Re: Nomads, Pastoral and Otherwise

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Posted by Marvin Amstey on April 04, 1999 at 11:51:35:

In Reply to: Re: Nomads, Pastoral and Otherwise posted by Patrick Weiler on April 01, 1999 at 21:53:35:

: : Dear Tom, Maude, and anyone else that's listening,

: : I don't mean to be argumentative about this matter which, ultimately, is going to be just semantics. And I understand exactly what you're saying and have not a moment's doubt that your description of how certain groups of people live is accurate.

: : Having said that, let me quote the text of the American Heritage College Dictionary entry undr "Nomad":
: : "1. A member of a group of people who have no fixed home and move according to the seasons from place to place in search of food, water, and grazing land.
: : 2. A person with no fixed residence who roams about; a wanderer."

: : As I said, I don't think we have any difference of opinion beyond the correct definition of the word "nomad", and I agree that the notion of somebody joyfully spending his life sleeping under the stars in a different spot every night does not apply to the people whose weavings we find so fascinating.

: : Regards,

: : Steve Price

: A book you may find fascinating is NOMAD A Year In The Life Of A QASHQA'I TRIBESMAN IN IRAN by Lois Beck.
: It follows the travels of Lois Beck in 1970/1971. She describes the daily life, migration, modern complications, settled relatives, intrusive government, overpowering tribal heierarchy and family life of Borzu Qermezi of the Darrehshuri Qashqa'i.
: There is a particularly sad scene when his daughter finishes weaving what she means as a dowry rug that is sold to support the migration. It is a wistful, powerful look at the reality of nomads in the last half of the 20th century.
: It brings to life the emotions woven into the works of art that we now collect.
: I suspect that many of the weavings we have in western collections were plunder taken from families forced out of their homes, such as during the Azerbaijan/Armenian conflict and forced settlement of Iranian tribes.

: Patrick Weiler

Or the many rugs confiscated by the Soviet Union in their conquests of Central Asia then baled and sent to "us" to collect. Marvin

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: : : Dear Tom, Maude, and anyone else that's listening, : : : I don't mean to be argumentative about this matter which, ultimately, is going to be just semantics. And I understand exactly what you're saying and have not a moment's doubt that your description of how certain groups of people live is accurate. : : : Having said that, let me quote the text of the American Heritage College Dictionary entry undr "Nomad": : : : "1. A member of a group of people who have no fixed home and move according to the seasons from place to place in search of food, water, and grazing land. : : : 2. A person with no fixed residence who roams about; a wanderer." : : : As I said, I don't think we have any difference of opinion beyond the correct definition of the word "nomad", and I agree that the notion of somebody joyfully spending his life sleeping under the stars in a different spot every night does not apply to the people whose weavings we find so fascinating. : : : Regards, : : : Steve Price : : A book you may find fascinating is NOMAD A Year In The Life Of A QASHQA'I TRIBESMAN IN IRAN by Lois Beck. : : It follows the travels of Lois Beck in 1970/1971. She describes the daily life, migration, modern complications, settled relatives, intrusive government, overpowering tribal heierarchy and family life of Borzu Qermezi of the Darrehshuri Qashqa'i. : : There is a particularly sad scene when his daughter finishes weaving what she means as a dowry rug that is sold to support the migration. It is a wistful, powerful look at the reality of nomads in the last half of the 20th century. : : It brings to life the emotions woven into the works of art that we now collect. : : I suspect that many of the weavings we have in western collections were plunder taken from families forced out of their homes, such as during the Azerbaijan/Armenian conflict and forced settlement of Iranian tribes. : : Patrick Weiler : Or the many rugs confiscated by the Soviet Union in their conquests of Central Asia then baled and sent to "us" to collect. Marvin

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