The Lost Arts of Modern Civilization - Hardcover

Mitchell Kalpakgian

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1930873905 ISBN 13: 9781930873902

Publisher: Neumann Press, 2009

Synopsis

Hospitality, Conversation, Letter-Writing, The Enjoyment of People, The Habit of Pleasing, Courtship, and Tasteful Dressing and Proper Attire. By Mitchell Kalpakgian In an unleisurely workaholic world dominated by instant communication, internet, video culture, email, and cable television, the humanizing, civilizing arts that make life personal, joyous, and abundant have declined. Homes have lost their inviting charm as places of welcome that cultivate human relationships. The refined, courteous habit of letter-writing has been replaced by brusque electronic communication. The solitary time spent on the internet has spoiled the social occasions of friendship and conversation. The habit of pleasing others has been overcome by the compulsion to please oneself. And the age-old custom of courtship has been subverted by 'living together' in cohabitation. Without the habits and manners instilled by these lost arts, civilization suffers, daily life becomes drab, and the simple pleasures that created the art of living become rare experiences rather than normal customs. The whole quality of human life depends upon the preservation of the amenities that epitomize kindness, thoughtfulness, and graciousness. Hardcover book, quality sewn signatures, 60 lb. cream paper, 104 pages.

About this title

About the Author

B.A. (English), Bowdoin College; M.A. (English), University of Kansas; Ph.D. (English), University of Iowa

Dr. Mitchell A. Kalpakgian is a native of New England, the son of Armenian immigrants. He was Professor of English at Simpson College (Iowa) for 31 years and was appointed a visiting professor at Christendom College (Virginia) for two years, and then served two years as a tutor at Magdalen College (New Hampshire). He subsequently became Academic Dean, Athletic Director, and a teacher of English and Latin at Mt. Royal Academy (Sunapee, New Hampshire), a private Catholic school. During his academic career, Dr. Kalpakgian received many academic honors, among them the National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Seminar Fellowship (Brown University, 1981); the Andrew W. Mellon Fellowship (University of Kansas, 1985); and an award from the National Endowment for the Humanities Institute on Children's Literature.

Edition details

• Publisher: Neumann Press
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 1930873905
• ISBN 13: 9781930873902
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 103