Category Archives: Idea

The idea of Antarctica

Edgar Allen Poe’s novel ‘The Narrative Of Gordon Pym’ (1838) evokes the belief, prior to the exploration of Antarctica, that a lost civilisation may be contained within its icy borders. Rather than the black-skinned inhabitants of deepest darkest Africa, this furthest reach of the world would reveal a race of Hyperboreans, with a culture that [...]

Also posted in Antarctica, Australia, Innocence, Lost World | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

From heresy to beauty products–the idea of South in France

It is tempting to position the South as a victim of the North. Certainly, the conflict between the French North and South appears to be a story of ruthless oppressor that violently subjugates a peace-loving and tolerant victim. Is that necessarily so? Whichever way, French history straddles a cultural fault-line that continues to move in [...]

Also posted in France, Innocence, journey, poetry, Violence, West | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

John Stanley Martin – Australia as an Iceland of the south

One way of reading an antipodean country like Australia is through the lens of its symmetrical opposites. For many, Australia has been compared to Nordic countries. One of Australia’s leading Nordicists, John Stanley Martin, unfortunately passed away this week. Here he talking about the commonality between Australia and Iceland. John Stanley Martin, descendent of the [...]

Also posted in Australia, North, Northern mirror | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The German idea of South – high noon in the Black Forest

Spernere mundum, spernere te ipsum, spernere te sperni. Scorn the world, scorn yourself, scorn being scorned. St Filippo Neri quoted by Goethe The Faustian quest Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is today the proud hero of enlightened Germany. Institutes in his name disseminate German culture around the world. And the core of this culture, Das Drama [...]

Also posted in Developmentalism, journey, Lawless, West | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

When children grow up in the Kingdom of Bellavista

In the Kingdom of Bellavista there lived two peoples. For centuries they had lived in perfect harmony, but lately there had been troubles. High on the hill, there lived the refined nobles, who cultivated highly sophisticated sciences and arts. With great care and kindness they managed the affairs of the realm, particularly those they fondly [...]

Also posted in Australia, Developmentalism, provocation | Tagged , | Leave a comment