I’m returning to this book. I know I didn’t exhaust its insight when I was reading it earlier this year. I’m thinking more about culture and that of the third-world and what it might mean to care about culture and clothing as part of the mission.
Chapter 1 : Origins and Functions of Clothes
Can this original functions or purposes of clothing still be used to explain the reasons that clothing is worn today?
I suspect, barely. (no pun intended)
there are no peoples know past or present who do not wear clothing of some type … The expression “naked savage” has become conventional but is essentially inaccurate.
the chief distinction between the savage and the beast is that the savage is adorned.
This resonates with me because I think highly of man. Interesting to think of clothing as the ‘chief’ and essential sign of being made in the image of God.
The animal accepts things as they are. man endeavors to mould and modify things
This book is full of bold sweeping statements like this. At least this one has a footnote.
This male skeleton was dressed in tailored pants and a pullover shirt made of fur.
? I’m suspect.
Because of their relatively simple lifestyles these nonliterate cultures are already social laboratories in which customs and social systems may be studies away from the complexity of modern society. … events may be observed in relatively uncomplicated form.
What is the measure of a civilization?
The four major theories for the original function of clothes are:
- the modesty theory
- the immodesty theory
??
- the protection theory
- the adornment theory
The modesty theory … often called the Mosaic theory
Mosaic like Moses, not art or browsers.
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