The House of the Babayagas
May 4, 2012 18:56:52 GMT
Post by Deleted on May 4, 2012 18:56:52 GMT
Just a few days ago, the house of the Babayagas was completed in the Parisian suburb of Montreuil. The project was 17 years in the making, and its creators are extremely proud.
First of all, what is a "babayaga"? Well, there is a wiki about it and it is not the most positive thing that I have ever read:
Baba Yaga or Baba Roga (also known by various other names) is a haggish or witchlike character in Slavic folklore. She flies around on a giant mortar, kidnaps (and presumably eats) small children, and lives in a hut that stands on chicken legs. In most Slavic folk tales, she is portrayed as an antagonist; however, some characters in other mythological folk stories have been known to seek her out for her wisdom, and she has been known on rare occasions to offer guidance to lost souls. According to Propp, she often fulfills the function of donor; that is, her role is in supplying the hero (sometimes unwillingly) with something necessary to further his quest.
So, anyway, this place is conceived as an autonomous retirement home reserved for women, preferably feminists, and men can only visit. There are 20 studios for "older" women and 4 for women under the age of 30.
The rent is extremely reasonable, and the municipal authorities have helped to subsidize everything.
However, as a man, I am annoyed by both the name and the concept. While I fully defend the right of these women to create some sort of feminist ghetto if that is what they want, I question the use of municipal funds to help finance such a place.
At the same time, I am quite sure that if there is a male version of the project in the same city, it will receive financing as well.
However, it just does not seem "right" to me. It kind of makes me feel that there is a war of the sexes.
If you can read French, obviously this place has its own website: www.lamaisondesbabayagas.fr/
Does anybody else have any thoughts or opinions about this concept?
First of all, what is a "babayaga"? Well, there is a wiki about it and it is not the most positive thing that I have ever read:
Baba Yaga or Baba Roga (also known by various other names) is a haggish or witchlike character in Slavic folklore. She flies around on a giant mortar, kidnaps (and presumably eats) small children, and lives in a hut that stands on chicken legs. In most Slavic folk tales, she is portrayed as an antagonist; however, some characters in other mythological folk stories have been known to seek her out for her wisdom, and she has been known on rare occasions to offer guidance to lost souls. According to Propp, she often fulfills the function of donor; that is, her role is in supplying the hero (sometimes unwillingly) with something necessary to further his quest.
So, anyway, this place is conceived as an autonomous retirement home reserved for women, preferably feminists, and men can only visit. There are 20 studios for "older" women and 4 for women under the age of 30.
The rent is extremely reasonable, and the municipal authorities have helped to subsidize everything.
However, as a man, I am annoyed by both the name and the concept. While I fully defend the right of these women to create some sort of feminist ghetto if that is what they want, I question the use of municipal funds to help finance such a place.
At the same time, I am quite sure that if there is a male version of the project in the same city, it will receive financing as well.
However, it just does not seem "right" to me. It kind of makes me feel that there is a war of the sexes.
If you can read French, obviously this place has its own website: www.lamaisondesbabayagas.fr/
Does anybody else have any thoughts or opinions about this concept?
