While rock climbing in Joshua Tree, I experienced two contrary values inherent in the activity: "the one communally egalitarian and the other competitively elitist" (Solomon 525). “Dappled Mare” is a three-pitch climb, which means that it is climbed in three different segments, with the lead climber stopping at certain points to belay the follower from above, and the following climber stopping at the same points to belay from below. Belaying is the act of taking in or spooling out rope as necessary for their climber, as well as "braking" the rope, or holding it in place, so the climber does not fall. Consiquentally, climber and belayer must totally depend on one another, for they are locked into a system which requires both people to be completely alert of the other’s needs. Without a strong sense of community and equality, safe rock climbing would not be possible. Yet climbing is still an individualistic sport, competitive by nature. Early on, three climbers joined us on the route to our left. Before the two of us could complete our first pitch, these three had scaled their entire route, climbing like baboons up the face and topping off within an hour. Just watching the smooth, quick movements of these climbers awoke the competitive side in me; I automatically tried to pick up the pace. In the same way that rock climbing uses individuality and community to function, Americans apply this double-think to numerous aspects of everyday life.
Soloman, Jack and Sonia Maasik. Masters of Desire: The Culture of American Advertising. Signs of Life in the USA. Ed. Marcia Cohen. 6th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's: 2009. 524-534.
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