guess I’ll start with a confession – better known as a “public secret!” I love words! Especially words that have more than one meaning (double or triple entendres), words that betray you (faux amis), words that can be nouns and verbs (sometimes called anthimeria — did you know that?) or words that are just fun to say (like onomatopoeia– who cares what it means?)
Sometime in high school, I learned from my piano teacher that Bach fugues were “models” of the form and could probably never be excelled. As you can imagine, this was quite a starting revelation to me. In this fashion (pun intended) I began my fascination with models of all kinds and modeling of all varieties. Although I must make another confession, I’ve been less attracted to the idea of role models than I am to Chanel and Dior.
In the second article I try to apply some basic concepts of aesthetic theory to the field of family enterprise research. (It’s a stretch, I know!)
Giving into the idea of role models, I offer three vignettes (all true) of “Dinner Parties I’ve Ruined.” I thought I was modelling engaging conversational style with au courant topics, but most of the other people at dinner thought I was rude!
Finally in a section that I hope to repeat in Olive, we have the first “friend of Judy,” who shares a provocative letter on being a freshman in college in New York City. At first, I thought this letter was a vindication, if you will, of the power of DNA and genetic coding — and that Miles was unconsciously and probably automatically (according to Bowen Theory) replicating my own experiences as a first-year student at Lawrence University– although I’m not sure Appleton, Wisconsin, is quite the same as NYC. Upon further reflection, however, I’ve decided that his reflection is for me (and possibly other readers) and not about me. To see the color, variety, the infinite opportunities of life at any age is probably a pretty good version of a role model!
Please enjoy the first issue of “Olive: A journal devoted to ambiguity.”