What is Community? #6

From the ever thoughtful Henry Beer of Communication Arts:

My basic thesis as I told you is that true community-deep and enduring community not the community of ease and convenience--
the kind of community that fought WWII, isn’t the result of independence (people willingly aggregating for convenience or mutual interests or benefits. Real, enduring community is the by-product of interdependence. Without absolutely needing others, we create the synthetic forms of Community seen all around us today. It bears a resemblance to the difference between “life” which is real and “lifestyle” which is an artificial construct.

Community is, on one hand, deep in our lizard brains. On the other hand, the first thing we do when we can afford it is create distance. In an affluent society like ours in most circumstances we don’t really need anybody. We can buy or facilitate anything we want. Curiously, when people achieve that state of not truly needing anyone they find that it is not satisfying. It is somehow empty and impoverished in a way they’d never anticipated. They long for “community,” which is rather like longing for simplicity and parsimony in the midst of a ridiculously complex and affluent lifestyle.

I always enjoy watching footage of victims of mud slides in Santa Monica. The “victims” are invariably affluent people who haven’t intersected The Big “R” (Reality) in years and are incredulous as they come face to face with something that could give a shit about whether or not you’re a 1K or have a Black Platinum AmEx card. Watching them bond with their fellow victims, people they’ve never shared a word with, is always remarkable because for the first time, they really need somebody! You can argue that the most powerful community are forged when together a great obstacle is surmounted (the barn was finally raised or the fire was put out) a battle was won (look at the “community of players who’ve triumphed or the soldiers who made it through the battle) These are bonds that aren’t evanescent. They last a lifetime.

John, this is the short version. I would also direct you to Google “communitarianism,” a movement started in the early 80’s by a guy named Emilio Etzioni. There are about a hundred links that really go deep into the subject. Here’s one of my favorite sites on the subject: http://www.cpn.org/tools/dictionary/communitarian.html

Comments

[Matty OC]

This is a special topic that I have followed for some time now. My interest in it was sparked by early conversations about the "traditional" American neighborhood and the fact that my parents are part of the "GI Generation." Their take on current ideas of "community," "place-making," and "habitat" are very different from those my age, or Gen-Xers. I find Henry Beers comments interesting because affluence, in my parents ideology, leads to greater interdependence, because affluent society can afford to pay others to cook for them, raise their children, build their home. I by no means intend this to reflect negatively upon affluent society. It is the nature of the beast. Less affluent people, much like my grandfather, were more dependent primarily due to his lack of financial means. He had a small garden, was a skilled woodworker and electrician, and could do many repairs on his own vehicle.
The authors of "Suburban Nation" hit on this topic and use it to build their argument for breaking down the economic barriers, and stigmas, in housing developments. If the highly respected professor interacts regularly with the single working mother that lives nearby, co-respect and admiration is fostered.
I think it is very important to keep in mind that, as we become more and more specialized personally and culturally, we become more dependent on each other for unique skill sets. This appreciation sets a very good foundation for stable community.

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