Dear list 
Here is an off-the cuff reaction to 'Aries on work' (could you give the
exact reference/page, Cathy). 
Because I sit here with a heap of memories of cottagers/day labourers/farm
workers of their life in the last half of the 19th century. That is not
pre-modern time of course, but in many respects I see this part of the rural
population as still in a transition from pre-industrial or 'feudal' to
'modern' - both economically and in their minds. 
And what has really hit me in these memories is how daily life for these
people - the poorer section of the rural community - consists of work and
work and still more work. 
All aspects of life evolve around work and are directed by the demands of
work - for adults and children alike. 
Again, this is not pre-modern time. But even though in truly pre-modern
times work might not have carried *so much importance in the public mind*,
surely there have also been segments of the population then - or 'classes' -
that had to work their butt off, and for whom work took up a lot of time if
not all?? 
My point is there must be a class difference - and maybe also an urban/rural
difference. I find it difficult to imagine that work on the land does not
carry existential value for a peasant or land owner? 

I would love to see more opinions on the subject. 

Hanne 

Hanne Willert
Research Lecturer
Department of Sociology
University of Copenhagen
Linnésgade 22, 
DK 1361 Copenhagen K, Denmark
phone +45 3532 3280
e-mail: [log in to unmask]




> -----Oprindelig meddelelse-----
> Fra:	Cathy Burke [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sendt:	31. januar 2000 23:11
> Til:	[log in to unmask]
> Emne:	Aries
> 
> Greetings List ,
> 
> Coming back to renew my aquaintence with Aries, Centuries of Childhood,
> I noticed his comment that in the past ( pre-modern times) work was not
> so significant  'did not have so much importance in the public mind'- it
> took up less time than in the modern period, and it allowed for more
> leisure and play. It did not carry such a weight of existential value as
> in the modern period.
> I find this interesting - Is it true ?
> 
> Cathy
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Catherine Burke
> 7 The Windses
> Grindleford
> Hope Valley
> S 32 2HY
> Tel: 01433 631907
> 
> Dr. Catherine Burke
> Lecturer in Education: Child & Family Studies,
> Bretton Hall College
> West Bretton
> WF4 4LG
> 01924 830261
> 
> 


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