On Human (Art) Universals

(Weaving by

Sofia Hagstrom Molle}

In the book Consilience, E.O. Wilson only briefly talked about the art of weaving as a human universal and that culture, i.e. art-making, is somehow linked to genetics. (I like this theory but I'm not yet convinced that It's that cut and dried) A book he had referred to was Human Universals by Donald Brown, which is cited frequently on anthropological topics.

Perhaps the way to look at it is that genetics supports the probability that a culture will inevitably engage in some type of weaving or textile art, and likewise some type of music. I liked Carl Jung's theory that music (rhythm) emerged from striking flint to make fire as well as the act of masturbation. (A human universal I'm sure.) Wilson was saying that all humans develop common culture independent of one another. Therefore North American Indians would have invented weaving even if they had never seen it before. The transmission of culture is now done through memes, or through "morphic resonance", per Rupert Sheldrake.

Brian Eno said it best: "Culture is everything we don't have to do", i.e. we have to move our bodies, walk, etc. but we don't necessarily have to dance. Our mere survival is not dependent upon expressions of culture."