Behind the Scenes

          Behind the Scenes        Head to Head        Postmodern Riff         

Hannah Arendt in The Human Condition argues that the differences between the concepts Labor and Action as the Greeks understood these words have been lost in modern society. She places a good chunk of the blame on Karl Marx who writes of Labor as if it were Action. Arendt’s presumed Greek distinction sees Labor as work done in an unchanging rhythm of nature. Hercules cleaning out the horse stables – or anyone cleaning out the horse stables is labor. Washing the dishes is labor. Action on the other hand has the potential to transform the world or what appears to be the natural in human society rather than conform to it. Writing, therefore, it would seem to Shovczon always has the potential to be action. Burke’s distinction between Motion and Action is another way to explore this point. From this perspective collaborative writing – or the kind of writing we hope to encourage – is an oxymoron because writing hopefully is not really Labor.