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Re: [TANGO-L] 'The Best Things Happen if You're Argentinean' + Obscurantism.

    Lucia, sweetie, your textbooks must come from the land of the Munchkins or Noddy-land, as they are so wrong in this the real world.

  What type of obscurantism do you mean exactly? Sesquipedalian Obscurantism, perhaps? Ok. . . The obscurantist sesquipedalian is likely to compound the reader's difficulties by indulging in glossosynthesis, thus enabling the author to dismiss all opposing views as ultracrepidarious. In other words, a sesquipedalian is one who would call a spade a manuo-pedal excavationary implement. This is not me.

  I have no problem whatsoever with the dissemination of knowledge. In fact, I endorse the dissemination of knowledge. However, it depends on the type of knowledge offered. My original response was both serious and tongue-in-cheek. My intention was to inject a little humour along with my serious dismay as to how some 'tangueros' seem to look for the slightest - even, in this case, ridiculous - connection with tango. Maybe, in this way, they can seemingly reassure themselves (perhaps their tango insecurity?) by imbuing tango with some sort of God-given, fantastical, magical, mystical starry-eyed quality reserved for only tango as the only dance, art form, religion or indeed pudding course the world need know.

  As Spencer Tracy's character said in 'Inherit the Wind' (1960): (I paraphrase) "The Bible is a book. It's a good book. . . but it's not the only book!".

  Let's extrapolate this into another thread I've wanted to hit you all with; a pet-hate I've had for a while now. Why, oh why, is it that people seem to think of Argentines as the best dancers/ best teachers??? For example, I recently looked at a British-based tango website (I won't mention the name) that advertises their group's teacher as 100% Argentinean. . . ! What a ridiculous thing to say: "100% Argentinean"! Ho-ho-ho. . . so what???!!! There are bad Argentine teachers and dancers and chefs and politicians and bakers and policemen and drivers and singers and actors and waiters and mechanics and speakers and lawyers and judges . . . as well as good ones!

  I thanked God when I heard one of the world's foremost tango teachers/performers say in a class once that (again I paraphrase) "Just because someone is Argentine doesn't necessarily make them a good dancer/teacher". I won't mention his name (you'll have to take my word for this) but the teacher who said this is a VERY well-known Argentinean, and you all know or have heard of him. What also gets me is that just because a teacher is Argentinean, they seem to get everyone flocking to their classes more so than to non-Argentineans.

  It's a sad reflection on life that society compartmentalises everyone respective of nationality rather than ability. "He is/they are Argentinean so she/they MUST be good", or "I want to learn from an Argentinean". Argentineans can also have two left feet, you know. In fact, tango (although bigger than in any other city in the world) is still a minority in BsAs.

    So, who says Argies are THE best dancers??? Whats all the fuss???!!! Are we not in dangers of producing a monster of stereotype?
  For example, there still exists the historical perception is that Italians are the best singers, lovers, chefs, waiters etc etc etc. (come to think of it actually, this is the exception . . . it's true >:-))))) )

  Like Americans, Argies are fine as long as theyre kept in their place. ;-)


  I'm interested in all your thoughts on this issue. . .

  Regards to all, believe it or not :-)

  Dani
  'El Zorro de Tango' :-) :-) :-)

  Lucia <curvasreales@YAHOO.COM.AR> wrote:

  Dani darling, you make a textbook show of Obscurantism, which is defined as opposition to extension or dissemination of knowledge. And if I remember correctly, something irks you about geeks, too...it jives...

Lucia ;->


  Dani Iannarelli escribis::

Computer studies: Wh-a-a-a-a-a-t a load of utter guff. . . !

Dani
----------------------------------------------

Dani darling, you make a textbook show of Obscurantism, which is defined as opposition to extension or dissemination of knowledge. And if I remember correctly, something irks you about geeks, too...it jives...

Lucia ;->





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