Car-free sentiment in literature

[attercoppe]

I'm reading "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" for the first time. It's not a car-free book, but there's a passage at the beginning that struck me. Of course where it says "cycle", it's referring to a motorcycle, but I think it applies to a bicycle equally well.


"In a car you're always in a compartment, and because you're used to it you don't realize that through that car window everything you see is just more TV. You're a passive observer and it is all moving by you boringly in a frame. On a cycle the frame is gone. You're completely in contact with it all. You're in the scene, not just watching it anymore, and the sense of presence is overwhelming."

- Robert M. Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance


Okay, share your favorite!

[Roody]

I think the "trainfree" sentiments in Thoreau's Walden apply to our contemporary carfree sentiments.

[Satyr]

I think the "trainfree" sentiments in Thoreau's Walden apply to our contemporary carfree sentiments.

Probably not the one you think of, about walking rather than riding the train, for it takes a day's wages to purchase a train ticket, but a quotation about trains none the less!



I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself than be crowded on a velvet cushion. I would rather ride on earth in an ox cart, with a free circulation, than go to heaven in the fancy car of an excursion train and breathe a malaria all the way. The very simplicity and nakedness of man's life in the primitive ages imply this advantage, at least, that they left him still but a sojourner in nature. When he was refreshed with food and sleep, he contemplated his journey again. He dwelt, as it were, in a tent in this world, and was either threading the valleys, or crossing the plains, or climbing the mountain-tops. But lo! men have become the tools of their tools. The man who independently plucked the fruits when he was hungry is become a farmer; and he who stood under a tree for shelter, a housekeeper. We now no longer camp as for a night, but have settled down on earth and forgotten heaven. We have adopted Christianity merely as an improved method of agriculture. We have built for this world a family mansion, and for the next a family tomb. The best works of art are the expression of man's struggle to free himself from this condition, but the effect of our art is merely to make this low state comfortable and that higher state to be forgotten.

[gwd]

Thorstein Veblen explains certain illogical aspects of car culture in "Theory of the Leisure Class" without mentioning cars.

"...that this wealth which is held sacred is valued primarily for the sake of the good repute to be got through its conspicuous consumption."

Don't you think some of the rancor posted by car people onto this car free list comes from our implicit rejection of the notion that their form of conspicuous consumption is reputable?

[attercoppe]

Don't you think some of the rancor posted by car people onto this car free list comes from our implicit rejection of the notion that their form of conspicuous consumption is reputable?

Yes. Nobody likes to be told they're wrong, made fun of, maligned, etc - and although that's typically not what's happening here, it can be taken that way. As I've said before, a guilty conscience may be a strong factor as well.

[attercoppe]

Okay, this may not exactly count. It's arguably literature, though the quotes are from the movie, it is based on a book. And it's not really car-free stuff, but in line with some of the other related values held by some of us here. Besides, it's my thread, so it's okay!

From Fight Club, all quotes from Tyler Durden:

Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy sh!t we don't need.

You're not your job. You're not how much money you have in the bank. You're not the car you drive. You're not the contents of your wallet. You're not your fucxing khakis.

Reject the basic assumptions of civilization, especially the importance of material possessions.

The things you own end up owning you.

[Bikemiker]

Not exactly car-free, but in the same spirit. This is an idea for a billboard from "Desert Solitaire", by Edward Abbey.

"Howdy folks. Welcome. This is your national park, established for the pleasure of you and all people everywhere. Park your car, jeep, truck, tank, motorboat, snowmobile, motorboat, jetboat, airboat, submarine, airplane, jetplane, helicopter, hovercraft, winged motorcycle, rocketship or any other conceivable type of motorized vehicle in the worlds biggest parkinglot behind the comfort station immediately to your rear. Get out of your motorized vehicle, get on your horse, mule, bicycle or feet and come on in."

[jonathan180iq]

"That man is the richest whose pleasures are the cheapest."
-Henry David Thoreau

[attercoppe]

"That man is the richest whose pleasures are the cheapest."
-Henry David Thoreau

And that works on more than one level - a "spiritual" sort of level, as I'm sure HDT meant it; also, if you spend less on your pleasures (as well as other things), you have more money - you're richer. Not that money, especially more of it, will make you happy or is necessarily a good thing at all. But still...

[ReptilesBlade]

I'm reading "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" for the first time. It's not a car-free book, but there's a passage at the beginning that struck me. Of course where it says "cycle", it's referring to a motorcycle, but I think it applies to a bicycle equally well.


"In a car you're always in a compartment, and because you're used to it you don't realize that through that car window everything you see is just more TV. You're a passive observer and it is all moving by you boringly in a frame. On a cycle the frame is gone. You're completely in contact with it all. You're in the scene, not just watching it anymore, and the sense of presence is overwhelming."

- Robert M. Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance


Okay, share your favorite!



I was first interested in motorcycles and scooters before finally focusing on bicycles (still am slightly interested in them anyway) and on a great web site devoted to them is where I first came across that passage at least 2-3 years ago. The web site no longer exists but I remember a lot about it. It is also where I picked up another phrase or two that our gasoline powered brethren like to use.

"It is interesting that car drivers feel safest in their cars while we call them a cage."

That is not the exact quote, just what I can remember of it. I have seen nearly identical things posted on these forums in the past which leads me to believe that motorcycle riders and us bicycle riders are not to dissimilar at our core, this is a feeling that is backed up by the fact that every time I have been out on a ride and met one of our motored brethren they have always at least smiled at me (I suspect they recognize me as a kindred spirit in a way).

"Keep it shiny side up!"

This is meant as a friendly parting, much like you would often tell someone to "have a good day" after talking with them in person or on the phone. It means basically that I hope you keep the shiny chrome parts of your motorcycle facing the sky and the dirtier/darker parts like the tires and engine connected or facing the ground and in so doing keep yourself safe and enjoying the sport/hobby/activity.

The second is a personal favorite of mine and is something that you will often see me use on these forums. I have already put it into several of my posts and will continue to do so for a long time to come.

Keep it shiny side up!

[jonathan180iq]

And that works on more than one level - a "spiritual" sort of level, as I'm sure HDT meant it; also, if you spend less on your pleasures (as well as other things), you have more money - you're richer. Not that money, especially more of it, will make you happy or is necessarily a good thing at all. But still...


I don't think it was ever intended as a reference to money at all. The majority of the first half of Walden talks about life being way too complicated and that all of this complexity takes away from the true enjoyment of one's daily life. This, I think, is what he is talking about with this quote.
He said earlier that when we simplify our own lives, the universe seems to simply itself as well.

Simplifying our pleasures is part of simplifying our lives. When that happens, we no longer need excessive "toys" or expensive gadgets to fill a void left by the unnecessary and complex wants that we unreasonably have.

"That man is the richest whose pleasures are the cheapest."

Our lives are enriched by not wanting (x) things. X=expensive, excessive, unneccessary, ridiculous, neon pink, stupid, (Insert yourt own word here), etc.

[attercoppe]

I don't think it was ever intended as a reference to money at all.

I certainly agree with that, however I think it can be reinterpreted that way, if it suits one to do so. Kind of like saying that a piece of art or a piece of music "means" whatever the person who experiences it thinks it means - whatever it means to them.

[jonathan180iq]

I don't completely agree with the idea that art, or a piece of literature, means whatever the viewer, or reader, thinks it means. The author or artist had direct intentions when they created their work. As such, it would be an injustice for the viewer(reader) to come up some completely different interpretation of the piece.

The problem, however, is the ability of anyone to actually know what the original intention was.
This is not the case with a writer like Thoreau, because he was quite simple and open in his explanations.

[huhenio]

The accutrements of the rich to the masses has been always a favourite of merchants.

Got?

Persian Rugs
Hardwood floors
Golf Membership
convertible
excessive motorcycle - boat - car - golfcart -atv
huge ***** TV
huge ***** stereo
dual processor computer
microwave
gasgrill
central ac - heater
two car garage filled with crap
sporting goods collecting dust
more firearms that you need - I need none at this point
collectible memorabilia for random crap?
enough jewelry to buy a seat on the saudi royal family
more clothing than you ever seen in your younger years
more shoes that you can count with your two hands
and on and on and on ....

buy it now! It will make you instantly happy! ...

[ReptilesBlade]

The accutrements of the rich to the masses has been always a favourite of merchants.

Got?

Persian Rugs
Hardwood floors
Golf Membership
convertible
excessive motorcycle - boat - car - golfcart -atv
huge ***** TV
huge ***** stereo
dual processor computer
microwave
gasgrill
central ac - heater
two car garage filled with crap
sporting goods collecting dust
more firearms that you need - I need none at this point
collectible memorabilia for random crap?
enough jewelry to buy a seat on the saudi royal family
more clothing than you ever seen in your younger years
more shoes that you can count with your two hands
and on and on and on ....

buy it now! It will make you instantly happy! ...

Hey, I have these and they do make me happy.

huge ***** TV
huge ***** stereo
dual processor computer
microwave

I also have these, but for different reasons.

two car garage filled with crap
sporting goods collecting dust
collectible memorabilia for random crap?

The garage is full of crap but only because it is about to be hauled off within another month to charity. The sporting goods are all my old fishing equipment and tackle, which was one of my most favorite activities when I was younger. Unfortunately I just have never gone on another fishing trip for the past 5-6 years so it gathers dust for now. That does not mean I might not have a use for it in the future though. I also do have a small amount of collectable stuff but I do not have entire walls or rooms devoted to it if that is what you are thinking of.

central ac - heater

I do not consider central ac - heater a luxury, in my case it is very much a necessity. Read the topic in my sig to understand why if you want to.

I do agree with the over all sentiment of your post however.

[attercoppe]

I don't completely agree with the idea that art, or a piece of literature, means whatever the viewer, or reader, thinks it means. The author or artist had direct intentions when they created their work. As such, it would be an injustice for the viewer(reader) to come up some completely different interpretation of the piece.

The problem, however, is the ability of anyone to actually know what the original intention was.
This is not the case with a writer like Thoreau, because he was quite simple and open in his explanations.

Have you seen Marcel Duchamp's urinal "art?" He took a standard urinal (used, I believe), signed it, and declared it an work of art. It's in a museum and everything. Now, when I look at it, I see a piece of decommisioned plumbing - nothing particularly artful about it, and the "artist" didn't have a thing to do with its form. If that's an injustice, so be it. I don't believe Duchamp, or anyone, should be given any artistic credit for that kind of crap (pun intended). The only thing I credit him on is passing the thing off to the critics as art.

What about an abstract painting, like a Jackson Pollock? As you said, who even knows what the original intention was behind a piece of canvas that's simply been splattered with paint? Maybe some people get something out of it, but for me that sort of work is usually just a mess.

As far as the person who experiences something having a different interpretation than its creator intended, I think that's a beautiful thing. To me it's an example of man's ability to think critically and independently. Here's a thought I've stolen from someone else (apropo, as you'll see): If two people have two different thoughts or ideas, and they share them with each other, there are no longer two ideas - there are four. Each person will interpret the other's idea through their own perceptions, altering it enough to make it a new idea.

In other words, we all filter all our experiences through our particular worldview, which is built up from all our past experiences. I don't see any two people reading Walden and getting the exact same thing from it, no matter how simple and open Thoreau was in his explanations.

[attercoppe]

The accutrements of the rich to the masses has been always a favourite of merchants.
&tc &tc &tc

Pardon me, are you in the wrong thread? I don't follow how this fits with the rest of the posts here.

[jonathan180iq]

Well said. I'm not saying that having one's own interpretation is wrong, it's just important to try and understand the original message. The classics, I think, are classics because they tell a very powerful message, and can also be expanded into different aspects that the author never even considered.

As for abstract art, it's crap. I don't like it.

[attercoppe]

I'm not saying that having one's own interpretation is wrong, it's just important to try and understand the original message.
Word.



As for abstract art, it's crap. I don't like it.
Word.

[gwd]

Epictetus, in his discourses keeps harping on knowing what is yours and in your power and what is not yours and not in your power. This seems relevent to people who go car free to obtain more control over their world. Don't like traffic? Don't be traffic- dump the car. Don't like air pollution? Don't create it- dump the car. Don't like being isolated from your neighbors? it is in your power to remove that steel cage from around yourself- dump the car. If you can wade through the awkward language and obscure references Epictetus seems to capture some of the take control attitude that car free people also express.