project 31/

THE WORLD AS ONE BIG FAMILY

B. Linkin, Worker, Moscow

It should be clarified that in the project outlined below, what we have in mind is only a good, "right" kind of family, meaning harmonious existence under one roof of three generations, the elderly preserving the traditions, edicts and principles of the family, its, so to speak, "code" which is passed down from gener- ation to generation; adults, actively functioning at the present time, assuming and carrying all the responsibility for the fami- ly; and the younger, growing ones who will assume the place of the adults after a while. In a model family, all three "levels" are welded together, they form a complete whole permitting the combination of functions and, which is especially important, "the unfolding" of the existence of the family in time: the older gen- eration connects it to the past, the adults to the present, and the future belongs to the younger generation. This division, moreover, a very precise, strict division of temporal "phases" inside the family, in our opinion, serves as the main guarantee of its stability and well-being.

This very trait permits the creation of an all-encompassing project which could be disseminated to all of humanity, or to its greater part, where the "generational" principle of the function- ing of the family could render the most positive results. Actually, it is not difficult to see that numerous tragedies occurring everywhere have as their cause the continual "intrusions" of one generation of people into the "temporal" territory of another generation. On the other hand, "temporal borders" of the actions of each generation are established rather easily (as a rough assumption we can presume the borders between 18 and 67 years).

Being divided according to such a principle, humanity already gains a sufficient structural unity. Hence, members of one gener- ation communicate not only along the age "vertical," but also along the "horizontal": it is not so difficult for the elders, recalling their obligations, to relate their experience and prin- ciples existing in various regions. After all, the goals will be approximately identical. The very same thing will happen in the adult generation: each will look after "family" concerns, but now on the scale of all humanity. Youth, sensing the foundation and concern in the two older generations, and recognizing its own role, will prepare to carry these principles into the approaching time period which belongs completely only to it.

THE WORLD AS ONE BIG FAMILY

1. Cut a surface with faces depicted on it out of a piece of plywood. Cut it out exactly along the contours formed by the heads. The thickness of the plywood is 0.5 cm.

2. Build a wooden support according to the sketch and attach the plywood cut-out to it with screws.

3. Make an enlarged color reproduction with the depiction of the faces and glue it carefully on the cut-out surface.

4. "Tone up" all the wooden parts and the reverse side of the cut-out so that everything looks like old, brown, discolored, wood, and then cover it with matte lacquer. It should all have the appearance of an old device.