Comments on: Roll Call: Cuban Cigar Factory Readers

By: Fine Cigars

Fine Cigars — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:15:31 +0000

“A cigar ought not to be smoked solely with the mouth, but with the hand, the eyes, and with the spirit.” – Zino Davidoff

By: Ben Tausig

Ben Tausig — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:18:16 +0000

Thanks for both of these references, Scott.

It's actually gut-wrenching to reflect on the paradoxes of management strategies like Kohler's, which are simultaneously benevolent and dehumanizing. Who wouldn't want a hard-working labor force to feel happy at work, and comfortable in an adopted country? And yet, even when the factory owner means well, and treats his workers like equals, they are not his equals. And generosity for the sake of profit is still, indirectly but powerfully, exploitative.

By: Ben Tausig

Ben Tausig — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:06:36 +0000

Agreed, it's an amazing recording. I first heard it in college, and lost track of it for a few years after forgetting the source. But it's all over the place now.

By: scott

scott — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 03:13:27 +0000

James Weldon Johnson discusses the role of the cigar factory reader in The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man.

Also, during the 1920s, the Kohler factory (yes, that Kohler: http://www.us.kohler.com/index.jsp) would play Sousa marches on a Victrola during meals in "The America Club" as part of their Americanization/Naturalization project. See http://www.destinationkohler.com/pr/1141495866591...

By: connor

connor — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:04:33 +0000

love the insight as always …… that post office piece from ghana is really wonderful

By: Ben Tausig

Ben Tausig — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:35:26 +0000

A famous example from ethnomusicology:

http://blogfiles.wfmu.org/KF/0512/Ghana_Post_Offi...

Workers canceling stamps at the University of Ghana Post Office, 1975
From here: http://www.amazon.com/Worlds-Music-Introduction-P...