Protestant Play Ethic

This week I have been sick and it has been a real drag. Constant fever and a sore throat have kept my more spunky side at bay which also makes work into dread. Quiet. Long. Those ovens never bake so hot and slow. Because when I am down no one takes over for me. My role as their co-worker is to insight a little fun and laughter through jokes, funny voices and the like. I am, as you might say, the class clown who makes the working hours a little more tolerable. I like to insight others to color a little outside the corporate lines so that we will all have a good story to tell. Some people in the business world however object to this kind of “frivolous behavior” but to me it is essential so I ignore “the rules” of the officially sanctioned narrative.

While thinking about this, reading, recovering from sickness, I spotted a quote that sums up much of what I think about the connection between myself as an artist and being positive, playful worker. On speaking against the false dichotomy between work and play William Dryness writes:

“One of the critical functions art may perform is to bring the notion of play back into the center of our lives where it belongs. After all, the morning stars sang together at creation, and the sea monsters played in the sea. Perhaps humans are meant to see their lives as more of a playtime, a dance, or at least a drama. Indeed it is likely we would be more productive in our work if we brought a playful spirit into it.”

Amen