Once upon a time there was…
Pinocchio
Pinocchio and Alice in Wonderland should be at the top of any reading list. It would seem that Pinocchio is the most popular book that has ever been written – it’s been translated into more languages than the Bible. I would put it at the top of any reading list – I think it’s so brilliant!
Once upon a time there was…
‘A king!’ my little readers will say straight away.
No, children, you are mistaken.
Once upon a time there was a piece of wood.
It’s just great. And remember the person who wrote it, Carlo Collodi, was a theatre critic. Pinocchio is so dramatic as a story that for anyone wishing to be a writer it’s an absolute model of literature.
Now then, the circumstances under which this was written: Carlo Collodi was the eldest of 10 children, only five of whom lived past infancy. His mother did washing for the local Duke. The Duke noticed this boy and how clever he was and he educated him.
Collodi became a member of the Risorgimento, the movement in Italy that was trying to unify all the little petty kingdoms and principalities and to have a national identity and a country. This all happened in the mid 19th century (1815-1871). The challenge was that most of the people at the time were peasants – they couldn’t read and write. The Risorgimento was going to create a republic – putting the people in power – that was their idea. In fact, they put the king in power – but the people needed educating. They launched a children’s newspaper to educate children and Pinocchio was serialised in 1881 as the first story for kids. It was so popular that it became a book in 1883.
I’ll just say that the Adventures of Pinocchio is a guide for living. It’s a philosophy for life – a way to live. It’s a terribly exciting book. Pinocchio is the most wonderful character you’ll ever meet. He’s so naughty but he’s got a heart of gold and that’s what saves him. It’s just wonderful, anyway.
Pinocchio is very useful as one of the travellers in the Manifesto because we’ve got him after the book – what once was a wooden puppet has now become a real boy. He’s now more clever than he used to be – he’s learning and, of course, he wants to learn. And he’s decided he wants to be a freedom fighter. That is what his creator, Carlo Collodi, was. It’s very interesting because Pinocchio is very cheeky – just like some of you lot and I just think that we can really empathise with him and what he finds important on his travels. He’s a very good vehicle for you to see an awful lot as you go through the Manifesto.
Next time, I’ll talk to you a bit about our other traveller, Alice.
Dear, Ms.Vivienne. hello, and how are you?
Im Chika who is Japanese girl, 21years old. (I’ll be 22 in 3days!)
I really love you and your bland so much. My dream is to meet you in the future.
I’m learning Photography in university now, so I’m interested in Art so much.
Well, actually I’ve never seen Pinocchio, but I will see it! I think Alice in Wonderland is wonderful story. I went to Tokyo Disney land in Halloween time, and I wore Alice’s clothes. It was so fun.
Well… I’m looking foward to see your blog!
Take care
Comment by chickybabe on 13/12/2010 at 8:19 pm
Hello Chika
I have never seen the film of Pinocchio because I was so put off by the way that little puppet was realised – the way they made him look stupid and silly. Pinocchio is not that at all. I suggest you read ‘The Adventures of Pinocchio’ by Carlo Collodi – don’t go see the film! Books are quite different than a film or cartoon – much more interesting
Comment by Vivienne on 21/12/2010 at 12:27 am
“Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland “and”Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There”were and still are two of my favourite books.I remember my mother reading them to me as a child and have re-visited them on many an occasion.I look forward to your musings on “Alice”.
Comment by stuart on 13/12/2010 at 8:41 pm
Vivienne,
I am enjoying the new website, and I wanted to thank you for recommending Pinocchio.
I just finished reading the book, and this was the first time that I read the entire story as Collodi wrote it. It really is a morality tale for all of us!
I also wanted to tell you that I live in the US, and I do wear either my AR badge or pin almost everywhere I go. When I am asked what AR means, I always take the time to explain it. Active Resistance is more important than ever before in the society that we live in!
I will now read Alice in Wonderland in preparation for your next post, which I do look forward to. Keep up the great work, Vivienne!
Comment by Jeffrey on 13/12/2010 at 9:53 pm
Greetings from Pamplona, Colombia
As amateur writer, I must say Pinnochio (Pinocho in Spanish) is indeed a great story to learn to be honest & to trust in our concience, its obviously a story I like so much, also when no one read to me, I could read by myself, I guess since then I’m an honest being.
Alice in Wonderland, its a crazy & cool story I like alot too, never its bad to dream.
Words from the writer of dreams “Me” *laugh*
Anyway, I would like to do something like mixing many of those famous stories & make one, that would be great & crazy, but having so many projects on mind as Model, Designer, Musician, Lyricist, Composer & Writer, with no one to help (as sponsors) well makes it hard, to make a full story like the one I would like, mentioned before, anyway Im always up to read new things from you & to write new ones too.
I admire you alot, I wish one day I could be in contact with you, so I could learn more from you, as Designer & as Being to be a better person.
Take care.
Comment by VBloce-sama on 18/12/2010 at 12:22 am
Dazzling article . Will definitely copy it to my blog.Thanks.
Comment by psp video converter on 18/12/2010 at 12:14 pm
It’s really nice to hear of somebody who sees Pinocchio as a guide to life too! The whole concept of conscience and literally letting your dreams take you into the skies when you wish upon a star is just wonderful.
Having seen the Disney interpretation when I was a child it was a story that fueled my childhood, and when the time came I read the book and absolutely loved it!
Comment by James Emmett on 20/12/2010 at 6:02 pm
Dear Mrs Westwood,
please forgive my ugly English. I carefully read the AR manifesto. I would like
to thank you, for it was very inspiring to meet Aristotle, Carol and Collodi
among the others. I’m currently moving on a parallel path starting from the same
ideas of self cultivation, kindness and empathy (letting Calvino, Prigogine and
lately Schopenhauer help me). It feels priceless not to be alone on this purpose
named, now I know, Active Resistance.
Sincerely
Comment by Alessandro La Fauci on 16/02/2011 at 1:16 pm
Dear Alessandro
Thank you so much for your email – and I loved the photo! Unfortunately, I haven’t read any of the writers/philosophers you mentioned. I’ve been reading Bertrand Russell for years.
Considered the cofounder of analytic philosophy, prolific writer, Russell, greatly enhanced the field of mathematics and logic. Russell together with G.E. Moore employed logic – which worked so well in its application to mathematics – to philosophy, greatly influencing the history of the subject. Russell’s many essays are socio-political. I trust him because he’s practical. The questions he raises and answers deal with how to lead a good and meaningful life and what we should do to make the world better. He cares about suffering and war.
Men fear thought as they fear nothing else on earth — more than ruin — more even than death…. Thought is subversive and revolutionary, destructive and terrible, thought is merciless to privilege, established institutions, and comfortable habit. Thought looks into the pit of hell and is not afraid. Thought is great and swift and free, the light of the world, and the chief glory of man. (Bertrand Russell)
Vivienne
Comment by Vivienne on 16/02/2011 at 10:10 pm
I used to be very happy to seek out this internet-site.I wanted to thanks for your time for this glorious read!! I definitely enjoying each little bit of it and I’ve you bookmarked to check out new stuff you weblog post.
Comment by BG mail on 01/10/2011 at 11:25 pm
I have been reading this blog and the manifesto all day, I realise I am commenting on a rather old post but I hope this will be read nevertheless.
It was the mention of Bertrand Russell which really excited me.
I spent an awful long time wasting my life in constructing my idenity within various scenes and philosophies, one essay by Russell gave me the reality check I need to escape this dreadful cycle.
A Free Man’s Worship….
Russell affirms the necessity for man to ‘burn with passion for eternal things’ in ‘the untroubled kingdom of reason’- Russell here appears to affirm rationalism and the conscious above the material world. We are charged to seek ‘the realm of imagination, in music… the golden sunset magic of lyrics… the inmost shrine of the soul’
It really inspired me… Are there any works by Russell in particular you favour?
Comment by Chloe Campbell on 11/05/2012 at 2:13 pm
Dear Chloe
Russell was a great thinker, an original mind. His books and essays were popular and that is how he earnt his living. He is very witty and ironic, with immaculate easy style. Though each of these essays focusses on a particular topic, they have great solidity because they are founded on such a vast understanding of history and culture.
I love his “The Problem of China”, written in 1922, China being the greatest civilization ever known. Also “Freedom and Organization 1815-1914” – the section on America embodies everything it would become in the 20th century.
Comment by Vivienne on 23/05/2012 at 10:55 am