Talk of The Villages Florida - There is no culture in The Villages

Talk of The Villages Florida (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/)

- The Villages, Florida, General Discussion (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/)

- - There is no culture in The Villages (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/there-no-culture-villages-29763/)

Quote:

Originally Posted by zcaveman (Post 269950)

After reading all if these posts I ask the same thing.

What is culture? Are we talking entertainment or are we referring to a bunch of stuffed shirts? I have been to a few "culture" events and I was not impressed with the people. I had tickets with reserved seats to plays in NYC and as soon as the doors opened it was push and shove to be the first one in. I was happier at the local Pax Amicus play theater in Byram, NJ.

According to Wikipedia:

the word "culture" is most commonly used in three basic senses:

1. Excellence of taste in the fine arts and humanities, also known as high culture

2. An integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon the capacity for symbolic thought and social learning

3. The set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution, organization or group

In these posts, it seems that culture is associated with expensive plays, ballets and orchestra presentations. Then I hear that classical music stations are needed. I am waiting to read one about the lack of chess playing. I put that with definition 1.

Folks - culture is what you make it. You are all talking about entertainment and you apparently do not think that the "hicks" down here can provide that level of entrainment. Well they can. Just take the time to enjoy the plays and concerts that they have in the Villages and central Florida. If you don't like that, travel to Jacksonville to see some great shows.

As for classical music stations, there are not enough supporters to make any of the classical stations a go. Use your satellite radio or buy DVDS to satisfy your desires.

As for the term 'hicks", I need no response. I was raised in Jacksonville Florida and I know that is what you usually think of us southerners.

Z

Well said. BTW, although not a native of Jax, we raised our four children there. It was a great place to live and bring up a family. We would still be there if it hadn't got so "big city". That prompted us to look for an over 55 community. We found The Villages and the rest is history.

Another BTW. I have three grand children and three great grand children who are Florida natives. Two more grand sons are Georgia natives. So, I think very highly of Southerners.

Quote:

Originally Posted by zcaveman (Post 269950)

Normally, when people say a town/area/local has no culture, they are talking about the "fine arts." I love TV, but there is no way that anyone can say that TV has a lot of culture using the common vernacular.

Personally, I love the ballet, hate opera, love plays, art ... I also love the blues, good rock n roll, country, hate polka ... I love my shorts and t-shirts and truly hate makeup ... I also love my dresses and tuxedo pants and heels ... and so on and so forth.

Now, if loving some of the finer things in life makes me a stuffed shirt, so be it. My grandfather on my father's side was a hillbilly through and through. My grandfather on my mother's side was a German aristocrat. Both died before I was born but I do believe I have enough of their genetic makeup that I could live happily in either of their worlds.

I've never called someone a hick (unless I did it unknowingly as a child). Truth be told, I'm really not sure exactly what a hick is. I have a vague idea, but not a precise one -- someone from the country with a limited education (?).

The point is, I'm not sure why I should be condemned for loving classical music, fine art, etc. or be called a stuffed shirt for loving it. I'm sorry, but TV does lack good, cultural events (and, yes, I've been to several events at Savannah Center and at Church on the Square -- the Church actually has the better classical music). Doesn't make TV any less than it is, it just is. I certainly wouldn't condemn you or consider you a hick because you don't like those things, so why imply that I would?

[QUOTE=redwitch;270145

The point is, I'm not sure why I should be condemned for loving classical music, fine art, etc. or be called a stuffed shirt for loving it. I'm sorry, but TV does lack good, cultural events (and, yes, I've been to several events at Savannah Center and at Church on the Square -- the Church actually has the better classical music). Doesn't make TV any less than it is, it just is. I certainly wouldn't condemn you or consider you a hick because you don't like those things, so why imply that I would?[/QUOTE]

I was born and raised on the east coast, been to NYC over a hundred times and saw it all. Two of my kids live there, the other in DC.It's a great life with everything you could ever ask for. Moved to Lexington ,Ky to play college basketball, love the South, but don't ever confuse the culture and arts of the South with the great metropolitan areas in this country.TV has very little culture ,if any at all, but that's not why we want to live here.Sooooooooooooo for all you who are getting defensive about the lack of culture in TV, live with it, because the Savanaah Center doesn't even compete with a third rate college center.TV needs a HUGE upgrade, until then, hop a plane, take a train, or automobile , because it's not here in TV land.

:ohdear:

Quote:

Originally Posted by redwitch (Post 269687)

Okay, I'm doing some serious ducking as I type this, but I agree -- the "culture" in TV is a joke at best. You can't have everything but TV comes darn close. I love the ballet -- it is a true passion of mine. I enjoy hearing a world class orchestra or performer. There's nothing like a Broadway play -- whether on Broadway or a good road show.

I haven't found a good ballet company in Central Florida and that does make me sad. Our symphony orchestra is not world class, but it is enjoyable on am amateur level. I will be kind and not comment on the shows/plays/musicals at Savannah Center. I have seen a couple of decent plays in Tampa, but nothing I would want to write home about.

So, given the standard criteria for "culture," TV is sorely lacking. If culture is a No. 1 priority, TV is not the place for you. If having many activities, seeing many different types of performances (although the majority will be at the amateur level at best), living with some of the most wonderful people in the world, then TV is for you.

If I am in dire need of serious culture, I'll dig out a CD and play some Yo-Yo Ma or Itzhak Perlman. I'll play a DVD of the Bolshoi on the big-screen TV in my living room. Heck, I'll even save my money and plan a trip to see a play or two or take in a ballet or .. There are alternatives.

The lack of culture here is not a major issue in the scheme of TV. I put it up there with missing some of my acquaintances (friends are another story) in California. When I miss my ballet, I'll find a way to watch some on TV. It ain't live, but I'm not going to cry about it.

Orchestra seat on Broadway is around $140 per ticket and balcony seat is around $97 plus fees from Ticketmaster

I just can't believe some Villagers will condemn others because they like classical music, fine art, etc. We made a decision to live in The Villages, weighing the pros and cons, and as mentioned previously, the lack of nearby cultural activities was a "con" for us. Add narrowminded, judgemental people as another "con". Hopefully they are in small numbers here.

BTW -- I'm not upset about being called a stuffed shirt (heck, I wish I could stuff a shirt -- always been on the small side). I resent the implication that I would think I'm better than someone because their taste in art, music, whatever is not my taste or that I would insult someone because the venues I want are not local. That is truly insulting!

Quote:

Originally Posted by redwitch (Post 270145)

And yet....Top Retirements says: Culture Index: 121+ (very high)

:click:
http://www.topretirements.com/review..._Villages.html

There are a ton of cultured people who live in The Villages....and a few that live here that aren't.

When I think of a person who is cultured, I think of more than just their tastes in music and theatre or what they have read. I think of their hospitality and their demeanor and their kindness. Good manners (acting like a cultured person) are really not much more than looking out for others.

We all come from different cultures, very different, and yet we have the commonality of age and ownership. We are inventing our own "Villages culture".

We don't have a lot of things here but what we do have is indefinable. It is good. I am willing to leave the place that I have known all my life to be here.

I will ask Tweety to sing for me and Dancerbill to dance. Maybe Schuler will sing for me too. How wonderful this place is.

Cultured or living in the Villages??

What's the difference between (dis your favorite location here) and yogurt?

Yogurt has an active, living culture!

Definition of Opera: When someone gets stabbed, instead of bleeding, they sing.

That being said, the 'culture' that some people are bemoaning the lack of in TV has always been of limited appeal. Attested to by the fact that most fine arts and programs are either subsidized or dependent on generous donations from corporations or wealthy individuals. Personally, I'm moving to TV because of the 'culture of TV'. It's what 'Trips MY trigger'. Enjoying ballet, stage plays, orchestra performances, classical music, fine art, museums, etc. makes you no better nor worse than me. It simply means your tastes differ from mine. Fine arts and other forms of 'culture' are simply different forms of entertainment to be appreciated. How I choose to be entertained is MY choice, not to be judged by others, but accepted.

Quote:

Originally Posted by macro (Post 270196)

Well said Macro.:thumbup:

Anthropologically every village has 'culture'

Several decades ago I was fortunate to work in downtown Manhattan for a month and a half at the Time-Life building on a project with an international team. Knowing I was from Los Angeles, the locals in the office spoke endlessly of the clearly superior (to anywhere else, especially LA) CULTURE of NYC.

I had already come with an appreciation for museums, the symphony, the theatre, FM radio etc. and especially ethnic delights that NYC offered. We found the people friendlier than the stereotype mainly, perhaps, because we were friendly ourselves (several times we were told that if we had been locals they would have ignored us) as we wandered all about.

Each morning the local staff would react in horror at where we had walked. Finally after a week of hearing about the wonders of NYC from this crew, I asked just what it was they did after leaving the office. To paraphrase their responses: "why, we go straight back to our apartment, close the steel door, lock the 27 security locks, and watch television."

Our experience at some of these cultural venues (Broadway, musical events, clubs with well-known jazz musicians, et al) was that there may have been cultural opportunities but there were a lot of locals without 'culture'. They talked incessantly during performances as though they were at home watching television.

The Villages has a 'culture' and there are many 'cultured' among the population. Pick any of the items listed earlier as evidence of 'culture' and you will find it a simple matter of money to bring it to TV. We can have a world class symphony or ballet or anything else -- just get a few of the old money robber barons or some of the new money wall street thieves to donate a few hundred million here and there. Voila! Instant 'culture'!!

Billy-Joe Jim-Bob

macro, very well said. I can't wait to meet you and your shorter half.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkcunningham1 (Post 270202)

macro, very well said. I can't wait to meet you and your shorter half.

Thanks GG & BK.
Looking forward to it BK. ever get the pix out of your camera? If we can find our way out of the tangle of boxes, will try to make it to Crispers in Aug or Sept. :clap2:

All this talk about culture takes me to thinking back of Gilligans Island.................