I started a comment but then went back to reread the article to check whether my response was overblown and lost what I had written. I’ll try again.
I think that with this article I have been given a glance into the world of the way “Ivory Tower.” The articles that you react to and respond to seem beyond esoteric, almost a parody of esoteric - tap dancing as an embodied methodology for interpreting the Bible
I see what you're saying. But I think of it almost in the opposite way. Tap dancing--and the reading of biblical texts by real human beings--are practical, normal things that bring the esoteric into the realm of everyday life. They are a way of seeing how the big ideas of theory might look when they are attached to a real-world example. In tap dancing, you see an art form that has been racialized (made into a ministrel show act), gendered (the author points out that only Black men and White women seem to have permission to tap dance, in culture), and pushed to the margins. So what happens when we tap dance? We encounter those things in a visceral and real-world way. The same happens with Bible. What happens when we look for examples of biblical interpretation in art? We notice that there are patterns to those interpretations, and ways that injustice makes its way into the things we think are neutral or given.
That response got away from me before I finished it. Which, in part, would have the addition, at the beginning, that you read it with a table spoon of salt and with all the humor you could muster.
So, for starters, let me say how much I enjoy reading each week your interesting and intelligent thoughts about the lectionary readings. I love thoughts.
I guess, honestly, that my partial comment meant that I think the notions and verbiage around tap dancing, for example, in the articles and in your comment reflect a way too elevated discussion of a super duper narrow subject: gender and racial bias are the current hi
Whoops, I think this part of my response got away too soon also.
...are the current cultural topics under discussion (as voting rights for women were at an earlier time)...
I’m going to have to pick this up later and write back. I think I have sort have lost my train of thought. My last paragraph seems off topic or at least expressed poorly. So I hope it’s ok to try to figure out my strong reaction to your reflection this week. 😊
Hi Eric,
I started a comment but then went back to reread the article to check whether my response was overblown and lost what I had written. I’ll try again.
I think that with this article I have been given a glance into the world of the way “Ivory Tower.” The articles that you react to and respond to seem beyond esoteric, almost a parody of esoteric - tap dancing as an embodied methodology for interpreting the Bible
I see what you're saying. But I think of it almost in the opposite way. Tap dancing--and the reading of biblical texts by real human beings--are practical, normal things that bring the esoteric into the realm of everyday life. They are a way of seeing how the big ideas of theory might look when they are attached to a real-world example. In tap dancing, you see an art form that has been racialized (made into a ministrel show act), gendered (the author points out that only Black men and White women seem to have permission to tap dance, in culture), and pushed to the margins. So what happens when we tap dance? We encounter those things in a visceral and real-world way. The same happens with Bible. What happens when we look for examples of biblical interpretation in art? We notice that there are patterns to those interpretations, and ways that injustice makes its way into the things we think are neutral or given.
Hi Eric,
That response got away from me before I finished it. Which, in part, would have the addition, at the beginning, that you read it with a table spoon of salt and with all the humor you could muster.
So, for starters, let me say how much I enjoy reading each week your interesting and intelligent thoughts about the lectionary readings. I love thoughts.
I guess, honestly, that my partial comment meant that I think the notions and verbiage around tap dancing, for example, in the articles and in your comment reflect a way too elevated discussion of a super duper narrow subject: gender and racial bias are the current hi
Whoops, I think this part of my response got away too soon also.
...are the current cultural topics under discussion (as voting rights for women were at an earlier time)...
I’m going to have to pick this up later and write back. I think I have sort have lost my train of thought. My last paragraph seems off topic or at least expressed poorly. So I hope it’s ok to try to figure out my strong reaction to your reflection this week. 😊