Barbara Walker on Civilization

[zelda888]

The following is an excerpt from the introduction to A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns, by Barbara G. Walker, dated 1969. It's been on my mind enough lately to drive me to commit an act of bloggery. It's related to the idea of Naming in Madeleine L'Engle's A Wind in the Door, and it's something I need very much to believe right now.

Comments

[zelda888]

Thanks. There is a certain irony in the art about which I am getting all New-Agey just-put-some-positive-energy-into-the-Universe goofy being a traditional feminine, low-prestige, homey craft. Me sitting around feeling connected to centuries of women looking after their families could be considered socially conservative, even anti-feminist. Uttering the phrase "Stick to your knitting" in just the wrong context can still earn one a Maenadic death. But there is also something to be said for revaluing the traditionally feminine, and recognizing these things as creative arts. Nor am I under the impression that "positive energy" is all I need to do about the things that upset me

[cammykitty]

I love the initial quote, and also your comments. All the time I was thinking of the artists as peace makers, I was also thinking of DaVinci in the employ of Cesare Borgia. ... But also think of the Irish women knitting their fisherman knit sweaters, each with a different design so if their loved one was lost at sea, they could identify the body by the sweater. It's both a beautiful, poignant thought and a morbid one too.