21st Century Attitudes Don't Work in Colonial Times

I’ve caught the first four episodes of PBS’s Colonial House and I must say, so far, I’ve been disappointed.  Though it does make an interesting study in human action as Bill Cholenski at Catallarchy hoped. An example of my disappoint, and the failure of 21st century attitude in colonial times, would be the participants seemingly total helplessness when they first attempted to strike a fire with flint and steel, and, having little success, state they have failed, and instead of try, trying again, venture forth and mooch a coal off of an individual who was able to strike a fire.

A more interesting story, aired on PBS, would be “Alone in the Wilderness." The story details Dick Proeneke’s year in Alaska, as this blurb illustrates.

"To live in a pristine land unchanged by man…
to roam a wilderness through which few other humans have passed…
to choose an idyllic site, cut trees and build a log cabin…
to be a self-sufficient craftsman, making what is needed from materials available…
to be not at odds with the world, but content with one’s own thoughts and company…

Thousands have had such dreams, but Dick Proenneke lived them. He found a place, built a cabin, and stayed to become part of the country. This video “Alone in the Wilderness” is a simple account of the day-to-day explorations and activities he carried out alone, and the constant chain of nature’s events that kept him company."

- Sam Keith

A very enjoyable show.

Posted by on 05/19 at 07:22 AM

  1. John Venlet: I’ve caught the first four episodes of PBS’s Colonial House and I must say, so far, I’ve been disappointed.

    Ditto here Mr. Venlet.

    I also thought the 20 minute interlude into the Gayness of one of the shows participants was completely inappropraite given that the show was originally billed as a family-oriented history program.

    Very insidious of PBS. Thank goodness the rumors that they are a left-wing theological organization with a dogmatic agenda are completely and totally false.

    I hear that next week two of the couples participating decide to announce they are “swingers” during weekly church service. As most people know, the original Puritans were very open about their sexual proclivities. Everyone had to know everyone else’s bedroom business.

    Posted by  on  05/19  at  08:25 AM

  2. Hey, John:

    You enjoyed Proeneke, and we see you like to read, so check out the writing of John Haines. Master suggests The Stars, the Snow, the Fire.

    And though his infrequent tangents into politics are far too left leaning for our tastes, Arctic Dreams by Barry Lopez really is a beautifully rendered canticle of Alaska’s northern boundary.

    ...

    You know, John, direct flights to Anchorage depart daily from O’hare. The salmon are runnin’ baby! grin

    Posted by Rufus  on  05/19  at  11:02 AM

  3. I had to laugh at the womens bickering about a cooking schedule...these so called “experiments” with 21st century people are a joke...if they really wanted to see how people today would have fared as pilgrims of the past they should be put in a situation where this century cannot intrude at all and leave ‘em alone and record via closed circut TV for a year...this is possible to do!  That would make the experience more similar to the puritans and vastly more entertaining and real!  Their whining about this and that is reflective of the sorry state of our nation of whiners...Whaaaa-Whaaa Wha!

    Posted by  on  05/19  at  12:32 PM

  4. Thanks for forwarding Master’s reading suggestions.  Through a friend, I’ve read a number of books on Inuit life, which I’ve enjoyed thoroughly.  The editorial reviews, for the two books recommended here, pique my interest, so I’ll add them to my list of books to find.

    Those salmon runs sound mighty tempting.

    Posted by  on  05/19  at  12:32 PM

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