Today I really got my head down and, following my visit to York yesterday, made a serious start on the revision of my web-site. In fact, to all intents and purposes I’ve sorted out the more discursive sections, and it now remains for me to tackle the larger question of re-ordering and updating the “galleries”. At least I have established two things now. I can do it, and finishing the job is going to require a good deal of additional effort. I was rather shocked to discover that it is probably three years since I did any serious work on it. The feeling of getting things under control is very good.
In the process of engaging with this problem I have realised the extent off my own technophobia. I am quite confident with some technologies. Give me some wood and a bag of woodworking tools and I’m happy, and (perhaps over-)confident. Contemporary electronic technologies, however, I really do find intimidating. My six-year-old grandson is probably more comfortable with some aspects of electronic communication than I am. Unfortunately the situation does bring home to me the impossibility of relaxing into the “two-cultures” mentality that prevailed during my youth.* Subjects taught in school were generally labelled “science” or “art”, and at the age of fifteen or sixteen kids were subjected to a kind of Harry Potterish “sorting hat” ordeal, during which a process of divination determined into which of these worlds you were to dwell for the rest of your life.
Of course, I soon discovered the inadequacy of this categorisation when, as a graduate student, I had to take a course in statistics. Although at a general level I am disposed to decry this polarisation of culture, nevertheless I have to confess that I am still, in some degree, a victim of it. For as long as I worked at the University it was necessary for me to remain in touch with developments in technology, ranging from word-processing (in which I am comfortable) to the electronic searching for information in libraries. The “electrification” of lectures was only just getting under way when I retired. Since retirement from academe, however, communications technology has galloped along, and I have to confess that I have not made the effort I might to keep in touch with it.
These days it seems that it really is difficult to operate an an artist without a web-site. More and more I become aware that possibly without facility in the use of the “smartphone”, and definitely without access regularly to a computer, it is not possible to function as a contemporary citizen. This situation has been underlined for me as much as anything else by the current pandemic crisis.
So: I suppose that the trauma of having to grapple with the revision of my web-site might well have the wider effect of impelling me into a greater facility with contemporary communications technology. At least, the intention is there. Let’s see how long that survives.
As the task has progressed I have to confess that I have even begun to enjoy the process, and I’m looking forward to continuing my engagement and self-tuition during the coming week. I hope also that visitors to the site will enjoy the fruits of my efforts. Do take time to look around. I hope you enjoy it.
*The phrase “The Two Cultures” was cited by the novelist C.p. Snow, who used it as the title of one of his novels.