Comments on: Visit to Gripia – Escola de Pagesia i Activitat Pastoral (Farming & Shepherding School, Catalunya)

By: Oliver

Oliver — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 12:54:17 +0000

Hi there – thanks for your comment.

Crop Mob itself I would say is not likely to become a ‘success’ (however defined) in Spain, as there is a tradition of agrarian revolution / general leftist empowerment. Having said that, the current notion of younger generations being involved and driving to change stale or restrictive forms is something which appears to be in its infancy in Spain. We will be back there next year and will have better view at that time.

By: A.J. Morse-Salvati

A.J. Morse-Salvati — Thu, 27 May 2010 08:29:05 +0000

Hi,

I’m interested to know what has happend since your visit to the school.

Have the farmers started any crop mobs in Catalunya? Did you walk away with the impression that this could be a success in Spain in general?

Thanks!

By: Oliver

Oliver — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:08:20 +0000

A long heritage [history] of praxis-driven silent revolt [revolution via theory being put into practice] is not incompatible with [can be considered to support] most of the external US myths and arguably embodies quite specific elements of the hegemonic weltanschauung. [may be considered to go beyond support for the ruling worldview; may be considered typical or exemplary]
—–
the notion [idea] of praxis [theory put into practice] as spontaneous action was well received [the group liked it] and discussed by the extended group [the group approved of potential ideological underpinnings for crop mob-type activity]
—-
Hope this gives a more general idea.

By: Nonna

Nonna — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:59:13 +0000

Thanks for the reply. I can easily find definitions for specific words on google. The question really is: what are the ideas you are trying to communicate in those different sentences?

By: Oliver

Oliver — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:34:12 +0000

In terms of how Gripia learned of Crop Mob, it would be hard to say; I have to assume that it was encountered online, but I never asked the specific question. We reached out to them since we would be in Barcelona anyway, and they asked us to come and speak.

Regarding the words that you reference, all can be found by looking up in Wiktionary or similar; having said that, ‘praxis’ is used here both as the practical application of theory and as a reference to the complex history of the term. Both can be found online at Wiktionary.

‘Hegemonic weltanschauung’ means, in this context, the predominant world-view.

Hopefully this helps. Not a question of being initiated, rather one of using specific terms rather than general.

By: Nonna

Nonna — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:59:00 +0000

Could you tell us how the Spanish group learned of Crop Mob’s existence and what was behind their desire to have you come to speak in Spain?

Also you use a lot of technical terms in your post that are incomprehensible to the uninitiated like me. For example this sentence is totally opaque:
“A long heritage of praxis-driven silent revolt is not incompatible with most of the external US myths and arguably embodies quite specific elements of the hegemonic weltanschauung.”

and what are you trying to say here:
“the notion of praxis as spontaneous action was well received and discussed by the extended group”
Thanks!
Interesting to read about what y’all are up to! Keep up the good works.