The San Francisco Contado has been a major point of interest in our lectures. We have returned to it more so than any other subtopic: why?
If I remember correctly, a contado is defined as: that surrounding land that a central hub draws its resources from; and in doing so, the surrounded land and its citizens traditionally gain some benefits from the central hub. We have applied this to San Francisco, and we have discussed numerous times how San Francisco draws from its surrounding lands, almost as a sort of maelstrom; sometimes at the expense of nature as was the case with mining. But what has this to do with Literature? It's possible that it might have everything to do with Literature. If San Francisco Literature is dependent upon San Francisco; and San Francisco is dependent upon its contado; then it logically follows that San Francisco Literature is dependent upon the contado.
The contado provides, or it has in the past, San Francisco with its stability. Stability, though not totally necessary, is one of he greatest helps to the flourishing of culture and art. Both Athens and China, in brief periods of peace, experienced gigantic culture booms that would still be felt centuries later.
Considering such, it's interesting to wonder as to how much art we have in our history which is dependent upon the stability of empires. Certainly, peace and stability are not absolutely necessary for art. But, the production of art takes time; and time is not guaranteed. It's easier to make art when your kingdom isn't being raided; or when you're not constantly concerned with how you're going to get dinner. Or rather, it's easier for gigantic cultural eruptions of art to take place when the circumstances of your culture can afford the stability and the means to produce such art.
Great post! It sometimes seems like the best art/writing comes out of a sort of chaos of the soul or speaks about pain, suffering, loss, etc. but it is interesting to think that the ability to write about all that most easily comes out of times of peace/stability. It’s a strange contradiction.
ReplyDeleteAh, such an interesting point. Thanks! It's like peace/stability allow us to express our chaos. Similar to a therapy in a way.
ReplyDeleteYou seem to touch on the need for a recreational contado for the beat urbanite. It allows for isolation from the 24/7 machinery and moloch, a place where, as Kerouac put it, one can soak up the "vibrations of sincerity". Kerouac places a large emphasis on the need for a recreational contado to cultivate creativity.
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