Arch,
When you speak of the museum collections, do mean something like the Soviets did for their people?
No I mean like most museums are publicly accessible so a community can all experience fabulous collections at little or no cost types of museums . Versus PRIVATE collections like the stuffy old Victorians had in their parlors, which were nice too. Some folks are not collecting, so much as they are HOARDING, which is social illness, and may point to a psychological deficiency or compensation. I knew a guy that didn't even care about receiving the package, he just loves saying thanks to the delivery person
After cutting thru all the psycho babble, I must ask, are you an old Hippie or a Commie?
I don't smoke pot, wear a 60's peace sign or say stuff like "Hey Man..." and I'm definitely NOT a true commie, though I sort of subscribe to a genre of economics I term "Socio-Capitalism", kind what exists in many parts of Europe, beginning to happen in China and other parts of the world.
A liberal Arts Major for sure. What is the title of your book? I Can't wait to read it!
Double Major in College- Art & Psychology
Let's hear the positive and necessary aspects of collecting, along with the role that collections and collectors play in the world.
I think the positive aspect of academic collecting is clear.
Here's a trial statement:
Academic collecting, in contrast to pathological collecting, has the distinct benefit of enlarging a culture's inventory of historical references (AKA Collections) for the express purpose of tracing a meaningful, interesting and evolutionary path from early beginning to an ongoing process of innovation or decadence through time.©2010 - Imägo Metrics LLC
I
used to be a member of the private club, the FAN CLUB. We Collected, rescued, restored and traded vintage table fans. This is the kind of collection I'm talking about that indeed, as you point out, get donated to the Smithsonian ( as all mine were) . We carefully documented the geneology of fans, their manufacture etc. If we wanted to, we could even have compared patents, innovations etc. but for us, it was just the aesthetics of a beautiful object make made wind like non of the plastic crap of today does!
Without dissing Craig of LED Museum, much of that 'collection' is of dubious merit. Yet another 'eh' clone of yet another 'eh' clone is not a museum collection. See the difference?
Now, if you took THE LED Museum's collection and glued the whole lot together into a shape that looked like a ROOM sized flashlight, that would it a collection as art object– worthy of museum exhibit.
See the difference?
Just how do you think the museums you speak of get items for their collections? Mostly from private collectors.
Many collections are stolen artifacts – let's not forget :devil:
The collector of things not only retains items, which may disappear over time, they also become the authority on whatever they collect. This could be anything from spoons to original art to cars, books, anything. I even knew a man who collected planes.
Agreed. Many collectors are highly esteemed and sought-after connoisseurs, but they publish their observations of historical references, not merely performance specs or physical dimensions. Surely the true connoisseur imbues his collection with provinence by virtue of academic interpretation?
So before you spew your dim psycho, pre-print ideas, to a site mostly dedicated to flashlight collecting, maybe you should provide both sides to the story.
Your post implies that people who happen to collect things as a hobby, have a void in their lives, and need to somehow parent whatever they happen to collect. There are cases in which a collection can go too far, but having and keeping many lights over the years, is fine and even healthy recreation.
Sorry, you've just underscored my point. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with compensation, only that it masks whatever is being compensated, when better therapy is at hand (I have to deal with three hoarder neighbors that pay more for storage than my condo rents for!). Collecting friends is healthy, collecting awards for doing positive things is healthy, collecting mementos of life experience is healthy and critical to historical preservation. Collecting EVERY version of anything that comes out? you decide.
I hope that my prior depictions, dispose of this criticism to your satisfaction?
Collecting is very educational. You are certainly no historian.
Really? How much of Illuminations history can you recount of the past 5 years?
Again, I Can't wait for your book.
I'm working on two and two guides. Which one do I reference?
Also, why not add your Bio to that section here on the forum so we can get an idea of your background.
RIGHT!!! CPF is NOT a real names forum. Sorry. Once the owner demands for it to be a real-names forum, I'll gladly fulfill your desire. Besides, I have growing list of stalkers to deal with already. No thanks!
With all best wishes,
Ned Redway