Expanding Internationalism - A Conference on ... - Mary Jane Jacob

I fear that the wealth of contemporary cultures, those within and
without the "Western" frame, may not figure in the 20th-century balance sheet,
thus making it untrustworthy, unless we are given access to it. To prevent
harm-- and what is at stake is the universalism of the culture of our planet
-- we should prepare many surveys in many arrangements (not only ones
dominated by commercialism and established authorities) so as to turn this
wealth into common property and make it generally assimilated.
I am not
suggesting giving excessive publicity to the exoticism of cultures known as
marginal.
I am thinking of an option likely to make us understand the need to
accept values off the main arteries crossing the map.
By "us," I mean those
intent on sustaining the favorable climate for alleged regional discoveries,
like the work of Moscow artists. Geysers of remarkable personalities spring
heedless of diagrams drawn by experts.
I believe this fact to be of essential inportance to international
surveys, ··especiallytothem;. As a r~sultr·their.fo.rmula~.maybe .. enriched, not
just broadened geographically.
I consider these problems worthy of our prompt
discussion.
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