Theory Cartoons—Individual and Group

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On this date in Round and Square History 

31 May 2013—China's Lunar Calendar 2013 05-31
31 May 2012—The Accidental Ethnographer: Ocean and Isle 2a
31 May 2011—Endings: The Death of Captain Cook

[a] Individuality The New Yorker 2014 06-02

This cartoon lies at the heart of all social theory (theorizing). Period. Who am I? Who are we? This has bedeviled Western scholars for the better part of two centuries (and their utter inability to comprehend broader movements beyond individuality are baffling). 

[b] Individual/Society RF

So-called "Eastern" thinkers have pondered this, too. Sometimes...individual, family, clan, and society blend and merge. Should we leap at that?

I don't think so (although it is intriguing).

Only in the last century (I hear you Emile Durkheim, Marcel Mauss, George Herbert Mead, David Riesman, and Pierre Bourdieu, and Paul Ricoeur) have Western theorists really began to engage the issue in this cartoon.

And think about it. Project yourself into the cartoon. You watch MSNBC...like a whole bunch of others. You watch FOX News...like a whole bunch of others. You identify with climate change; you don't. 

David Riesman had this nailed sixty years ago. Don't kid yourself about your "individuality." Yes, I saw the person on the bus today taking "selfies." You are (and it is not all your fault) "other-directed." Get over it, and read The Lonely Crowd (a few decades too late).

That we haven't even really begun to engage this theoretical question (and NOT ONE is more important) is baffling.

[c] Individuality...and Sociality RF

China's Lunar Calendar 2014 05-31

Click here for the introduction to the Round and Square series "Calendars and Almanacs"  

⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦ From right to left: ⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦
6/1......................................................5/29........................Monthly Information

This is one in a never-ending series—following the movements of the calendar—in Round and Square perpetuity. It is today's date in the Chinese lunar calendar, along with basic translation and minimal interpretation. Unless you have been studying lunar calendars (and Chinese culture) for many years, you will likely find yourself asking "what does that mean?" I would caution that "it" doesn't "mean" any one thing. There are clusters of meaning, and they require patience, reflection, careful reading, and, well, a little bit of ethnographic fieldwork. The best place to start is the introduction to "Calendars and Almanacs" on this blog. I teach a semester-long course on this topic and, trust me, it takes a little bit of time to get used to the lunar calendar. Some of the material is readily accessible; some of it is impenetrable, even after many years. 

As time goes on, I will link all of the sections to lengthy background essays. This will take a while. In the meantime, take a look, read the introduction, and think about all of the questions that emerge from even a quick look at the calendar.

Section One
Solar Calendar Date
(top to bottom; right to left
三
一

六期星

Fifth Month, Thirty-First Day

Astral Period Six
Saturday, May 31

———————————————— 

Section Two
Beneficent Stars 

(top to bottom, right to left)

母歲
倉祿

Generational Emolument
Maternal Granary

—————————————————

Section Three
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left) 
申辰子
凶中凶

酉己丑

中中吉
戌午寅
吉中吉

亥未卯

凶吉吉

23:00-01:00 Inauspicious
01:00-03:00 Auspicious
03:00-05:00 Auspicious
05:00-07:00 Auspicious

07:00-09:00 In-Between
09:00-11:00 In-Between
11:00-13:00 In-Between
13:00-15:00 Auspicious

15:00-17:00 Inauspicious
17:00-19:00 In-Between
19:00-21:00 Auspicious
21:00-23:00 Inauspicious

The hours above are for Hong Kong. It is up to you if you want to recalibrate or to assume that the cyclicality of the calendar "covers" the rest of the world. This is a greater interpretive challenge than you might think.

————————————————— 

Section Four 
Activities to Avoid  
(top-to-bottom; right to left) 

忌
祭開
祀渠

Opening Sluices
Venerating Ancestors

—————————————————  

 Section Five 
Cosmological Information 

初
三
壬
寅
金
胃
收

Third Day (Fifth Lunar Month)

Cyclical day: renyin (39//60)

Phase (element): Metal

Constellation: Stomach (17/28)

"Day Personality" Cycle: Receive (10/12)

—————————————————  

Section Six
Appropriate Activities
(and Miscellaneous Information
(top-to-bottom; right to left)

宜
捕
捉
結
綱
————
麥
秋
至
————
復土
喪符

Appropriate Activities
Seizing and Capturing
Binding Nets

Grain Ripens
(the twenty-fourth of seventy-two five-day solar micro-periods on the agricultural calendar)

Baleful Astral Influences

Earth Charm
Return Mourning

————

  Section Seven

Inauspicious Stars 
(right to left) 
丫 鬼
Bifurcation, Ghost
————

Section Eight
Miscellaneous Information 
(right to left)
倉
爐 庫
Granary
Furnace, Storehouse
————

Newsprint Nonpareil—Escaping to Europe

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Click here for the introduction to the Round and Square series "Newsprint Nonpareil"
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***  *** 

On this date in Round and Square History
30 May 2013—China's Lunar Calendar 2013 05-30
30 May 2012—The Accidental Ethnographer: The Isle That is Called Patmos
30 May 2011—Le Tour de la France: The Attentions of Mère Etienne

Meine Flucht nach Europa
My Escape to Europe

This week's Die Zeit cover has the exclusive story of a reporter who made a dangerous trip across the Mediterranean with Syrian refugees. This is a little bit of a twist on Die Zeit covers, and a welcome one. 

[b] Welcome RF

We have seen a large number of historical retrospective stories (Shakespeare, World War I, selfless givers) and current-culture pieces (business life, animal rights, and gendered life). 

This is the first cover in some time to have absolutely current reporting of something other than a major news event. 

Good stuff, as always. The paper actually came out on Wednesday, since Thursday is a holiday here in Germany. And how did I spend my holiday? 

Well, reading the story, of course.

[c] Nach Europa RF

China's Lunar Calendar 2014 05-30

Click here for the introduction to the Round and Square series "Calendars and Almanacs"  

⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦ From right to left: ⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦
6/1......................................................5/29........................Monthly Information

This is one in a never-ending series—following the movements of the calendar—in Round and Square perpetuity. It is today's date in the Chinese lunar calendar, along with basic translation and minimal interpretation. Unless you have been studying lunar calendars (and Chinese culture) for many years, you will likely find yourself asking "what does that mean?" I would caution that "it" doesn't "mean" any one thing. There are clusters of meaning, and they require patience, reflection, careful reading, and, well, a little bit of ethnographic fieldwork. The best place to start is the introduction to "Calendars and Almanacs" on this blog. I teach a semester-long course on this topic and, trust me, it takes a little bit of time to get used to the lunar calendar. Some of the material is readily accessible; some of it is impenetrable, even after many years. 

As time goes on, I will link all of the sections to lengthy background essays. This will take a while. In the meantime, take a look, read the introduction, and think about all of the questions that emerge from even a quick look at the calendar.

Section One
Solar Calendar Date
(top to bottom; right to left
三
十

五期星

Fifth Month, Thirtieth Day

Astral Period Five
Friday, May 30

———————————————— 

Section Two
Beneficent Stars 

(top to bottom, right to left)

天天玉天
醫喜堂德

Heavenly Virtue
Jade Hall
Heavenly Happiness
Heavenly Physician

—————————————————

Section Three
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left) 
申辰子
吉中凶

酉己丑

凶吉吉
戌午寅
中吉吉

亥未卯

凶凶吉

23:00-01:00 Inauspicious
01:00-03:00 Auspicious
03:00-05:00 Auspicious
05:00-07:00 In-Between

07:00-09:00 In-Between
09:00-11:00 Auspicious
11:00-13:00 Inauspicious
13:00-15:00 Inauspicious

15:00-17:00 Auspicious
17:00-19:00 Inauspicious
19:00-21:00 In-Between
21:00-23:00 Inauspicious

The hours above are for Hong Kong. It is up to you if you want to recalibrate or to assume that the cyclicality of the calendar "covers" the rest of the world. This is a greater interpretive challenge than you might think.

————————————————— 

Section Four 
Activities to Avoid  
(top-to-bottom; right to left) 

忌
作修造合
灶廚酒醬

Mixing Sauces
Making Liquor
Repairing Kitchens
Stove Work

—————————————————  

 Section Five 
Cosmological Information 

初
二
辛
丑
土
婁
成

Second Day (Fifth Lunar Month)

Cyclical day: gengzi (38//60)

Phase (element): Earth

Constellation: Mound (16/28)

"Day Personality" Cycle: Completion (9/12)

—————————————————  

Section Six
Appropriate Activities
(and Miscellaneous Information
(top-to-bottom; right to left)

宜
修醫出祭
倉病行祀
築修訂祈
堤造婚福
安動納入
牀土采學
安上嫁會
葬樑婚友
忌歸
厭火債下
對星不兀

Appropriate Activities
Venerating Ancestors
Inquiring-into Fortune
Entering Study
Meeting Friends
Going Out (and about)
Marriage Engagements
Grain Payments
Marriage Alliances
Physician Visits
Repairing and Building
Moving Soil
Putting-up Beams
Repairing Granaries
Constructing Dikes
Positioning Beds
Positioning Graves

Return Taboo

Baleful Astral Influences

Lower Amputee
Debt Not
Fire Star
Mutual Loathing

————

  Section Seven

Inauspicious Stars 
(right to left) 
白 山
White, Mountain
————

Section Eight
Miscellaneous Information 
(right to left)
厠 灶 廚
Toilet, Stove, Kitchen
————

China's Lunar Calendar 2014 05-29

Click here for the introduction to the Round and Square series "Calendars and Almanacs"  

⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦ From right to left: ⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦
6/1......................................................5/29........................Monthly Information

This is one in a never-ending series—following the movements of the calendar—in Round and Square perpetuity. It is today's date in the Chinese lunar calendar, along with basic translation and minimal interpretation. Unless you have been studying lunar calendars (and Chinese culture) for many years, you will likely find yourself asking "what does that mean?" I would caution that "it" doesn't "mean" any one thing. There are clusters of meaning, and they require patience, reflection, careful reading, and, well, a little bit of ethnographic fieldwork. The best place to start is the introduction to "Calendars and Almanacs" on this blog. I teach a semester-long course on this topic and, trust me, it takes a little bit of time to get used to the lunar calendar. Some of the material is readily accessible; some of it is impenetrable, even after many years. 

As time goes on, I will link all of the sections to lengthy background essays. This will take a while. In the meantime, take a look, read the introduction, and think about all of the questions that emerge from even a quick look at the calendar.

Section One
Solar Calendar Date
(top to bottom; right to left
廿
九

四期星

Fifth Month, Twenty-Ninth Day

Astral Period Four
Thursday, May 29

———————————————— 

Section Two
Beneficent Stars 

(top to bottom, right to left)

天月
馬德

Lunar Virtue
Heavenly Horse

—————————————————

Section Three
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left) 
申辰子
吉中凶

酉己丑

吉中吉
戌午寅
凶凶中

亥未卯

凶吉中

23:00-01:00 Inauspicious
01:00-03:00 Auspicious
03:00-05:00 In-Between
05:00-07:00 In-Between

07:00-09:00 In-Between
09:00-11:00 In-Between
11:00-13:00 Inauspicious
13:00-15:00 Auspicious

15:00-17:00 Auspicious
17:00-19:00 Auspicious
19:00-21:00 Inauspicious
21:00-23:00 Inauspicious

The hours above are for Hong Kong. It is up to you if you want to recalibrate or to assume that the cyclicality of the calendar "covers" the rest of the world. This is a greater interpretive challenge than you might think.

————————————————— 

Section Four 
Activities to Avoid  
(top-to-bottom; right to left) 

忌
問結
卜綱

Binding Nets
Inquiring-into Fortune

—————————————————  

 Section Five 
Cosmological Information 

初
一
庚
子
土
奎
危

First Day (Fourth Lunar Month)

Cyclical day: gengzi (37/60)

Phase (element): Earth

Constellation: Astride (15/28)

"Day Personality" Cycle: Danger (8/12)

—————————————————  

Section Six
Appropriate Activities
(and Miscellaneous Information
(top-to-bottom; right to left)

宜
祭

祀

掃

舍
白歲
虎破
陰五
將虛

Appropriate Activities
Venerating Ancestors
Sweeping Rooms

Baleful Astral Influences

Lunar Destruction
Five Vacancies
White Tiger
Yin General

————

  Section Seven

Inauspicious Stars 
(right to left) 
白 火
White, Fire
————

Section Eight
Miscellaneous Information 
(right to left)
占
磨 碓
Divination
Mortar, Pestle
————