielded by "ma'am" which I have covered in my entire blog as well as given reflection in many views.


Thankyou
Samiya Kagdi
A learner at PG center
Department of English
MKBU


Applied sources:
Ma'am's one day workshop in Department of Englsih.