July 20, 2006

  • Bead Game

    Those who clicked on Rieff's concept in the previous entry will know about the book that Rieff titled Sacred Order/Social Order: My Life among the Deathworks.

    That entry, from Tuesday, July 18, was titled "Sacred Order," and gave as an example the following figure:

    The image “http://www.log24.com/log/pix06A/060604-Roots.jpg” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors.
    (Based on Weyl's Symmetry)

    For the use of this same figure to represent a theatrical concept--

    "It's
    like stringing beads on a necklace. By the time the play ends, you have
    the whole necklace."

    -- see Ursprache Revisited (June 9, 2006).

    Of course, the figure also includes a cross-- or "deathwork"-- of
    sorts.  These incidental social properties of the figure (which is
    purely mathematical in origin) make it a suitable memorial
    for a theatre critic
    who died on the date of the previous entry-- July 18-- and for whom the
    American Theatre Wing's design awards, the Henry Hewes Awards, are
    named.

    "The annual awards
    honor designers... recognizing
    not only the traditional design categories of sets, costumes and
    lighting, but also 'Notable Effects,' which encompasses sound, music,
    video, puppets and other creative elements." --BroadwayWorld.com

    For more on life among the deathworks, see an excellent review of the Rieff book mentioned above.