Bananas, Bawdy and Bert

Posted bymalcolmsmusingscomPosted inUncategorized

Three things have made me smile this week.

On Wednesday a banana, (bought earlier in the day for $0.35) duct-taped to a wall, fetched $6.2m (£4.9m) at Sotheby’s in New York.

Apparently this ‘provocative artwork’ by Maurizio Cattelan called ‘Comedian’ was first unveiled to the public in 2019, became a viral sensation, and has travelled around the world.

Chinese entrepreneur Justin Sun outbid six other rivals to get Comedian saying: ‘In the coming days, I will personally eat the banana as part of this unique artistic experience.’

The installation comes with instructions on how to replace the banana whenever it rots…

Yesterday at our ‘Music for Wellbeing’ we sung, to the tune of the can-can: ‘My dog he can do the can-can, better than my cat can, but my goldfish finds it very difficult…’

I googled ‘can-can’: The word ‘can-can’ is old French slang for malicious gossip… originally it was a disreputable, bawdy dance enjoyed by the lowest in society… so scandalous that the police raided the dance halls where it was performed. The Moulin Rouge opened in 1889… the famous poster of ‘La Goulue’ lifting her skirt and kicking her legs showed a defiant, independent woman… an early symbol of women’s rights.

Yesterday my innocent elderly friends, cheerfully singing about dogs, cats and goldfish to the bawdy can-can’, seemed incongruous.

 ‘Storm Bert’ with high winds and floods is due to reach us later this morning.

I can only think of two gentle, funny Berts – certainly not dangerous and destructive. Bert, the yellow muppet from Sesame Street –  often made me smile. He looks a bit like a banana! Bert from Marry Poppins – Dick Van Dyke with that terrible cockney accent – danced ‘Step in time’ with the chimney sweeps – another dance with high kicks!

And whilst I’m smiling at the banana, the bawdy and the two Berts, I pray that I may see the true value of things and people, and that I will ‘step in time’ with the good and the Godly.

13 thoughts on “Bananas, Bawdy and Bert”

  2. I enjoy your posts, Malcolm. One reason is you do not mince words, but get straight to the point. Also, I know what to expect—three observations brought together to make one good point.

    You also leave room for the reader to make their own conclusion. Here’s mine:

    Something worth only a few pence can become quite valuable under the right circumstances. Truth be told, we are all like ripe bananas 🍌—whose earthly days are numbered. But God, through Jesus Christ, demonstrates His belief in our everlasting value.

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    1. I spend more time editing than writing, David. I put a maximum of 330 words. I guess my starting point for each blog is ‘what did I learn yesterday?’ – or with my Christian perspective – where was God yesterday? What was he trying to say? … And asking people to think, rather than telling people what they ought to think, is certainly where I come from.

      I love your banana conclusions. An original illustration that you’ve thought through, to me means more that a well worn one that’s become a meaningless cliche. I am that – probably a little over-ripe – banana!

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  3. Thank you, Malcolm. As an inexperienced teacher, I often told my students everything I knew about a subject—leaving them no room for their own learning. I quickly learned to not do that. It’s the same with a good story. Always leave room for the reader.

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